Chapter 85: The Laba Festival ◇

◎ She seemed exactly like a cunning little fox that had stolen someone else's chicken chick. ◎

The entire family celebrated the Laba Festival with great merriment. For the first time, the household received income, and every member, regardless of gender or age, received their share of money. The warmth in their palms was matched by the warmth in their hearts.

Even Zhu Ying received a joyous ten taels of silver. Usually, her master's salary and bonuses were much larger, but they didn't feel substantial; she would often spend them on drinking and feasting with her brothers. This time, Zhu Ying carefully tucked the ten taels into the pocket of her chest, planning to find a purse to store it for the future.

With such thoughts, she drifted off to sleep peacefully that night, completely unaware that the letter she had sent earlier in the month had reached her master's hands, causing him considerable distress and perplexity.

On the day of Laba Festival, aside from the bustling family feast, the most significant event was undoubtedly the Laba Sacrifice. The entire family joined the village folks at the ancestral shrine located in the heart of their village. Upon arriving, Yu Lian realized that every single person in the village, regardless of age or gender, had turned up. A dense crowd stood solemnly before the ancestral hall, not a single soul missing from the assembly.

She felt a tinge of curiosity, having assumed that according to conventional reasoning, activities such as ancestral worship often carried an inherent gender bias, deeming women as yin and therefore unsuitable for participation; typically, only the direct male heirs of the family were entitled to perform such rituals. Driven by her curiosity, she ventured to ask a question.

Grandpa Two chuckled warmly and said, "I've never ventured far from home all my life, so I couldn't tell you about other places. But in our village, every single one of us, whether born here or married in, who carries the surname Hua, must attend. If they don't come, how could they expect others to pray for their own ancestors' blessings? They must be dreaming. Your second grandpa often says that honesty is the most valuable principle in life, and this applies to honoring gods and ancestors as well. Nothing else matters as much as an earnest heart."

Yu Lian smiled, her words simple yet imbued with the most unadorned truth. Following this, Second Aunt continued, "Our ancestors also bore witness to a matriarch in our lineage."

"Matriarch?"

"Well, it all started with your ancestor, Uncle Hua Bajin's grandmother. She was a young widow who carried the village through difficult times with her innovative ideas... She was a talented woman with a tragic fate, widowed herself and then left with a widowed daughter-in-law. Fortunately, her grandson, Uncle Hua Bajin, turned out to be an accomplished man..." At this point, Second Grandpa paused, changing the subject.

Suddenly, he recalled that Yu Lian, the young lady, had also become a widow at a young age. She was different from others, as she had willingly entered the family after her wooden-hearted husband's misfortune. Her sincere devotion was precious. Wouldn't mentioning these things now only upset her?

As the village's eldest elder, Second Grandpa presided over the winter solstice ceremony. He led the villagers in honoring their ancestors, recounting the year's new births, harvests, and income. Afterward, he bowed and said, "The descendants of Uncle Hua Bajin have encountered misfortune and returned to their roots. We beseech our ancestors to protect them through this hardship. From now on, we do not seek great wealth or fame, but merely peace and prosperity for our family tree to flourish."

In other words, they aimed to persevere as long as possible.

Grandma and Eldest Son Hua Zhan knelt with the younger generation, their eyes reddening upon hearing this. Hua Zhan was no exception. The family was grateful to Second Grandpa and felt a genuine sense of belonging here. The ancestors enshrined in the temple were theirs, and those kneeling below were all kin. They were not alone.

After the ceremony, Second Grandpa warned the villagers in front of their forebears, "Since Wooden Head's family returned, our village has seen significant gains. They built homes, cleared land, established workshops and shops, never forgetting to involve our fellow villagers in every aspect. Now, as the year draws to a close, count your silver; isn't it significantly more than previous years?"

He paused, and many villagers loudly agreed. Indeed, they owed much of their prosperity this year to Wooden Head's family, allowing them to enjoy a comfortable new year. Especially Hua Sanduo, who was known for his laziness but was favored by Yu Lian. It was rumored that he received a considerable sum, sparking envy.

Satisfied, Second Grandpa nodded and continued, "Everyone knows that Wooden Head's family's magical food jars sell exceptionally well, even sought after by wealthy families. But with fame comes unwanted attention. Those merchants outside can have devious minds. Let me make it clear: if anyone inquires about the jars, don't divulge a single word. Report it immediately."

Although the villagers didn't fully understand, they were fiercely loyal to their clan. No matter the internal conflicts, they stood united against outsiders. Moreover, Yu Lian's family had opened a workshop, benefiting them all. How could they betray such kindness without inviting divine retribution?

Besides, those villagers employed in the workshop had signed confidentiality agreements, pressing their thumbs onto the documents. Even if they didn't comprehend the full implications, they knew that disclosing any information would result in financial penalties.

Thereupon, the villagers pledged their commitment in front of their ancestors with great enthusiasm.

But Second Grandpa, wise from his old age, still felt uneasy. With his years of experience, he knew that clarity was crucial to avoid any misunderstandings. So, he added, "As long as Wooden Family's workshop operates, your households will receive income every day. If the workshop were to cease, you'd have nothing! I've heard from Little Lotus that after the New Year, there'll be more ventures, requiring even more workers. You're blessed to be able to farm and work for the Wood family, earning silver at the same time. By year's end, you'll earn much more than those in other villages. This extra money can be saved for your children's weddings and dowries, or for adding meat to your meals during festive seasons. Isn't that better than anything else?"

"Have I made myself clear?"

The villagers responded loudly, "Crystal clear!"

"Grandpa, rest assured. We all share the same surname, Hua. We're one big family, and a family doesn't betray another. It's a deed that would bring shame to our ancestors, even in the afterlife. We won't do such a thing!"

"Indeed, indeed!"

Second Uncle nodded in satisfaction.

Upon seeing this, Yu Lian couldn't help but feel that an elderly person in the village was like a treasure. In truth, she hadn't held much hope for keeping the canned food technology a secret. Even if it wasn't divulged within the village, with time, some clever individual might eventually figure it out on their own.

She never underestimated ancient people.

The reason no one had figured it out in a short time was likely due to the lack of knowledge about the principles of sealing and sterilization.

But even if they did figure it out, by then her reputation would be established, and she'd have earned some silver and laid the groundwork for her business – she wouldn't suffer any losses.

After the ceremony, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow on the west, while a strong breeze brought chilly gusts that crept into people's collars. Each family retrieved their offerings, rubbing their hands together as they headed home.

Yu Lian linked arms with the elderly matriarch, while Mei Yi's arm held onto Little Guo'er, who bravely linked her small hand with the grandmother's. On the other side of the elder, Mrs. Chen, mimicking her daughter-in-law, modestly yet shyly linked her arm with the grandmother's, and the family of women walked home, huddled together for warmth.

A basket of offerings landed on a man's head, distracting Hua Zhan, who had been preoccupied with his thoughts since the beginning of the ancestral worship. The identical twins, despite their small size, had to carry the load together. With pouting lips and a sense of injustice, they couldn't resist, for they were the only men in the family apart from their father – manual labor seemed to fall naturally upon them.

Yet, the biting cold made them think of a solution. They placed the basket on their heads and kept their hands in their pockets, gingerly moving forward like two slow-moving baby turtles. Their pitiful and endearing struggle made Yu Lian burst into laughter when she turned back.

After the Laba Festival, life spun by like a top, accelerating rapidly. Yu Lian's canned food business took off, and Hua Sanduo, leading a group of young village apprentices, opened a shop. They made a fortune before the New Year, and the reputation of the Immortal Food Jars spread far and wide.

Their cans offered both sweet and savory flavors, not only delicious but also remarkable for their longevity; they could be stored for a long time without spoiling. Especially the gift boxes, which became a symbol of prestige when presented to relatives and friends during festive occasions, quickly becoming a popular trend.

Out-of-town merchants, intrigued by the novelty, purchased some to resell at a higher price in the capital city. Business flourished visibly, and other merchants envied their success. However, what made these cans special wasn't the contents, but their ability to stay fresh for extended periods. No one could crack the secret, no matter how much they examined them.

It was then that Lady Li sent someone to inquire about the secret behind the Hua family's canned goods remaining unspoiled for so long. Ordinary folk might believe in mythical tales of immortal foods that never decayed, but as the head of a merchant family, Lady Li didn't entertain such superstitions. If the secret were genuine, why sell it? They could simply consume it themselves and attain immortality.

Upon receiving the cans, she instructed her people to study them day and night but found no clue. The packaging seemed peculiar, but its exact purpose remained elusive. The contents tasted fresh, perhaps slightly softer in texture, but no different from freshly cooked food.

Without fully understanding the situation, Lady Li simply dispatched her steward to propose a collaboration.

Calling it a collaboration was merely a polite way of expressing their desire to purchase the recipe. The Li family's steward still looked down on farmers and initially offered fifty taels, then one hundred, before finally deciding on two hundred with a reluctant determination.

"You small households can't handle such a substantial business. Only our Li residence has the capability. Don't spoil a good recipe by holding onto it too tightly. Let me be frank, there are several prominent families aside from us who have their eyes on your divine food jars. Sell now while you can still get a good price, or risk having it forcibly taken away from you."

Before the steward's visit, he had dispatched spies to Upper Village, but the villagers there seemed possessed. They became guarded upon seeing outsiders, and when questioned about the canned food workshop, they turned red in the face, calling for help to capture the visitors, even fetching brooms as if preparing for a fight. After several hasty escapes, the steward abandoned his reconnaissance plan and decided to approach them personally with silver to buy the recipe.

Mrs. Chen and Aunt Mei were both furious, while the old lady appeared somewhat concerned. Hua Zhan's face was dark with anger, ready to pounce. Yet, Yu Lian politely saw the steward off, mentioning that she would visit Lady Li another day to discuss business.

Hua Sanduo's face flushed with anger. "Just a steward, yet such an arrogant tone! How dare he!"

Zhu Ying clenched his teeth. "I'll kill him tonight."

Yu Lian glanced at him with a smile. "Kill whom? He was sent by Lady Li, who herself answers to the head of the Li family. Do you intend to slaughter the entire Li household?"

Zhu Ying grunted, muttering softly that killing was no big deal. However, despite his thoughts, he knew it was impossible. He might act on impulse, but he couldn't afford to involve the young lady's family in the consequences.

Yu Lian tapped the tabletop nonchalantly, saying, "I had my suspicions earlier. When Lady Li goes out of her way to be overly kind, she's either up to no good or has an ulterior motive. What could a merchant's wife possibly desire from us? It must be about that jar. Now that she's revealed her intentions, we should treat her like a fattened pig that's walked right into the slaughterhouse."

Zhu Ying's eyes gleamed with excitement. "How do we 'slaughter' her?"

Yu Lian's eyes curved into a smile as she softly said, "Partnership." The meaning behind these two words was subtle, and others failed to grasp its true intent. They only perceived her as a cunning little fox that had stolen someone else's chick.