For Qin Feng, one thousand five hundred taels of silver was just a small amount, but for his father, it was a big deal.
Moreover, he overestimated himself by boasting that he would buy an even better piece.
“Feng’er, I’m not criticizing you, but it’s just a piece of jewelry. It’s enough if you can wear it. Why spend so much? You could do something more useful with that money. It’s a complete waste,” Qin Jian’an wanted to use his authority as the head of the household to gloss over the matter.
Second Mother raised her eyebrows, “What do you mean? Feng’er bought me jewelry to show his filial piety, but in your eyes, it becomes a waste?”
“Madam, that’s not what I mean. It’s just that this money could be used to support the family. Wouldn’t that be better?” Qin Jian’an planned to use the authority of the family head to brush off the incident.
Second Younger Brother swallowed his food and spoke up, “Big Brother is right. Besides, most of the household expenses are covered by Big Brother. Buying a piece of jewelry for Mother is no problem.”
“An’er is right. Come, eat more.” Second Mother immediately rewarded Second Younger Brother with a chicken leg.
“Then, Master, when are you planning to give me a better piece of jewelry?” Second Mother asked, tilting her head.
Father Qin was so choked up that he couldn’t speak; even the food in front of him seemed unappetizing.
Outside the house, the streets were filled with the sounds of people enjoying themselves. However, Father Qin felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, with a lump in his throat.“I will definitely buy it. Today is the New Year, and the family should be together. Harmony is important. In a few days, I will go to Imperial Excellency and choose a decent piece of jewelry for Madam!” Father Qin promised, patting his chest.
The Second Mother looked skeptical, and Qin Feng asked directly, “Father, in a few days, how many days exactly? You must give the Second Mother an exact date.”
The old man’s face stiffened, “Five days later, no, seven days later.”
The second younger brother asked curiously, “Why wait so long? Generally speaking, the New Year is more lively for about three days. After three days, there should not be so many people in the Imperial Excellency, right?”
“Second Brother is right.” Qin Feng gave an approving look.
“What do you two know? I have many good friends in the Imperial City.”
“During this time of rest, they will not have to attend court and will naturally come to visit me! What if I miss them when I go to Yuxiufang? Isn’t that disrespectful?”
Seeing that Qin Feng and Qin An were about to say something else, the father coughed and changed the subject, “By the way, this can be considered the first New Year after the Qin family returned to their ancestral home. Later, you all clear your schedules, and we’ll go to watch the New Year’s Eve ceremony together.”
The whole family knew that Father Qin was changing the subject, but they didn’t reveal it. After all, such grand events as the New Year’s Eve Ceremony were not to be missed, so they agreed in unison.
After lunch, Qin Feng left the lobby, followed by hurried footsteps.
As expected. The corner of Qin Feng’s mouth twitched, and he knew without looking that it must be his cash-strapped father coming to ask him for money to buy jewelry for his second mother.
It is really not easy for a father who has always wanted to be strong in his life to maintain the dignity of the head of the family in front of his family.
“How much do you need?” Qin Feng asked directly as he opened the door.
After some hesitation, his old man held up two fingers.
Qin Feng raised an eyebrow and without much thought, took out a money box from his storage ring containing twenty-two thousand taels of silver with snowflake patterns.
This startled his old father; originally, he only wanted two thousand taels.
“Father, choose a better piece of jewelry for Second Mother and use the rest for yourself. Don’t do any more business.” Qin Feng advised earnestly, then turned around and walked away.
Father Qin watched his departing figure with mixed emotions, “The child has indeed grown up, and I am getting old as well.”
After that, he quietly called the maid Qing’er, gave her a thousand taels of silver, and instructed her to buy a piece of jewelry from the Imperial Excellence.
Night fell in the blink of an eye.
Many people in the downtown area had already finished their meals, left their homes, and headed toward Yong’an Street, the largest street in the center of Imperial City.
The New Year’s celebration was traditionally held there.
Even though their status didn’t allow them to enter Yong’an Street, they could still catch a glimpse of it from a distance.
As for the people from the outskirts of the city or those who came later, they would inevitably miss the main event. Their consolation was to find elevated vantage points and gaze at Yong’an Street from a distance.
Imperial City, at the city gate.
Someone called out, “Old Li, haven’t you finished eating with your wife at home? If you’re late, you might not even find a place to stand.”
A man named Old Li immediately replied, “Almost finished, almost finished. Wife, why don’t you take the child out?”
Soon a family of three gathered at the door.
Old Li’s face was slightly red, indicating that he had consumed a bit of alcohol.
At that moment, the little child pointed in the direction of the city gate and said, “Dad, Mom, look, these people are strange.”
They all looked in that direction and saw four people entering the city gate.
Three of them were wearing white masks and red clothes, while one of them was in the middle, wearing a black cloak that covered his face and carrying a heavy object on his back.
Upon closer inspection, it was a coffin with a strange pattern!
These four people are none other than Mu Youqian and his party!
Someone who saw them commented with an unfortunate tone, “On New Year’s Day, why are they carrying a coffin?”
“Bah, bah, bah, the bad luck is gone, there are no taboos.”
Old Li showed a strange expression, and the woman directly covered the child’s eyes.
Mu Youqian and the four others hurriedly left for the Nine Bend River, their destination being the Demon Slaying Department in the Imperial City.
Qin Feng’s family lived in the inner city, and their ancestral home was not too far from Yong’an Street. They were among the first people to arrive, so they had chosen a good location.
When they first arrived, the Yong’an Street outside seemed a bit empty, but in just a moment, the surroundings were crowded.
From a distance, one of the widest main streets ahead was already being guarded by people and officers from the Demon Slaying Department.
Later in the evening, the procession of the imperial family and relatives would enter Yong’an Street for the New Year’s ceremony.
Qin Feng thought of something and asked, “As the Grand Marshal of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Liu family should be allowed to enter Yong’an Street, right?”
Liu Jianli nodded slightly.
Lan Ningshuang said, “Every year during the New Year’s celebration, the Liu family is part of the procession. A few days ago, the head of the Liu family sent someone to ask Miss if she would participate this year, but she declined.”
“Brother-in-law, can you guess why Miss refused?”
Qin Feng replied after a moment’s thought, “Madam has a reserved temperament; she probably doesn’t enjoy such occasions, so that’s why she refused, right?”
Lan Ningshuang laughed at his words, “No, brother-in-law, guess again.”
Qin Feng thought of several reasons, but each one was rejected by Ningshuang.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore, let Miss tell you herself.”
Qin Feng turned his head, and whether it was due to the firelight or not, Lian Jianli’s fair cheeks were slightly flushed.
Her soft words came out from her rosy lips, “Mother said that if you spend the New Year with your beloved, you can be together forever. So I want to stay with you.”
Damn, my heartbeat. Qin Feng held his chest and found it a bit difficult to breathe.
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