, wonderful and free of pop-ups! <!--The beginning of the chapter--> Every time I go back to see Zou Lin'er, I have to tell him many chapters of the plot of "Dream of Red Mansions".
Zou Lin'er will write a manuscript in the coming days.
The manuscript was handed over to Zuo Junmo for printing and mass distribution...
During this process, Luo Fengtang and Narisong were also busy with their own affairs.
During this period, Luo Fengtang went to the southern military camp twice and was busy training the troops.
At the end of every month, I would take a few days to go back to Changping Village.
The days passed in such a busy and fulfilling way.
In the blink of an eye, three months have passed.
The days slipped quietly to late November of the lunar calendar.
It’s only one month until the Chinese New Year.
"Qing'er, tomorrow is the Winter Solstice Festival. Can Tangyao send a message?"
After breakfast, when Yang Ruoqing came to the yard next door, Mrs. Sun grabbed her and asked.
Yang Ruoqing smiled happily, nodded and said: "I didn't send a message home, but he mentioned to me when he came back last month that there was a holiday in the military camp during the Winter Solstice, and he should come back to celebrate the festival."
In Da Qi and even Da Liao.
Both nobles and commoners attach great importance to the Winter Solstice Festival.
The government will hold a congratulatory ceremony, which is called 'Winter Congratulations'.
Officials also have a routine holiday, with the military on standby, border fortresses in retreat, business and travel closed, and relatives and friends giving each other delicious food and wine, commonly known as "Winter Worship."
In this rural area, local customs are added to each place.
In the Changping Village area, it is not only a joyful time for relatives and friends to gather for dinner, but also a sacrificial day for ancestors to visit their graves and burn incense.
It is equally important as worshiping on Qingming Festival, Yulan, and even New Year's Eve.
That's why Sun was so concerned about whether Luo Fengtang could come back to celebrate the winter solstice.
"It'll be great if you can come back in time." Mrs. Sun said.
"Qing'er, tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. What are we going to eat during the Winter Solstice this year to celebrate the festival?" Mrs. Sun continued.
Yang Ruoqing gathered her thoughts and thought for a while.
"According to usual custom, we eat Dongzhi noodles and red bean glutinous rice on the Winter Solstice," she said.
"But this year's winter solstice is different. My mother-in-law and the others are celebrating it with us."
"I asked the Xiao family privately. They all eat mutton and dumplings on the winter solstice in Daliao."
"So I plan to cook all the food from the north and the south this winter solstice. Last time, Brother Zuo came back from doing business in the east and brought the sweet-scented osmanthus stuffed wine from there."
"How about we just have a hodgepodge?" Yang Ruoqing asked.
Mrs. Sun nodded repeatedly: "I think it will work!"
"I'll prepare the red beans and glutinous rice. How about the mutton?" asked Sun again.
Yang Ruoqing patted her chest: "Leave the mutton dumplings to me!"
Where the fragrant deer are kept, a few sheep are also raised.
Slaughter one to celebrate the festival, then prepare two tables of meals, invite relatives and friends over, have a lively meal together, and have a good winter solstice festival.
Mother and daughter made up their minds, and Mrs. Sun said, "I'll wash the clothes first. After they're dried, I'll add them to soak the glutinous rice."
Yang Ruoqing rushed to say: "I'm already here, I'll wash the clothes."
Sun said: "This can't be done. What should you do if your hands are frozen in the cold weather?"
"I wash it with well water, it won't freeze." Yang Ruoqing said.
Some time ago, she washed the dirty clothes of her family and her parents' family together.
But she hasn't washed it in the past ten days.
As for the reason...
"Qing'er, is your menstruation over?" asked Sun.
Yang Ruoqing nodded: "It's over, so I have to wash these clothes. Mom is not allowed to snatch them from me."
Sun's focus is no longer on who does the laundry.
"Qing'er, there's something wrong with me. I've wanted to ask you for a long time, but I haven't dared to ask you," the woman said.
Yang Ruoqing smiled and said: "We are mother and daughter. Mom, if you want to ask anything, just ask."
Sun reached out and took Yang Ruoqing's hand and pulled her aside.
After looking around and seeing no one around, he lowered his voice and said, "It's been almost four months since you and Tangyazi got married. Tangyazi has to come back every month to stay for two days. Why are you so bloated? No movement at all?"
"Forehead……"
Yang Ruoqing's head was covered with black lines.
Seeing Mrs. Sun hiding so much, she thought she was going to ask something.
After working on it for a long time, is this it?
"Qing'er, people say it's hard for a doctor to heal himself. Don't just worry about your business and tire yourself out!"
"After the New Year, you are already fifteen, and your sister-in-law, your sister Lan'er, and your eighth sister are all pregnant, so you are the only one missing!" Mrs. Sun said again.
Yang Ruoqing's face turned red.
Hey, there are a lot of things happening at home in the second half of the year.
My sister-in-law Yang Huamei is almost seven months pregnant. Because she is pregnant with twins, her belly is like an inflated ball.
Because Yang Huamei has limited mobility, Wang Shuanzi has to help her pick up her chopsticks if they fall on the ground.
As for Yang Ruolan, Mrs. Xiao was kind after all and did not do anything to Yang Ruolan's children.
However, due to Xiao's violent policy towards Na Risong, Yang Ruolan couldn't stand the fact that the man she looked up to and relied on was like a doormat in front of Xiao.
In order to have a safe environment for raising her baby, Yang Ruolan temporarily moved back to Lao Yang's house and still lived in the same house.
Yang Hualin is a man who doesn't know how to take care of pregnant women.
A wealthy widow in her thirties was specially invited from Lijia Village to serve Yang Ruolan.
As for Cao Bamei, she found out she was pregnant last month.
But Yang Yongjin was so happy that he was having a baby in a rented house in the town.
Therefore, everyone's eyes are now on Yang Ruoqing.
"well……"
Yang Ruoqing rubbed her hands in embarrassment. She was always very articulate, but she became clumsy when explaining such things.
"Mom, my health is fine, and Tang Yazi's health is also very good..."
"Since everything is fine, why haven't you gotten pregnant after so long?" Sun asked again.
"Forehead……"
Yang Ruoqing lowered her eyelashes slightly.
"We...we plan to live this life for a year and a half and have no plans to have children."
"Why not?" Mrs. Sun was puzzled.
When you get married, isn't it just about striking the iron while it's hot and having a baby?
It’s best to have one a year and a pair every two years.
No, having twins is better!
If Yang Ruoqing could hear Sun's ventriloquism, she would probably faint.
"Mom, I'm not very old yet. I want to wait. There's no rush."
she continued.
Mrs. Sun looked at her daughter's body.
"Well, it's okay to keep her pregnant for another year and a half," said Sun.
"You and Tang Yazi have discussed it, and we won't say anything. What we look forward to most is the harmony between you and your husband," the woman said again.
Yang Ruoqing nodded: "I understand."
The mother and daughter said a few more thoughtful words, then split up and got busy.
While washing clothes by the well in the backyard, Yang Ruoqing kept thinking about her previous conversation with Mrs. Sun.
During the newlywed days, she and Tang Yazi stayed together almost every night.
