Chapter 104: Big Orange, Great Luck

Before dawn on the first day of the new year, Gu Xixi was shaken awake by Zhang Shen; before she even came to her senses, a piece of cold orange was stuffed into her mouth.

Zhang Shen chuckled, saying, "Great luck and great profit, great luck and great profit."

Gu Xixi chewed the orange and asked, "Nothing to do today, why not sleep a little longer?"

In previous years, Gu Papi would always take Gu Xixi out to pay New Year calls.

Gu Daye and Gu Erye are Gu Papi's elder uncles, while Gu Lao San is of the same generation.

These three households would always visit each other every year on the morning of the first day.

But this year is different; Gu Xixi's household and those of Gu Daye and Gu Lao San have long tacitly severed ties, so the usual process of visiting relatives is naturally omitted.

Gu Xixi felt a bit chilly, pulled the covers up, and still wanted to keep sleeping.

Zhang Shen, however, pushed her twice and said, "Don't sleep anymore; I've warmed your new clothes on the kang—hurry up and put them on, then tidy yourself up, because someone will soon come to pay New Year calls."

Gu Xixi blinked and asked, "Who's coming to pay New Year calls?"

She thought, "Aren't there hardly any relatives left in the village?"

Zhang Shen replied with a beaming face, "I don't know exactly who, but I estimate there will be quite a few visitors."

She held the orange and walked out, urging, "Hurry up and get up—don't fall asleep again after I leave!"

Gu Xixi's sleepiness had completely vanished; she sat up, got dressed, and was full of doubt.

With her low seniority and young age, who would come to pay her New Year respects?

Moreover, Zhang Shen was certain that many people would come today?

Zhang Shen carried a peeled honey orange and ran to every room in the house.

Shitou, Mu Nan Zhao, Lao Langzhong, the donkey Lai Fu, and the horse Fengchi.

Even the little flower that disliked the scent of oranges was pressed down by Zhang Shen and forced to taste a few bits of orange flesh.

Having achieved the "great luck and great profit" persons, the whole family almost simultaneously walked out the door.

When Gu Xixi appeared, she was a sight to behold.

Today Zhang Shen personally did her hair, styling it into a double-loop hanging bun adorned with red velvet flowers.

Gu Xixi wore a jujube-red cotton jacket trimmed with white rabbit fur, paired with a pine-flower green woven-gold horse-face skirt.

Although it was a red-and-green combination, it was in no way tacky.

On the contrary, it brought out a charming, playful allure not usually seen in her.

Shitou exclaimed, "Sister Xixi, you look gorgeous today!"

Gu Xixi deliberately glanced sideways at him and asked, "Only today? Does that mean I'm not pretty on ordinary days?"

"Pretty!" Shitou grinned, "Sister Xixi is the prettiest in my heart—tied for first with my mother!"

Gu Xixi laughed, "You're quite the talker."

She spoke while taking out several small sachets, first giving one to Shitou: "New Year's money—may you grow strong and study well in the coming year."

Gu Xixi's sachets were then given in turn to Lao Langzhong and Zhang Shen.

"Auntie and Master, you've worked hard this year; I pay my New Year respects to you both, wishing you good health in the coming year."

Finally, it was Mu Nan Zhao's turn.

Gu Xixi handed him the sachet, smiling as she said, "May you obtain all that you wish for, and may all go smoothly and safely."

Mu Nan Zhao looked into Gu Xixi's eyes for a moment, then reached out to take the sachet.

"Thank you."

The sharp-eyed child Shitou had already noticed that each person's sachet seemed to contain something different.

His packet was obviously the fullest and heaviest.

Shitou fiddled with the sachet, turning it this way and that, scratching his head and cheek, curious about what hard object lay inside.

Seeing this, Gu Xixi laughed and said, "We're all family—just open them and see."

No sooner had she spoken than Shitou was the first to tear it open.

"Money! So much money!"

Shitou's sachet was filled with copper coins—no wonder it looked so plump.

Zhang Shen's sachet contained a silver ingot weighing one tael.

Lao Langzhong's sachet held a single stalk of caterpillar fungus.

Gu Xixi laughed, "How is it? Do you still like it?"

Shitou clutched his money bag, cheering and jumping, "I love it—I love it so much! I'll save it up for when the peddler comes to the village."

Most of the goods the peddler carries on his pole sell for one cash each.

Even for a child, this sachet full of copper coins counts as a huge amount of pocket money.

Lao Langzhong held the caterpillar fungus, his eyes wide, his trembling beard quivering with excitement.

"Caterpillar fungus—true winter worm, summer grass, where worm and grass combine… a treasure…"

Zhang Shen, eyes brimming with tears, looked at Gu Xixi, moved to speechlessness.

She had worked for the Gu family for nearly twenty years, and this was the first time she had received such a large New Year's red packet.

It was also the first time in her life she had ever touched such a large piece of silver.

Moreover, recalling that Gu Xixi had previously said she would use her earnings to filialy support her and provide for her old age,

Looking at the silver, Zhang Shen's heart filled more with pride and comfort at the thought, "Our family has a promising daughter."

Only Mu Nan Zhao's sachet remained unopened.

Gu Xixi then urged him, "You're not opening it because you're afraid I gave you something you wouldn't like?"

"How could that be." Mu Nan Zhao lowered his gaze and opened the sachet.

His sachet looked the flattest, and to the touch held nothing hard—surely neither silver nor copper coins.

Under the watchful gaze of everyone holding their breath and focusing.

Mu Nan Zhao slipped his finger in and fished around, and what he hooked out was actually a paper scroll.

Shitou curiously asked Zhang Wang, "What is this?"

Mu Nan Zhao glanced at Gu Xixi, saw her smiling and looking at her, then proceeded to unfold the paper roll.

It was a narrow slip of paper, with words on it:

"The person who receives this slip of paper, Gu Xixi must unconditionally agree to one thing for him."

Before the holiday, in order to prepare New Year red envelopes, she racked her brains to figure out each person's needs and preferences.

Among them, preparing Mu Nan Zhao's red envelope was the most difficult.

Give him silver money; if it's too much, Gu Xixi can't afford it.

Give too little, and he's a proper young master—wouldn't that be humiliating him?

Gu Xixi really couldn't think of what to give; at the last minute she managed to come up with this gift.

She used to do this when she was in kindergarten, writing it on a small card.

Although it's a gift that even children might find childish.

But if placed in ancient times, perhaps it could still be considered novel?

Mu Nan Zhao stared at the slip of paper, motionless.

Gu Xixi smiled somewhat guiltily and said, "This is something I prepared with care."

Mu Nan Zhao glanced sideways and said, "Prepared with care?"

"Mm!" Gu Xixi nodded, "Isn't it surprising and do you like it?"

Mu Nan Zhao rolled up the slip of paper with one hand exactly as it was, lifted his head and turned to her, "The handwriting is too ugly."

His tone was full of disdain, yet he seemingly slipped the slip of paper casually into his sleeve.

In the main hall, opposite the doorway, a long table was set up with the spirit tablet of Gu Bapi, incense, candles, and various offerings.

Gu Xixi entered the door, first lit three sticks of incense, and respectfully bowed.

After breakfast, indeed guests came one after another.

Besides the close relatives Qin Dasao's family, there were also others.

Some brought children to thank Mr. Chen and presented a tuition gift; others gathered around Gu Xixi, chatting and laughing nonstop, with warm attitudes.

Originally, after Gu Bapi's death, the Gu Xixi household was deserted, but it suddenly became the liveliest place in the whole village.

This situation lasted from the first to the fifth day of the lunar new year.

Gu Xixi understood the reason well.

Everyone either wanted to obtain from her the "secret formula for planting grain".

Or they wanted to follow her like Qin Dasao did.

But these people lacked Qin Dasao's determination.

They were watching, watching Gu Xixi's movements, and also watching the movements of other people in the village.