Chapter 109: A Friendship of Mutual Honesty
Night fell.
The cold wind howled.
But it couldn’t drown out the children’s laughter and noise.
Today, no matter what mischief they got into, their parents would temporarily put off the beating until after the New Year.
There were no cries.
Only unrestrained laughter.
A bit noisy, but very lively.
Jiang Mianmian’s family also began their New Year’s Eve dinner.
It was very sumptuous.
After the meal, there were leftovers.
Symbolizing abundance year after year.
After eating, everyone washed up and changed clothes.
Even Black Tower got a set of new clothes today.
He was a bit surprised.
He was tall and stout, requiring a lot of fabric.
But he never expected that while accompanying the Young Master at Mr. Jiang’s house, he would also get a set of new clothes and new boots.
Black Tower was not good with words, but he was actually a young man with a rich inner world.
It was just that he looked rough and fierce, and people were afraid of him when he spoke, so over time, he rarely spoke.
He hugged the new clothes and shoes but couldn’t bear to change into them.
Not until Aunt Qin yelled at him: “Go on, stop dilly-dallying.”
He obediently went to change.
Jiang Mianmian thought that she and Young Master Zi, wearing their flower-padded jackets, had already embarrassed themselves enough together.
She didn’t expect the family to have really become well-off.
They had prepared not just one, but two sets of new clothes for her.
They also prepared two sets for Young Master Zi.
When she and Young Master Zi were both dragged into the room by Mother to wash up and change clothes,
Jiang Mianmian felt extremely embarrassed.
And Young Master Zi directly exploded.
He wanted Aunt Qin to be his guard, not his Mother.
Aunt Qin set up a large basin for him to bathe.
She stripped him naked in no time.
Little Turtle was even worse; she was also stripped naked.
Little Turtle cried out: “I don’t want to wash my hair, don’t wash my hair, Father, help!”
Jiang Mianmian really didn’t want to wash her hair. There was no shampoo here, and the grass used for washing hair smelled bad. Every time after washing, she felt like there was a little stink bug perched on her head.
Qin Luoxia had already raised two children on her own.
Now she was incredibly strong, handling two little kids with ease.
Black Tower, who was changing clothes next door, heard the child crying and quickened his movements.
But then he thought of something and slowed down again.
Jiang Changtian was boiling water in the kitchen. Hearing his little daughter’s cries from the next room, he couldn’t help but smile.
His little daughter was too mature, so whenever he heard her cry, his first reaction was amusement.
Jiang Feng also heard his sister crying, but he was extremely worried. He paced at the door and said, “Maybe I should go help with the washing.”
He couldn’t bear to hear his sister cry, not even once.
Jiang Yu said, “Don’t cause more trouble. Sister is hard to handle. Mother can manage alone. If we go in, it’ll be even harder. Come help me wash the dishes.”
Jiang Mianmian wailed as her Mother pressed her down to wash her hair and scrub her body.
Watching this, Young Master Zi, soaking in the wooden tub, obediently washed his own hair.
As he washed, he heard Aunt Qin say, “Look how well-behaved Brother Chong is. He washed himself. Stop crying; it’ll be done soon.”
Jiang Mianmian was so annoyed. Crying in front of Mother sometimes didn’t work.
But when she turned her tearful eyes and saw the serious little kid sitting in the tub washing himself, stark naked, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Finally, after being scrubbed clean by Mother, she was white and clean, with new clothes from head to toe.
Bright red.
Young Master Zi watched as Aunt Qin dunked Little Turtle into the water to wash, and he quickly washed himself.
He dried himself and put on clothes.
Also a set of bright red.
After dressing, he saw Little Turtle looking at him with red eyes. Young Master Zi kept a straight face, very serious.
But because he had just bathed, his face was flushed red.
He looked adorably serious.
Jiang Mianmian wobbled over, hugged the little kid, and with red eyes, said in a childish voice, “Brother, help me dry my hair, gently.”
Everyone at home was too strong; she worried her hair wouldn’t survive.
Qin Luoxia was tidying up nearby. When she turned around, she saw Young Master Zi helping her daughter dry her hair.
Her daughter sat there giving orders, babbling sweetly and endlessly.
She couldn’t help but smile, then turned to pick up the tub of bathwater and carried it out to dump.
After the two little ones were washed,
Qin Luoxia told her husband and Brother Feng to go wash up.
Then it was her and Sister Yu’s turn.
Father and son Jiang Changtian and Jiang Feng also received new clothes, changing into brand-new, well-fitted robes.
Father’s robe was unexpectedly moon-white. He rarely wore such white. After changing, it was like adding a beauty filter; he became even more stunningly handsome.
Elder Brother’s robe was navy blue with subtle patterns.
Jiang Feng was also very happy.
The fabric of the robe was thick and felt good to touch.
Wearing the new robe, he was reluctant to practice his sword.
He decided to give himself a day off.
Otherwise, he might damage the new robe.
Qin Luoxia also changed into new clothes. Her clothes were bought by her husband.
The fabric was good and fit well, but the waist was a bit tight, which she wasn’t used to.
After putting them on, her face flushed slightly.
Jiang Yu also had new clothes, as well as new embroidered shoes.
This year, her new clothes were a pink ruqun with layered skirts interwoven with other colors.
The embroidered shoes were also pink, decorated with small beads.
Very beautiful.
Jiang Yu had been waiting all day. Finally, evening came; she washed up and changed.
She smiled widely, showing all her teeth.
Happy.
Wearing new clothes really gave the feeling of the New Year.
Great.
The whole family sat warmly around the fire, drying their hair at the same time.
They couldn’t sleep early tonight; they had to stay up until the New Year.
On the stove, tea was bubbling. It was infused with herbs to cut the grease, slightly bitter, but very comforting to drink.
Black Tower sat at the door, already having drunk several bowls.
Actually, he was having a social anxiety episode. It wasn’t that he was devoted to duty; it was his social anxiety that made him feel more comfortable facing away from everyone.
In case he wanted to pick his teeth, he could use his tongue to push a bit.
The whole family, dressed in new clothes, seemed much softer.
Zi Congheng rarely experienced the feeling of a family gathering together.
Because at that moment, he and Little Turtle were sitting on a long bench. Little Turtle firmly held his hand, and he couldn’t shake it off, making his face even more serious.
Jiang Changtian, as the head of the family, gave a summary speech: “This year has been long, but we’ve made it through. Next year will definitely be better. In the new year, may our whole family be safe and healthy.”
Qin Luoxia, as the Mother of the family, gently rubbed the hem of her clothes before remembering it was new. She quickly let go and then said, “In the new year, may the weather be favorable, and may we all have enough to eat.”
Jiang Yu chirped happily, “My turn! In the new year, I want to make lots and lots of delicious food.”
Jiang Feng said, “In the new year, I hope the family is safe and sound.”
In order, it was Young Master Zi’s turn.
The six-year-old boy, dressed in red with his face also flushed red from the firelight, said seriously, “In the new year, I hope fewer people die.”
Jiang Mianmian:…
She was suddenly moved by this little kid.
She felt that he had it tough too, probably having seen too many deaths following his Rebel Father.
When it was her turn, she spoke slowly in a childish voice, word by word: “In the new year, Mianmian hopes that Father, Mother, Elder Brother, Elder Sister, and Brother Chong’s wishes all come true.”
Then she got kisses from the whole family.
Kisses on the head, forehead, cheeks, and belly.
Young Master Zi remained silent, watching everyone finish kissing. He wasn’t going to kiss; he wasn’t part of their family.
But then Little Turtle leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
“Mwah!”
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