Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

The Zhang family received a warm welcome at the old house. Liu Shi was now living a comfortable life and had plenty of money, and her temper had improved considerably compared to a few years ago. She no longer looked at her daughters-in-law and granddaughters with the same harshness she used to have.

If there's anything bothering her right now, it's her youngest daughter's marriage. But she also understands that as long as the Zhang family is doing well and their sons are capable, the Fang family's son-in-law won't dare to divorce his daughter.

"Xiaxia, come and try this, Grandma made it for you!" Liu suddenly spoke to Xia Yu.

Xia Yu looked at Liu Shi with some confusion, then at her own mother, and saw that her mother also looked somewhat bewildered.

"Come here quickly! I'm your grandma, do you think I'd eat you?" Liu was a little angry when she saw Xia Yu dawdling and not coming to her right away.

Hearing Liu's words, Xia Yu thought to herself...

'Well, I guess I just saw a kind-looking old lady and it was all a trick of my eyes.'

Following her instructions, Xia Yu walked to Liu's side, wondering what she would do for her.

But then Liu took a white, furry thing out of the winnowing basket next to her and handed it over.

Xia Yu hesitated for a moment before taking it and seeing that it was a hand warmer. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but ask a question.

"Grandma, is this for me?"

She regretted asking the question as soon as it left her mouth; wasn't she just asking for a scolding?

Surprisingly, Liu did not scold her.

"Yes, all of you sisters have them, try them on."

"Hey!" Xia Yu happily put it on her wrist. The outside was made of rabbit fur, the inside was made of fine cotton cloth, and the middle was stuffed with thick cotton, making it warm and soft.

"Grandma, this feels so comfortable and looks so nice."

Although Xia Yu didn't care about Liu's attitude towards her, she also didn't have masochistic tendencies. She was happy to be able to get along with this old lady.

At that moment, Liu really wanted to go outside and see the sky, to see which way the sun was. Even so, she still said to Xia Yu...

"Your grandmother's needlework is excellent. The needlework skills of your two aunts and me are no match for your grandmother's."

Liu's words struck a chord with the old lady. She wanted to laugh but was afraid of ruining her image as a mother-in-law, so she only gave a slight twitch of the corners of her mouth.

"Your stitches are so bad they're unbearable to look at. When I have some free time in a couple of days, I'll make one for each of you sisters-in-law."

Liu's answer surprised everyone in the room. Liu quickly smiled, rose, and curtsied to Liu.

"Then I thank you for your kindness, Mother."

Old Master Zhang glanced at his wife, wondering why she had suddenly come to her senses today. But it was obvious that because of Liu's softened attitude, the atmosphere at the meal was exceptionally harmonious.

The usual distribution system at the dinner table has been changed, and Qiu Yu and Dong Yu have long since shed their previous timidity.

The two chicken legs on the table were divided equally between Dongyu and Xiayu. Xiayu blushed a little at this arrangement.

"Second Aunt, Chang Le is still young, let him eat it."

Li smiled and put the chicken leg that Xia Yu had picked up back into her bowl.

"Xiaxia, you eat. This child's teeth haven't grown in properly, the gaps in the middle are too big. He doesn't like to gnaw on chicken legs, so he can only eat some soft braised pork."

"Then let Qiuyu have it!" Xia Yu looked at Qiuyu, who was a few months younger than her, and felt that she shouldn't get the chicken leg.

"Sister Xiaxia, I like to eat chicken wings," Qiuyu said hurriedly while she was gnawing on a chicken wing.

So, thirteen-year-old Xia Yu got to eat a chicken leg at the dining table in the old house. As she gnawed on the fragrant chicken leg, she couldn't help but think how good life was now!

After lunch, the family sat for a while at the old house before setting off for Grand Tutor Li's home. A few days earlier, they had invited him to spend the New Year at their home. At first, Grand Tutor hesitated, but after being persuaded by Xia Yu and Chang Yun, he finally agreed. However, he wouldn't arrive until the afternoon of New Year's Eve.

When they arrived at the garden, Grand Tutor Li had already packed his clothes and luggage, and several old servants followed him.

“There’s iron here. These old servants are coming with me to join in the fun. They’ll be back tomorrow,” Grand Tutor Li explained.

"Grand Tutor, we have a place to stay at home. Why don't you stay a few more days?"

"Someone has to stay at home too, but today is New Year's Eve, and it would be too lonely to leave them alone. They can come with me to join the festivities for one night, but I'm planning to stay at your place for a few more days."

"It would be my great honor if you would like to come to my home."

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the Zhang family's house was brightly lit. The heavy snow that had stopped for several days started falling again, and the temperature dropped sharply, but the joy and enthusiasm on everyone's faces resisted the biting cold wind.

In the octagonal pavilion in the Zhang family garden, servants surrounded the pavilion with curtains and then set out a stove, wine, and dishes inside. Once everything was arranged, Xia Yu waved for the servants to go and eat their New Year's Eve dinner without having to stay and watch over the place.

Only his family remained to accompany Grand Tutor Li.

After a few cups of warm wine, everyone's faces flushed, and they became more talkative. However, Zhang Youtie's repeated hesitations drew the attention of the Grand Tutor.

"You Tie, do you have something to say?" Finally, unable to bear Zhang You Tie's rambling any longer, Li Taifu spoke first.

Zhang Youtie exchanged a glance with Liu Shi and his son before mustering his courage to speak.

"Grand Tutor, I would like Xiaxia to be recognized by you and become your granddaughter. What do you think?"

Li Taifu was taken aback by Zhang Youtie's words. He thought Zhang Youtie wanted to ask him for help with something, but he didn't expect her to bring this up.

After a moment, just when everyone thought the Grand Tutor had refused, they heard him sigh and say...

“I’ve long considered Xiaxia my granddaughter, but my fate is too unlucky. I brought misfortune to my parents and siblings when I was young, and to my wife and children when I became an adult. All the relatives I’m connected with end up with bad luck. Let’s not talk about acknowledging each other as relatives.”

The Grand Tutor's tone held a melancholy and desolation Xia Yu had never seen before. Xia Yu felt a pang of sadness, but still forced a smile and addressed the Grand Tutor.

"Grandpa Li, I'm really tough! When I was little, I fell and got a big hole in my head. The doctor said I was going to die, but I pulled through. While I was unconscious, I had a miraculous encounter and learned Russian. Isn't that amazing? If you take me as your granddaughter, even your toughest constitution will be softened by my stubbornness!" Xia Yu said to Grand Tutor Li with utmost sincerity.

"Where did you get such a twisted logic, you little brat?" Grand Tutor Li couldn't help but shake his head and sigh after hearing his words.

The group, who had been feeling melancholy, couldn't help but chuckle after Xia Yu's comment.

"Grandpa Li, please accept me as your goddaughter. I'm going to the capital after the New Year, and there might be people bullying me then. You have to be my support." Xia Yu shook Grand Tutor Li's arm and acted coquettishly.

"Now that you've been personally appointed a Lady of the Township by the Emperor, who would dare to show you any respect?"

"Even a village lady isn't enough. A county princess, a prefectural princess, a princess—aren't they all higher in rank than a village lady? But if I were your granddaughter, even a princess wouldn't dare bully me. As the saying goes, you have to consider the owner before beating a dog, don't you think?"

The Grand Tutor shook his head helplessly after hearing her analogy, and then addressed the others at the table.

“Look at this crazy girl, who compares herself to a dog?”