Chapter 216: New Year’s Eve
Entering his wife’s room, Gan Ning sat down and picked up his son again, gazing joyfully at the lively and adorable son, listening to the baby babbling something incomprehensible.
Sigh! It would be at least ten months before he could call daddy.
“Husband, guess what Baby is saying?” Da Qiao laughed from the side.
Gan Ning’s eyes lit up. “I can’t guess. Tell me!”
“He’s telling you that he likes the snow outside.”
“Really?”
Gan Ning carried his son to the window. The window was made from a single piece of crystal, very clear and transparent, allowing the child to see the outside world completely without being exposed to the cold wind.
In ancient times, the infant mortality rate was very high, and one major reason was the lack of antibiotics. If a child caught a cold and got pneumonia, there was basically no cure.
So winter was the most difficult season for ancient people, not just for children but for adults too. They didn’t dare bathe easily; lack of fuel was one issue, but fear of catching a cold and getting sick was the main reason.
Of course, Gan Ning was also afraid his son would catch a cold, so he made the largest piece of crystal into a window for his son, allowing the child to see the outside world from the warm room.
The little one saw the vast white snow outside and immediately danced with joy, making Gan Ning burst into laughter.
“Madam, you were right. He does like the snow outside.”
Da Qiao smiled with pursed lips, stepped forward, and took the child. “Wait until you’re a few years older, then Mother will take you to play in the snow. Not now.”
Gan Ning picked up the teacup and smiled as he asked, “What’s going on with A Yu? Earlier I saw her practicing calligraphy very seriously. I’ve never seen her so focused.”
“I scolded her harshly today. She might have been awakened by the scolding!”
“How did she anger you?”
“Yang Ping’er wrote her a letter inviting her to the temple fair on the first day of the Lunar New Year. She was a bit tempted and came to ask my opinion. I got angry. The temple fair is the craziest time for lecherous ruffians every year. She actually wants to go to the temple fair. Has she forgotten her identity? If she gets molested, won’t Husband have to kill someone again to save face?”
Gan Ning nodded. Lecherous ruffians were indeed an incurable social cancer. The Lantern Festival and the New Year Temple Fair—something always happened every year, and they tried to crack down every year, but with no effect. The key wasn’t the lecherous ruffians; in such crowded conditions, many men unconsciously turned into lecherous ruffians. That was the truth. Moreover, southern customs favored such crowded temple fairs.
“She seems to have gone before!”
“That was Nanchang County’s temple fair—large area, not many people, not crowded, so it’s fine to go. But here in Chaisang County, it’s a surging crowd in a narrow space. Let her try it; with her beauty, who knows how many men would stare at her. More importantly, her status shouldn’t allow her to show her face publicly like that. She’s the Marquis of Chu’s madam. Appearing so casually at a temple fair where citizens gather and getting bullied—that’s not observing the people’s sentiments; it’s trampling on Husband’s dignity. How could I not get angry?”
“You’re right to say it and do it. I feel A Yu has been awakened by your scolding!”
“She should wake up. She’s almost seventeen. If she doesn’t wake up soon, don’t even think about a wedding night!”
……….
New Year’s Eve, the second heavy snow of the year arrived quietly. North winds howled, snowflakes flew wildly, and the world between heaven and earth turned gray and hazy.
Merchants usually closed at noon, but this heavy snow kept almost all city merchants from opening in the morning. Only shops selling incense, wax, paper, and candles stayed open, and many households rushed to buy sacrifice supplies temporarily.
Xiao Qiao was a bit nervous. Tonight was her wedding night. She felt both expectant and tense, with a touch of joy.
‘Qiao Yu, don’t be nervous. You can do it!’
Xiao Qiao took a deep breath. She simply sat down to continue practicing calligraphy to calm her inner tension. These days, she had been practicing very diligently every day, even earning praise from Da Qiao, who thought she was finally becoming sensible.
The wind bell at the door rang, and Xu Wei came in quickly carrying a large box in both hands, smiling brightly. “A Yu, let’s try on the wedding attire!”
“Yun Qing, I’m a bit nervous.”
“I was a bit nervous too at the time. But when the wedding night moment really came, I wasn’t nervous anymore. Instead, I was expectant.”
Xu Wei set down the box, pushed open the door to look at the wedding room, and exclaimed in admiration, “Wow! It’s decorated so beautifully, even better than mine back then.”
The wedding room was carpeted with thick, soft carpet, all in festive red, including a pair of big red candles and shiny golden candlesticks. Even the bed curtains were red, with large “double happiness” characters on the walls and curtains.
Xiao Qiao stepped forward with a smile. “I’ve been decorating for ten days. You only did one day back then, okay?”
“Alright! I won’t go in. Hurry and change into the dress. We’ll pick a wedding attire together for tonight.”
The two excitedly selected wedding dresses for a full hour, constantly changing outfits, and finally chose a red-and-gold wedding attire that both agreed on.
At this moment, a maidservant curtsied at the door. “Third Madam, Madam says it’s time for your bath!”
In the courtyard, five sturdy women carried ten large buckets of hot water.
After bathing, Xiao Qiao went to Older Sister’s place.
Xiao Qiao’s mother, Madam Yang, was immersed in devotion to Buddha and didn’t care at all about Xiao Qiao’s wedding night. In her view, her daughter had been Gan Ning’s woman for five years already; all this fuss now was pointless.
No choice—older sister was like a mother. Da Qiao had to take on the mother’s role, quietly imparting bedroom experience to her younger sister in the room. Xiao Qiao seemed to know everything, but actually knew nothing.
After half an hour of instruction, Xiao Qiao came out of the room blushing. By then, it was dusk; the snow had lessened, the streets were still quiet, and every household had started their New Year’s Eve dinner.
Gan Ning’s residence was lit up with lanterns and decorations, partly to celebrate the New Year but mostly to bless Xiao Qiao.
For tonight’s New Year’s Eve dinner, Gan Ning’s residence didn’t eat it, saving it for tomorrow night. Everyone had a simple dinner. As night fell completely, Xiao Qiao offered tea to her older sister. Da Qiao took the teacup, formally recognizing this younger sister and sister-in-law.
“Alright, Yun Qing, take A Yu back to her room! Wait patiently for the auspicious time.”
Xu Wei escorted Xiao Qiao back to the courtyard. Xiao Qiao’s courtyard was hung with lanterns everywhere. All servants had left, even her personal maidservant staying elsewhere, and the female guards temporarily stayed away from this festive courtyard.
The entire courtyard had only Xu Wei accompanying Xiao Qiao. They sat on the bed. Xiao Qiao held Xu Wei’s hand gratefully. “Thank goodness you’re with me. Otherwise, I’d be really scared alone.”
Xu Wei patted her hand comfortingly. “Don’t be afraid. You’ll be very happy tonight.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll be just like you.”
Xu Wei smiled. Hearing distant drum sounds, she stood up. “The time is approaching. I’ll go fetch the groom. He’ll be here soon!”
Xu Wei closed the door and left. Xiao Qiao’s heart pounded with tension. Thinking of the embarrassing details her sister had described, she gently bit her lip, her heart filled with anticipation.
