Farm Girl Turns Everything Around: Sly Husband, Let's Farm

Chapter 1013: Chapter 1013: Soap – 1 Chapter 1013: Chapter 1013: Soap – 1 When it came time to pay Tong Dalang, Qiao Changshun’s face showed some discomfort as he handed over twenty taels directly, “Dalang, happy New Year.”

Tong Dalang’s honest face also revealed a smile, “Uncle Changshun, happy New Year.”

He reached out and took the twenty taels of silver, and then asked, “When do we start work again?”

“The fourth day of the Lunar New Year.”

“Then I’ll come back on the fourth day.” Tong Dalang smiled again, pocketed the twenty taels of silver, and turned to leave.

After Qiao Changshun settled everyone’s wages, he returned to Bamboo Fragrance Residence, where Qiao Zhaodi and Qiao Yindi had nearly finished preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Soon after, Qiao Xiaomai came in with a bowl of meat soup, her smile beaming, “I’ve boiled it all day, it’s pure essence, come on, have a bowl with the dumplings, one for each.”

“Alright, let’s all start eating.” Qiao Changshun was very happy.

The sisters Qiao Zhaodi and Qiao Yindi were mediocre cooks, but the food tasted decent because they used water from the Spiritual Spring.

Qiao Xiaomai didn’t like leftovers, so the New Year’s Eve dinner was quite simple, with just six dishes.

Six dishes would seem meager in a rich household, but for Qiao Changshun, Qiao Zhaodi, and Qiao Yindi, it was quite a feast.

In the past six months, they had followed Xiaomai, enjoying delicious food and drink, but their attitude remained humble and easily contented.

Zhuang Luhe also sat at the table, still not speaking, like a soulless puppet, exuding a sense of gloom.

She didn’t speak, and apart from the customary New Year’s greetings, only Changshun occasionally tried to strike up a conversation with her.

Overall, the atmosphere of this New Year’s Eve dinner was not bad.

After dinner came the vigil, a local custom where the family starts playing Mahjong after clearing the tableware.

In the past, they would just gather and chat during the vigil, and as they talked, sleepiness would overcome them, and they would easily fall asleep.

Now with Mahjong, everyone was still wide awake even until the early morning.

Firecrackers were set off at dawn, and although fireworks hadn’t yet been invented, the firecrackers were lively enough, cracking and popping loudly in the quiet of the night.

After the firecrackers, the New Year had arrived.

The vigil was complete, and Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang went back to Mai Yuan to sleep.

“Actually, celebrating the New Year is exhausting.” After bathing, Xiaomai quickly slipped into bed wearing her own spaghetti-strap nightgown.

Tong Sanlang, sitting on the edge of the kang bed, drying his hair, nodded in agreement, “Yes.”

“But now lying on the kang, it feels really comfy!” said Xiaomai, unable to help herself from rolling around on the bed.

Outside the room, the temperature was below zero, and the cold wind howled, but she, in her silky nightgown, rolled around in the warm quilt, feeling utterly relaxed.

Tong Sanlang watched her, his mouth curving into a smile. He set aside the towel he was using, made of silk cloth, stretched out his long legs, and lay down on the kang beside her.

The kang was just the right temperature, and Xiaomai’s body was smoother than silk, which he liked very much. He stretched out his long limbs and embraced Xiaomai’s fragrant body in his arms.

“We’re almost out of shower gel, aren’t we?” he said, inhaling the familiar scent.

“Yes,” replied Xiaomai, wrapping her pale arms around his lean waist, her face nuzzling into his neck, “We’re about to run out of this fragrance.”

Her storage space was not stocked with much in the way of everyday items, as the vast area was mostly filled with food.

Tong Sanlang lifted his arm and gently stroked her smooth back, his voice soft, “Didn’t you say before that soap is made from lard?”

“I heard that’s the case, but I don’t know exactly,” she responded.

“Why not research soap first?” Tong Sanlang’s hand unconsciously caressed her back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, “The retired emperor said that when we go to the capital, we need to bring him something novel; I think soap isn’t a bad idea.”