There were a lot of things to be prepared for in the twelfth lunar month, especially the most essential items, the New Year goods.
At noon on this day, Yuxi saw a plate of sausages on the dining table, and her heart jumped. She pretended to be surprised, as she asked, "What is this?"
Kufu explained with a smile, "Miss, these are called sausages. It is said that nowadays, they were very popular outside. Today, I bought a lot from the purchasing agent. Even that Old Nainai had also asked someone to send two jin for Miss to taste while they are still fresh. Miss, apart from the sausages, there are also preserved meats. It is said that they taste good too!"
Yuxi naturally knew that these were sausages. She had once thought to sell them that one time, but later she just gave up because she was worried that Old Lady would suspect her. She then asked, "Who made this?" In her heart, she speculated that this was probably something produced by Heshou Xianzhu. She couldn't think of anyone else, other than her.
In a word, Yuxi really admired Heshou Xianzhu. In her opinion, Heshou Xianzhu was such a capable person. How much money did Heshou Xianzhu had made so far? It was estimated to be several hundred thousand taels of silver. How would Yuxi not feel envious? Ah, there was a good old saying, fullness for the bold, famine for the timid. Heshou Xianzhu was bold enough that she could earn a fortune, while she had the courage that was so small that she couldn't even manage to drink even a soup. Yuxi said to herself, "I don't know what else will come out later on." The things that Heshou Xianzhu produced didn't spread inside the Duke of the State official residence. Yuxi guessed that everyone already had the thought that Heshou Xianzhu was too strange, that they weren't brave enough to buy her things.
Kufu shook her head and said, "Regarding this matter, this handmaiden isn't that clear. But I've heard that this one is the most expensive. It costs 100 copper coins for a jin!" A jin of pork cost twelve copper coins, and a jin of sausages cost one hundred copper coins, which common families simply couldn't afford. Of course, this rare thing would only be enjoyed by rich households.
Yuxi inserted a piece into her mouth and nodded her head, "Not bad. It is really delicious." This time, her maid had bought spicy sausages, which were really to her taste.
After she finished her lunch, Yuxi had a walk around her courtyard. Rose Courtyard was the smallest courtyard, which was incomparable to Yuchen's huge Tingyun Pavilion. Thus, it was just enough for her to walk inside her own yard.
White Yuxi was walking in her courtyard, she also took the time to think. She didn't know if Heshou Xianzhu also found out about her abnormality. If she did, would she do something to her? She noticed that Heshou Xianzhu wasn't a soft-hearted kind of person. Since she had been thinking too much, she eventually forgot the time. Until Kufu came to remind her, "Miss, it's time for you to take a nap."
Yuxi gave out a smile while wondering, how did two-quarters of an hour pass so quickly?
The next day, the purchasing agent brought a lot of things for Yuxi. There were eight types of sugar in various flavours, as well as cookies, peanuts, sunflower seeds and other snacks in many flavours. They weren't that much though, as each kind was only about two to three jin only.
The old woman who brought the things over said, "Old Nainai said that these things are all new. She specially asked this old servant to bring some for Miss." Naturally, when there was something new in the capital, every family would want to buy some. One was to pursue the trend, and the other was to prevent others from saying that they lacked knowledge. [+]
Yuxi had never been interested in candy and other sweet things, but these things still need to be prepared. When the New Year came, she would have something to serve those who came to her yard. While, from Ye Shi point of view, this showed that Yuxi was Qiu Shi's favourite since Qiu Shi would make extra purchases just for Yuxi, a benefit that others didn't receive.
After dinner, Yuxi went to the Songxiang Courtyard to express her thanks to Ye Shi. There was no excuse for her not to be thankful when Ye Shi had sent her so many thoughtful gifts.
Ye Shi did not expect Yuxi would come and thank her for this matter. She smiled as she took Yuxi's hand and said, "Why Si Meimei needs to be this polite?"
It was here when a maid immediately brought Yuxi a cup of rose-scented tea.
Yuxi looked at the rose tea and smiled. It seemed that Dasao knew her preferences very well, and Yuxi was not that unreasonable either. Thus, she took the scented tea with both of her hands and took two sips before putting it down. "Dasao, why are there so many new things coming out this year?" Although she already speculated that they were made by Heshou Xianzhu, her assumption wasn’t ascertained yet!
Ye Shi did not think much about it, as she smiled and replied, "These things were all made by He Sheng Tang, but I heard that He Sheng Tang is the property of Heshou Xianzhu. By the way, the sausage and bacon from the previous two days were also released by the people of Heshou's hamlet."
Yuxi was shocked, "I heard that Heshou Xianzhu has opened many shops this year, and the business of each shop was extremely good. She is indeed a very capable person." Heshou Xianzhu was so eager to exchange all the things she knew for money. So, what was actually Heshou Xianzhu's plan to even risk herself from people assumption, just to collect this much money?
Ye Shi smilingly said, "Who would have known, right! However, this is also Heshou Xianzhu's good fortune in making money. Even though I'm envious of her, but, that feeling doesn't go over my admiration towards her." She didn't mention it before, but what helped Heshou Xianzhu to earn so many profits as much as the alms bowl was because everyone was buying goods for New Year.
After Yuxi had a short conversation with Ye Shi, she left right away. She was mainly here to express her thanks, and in her opinion, that was sufficient.
Ye Shi sent Yuxi out of the door and turned around. She could not help sighing, "This Fourth Miss, she's so hard to get close to." She had always wanted to build a good relationship with Yuxi over the past two years. She had even especially been fawning over Yuxi, but Yuxi continuously treated her indifferently.
Ye Shi's wet nurse, old woman Hua, advised, "Master should take good care of Master's body. Everything else is just something vain." To give birth to a son was something fundamental to the family of Duke Han of the State.
Ye Shi touched her belly, then she said with a wry smile, "I also want to have one!" The Shizi didn't have a concubine's room, and he only had her. They were very loving towards each other, and yet for two years, they had not conceived any child. Though, for Ye Shi, this matter shouldn't be done in a rush.
Ye Shi's basic body constitution was somewhat inclining towards cold. This situation happened when she was pushed into the lake in winter, during the year she was engaged. What made it worse was that she was in the middle of her monthly period at that time. Since then, the coldness in her womb had become more severe. So for the past two years, she had been recuperating herself. If this ailment of her was being known to others, it wouldn't end well. Especially if the ones who knew about it were the Old Lady and Qiu Shi, otherwise she would have a hard time living in the residence. Ye Shi tried to curry favour with Yuxi, in hope that Yuxi would be able to put in a good word about her in front of Qiu Shi and this would give her more time. Every woman wanted to have her own children and was unwilling to raise other people's children.
Old woman Hua asked in a low voice, "Da Nainai, do you think we need to ask a physician to have a look at it?" Both were glad that Physician Bai was not an expert in gynaecology, otherwise, their secret would have been exposed much earlier.
Ye Shi shook her head and said, "No need, let's keep using what we used before!" In exchange, on the contrary to their belief, their way was even more ineffective.
The main courtyard was not far from Songxiang Courtyard. Thus, Yuxi went to the main courtyard again. Looking at Qiu Shi's face, she smiled and asked, "What's the matter, Eldest Aunt?" With Ye Shi helping with the housework, her Eldest Aunt should have been much more relaxed than usual.
Mama Li explained in a low voice, "The First Lady had asked someone to talk with Madam Duan, but Madam Duan hasn't given her answer yet." The Duan family and the Han family were two groups of people who didn't walk on the same road. Even when Yuxi helped Duan Xinrong back in those days, only these two peers kept visiting each other. Furthermore, the Han family had never thought of claiming a connection of higher status with the Duan family.
This result was as expected by Yuxi, "Eldest Aunt, don't worry, my Er Ge will definitely find you an elder sister-in-law who is much better than Xinrong Jiejie." Although Duan Xinrong was her good friend, nevertheless, the ones at the top of her priority list, were definitely her Eldest Aunt and her Er Ge.
Qiu Shi was just a little depressed, not angry. Marriage was the best way to tie a knot between two surnames. If the other party didn't agree with it, she couldn't force them either, "You and your sweet mouth."
Out of the main courtyard, Yuxi didn't immediately return to her yard. In any case, since she was already out, it was better for her to stroll more, and thus, her stroll led her to Tingyun Pavilion.
The one Momo Gui disliked the most was Yuxi, and no others. Because of Yuxi, Yuchen's one-day plan would be disrupted when she arrived. As a matter of fact, Yuchen didn't practice her qin that day and chatted with Yuxi instead.
Seeing that a maid brought in melon seeds which were green in colour, Yuxi took one and put it in her mouth. When she smelled the fragrance of tea, she could not help laughing, "Did San Jie also buy this from He Ji Tang?"
Yuchen waved and let all the maids and old women retreat. When there were only two of them left in the room, she said, "I bought it from He Ji Tang. In addition to melon seeds, there are also some peanuts and so on, which are made in many flavours."
Yuxi laughed, "It must have been really tough for Heshou Xianzhu." She had never heard of these things before, nor did she ever eat them. Heshou Xianzhu must have eaten them before, otherwise, they would not have been so delicious. Of course, even if Heshou Xianzhu had eaten them, the people who did all the research were still the people of Gongzhu Residence.
Yuchen didn't like to talk about Heshou Xianzhu. Since Heshou Xianzhu was so strange, she didn't have further interaction with her, "It's going to be New Year's day soon. Have your hamlet send New Year's goods to you yet?"
Yuxi smiled, "I have sold almost everything I can sell in my hamlet." None of the things that had not been sold was good, so they certainly would not be delivered to her.
Yuchen laughed, "I knew it. The things from my hamlet should be arriving tomorrow. What do you lack? I'll send you what I have here."
Yuxi was not going to be courteous to Yuchen either. Yuchen had so many good things, which Yuchen didn't lack even one bit. "I'm thinking of making Grandmother and Eldest Aunt a scarf and kneepads. So, I'm currently looking for some leather. If you have any, please leave some for me." At first, she was reluctant to ask for Yuchen's things, but after a long time, Yuxi was no longer feeling awkward. Anyway, if she didn't use them, those things would only be piled in the warehouse and became wasteful.
Yuchen said, "When those things finally arrived, I'll give you some more. You should also make yourself some coats in the meantime." Yuxi wore very few clothes, which made Yuchen feel cold every time she saw Yuxi. In terms of physical constitution, Yuchen was far worse than Yuxi.
Yuxi didn't want to make big clothes. She grew too fast. What she wore this year, she wouldn't be able to wear them next year. It would be too wasteful. Moreover, she was not afraid of the cold. In winter, she only had a cotton-padded jacket, and that jacket was already enough for her. If it weren't for the maids around her to keep on harping about it, she wouldn't even wear those coats all those years she went out.
The next day Yuchen's things finally arrived. She chose the best pieces of leather, including a tiger skin to be sent to Yuxi. Shiqin felt distressed and said, "Miss, let's keep this tiger skin for our own use!"
"No, I'm giving this to my Si Meimei," said Yuchen. She was very sure that Yuxi would not use this tiger skin for herself, but would use it to make hand guards and knee pads for the Old Lady.
Noob Translator's Musing
I'm actually a bit confused. The first time Heshou Xianzhu's shop was mentioned, it was when Ye Shi told Yuxi the name of the shop was He Sheng Tang. But when Yuxi was talking to Yuchen, Yuchen told Yuxi that the name of Heshou Xianzhu's shop was He Ji Tang.
I know that Heshou Xianzhu had a lot of shops. So does this mean that the sausages, bacon were sold in He Sheng Tang, and the candies/snacks were sold in He Ji Tang? Please, somebody, enlighten me! All I know is that 'tang (堂)' usually used in shop name, though it actually means room/hall.
Can anyone guess why Yuxi doesn't want to get close to her Dasao?
Oh...I forgot! Since we're still on the 15th day of Chinese New Year, I like to wish those who celebrate it,
I know that Heshou Xianzhu had a lot of shops. So does this mean that the sausages, bacon were sold in He Sheng Tang, and the candies/snacks were sold in He Ji Tang? Please, somebody, enlighten me! All I know is that 'tang (堂)' usually used in shop name, though it actually means room/hall.
Can anyone guess why Yuxi doesn't want to get close to her Dasao?
Oh...I forgot! Since we're still on the 15th day of Chinese New Year, I like to wish those who celebrate it,
Update : 21.08.2020
Thanks again Tenkä for another correction on 大一 dayi, from big clothes to coats.
Thanks again Tenkä for another correction on 大一 dayi, from big clothes to coats.
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi
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