Spring comes to the desperate place

Chapter 242 Chinese New Year

Coincidentally, not long after the palace lanterns were hung up, snowflakes began to flutter from the sky. A group of children clamored to have a snowball fight, but were suppressed by Song A-mo with force.

"It's almost time for dinner, no fighting. Chunming, take your brothers and go wash your hands. Look at how dirty your hands are. If you know you're going to paste couplets, someone else would think you're going to dig manure."

The children were scolded and went to wash their hands obediently. Aunt Song felt a headache looking at these children. She hoped that they would be more sensible next year.

Compared to the bustling scene at the Song family's side, the door of the Li family was tightly closed. There were still some egg shells and rotten vegetable leaves left at the door. These were thrown there by some people who had been oppressed by the Li family.

In the backyard of the Li Mansion, a group of women and children surrounded one of the courtyards, all waiting anxiously. They didn't care about the coldness of the courtyard, as they were all hoping that the person inside would wake up.

However, the doctors inside came out one after another, and all shook their heads at the people in the yard.

"The old man is old, and this time he was upset... Well, you should prepare for his funeral."

As soon as the old doctor finished speaking, crying was heard in the yard.

"Now that the old man is gone, who can help the master and his family to smooth things over..."

These people were not crying for the death of the old man, but more for their unknown future. All the people in charge of the Li family had been arrested, leaving some people who had no say and these women and children. The emperor had not yet convicted the Li family, so these women and children were allowed to continue staying in the Li Mansion, but they were not allowed to leave the city, so some of them who wanted to leave the capital to join their mother's family had to give up.

As for those whose maiden families were in the capital, they had also thought about returning to their parents' home for help. However, because the Li family was charged with treason this time, even if they were not convicted, those people would not wade into this muddy water. They even wanted to sever ties with these wives who had married out.

Today is New Year's Eve, but the Li Mansion is decorated with white. A servant guarding outside the door saw this and fled in a hurry. He wandered through the alleys of the West Market until he stopped in front of a small courtyard. He knocked on the gate and a little maid opened the door. The maid looked around vigilantly and made sure that there was no one there before letting the servant in. After she closed the door, a pregnant woman walked out of the room. The woman was Zhou Ning's cousin, Zhou Daya.

Zhou Daya looked heavy. She had not had enough rest during this period, so her face was sallow and her eyes were dark. Pregnancy would obviously cause edema in the late stages, but her cheeks were sunken and she looked extremely haggard. If Zhou Ning stood in front of her, he would probably have to work hard to recognize her.

The servant told Zhou Daya everything that happened in the Li Mansion. When she heard that the patriarch of the Li family had passed away, her face turned pale and she was almost shaky. Fortunately, the maid was quick to support her.

"Madam, please take care of yourself. You are pregnant with the young master, so you should put your health first."

Zhou Daya smiled bitterly: "Young Master, if the Li family's crimes are true, let alone the Young Master, it is still a question whether we can survive..."

Zhou Daya was filled with grief. She thought she would have a good life following this man, but she never expected that everything would be like a mirage and would soon be gone.

The maid gritted her teeth and finally couldn't help but suggest to Zhou Daya: "Madam, didn't your cousin marry the eldest son of the Song family? The Song family is now related to the Yongyi Marquis's mansion. If he is willing to say a few good words for you in front of the Yongyi Marquis..."

Zhou Daya could hear what the maid had not said, but she had looked down on Zhou Ning, whose parents had both passed away, since she was a child. In addition, Zhou Ning and the Song family had caused her father to be sent to prison. Now she was asked to bow her head and beg him, but she couldn't do it.

Seeing Zhou Daya like this, the maid also gave up. She analyzed the situation to Zhou Daya earnestly, hoping that Zhou Daya could find a way out for herself and the child for the sake of the child.

It was not known whether Zhou Daya had heard it or not. When the maid was almost thirsty from talking, she slowly nodded and agreed to the maid's idea.

The Song family was having a great time and had already started setting up the dinner. As there were many people in the family now, Song Dazhuang had ordered a large round table from the carpenter early on so that everyone could just squeeze together and sit down. The most eye-catching thing on the table was the roasted whole lamb on a huge tray. Compared with the roasted whole lamb, the chickens, ducks, fish and meat around it all looked much smaller.

Grandpa Song and Grandma Song looked at the lively family with smiles on their faces. Grandma Song even glanced at Chen Yuer's belly from time to time, her heart full of anticipation.

Before the meal started, Grandpa Song said a few words as usual. The gist of it was that this year there was a good harvest of grain, and the family had a new baby. He also hoped that the coming year would be good weather, with more babies and more wealth. After Grandpa Song finished speaking, he motioned for Gu Fengyun to say a few words. Although Gu Fengyun was a junior, his status and position were the most important among all the people present.

Gu Fengyun couldn't refuse, so he raised his glass and said a few words to wish for good luck.

I don’t know if the little kids understood what was said or not, but after their elders finished speaking, they just kept clapping and cheering.

The Song family drank home-brewed wine at the reunion dinner. It was brewed last year, using grapes and water produced in the space. The taste was much better than the wine in the previous life, and the alcohol content was not high. Even Song Qin could drink a large glass of it. The other kids, except Yuanyuan, took a small sip.

Pregnant Chen Yuer could only watch everyone drinking while she could only drink grape juice to satisfy her craving.

After drinking a glass, Song Dazhuang felt the aftertaste was endless, so he set his sights on Song Chunlin's vineyard.

Seeing his father's greedy look, Song Chunlin said speechlessly: "Dad, my grapes are just seedlings. Even if we harvest them to make wine, we have to wait until next year. It's too early for you to think about it."

This is under the condition that he can get the wine-making documents after the Chinese New Year. Now that he has the reputation of a national archer and the face of the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion, the officials of the Ministry of Works will treat him well. If it were an ordinary person, he would probably have to wait for several years to get the documents.

After hearing what his son said, Song Dazhuang suddenly felt regretful.

"We have to wait so long."

"Is two years a long time? Why don't you ask how much manpower and resources we will need to transport so much wine? You only know how to drink." Song Qin couldn't help but scold Song Dazhuang, and Song Dazhuang had to smile awkwardly.

"Hey, wife, isn't that what I'm saying? Besides, the wine brewed by our Chunlin family is definitely delicious, just like our jam and vermicelli. During the Chinese New Year this year, the vermicelli sold even better than the jam."

Song Qinshi seemed to have thought of this as well, and she immediately couldn't stop smiling.