No matter how turbulent the situation outside was, Hua Zhi ignored it. After returning from the Lu family, she did not go out except for taking a walk to the side branch. She moved some things from the study to Yan Xi's room and spent most of her time there.
She also called Xiaoliu over. Since he was now someone's formal master, she had to teach more attentively than before.
This goes on until the fifteenth day.
In the Daqing Dynasty, the Chinese New Year is considered over after the Lantern Festival. There is no curfew on this day and there are lantern festivals to watch. However, the Hua sisters, who are without their brother to protect them, cannot go this year.
Hua Zhi, who had traveled almost all over the country and had also traveled north and south in the past year, always had a strange feeling of pity for the women of this era. Seeing that the girls of the Hua family couldn't even go out on a rare day when they could go out openly, she decided to hold a lantern festival at home.
Of course, she was only responsible for giving advice, and Wu was still the one in charge. Yingchun and Baoxia were also sent out to do the work.
"Miss, the three families from the side branches have arrived."
Hua Zhi put down her pen, blew on the ink and said, "These riddles are enough. Liu Xiang, how are the lanterns going?"
"Each of the masters has made some, and the girls from the side branches have also brought some. With the sisters' work, it should be enough."
"There must be quite a few, Xiaoliu, please help write some more, just for fun."
Xiaoliu responded with a smile.
Hua Zhi stood up and looked at the man who was no longer willing to lie in bed. He was wearing a coat and had his hair loose, looking like a man at home. "I'm going to get busy. You guys should have dinner a little later. Wait for me."
Gu Yanxi nodded with a smile on her face. They all knew that today was probably the only day they could be so free, so they should stay together as long as possible.
***
Many people from the side branches came, and the Hua family, which had been deserted for a long time, suddenly became unusually lively. Hua Zhi and the three aunts and uncles greeted each other. The women were handed over to the fourth aunt, the girls were handed over to Hua Xin and her sisters, and the boys were taken away by Bai Yu. In a few seconds, everyone had their own homes.
The fourth uncle's wife laughed and said, "That's neat. Why didn't I think of it before?"
"So the Hua family only has this one eldest daughter." Second Uncle's wife covered her mouth and joked, then turned to look at Hua Zhi and frowned again, "Others have gained weight after a winter, but you haven't changed at all, Zhi'er."
"I hide my fat, so it won't grow on my face." Hua Zhi responded with a smile. She was not one to gossip about other people's affairs. She knew her own shortcomings and had prepared for them. She took out a deck of cards and said, "I have a new toy here. You three uncles and aunts can play with it here. Don't tell anyone. It's not available for sale outside for the time being. I'll send it to you when it's convenient."
Hua Zhi taught them to play a game of cards that was suitable for three people. Not only was it easy to learn, but most importantly, she didn't have to accompany them.
She wasn't afraid that they would really tell this to others. The cards were not available for sale outside for the time being, and they wouldn't be able to make them well even if they used paper to make them themselves. They would lose the fun after playing a few games if they were so sloppy. Moreover, after nearly a year of adjustment, they were now very obedient. If she said she couldn't tell anyone, she wouldn't.
The three of them quickly got the hang of it and started playing with full concentration.
This was exactly the effect Hua Zhi wanted. She said hello and walked out of the yard, following the sound of laughter. On the corridor over there, the girls of the Hua family were wrapped up tightly and were hanging up all kinds of lanterns with their maids.
"Eldest sister."
Hua Rong was the first to see her. When she shouted, everyone else looked over and called her "eldest sister". Those who were climbing on chairs to hang lanterns also came down to get busy.
"I just came over to take a look. You guys continue to play and have fun. There are no rules today."
"Yes." The girls responded in a sweet voice, looked at each other, and laughed again.
Hua Rong ran over with a lantern and handed it to her, "Eldest sister, this is for you."
This is a lotus lantern with a painting on it. Looking at her concubine sister who was looking for praise, Hua Zhi understood and asked, "Did you make it yourself?"
"Well, I made several, and this one is the best."
"It looks great. I'll take the best one."
Hua Rong laughed even more happily and ran back to continue hanging the lanterns up.
Hua Zhi chose a place sheltered from the wind and sat down, leaning against the pillar and watching them laughing and having fun. This was the first time she had seen such a scene in her past and present lives. Even though the Hua family had harmonious relations, that was only compared with other families. In private, everyone still had their own concerns, and it was normal for them to compete with each other. Just like Hua Xin and Hua Ling, they had quarreled more than once, but they had never been so harmonious before.
It's so beautiful just looking at it.
She must be a person who lacks love, Hua Zhi laughed at herself in her heart, stood up and left with the lotus lantern.
She didn't notice that the girls who had been laughing behind her just now stopped smiling and looked at her back as she left.
Hua Rong whispered, "I wanted to ask my elder sister to play with us, but I couldn't say it."
"Me too." Hua Xin wiped the corner of her eyes pretending to be careless, "She's not much older than me, but we look like two generations apart."
Hua Xin still remembers what her elder sister was like before. She never hung out with them, never wrote poems or compose couplets, never went out. Even her sisters didn't see her every day, but she was always there when she should be. She never stepped out of line, never overstepped, and followed the rules. To put it bluntly, she was rigid. Such an elder sister was too non-threatening, so she only regarded Hua Ling as an opponent.
She used to look down on this eldest sister who was the heir and the eldest daughter but was sullen and had no temper. Now she thinks that she is really ridiculous. People with real ability will never show off their abilities. When it is time for her to step up, she is more reliable than anyone else.
What does it mean that an elder sister is like a mother? For the Hua family today, the eldest daughter of the Hua family is such a mother.
Hua Zhi walked around the backyard with a lantern and then returned to the front yard. It seemed that only here did she not feel out of place. She was really old, and the vicissitudes of life could not be concealed by her age.
Yan Xi was the only one in the room. He put the lantern away carefully. Hua Zhi sat over and leaned on his shoulder without saying a word.
Gu Yanxi put down the book and hugged the man, "Are you unhappy?"
Hua Zhi shook her head, not knowing how to describe the feeling.
Gu Yanxi kissed her forehead and didn't ask any more questions, "Let's play a game of hands?"
She would rather have a sand table simulation than a hand talk, but after thinking about it, she decided to give up. Yan Xi's leisurely posture can only be in this room. He will have to pick it up again when he goes out. It's tiring just watching.
The chessboard was set up, and Hua Zhi played with the black pieces first. Perhaps because she was feeling anxious, her style of play was much more aggressive than usual. However, Gu Yanxi also played a cunning trick, setting traps one after another. It was a real match between them.
Hua Zhi had forgotten all the emotions in her heart. She focused all her attention on the chessboard, and played against Yan Xi on equal terms.
Seeing that she was no longer depressed, Gu Yanxi dared not be distracted anymore. Given Azhi's level, he might not be able to win even if he tried his best, but he didn't want to lose too badly in front of Azhi.