On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was very good.
The winter sunshine shone warmly, dispelling the haze that had lasted for many days.
This year, Dahe Village made a lot of money, most of which was used to expand the market. Later, some more money was made from chrysanthemum viewing in autumn and plum viewing in winter, but most of the money from both of these was given to Dashan's family, and the remaining money was used to expand the market. If you spend a few hundred taels of silver and divide it among the whole village, each household will only get a few hundred pennies, so there is no need to go to such trouble.
After a meeting of the village management, it was decided that the money would be pooled together and the whole village would have a family reunion dinner together.
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and preparations started today. All the women in the village came to help prepare the ingredients, while the men built stoves and moved tables. The children could have fun, and the whole village was full of laughter.
"Hey, life was hard last year. Who would have thought that things would be completely different this year."
"Who says it's not the case? Those days were really difficult in the past few years. During the New Year, I only had one bite of meat to eat. My children were so greedy that I couldn't do anything about it. It has only been a while since our days in Dahe Village have gotten better. I have to thank you for all this." Dashan Niang.”
"The Osmanthus Village in Lijiagou, Wangjiadun next door, is almost envious of us. Why don't they have a Dashan Niang in their village?"
"The most miserable one is Chengjia Village. Dashan Niang, whose surname is Cheng, was forced to divorce her."
"Chengjia Village is not struggling either. Their village has a civil servant who will become an official soon. Chengjia Village will not be able to do well in the future."
"Look, Dashan Niang is here!"
Cheng Wanwan came over to help in more convenient clothes, followed by the maid and mother-in-law.
Mrs. Qi and the others had already integrated into the villagers. As soon as they came over, they started working spontaneously, gathering around with familiar women and talking about their family's shortcomings.
"Oh Dashan's wife, go and have a look quickly!" Aunt Wang, holding a live fish in her hand, ran over in a hurry, "Dashan's wife was boiling lard, and suddenly she started to vomit, and her little face suddenly changed. Come on, have you caught a cold or fallen ill? Do you want to ask a doctor..."
Cheng Wanwan quickly put down her work and ran to the kitchen.
Wu Huiniang had been helped by the villagers to sit down. She was holding a cup of hot water in her hand and was sipping it. Her face improved slightly.
She looked at the concerned people gathered around, and said a little embarrassedly: "I'm fine, maybe... maybe..."
Her menstrual period has been delayed for more than two months, and she has always had vague doubts in her heart, but her body has no other reaction and she dare not make a big deal about it. When she vomits now, it is exactly the same as when she was pregnant with Xiao Zhuzhu. Only then can she be sure that she is pregnant. It really does.
"What a happy event, such a happy event!" Mrs. Zhu laughed loudly, "Mrs. Dashan, you are blessed with many children and grandchildren. The grandson of Ergou's daughter-in-law has not been born yet, and she is pregnant with another one. , quickly ask Dashan to come over and help his wife back to rest. She lost her body in one pregnancy, but she must take care of her this time."
Wu Huiniang said quickly: "I feel much better now. I don't need to rest."
"Daughter-in-law Dashan, you have to be obedient." Mrs. Sun came over with her child in her arms, "A woman should be kinder to herself when she is pregnant. Chunhua can do those things of yours. Chunhua, what are you cutting vegetables over there? You can't see anything. None! Come here and take charge of the cooking. Dashan’s wife needs to rest, and our village’s New Year’s Eve dinner will be left to you. You should behave well and don’t let down everyone’s expectations.”
Zhao Sanniang looked at the film of a little girl in Chunhua and asked doubtfully, "Is it possible?"
"Of course." Chunhua picked up the spatula, "I have memorized everything my sister-in-law taught me, and I can also cook all the dishes on the list. It's no problem to leave it to me."
Mrs. Sun smiled with satisfaction. Her daughter had been working at Dahe Banquet for almost a year, so it was time to show off her skills. Otherwise, people in the village would always think that Dashan's wife was the best at cooking, and her daughter Chunhua was also pretty good.
Cheng Wanwan said: "Mrs. Ma, you assist Chunhua in the kitchen. Hui Niang, I will take you back to rest."
Everything had been arranged, so Wu Huiniang didn't insist anymore.
Just as the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were about to leave, Mr. Wu appeared at the door of the kitchen dripping with sweat.
Mrs. Zhu deliberately teased him and said: "The New Year's Eve dinner is tomorrow. Why is Mr. Wu so anxious? Are you hungry? Chunhua, please hurry up and get some food for Mr. Wu to fill his stomach..."
Mr. Wu gasped for air, waved his hands and said: "Master Shen sent someone to say that there are people coming from Beijing..."
Li Zheng also walked over quickly: "Dashan Niang, hurry up and get ready. It seems that the capital has come to reward you. He is entering the village to go to your house..."
"Oh, it's another happy event!"
Mrs. Zhu cheered.
Dashan Niang was promoted and rewarded, which was a big event for the whole village and a blessing for Dahe Village. People around her were also excited and happy.
Cheng Wanwan almost guessed what was going on, but she didn't expect the reward to come out so quickly.
She walked out quickly, and everyone in the kitchen, who had no time to prepare ingredients, followed her to watch the fun.
On the main road, more than a dozen gorgeous carriages came. The horses looked very tired. They must have suffered a lot along the way. At the front of the motorcade was an old acquaintance, Magistrate Shen and two messengers. The motorcade stopped at the gate of the mansion.
Lord Shen had already sent someone to notify him in advance. It was indeed a reward from the capital. In order for the reward to arrive in Dahe Village before the year, he did not ask Eunuch Ming to follow him. Instead, he had people rush to deliver the reward to the inn, and then return to the inn. They were sent to Ping'an County one by one, and the messengers were responsible for announcing the decree.
Cheng Wanwan changed into court clothes and took her family out to receive the order.
"The emperor's edict is carried out by heaven, and the country should be benevolent and the people should be taken care of first. Er'an, a native of Sui'an, Dahe Village, Ping'an County, has a wide range of kindness and loving-kindness... The birthday gift I present today is truly a blessing. It is not to please me, but to For the sake of the country and the people, I am specially given a hundred taels of gold and a thousand taels of silver, ten pieces of brocade on top, ten pieces of Jiang Chou on top, ten pieces of silk on top, ten pieces of brocade on top... a pair of screens, a big-bellied peony vase. A pair..."
In the imperial edict, there is a long list of rewards.
The people in Dahe Village have actually seen the world. They have been rewarded so many times by the superiors, and now they are not as excited as before when they look at these gold, silver and jade articles.
Everyone knelt on the ground with the same thought in their minds. Why was there no promotion this time?
They thought that Dashan Niang would be promoted to the fifth rank imperial wife this time. Why was the Holy Emperor so stingy this time... Of course, everyone just thought about it in their hearts and did not dare to say it out.
Cheng Wanwan's mood was very calm, and she listened quietly to the messenger reciting the imperial edict. The imperial edict was finally finished, and she was about to stand up to receive it.
At this time, the messenger once again took out an imperial edict, unfolded it, and continued to read it.
"According to the emperor's edict, Zhao Youjin, a native of Dahe Village, Ping'an County, has been in the army for many years. He is a centurion, loyal and courageous, and gallops on the battlefield. I heard that Zhao Youjin unfortunately died for the country. This is really a great loss for our country. I am sorry, I am specially awarded the title of Seventh-grade Jingyi Protector. I admire this!"
Cheng Wanwan raised his head suddenly.
No, she was the one who made the meritorious service, but it was Zhao Youjin who was awarded the title?
