As the New Year approached, the cloth shop’s business flourished, which meant Xie Miao’er had even more responsibilities to manage. She also had to take care of her younger brother and sister. Although her own courtyard was small, there were still many trivial matters to take care of before the year ended.
None of these tasks were significant on their own, but when strung together, they became incredibly exhausting, leaving Xie Miao’er with a persistent headache.
Children loved the New Year, but it was different for adults. There’s a saying that “the New Year is a hurdle,” and indeed, getting through it often felt like crossing a difficult threshold.
Still, she mustered her energy and tackled each task one by one.
On the fifteenth, Xie Miao’er, as usual, took a carriage out of the residence.
The streets were already bustling with activity. An elderly scholar, who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, set up a stall to write couplets. A hunched old man was shaking a rattle drum, selling candied gourds. A traveling doctor waved a tiger-head banner as he walked through the alleys. Just as he passed by, a woman poured a basin of water onto the ground he had just walked over.
“What kind of person are you? It’s almost the New Year, and you’re still wandering around selling those worthless pills. Such bad luck.”
“Heh, you old hag, if you’ve got the guts, never get sick in your life, and don’t you dare die in front of me.”
The traveling doctor and the woman started quarreling, drawing a crowd of onlookers.
Xie Miao’er had long grown accustomed to the noise of the marketplace. These fragmented squabbles didn’t annoy her; instead, they gave her a vivid sense of being grounded in the human world.
The cloth shop was bustling with activity. When Cheng Yuandao saw her arrive, he quickly came to greet her, “Little Proprietress, why did you come alone today?”
Xie Miao smiled faintly, “It’s almost the New Year, and there’s a lot to do. The maid who usually accompanies me also has many tasks to handle, so I decided to come by myself.”
She glanced around the drying yard, where many new cloths were still hanging. Several women were busy moving among the fabrics. When they saw Xie Miao’er, they smiled and greeted her. Xie Miao asked Cheng Yuandao, “At this time of year, are we still making new cloth?”
Cheng Yuandao replied, “One of the ready-to-wear shops we partnered with received a rush order. The fabric they ordered earlier wasn’t enough, so they paid extra to see if we could fulfill it.”
Xie Miao’er understood. “Since they paid extra for rush work, we should also give the workers more money for the New Year.”
Cheng Yuandao then asked her, “Little Proprietress, how much do you think would be appropriate?”
“Five percent more, taken from the public account.”
As they looked over the drying yard, Cheng Yuandao started discussing plans for the next season. “We just purchased a jacquard loom. However, there are so many cloth shops making similar fabrics. Our Xie family’s shop mainly produces gauze, so spring and summer are our peak seasons. Once spring starts, if we get the chance to sell to faraway places…”
Xie Miao’er had one of her greatest strengths: her eagerness to learn. When she first took over the cloth shop, she didn’t even know how fabric was made. Now, she could personally operate a loom. Whenever Cheng Yuandao talked to her about the business, she always listened attentively.
She nodded as she listened and said, “I’ll give it serious thought. If we’re going to sell to other places, we’ll need to find a reliable and appropriate escort agency.”
As they chatted, they walked out of the drying yard. Xie Miao’er noticed a familiar figure busily working and greeted her, “Second Sister Wen.”
Wen Ying, who was sitting at the jacquard loom, raised her head. Her feet pressed the treadles while her hands twisted the threads. She had no free hand to wave. “Miao’er.”
Wen Ying tilted her head back and asked, “Take a look at what I’ve woven—how is it?”
Three months ago, Wen Ying’s husband had passed away, leaving her widowed. Her mother-in-law was harsh, making life difficult. Upon hearing about this, Xie Miao’er had taken the initiative to invite Wen Ying to work at the cloth shop.
Xie Miao’er, who once had never dirtied her hands with even simple tasks, now understood the importance of money. As long as Wen Ying had silver in her hands, her mother-in-law couldn’t do much to her. If her mother-in-law relied on her to live, then she could only endure it.
Fortunately, Wen Ying quickly picked herself up. She was naturally skillful, quick to learn, and was not daunted by the intricate weaving process.
Xie Miao’er leaned in to examine the fabric and sincerely praised, “Second Sister Wen, your craftsmanship is getting better and better.”
Wen Ying smiled with a hint of shyness and said, “I can’t embarrass you.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xie Miao’er prepared to leave and head to the Xie family’s home to check on a child. Cheng Yuandao, who was aware of her plans, mentioned something as they walked. “The other day, my wife went to visit the Xie family. Since it’s the New Year, she thought your family might feel lonely and wanted to invite them to our place for a few days. Little Proprietress, can you guess what happened? That child, Xie Teng, asked her if he could bring his elder sister along.”
Xie Miao was very grateful for Madam Cheng’s kindness. “Thank you and Madam for your thoughtfulness. But there’s so much to do during the New Year, I wouldn’t want to cause you trouble. I’ve already spoken to the Lu family, and the Third Madam has allowed me to return to the Xie family home to spend a few days for the New Year.”
Cheng Yuandao was a little surprised. “This…Third Madam Lu is rather agreeable.”
Large households usually kept to themselves during the New Year, so it was unexpected that such a request would be granted.
Xie Miao’er was aware of Madam Lu’s tolerance, so before leaving the cloth shop, she packed a few bolts of popular new fabric onto the carriage and reminded him, “These are my personal items. The cost should only be charged to me, not the public account.”
Cheng Yuandao nodded. “Understood.”
Xie Miao’er didn’t say much more and returned to the Xie family residence by carriage.
The not-too-large but not-too-small house was now home to just her two young siblings and the two caretakers who looked after them. One of the women, an old servant surnamed Zheng, had been purchased by Xie Miao’er and signed a contract of servitude with her. The other, a woman surnamed Liu, was a hired hand who came daily to prepare two meals.
As soon as Xie Miao’er arrived, she happened to see Xie Teng pulling Xie Ying’er out from the other side of the alley.
“Big Sister!”
Two little heads rushed toward her, and Xie Miao’er, caught off guard, patted their heads.
After ruffling their hair for a while, Xie Miao’er’s expression suddenly turned odd. Her younger brother, Xie Teng, was already as tall as her waist. He looked up at her and asked, “Big Sister, why are you shaking my hair?”
Xie Miao’er had been lost in thought, realizing how round and soft children’s heads were to the touch. Was this why Lu Huaihai liked patting her head so much? Did he see her as a child too?
Snapping out of her thoughts, she grabbed each of their hands and headed home, brushing off Xie Teng’s question. “It’s nothing, just the wind.”
At the Xie family residence, Aunt Zheng was sweeping the yard with a broom. When she saw Xie Miao’er returning with the children, she quickly said, “They haven’t been out playing long. I was just about to bring them back.”
Xie Miao’er understood that she was worried about being seen as neglecting her duties, so she reassured her, “It’s fine. Children should run around more. Just be careful about abductors since it’s the end of the year.”
The previous servant had gossiped about Xie Ying’s birth mother, Madam Du, making the little girl believe she was unwanted. This had prompted Xie Miao’er to harden her heart and sell that servant. Aunt Zheng, who came later, was much more honest.
Hearing this, Aunt Zheng hurriedly agreed. “Understood, understood! Next time they go out, I’ll stay by the gate to watch them.”
Xie Teng, bouncing happily, pulled Xie Miao’er into the house. She had just sat down when Xie Ying’er ran out, only to return shortly after, shyly holding a small handful of foxtail grass flowers.
“Big Sister, these are for you—”
The little girl’s dark, shiny eyes glimmered with a desire to please, making Xie Miao’er’s heart ache. She squatted in front of her, taking the humble foxtail flowers with an amused smile. Holding the girl’s hand, she comforted her, “Big Sister loves them.”
Only then did Xie Ying’er smile.
Xie Teng leaned in as well, cautiously asking, “Big Sister, since you came today, does that mean you won’t come on New Year’s Eve?”
The family’s misfortunes had made them mature beyond their years, and there was always an undercurrent of unease in their words. This was true for Xie Teng, and even more so for Xie Ying’er.
Their childhoods were very different from Xie Miao’er’s, who had grown up surrounded by the love of her parents and family. The contrast made her feel heartache, which was why she had made that unconventional request to Madam Lu.
Xie Miao’er smiled at the two children and said, “That’s not true. I came today to tell you that I’ll be spending New Year’s Eve with you.”
Xie Teng still looked skeptical. He circled around her, repeatedly asking, “Really? Really?”
“Of course, it’s true. I’ll come find you on the twenty-ninth.”
Hearing this, Aunt Zheng chimed in, “In that case, I’ll make sure to tidy up the house early.”
Perhaps it was because of the promise of a reunion in just a few days, but when it was time to part, neither Xie Teng nor Xie Ying’er pouted as they usually did. Xie Teng even ran after the carriage for a while, shouting excitedly, “Big Sister! Big Sister!”
It felt as though she had drunk a sip of honey; Xie Miao’er’s heart was filled with sweetness.
She was finally capable of being a good elder sister to others.
In the past, she was the youngest in her family, and she had always been afraid she wouldn’t do a good job.
—
After returning to the Lu residence, Xie Miao’er first went to pay her respects to Madam Su.
Qing Zhu invited her in with a smile, saying, “Auntie, the Third Madam guessed you would come at this hour.”
Xie Miao had a good sense of timing; she arrived just before dinner, not so early as to be intrusive. She smiled and replied, “I’m glad I’m not interrupting.”
Madam Su noticed that Xie Miao had brought along a maid carrying some bolts of cloth. She commented, “You are quite thoughtful.”
In truth, Xie Miao didn’t understand these social niceties before. It was only when she sent some leftover fabric scraps to Yue Chuang for handiwork that Yue Chuang gently reminded her.
Neither the Lu residence nor Madam Su would care about a few bolts of cloth. It was merely a gesture, a way of maintaining relationships through mutual exchanges.
Xie Miao explained, “It’s not particularly fine material, but the patterns are newly introduced in the capital—just something novel.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, it was about time for dinner. Madam Su made a show of insisting that Xie Miao stay for the meal, and Xie Miao made a polite show of declining once before agreeing.
—
On her way back, she happened to pass by Lu Huaihai.
In winter, the sky darkened early, and tonight, there wasn’t even a moon.
Lu Huaihai’s dark eyes gleamed as he called out to her, “Xie Miao.”
Even if he hadn’t called her, Xie Miao’er would have stopped. “Young Master, you’re back.”
Lu Huaihai gave a faint “Mm” and explained, “These days, I’ve been waking up early, so I’ve been staying in the East Courtyard.”
To ensure that he and his peers could set off smoothly after the New Year, their instructor had been scheduling increasingly early sessions at the training grounds. They would head out almost immediately after the night curfew lifted, and additional evening training was also frequent.
At first, Lu Huaihai didn’t think much of it, but one day, he woke up especially early and overheard the sounds of Xie Miao’er stirring in her sleep, mumbling softly after being disturbed. Feeling it was too disruptive for her, he decided to move back to the East Courtyard.
Her bedroom was small, making it difficult not to disturb her.
His simple explanation made Xie Miao’er rather pleased. She replied, “Alright, you should get some rest.”
Lu Huaihai had originally been thinking of coming up with some excuse to convince her to move elsewhere, but after thinking it over, he decided against it. It was best to let her live as comfortably as she could. He gave her a slight nod in response.
The two didn’t say anything more and turned to go their separate ways.
After returning home, Xie Miao’er suddenly slapped her thigh. She realized she had forgotten to tell Lu Huaihai that she would be leaving for the New Year.
It was such a brief meeting, and before she knew it, the twenty-ninth had arrived. Lu Huaihai became busier and busier, leaving early and returning late. She never found the opportunity to tell him.
—
No matter how demanding their instructor was, even he wouldn’t gather everyone for training on New Year’s Eve. However, Lu Huaihai was still quite busy. The ritual steps for ancestor worship were lengthy and tedious. He had been following his father since early morning, working nonstop until evening.
Just before the feast began, Madam Su sent several people to call them back. It wasn’t until then that Lu Paizhang returned, standing on the threshold and lighting a long string of firecrackers. He patted Lu Huaihai’s shoulder earnestly and said, “Next year, this will be your responsibility.”
The Lu household was small, consisting of an elderly lady, a widow with her daughter, a married couple with their daughter, and just enough people to fill a single table.
The usual cuisine was mostly Jiangsu-Zhejiang flavors. However, for New Year’s Eve dinner, Madam Su would personally prepare dishes with northern flavors—a tradition of hers.
This year’s gathering was livelier than usual, but for some reason, Lu Huaihai felt that something was missing.
It didn’t take him long to realize what it was.
It had been several days since he had last seen her.
Naturally, she wouldn’t be at the New Year’s Eve dinner table, just like the concubines from the main and second branches wouldn’t attend. Every year, they stayed in their rooms and spent the holiday by themselves.
Madam Su noticed the young man’s absent-mindedness but said nothing. Instead, she gave him a knowing smile and added a piece of ribs to his plate. “Eat.”
After the meal, the various branches of the family went back to their own rooms to stay up for the New Year. Lu Paizhang escorted the Old Madam back to her quarters.
When Lu Huaihai made a move to leave in a hurry, Madam Su stopped him. “What’s the rush?”
Was he in a hurry? Lu Huaihai thought for a moment. Yes, he was.
Last year, she had still been in the estate, spending the New Year with the family. This year, however, she could only stay cooped up in a small courtyard by herself.
Madam Su asked, “Are you in such a hurry to find Lady Xie?”
Lu Huaihai responded honestly, “Yes.”
Madam Su rolled her eyes inwardly. She had expected this. Young men at this age were like dry hay—just a spark, and they’d catch fire.
Still, she maintained her composure and said calmly to Lu Huaihai, “She’s not in the estate.”
A ripple of surprise appeared on Lu Huaihai’s otherwise calm face. “Not in the estate? What does Mother mean by this?”
Madam Su explained, “She came to me herself and asked to return home to accompany her younger brother and sister. Since she’s only your concubine in name, what’s the point of keeping her here over the New Year? I saw no reason to make things difficult for her. So settle down.”
So that was the reason. Still, he stood up, bowing to Madam Su. “Mother, I’ll take my leave first.”
Madam Su hadn’t expected that he’d still be willing to run off even during the New Year. She sighed and finally relented, “Go ahead. I’ll explain to your father.”
—
The usually lively alleys were now eerily quiet. Although it wasn’t yet curfew, on the night of New Year’s Eve, no one would be out wandering and catching the cold wind.
Lu Huaihai’s figure appeared particularly lonely in the stillness.
He had seen the deed to the Xie family’s property before and knew where it was. Riding his horse, he followed his memory to the location.
The sound of horse hooves echoed dully, but as he approached the Xie family’s home, he suddenly pulled back the reins, slowing the horse to a gentle pace.
Because, faintly carried by the wind, he could already hear her voice.
It seemed she was talking to a child about something, accompanied by the crackling sounds of fireworks bursting open.
From where he stopped at the entrance of the alley, he could just make out her silhouette.
She was still wearing that red cloak, and the little boy by her side was likely her younger brother.
The fireworks bloomed brightly, their dazzling light bursting into sparks. Xie Miao’er instinctively stepped back in fear, but soon after, her face lit up with excitement as she leaned forward to watch more closely.
She didn’t stop until she had finished lighting every firework stick in her hand. Dusting off her hands, she suddenly felt her younger brother, Xie Teng, tugging at her sleeve.
The little boy, mature beyond his years, asked, “Big Sister, are you happy?”
Xie Miao’er blinked. The fireworks had burned out, but their faint, twinkling glow seemed to linger in her eyes.
For some reason, she felt that her brother wasn’t asking about the happiness of lighting fireworks.
Xie Miao’er didn’t answer. Instead, she turned around to face the alley entrance and called out, “Hey, eavesdropping isn’t a gentlemanly thing to do!”