Changping Village.
While eating tea eggs, the sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time from the Tutu Temple at the south end of the village.
Luo Baobao became more and more anxious as he ate, and at the same time urged Hongxiu: "Auntie, eat quickly. I will take you to the Earth Temple later to watch the incense burning. Both adults and children will go, it will be lively."
Hongxiu was startled. In her opinion, on New Year's Eve, shouldn't five-color rice and various fruits and snacks be placed in the clan ancestral hall, and then the clan leader would lead the clan members to worship?
"Can anyone come and pay homage? Can I, a woman with a foreign surname, also come and visit?"
Out of curiosity, Hongxiu couldn't help but ask.
In her memory, during the Chinese New Year, matters of worship in the family were only the business of men, and women were not allowed to enter the ancestral hall.
Even a direct descendant like her could only follow her mother and stand at the entrance of the ancestral hall from a distance to watch. Entering the ancestral hall was the business of her father and younger brother.
She remembered that once, a concubine in her uncle's house was ignorant and ran to the ancestral hall to watch the fun and wiped one of the silver plates containing offerings.
After the clan leader found out, he blamed the incident on the fact that the aunt was the younger sister's biological mother. Not only did he lock up the younger sister for half a month, but he also sold the younger sister's biological mother aunt on the grounds that the goddaughter had no way out.
The uncle was reluctant to part with him, but he couldn't keep him because families like his were very particular about celebrating ancestors during the New Year and couldn't be careless at all.
"Auntie, our customs here are different from those in your capital city. We don't have those fussy rules. Anyone with eyes can go and see them!"
Hongxiu was obviously a little moved, but she still did not agree rashly, but turned her questioning eyes to Yang Ruoqing.
Yang Ruoqing smiled and nodded at her: "Baby is right, we are in the countryside here, the people are open and not so particular."
Wang Cuilian also said: "It's the Chinese New Year. Adults and children just want to have fun. You eat quickly. After eating, go to the Tutu Temple with your uncle to kowtow a few times. I wish you everything will go well in the coming year!"
At this point, Hongxiu chuckled and nodded.
Hong Xiu ate one tea egg and said she was full, while Luo Baobao ate three and said she would just rest on it for the time being.
Then he stood up and pulled the red sleeves with his lips: "Let's go, aunt, let's go and watch the fun!"
Hongxiu hesitated for a moment, looked at the eggshells on the table and said, "Wait a minute, I'll pack up the eggshells and go..."
Wang Cuilian came from the side and snatched the empty bowl and eggshells from Hongxiu's hand, "Oh, these aunts can just take care of it. You two should go quickly. If you go late, you won't get a good seat."
"Yes, yes, we're late and don't have a good seat. Let's go, aunt!" Luo Baobao pulled up his red sleeves and ran out of the kitchen.
Wang Cuilian followed them to the door of the kitchen and watched the two of them walking away. Then she turned around and said, "Our baby has an aunt. Look how happy she is. She even walks with wind!"
Yang Ruoqing also laughed.
Isn't it just Luo Baobao who is happy? Auntie seems to like red sleeves too.
Ping'er lived in the Luo family before getting married, and Yu'er also lived at home briefly.
Although Wang Cuilian treated them well, and they called her "big mom" and "big mom", there always seemed to be something missing between Wang Cuilian and them.
That kind of thing may be called rapport.
But when Hong Xiu came over, Yang Ruoqing clearly felt that when Wang Cuilian looked at Hong Xiu, her eyes were different from when she looked at Ping'er and Yu'er before.
Warm and polite, with sincerity and heartfelt love and affection.
Take tea egg peeling as an example. No matter how hospitable Wang Cuilian was in the past, she would not be so polite as to help guests peel egg shells.
She only skinned the children at home.
Also, when she looked at Hongxiu and the others walking away, the look in her eyes did not escape Holmes@Ruoqing's eyes.
"Qing'er, how old is this Hongxiu this year? It looks like it's not much older than our baby?"
Wang Cuilian asked Yang Ruoqing while clearing the things on the table.
Yang Ruoqing thought about it seriously, "She looks five or six years older than our baby."
"Oh, that's how it is?"
Wang Cuilian's eyes flashed, "Is she from the capital? Who else is there at home? How long can you stay at our house this time?"
This soul's third question is very familiar. Yang Huazhong also asked him before at the gate of the hospital.
It’s not convenient to talk to Yang Huazhong, but I can chat a little more with Wang Cuilian.
"Well, she is from the capital. Her family used to be an official. When she was a child, her family hired a female teacher to teach her."
"Huh? So she's a young lady from an official family? No wonder she has tender skin and tender flesh, and her overall temperament is also different. She looks like she's well-versed in books and etiquette."
Wang Cuilian praised sincerely, and her thoughts of getting closer to Hongxiu also receded a little.
She is just a village woman, and she is everyone's young lady. There must be many people who love her...
"However, she also had a hard life. Something happened to her family and her parents were gone. When I found her, she was working as a coolie in the priest's workshop as the daughter of a criminal!"
"ah?"
Wang Cuilian was so shocked that the movements of her hands stopped.
"What crime did her family commit? Could it be..."
Yang Ruoqing nodded, "I was involved at that time, so my house was ransacked, and my parents were both dead. That happened during the time of the Supreme Emperor."
Yang Ruoqing secretly investigated the affairs of Hongxiu's family and found out that there was injustice involved.
However, the evidence is insufficient and the time is not up, so it is not possible to overturn the case for her family.
But as long as Hong Xiu lives, there is hope, right?
Even if the verdict really cannot be overturned, it must be her parents' deepest wish that she can survive and live a good life like an ordinary person!
"Hey, such a delicate young lady suddenly suffered a sudden change. She is not as good as those ordinary people's children with flat heads." Wang Cuilian sighed, her heartache for Hongxiu doubled several times.
"Hongxiu is here to help me and keep the baby, so she can probably stay with us for a while."
Hearing this, Wang Cuilian's eyes suddenly lit up.
"That's good. I don't know why, but I feel close to that girl as soon as I see her!"
Yang Ruoqing smiled.
She almost persuaded Wang Cuilian to accept Hongxiu as a foster daughter. Wang Cuilian had no children, and Hongxiu didn't have a family either.
But when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back.
Some things are too much, and it depends on fate.
When fate comes, it will happen naturally. There is no need to push and push the flames after the first meeting. There is still a question mark about what Hong Xiu is thinking!
Moreover, this godmother is not someone you recognize casually, just like she did with Zichuan Niang. Once they recognize each other, they are a serious family relative.
So wait for now.
"Auntie, I only told you about Hongxiu's life and death. Don't tell anyone else."
Yang Ruoqing warned again carefully.
"Even if you are yourself, don't expose your secrets in front of Hongxiu. Although she has a bumpy fate and a gentle temperament, she is a very strong person at heart and cannot tolerate the pity and sympathy of others. Auntie, do you understand? "
