Chapter 35.1

Before Wang Quan left, the coachman, wasting no time, sprang into action. He heaved a multitude of packages, both large and small, from the depths of the carriage.

With a hearty thud, each bundle landed in the courtyard, creating a small mountain of belongings. This logistical feat couldn't help but attract a crowd of curious onlookers who peered through the gate, their gazes fixated on the unexpected delivery.

Third Old Song's wife, Gao shi, approached the coachman and slyly asked, "Young man, what's your relationship with this family? Why are you delivering so many gifts?"

The coachman didn't even look up and replied, "Auntie, I'm just a coachman, I don't know anything."

"How can you not know? Whose house is this carriage from?" Gao shi looked at all the belongings in the yard, feeling envious and wishing they were in her own yard.

The coachman tapped the sign hanging on the carriage and said, "Didn't you see? It's from Lord Wang's house."

After some thought, Gao shi hurriedly asked, "Lord Wang? You mean the wealthy Wang in town? Oh... did you deliver these gifts to the wrong place? They should have been sent to my house, right? My son-in-law is also an official, we're all officials..."

The coachman cut her off, "What do you mean it should be sent to your house? Does anyone in your house go by the name of Song Xingyi or Song Dingxiang? Go on, don't stand here causing a scene."

Reluctantly, Gao shi turned and entered the courtyard, "Oh, look at what treasures the Wang family has come into!"

Inside the house, Li shi heard Gao shi's loud voice and chuckled to her granddaughter Song Zijin, "See, she never visits, but as soon as she sees something of ours, she rushes over. Oh, this third wife of ours..."

Song Zijin smiled, got off the kang bed, put on her shoes, and went out to greet her, "Oh, how come you have time to visit today?"

"It's almost New Year, so I came for a visit." Gao shi's eyes moved from Song Zijin's head to her ears and then to her hands, "What, has your family come into some wealth? Haven't your parents bought you anything nice?"

Song Zijin replied with a smile, "Even if we did have something nice, we wouldn't bring it out on a regular day. Please come in."

Upon entering the house, Gao shi noticed Li shi sewing clothes. The color of the fabric seemed to be Lishi's own, but the material looked smooth and soft, definitely not what Li shi usually wore. "Fourth sister, what are you making?"

Li shi unfolded the clothes in her hand and shook them out, saying, "What else can it be? I'm sewing clothes for myself."

"This fabric is really nice..." Gao shi kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the kang bed, "Your bed is so warm, fourth sister, what kind of wealth has your family come into that you didn't even ask your third brother-in-law's house to help lift?"

Still smiling, Song Lishi replied, "It's not that we've come into wealth, it's our granddaughter... her husband saved someone up north, and they sent a thank-you gift through Wang Daren."

"Oh, her husband is still alive?" Gao shi was somewhat surprised.

It had been almost two years, and she had heard no news. It was the first time she realized she had forgotten about this person.

Li shi's face darkened, "Third sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? Are you thinking my granddaughter should be a widow? I can tolerate your nonsense on usual days, but are you really cursing my family like this? Get out, my house doesn't need someone like you!"

With that, she pushed Song Gaoshi off the kang bed.

Song Gaoshi quickly held herself back and said, "I just misspoke, why are you... Alright, I'll leave, I had planned to introduce a good family to your Zijin today, I didn't expect you to treat me like this."

Song Lishi coldly laughed, "A good family? If there really was a good family, why didn't you mention it to your Jiaoxing? My Zijin doesn't plan on considering anyone for now, thank you, sister-in-law."

Just as they were speaking, Wang Quan and Song Dingxiang had finished signing the agreement and left. Song Xingyi escorted Wang Quan out and then busied himself with moving the gifts into the house, only to lift his head and see Gao shi.

Song Dingxiang, looking at Gao shi's shameless thick skin, felt a headache coming on and said with a smile, "Third grandaunt, how come you have time to visit my house today? Are you here to flaunt the nice things your son-in-law brought you again?"

Some time ago, Old Third Song San's family received some packages containing fabrics and accessories, and Gao shi had indeed shown off for quite a while. In actuality, they were initially sent to Xu Qiang's own home, for his wife and sister to pick through before sending over.

But even if Gao shi knew, she was still happy; after all, it was a gift from her official son-in-law, with new fabrics and colors not available here, how could she not be pleased?

"Hey, it's just some fabric and clothes, nothing like the many good things in your house."

Gao shi touched the gift box, itching to see inside, "Can we open it? Let third grandaunt see what good things your husband has earned for you. Oh, if Zhou Laosan's family found out, they'd surely be green with envy."

Song Dingxiang didn't know if others were envious, but she could certainly see the envy in front of her from Gao shi.

She subtly glanced at Li shi, who nodded slightly, so Song Dingxiang smiled and said, "What good things can a soldier have? It's just some fabrics and clothes. Third Grandaunt, you should put these things away quickly. Oh, it's already this time? Isn't it time to cook at home?"

Li shi added, "Exactly, it's almost noon. Third sister-in-law, you should hurry home to oversee the cooking. If the oil is too little or the noodles are lacking, won't there be a fight?"

The Old Third Song San family also divided their households, except for eating together during busy farming times, they usually did their own things.

A few days ago, Gao shi discovered that a lot of lard was missing from her lard pot. A cold dread settled in Gao shi's stomach as she peered into her usual ceramic lard pot.

The once-heaping mound of glistening white fat had dwindled to a meager, greasy puddle at the bottom. Fury, hot and immediate, bubbled up within her.

Scooping up the pot with trembling hands, she marched out into the courtyard, her weathered face contorted in a mask of outrage.

She stood in the courtyard. Words, sharp as kitchen knives, sliced through the air. She accused, she scolded, her voice raking over every member of the household, young and old.

But her accusations met only with blank stares and mumbled denials. No one dared meet her blazing eyes. But in the end, she didn't know who had stolen the lard, which made her extremely angry.

Gao shi naturally didn't want to leave, as she hadn't seen what was inside those boxes. So she smiled with a greedy look on her face and said, "Oh, what's there to be afraid of, I've locked it up. Dingxiang, quickly show third grandaunt what you have here... Oh, third grandaunt is starting to look forward to this year's New Year gift, with so many good things you have, shouldn't you share a little with third grandaunt?"

Song Dingxiang laughed, "Third grandaunt, you make it sound like our family owes you a New Year gift."

Li shi also said, "No matter how many things there are, they all belong to the Zhou family. How can they have a share of what we give you as a New Year gift? If we hear that your son-in-law has given you a lot of good things, this year's New Year gift won't be just shoe inserts or socks, right?"

Gao shi's face changed, and she awkwardly said, "What's the use of those things? This whole family needs to eat and drink. Oh, it's already this time? I have to go home and cook quickly, or the old man will get angry."

With that, she put on her shoes and walked away without looking back.

Once she left, Fang shi couldn't help but enter the house and say, "What did you receive? So much gifts, quickly, open it up so we can all see."

Song Dingxiang smiled and opened all the gifts.

In the smallest box was a ginseng root, not quite a hundred years old, but at least thirty to fifty years. Ginseng was a treasure beyond the reach of impoverished families.

Li shi possessed a small packet of ginseng slices, meticulously preserved for years. Each sliver was too precious to use lightly, reserved only for times of dire need.

When Fang shi, weakened by childbirth, needed a boost of strength, Li shi had boiling a few pieces to help Fang shi regain her strength when she gave birth.

Sometimes, a few slices of ginseng could save a life.

Without hesitation, Song Dingxiang handed the box of ginseng to Li shi, "This is for Grandma and Grandpa to eat. Eating ginseng will boost your energy and you can live to be a hundred."

Li shi and Song Xingyi couldn't stop smiling and carefully stored the ginseng in a cabinet.

There was also a box containing twenty exquisite velvet flowers, intricately crafted to look lifelike. Each bloom was a testament to meticulous craftsmanship, their velvety petals sculpted with an uncanny resemblance to their living counterparts.

Delicate veins, seemingly etched by the finest brush, meandered across their surfaces, while the subtle play of light and shadow on the plush fabric mimicked the natural luminescence of real flowers.

Another box held one hundred silver ingots, each weighing half an ounce.

There were twelve flower-patterned folding fans, each a canvas of vibrant blooms.

Six shiny gold ink blocks.

Six pairs of exquisitely embroidered handkerchiefs, meticulously embroidered with touch of elegance.

Six sets of rouge and face powder.

Six hairpins, some crafted from gleaming silver in the shapes of delicate flowers, others a luxurious blend of jade and sandalwood of styles both whimsical and sophisticated.

And finally, six high-quality wolf hair brushes, each resting in its own individual box, promised the gentlest touch to even the most tangled tresses.

It was a collection that spoke of beauty, care, and a life filled with exquisite details.

The three largest boxes contained fabrics.

Two bolts of crimson cotton, their hue reminiscent of a fiery sunset, promised bold and dramatic pieces. Beside them, two bolts of pine-green cotton, the color of a thriving forest, whispered of earthy elegance. And finally, two bolts of moon-white cotton, as pristine as a freshly fallen snowfall, offered endless possibilities for classic and versatile garments.

In total, there were six magnificent pieces, each ten feet long – a generous bounty that could be fashioned into countless articles of clothing.