Chapter 297: Comfort
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation
Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The New Year’s Eve meal was exceptionally delicious.
There were also dumplings made by the children themselves.
The dumplings were too ugly, and the older children had to help the younger ones clean up the mess. However, they were extremely busy. When the younger children were making the dumplings, they had already agreed on who they would give the dumplings to. Although the younger ones had caused a lot of trouble, their older children were still willing to help them make a dumpling that did not leak the filling.
The children kowtowed to their parents after the New Year’s Eve dinner.
They got their lucky money that had been multiplied several times over.
Then, they went to the courtyard to light fireworks.
With a bang, the fireworks exploded in the sky into beautiful and colorful fire flowers.
Heng Yi held Ah-Yao in his arms and Han Qiao in his other.
“Happy New Year’s Eve, my dear wife.”
Han Qiao tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, “Happy New Year’s Eve to you too, my dear husband,”
The children lit fireworks and played with firecrackers.
Even though it was a world of ice and snow, and the cold wind was freezing which hurt their bones, they were still sweating and laughing.
There were a few braziers in the hall, and Ah-Yao was already fast asleep in Heng Yi’s arms.
Heng Yi carried Ah-Yao and peeled walnuts and melon seeds for Han Qiao.
He would reply to Bai Cha’s musings from time to time.
Han Qiao told Aunt Zhao and Lady Lin about the children looking for their master after the new year.
Lady Lin naturally didn’t want to leave and had nowhere to go. However, she felt that she had already taught the children everything she could. Staying with the Heng family was equivalent to eating free rice, and she felt bad.
Han Qiao didn’t want to let her go either, “Isn’t that simple? 1’11 go buy a few little girls and you can teach them. When the time comes, we can also open an embroidery shop. We might not earn much from that, but as long as it can feed a person’s stomach with three meals a day, it’s fine,”
Moreover, if she bought ten girls, these girls would not have to wander on the streets. What was more tragic was that, if they continued to live in these broker homes, they would be sold to brothels which would ruin their lives.
Han Qiao was not a saint, but she knew that some good deeds had to be done.
She was able to come to this world, meet Heng Yi, and give birth to Ah-Yao. To her, this was a gift from the heavens. She also wanted to bring happiness to the people around her.
Help people as much as possible.
“Madam is kind-hearted. If you buy young girls, 1 will do my best to teach them,” Lady Lin quickly said.
Even if these girls couldn’t become top-notch embroiderers, they could at least find a job and save some money. In the future, when they get married and have children, they will live a good life.
He Cheng ran over and threw himself into Han Qiao’s arms, “Mother!”
Han Qiao smiled as she wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and gave him a sip of warm water. She wanted to see if his back was drenched in sweat, but the young boy slipped away like a loach.
Han Qiao laughed.
The courtyard was filled with the laughter of children.
When Li Zhao came to visit, Han Qiao was very surprised.
Even the children playing in the yard were surprised.
Li Zhao didn’t come alone. He brought his sister Li Mi with him, but Li Mi was wearing servant’s clothes.
The siblings came to meet them and bowed.
Han Qiao and Heng Yi both gave the same amount of money as the children, ten silver taels each.
With silver, it would be convenient for the children to buy anything they wanted.
She also didn’t ask them about everything. They could make their own decisions about some private matters or human relations.
They were both older than the children and had things that they liked but were afraid that the adults would not buy for them.
Although they had pocket money every month, and their meals were arranged properly, there were always things that they could not be upfront about…
Han Chi asked Li Zhao to sit in his courtyard for a while.
Han Qiao asked Aunt Zhao to go to the kitchen and prepare some hot dishes for their two additional guests.
Sun Xiu and Sun Yi brought Li Mi to their courtyard.
Both the brother’s and sister’s expressions were cold. Li Mi’s eyes were a little red. It was obvious that she had cried.
Han Qiao didn’t ask why. Sun Xiu and Sun Yi didn’t ask either. After the girls brought her back to their courtyard, they poured a cup of warm water for Li Mi.
Li Mi looked around Sun Xiu and Sun Yi’s room. Nothing was expensive or priceless. They were all ordinary things, but it was obvious that they were all things that the sisters liked.
It was also clear that they spent some time organizing the items.
“Drink some hot water,” Sun Xiu brought a cup of hot water to Li Mi.
Li Mi held it with both hands and took a small sip.
Tears suddenly fell from her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Sun Xiu asked softly.
She waved her hand to dismiss the others.
Only her, Li Mi, and Sun Yi were in the room.
Li Mi shook her head and didn’t say anything.
Sun Xiu and Sun Yi did not ask her.
They accompanied her silently, scooped some hot water for her to wash her face, and gave her a crushed red packet.
“For me?” Li Mi asked in surprise.
“Yes, everyone gets one. Inside is the purse we made.”
They simply embroidered a few small flowers. With their current embroidery skills, it was not a problem for them to make a few small flowers. They could also make more complicated ones. However, since their embroidery skills were not at that level yet, they decided not to make them for other people.
“Thank you.”
After receiving the red packet, Li Mi felt a little better.
Compared to Sun Xiu and Sun Yi’s silent companionship, Han Chi was much more direct, “Is there something wrong? Why are you so angry?”
Li Zhao took a deep breath, “I’m fine.”
He could not tell Han Chi that not only his father spoil his concubine and destroy his wife’s dignity, but also gave his mother’s hairpin to the concubine.
On New Year’s Eve, Secondary Consort Wen came to visit them with a new hairpin on her hair. His mother’s expression instantly turned dark. Secondary Consort Wen even took advantage of the situation and said that the hairpin was given to her by the prince many years ago.
His mother immediately tore it off and threw it on the ground.
Then, his mother questioned his father: How did the hairpin end up on Secondary Consort Wen’s head?
Why did you give it away? Did he even know what he was thinking by giving her that?
His father flipped the table and left.
Secondary Consort Wen knelt on the ground, silent like cicadas in winter. Secondary Consort Xu held the fire, and the few concubines did not dare to breathe loudly.
His mother screamed as if she had been sullen for a long time.
She even stomped her feet.
Then, he calmly comforted his sister, who was crying in fear, and told her that he was going to take her outside to enjoy the fresh air. If she didn’t want to return home, she could stay with the Heng family for a few days.
“Did you quarrel with His Highness and Her Highness?”
Li Zhao shook his head.
When the dishes were served, he even asked Han Chi, “Can I have some wine?”
Han Chi observed Li Zhao’s face and knew that he was in a bad mood. He asked Zeng Bao’er to get the wine.
Zeng Bao’er quickly ran to get it.
Li Zhao drank the wine and ate the food before he let out a sigh of relief, “Actually, 1 envy you.”
“I’m also satisfied with my current life,” Han Chi said.
He was loved and cared for by his parents. He did not have to worry about food and clothing anymore.
Father and Mother never quarrel.
There was never a conflict between them.
Children their age would be frightened whenever they see their parents quarrel. They were afraid it would create some sort of disharmony within the family. Therefore, they tried their best to be obedient and sensible so that they would not become a burden to their parents.
They would not let themselves become the fuse to their parents’ quarrel.
Han Chi let Li Zhao eat.
“To tell you the truth, 1 wasn’t doing well in the early days of my life. It was so bad that even the heavens took pity on me and let me meet my parents.”
“Don’t think too much about it. You’re so outstanding. Even if you don’t have your current status, you can still rely on your abilities to make a name for yourself.”
“You have been living in luxury all these years…”
“Your Highness, I may not know everything, but even a blind person can see that Her Highness cares for you and loves you.”
“Sometimes, you can’t be too greedy.. Don’t you think so?”