Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Giving Gifts

Maybe it was the eager desire to return home that kept Qin Yao and her husband moving nonstop along the way. When they got hungry, Qin Yao would take over driving while Liu Ji heated the dry food they brought from the inn the previous day using the charcoal stove inside the carriage.

By the next evening, they reached the borders of Kaiyang County.

It was already very late, but neither of them hesitated. They lit torches and braved the cold wind for another three hours into the night, arriving at Liu Family Village in the dead of night.

The small village was so quiet at midnight that only the startled dogs could be heard barking.

Everyone at home was asleep. Only Ah Wang, hearing noise outside the courtyard, unbelievingly came down from the attic. As soon as the back door opened, he saw the smiling faces of the couple illuminated by the firelight.

Liu Ji, with a nose reddened from the cold, felt all his fatigue and chill vanish at the sight of this familiar courtyard, replaced by a sense of calm and warmth in his heart.

Ah Wang thought the couple must be crazy, traveling through such harsh weather with snow beginning to fall, during the night with the potential for danger making him anxious just thinking about it.

“Here!”

Qin Yao handed over a bunch of candied hawthorn sticks to Ah Wang, which she had painstakingly dug out from the carriage.

A large bunch, it looked like there were about twenty sticks.

Ah Wang was shocked: “I can’t finish them all.”

Qin Yao chuckled and said, “You eat first. If you can’t finish them, we’ll help you eat the rest.” These were meant to be bought back for the whole family to share.

Seeing Ah Wang, Liu Ji didn’t feel like doing anything else and grabbed the candied hawthorn from his hands, saying, “I’ll take it inside and put it away for you. You can eat it when you wake up tomorrow.”

Saying so, he went into the courtyard, heading to the kitchen to start the charcoal fires, so the room would be warm for sleeping later.

Ah Wang’s gaze stayed glued to Liu Ji’s hands until the large bunch of candied hawthorn was out of sight, after which he rolled up his sleeves and started unloading the carriage.

Old Huang looked exhausted, tongue out, panting heavily, and Ah Wang affectionately rubbed its head. “I’ll give you something good to eat later.”

Old Huang seemed to understand and immediately turned its head to give Ah Wang a lick.

Qin Yao quietly moved all the New Year gifts from the carriage into the house, careful not to disturb the children.

After the long journey, both tired and hungry, even a man of iron could not endure. Leaving the horses and carriage to Ah Wang, Qin Yao and Liu Ji soaked their feet in hot water, washed their faces, and ate a bowl of stew made from leftover vegetables Liu Ji whipped up in the kitchen before retiring for the night.

Qin Yao slept until broad daylight.

Since early morning, there had been rustling sounds outside the door. Da Lang and his siblings had come around four times now, but seeing that Mother hadn’t woken, they sighed and returned to the main hall, eagerly eyeing the items on the table, waiting.

No one was allowed to touch the things on the table until Qin Yao got up. When Liu Ji attempted to grab a pack of pastries to eat, all four children immediately surrounded the table, stubbornly insisting, “Wait for Mother to come, then we can share!”

Ah Wang brought in steaming hot savory dumplings, adding, “It feels more ceremonial when Madam comes.”

This term had already been passed from Si Niang to Ah Wang.

So, under the anticipation of the whole family, the door to Qin Yao’s room finally opened. She yawned and walked out with disheveled hair.

Si Niang squealed in delight and rushed over, “Mother!”

Sanlang followed closely, clinging to her leg.

Da Lang and Second Lang also joyfully gathered around, chattering away with care and warmth.

With her long arms, Qin Yao wrapped them all into a warm embrace, and the chill from just coming out of bed instantly melted away.

“Mother, here’s your comb.” Si Niang quickly ran to the shower room window, tiptoed to bring over the wooden comb and handed it to Qin Yao eagerly.

Sanlang held up a small copper mirror for her, while Da Lang and Second Lang fetched hot water for washing and had the washcloth perfumed, ready to serve.

Sitting across from the brazier, holding a bowl of dumplings, Liu Ji felt like he was watching a play.

The stage was right in front, and he could reach out and touch the people in the play, yet at the moment, he was reduced to mere background.

Ah Wang placed all the dumplings on the small table, but none of the Da Lang siblings were interested in eating, their eyes glued to the pile of New Year gifts on the big table.

Qin Yao had noticed this some time ago. It was impressive they had waited for her until now.

After tidying herself up, Qin Yao stood up and walked over to the table, and immediately everyone’s gaze followed her.

Qin Yao handed out the gifts one by one.

A silver lock, a copy of “Shu Travel Notes.”

“Da Lang, this is for you.”

Da Lang received it happily; he liked the book. But a valuable item like the silver lock was indeed a bit unexpected, and he glanced at Qin Yao, surprised. “Mother, this is a silver lock.”

“Yes, we made some silver this year, so each of you four brothers and sisters get a piece of silver ornament as your New Year’s gift.” Qin Yao smiled and gestured for him to wear it, then turned to Ah Wang at the door, saying, “You have one too, everyone in the family gets one.”

New year, new fortune! Qin Yao believed that wearing brand new outfits on New Year’s Day would attract wealth for the coming year!

Liu Ji, with his showy demeanor, immediately raised his hand to adjust his hairstyle, flaunting his white jade hairpin.

This made Second Lang, Sanlang, and Si Niang even more excited.

Second Lang rubbed his hands eagerly, “Mother, mine, where’s mine?”

Qin Yao picked up Liu Ji’s book box, filled with the quirky little novelties he wanted – Zodiac Windmills.

And a “Scripture Silver Lock” identical to Da Lang’s.

Second Lang wasted no time putting on the silver lock, dragging the box of windmills to the side to inspect them, mentally calculating their price, when to sell, and where to sell them.

Noticing the desire in Sanlang and Si Niang’s eyes, he generously pulled out one for them to play with.

The Dragon and Phoenix Twins, caught by surprise, found Second Brother unusually generous today!

“Sanlang, Si Niang!” Qin Yao called, and the siblings immediately came over to her.

Qin Yao hung two silver necklaces around their necks, each with a silver lock bag hanging from it, adorned with three small bells that jingled crisply. Si Niang absolutely adored it.

This was her first piece of jewelry, and she treasured it so much that after wearing it around the room for a while, she insisted on taking it off to avoid damaging it.

“Mother, I want to save it to wear for New Year.”

Sanlang, being the sister’s shadow, also wanted to take his off, asking Qin Yao to keep it until the New Year when they could wear them together to visit relatives and collect anti-evil money.

“Alright, I’ll keep them for you then.” Qin Yao asked Da Lang and Second Lang, “Do you want to keep yours yourselves, or should I keep them for you?”

“There’s an option?” Second Lang asked in surprise.

In his mind, valuable items were not something children could manage; they weren’t even allowed to touch them usually.

Qin Yao nodded, “They’re your belongings, and you can manage them yourselves. But let me tell you now, if you lose them, you bear the consequences, and next time, any valuable items will have to be kept by adults.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep