Free Web NovelChapter 637: Chapter 637: Time to Get Married
Then Jingzhe added that his brother-in-law hoped he would go to the Capital after the New Year to attend the Imperial College, where he could focus on preparing for the provincial and palace examinations while studying.
"That’s a good thing. You have to prepare for the provincial exam anyway, so why not go to the Capital earlier?" Tong Huaqiong quite agreed with Lu Zhaoyang’s suggestion.
Jingzhe nodded, and suddenly his face turned red.
Tong Huaqiong asked, "Is something the matter?"
Jingzhe hesitantly said, "Mother, it’s been two years since Zhao Zhao and I got engaged. It’s about time we got married."
Tong Huaqiong realized that Jingzhe wanted to marry Lu Zhaozhao.
Seeing Tong Huaqiong silent, Jingzhe added, "The Lu family thinks so too."
Lu Zhaoyang got married before going to Shengjing, so when it came to Jingzhe, the Lu family hoped he’d marry before heading to Shengjing.
Logically, after a two-year engagement, it was about time to get married.
Previously, Tong Huaqiong had been concerned about the dangers of childbearing for Lu Zhaozhao due to her young age, so she had hoped Jingzhe would pass the imperial exam before marrying.
However, her concerns might not be understood by people of this era. She hadn’t mentioned it to Mr. Lu, and if they didn’t allow the two to marry, the Lu family might think Tong Huaqiong and Jingzhe had other intentions.
Now Lu Zhaozhao had reached a suitable age for marriage.
Plus, with Jingzhe going to the Capital for exams, if he passed while single, he’d become a highly sought-after groom, complicating matters.
Unnecessarily creating resentment and offending people.
Given the circumstances, they really should get married.
"Alright, I’ll go to the city in the first month of the lunar year and discuss with the Lu family to pick an auspicious date for the wedding with Zhao Zhao," Tong Huaqiong readily agreed.
Jingzhe’s face turned even redder with happiness.
Man Er walked in clapping and said, "Third Uncle is getting married! Third Uncle is going to be a groom."
The soon-to-be groom, Jingzhe, laughed foolishly, shedding his usual composure.
Tong Huaqiong said to Jingzhe, "After you get married, you must treat Lu Zhaozhao well. If you have any other intentions, don’t consider me your mother."
Jingzhe nodded repeatedly, promising, "Apart from Zhao Zhao, I won’t love anyone else."
Tong Huaqiong sneered, "Right, you won’t love anyone else. You love power. What if a princess or a girl from a noble family throws herself at you in Shengjing? Marrying them could save you from hardships and bring instant success. Even if you’re not tempted by them, wouldn’t you be tempted by the power behind them?"
Jingzhe shook his head and said, "I’m only devoted to Zhao Zhao. No, mother, the way you say it makes others think I’m very much in demand, but your son doesn’t have that much charm."
Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, that’s because you don’t have the right perception of your face.
Jingzhe wiped the sweat off his forehead, wondering why his mother always suspected he had ulterior motives, suspecting he would attach himself to wealth and power.
Feeling a sense of grievance, wondering if his mother didn’t believe him, he resolved to show her how devoted he truly was.
Tong Huaqiong didn’t expect her warnings would give rise to a rebellious determination in her son, ensuring that apart from Lu Zhaozhao, he would never look at another woman again.
Of course, that’s a story for later.
...
After the twelfth lunar month comes the New Year.
In the blink of an eye, another New Year’s Eve arrived.
The New Year is always joyful.
Preparations for the New Year started as soon as the twelfth lunar month began.
Tong Huaqiong’s business continued until the 28th of the twelfth month, with a break until the 16th of the first month.
This year, the Taohua Dessert, Jufu Supermarket, pig farm, and weaving workshop all had booming business, with profits higher than before. The clerks who worked hard all year were due for a bountiful celebration. Tong Huaqiong was always a generous employer, giving everyone enough silver for the festival, along with five jins of pork, two boxes of pastries, and a bolt of satin as festival gifts.
Everyone happily took their generous silver and gifts to thank their employer.
At the same time, they secretly resolved to continue working hard in the coming year.
On the 29th of the twelfth month, Mr. Su and Jingzhe set up tables and prepared brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to write Spring Festival couplets for free for the villagers.
Bright red couplets were posted on the doors of every house on New Year’s Eve, reflecting the snow and giving Qinghe Bay a festive and peaceful atmosphere.
The snow on the eaves, fences, and ground had not yet melted. Man Er, Xiao Long, and a group of children set off firecrackers in the snow.
The sound of firecrackers heralded the arrival of a new year and new prospects.
After a year of hard work, the preparation of the reunion dinner was entrusted to Chen Sufen and Liu Yueer. Fortunately, the household had maids and old women hired to assist, requiring only direction instead of hands-on assistance.
Tong Huaqiong sat inside, reading storybooks with Mrs. Hong.
The reunion dinner again invited Tong Pandi and her family of three, as well as Mr. Su, to join in.
And of course, there was Mrs. Hong, who worked tirelessly for Tong Huaqiong’s business.
Manager Qian, having scolded his son and daughter-in-law who came to celebrate the New Year at Qinghe Bay, hugged a roasted suckling pig and squeezed into Tong Huaqiong’s house at dusk to join the reunion dinner party.
What could Tong Huaqiong say? She had to invite him to take a seat.
Although Dashi was still absent, because they had received concrete news from him, there was no longer the worry they felt last year during the New Year about Jingzhe and others at the border influencing their festive spirit.
This year’s New Year’s Eve, no one’s mood was affected in the slightest.
Not only was it unimpacted, but it was also brimming with high spirits.
They all sat around the table, and dish after dish was served.
Da Han opened a jar of plum wine and filled everyone’s cups.
Tong Huaqiong raised her glass and said "Happy New Year" as she toasted everyone.
"It’s the New Year."
"May you have good fortune and success."
"Wishing you wealth and prosperity."
Adults and children all exchanged auspicious sayings.
Tong Huaqiong took a sip of wine and, as usual, silently toasted her parents and herself in her mind from the past life.
The lively reunion dinner went on until late, with dumplings as the grand finale.
The huge, plump dumplings were brought to the table. Granny Lei and Granny Chen were skilled at making dumplings, and they prepared three types of fillings: celery and pork, carrot and lamb, and onion and lamb.
"Boss, we put two copper coins in the dumplings. Let’s see who will have the good luck to find them." Granny Lei said with a smile.
"The boss is sure to find them." Granny Chen hoped Tong Huaqiong would find them for good luck, as a thriving business meant her salary would be higher.
"Thank you for your kind words," Tong Huaqiong replied.
No sooner had she spoken than Xiao Long spat out a copper coin along with a tooth.
Xiao Long was losing his baby teeth and couldn’t eat hard foods. A loose tooth had been bothering him for a while, affecting his eating, and surprisingly the copper coin helped it fall out.
"I found one too." Man Er received a copper coin in her hand from her mouth.
The crowd: "..."
Tong Huaqiong: "..."
Granny Lei exclaimed, "The young lady and the young master found the copper coin on their first dumpling."
How incredibly lucky!
If Granny Lei hadn’t watched the entire time, she would suspect the two of cheating.
Tong Huaqiong smiled, pondering what this signified.
As expected, the lead characters have extraordinary luck.
Casually picking a dumpling brings good fortune.
After finishing the dumplings, midnight was approaching, and firecrackers started going off around the village.
Soon, all of Qinghe Bay was enveloped in the sound of firecrackers.
Da Han took several children into the courtyard to set off fireworks, and Tong Huaqiong watched through the window as one firework after another rose and burst in the sky.
The western clock sent by the Lu family chimed as the new year was set in motion.
