Lin Joy is unfamiliar with this world. As a small village girl, the country's situation is not within her scope of concern.
But even if you don't pay attention, you will know that the current situation is not stable. The war between the Yuan Kingdom and several surrounding small countries has lasted for nearly thirty years.
They are located far away from the center of the war, so they are not greatly affected and can still live normally.
But we can also feel the decline of national strength. The government has to pay first when it comes to lawsuits. The price of rice and grain is not stable. Even the imperial examinations that provide talents for the country have become random.
Normally, the imperial examination is held every three years, but in the past ten or twenty years, sometimes it is held once every three years, sometimes once every two years, and sometimes once every four years.
Countless students look forward to standing out in the imperial examinations, but they are not even sure when they will have the opportunity to take the exams.
This time the scientific examination has been postponed again, and I don’t know how many scholars have stayed up all night.
Lin Yuxi spread the red paper on the table, "We can't take care of the scientific examination. Let's take care of the family affairs first and write well."
Chen Zhongqian accepted the work assigned by his wife, pondered in the room for an hour, and wrote several Spring Festival couplets.
However, Lin Huiyi couldn't tell whether the Spring Festival couplets were good or bad. As long as she read the couplets neatly and used interesting words, she thought they were good Spring Festival couplets.
"Not bad, not bad. As expected of a student taught by an academy that earns one tael of silver a month. The tuition is not in vain."
Chen Zhongqian looked at her, "So the advantage of me going to school is that I can have someone write couplets?"
"Almost." Lin Yuxi smiled and began to choose Spring Festival couplets, and sent two to the Chen family.
There were also New Year's gifts sent together. She had not prepared these, but it seemed that the younger generation should send some New Year's gifts to the elders' families.
Lin Yuxi prepared some sausages, bacon, fresh pig's trotters and pig heads, and some dried fruit snacks for the New Year.
She had not considered Chen Mingyi's family at first, but she also thought that Chen Zhongqian had to take the scientific examination when he was studying now. The reputation of a scholar was very important. If the family was separated and ignored, it would not sound good if it was revealed.
But she thought it was nothing, so she prepared some for their home.
They first sent it to Chen Yunzhao's house. When Xiao Wu received it, she was so happy that she told them that she wanted them to come home to celebrate the New Year, so she didn't have to prepare it herself.
Lin Yuxi said with a smile, "If I can't see my eldest aunt, we will come again to pay New Year's greetings on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This is the first New Year that our family has spent together. I want to have a good time myself."
Xiao Wu said hurriedly, "That's right. I didn't think it through carefully. This year, your family of four is finally reunited. You have to have a good time. You must come home on the first day of the new year."
Lin Joy agreed with a smile, then went back to get something and delivered it to the Chen family.
It is already the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, and the Chinese New Year will soon come. There is also a smell of meat outside Chen's house.
Lin Yuxi didn't want to talk to the Chen family, so Chen Zhongqian said she would go and see him off, but she was afraid that Chen Zhongqian would be bullied, so she went with him.
Wu's sharp eyes saw the two of them through the courtyard door, but she didn't see what they were carrying.
I originally wanted to make a few comments, but when I opened the door and saw what I was carrying, I immediately put on a smile and said, "After all, I have raised my grandson for so many years. He knows how to send New Year's gifts to the family."
Chen Zhongqian had no expression on his face and handed the things to her, "Grandma has put them away."
"Hey, hey, I'll keep it. I know what you mean. I didn't feed you in vain."
After saying that, he stared at those things without any intention of letting them in, nor did he say anything about letting them come back to celebrate the New Year together.
Of course, they don't want to spend the New Year together.
After the things were delivered, he went home. Lin Yuxi said, "I'm so frustrated that I have to give them things."
With her temperament, she would not let the Chen family take advantage of her.
But after being here for so long, she also understood something. She could live well without relying on anyone, but when she could make some concessions, there was no need to choose another path and cause herself a lot of blood.
I don't like those people in the Chen family, but I still have to do what I have to do, even if it's just for people to see.
In this way, Chen Zhongqian's path will go smoothly in the future, and even if Chen Mingyi is unreasonable, there will be people on their side.
But if Chen Mingyi doesn't send anything back during the New Year and holidays, and one day Chen Mingyi points his finger at Chen Zhongqian and scolds him, many more people will start making fun of him.
Chen Zhongqian didn't say anything. He wasn't feeling aggrieved. He just thought of it as repaying the kindness of raising his father.
"You don't have to give it as a gift, you don't have to worry so much." Chen Zhongqian said.
When Lin Yuxi heard what he said, he suddenly understood, "Forget it, it's okay. This is our first time to celebrate the New Year together. The most important thing is to be happy."
"Yeah." Chen Zhongqian nodded.
As the two of them walked back together, snowflakes began to fall in the sky again, not too many, but they made the surrounding scenery more hazy.
Lin Hexi was intently looking at the falling snowflakes. When her fingertips felt warm, someone quietly pulled her fingertips.
She turned back and smiled, holding the hand more firmly.
The palms of hands touch each other and feel warm to each other.
"Go faster, Xiaoyu Xiaoduo is waiting impatiently."
"good."
There was the last big show on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, so Lin Yuxi held off until this day before going to the town to buy ingredients for the New Year, so that they would be fresh.
It has snowed these past two days, and there is a thin layer of snow on the road, making it difficult to walk.
It happened that Chen Zhongwen was also going to town to buy things, so he took their family of four with him.
Lin Yuxi was responsible for buying, while Chen Zhongqian held the money bag and was responsible for giving money.
The meat and vegetables they wanted to eat, the snacks the two children wanted, some firecrackers, and some beautiful head flowers were bought for Xiaoduo.
After buying it, I put it on Xiaoduo, "My daughter is so beautiful. This is a New Year's gift from my mother."
Lin Xixi smiled and pinched Xiaoduo's fleshy little face. These two children were indeed good-looking, with big, bright eyes.
In the past, the Chen family did not have enough food, clothing or warmth, and they were also frightened. The two children were both sallow and thin, and could not show off their outstanding appearance.
But even then, Wu and Yang also had the idea to sell them.
Now I eat and drink well, feel good, and dress cutely and beautifully. Of course, I look very different from before.
Xiaoduo smiled, "What is a New Year's gift?"
"It's just a gift given to Xiaoduo during the Chinese New Year. My mother will give it to Xiaoduo in the future."
Xiao Yu tilted his head, and Lin Joy patted him on the forehead, "Yours is also indispensable. I will buy you...a pen soon."
Originally, I was teasing the child, wanting to see his tearless expression, but Xiaoyu's eyes lit up, "Really, thank you, mother."
He actually liked it.
Lin Yuxi cleared her throat and said, "No, you're welcome."