Wang Wu Niang was not shy about it. She had been bringing Ying Bao with her since she selected the weaver.
After screening, twenty weavers with nimble hands and feet were selected and given a trial period of one month.
During this month, they can live in the workshop and eat for free, but they do not receive any wages.
If the trial period is passed, a contract will be signed to formally retain the employee.
The weaver's wages are calculated based on how much cotton thread and cotton cloth she weaves; the more she works, the more she earns.
If you work hard, you can earn several coins a month.
These weavers are daughters and daughters-in-law from poor families, and several are daughters of refugees. In order to continue working here, they will accept any conditions.
As New Year's Day approached, Yingbao gave these weavers a holiday and gave each of them a fish to take home for the New Year.
These fish were caught by Wei Zhan, Hu Zi, Jiang Wu and others. They caught dozens of them in total.
With the help of Yingbao's magical bait, other people in the village also caught a lot.
The people living on the south slope were overjoyed and went to the river in groups to fish. It was a grand scene. Even Master Zhou went to watch the fun and became more curious about his little apprentice.
Is there really such a thing as the reincarnation of a fairy child? If not, it would be hard to explain Yingbao's strangeness.
On the night of New Year's Eve, the Jiang family set up several tables. Master Zhou and his three disciples, Madam Wen and her three children, Chuchu's family of four and her younger brother Chu Qing, as well as Madam Wang and her son and Li Xu's mother and son, all had a New Year's Eve dinner together.
Jiang Sanlang also brought out a dozen jars of fruit wine and rice wine, as well as some homemade fruit juice, to entertain everyone.
After eating and drinking, Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Wen went home, but the boys refused to leave and wanted to stay at Jiang's house to light lanterns and celebrate the New Year.
This was a bit against the rules, but Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Wen had other ideas, so they didn't stop it.
"Yingbao, look at my lantern. Is it pretty?" Wei Zhan said with a smile while holding up the lantern in his hand: "I made it myself."
Yingbao took a look at the rabbit lamp in his hand and nodded: "It looks good."
She held up the small palace lantern in her hand and said, "Mine is more beautiful. Look at the top, it's made of colored glaze."
The glass lamps were sent by Sister Wen. There were a pair in total, one was given to her younger brother Wen Hengyin, and the other was given to Yingbao.
Wei Zhan pouted, snatched the palace lantern from Ying Bao's hand, and stuffed his rabbit lantern into her hand: "Why would a girl carry a palace lantern? Rabbits are cuter. I'll give it to you!"
Yingbao was not happy and chased him to ask for it: "No! Give it back now!"
Wei Zhan turned and ran away, turning back and making faces at her as he ran.
Jiang Jie, Jiang Wu, Huzi, Yuanbao and others also ran after them, and the group of children ran around the village.
Most families in the village set up altars and hung lanterns outside their yards to illuminate the village roads.
Children from refugee families living outside the village also came in, holding homemade lanterns in their hands, and gathered in groups to eat the cakes placed on the offering table.
The offerings on the Jiang family's altar were the most abundant, with not only snacks but also various fruits, and apples and tangerines were all served in basins.
Soon it was the second day of the new year, and Chunniang took her children and husband back to her parents' home to pay New Year's greetings.
Before reaching Xujia Village, I saw a few people standing on the road. Upon closer inspection, they were none other than Old Lady Xu and her grandchildren.
When Old Lady Xu saw her daughter’s carriage approaching, she waved excitedly, “Chun Niang! San Lang!”
Chunniang lifted the carriage curtain, quickly jumped off the carriage, ran to my mother and scolded her, "Why are you coming from so far away in such a cold day?"
Mrs. Xu laughed and said, "I have nothing to do, so I came out to take a look."
Xu Daniu, his younger brother Xu Erniu, and his younger sister Xu Lan all bowed to Chunniang and Jiang Sanlang, "Aunt, Uncle."
Jiang Sanlang nodded.
Chunniang said, "Why did you all come out all of a sudden? Go back quickly. It's very cold."
Yingbao and her two younger brothers poked their heads out from behind the car curtain and shouted in unison, "Grandma, eldest cousin, second cousin, and cousin, happy New Year to you all."
"Happy New Year, Happy New Year." Old Lady Xu smiled like a flower.
Xu Daniu's brothers and sisters also hurriedly said, "Happy New Year, cousin. Happy New Year, cousin."
Mrs. Xu waved her hand and said, "Go home quickly. Your aunt has made a lot of delicious food."
So, Chunniang accompanied her mother to the village, Jiang Sanlang drove the carriage and followed slowly, while the Xu brothers and sisters talked to their cousin beside the carriage.
A group of people entered the village, and many people in the village gathered around to watch. Some even came up to Jiang Jie and greeted him politely. "Happy New Year, Mr. Scholar."
Jiang Jie quickly returned the greeting: "Happy New Year to you too."
"Okay... okay..." This man was so flattered to receive a return gift from the scholar that he didn't know what to do.
Seeing this, others also came over to say hello.
For a while, Jiang Jie and Jiang Wu were a little overwhelmed.
Seeing this, Xu Daniu and Xu Erniu hurried over, pushed through the crowd, and escorted their little cousin home.
Xu Da was also standing at the door early. Seeing Jiang Jie grinning from ear to ear, he pulled him into the house and kept asking his wife to pour him some tea.
Mrs. Xu responded and brought out the almond tea that had been prepared long ago from the kitchen. She poured a bowl each for her nephew and niece, and also poured a bowl for her sister-in-law and uncle.
Then he looked at Jiang Jie and Ying Bao with a smile and said, "These are all made from almonds from our trees. I harvested a lot this year. I fried them all yesterday and ground them and boiled them before dawn this morning. I also added goat milk and honey."
Xu Lan covered her mouth and laughed, "Mom, what are you talking about? The food in the kitchen is going to get burnt."
Mrs. Xu cried out in pain and hurried to the kitchen.
Afterwards, Yingbao and her brother kowtowed respectfully to their grandmother, and also to their uncle and aunt to wish them a happy new year.
When Xu Da and Xu Dasao saw Jiang Jie also kneeling down and kowtowing, they were frightened and quickly helped him up.
This is Wenquxing. He doesn’t even have to kneel when he meets a county magistrate or a high official, but he comes to kneel to me. Oh my god.
At this time, there was a commotion outside. It turned out that Xu Lao Niang's two brothers had arrived.
The two old men brought holiday gifts, and one of them was actually for Jiang Sanlang.
So, Yingbao and the others bowed to their uncle again.
The two uncles kept looking at Jiang Jie with smiling eyes, wishing they could hug him and pat him on the back.
"Xiao Jie, you are the pillar of our Xu family. From now on, our Xu family will rely on you for support."
"Yes, yes! Xiaojie, your uncle's family has a few unpromising grandchildren, please discipline them well."
Jiang Jie's face twitched.
How did he become the pillar of the Xu family? And his uncle's grandson was about to get married, how could he discipline him
When Yingbao and Jiang Wu saw their uncle and father sitting down to talk, they quietly slipped out the door.
Jiang Jie saw his sister and brother slipping away, and was about to go out as well, but was grabbed by his uncle: "Xiao Jie, don't go back today, go to your uncle's house for dinner tonight."
Jiang Jie smiled stiffly and turned his gaze to his father.
Jiang Sanlang knew he couldn't refuse, so he nodded and agreed: "Then I'll bother you, uncle."
"What do you mean by bothering me? Sanlang, you are too polite." Another uncle said, "Come to my house at noon tomorrow. Your aunt has prepared all the dishes. This year, our family specially slaughtered a pig just to entertain Xiaojie."