Chapter 49: Xiao Da ge Has Left, Sister (4000 words)
"Xiao Da ge, it's crooked. A little to the left."
"No, that's not right either, Xiao Da ge, a little to the right."
"It still doesn't seem quite right. A little further down. Never mind, let's go a little higher. Yes, yes, just like that."
"Then I'll paste it like this."
Xiao Mo stood on the ladder and smoothed the Spring Couplet with his hand, trying to ensure there wasn't a single wrinkle.
However, just as Xiao Mo stepped down from the ladder, Xiaoqing stroked her chin, "Why does it still feel a bit crooked? It should be a little more to the left."
"Ow!" Xiao Mo gave Xiaoqing's head a light tap. "You're only saying that after it's already pasted? Next one!"
"Oh, ow…"
Xiao Mo and Xiaoqing moved the ladder and went to paste the couplet on another door.
At the same time, in the kitchen, Bai Ruxue was cooking.
Today was New Year's Eve.
According to Qi's customs, new Spring Couplets had to be put up today, and the New Year's Eve dinner was eaten at noon.
"Crackling."
"Crackling."
As noon approached, other households in Shiqiao Village successively lit firecrackers.
Whenever a household lit firecrackers, it meant that someone was starting their New Year's meal.
At this time, Bai Ruxue also brought out the dishes and placed them steadily on the table, "Xiao Mo, Xiaoqing, the food is ready."
"Wait a moment, Sister, we're almost done pasting them." Xiaoqing responded, continuing to direct Xiao Da ge, "Xiao Da ge, a little to the left. Yes, yes, yes!"
"Xiao Da ge, everyone else has started their New Year's meal! Let's hurry up!"
"No rush, no rush." Xiao Mo smiled, "The Spring Couplets must be flat, for peace and safety, you know."
After pasting the Spring Couplets, Xiao Mo placed the firecrackers from bottom to top on the pillar by the door, then lit the fuse with a tinderbox.
Bai Ruxue and Xiaoqing quickly covered their ears.
The firecrackers crackled loudly.
One white and one green, both fearful and expectant, watched the firecracker smoke outside the courtyard, and the sparks that occasionally burst from the white smoke.
"Pop, pop... pop..."
As the last few firecrackers landed, the smoke gradually dissipated.
By the stone table, Xiao Mo raised his wine glass and stood up, "Today is New Year's Eve, out with the old and in with the new. In the new year, I wish both young ladies good health and all your wishes come true."
Bai Ruxue's eyes curved into crescents. She raised her wine glass, like the mistress of the house, but her words carried a hint of playfulness, "Next spring, I wish Mr. Xiao success in the imperial examination."
"I wish Xiao Da ge success in the imperial examination." Xiaoqing also offered her blessings.
Glasses clinked, and the wine inside gently rippled.
"Eat, eat! The food will get cold if we don't eat now." Xiao Mo quickly sat down.
Bai Ruxue opened the rice pot and served rice to Xiao Mo and her sister, while Xiaoqing continued to pour wine.
Only after Xiao Mo took the first bite of food did Bai Ruxue and Xiaoqing pick up their chopsticks.
This wine was Green Rice Wine sent by Sun County Magistrate.
Considering that Xiao Mo didn't often drink and there were two female companions in the house, this wine wasn't easy to get drunk on and had a mellow taste.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, Bai Ruxue and her sister cleared the dishes. Xiao Mo wanted to help, but Ru Xue pushed him out of the kitchen, stating that it was a girl's job.
Xiao Mo was helpless and could only sit in the courtyard.
Looking at the busy white figure in the kitchen, Xiao Mo couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
Unconsciously, eight years had passed in a blink of an eye since the day he saved her.
That little White Snake from before had truly grown into a big girl.
"Xiao Da ge, why are you staring at Sister?"
From inside the kitchen, Xiaoqing joked.
Xiaoqing already knew about the agreement between her sister and Xiao Da ge, knowing that when Xiao Da ge returned from the imperial examination in spring, he would marry her sister.
Xiao Mo smiled, "Your sister is beautiful."
Compared to the open and direct Xiao Mo, Bai Ruxue's face was red at this moment. She gently pulled her sister, "Let him look, we'll continue washing the dishes."
"Giggle, giggle, giggle." Seeing her sister's shy appearance, Xiaoqing laughed like a hen in the courtyard.
Xiaoqing noticed that since her sister came down the mountain, she truly became more and more like a human woman.
Especially recently, after her sister understood her feelings for Xiao Da ge, her occasional bashful expressions were even more beautiful.
In the afternoon, Xiao Mo took the two sisters to play ring toss.
Xiao Mo placed some copper coins and broken silver on the ground, and they used wooden rings to toss. Whoever landed a ring on an item, it was theirs.
If they missed, they had to stick a piece of paper on their face.
By the end of the game, Xiao Mo's face was covered with red paper strips, almost blurring his vision.
The two sisters couldn't help but burst into laughter.
In the evening, night covered the sky.
Stars, like fine sand, were scattered across the night sky.
The stars in winter seemed to be brighter than those in summer.
Bai Ruxue brought hot water to wash Xiao Mo's feet.
Xiao Mo initially wanted to refuse, but Bai Ruxue, with a blush, said, "After we get married, this is also something that needs to be done."
Xiao Mo froze for a moment. Seeing her shy and gentle appearance, he didn't refuse.
"Alright, I'm going out. You rest well." Bai Ruxue dried Xiao Mo's feet, picked up the basin, and prepared to leave.
"Ru Xue…"
Xiao Mo called her name.
"Hmm?" Bai Ruxue tilted her head in confusion.
Xiao Mo organized his words in his mind, "Ru Xue, I might… be leaving for the capital the day after tomorrow."
"The day after tomorrow?" Bai Ruxue blinked, "Why so soon?"
"Because Zhang Xiansheng, who is in the imperial court, will be leaving the capital in mid-February to take up his post in Beihai Prefecture. He wants to invite me to meet him, so I might have to go half a month earlier…"
As he spoke, the woman's eyes had already lowered slightly.
Xiao Mo could clearly see the disappointment in her peach blossom eyes.
Xiao Mo stood up, "Ru Xue, I'm sorry, I…"
"It's alright." Bai Ruxue shook her head, raised her beautiful head, and smiled, "I've heard of Zhang Xiansheng. He is a highly respected old gentleman, and he seems to be highly regarded by His Majesty. Is it true that your top scholar title was thanks to his guidance?"
"That's right." Xiao Mo nodded.
"Then Xiao Mo, you should go." Bai Ruxue put the basin aside and gently held Xiao Mo's hand, "Although I am just a woman and haven't read many books, isn't entering officialdom your dream? It's only half a month earlier, it's alright."
"Ru Xue…"
"Don't say sorry anymore." Bai Ruxue smiled, "I'm really fine. Chen Yi said that the most important thing for a wife is to be understanding of her husband."
As she spoke, a blush crept stealthily up the woman's cheeks to her earlobes, and her voice was shy and soft, "Although we haven't married yet… but… I… I should start learning."
Xiao Mo looked at Ru Xue, who was so shy she almost seemed to be dripping water, and his heart was touched. He gently stroked her hair, "I will definitely come back as soon as possible."
"Mm, I'll wait for you."
Although Bai Ruxue also wanted to spend a few more days with Xiao Mo, she felt that there would be plenty of time in the future.
He was only leaving half a month early, it was fine…
She would wait for him to come back.
In the evening, Bai Ruxue hurried to make a sachet for Xiao Mo.
There was also a new set of clothes that needed to be finished tonight.
Bai Ruxue wanted Xiao Mo to wear them when he went to the capital.
The candlelight flickered in the room.
If she felt sleepy, Bai Ruxue would continue to eat chili peppers, or she would wash her face with cold water.
"Sister… let's make these clothes tomorrow." Xiaoqing looked at her sister, who was extremely sleepy but insisted on not sleeping, and said with a pained heart.
It was truly uncomfortable for the snake clan to feel sleepy in winter but force themselves to stay awake.
"It's alright." Bai Ruxue shook her head, her slender needle continuing to thread through the fabric, "This outfit must be finished tonight. Tomorrow, Xiao Mocan try it on, and if it doesn't fit, there will still be time to alter it."
Looking at her sister's appearance, Xiaoqing knew that her sister wouldn't listen to her words.
Whenever it involved Xiao Da ge, her sister would become particularly stubborn.
"Then Xiaoqing will help Sister." Xiaoqing got out of bed and walked to her sister's side.
"Xiaoqing, you should go to sleep." Bai Ruxue said.
"No, if Sister doesn't sleep, Xiaoqing won't sleep either." Xiaoqing insisted, "Sister, is there anything I can help with?"
"Alright…" Bai Ruxue thought for a moment, "Then help Sister sew these two pieces of cloth and embroider a bamboo stalk. Sister wants to make him an inner pocket."
"Okay, Sister!"
Xiaoqing quickly picked up the needle and thread from the table and sewed diligently.
But in less than half an hour, Xiaoqing felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier.
An hour later, Xiaoqing was already asleep on the table, even drooling.
"I knew you couldn't last." Bai Ruxue's pink lips curved slightly. She gently tapped her sister's nose and said softly, "It's already deep winter now. At Xiaoqing's Realm, she'll have to go back to the mountain to hibernate in a few days."
Xiaoqing had started feeling sleepy seven days ago, so how could she stay up late with herself now?
Bai Ruxue carried Xiaoqing back to bed and covered her with the blanket.
Under the candlelight, the woman continued to sew her beloved's green robe, stitch by stitch, with great care.
The next morning, as the rooster crowed, Bai Ruxuefinally raised her head and rubbed her shoulders.
The green robe in her arms was already finished.
After Xiao Mo got up, Bai Ruxue quickly had him try it on.
Seeing that it fit Xiao Mo perfectly, the woman finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is it comfortable to wear?" Bai Ruxue asked, "Is there anything that needs to be improved?"
"It's very comfortable." Xiao Mo looked at the green robe, "There's nothing that needs to be improved, it fits perfectly."
"Xiao Da ge, it's a good thing it fits. Sister didn't sleep all night. If it didn't fit, Sister would probably have to alter it for another day." Xiaoqing said from the side.
"You talk too much." Bai Ruxue patted her sister's hand.
"Actually, Ru Xue, you really don't need to make clothes yourself anymore. Our family isn't short of money." Xiao Mo persuaded.
"It's alright." Bai Ruxue stepped forward and adjusted Xiao Mo's sleeves, waist, and collar, "Clothes made by others are always made by others; I don't feel at ease."
"…" Xiao Mo's throat moved. He wanted to say something, but thousands of words could only converge into one sentence, "Ru Xue, you've really worked hard."
Bai Ruxue's eyes curved into crescents, "Between you and me, why speak of hardship?"
Xiao Mo's gaze towards Bai Ruxue became increasingly gentle.
Although Xiao Mo knew that this was merely an experience in the Book of Hundred Lifetimes, if he truly had such a wife, what more could he ask for?
"When are you leaving tomorrow?" Bai Ruxue asked.
"Tomorrow at Chen Shi, Sun County Magistrate will send a carriage to pick me up."
"The journey to the capital is said to be long. Will anyone escort you to the capital?"
"Sun County Magistrate said he would arrange it. Ru Xue, you don't need to worry."
"That's good then." Bai Ruxue nodded, "Tomorrow I'll give you the baggage. There might be a lot of things, but you're not allowed to complain that it's too much. They're all useful things."
"Alright…"
Every time Xiao Mo went on a long journey, Bai Ruxuewould prepare a lot of things for him, complete with all sorts of items, but indeed, it was a bit much.
Even a sachet for repelling mosquitoes was included.
Seeing Xiao Mo agree, Bai Ruxue smiled slightly and pulled Xiaoqing to the kitchen to make a meal.
On the first day of the New Year, Bai Ruxue did housework as usual.
During the meal, Bai Ruxue had a smile on her face, deliberately not letting Xiao Mo see her reluctance to part.
However, Bai Ruxue was not someone who could hide her feelings.
Xiao Mo and Xiaoqing could both see the disappointment in her heart.
The next morning, Bai Ruxue woke up early to prepare breakfast for Xiao Mo.
Soon after, a carriage stopped outside the courtyard, accompanied by several mounted constables.
These were the people who came to pick up Xiao Mo.
After breakfast, Bai Ruxue walked with Xiao Mo, step by step, out of the village.
Xiao Mo's departure this time was rather sudden, and not many people knew about it, so the village chief and others didn't come to see him off.
The constables were also very sensible, walking far ahead, leaving the two of them space for privacy.
"After you go to the capital, you must eat well and not just make do."
"I know."
"The weather is getting colder and colder, so you must wear more clothes."
"Don't worry, the winter clothes you made are very thick."
"Take these two jars of honey with you. Although they're not worth much, they're a token of my regard. You can't go empty-handed when you meet Zhang Xiansheng."
"Don't worry."
"Also, you can't go to brothels."
"I won't."
"If you don't do well in the exam, it's alright. Don't be discouraged. I'll always be waiting for you at home."
"Okay."
Xiao Mo stopped, turned around, and looked at the woman in front of him, "Ru Xue, let's stop here."
The woman gently bit her thin lips, "I… I'll see you off a little further…"
Xiao Mo shook his head, "You've already seen me off for five li."
"…" The woman lowered her head, her fingers tightly clasped, and her curved, upturned eyelashes trembled slightly.
After a long while, the woman looked up at him, "Go quickly and return quickly."
Xiao Mo stepped back two paces, stood before the woman, straightened his robes, and bowed solemnly.
Straightening up, Xiao Mo said no more. More words would only mean more reluctance to part.
He turned and walked forward, getting into the carriage.
"Giddy-up!"
Under the escort of several constables, the carriage carrying Xiao Mo gradually drove into the fields.
Bai Ruxue instinctively took a step forward, but in the end, she held her ground.
The carriage moved further and further away, until it became a black dot and disappeared from the woman's sight.
"Sister, Xiao Da ge has already left. Let's go back." Xiaoqing said to her sister.
"No rush, I'll watch a bit longer…"
"But Xiao Da ge is already out of sight…"
"It's alright."
The woman tightly clutched her skirt, still gazing into the distance.
"I… I'll watch a bit longer…"