As they were talking, Aunt Jiang Yunniang came in, followed by the pregnant Hong Xiao.
Hongxiao is married, and today happens to be her turn to visit her parents' home to pay New Year's greetings.
"Yingbao." Jiang Yunniang sat down next to Yingbao and handed her the box in her hand: "This is a wedding gift from your aunt."
"Thank you, aunt." Ying Bao didn't hesitate to ask, "Where does aunt live now? I'll go take a look when I have time."
She heard from her father that he and brother Dacheng contributed money to buy a house in the county town for their aunt and for Zhang Yuying to marry. As a result, Zhang Yukun and his wife also moved there. They also said that since they were brothers and had never separated, they should live together and take care of their mother in her old age together with their younger brother.
My aunt was so angry with the couple, but she couldn't chase them away, so she had to stay like this.
When Jiang Yunniang heard that her niece was going to her house, she showed a happy expression on her face, "I live in Liuzhi Lane, your mother knows where it is. Baoer, when are you going? I'll make dumplings for you."
"The day after tomorrow, I'll go and get to know the place." Ying Bao said.
Jiang Yunniang knew that her niece was going to support her, and her eyes became red. She took Yingbao's hand and said, "Okay, I'll cut more leeks the day after tomorrow morning."
At this time, Hong Xiao came over to salute Ying Bao, but Ying Bao held her back and said, "Cousin, there's no need to be polite. You're not feeling well, so just sit down."
The maid Amber brought a stool and asked Hongxiao to sit down.
Hong Xiao was a little reserved. He smiled at her, bowed to all the elders present, then sat on the stool and secretly looked at Ying Bao who was sitting at the top.
At this moment, Yingbao was wearing a red brocade gown with a golden phoenix pattern, a blue shawl with a cloud pattern, and her hair was tied up high. In the middle was a golden phoenix hairpin, and on both sides were golden phoenix hairpins with kingfisher feathers.
With bright eyes, white teeth and delicate features, she still looked beautiful, but with an aura of a superior.
Hong Xiao didn't dare to look anymore and just listened to everyone talking silently.
Soon, the servants set up a banquet in the side hall and invited the female family members to take their seats.
Two tables were set up in the main hall, and people began to toast each other.
As for the guards and servants, the big kitchen was preparing the banquet, and it would be their turn after the masters left the banquet.
...
The next day, Jiang Sanlang and his wife took Yingbao and his wife back to Meihua Lane.
As soon as I entered the yard, I saw Erni running over and looking at Yingbao in surprise: "Why have you changed?"
"No way." Yingbao smiled and said, "You are the one who has changed." She touched Erni's belly and said, "It's been seven months."
Erni hummed awkwardly and pulled Yingbao to her grandparents.
Wei Zhan also came over and paid respects to the grandparents together with Ying Bao, and asked someone to bring gifts to distribute to everyone.
Jiang Liu smiled from ear to ear, dragged Ying Bao and Wei Zhan into the house, and gave each of the couple a red envelope: "This is your New Year's money."
Yingbao smiled and said, "Grandma, we are married now, so we don't need lucky money anymore."
"Who said that?" Jiang Liu scolded, "When you have a child, your grandmother won't have to give you lucky money anymore."
Erni said, "Yes, grandma told me that too."
Jiang Liu smiled and nodded: "When you have a child, your grandmother will give the child New Year's gifts."
As they were talking, a few little kids came running in from outside.
"These are the son and daughter of sister Da Ni, and that one is the youngest daughter of eldest brother." Er Ni introduced.
Yingbao took out a small silver gourd from her bag and distributed it to the children.
Jiang Cheng's little daughter was about four or five years old. She was very clever and immediately kowtowed to Ying Bao: "Happy New Year to Auntie!"
The other two followed suit and knelt down and kowtowed.
At this time, another girl of six or seven years old came in, holding the hand of a little boy of two or three years old.
"Sister Yingbao, Happy New Year." Jiang Xiaomei bowed to Yingbao in a serious manner, and asked the little kid to wish her sister a happy new year.
Yingbao also stuffed a silver gourd into Jiang Xiaomei and the little boy's mouth and said, "Put your brother's silver gourd away later, and don't let him put it in his mouth."
"Yes." Jiang Xiaomei was particularly sensible, "Don't worry, sister, I will put the silver gourd away later."
"Okay, okay, little sister, you take my nephews and nieces out to play. I want to talk to your sister Yingbao." Erni had a lot to say to Yingbao, so she hurried to send them away.
Jiang Xiaomei glared at her, and really took her brother and nephews and nieces out.
Wei Zhan also went out and talked with his father-in-law and Uncle Jiang Da and Uncle Jiang Er, discussing agriculture and sericulture in Qinchuan County.
This county is also Yingbao's fiefdom, and the taxes here also belong to her, so Wei Zhan must understand the situation here and sort out all the poor towns and villages.
Inside the house, Erni was eating the snacks her grandmother had brought out, and she said to her little cousin, "Yingbao, let me tell you something. Chen Changping from Xichen Village is back."
Ying Bao was startled: "Chen Changping? Isn't he dead?"
"Who said he was dead?" Erni threw a piece of sesame candy into her mouth and chewed it with a crunching sound. "I heard that the emperor issued a general amnesty, and he was released from southern Xinjiang."
Yingbao suddenly realized.
Chen Changping participated in King Cheng's rebellion, but he was just an unknown lackey, or perhaps not even a lackey. He was just implicated in King Cheng's affairs, and that's why he was sentenced to exile in southern Xinjiang.
Last year, the emperor held a full-month banquet for the prince and issued a general amnesty. Many crimes that were not serious were pardoned. I believe Chen Changping was included in the amnesty.
Yingbao pretended to ask casually: "What's so strange about him coming back?" Anyway, he was destined to be a commoner in this life and would never make waves again. He probably didn't even have the title of scholar anymore.
Erni snorted, "As soon as he came back, he ran to tell the clan leader that he wanted to teach in the school."
Ying Bao frowned: "He's still teaching like that? Who's child would dare to let him study?"
Erni chuckled: "That's what the clan leader said, too."
"What happened next?" Yingbao asked, "Did the clan leader let him teach?"
"No." Erni looked gloating: "The school doesn't lack teachers, why do we need him?"
Grabbing another handful of sesame candy and eating it, Erni said, "Yingbao, you don't know that Chen Changping is helping his second daughter sell wontons at the market. After he got some money, he took it to the town to gamble, and ended up losing it all. Chen Zhao was really angry."
Yingbao frowned.
She expected Chen Changping to behave like this.
He is a man of little ability, and once he falls into the mud, it is difficult for him to get up.
"Hey! I have something else to tell you." Erni came over mysteriously, and her slightly plump face almost touched Yingbao's nose.
Yingbao stepped back and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Recently, Chen Changping often mentioned you to others, saying that you were his daughter." Erni winked at Yingbao: "He even went to my uncle's house to ask him for money."
Yingbao: "Uncle borrowed it?"
"Of course not. Uncle is not stupid. If I lend money to someone like that, what if he gets harassed?"
Erni sighed and reached out to grab more sesame candy, but Yingbao slapped her hand away. "Eat less sweets!"