When I returned home, the New Year was approaching, and Feng Hongluan had to put some things aside for the time being, not wanting to ruin the beautiful atmosphere.
How long has it been? If you count your life in the last life, it has been six years since I celebrated the New Year at home. I still remember that when I was young, my mother was still alive, Mrs. Dong was still the charitable second mother in her mind, and He Jixiang was the gentle and beautiful sister.
, the family is happy, staying up late and setting off firecrackers, it’s so lively.
Nowadays, things have changed, her mother has passed away, and Mrs. Dong is no longer the second mother worthy of respect. As for He Jixiang, she will never regard her as her sister again.
However, the superficial peace must be maintained. After all, it is rare for dad to go home to celebrate the New Year. After the New Year, he will go off to war again. Moreover, in dad's heart, although the Dong family was at fault, there is still a place for them as mother and daughter.
Regardless of whether this place was entrusted by an old friend or because of feelings developed after so many years of getting along, Feng Hongluan did not want to spoil a good New Year with something messy and disturb her father's mood.
On New Year's Eve, the family had a New Year's Eve dinner with He Lele. He Jixiang seemed to have gradually recovered from the shadow. Dong also acted like a good wife and mother. Everyone had a good New Year's Eve dinner.
Peace.
After dinner, they had to stay up late. In order to pass the time, Ms. Dong began to teach He Jixiang and Feng Hongluan how to cut paper. Ms. Dong’s paper-cutting skills were very exquisite. When she married He Jixiang’s father, the He family was very poor.
It is her paper-cutting skills that support this home.
Later, He Jixiang's biological father finally became famous, but within two days of his good days, he died in battle. After being mourned for three months, he was integrated into the Feng family and given the title of Second Lady. From then on, he became a real Jinyi.
Having no worries about food and clothing, Dong never picked up the old trade again. Only during holidays and holidays when she had nothing to do, she asked her maid to buy some red paper to pass the time.
In the Nuan Pavilion, the hot air made people drowsy. Feng Hongluan had no intention of learning paper-cutting, so he just watched He Jixiang and Dong cut. His father was reading a book on the art of war on the side. This scene looked like that
Peace, only Feng Hongluan knew that this peace was just pretending. In fact, except for his father, he was really enjoying it, and everyone else had their own concerns.
"Dad, are you leaving after the first lunar month?"
What He Jixiang asked.
Fengcheng put down the military book and smiled particularly lovingly: "Yes, it will take about three to five months before we can come back after leaving."
"Is the Liao Kingdom so perseverant and unwilling to withdraw its troops? To fight against our Hong Kingdom is nothing more than throwing an egg against a rock and using a mantis' arm as a chariot. Our non-infringement is the greatest kindness to them, but they are not satisfied."
He Jixiang should always talk about these things with his father to please him. In fact, He Jixiang didn't understand anything at all. He just wanted to find a topic to make Maple City look at her more.
Fengcheng put down the book: "Marching and fighting are not about numbers. The Liao army was born in the severe cold in the north. They are strong and tall. In the summer, they mostly make a living by herding horses. Nomadic people should not be underestimated. Otherwise, it has been five years.
Dad will not be stationed at the border every year. The Liao army is like weeds. If you leave them alone, one day they will grow wildly. By then, even a fire may not be able to burn them all."
"Oh!" He Jixiang pretended to understand.
Feng Hongluan glanced at her and sneered in her heart. Besides having the means to seduce men, what other abilities did He Jixiang have?
"Jixiang, daddy sees that your clothes are all worn out. Of course you need to wear new clothes for the New Year. Why don't you talk to the accountant and withdraw some silver to buy some new clothes?"
As soon as Fengcheng said that, Feng Hongluan noticed that the colorful and dark floral brocade cotton coat that He Jixiang was wearing did not seem to be new. It seemed that he and He Jixiang had made it together last winter. At that time, He Jixiang thought the color was too dark.
, it’s not suitable for her, just
He Jixiang put it in the closet and never wore it again. He Jixiang saw that she didn't wear it. He said that wearing it alone always felt lonely, so he put it on the shelf. She only wore it once. In fact, it was no different from new clothes, but
After all, it is still an old piece of clothing.
On New Year's Eve, there is no more clothes to wear, and we should not wear last year's clothes. If nothing else, let's just say that when the winter came this autumn, Mrs. Dong made new coats for all the maids in the house, and also gave them to Feng Hongluan and He.
Jixiang made two new cotton-padded clothes by himself. Those two cotton-padded clothes had never been worn by He Jixiang, so they should be brand new.
Fengcheng didn't know what the purpose of deliberately not wearing new clothes, but wearing last year's old clothes, was obvious to Feng Hongluan.
Feng Hongluan didn't say anything, just to see how the mother and daughter would sing the double act in front of her father.
"Master!" Mrs. Dong spoke first and put down the scissors. Her face was full of virtuousness. "I used to be too squandered. I didn't know that these monthly salary rewards, Master, were all earned with my life and hard work. Let's enjoy the fruits of it."
, it’s too big and shouldn’t be done, I still..."
As she said that, she looked a little ashamed. Fengcheng saw that she was sincerely repentant and said tolerantly: "It's good that you realize your mistake. The most valuable thing about a mistress of a family is that she is diligent and thrifty in running the house. I am doing meritorious service for the country outside, so you can
You must take good care of this family for me. However, no matter what, you cannot treat the children harshly. Look, if I picked up Jixiang’s clothes correctly, they were from last year. How could I wrong the children like this?"
"Dad, my daughter doesn't feel aggrieved. Even though her clothes are old, they can keep her warm. Mother said that she squandered so much of the family's money before, and now she has to live frugally to be worthy of her father and this family."
Fengcheng was greatly moved: "Your mother can think this way, and I am happy for you as a father. However, I cannot wrong you in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation. Although my father's salary is not generous, it is still enough to provide food and drink for you."
Yes, let’s go to the accountant tomorrow to get some money and make some new clothes for you, as well as the jewelry on your mother’s head. They are all from a few years ago and have become new from time to time, so go buy some!”
When Feng Hongluan heard this, her heart became colder and colder. The purpose of these mother and daughter was indeed to defraud their father. Didn't they extract enough before? Wasn't it enough to sell the jade bracelet given by her mother? Of course.
, started using tricks to defraud money again, pretending to be pitiful and sincere, do they think she is a dead person?
Originally, I didn't want to cause any trouble on New Year's Eve, but now, it's not her who is causing trouble, it's the mother and daughter who are taking advantage of their father's kindness and love to engage in deception, which is outrageous.