Chapter 123: One White Covers a Hundred Flaws

On the first day of the New Year, the matriarch of the Qiao Family set off firecrackers at the entrance of Jixiang Yuan.

In the year before last and last year, Qiao Mai didn't set off firecrackers, fearing they'd scare the Ma'er at home; now the Zhai is larger, and setting them at the gate doesn't affect them.

To celebrate a joyous New Year, she asked Shopkeeper Niu to have someone purchase a cartload of fireworks, and the big red firecrackers kept blasting for a full hour before stopping.

On the snowfield about a mu square in front of Jixiang Yuan, the ground was covered with red firecracker shells, looking as bright as a red carpet, and anyone who saw it couldn't help but feel their spirits lift.

The children donned new clothes and early ran to Qiao Mai's courtyard to wait for New Year visits.

Qiao Mai had slept late last night, and upon hearing voices outside, she barely managed to pull herself up, smiling at the several new outfits by the kang.

Some were made by Ruyi, some by the two Yuehong, and some she bought herself; she took the one she bought, put it on, sat before the mirror, fashioned a nice hairstyle, then took out the headpiece the old lady had given her and wore it.

She glanced at herself in the bronze mirror and saw that she had grown considerably, now standing about 1.65 meters tall.

As life got better, she put on a fair amount of flesh.

Her face now looks far more pleasing than when she first tried it on; they say one white hides a hundred flaws, and indeed, her snow‑white skin looks beautiful even without seeing the eyebrows, eyes, nose, or mouth.

"Putting aside other reasons, just consider that they've been compromising in the Town all these years; with this mayor protecting us, we should go too."

It seems the two also felt there was nowhere to go in the snow, so they ran to the Qiao family to mooch food and drink.

Qiao Mai covered her mouth and smiled, "Hmm, you really are seasoned; anyone who didn't know would think you're sixty."

Anyone who sees the children gives them a red envelope, and the children collected so many that their hands grew sore.

Just as they were about to eat breakfast, the butcher shop owner, the Ready-to-wear Shop owner, the blacksmith shop owner—any Town boss whose business Qiao Mai looks after—came to offer New Year greetings.

Thus the two, with the children, went to Lu Shopkeeper's place, where she and Ruyi had just finished receiving New Year greetings from the servants in the Keting.

Lu Shopkeeper came up and teased him, and the two were like a pair of happy rivals—pinching each other the moment they met, and longing for each other when apart.

"How about having a drink at my place at noon?"

"Still being reluctant? Let's go."

"Haha, we just came out of his place not long ago—here, here, here—these are red envelopes for the children."

This is to wish them a happy New Year; they were exceedingly enthusiastic the moment they met.

The children immediately knelt, and Lu Shopkeeper was so delighted her mouth couldn't stay shut; she hurriedly helped the children to their feet.

She went to the Chufang, and the Kitchen Maids, aware that guests had arrived, were busy there.

"Prepare two tables of meals, and you also set up a few tables; today is the first day, everyone should eat and drink well."

Upon reaching the Keting, she and he sat at the front, waiting for Ling'er to arrive; several children stepped forward, pulling her, and properly knelt to wish the two a happy New Year.

"How can an older sister pay New Year respects to a younger sister? Happy New Year, sister!"

Qiao Mai poked Lu Shopkeeper, "Alright, sister, during the big New Year we won't argue. Let's go, head home for a plain breakfast first. Qian Mayor, we'll wait for you at home at noon."

"Alright, alright, couldn't ask for more."

"Auntie, Happy New Year!"

The servants came in groups of three or five to offer New Year greetings, received red envelopes, and left happily.

"Alright, alright, we could hardly ever get to eat your family's meals."

After they all finished their greetings, Qiao Mai glanced at Yuan Jiaqi.

At the courtyard entrance, many townspeople came and went; the Mayor sat in the Keting receiving them, with guards stationed on both sides of the gate.

Seeing Lu Shopkeeper and the others, his eyes lit up.

He took a jade bracelet from the dressing box, slipped it onto his wrist, felt everything was fine, and then walked out of the house.

"They will be understanding; the road is difficult to travel."

"Master, our usual meals are already good; whether it's New Year or not, it doesn't make any difference."

Fine, just to eat at the Qiao family, he actually became brotherly with Yuan Jiaqi; honestly, he's of the same generation as Wang Zongsheng.

"Since they just offered the old man New Year greetings, I'll go to your house to eat; your family's meals are delicious."

"Oh dear, Happy New Year, where are you all heading?"

"Oh dear, rare guests! Sit, sit, don't leave today; let's have lunch at my place this noon."

Qiao Mai let out a chuckle, "Are you blessed with longevity?"

It made them overjoyed, and they kept fidgeting with it in their hands.

The townsfolk offered him New Year greetings, stood for a moment and left; he socializes like this every year—annoying yet not annoying—once a year. Mainly, it's because this Mayor does a good job, and the people love him.

As they were about to leave, Qiao Mai still reminded them to also go to Lu Shopkeeper's place to offer New Year greetings.

"What? I'm only ten years older than San Niang."

Yuan Jiaqi and a few children brightened, "Mother, you look so beautiful."

"Yes, you say, when I'm busy I crave leisure, when I'm idle I crave work; I was born with a destiny of constant labor."

Qiao Mai smiled, "Steam a plate of intestines, also the sauce meat; at noon we'll have dumplings so they can taste our dumplings, and you also prepare something to eat."

"Oh dear, if you don't come, I was going to bring Ruyi over in a bit."

"Go on, go on!"

"Alright, calling him Qian Mayor is too formal; since we see each other often, just call him Qian Big Brother?"

Qiao Mai took her hand, and everyone went out together, arriving at the Mayor's house.

She dislikes socializing, and returned alone to the back yard.

"Let's also go to Sister Lu's place; she's senior, we should go there."

"Alright, then we'll head back."

Thinking of the Rock Candy Hawthorn she made last year, what surprise will she give the children this year?

"Hmph, coming to someone else's house for a meal on the first day of the New Year—how dare you?"

She surveyed Earth's snacks and thought of a very tasty little treat: popcorn.

Qiao Mai let them sit first, she and her family quickly ate a bowl of dumplings, and had Yuan Jiaqi keep them company.

How about staying until noon to have a meal?

Mayor Qian's single eyelid flicked, "Don't be fooled by my seasoned look; I'm not even fifty yet—after the New Year I'm just forty‑six."

"Who said that before the year I married off my daughter, you didn't come?"

Yuan Jiaqi gave each child a red envelope, and Qiao Mai prepared a little gold animal for each child.

"Now that it's snowing we can't go anywhere. I was just saying we should go to the County Town to pay New Year's respects to my sisters; my little shop has survived these years thanks to their care."

Mayor Qian ordered the guards to hand a red envelope to each child. When they returned home, Qin Dong Family of the Town's Woodworking Shop and Shopkeeper Tong were both waiting in the Keting.

"Then, since there's nowhere to go, we'll give him a New Year's greeting—hm, that'll make him die of happiness."

Hearing that, Shopkeeper Lu felt a bit uneasy and said, "You go, I won't."

"Yes, Master."

"Hee hee!"

"Come quickly to the Keting, don't stand in the courtyard; it's snowing, so cold—if you freeze, Mother will be heart‑broken."

Yuehong and Yuexia were also newly dressed, came up to give the two a New Year's greeting, and received a big red envelope.

"Happy New Year, we're heading to the Mayor's House!"

"You all look so handsome!"

Each person gave a big red envelope, then had them all sit down.

"Should we go to Mayor Qian's house to pay New Year's respects?"

"Haha, isn't that just thinking of your family's delicious food?"

"What's there to be embarrassed about? Brother Yuan Jiaqi is alone, guarding your bunch of women is so boring; the two of us will have a drink."

"Who's at your house? We haven't even finished our early dinner yet."

This is especially simple to make; just prepare the ingredients, and it can be done very easily.

Corn, butter, cream, sugar, chocolate, rice, maltose, molds—prepare each one, and she started pounding them together in the Chufang.

First she made two pots of butter‑flavored popcorn, then two pots of chocolate‑flavored, and finally a pot of rice, mixing it evenly with maltose, pouring it into molds to form rice cake, then cutting it into rectangular strips before stopping.

She packed the three items into a clean cloth bag, carried it, and went to the Keting.

(End of chapter)