Chapter 55

55 New Year

When Li Mei returned home, she looked at Li Yu regretfully and thought to herself, Mr. Zhou is handsome and knowledgeable. If only he was from an ordinary family. He and my Xiaoyu are really a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, he’s the young master of a rich family. I have to talk to her to prevent her from falling for him.

Li Mei instructed Li Yu earnestly, “Yu’er, I know that Mr. Zhou is handsome and knowledgeable, but I’m afraid the young masters of these rich families are already engaged. We can’t degrade ourselves and become concubines. Next year, I’ll get someone to search for you and find a reliable family for you to marry into as a first wife.”

Li Yu smiled and brought Li Mei into the kitchen. “Aunt, don’t worry. I definitely won’t do such a despicable thing. I don’t want to get married and just wish to stay at home for the rest of my life.” Li Yu hugged Li Mei. “Let’s not talk about things that have nothing to do with us. Bring these New Year goods back.”

Li Mei stopped in her tracks and looked at Li Yu. “It’s not up to you when it comes to getting married. When a woman turns 18 and hasn’t gotten engaged yet, the government office will have to match you with someone. At that time, who knows what kind of ugly person he will be?”

Li Yu was stunned when she heard that. What kind of world was this? She couldn’t even decide whether to marry or not.

Seeing Li Yu standing there in a daze, Li Mei hurriedly smiled and comforted her. “Yu’er, you’re only 14 years old. You’re still two to three years away from 18! We’ll slowly find a good family.” Li Mei pulled Li Yu’s hand. “Didn’t you want to give me New Year goods? Take them to Aunt!”

Li Yu came back to her senses and brought Li Mei to get the New Year goods. Li Mei saw that the bamboo basket was filled with all kinds of dried goods and fresh meat. She smiled at Li Yu reproachfully and said, “You’ve given us all the New Year goods. What are you eating?”

“Look, there are still so many hanging on the wooden frame at the mouth of the stove!” Li Yu carried the bamboo basket to the eaves porch. Zhaodi came out of the room and said to Li Yu with a smile, “Cousin, the shoes are done. Try them on later.”

Li Yu looked at the elegant and quiet Zhaodi and smiled. “Thank you, Cousin. I’ll try again later.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

After Li Yu sent Li Mei and her daughters away, she sat on the chair and felt worried. Did she really have to find someone to marry? Li Yu’s mind kept spinning and her eyes lit up. She could find someone to fake a marriage! When the time comes, she could give him some money and get a divorce! Yes, that’s what she would do.

After thinking about it, Li Yu stopped hesitating and started cleaning up the house in peace.

On the 23rd of December, Li Yu, Li Mei, and her daughter went to town together. When they arrived, Li Yu said to Li Mei, “Aunt, I’ll go to the blacksmith to order a grill. I’m going to treat Mr. Zhou to a barbecue on the 15th.”

“Then go! We’ll wait for you at the entrance of the town later.” Li Mei led Zhaodi and Laidi away. Li Yu went to the blacksmith. When the blacksmith saw Li Yu, he smiled. “It’s you! Miss Strong.”

Li Yu also smiled and replied, “It’s me. Uncle, I’m here to ask you to make a barbecue rack and a copper hotpot.”

The blacksmith looked at Li Yu and pointed at the grill in the shop. “There’s a barbecue grill ready. However, what’s this copper hotpot you mentioned? I’ve never heard of it?”

“A copper hotpot is a hotpot made of copper. Let me draw it for you to see.” Li Yu found an iron nail and drew a copper hotpot on the ground. “Look, it looks like this.”

“So that’s how it works, huh?” The blacksmith pointed to the center column, which looked like a chimney. “That’s where they put the charcoal in the middle, right?”

“Yes. When can you make it? I’ll pick it up.”

“Tomorrow. Come and collect it after noon tomorrow! There’s a total of one tael and four taels of silver.”

“Alright, I’ll give you the money first.” Li Yu paid the money readily and came out of the blacksmith’s shop with the grill. She went to the grocery store and bought some big ingredients and a jar of honey. She carried it to the town entrance and waited for Li Mei and her daughters to drive the ox cart back.

Laidi looked at the grill curiously. “Cousin, I want a barbecue too. It looks delicious.”

“You all have to come on the fifteenth. I’ll make hotpot and I’m sure you’ll like it.”

Li Mei smiled strangely. “Just spoil your cousin! Look, she’s about to become a big girl, but she’s still so greedy!”

Zhaodi pursed her lips and smiled as she scratched her face. Laidi pulled Li Mei’s collar and said coquettishly, “Mother, look, Sister is laughing at me. Don’t scold me! I won’t be greedy after eating it this time.”

Zhaodi laughed. “You’re kidding yourself!” Everyone laughed when they heard her.

After Li Yu returned home and took out the sugar melon and noodles made by Li Mei to supply to the stove lord, she lit an incense stick in front of the old portrait of the stove god. She prayed to the stove lord to put in a good word for everyone at the Heavenly Court so that the future would be better.

On the 24th of December, she spring-cleaned and took a bath. On the 29th of December, Li Yu cooked enough cured meat, roasted chicken, rabbit, and sausages that the siblings could eat without using knives before the fifth day of Lunar New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, after the siblings pasted the spring couplet that Zhou Jia had sent over, they burned incense and worshiped their ancestors. Li Yu and Li Qing had their first New Year’s Eve meal together after coming to a different world. Li Yu took a sip of the glutinous rice wine that Madam Li had sent over and looked at Li Qing with a smile. “Ah Qing, the glutinous rice wine is really delicious. You can drink some when you’re a little older.”

Li Qing looked at his sister’s red face and said to Li Yu excitedly, “Sister, I’m so happy. We’ve returned home and even led a good life.” Li Qing looked at Li Yu and felt a little guilty. “Sister, why didn’t Father and Mother come to look for me? If they had taught me all their skills, you could have been more free at home. Now that you’ve worked so hard, I can’t help you much.”

Li Yu looked at Li Qing and said seriously, “Ah Qing, although everyone’s opportunities are different, we have to learn to seize them and be brave enough to change ourselves. Take me for example. I met our parents when I fainted. They taught me some principles and skills. When I woke up, I began to change myself. I stopped being afraid and cowardly and decisively left the Zhang family with you. This is my change.

If I wake up and still suffer in silence in the Zhang family like before, what’s the use of more opportunities?”

Li Qing was silent for a moment when he heard that. He looked at Li Yu. “Sister, I understand. You letting me study is also an opportunity for me. It depends on whether I can seize this opportunity to change my fate.”

Li Yu smiled and nodded. “You can say that. Ah Qing, you don’t have to worry about me. I like to work hard and live a better life with my family.”

When Li Qing heard that, he promised Li Yu, “Sister, I have to work hard to let us live a better life.”

“Okay, let’s work hard together.”

After the siblings finished eating and drinking, Li Qing fought to wash the pots and bowls. Li Yu was slightly drunk as she accompanied Li Qing to paste a new portrait of the stove lord. After lighting up the candles to welcome the stove lord home, the two of them went to the central room and sat on chairs around the brazier to celebrate the New Year.

Li Yu leaned back in her chair and fell asleep. When Li Qing saw this, he shook Li Yu awake worriedly and led her to her room. “Sister, go to sleep first. I’ll stay up for the the New Year.” Li Yu nodded and kicked off her shoes. She crawled into bed and fell asleep.