Chapter 1122: Each Household

Whether or not the Lu family wanted to develop the shipbuilding industry, they still needed to build large fishing boats—both to supplement household income and as practice. Moreover, working with the Lu family was the easiest because they preferred to settle payments with promissory notes, which was much more convenient than paying in cash.

“The atmosphere for the New Year festival is quite nice,” Chen Xi said with a smile, sitting inside the carriage and opening the window to look at the pedestrians outside.

“You deserve a lot of credit for that, Master,” Chen Yun complimented with a smile. “Actually, if you’re thinking of buying a gift for the madam, bringing her along would be the best.”

“I think I’ll pass. Jian’er is probably embroidering new clothes for me right now, and Lan’er is surely teaching her hands-on,” Chen Xi chuckled and said. “By the way, do you know how to make clothes?”

“Yun was born into a poor family, so I know some basic needlework. If my mother hadn’t taken me in, I might have ended up as someone’s meal by now,” Chen Yun said quietly. “So I’m very grateful to her.”

Many of the maids in Chen Xi’s household were given to him by Liu Luo. By now, Liu Luo had essentially retired from the brothel business and focused on the more elegant pursuit of poetry and music.

Speaking of which, it’s impressive how a woman with no backing could still manage to open a brothel and understand boundaries so well. Over the years, she had donated a significant amount of money and grain to public schools, completely distancing herself from her previous lowly status. She had shifted her focus to running a theater, raising batches of new talents.

However, it seemed she hadn’t married yet. In this era, such things weren’t a big deal. If she didn’t want to marry, she likely had her own reasons, but Chen Xi couldn’t be bothered to worry about that.

Every New Year, the maids in the Chen household would go in large numbers to visit Liu Luo. After all, if it weren’t for her, they probably wouldn’t have survived to see this day.

“How about I give you some time off during the New Year so you can go spend time with her?” Chen Xi thought for a moment and suggested.

“Master, don’t you think that by staying by your side, I’m doing more for her than by visiting?” Chen Yun said calmly, looking at Chen Xi. Staying in the Chen household not only provided them with protection, but it also served as a form of protection for Liu Luo.

“Oh, right. Where is Man Xiang Lou located now? I’ve got some free time today, so why don’t we go check it out?” Chen Xi suddenly remembered and asked with a smile. He hadn’t visited Man Xiang Lou this year, even though he used to go there often with Guo Jia.

“Mother would be very happy!” Chen Yun’s face lit up with clear joy, not expecting Chen Xi to go along with her suggestion.

“Well, a lot of the maids in my inner courtyard were sent by her. It wouldn’t hurt to visit occasionally and listen to some music,” Chen Xi said with a smile, maintaining his usual gentle demeanor.

Chen Yun said nothing more, bowing her head in thought. Every year during the New Year, she had never given Chen Xi anything. Though she was a personal maid, apart from helping him with his late-night reading, Chen Xi didn’t have much use for her.

Their relationship was purely one of master and servant, without the typical aura of a personal maid managing household affairs. Although Chen Yun could enter Chen Xi’s study anytime, that didn’t mean much, as he didn’t impose strict rules on his study.

In another household, a personal maid who could enter the master’s study at will would likely have rivaled the main wife in power.

As a result, there was no expectation that she, as a concubine, should prepare New Year gifts for the master. Of course, this was just Chen Yun overthinking things. Chen Xi had always been accepting of anything.

“Hm, I wonder if Master would accept a gift from me... Maybe I’ll give him a sachet. I wonder if he needs one,” Chen Yun thought silently, and the two of them continued on without speaking.

“Huh, that looks like Zichuan’s carriage?” Fa Zheng was also out shopping for gifts before the New Year, though much more openly than Chen Xi, without sneaking around.

“Let’s follow him and see what Zichuan buys. I’ll buy you all the same,” Fa Zheng said, eager to please Jiang Ying and willing to spend generously.

“Why did you drag me out here? I haven’t even finished drawing the plans for the waterworks. The waterway from Zhuo County to the Yellow River estuary isn’t complete yet!” Wang Yi was clearly displeased at being brought out by Fa Zheng, as her work wasn’t done.

“Work can wait. You need to understand the importance of balancing work and rest. You wouldn’t want my father to accuse me of being a poor host, would you?” Fa Zheng tilted his head and remarked. He hadn’t realized until now that Wang Yi had workaholic tendencies. “Besides, the canal is being surveyed by the Li family from Shu.”

“I don’t want my efforts to be buried by others,” Wang Yi said proudly, turning her head away. “Hmph, I’ve consulted many sources for this.”

“I’m starting to think that recommending you to become a female official was a mistake,” Fa Zheng said, yawning.

“What did you say?!” Wang Yi shot to her feet, “Thud!”—only to hit her head on the roof of the carriage, crouching down immediately and holding her head in tears. Jiang Ying quickly hugged her cousin and rubbed her head to comfort her.

“Alright, don’t be upset with your husband. He was just teasing you. Besides, he’s right. You need to take a break. Look at you, you don’t even have time to style your hair,” Jiang Ying said gently, stroking Wang Yi’s hair as though soothing a cat.

“Hmph, you two make a perfect pair. Why didn’t you just go shopping together and leave me out of it?” Wang Yi grumbled.

A faint blush appeared on Jiang Ying’s face, but she didn’t argue. She continued to softly comfort Wang Yi, “If it weren’t for you, sister, I wouldn’t have dared to come here in the first place.”

Jiang Ying didn’t mind Wang Yi marrying Fa Zheng at all, but Wang Yi had no interest in it, and Fa Zheng didn’t have much motivation either. Although Jiang Ying was willing to play matchmaker, the two of them had their own concerns, so the matter was left as it was.

On the other side, Cai Zhenji was working with Cai Yan on new clothes. By the way, both of them were quite skilled at needlework. Even though embroidery and making clothes might not seem elegant for talented women, Cai Yan proudly claimed to be excellent at it.

“Sister, you’ve already made twelve sets,” Cai Zhenji felt some pressure. Even after all these years, her sister’s needlework was still intimidating.

“Next year has an extra intercalary month,” Cai Yan said indifferently. She was making these clothes for Li You. Without a husband or direct relatives, Li You was the only person who could receive New Year’s gifts from her. So, every year, Li You would get a full set of new clothes.

“But sister, are you sure you won’t consider getting married?” Cai Zhenji asked softly, lowering her head and not daring to look at Cai Yan directly.

“If it were still a time of chaos, I’d be displaced. But now, there are rules in place. As for anyone wishing to marry me, the status alone would be enough to stop most suitors,” Cai Yan said calmly. Her status and talent made it incredibly difficult.

“Mier plans to marry Chen Zichuan,” Cai Zhenji hinted silently. After all, like her, Mi’er was also a legitimate daughter.

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