Chapter 644: Blessing Couplets
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Binglan genuinely liked Luo Jin’an’s handwriting when she saw it. She felt it was as beautiful as his personality and matched his style perfectly. Luo Jin’an noticed Su Binglan’s expression and asked, “Do you like it?” Su Binglan nodded and said earnestly, “Of course I do.”
Luo Jin’an revealed a warm smile when he heard his wife’s a.s.surance.
Su Binglan turned and noticed Shen Mohen admiring the couplets. She asked, “Do you want to take a closer look?”
Shen Mohen looked at Luo Jin’an and asked, “C-Can I take the couplet home and add it to my collection?”
Luo Jin’an thought it was a strange request. He said, “But it’s just a couplet.”
“Yes, but I want to collect a few of your works.” Shen Mohen smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.
He kept looking at Luo Jin’an as he spoke, afraid the latter would reject him. After all, Wei Jin’an’s calligraphy and paintings were priceless. However, Luo Jin’an nodded in agreement.
Shen Mohen sighed in relief and smiled when Luo Jin’an agreed. “You’re the best, cousin-in-law!”
He was proud to be somewhat related to Young Major General Wei. Shen Mohen knew anyone would be envious of him if they knew about it. Still, Wei Jin’an’s status was extraordinary, and Shen Mohen had to keep it a secret.
Afterward, he said, “Don’t worry. I’ll keep it for myself and won’t tell anyone about it.’
Su Binglan had an indescribable feeling in her heart when she heard that. She felt depressed when she thought of the baseless crimes the Wei family army was accused of.
She wanted them to live freely and did not want people to misunderstand or frame them. A determined look flashed in her eyes when she thought about that.
‘I’ll write a play to show everyone that the Wei family army was innocent.’
Soon after, Su Binglan applied glue to the couplets and pasted them on either side of the house’s entrance. The red couplets gave off a warm and inviting feeling to the Su family’s home.
Su Binglan, Shen Qiuhua, and Liu Yinyin cut some grilles and pasted them along the window lattice the following morning. The house looked fresh and different with the new decorations.
The red decorations symbolized a joyous occasion and improved everyone’s mood. Moreover, the family looked ready to celebrate the New Year.
When evening arrived, Su Fengmao placed the pig skin he had prepared in the yard to dry. Later that night, everyone ate dinner and tried the pig skin snack. Everyone enjoyed the traditional snack.
Su Wenzhe said, “We have plenty of pig skin this year. The meat just melts in your mouth. We only had a bit of pig skin last time, so we mostly ate soup.” Su Wenwu stuffed his mouth as he said, “It’s so delicious!”
Meanwhile, Shen Mohen ate one steam bun after another, saying, “I’ve never tried pig skin snacks.”
Since the Shen family was one of the Six Great Families, they had an excellent chef who cooked various delicacies. However, the chef had never made pig skin snacks.
Su Wenwu said, “Since you come from a prominent family, you’ve never eaten food us commoners eat.’
He knew Shen Mohen was the eldest son of a prominent family, so the latter would only eat exquisite food. Su Wenwu expected it when Shen Mohen said he had never tried the snack.
“Still, I think foods like these always taste better,” Shen Mohen said, “It gives me the New Year spirit.”
Shen Qiuhua recalled her childhood memories and said, “The Shen family always celebrated the New Year differently than us. I only realized how lively the New Year could be after I moved to Hua County.”
Shen Qiuhua’a brother and parents had protected her when she was a child, so she suffered little. Afterward, she moved to Su Teng Village and married Su Fengmao.
Su Fengmao and his parents treated Shen Qiuhua well. Moreover, Shen Qiuhua’s children had grown into responsible young adults, making her proud.
Shen Qiuhua spent her days smiling because her family’s lives improved nonstop. She did not regret leaving her family long ago. She nodded, saying, “l know how you feel, Mohen.”
After a pause, she smiled and added, “Mohen, you can stay with us. Now that our living conditions have improved, we can keep you warm and fed.”
She was delighted to reunite with her nephew. She saw her brother in him. Still, she had to admit she missed her younger brother. Therefore, she wanted to treat her nephew well.
Shen Mohen knew he could stay with the Su family because his aunt’s family welcomed and treated him well. Although Su Binglan did not say much, he knew she was a good person.
Meanwhile, Su Binglan ate her father’s snacks and praised him, “Father, these are delicious.’
Su Fengmao was thrilled when he heard his daughter’s praise. “Please have more since I made plenty.”
Su Binglan agreed and thought her father might have made too much. Still, the family might not have enough to eat if he did not. Even Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai happily ate the snacks.
Eating was a form of enjoyment for the Su family. After a busy day, they always looked forward to what they would have for dinner.
Every household was busy getting ready for the New Year and would usually finish preparing their food on the 28th of December.
Li Mei and Du Xiaoshuan had recently gotten married and started preparing for the celebrations together. Of course, the newlywed couple also brought Li Mei’s siblings over for the New Year.
Li Wei, Li Su, and their younger brother enjoyed playing together at Li Mei and Du Xiaoxhuan’s place. Since it was the holiday season, Mrs. Du did not need to look after the dormitories. Instead, she went home to help her son and his wife.
Li Mei looked around the lively atmosphere and smiled. She felt like that was what it felt like to have a home. The house felt warm and inviting.
Meanwhile, Lin Chai and his wife bought many things in preparation for the holidays. Miss He also made plenty of traditional foods from scratch. Although she was once weak, her health improved after visiting Su Binglan’s clinic.
Nonetheless, Miss He planned to make more food for her three sons. She made various noodle dishes, and her sons were happy to help. The family sat at the heated brick platform and made noodles together..