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Aunt Chen took a few sips of warm wine, her cheeks flushed: "No, we have to wait until you get married. Otherwise, having another man in the house will make it very inconvenient for you to move around."

Xiao Yuan was very grateful and rushed into her arms, hugging her neck and saying, "Only my own mother loves me the most."

Although it was just the mother and daughter celebrating the Lunar New Year's Eve this year, they both felt it was more lively than when they were at the mansion. After the banquet, they invited Asu Cailian to join them at a table and played cards for half the night before going to sleep.

The next morning, Aunt Chen had someone select the best red beans and cook several pots of porridge for everyone. She called all the servants in the household to eat, and also had the maids add a bowl for the cats and dogs in the house.

Xiao Yuan had someone add sugar to the porridge, and the whole family held their bowls with beaming smiles. The housekeeper, Aunt Wu, tasted the porridge and found it really sweet, so she hurried out to call her son to come and drink the porridge.

She walked around the screen wall and saw her eldest son, Laibao, standing at the gate staring blankly at a young woman. She took a few steps forward and slapped her son hard, scolding, "Since you have a guest, why don't you go in and announce her arrival?"

Lai Bao pointed to the two old women beside the young woman and said, "Mother, they insist that this young woman is a maid in our Fourth Mistress's room. She is pretty, but I've never seen her before. How could she be Fourth Mistress's maid?"

Upon closer inspection, Aunt Wu saw that the young woman was disheveled, with a clump of dirty hair covering half of her face, but her features were indeed those of Caiju.

She quickly pulled the three of them into a less crowded alley and asked, "Didn't Fourth Sister give you the indenture? Why are you here again?"

Caiju glared at her parents beside her and said, "Isn't it because they're obsessed with money?"

Caiju wiped away her tears and cried to Wu Sao, "Madam, she always wants to eat fresh fruits and vegetables or fish and meat at home. We can't afford to provide them. Please send some to your family instead."

Aunt Wu hurriedly waved her hand and said sternly, "I am not the madam, don't call me that. Besides, you've already given me the indenture, how can I come back?" She intended to make things difficult for Caiju, but then she remembered that Shen Changchun was related to her family. In order to make her life easier under Aunt Chen in the future, she softened her expression and said, "The masters have long given instructions that no one is allowed to disturb you, but since you have come all this way, I will risk my life to inform you."

After saying this, she asked Laibao to lead the three of them to the side room to serve tea, and then went into the inner courtyard to see Xiaoyuan and Aunt Chen.

"Are they going to sell chrysanthemums again? Could it be that they don't know about Uncle Shen's matter?" Xiao Yuan asked curiously after hearing Wu Sao's story about chrysanthemum picking. Aunt Chen dismissed the servants and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Fourth Sister, I'm afraid they're just playing hard to get."

Seeing Aunt Chen's ashamed expression, Xiao Yuan immediately understood that Caiju's family knew that Aunt Chen didn't want a relative of low social status, yet they still insisted on sending their daughter back. This was a different way of asking for money.

Aunt Chen stood up and said, "I'll go and send them away right away, and then I'll send someone to inform Changchun."

Xiao Yuan stopped her, saying, "Auntie, Uncle Shen is currently living under someone else's roof and has many difficulties. Let's be patient for now. If you trust me, please let me handle this matter, how about that?"

Looking at Xiaoyuan, Aunt Chen felt both gratified and guilty: "Fourth Aunt, you've gone through so much trouble."

Xiao Yuan patted Aunt Chen's hand, told Asu to accompany her back to her room, and then called Wu Sao to bring people in.

Unexpectedly, Aunt Wu said, "Fourth Sister, they have already been taken back by Master Shen."

Xiao Yuan was glad that her aunt hadn't misjudged him, and said, "He is a good person, but we shouldn't make things difficult for him. Why don't you send someone to Caiju's family to deliver some New Year's gifts?"

Aunt Wu responded and turned to walk to the door when she heard someone shout from the courtyard: "Aunt Wu, Dudu Caiju didn't make it; your Laibao is holding her back."

Aunt Wu's face flushed red, and she shouted, "That brat, I'm going to beat him up!"

Xiao Yuan quickly stopped her and asked, "What's going on? Has your Lai Bao taken a fancy to her?"

Aunt Wu lowered her head and answered softly, "Who knows what bewitched this boy? He took a liking to Caiju the first time he saw her."

Xiao Yuan laughed and said, "Caiju is quite pretty, it's normal for Laibao to take a liking to her." She thought to herself that Caiju and Laibao were a good match. But she knew that Aunt Wu and Caiju had never gotten along, so she only thought this to herself.

However, Aunt Wu pulled Laibao home and felt that she had done something wrong. Even if Caiju had a thousand faults, she was still Aunt Chen's future relative. Her son had good taste in her, so how could she stand in her way?

"I should have taken the opportunity to ask Fourth Sister to stand up for you when she asked earlier," Wu Sao said regretfully.

Upon hearing this, Lai Bao quickly pushed her, saying, "Mother, it's not too late for you to go and tell her now."

Aunt Wu was pushed out the door by him, and she sighed, "Your father and I don't consider ourselves stupid, so how did we give birth to such a fool? Even if your mother brings a wife into the family for you, do you think you can control her?"

An old woman who lived next door happened to pass by and laughed, "With you, the mother-in-law, sitting high above everyone else, what can even the most formidable daughter-in-law do?"

Aunt Wu laughed and scolded her a few times, but she felt relieved. She went to the well to draw water, tidied her hair, and went into the small round room to talk.

Xiao Yuan was playing Go with Cai Lian when she heard what Cai Lian said. Xiao Yuan lowered her head and remained silent. Cai Lian then said, "Sister Wu, you're confused. Our Fourth Sister hasn't even married yet. You should go and tell Aunt Chen this."

Aunt Wu said with a smile, "I know I shouldn't ask Fourth Sister about such a thing, but my son Laibao is stupid and Aunt Chen will definitely not agree to this marriage, so I came to ask Fourth Sister first."

Xiao Yuan knew she was telling the truth; Wu Sao's family was still slaves, and Aunt Chen would certainly not want to have such a relative.

Seeing that Xiaoyuan remained silent, Cailian guessed that she did not want to keep Caiju under her nose any longer, so she leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.

Xiao Yuan smiled and nodded, saying to Aunt Wu, "I'll ask when I have time. You can go back and wait for news."

When Xiaoyuan sent someone to ask Caiju's parents, just as Cailian had predicted, the whole family looked down on Laibao. Caiju even declared that she would rather be a concubine to a rich man than marry into a poor family who sold themselves into slavery.

When Aunt Wu learned of this news from Xiao Yuan, she immediately hated Cai Ju. However, since Cai Ju had little connection with the Chen family now, she had no way to take action and could only suppress her anger for the time being.

Chapter Ten: New Year's Eve (Part 1)

It was New Year's Eve in the blink of an eye. Xiao Yuan squirmed in Aunt Chen's arms for half a day, but she still had to board the sedan chair to spend the New Year at the He residence.

She lingered at home for a long time, and on the way she specifically instructed the sedan chair bearers to go slowly, so when she arrived at the He residence, the New Year's Eve dinner had already been set on the table.

She took a deep breath, prepared to be scolded as she entered the room, but to her surprise, Madam Jiang was very friendly and didn't say a single harsh word.

Old Master He personally presented a bowl of flatbread and invited her to sit next to Madam Jiang, saying with a smile, "Fourth Sister, you've come at just the right time. I have some good news to tell you."

Madam Jiang also smiled and said, "That's right. I have a good match to propose to your aunt. If she agrees, we can hold the wedding banquet after the New Year, and we can all benefit from it and have some fun."

Xiao Yuan's heart tightened, and her hand, which was about to grab the spoon, slowed down: "Fourth Sister thanks Madam on behalf of Aunt, but may I ask which family it is?"

When Madam Jiang saw her asking, she looked embarrassed: "It's...it's the master of the Imperial Censor's family..."

"The Imperial Censor's family in Gulou?" Even Xiao Yuan, with her exceptional composure, couldn't help but exclaim.

Madam Jiang nodded hurriedly and said, "Last time, they didn't take a liking to you because you were useless. Your aunt is a master of needlework and will surely please the Grand Secretary."

After Madam Jiang finished speaking, the eldest and second sons worked together to praise the Imperial Censor's family to the skies, saying that if Aunt Chen married into the family, she would surely enjoy wealth and comfort for the rest of her life.

Xiao Yuan turned to He Yaohong for help, but He Yaohong never paid any attention to people who were called "concubines". As long as Xiao Yuan was alright, he would just stay out of it.

Madam Jiang and the other two were all beaming with excitement as they talked, completely ignoring Xiao Yuan. It was as if Aunt Chen would be carried into the side gate of the Grand Secretary's house in a small blue sedan chair the next day.

Xiao Yuan looked at Madam Jiang's overjoyed expression and couldn't help but recall a year ago. Madam Jiang had also told Aunt Chen with a similar beaming smile that she and Fourth Sister had found a good match—

"Auntie, the people from the Imperial Censor's family who came to find a wife have all gone into Fourth Sister's courtyard," Asu said to Auntie Chen after returning from gathering information at the entrance of the small courtyard.

Aunt Chen hurried over and stood at the courtyard gate to take a look from afar. She asked the maid at the gate, "Why are there two young wives here?"

The maid looked around. She leaned close to Aunt Chen's ear and whispered a few words. Aunt Chen was immediately shocked: "What? The concubine of the Censor-in-Chief?"

Hearing Aunt Chen's voice, the old woman inside rushed out and dragged her outside into the courtyard. She said, "Aunt Chen, they've come to see your newborn daughter. What kind of behavior is this, shouting and yelling like that?"

Aunt Chen was always quiet and well-mannered, but she had been too anxious just now, which was why her voice was a little loud. When the old woman reminded her, her face turned slightly red, but she still insisted on asking, "Aunt Qian, who are those two female guests from the Censor-in-Chief's family?"

Aunt Qian looked around, mumbled a few words, and was about to go back to the courtyard when Aunt Chen suddenly grabbed her. Thinking that Aunt Chen was going to throw a tantrum, she was about to turn around and call for help, but unexpectedly Aunt Chen secretly slipped a handful of money into her sleeve and said, "Aunt Qian, you have always been the most compassionate person."

Aunt Qian tucked her other hand into her sleeve and counted them, then laughed and said, "Fourth Sister is your daughter, so it's understandable that you're anxious. Actually, everyone in front of us already knows about this, and I'm not afraid to tell you, they are the two concubines of the Imperial Censor."

Aunt Chen asked again, "Then the third son of the Censor-in-Chief has already taken a concubine before even getting married?"

"Hey, I heard their third young master is only fifteen years old. It's uncertain whether he even has any maids to serve him. Where would he get a concubine?"

Aunt Chen was blinded by the midday sun and swayed as if she was about to fall. Qian Ma quickly reached out to support her and advised, "Aunt Chen, don't be discouraged. Although Fourth Sister used to be a concubine, the Censor-in-Chief's family is very powerful and wealthy. They will definitely not mistreat her."

"A concubine? Wasn't Fourth Sister supposed to be the principal wife of the Third Young Master of the Zhongcheng family? Whose concubines are those two women?" Aunt Chen's voice became shrill.

The hand that was supporting her trembled involuntarily, and she answered timidly, "Yes, they are the master's two concubines."

Aunt Chen's vision blurred, but she forced herself to walk into the room and said to the two concubines of the Imperial Censor, "Our Fourth Mistress is not feeling well today. Perhaps you two concubines could come another day."

One of the concubines had a smile on her face, while the other frowned.

Seeing that Aunt Chen's expression was not right, Xiao Yuan quickly cooperated by lying on the table and coughing incessantly. The two concubines of the Imperial Censor had no choice but to leave.

Before the servants in Madam Jiang's room could speak, Aunt Chen slipped several dozen coins to each of them, curtsied, and said, "It's true that Fourth Sister isn't feeling well. Once her cough has subsided in a couple of days, I'll have to trouble you all to invite the two concubines from earlier over."

Hearing her say that, and considering the money, the old women's expressions softened slightly. As they left, they said, "We're fine, but please be careful with the lady."

After the old women left, Aunt Chen told Xiao Yuan the information she had just obtained from Aunt Qian, and instructed her: "When they come again in a couple of days, no matter what skills you know, you must answer 'no' to all of them. You also need to find an opportunity to show off your feet in front of them."

Although Xiaoyuan didn't understand, she still agreed to everything. Following Aunt Chen's advice, she only ate one meal a day, and only vegetables. By the time the two concubines from the Imperial Censor's family came again, she was so hungry that her eyes were dull and her steps were unsteady.

The two concubines were dressed in similar light blue dresses, but one was thin and the other was plump and round. The thinner one exclaimed upon seeing Xiao Yuan, "In just a few days, your face has turned so yellow! Are you ill?"

The plump aunt said, "Aunt Li, wasn't she already sick when we came last time? She's just recovered from a serious illness, so naturally she doesn't look well."

Aunt Li glanced at her and said, "Aunt Wang, this young lady is from a respectable family. She must be proficient in all the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You should make sure she doesn't outshine you."

Aunt Wang wasn't angry at all. She smiled and took Xiao Yuan's hand, saying, "Sister He, don't listen to her nonsense. It's my blessing to have such a talented sister by my side."

Aunt Li snorted, "Then stop arguing and let's begin."

Xiao Yuan looked at her blankly, then at Aunt Wang, and asked, "Start what?"

"Let's bring out the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, one by one. First, bring out the zither and let Aunt Wang give her her opinion. Don't underestimate Aunt Wang; she used to be a star in the dance hall." Aunt Li found the biggest chair and sat down, looking at Aunt Wang with a provocative slant.

Xiao Yuan honestly replied, "Sisters, I don't have a zither, and I haven't learned any of the four arts: music, chess, calligraphy, or painting."

Both concubines, Li and Wang, widened their eyes and exclaimed in unison, "You don't even know how?"

Xiaoyuan nodded, lowering her eyes to touch the ribbons on her skirt.

"Oh, Aunt Wang, you're so proud of yourself now. This little girl doesn't even have a zither." Aunt Li stood up impatiently and walked towards the door. "I'll go tell the master right away. This fourth daughter of the He family can't do anything. How can she serve the master?"

Aunt Wang pursed her lips and said to Xiao Yuan, "Sister He, you have no skills whatsoever, how can you become a concubine?"

Seeing that Aunt Li had disappeared and Aunt Wang was still hesitant to leave, Xiao Yuan could only cry out "Ouch!" and lift her skirt: "My feet, why do they hurt so much?"

Aunt Wang looked down and asked, "Sister He, why didn't you bind your feet?"

Xiao Yuan moved her big feet further outwards, and Aunt Wang shook her head regretfully: "Sister He, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that..."

Xiao Yuan wanted to say something polite, but she was afraid that Aunt Wang would take it seriously, so she could only lower her head and remain silent.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief after getting rid of Aunt Wang. But then, Madam Jiang repeatedly sent other concubines to look after Xiao Yuan, determined to sell her into a high-ranking official's household as a concubine, which terrified Aunt Chen and Xiao Yuan greatly…

"Fourth Sister, what are you thinking about? Come quickly and have some wine and food. Eat your fill so you can go back and keep vigil with your aunt for the New Year." Madam Jiang placed a dish of food in front of Xiao Yuan, interrupting her thoughts.

He Yaohong frowned and said, "Madam, Fourth Sister should stay home to celebrate the New Year. How can we let her go to the Chen residence?"

Madam Jiang was speechless, unsure of what to do. Xiao Yuan, overjoyed at the thought of returning home to spend New Year's Eve with Aunt Chen, immediately rose to thank Madam Jiang. He Yaohong was about to try and persuade her further, but the second son grabbed her shoulder and dragged her out.

Madam Jiang was eager to send Xiao Yuan back early to persuade Aunt Chen to become a concubine again, and Xiao Yuan was also eager to go home as soon as possible. So the New Year's Eve dinner ended hastily in less than half an hour.

Xiao Yuan was a little annoyed that He Yaohong didn't speak up for Aunt Chen, and she didn't want him to take her home, so she got into the sedan chair by herself and went home.

Chapter Eleven: New Year's Eve (Part Two)

When Xiao Yuan arrived home, Aunt Chen had not yet eaten her New Year's Eve dinner. Seeing that she had returned so early, she hurriedly asked, "Fourth Sister, did Madam make things difficult for you?"

Seeing the pine torch burning brightly inside the house, Xiaoyuan decided to save the unpleasant matter for after the New Year's Eve dinner. "It was Madam who asked me to come back and keep you company on New Year's Eve. But I haven't eaten enough yet, so I shamelessly asked my aunt for some New Year's Eve dinner."

Aunt Chen's face was flushed from the reflection of the pine cone. She stepped forward, pulled her to sit down at the table, and said, "I'm so happy to have you with me for the New Year."

Aunt Chen didn't know that Xiao Yuan was coming back tonight, so the New Year's Eve dinner wasn't very lavish, but both mother and daughter ate with great relish.

After the meal and tea, Aunt Wu brought out various firecrackers and invited the two women to go out and set them off. However, Aunt Chen and Xiao Yuan were quiet people and did not want to go out, so they asked Aunt Wu to distribute the firecrackers to the boys to play with, while the two women sat by the window and watched from afar for their own amusement.