General, Madam Called You To Farm

Chapter 127 – Little New Year (3)

*Little New Year (小年) : also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, is a festival in the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It honors the Kitchen God and takes place roughly a week before the Chinese New Year. 

On what basis did Su Pangya leave when it was her turn to scold her? 

Did she just scold her for nothing?!

Mrs. Huang was so angry!

Mrs. Fang continued to be a peacemaker and said, “I don’t think Daya is that kind of person. Daya has become more sensible lately.” 

Mrs. Huang chuckled and said, “If only she is half as sensible as Jinniang, then I won’t have to worry about this…… In any case, she’s the daughter of my husband’s sister. I originally thought that when Hao ge’er1 went to study in Fucheng, I would take care of her a little——”

 1(Name) + ge’er (哥儿) / jie’er (姐儿) : In the past, the elders using this to call the younger generation affectionately. 

“Chen Xiucai2 is really going to study in Fucheng?” This was the second time Mrs. Huang mentioned this, and Mrs. Fang couldn’t help but pay more attention to it. 

2Xiucai (秀才) : is a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations in China and obtained the qualification for admission to academic institution in ancient China. 

Mrs. Huang said, “Isn’t that right? Only those who pass the imperial examination and become juren3 are qualified to be recommended to Fucheng!” 

3Juren (举人) : is a kind of status of a scholar, and the rank is above the xiucai. a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Chen Haoyuan didn’t say anything, as if he also silently acknowledged that he could pass the imperial examination and became juren. 

Mrs. Fang’s attitude towards the two instantly underwent a qualitative change.

Originally, with Su Jinniang’s appearance and reputation, she didn’t have to worry about not being able to marry into a good family. But no matter how good the family was, they would never have a juren master. 

This marriage, it seemed that most likely to be settled.

Mrs. Fang smiled and said, “The weather is cold, let’s talk inside.” 

At this point, Mrs. Huang’s heart was finally at ease.

That damned girl didn’t take her seriously, thinking that it was great to be able to marry a handsome husband. Hmph, wasn’t he just a scavenger? Was he as good as her son? 

Her son was a future juren master! 

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t know Mrs. Huang’s inner drama. Today, her schedule was packed. In addition, the road was difficult to walk on. She had to rush to the town as soon as possible if she wanted to come back early. 

She didn’t have the time to keep listening to Mrs. Huang’s craziness all the time. 

Today was the Little New Year, and the shops on the street were almost closed. But the doors were all adorned with festive Spring Festival couplets and the fortune characters. 

-Spring Festival couplets 

-Fortune character couplets

In ancient times, paper was very expensive, and it was even more expensive to find Spring Festival couplets that were written by a literary person. As a result, it was very difficult to see anyone in the village posting couplets.

In Su Xiaoxiao’s memory, Mrs. Chen posted it once or twice when she was still alive. But after she passed away, it never happened again. 

Su Xiaoxiao suddenly wanted to buy two pairs of couplets back home, but unfortunately they didn’t have any for sale. 

——

When Su Xiaoxiao arrived at Chunliu Lane, the courtyard gate of Fu’s house was left unlocked, and there were several small-sized footprints coming in and out in the snow.

Su Xiaoxiao immediately concluded that Doctor Fu still had not returned last night.

“Aunt Fu, I’m coming.” 

Su Xiaoxiao pushed open the courtyard gate and went to Aunt Fu’s room.

Aunt Fu was sitting on the bed taking medicine. As soon as she heard Su Xiaoxiao’s voice, a flash of embarrassment and panic flashed across her face. She quickly put the medicine box on the stool beside her and looked away by turning her head to face the inside of the bed.

But suddenly she realized that it was not appropriate to leave the medicine box outside, so she hid it under the quilt.

When Su Xiaoxiao crossed the threshold, she had already turned her head inside, very willfully dumped Su Xiaoxiao with her side face that did not recognize one’s family4. 

4Not recognizing one’s family (idiom) : self centered and not making any allowances for the needs of one’s relatives; describes that it does not care about family relationship, is unreasonable, and ignores relatives / sometimes it also means not being affectionate to anyone. 

Su Xiaoxiao came to the bedside with amusement, and said, “Aunt Fu, how are you feeling today?” 

“Not gonna die!” Aunt Fu said in a bad mood. 

Su Xiaoxiao smiled and said, “Yoo, you look energetic ah. It seems that the medicine is working well. Nothing is uncomfortable, right? Your face is more rosy today, last night you slept very well, right?” 

Aunt Fu snorted, “What’s so good about it! Can’t you see that my leg is broken!?” 

Su Xiaoxiao said, “I gave you painkillers ah.”

The painkillers were not used up by Wei Ting, and Wei Ting was not afraid of pain. As a result, Su Xiaoxiao would save the painkillers for other occasions. 

“Hmph!” Aunt Fu said stiffly, “Your medicine has no effect!” 

“No effect ah? Then where is the medicine I left for you?” Su Xiaoxiao looked at the empty stool and asked. 

Aunt Fu said, “I threw it away!”

Su Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and suppressed a smile.