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Published at 2nd of December 2021 10:57:10 AM


Chapter 47

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Chapter 47 – New Year’s Eve (1)

Fengning was a little worried so she asked Long San.

“Will there be silver ingots?”

Long San held back a smile and replied.  “Feng’er, do you think Second Brother will give out ingots as New Year money?”

“No he won’t but since I’ve already taught her, it’s good to let Bao’er learn about it.”

She decided that she must get some money from that stingy Second Master Long.

If there are no silver ingots then silver nuggets will do and if there are no silver nuggets then copper coins are still fine but if the dignified Second Master Long gives copper coins only, then she will lead Bao’er in despising him.

Long San laughed at her.  “Then why don’t you teach Bao’er to recognize gold ingots?”

Fengning’s eyes lit up.  “Do you have any on you?”

“Of course not.”

He really could not do anything with this mischievous devil and after digging through his clothes for a while, he actually found a silver ingot.  Fengning took it from him happily and showed it to Bao’er.

“Look Bao’er, this is a silver ingot.”

Bao’er asked in seriousness.  “Is this better or is the nugget better?”

“Of course, this is better.”  Fengning kissed Bao’er and said.  “Can Bao’er remember?  When we go back to celebrate the New Year, Bao’er must ask for a silver ingot as New Year money.”

Bao’er nodded.  In fact, she has no idea what is New Year all about and only remembers that she has to ask for money.

When Long San looked at the mother and daughter, he found them funny and annoying at the same time.  He recalled the first time when Bao’er spoke to him, she asked him……. ‘Can you give me money?’.  If Long Er was the one who heard this, he would be so angry that his head would start to smoke.

The lively New Year scene arose In Long San’s mind and when he imagined Bao’er saying to Long Er seriously…….’Can you give me an ingot?’……he almost could not hold back his smile.

Fengning and Bao’er were playing a game of clapping hands and counting numbers while Long San watched them in happiness and bliss.  Although he had gotten this happiness through some means, he did not regret it at all and only hope that this happiness would not come to an end.

A day before New Year’s Eve, Long San rushed home bringing Fengning and Bao’er along with him.  All the servants in the Long Mansion had been told that Third Master Long would be bringing home the former Third Madam Long.  They were mentally prepared, so when the servants led the couple in, no one showed any surprise.

Anyway, Fengning also did not have the energy to be concerned about their reaction because she was already very tired after taking care of Bao’er throughout the journey home.

Long San took the mother and daughter back to his courtyard and the room was already cleaned up.  The servants also brought all their belongings into Long San’s courtyard and Long Er came over to check on them.  Since it was already very late, he did not say much and only told them to take a good rest as they had to get up the next morning to worship the ancestors.

Worship the ancestors?

Fengning was carrying the sleeping Bao’er.  Using Bao’er’s small body as a cover, she stole a glance at Long Er and then looked at Long San but neither of them showed any abnormal expressions.

After Long Er left hastily, Long San ordered the servants to prepare hot water.  Then he took over Bao’er and placed her on the big bed so she could continue to sleep and urged Fengning to wash up.

AD

While she was washing up, she was thinking and felt a little uneasy.

She shouldn’t be included in tomorrow’s ancestral worship, right?  She has been divorced from the family and hasn’t remarried into the family yet.

Suddenly she had a thought.  Speaking of this…….for her to follow Long San back like this was unethical and she would not be given any status or title in the family.

Fengning sighed silently.  Initially, she was only thinking about being with him without too many expectations but now she feels uneasy when confronted with all these customs and etiquette.

She was also keen to pay respect to the ancestors of the Long Family.

She wants to tell the ancestors of the Long Family that she is now a member of the Long Family and the wife of Long San.  In the past, she might have done something wrong but now she has turned over a new leaf.  Now, she is different from before and she and Long San are in love.  Long San is willing to accept Bao’er for her sake and she will remember this in her heart forever.  Since she is now part of the Long Family, she will be a good wife to Long San.

But it’s a pity that she won’t have the chance tomorrow.

Fengning dried the water on her body and thought…….it’s alright since Long San had brought her home and made her a lifetime promise.  The future is long and there should be opportunities later.  She also wants to see if the Long Family will treat Bao’er well.  She can disregard other things but the child must never suffer any grievance.

Fengning soon fell asleep.  Early the next morning, Long San came to wake her.

“Quick, get up!  Bao’er had already washed up and is waiting for you to have breakfast.”

Fengning blinked.  Is Bao’er so energetic?

Yesterday, the child was so tired that even when she was carried in and out she did not wake up.

AD

“Your clothes are ready and placed at the side.  In a while, I’ll get the maid to help you with your hair.  You have to pay respect to the ancestors, so dress up nicely.”  Long San said.

Fengning was stunned and blinked again.

“Quick, get up, lazy devil.”  Long San smiled and pinched her cheek.  “If we miss the timing to worship the ancestors, I’m going to wallop your bottom.”

Fengning sat up abruptly while her heart pounded fiercely.

“Worship the ancestors?  Can I really attend?”

“Of course.” He smiled.  “You’re the daughter-in-law of the Long Family, so naturally, you must be there.”

The words pierced right into her heart and she was so excited that she could not hold back her foolish smile.

“Then what about Bao’er, can she go too?”

“You’re indeed foolish.”  Long San poked her forehead.  “Of course Bao’er must go together with us.  Hurry up.  Bao’er wants to have breakfast with you and she had put on new clothes to wait for you.”

After he finished speaking, he went out to deal with some matters.

Sitting foolishly on the bed, Fengning started to smile and then she felt a little nervous.  She quickly got up from bed, washed up, put on her new clothes, and then took care of Bao’er.

It was a busy day for the servants in the Long Mansion as they had to get everything ready to usher in the New Year and prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.

AD

After breakfast, Long San led both the mother and daughter to the ancestral hall.

The Long Family were gathered in the ancestral hall and even Chief Steward Tie and Momo Yu were present.

Fengning finally saw Long Da, his wife, and their child.

Long Teng is indeed a General who had fought on the battlefields for a long time, as he has a majestic and prestigious aura.  His son, Long Qingsheng had inherited his father’s looks and temper and although he is only six years old, he looks mature.  Eldest Sister-in-law, An Ruochen, is the person who surprised Fengning.  An Ruochen looks very virtuous and is gentle and speaks softly.

Fengning could not imagine how such a fragile and delicate woman could survive outside with Long Da while they guarded the border for so many years.

(Long Da’s name is Long Teng.  Long Da means Elder Long similar to Long Er [Second Long] and Long San [Third Long].)

However, at this time, Fengning was not concerned about other people’s matters.    As she led Bao’er to follow behind the men of the Long Family, she was feeling worried.  What kind of status does she have now?  What is Bao’er’s status?  Isn’t it embarrassing for her to attend this kind of occasion?

Fortunately, Long San was there and it was inappropriate to talk in the ancestral hall.  Long San kept on holding her hand tightly and smiled at her, then led her to meet the other people and salute.  The Long Family’s attitude towards her was good.  No one showed her ugly expressions nor said anything unkind to her.  An Ruochen smiled gently while Long Er’s showed a normal expression and even the stern Momo Yu was polite to her.

Because of this, Fengning felt very gratified.  In her heart, she was telling herself that if she treats others with sincerity, she will surely be rewarded.  Look, she is a living example!

Very quickly, she received an answer from the Long Family.

After the three brothers of the Long Family had prayed to the ancestors, it was the daughters-in-law and children’s turn.  Long Da and Long San each lighted the jossticks.  Long Da handed the jossticks to An Ruochen and Long Qingsheng while Long San handed his jossticks to Fengning and Bao’er.

Fengning took over the jossticks in a state of panic while Bao’er held the jossticks in her hand imitating Fengning.  An Ruochen smiled gently at Fengning then nodded and led her son to kneel on the mat in front of the Ancestral Shrine.

AD

Fengning whispered to Bao’er to do the same later and she also watched how An Ruochen performed the prayers.  However, when it was their turn, Long San also knelt along with them.

When they kowtowed to the Long Family’s Ancestral Memorial Tablets, Fengning seriously bowed very low and did not get up for a long while as her eyes turned hot.  In her heart, she seriously told the ancestors what she had wanted to say yesterday and swore that she will be a good daughter-in-law of the Long Family.

While she was thinking about this in her heart, she received her reward immediately.

After Fengning and Bao’er had finished their prayers, the servants took Bao’er aside.  Long San took Fengning’s hand and once again both of them knelt in front of the Ancestral Shrine.

He said that there was not enough time to hold a big ceremony so he took this opportunity so all the family members could be witnesses to his and Feng’er’s marriage.

“Grandson Long Fei and Feng’er have met by fate and love each other.  Today, I request the ancestors and all family members to be witnesses that Grandson Long Fei is marrying Feng’er as his wife.  I will treat her sincerely and wholeheartedly until we grow old and never part.”

Fengning was surprised and turned around to look at Long San.  He smiled at her but did not explain and just pulled her to kowtow together with him.  After they had worshipped the ancestors, they prayed to heaven and earth, and it was time to kowtow to each other.  A momo was standing at the side to help them with the rituals and chant blessings.  Fengning’s eyes turned hot and her tears eventually fell.

She knew that no matter what had happened in the past, she truly has a home now.

She thought that being allowed to worship the ancestors with the Long Family was all due to the family’s generosity.  She never thought Long San would place so much importance on this matter and performed the marriage ceremonial rituals with her in front of the ancestors.

No guest was present and the Feng Family’s parents were not present either but she did not find it inappropriate at all.  Her face turned red and she did not know whether it was due to shame or excitement.  She was too embarrassed to look at the expressions of other people and only the words of Long San kept echoing in her heart.  He said he would treat her sincerely and wholeheartedly until they grow old and never part.

The words were so sappy!

But……but……she felt really happy when she heard them!

AD

Holding Long San’s hand, she knew that even though she had lost her memory and forgotten the past, she can still look forward to the future.

After praying to the ancestors, each family returned to their courtyards.  Fengning kept peeking at Long San and the more she looked, the shyer she felt.  In reality, they were already husband and wife, but she was still shy.

After lunch, while Bao’er was taking an afternoon nap, Long San took out a thick stack of red packets and asked Fengning to give them out to the servants in the courtyard.

Fengning’s face turned even redder for she knew Long San wanted to lift his wife’s status in the courtyard but she has never done this before.

Ah……right, she doesn’t remember and doesn’t know whether she had done this before or not but now she feels constrained.

When Long San saw her expression, he did not say any words of comfort or encouragement but just pulled her over and kissed her.

She looked into his eyes and immediately lifted her head and puffed up her chest then went out with the red packets.  As soon as she walked out, she saw all the servants standing in the courtyard.  With the courtyard’s chief steward as the leader, everyone saluted her in unison.

Fengning gulped and calmed down.  When she turned back to look, she found Long San standing behind smiling at her and she straightened her back again.

She coughed twice and felt that she should say a few words before giving out the red packets.  However, after thinking and thinking, she still did not know what to say, so in the end, she said.  “Everyone has worked hard.”

As soon as the words left her lips, she realized that she was having stage fright, and then she heard the sounds of laughter.  A lot of the servants were revealing smiling faces and when she turned her head around, she saw Long San was laughing especially loudly.  Fengning glared at him before she turned her head to look at everyone again.

“Next year will become increasingly better for everyone.”

This time, she spoke loudly and clearly.  Some of the servants applauded while some responded positively and many of them started to laugh.

Fengning did not have the slightest feeling that the servants were laughing at her.  She felt that everyone’s smile was warm and kind.  She gave out the red packets to everyone and when the servants took the red packets from her, they saluted and thanked her.  Fengning also thanked them silently in her heart.  In fact, the words she spoke just now were not only meant for them but it was also meant for herself.

The days in the future will become better and better and she thinks it should be the way.

After the red packets for the New Year were all given out, Long San led Fengning into the house.  He also called in all the courtyard stewards and in front of Fengning, he instructed them to take good care of Fengning and Bao’er and the stewards responded respectfully.  Then Long San told Fengning about everyone’s duties, taught her how to distribute their work, and reminded her that if she needs anything, she can give them instructions.  Several maids who were in charge of Fengning and Bao’er’s daily needs also came in and saluted Fengning.

She tried her best to sit in a dignified manner.  She dared not interrupt Long San, dared not be naughty so that Long San would not lose face in front of the servants, and felt she has a lot of things that she wants to tell Long San.  She endured and endured, and finally, she could not hold back anymore and quietly stretched out her hand.  Long San, who was talking and giving instructions to the stewards and maids, seemed to have sprouted eyes at the side of his head and reached out his hand to grasp Fengning’s hand.

Fengning’s heart instantly calmed down and she blushed as the corners of her lips subconsciously curved into a smile.

This is really bad…….she is obviously someone rash and bold but why is it that this time, when she came back with him, she feels like a changed person and is always blushing?

She turned to look at Long San to observe his side profile and found he is really good-looking.  He is her husband and it gave her a feeling of extreme satisfaction.

After Long San had finished giving orders to the servants, they all left.  Long San turned his head to look at Fengning for a while then pulled her over to sit on his lap.  The two people did not speak and just hugged each other quietly.

It was more meaningful than a thousand words.





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