Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Suddenly, a woman in red, acting like a madwoman, pounced on a man, pinning him to the ground and grabbing him by the neck. The others rained blows on her with sticks, but she refused to loosen her grip. Who else could this woman be but Xiangxiang? The bystanders, emboldened, quickly subdued the rest. Gong Jianyun collapsed to the ground. Several constables, hearing the commotion, rushed over, stopping the last one and handing him their scabbards. She knew she shouldn't remain there.

Gong Jianyun barely escaped with his life, but he was too weak to walk and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Xiangxiang, having suffered a miscarriage scare and been beaten several times, was also carried away on a stretcher. The assailants, having bled excessively, were then severely beaten by the constables in retaliation, leaving them unable to move and also carried away on stretchers. The magistrate commended Gong Jianyun and awarded him fifty taels of silver for his recovery, while the murderers were thrown into prison—what good could come of that? The magistrate personally hosted a banquet for those who had helped—such prestige! Enough for them to boast about for years to come! This bloody case was over. It wasn't surprising that the murderers died in prison; what was surprising was that Widow Yang also died. After Gong Jianyun tied her up, she was trampled and humiliated, and no matter what she said, no one was willing to untie her—the chains of the yamen were not something that could be easily broken. Gong Jianyun had almost lost his life; how could he possibly remember her? It didn't matter that Gong Jianyun forgot about her; others were still thinking about her. Several old bachelors, without prior arrangement, all set their sights on her. And so, it wasn't until the next morning that someone discovered Widow Yang, naked and frozen to death. The market vendors cried foul, pooled together a string of cash for the local constable, who quickly examined her body, wrapped it in a mat, and buried it in a cemetery. The weather was freezing, and the grave was shallow, so wild dogs dragged the corpse out, gnawing at it to pieces, adding much bad luck to the New Year's atmosphere.

Liu Lian truly couldn't understand where Widow Yang's hatred for her came from. This inexplicable hatred had completely ruined her life, and ruined her as well. Widow Yang was dead, and Liu Lian breathed a sigh of relief, no longer needing to guard against harm from who-knows-where. This obsessive woman was both hateful and pitiful, but Liu Lian didn't want to forgive her because of it; thankfully, this time she was truly gone.

With the county school out for the holidays, Liulian rarely left the courtyard, spending her time with Cuicui preparing food for the New Year. They steamed buns, bean buns, and rice cakes, fried tofu, boiled meat, changed window paper, cut paper-cuts, washed clothes, and cleaned the house, keeping themselves very busy.

Ruiqian was frantic, running to his elder brother's courtyard five or six times a day, but he never saw Liu Ye'er, and he couldn't very well barge into the small courtyard. Xiu Luan was also helping her mother with various chores, and she refused to pass on his message without hesitation, "Third brother, don't you know she's deliberately avoiding you? You're getting married next spring, why are you still so hung up on her? You both have the surname Liu, there's absolutely no chance for you, forget about her!"

Fengxian also warned Liu Ye'er, "These next few days, Lao San keeps coming over. Try to avoid him and don't come over to have dinner with me. If any gossip gets out between you two, you'll be the one who suffers. Understand?" Liu Lian naturally understood.

New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye, and the old lady's room was packed with people, including Hongxing'er and Aunt Chun. The old lady sent Zhao Mama to invite them over, but Zhao Mama only brought a large plate full of golden egg dumplings and replied, "Seventh Miss isn't coming. She said we're having a happy family reunion, so she won't disturb us. These golden dumplings may not be expensive, but they have a good meaning. Congratulations on making a fortune next year!" The old lady then scolded Fengxian, "Did you say something to her? Why does such a young child have to be so sensible? She's staying in our house, so she's family. Go and call her over!"

Fengxian quickly smiled and bowed, "Grandmother, she's still in mourning and doesn't want to come. She said she's wearing two sets of mourning clothes for my parents, how can she run around on this day? She won't leave that little courtyard on the fifteenth of the first lunar month! She'll come to wish you a Happy New Year after the lanterns are lit at seventeen! Hong-ge'er has tried to persuade her several times, but he can't dissuade her. All three of my family members have gone over, it's quite lively for everyone, so let her go, it's her way of showing her love!" Everyone nodded in approval.

Master Liu sighed inwardly, "What a sensible child!" Generally speaking, merchants are superstitious about auspicious omens, and he was no exception. He wouldn't say anything if Liu Ye'er came, but deep down he didn't want her to—it's a folk custom to avoid people wearing mourning clothes during the New Year. After the Lantern Festival at seventeen o'clock, all taboos are lifted—what's the point of taboos after the New Year? School starts on the nineteenth, and the three brothers will all be at school on the afternoon of the eighteenth; the youngest probably won't even see her! She's very thoughtful! Thinking of this, Master Liu asked Zhao Ma, "How's the situation over there?"

"Reporting to Master, a few people have set up a big charcoal brazier and are having hot pot! Such a big copper pot, with a chicken and a pork knuckle cooked in it, and it's full of meatballs, golden dumplings, fried tofu, kelp, and white radishes. There's also Chinese cabbage on the side. The few people are sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) cracking melon seeds! They're just waiting for us to set off firecrackers so they can start eating!"

"Oh? She's so happy! We've been worrying for nothing! Mother, what should we give her in return?" She said, glancing at the table.

“My lord, let’s give this fish to her, so she can have good fortune and abundance every year,” Madam Xu eagerly replied. At first, Madam Xu was very worried, fearing that Liu Ye’er might have some improper thoughts about her son and that she would be scolded by her husband. However, she later discovered that Liu Ye’er was deliberately avoiding her third son and getting along well with her daughter, and she unconsciously began to show her more affection.

"Oh no, these little girls, chicken, pork knuckle, meatballs, tofu, and now this big fish, they're bound to overeat. Give them the fish tomorrow!" Master Liu said to Madam Xu. Madam Xu was a little unhappy, but before she could say anything, Ruiqian said, "Mother, Father is right, how about giving them a plate of water chestnuts and a box of salted walnuts?" Master Liu nodded, and Zhao Ma went to prepare. The third son ran excitedly into the yard and lit the long string of firecrackers.

Firecrackers went off in a cacophony behind them, and several girls grabbed Zhao Ma, insisting on giving her a pair of chopsticks and a bowl of sauce. Zhao Ma sniffed it and exclaimed in surprise, "What kind of sauce is this? It smells so good!"

Cui Cui eagerly said, "There's sesame paste, chive blossom sauce, fermented bean curd sauce, garlic water, soy sauce, and vinegar in here, and there's one more thing that I'm sure none of you will guess!" Everyone dipped their chopsticks into the sauce and put it in their mouths, exclaiming, "Salt! It's just salt!"

"Oh dear, I forgot to mention! It's not salt, it's sugar, just a tiny bit of sugar, it tastes so much better! You didn't know that, did you!" Cui Cui said proudly, "This is my young lady's secret recipe, you mustn't tell anyone else!"

No one paid any attention to her; everyone nodded in agreement, actually because they were in such a hurry that they burned their mouths.