Chapter 42
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Celeste S.] [Azurixa] [Robert K.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[K.Rom]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Camille] [Linds] [Esther D.]
Feng Lin"s family circ.u.mstances were only a little better than that of Xiao Liulang"s original family. As could be seen from his daily food and clothing expenses, it wasn’t really that good.
Despite that, he had always been unconditionally generous towards Xiao Liulang. Take these red papers, for example, if you buy a few dozen pieces of this paper, it would cost almost half a tael of silver.
Usually, he would eat only pickles and steamed buns in the academy.
In the evening, snow began fluttering and swirling in the sky again.
Feng Lin stayed at the academy alone.
Currently, he was reading a book in his dormitory room. One oil lamp wasn’t bright enough, but he was unwilling to light up a second one.
The cold wind blew past the door, making him shiver.
He didn"t burn any charcoal. First, the academy wouldn"t let him. Second, he was also reluctant.
There were a total of four people living in this room, and these cla.s.smates would be here on ordinary days, so it didn’t feel so cold. But now that he was all alone, he only felt that all the cold wind went straight into his stomach.
This was his first year in a foreign land.
He missed his parents and longed for his sisters, he felt homesick, but he couldn’t go back.
His home was indeed far away, but he had also saved a few taels of silver for travel expenses. However, at present, it was more important to spend all his time studying, he did not want to delay his studies even for a day.
Each of the three consecutive generations of his family had only produced one son. In his generation, a second son hadn"t been born yet. In order to provide for his studies, one of his sisters married a widower as a second wife, while the other was betrothed to a tea merchant who was over half a century old.
They put in all their life for his sake, so he had to strive hard and return to his hometown in silken robes[1].
After expelling a warm breath in his hands, Feng Lin wrapped himself in the quilt tightly and continued to bury his head in reading.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone suddenly knocked at the door.
Strange. Who would come to look for him at this time?
The academy was on its vacation period and everyone had gone home, even the teachers returned home for the New Year. In short, he was the only one left in this empty academy.
"Don’t tell me it’s a ghost..." He succeeded in scaring himself, his face turned white and he wrapped himself in the quilt even more tightly. "You... Who are you?"
"It"s me."
A familiar voice of a girl came from outside the door.
Feng Lin lifted the quilt, walked over and opened the door with his shoes on. When he saw Gu Jiao covered in snow all over, he inwardly cursed ‘to h.e.l.l with it’!
This was a men’s dormitory!
What was she doing here alone?!!
"What are you doing here? Is something wrong with Brother Xiao?" Apart from this, Feng Lin couldn"t think of any other reason. Without waiting for Gu Jiao to answer, he immediately put on a cloak and said to Gu Jiao, "Where is Brother Xiao?"
"At home." Gu Jiao answered.
Feng Lin went out of the room without saying anything.
Looking at his fiery back, Gu Jiao said calmly, "There’s no carriage."
During New Year, especially when there was a snowstorm, there was no way to hire carts and carriages.
Feng Lin said without thinking, "Even without a carriage, can"t you still walk on your legs? Hurry up!"
Gu Jiao: "Oh."
But the one she was worried about being unable to walk wasn’t her.
Facts had proved that Feng Lin"s physical strength was really not as good as Gu Jiao"s. Along the way, Gu Jiao"s face wasn’t red at all nor was she breathless, on the other hand, Feng Lin almost fell down several times.
When they finally reached Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang’s house, Feng Lin felt that his legs were no longer his own.
He pushed open the door with his last energy and looked forward, but when he saw the scene inside, he was dumbfounded.
He saw Xiao Liulang sitting in a chair in the main room, watching the elderly woman teach Gu Xiaoshun how to make paper-cutting decorations. How rosy was his complexion, was how rosy it was. Just which part did he look sick at all?
"You’ve returned." Xiao Liulang greeted the two of them.
"Little Feng is here, have a seat!" The elderly woman also greeted.
Gu Xiaoshun had always disliked Feng Lin, but today he unexpectedly didn"t give Feng Lin a disdainful look.
Feng Lin"s was at a total loss. He looked at Gu Jiao blankly and said, "Doesn’t, doesn’t Brother Xiao..."
Gu Jiao spread out her hands, "That"s what you said, I didn"t say anything."
Feng Lin：“…”
Why didn"t he find this woman so cunning before?
Feng Lin spent his first New Year"s Eve away from home at Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang’s house. Because of the presence of Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun, people he hated, he thought he would be uncomfortable, but unexpectedly, the atmosphere turned out to be harmonious.
Gu Jiao made dumplings according to the village’s customs, and also made osmanthus sticky rice cakes according to the custom of Feng Lin and Xiao Liulang’s hometown. When the flavor from his hometown reached the tip of his tongue, Feng Lin’s tears suddenly burst out.
He wasn’t touched, just, it was very very very very delicious!
Wu!
Wasn"t this little wicked woman a local here? How did she make the osmanthus sticky rice cakes this tasty ah?!
Feng Lin ate with tears in his eyes.
At first, he did cry because he was moved by how delicious it was, but later it reminded him of his hometown. He began to think about his sisters and his elderly parents at home.
He had no idea how they were doing this year while he was away from home.
Seeing him cry so miserably, Gu Xiaoshun decided not to speak out against him for the first time, and even gave him his share of sticky rice cakes.
This was undoubtedly a lively New Year"s Eve, not only for Feng Lin, but also for Gu Jiao and others.
Gu Jiao spent all her previous New Year"s Eve alone in the organization. When she grew up, she was no longer an experimental subject in the organization, but she just moved from the laboratory to another room, in the end she was still by herself.
Gu Xiaoshun used to spend New Year’s Eve with the Gu Family, but there were many people in the Gu Family and no one would pay him attention. For instance, he ran away tonight, and he could swear no one would find out.
The elderly woman couldn’t remember how she spent her previous years. In any case, she undoubtedly had a good time this year. She posted up Spring Festival couplets in person, and taught Gu Xiaoshun to make paper-cutting decorations amusingly, and sure enough, it was worse than her own, which immediately made her heart balanced! In addition, JiaoJiao also made an exception and allowed her to eat five candied fruits this time. Normally, she was given only two.
Xiao Liulang was very serene. He was never a person to show emotions on his face, but Gu Jiao could still feel the faint sense of sadness coming out of him.
And it was more than usual.
Several people stayed up till midnight.
There were only three rooms at home. It was not convenient for the elderly woman to squeeze with others, hence, Gu Jiao tidied up Xiao Liulang"s room and asked Feng Lin to stay there temporarily.
Feng Lin and Xiao Liulang had a good relationship, but he didn’t know that Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang hadn’t shared a room at home so far, so he stayed very readily.
Counting the night in the inn, this was the second time that the two were sleeping together. Gu Jiao"s bed was much wider than the one in the inn, and the quilt was also thick enough.
Light must be left on during New Year’s Eve. Thus, the oil lamp on the table was left emitting a faint glow.
The two people lay down in their respective positions. Xiao Liulang had his eyes closed, but Gu Jiao knew he wasn’t asleep.
"Did you have a good year?" Gu Jiao asked softly.
Before Xiao Liulang could answer, a slender little hand reached into his quilt and grabbed his cold and stiff hand.
Gu Jiao: "Next year will be even better."
1. ↑ — come back home after achieving wealth and official distinction.
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Also, please also have a look at our other translations!
Everyone But Me Is Reborn
Her father is a coward and senselessly filial. Her mother is weak and gullible. Her elder brother is a wastrel.
When she married into the w.a.n.gfu, she suffered and was coldly treated. And by the time she was in labour, she was fated to die with the unborn child in her belly.
This was supposed to be Ning Nuan"s life.
However this time, everyone but her is reborn.
Ning Nuan is at a loss. She felt that her dad has suddenly become the pillar of the family, her mother’s temper became fierce, and even her elder brother, who would only walk the dogs and play with birds all day, has begun picking up books and reading them carefully.
There is also that juvenile that shows up at the wall of her courtyard everyday, calling her “Ah Nuan, Ah Nuan” with an honest face.