A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 1107 Fourth Concubine's New Year's Greeting

After that, Gui'er just wanted to find an opportunity to talk to Wu Mingqiang, but she didn't know how to start the conversation. Moreover, she knew in her heart that, given Wu Mingqiang's personality, he probably wouldn't listen.

New Year's Eve finally arrived, and the streets were like a sugar jar had been overturned. Silk shops on Des Voeux Road hung up crimson silks, goldsmiths carried "Happy New Year" signs on long poles, children clutching candy melons crowded in front of the peep show stalls, the roast meat shops wafted out the rich aroma of roast goose and preserved meats, housewives carried bamboo baskets to buy New Year flowers, and red ribbons on kumquat bonsai fluttered in the wind.

As planned, they ate a traditional "poon choi" for their New Year's Eve dinner. In the villa's dining room, the eight-immortal table was polished to a shine, with a large blue-and-white porcelain pot in the center, from which steaming hot pot dishes were emitting a fragrant aroma. On the top layer was a glistening roast goose, its skin so crisp it looked like it was about to crack. Next to it was a whole braised abalone, its shell coated in a thick sauce. There were also plump fish maws and chewy sea cucumbers, layered down. Underneath were radishes, bamboo shoots, and fried pork skins soaked in the broth, mixed with the freshness of dried scallops. The whole pot of dishes resembled a small mountain, glistening with oil under the lights.

On the corner of the table sat a tin pot of Yubing Shao, warm to a gentle temperature. Next to it was a bottle of soda prepared for Gui'er, its glass jar glistening with condensation. Dingxiang brought over the last platter of preserved meats, with intestines, liver, and duck intestines neatly arranged. The aroma of oil mingled with the steam from the hot pot, making the room feel cozy and inviting.

Wu Mingqiang poured Gui'er a glass of wine and said with a smile, "Miss, it's a rare occasion to celebrate the New Year, so please have a drink too. This glass is for you, wishing you a peaceful and safe new year."

Gui'er smiled and picked up her glass. Although she had been preoccupied with something these past few days, it was New Year's Eve dinner, and the warm atmosphere made her feel a little more relaxed. She raised her glass and said, "Let me toast everyone. Happy New Year! May you all be healthy and have a peaceful and prosperous year ahead."

Everyone raised their glasses, clinked them together, and said in unison, "Happy New Year! Cheers!"

Acheng sat next to Dingxiang and placed a piece of abalone on her plate: "Try this, it's very fresh." Dingxiang blushed and pushed it back, then stuffed a piece of roast goose into Gui'er's bowl: "Miss, eat more to nourish your body."

Looking at the table full of dishes, Gui'er didn't feel as cheerful as in previous years. Wu Mingqiang's words lacked their usual sharpness, and he occasionally exchanged glances with Acheng, as if there was something he didn't want to say.

Dingxiang was engrossed in eating, but when she got excited, she would mutter, "This food is much better than what we get at the hotel," which made everyone laugh. The laughter lingered in the air, but something always seemed to be missing.

Wu Mingqiang suddenly raised his glass and said to Gui'er, "Miss, you've worked hard this year. Next year, when our shop in Macau opens, things will definitely go even better." Gui'er smiled and agreed, taking a sip of soda. The bubbles burst on her tongue, leaving a slightly bitter taste.

The faint sound of firecrackers drifted in from outside the window, mingling with the distant chimes of a foreign trading company. The dining room was warmly lit, and the aroma of the stew wafted through every corner. But as Gui'er looked at the smiling faces of everyone at the table, she felt that this lively atmosphere was like a thin layer of ice, concealing an unyielding chill beneath—no one knew whether this New Year's Eve dinner would be able to be enjoyed so together again next year.

At midnight, the sound of firecrackers rose and fell in the Central and Western District, occasionally mixed with the sound of church bells.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, children dressed in new clothes went along the streets asking for lucky money, foreign company employees held champagne and exchanged greetings of "Gong Xi Fa Cai" with Chinese merchants, and Indian police officers at the docks also learned to say "Happy New Year" in Cantonese.

Gui'er plans not to go anywhere during the New Year period because there is a custom of giving red envelopes in Hong Kong. As a girl who is not yet a child and has no elders, it would feel like asking for red envelopes if she went to other people's homes to pay New Year's visits. So she plans to wait a few days and stay at home obediently for the next few days.

As soon as I finished breakfast and returned upstairs, I found a book in my study, made a cup of tea, and prepared to settle down and read all day, when Dingxiang ran in with a happy face and said, "Miss, Fourth Aunt and Miss Lily have come to wish you a Happy New Year."

Gui'er was very surprised. Ever since she moved to Hong Kong, these two people had never visited her. She was the one who always brought gifts to visit them. It was clear that they were people who only took from her and never gave back. Why would they come to wish her a Happy New Year?

Despite her thoughts, she hurried downstairs and saw the fourth concubine leading Sha Lili and Sha Yanwen's youngest daughter, all dressed neatly, sitting in the living room. The little girl was quite sensible, sitting obediently on the sofa in a small cheongsam. Sha Lili and her mother were looking at the furnishings in the room and whispering to each other, as if they were evaluating whether the things in the room were valuable.

"Fourth Aunt, Lily, Happy New Year!" Gui'er was a little speechless, but she still put on a welcoming demeanor and greeted them with a smile.

"Happy New Year! Oh, right, Biyun, quick, call her auntie, bow to her and say 'Wishing you prosperity'." Fourth Aunt and Shalili pushed the little girl out.

"Hello Auntie, wishing you prosperity." The little girl, who looked to be only 3 or 4 years old, spoke in a childish voice and bowed shyly to Gui'er.

Gui'er quickly picked up the candy on the table, handed it to her, and said, "Good girl, have some candy, this is chocolate."

Then she took two silver dollars, wrapped them in red paper to make a red envelope, and stuffed it into the little girl's hand: "Biyun is so good. Auntie is giving you a red envelope. May you be healthy in the new year."

Fourth Concubine, with her sharp eyes, noticed that Gui'er had wrapped two silver dollars in her bag, and her smile widened even more: "Oh, Gui'er is so sensible. Look how well she handles social interactions." As she spoke, she patted Sha Lili on the back, "You should learn from your sister."

Sally pouted, glanced at the Western clock hanging on the living room wall, and said slowly, "I know, Gui'er, your house is really grand, much better than our shabby building. Looking at how luxurious it is, it's almost the same as the Marshal's Mansion in our hometown. It really makes me nostalgic." She reached out and touched the velvet on the sofa armrest. "This material is from India, right? I saw it at the foreign firm last time, it was very expensive."

Gui'er understood now that they had come to pay their respects for the New Year under the pretense of probing her family's finances. She simply smiled faintly and said, "My second brother had planned to move here together, so he must have spent a bit of money on the renovations. Fourth Aunt, Lily, come here, have some candy. Dingxiang, go make some tea."

Fourth Concubine pulled Gui'er's hand and glanced upstairs: "We are family. Although your father is no longer here, we should still visit each other often. Look at Biyun, she's so close to you at such a young age. Her father died early, and her mother, that slut, got married. It's hard for me to raise her alone. Gui'er, now that you're doing better, you should take better care of her."

Shali chimed in, "That's right, Gui'er, Biyun is very smart and doesn't bother people. Even if she were your daughter, it would be a good choice."