Chapter 371: Chapter 367: The Mainstay_1


    Madam Wang also kept no secrets, she took Yingbao with her all the time from when she selected the weavers.


    After going through a selection process, twenty deft-handed weavers were chosen to be on a probation period for a month.


    During this month, they could live in the workshop with food provided for free, but there was no wage.


    If they passed the probation period, they would sign a contract and officially join the workshop.


    The weavers’ wages depended on how much cotton yarn and fabric they could spin and weave, the more effort they put in, the more pay they could obtain.


    If they were diligent, they could earn several coins a month.


    These weavers were daughters and daughters-inw from poor families. Several of them were daughters from refugee families. To have the opportunity to work there, they epted all conditions withoutint.


    Close to the New Year’s Day, Yingbao gave these weavers a day off and gave each of them a fish to bring home for the New Year celebration.


    These fishes were caught by Wei Zhan and Huzi Jiang Wu. They caught dozens in total.


    Yingbao’s miraculous fish bait brought good luck to the vigers, and many others also caught a good number of fish.


    The vigers living on the South Slope were overjoyed, forming crowds to catch fish along the Chuanhe River. The sight was overwhelming; even Master Zhou went to join in the fun, bing even more curious about his young apprentice.<div>


    Could there really be such a thing as a reincarnated fairy child in this world? Otherwise, it was hard to exin Yingbao’s peculiarities.


    On New Year’s Eve, the Jiang family set up several tables, Master Zhou and his two disciples, Madam Wen and her two sons, Chuchu’s family of four together with her brother Chu Qing, and also Madam Wang and her son and Li Xu and his mother, all gathered together to have the New Year’s Eve dinner.


    Jiang Sang brought out over ten jars of fruit wine and rice wine, and juice he made himself, to entertain everyone.


    After they had enough food and wine, Madam Wang and Madam Wen went home, but the boys insisted on staying at the Jiang house to celebrate the New Year withnterns.


    Normally, this was considered improper, but Madam Wang and Madam Wen both had their own agendas, so they didn’t stop them.


    “Yingbao, do you like myntern?” Wei Zhan held up hisntern smiling, “I made it myself.”


    Yingbao nced at the rabbitntern in his hand, and nodded: “It’s good.”


    She lifted her tiny Pce Lantern: “This one is even better. Look at the top, it’s made of coloured ze.”


    The coloured zentern was a gift from Sister Wen, a pair in total, one for her brother Wen Hengyin and one for Yingbao.


    Wei Zhan pouted, snatching the pcentern from Yingbao and shoving his rabbitntern into her hand: “What’s a girl doing with a pcentern? The rabbit is cuter, I’ll swap it with you!”


    Yingbao was not happy now, chasing him to get it back, “No swap! Give it back!”


    Wei Zhan turned and ran away, making faces at her as he fled.


    Jiang Jie, Jiang Wu, Huzi and Yuanbao also joined in the chase, a gaggle of children running ap around the vige.


    Most families in the vige had set up offering tables and hung upnterns in their courtyards, lighting up the vige streets.


    The children from the refugee families living outside the vige also came in, each carrying self-madenterns, tripping over each other to grab the cakes and pastries ced on the offering tables.


    The offerings on the Jiang’s family offering table were the most abundant, not only did it hold pastries but also various kinds of fruits, bowls of apples and mandarin oranges.


    When it was the second day of the New Year, Chunniang took her husband and children back to her maiden home to wish everyone a Happy New Year.


    They had not even arrived at the Xu vige yet when they saw several people standing by the road. It turned out to be Mother Xu and her grandchildren.


    Seeing her daughter’s carriage approaching, Mother Xu waved excitedly, “Chunniang! Sang!”<div>


    Chunniang lifted the curtain of the carriage and quickly hopped down, running to her mother and scolding, “Why have youe all this way in this cold weather?”


    Mother Xuughed, “I am idle and have nothing to do, so I came out to see.”


    Xu Da, his brother Xu Erniu, and sister Xu Lan greeted Chunniang and Jiang Sang together, “Auntie, Uncle.”


    Jiang Sang nodded in response.<div>


    Madame Chun said, “Why did you all suddenlye out? Hurry back, it’s so chilly!”


    Yingbao and her two younger brothers popped their heads out from behind the carriage curtain, shouting in unison, “Grandma, first cousin, second cousin, cousin, Happy New Year.”


    “Happy New Year, Happy New Year.” Madame Xuughed like a blooming chrysanthemum.


    Xu Dan and his siblings also quickly said, “Happy New Year, cousins.”


    Madame Xu waved her hand, “Hurry home, your Auntie has made a lot of delicious food.”


    Then, Madame Chun walked with the elderlydy towards the vige, while Jiang Sang followed slowly with the carriage. The Xu siblings talked with their cousins on the side of the carriage.


    As the crowd entered the vige, many vigers gathered around to watch. Some even approached Jiang Jie to greet him politely. “Happy New Year, Schr Jiang.”


    Jiang Jie replied hastily, “Happy New Year to you too.”


    “Great… Great…” The man was overjoyed to receive a reply. He didn’t know where to put his hands and feet.


    Seeing this, others came to greet him as well.


    For a moment, Jiang Jie and Jiang Wu were overwhelmed.


    Xu Dan and Xu Erniu, seeing this, hurried over to squeeze through the crowd, protecting their young cousins as they walked home.


    Xu Da had been waiting at the door, and seeing Jiang Jieughing so cheerfully, he warmly weed him into the house, calling for his wife to serve tea.<div>


    Xu Da’s wifeplied, carrying out the almond tea that had been prepared earlier. She poured a bowl for her niece, her nephew, and another bowl for her elder sister and brother-inw.


    Then she smiled at Jiang Jie and Yingbao, “This is made from the almonds from our own trees. I collected a lot this year. I roasted them yesterday, and ground them into thick paste before dawn. I even added sheep’s milk and honey.”


    Xu Lan giggled and said, “Enough Ma, your food is going to burn.”


    Xu Da’s wife gasped and rushed into the kitchen.


    Afterwards, Yingbao and her brothers respectfully greeted their grandmother, followed by their uncle and aunt, to offer their New Year greetings.


    Both Xu Da and his wife were shocked to see Jiang Jie kneeling with the kids to offer his greetings. They hurriedly assisted him up.


    This was, after all, a gifted schr! Normally, even a county magistrate wouldn’t have to kneel before him. Now he was kneeling to them, it was astonishing.


    Just then, there was amotion outside. It turned out that Madame Xu’s two brothers had arrived.


    Both old men brought New Year’s gifts, one of which was for Jiang Sang.


    So, Yingbao and her brothers offered their respectful greetings to their grand-uncles.


    The two grand-uncles had smiles in their eyes as they looked at Jiang Jie. They couldn’t help but wish to pull him into a hug and pat him on the back.


    “Xiaojie, you are our family’s pir of support. From now on, our Xu family will rely on you.”


    “Yes! Xiaojie, your grand-uncles have several good-for-nothing grandchildren. Please take the time to guide them too.”<div>


    Jiang Jie’s face twitched.


    How did he suddenly be the pir of the Xu family? And as for disciplining the grandchildren of his grand-uncles, gosh, they were almost old enough to be married!


    Seeing the grand-uncles had settled down to chat with their dad, Yingbao and Jiang Wu quietly slipped out of the house.


    Jiang Jie noticed his siblings sneaking out and decided to follow suit as well. But he was caught by the grand-uncles: “Xiaojie, don’t leave today – have dinner with us at your elder Grand-uncle’s house.”


    Jiang Jie stiffly returned a smile and looked at his father.


    Knowing that he couldn’t refuse, Jiang Sang nodded in agreement: “Then we are in the debt of elder Grand-uncle.”


    “What nonsense about being in debt, Sang, you’re being too polite.” Another Grand-uncle said, “Come to my house tomorrow at noon, your Aunt has prepared all the dishes. We’re even ughtering a pig this year, especially to host Xiaojie.”