Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 92 - 90: New Year’s Gift

Constable Zhang and his party went directly to Shenji Grocery Store in the town to settle accounts with Shen Chengguang after apologizing.

Shen Chengguang was just about to close the shop when he saw Constable Zhang coming. He hurriedly welcomed him with joy, "Brother Zhang, I was just about to close the shop and look for you. Did you get the silver?"

"Don’t be ridiculous!" Constable Zhang spat, "I say, Shen Chengguang, you’ve really screwed me over this time, do you know that?"

It was then that Shen Chengguang noticed that Constable Zhang’s face didn’t look good, no, it was downright grim, there was no worse! freēwēbnovel.com

"Brother Zhang, what’s wrong, isn’t my third brother willing to give the silver?" Shen Chengguang asked cautiously.

"Shen Chengguang, are you really oblivious, or are you pretending to be? Your little brother has some serious back-up, my brother-in-law can’t even dare to say who it is! He only told me to hurry up and apologize! I don’t even know whether my job as a constable is still secure, let alone whether my brother-in-law will lose his official position! And you still want silver! You are dreaming!"

"My brother has someone backing him?" Who could it be, could it be Young Master Shangguan?

"He barely set foot in there before someone came to his rescue. I had just eaten and was returning to the Government Office, before I could say anything, I had to grovel and apologize! You’ve brought a whole swarm of ants onto me! I’m completely swamped with troubles!"

Constable Zhang rolled up his sleeves, "Shen Chengguang, you’re driving me to my ruin. If it weren’t for my brother-in-law saying he’ll only fine you a little bit of silver, I really want to..." Constable Zhang raised his solid fist and shook it in front of Shen Chengguang, scaring Shen Chengguang to kneel down covering his head.

"Brother Zhang, spare me! I did not falsely report, they do indeed have that book."

When he mentioned this, Constable Zhang erupted in fury! The anger was rolling in his belly, and eventually spit it out, spraying Shen Chengguang’s face and mouth with saliva.

"You blockhead, how did your son qualify as a student, is ’Can only be obtained from the Imperial Court’ what it means? It’s going to be the death of me!"

"I can’t be bothered to argue with you, get the silver ready, 200 taels, this is compensation for false reporting and obstructing official business!"

"Two hundred taels...where am I supposed to get that much silver from."

"Not there, you still want to deceive me! Fine, if it’s not there! Let’s chop off your hands, one hundred taels per hand, consider that I’m being generous! Guards!"

"No, no, no...Brother Zhang, I’ll gather it right away." Shen Chengguang treadled and crawled back to the backyard of the grocery store.

"Damn, what sort of person! If it weren’t for his lucky younger brother, I would have thrown him in jail, let him sit there for ten or eight years!"

Shen Chengguang returned to the backyard and immediately asked Mrs. Lan to bring out two hundred taels of silver.

"Husband, what do you need so much silver for?"

"Constable Zhang said that I obstructed official business and demands two hundred taels of silver as compensation. Quickly bring out the silver." Shen Chengguang, obese as he was, was panting heavily from running a short distance.

Mrs. Lan did not move, "What do you mean obstructing official business? What on earth happened?"

"Get the silver quickly. There’s someone backing our brother’s house, they’ve gotten him out, and now it seems like they’re turning on us!"

"What! This is your brother? He’s capable of doing such things? Two hundred taels of silver, we’ve been saving it for several years, no, I will not give out this silver!" When Mrs. Lan heard this, she fiercely got angry! This silver is to be compensated to her brother-in-law, why should she? She would not give it out no matter what.

"Get it quickly, Constable Zhang is demanding it now. If I don’t get it, he will chop off my hands. Hurry! Up!" Shen Chengguang was so anxious that he was almost jumping up, his last two words were shouted at Mrs. Lan.

Mrs. Lan jumped, clapping her chest, "Why are you shouting so loudly! It scared me!"

"Where are the keys? Give them to me, I’ll get it myself!" Shen Chengguang directly started searching Mrs. Lan for the keys.

Mrs. Lan slapped his hand away, "I will get it, alright!"

I was blindsided back then, how could I choose such a man? He gets scared out of his wits when faced with a little trouble!

After Mrs. Lan gave Shen Chengguang the silver, she looked at their severely reduced assets, two hundred taels of silver! It broke her heart. No, she had to get it back from her brother-in-law’s family!

The next day, as soon as dawn broke, Xiao Fuzi set off for the Imperial Capital with a cart full of New Year gifts.

For Shangguan Xuanyi, Xiao’er prepared New Year gifts which included: two jars of wine, two jars of apple vinegar, a box of tea produced from her own space, which she personally roasted in there. Additionally, there was a basket full of apples, a basket full of snow pears, a bag of dried fruit, a bag of preserved fruit, a bag of rice, a bag of flour, a big jar of pork jerky, and a bottle of homemade essential medicine prepared from the Ashoka tree in her space. There was also a swan feather down quilt and a pair of down gloves.

The New Year gift for Di Zhaowei was the same, except it lacked one swan-feather down quilt. Not that Xiao’er didn’t want to give one, it’s just that both geese shed too little feathers.

Bai Tian and Tian Bai both complained that their owner was too heartless; they had been shedding feathers like crazy recently for her sake!

Xiao’er checked the New Year gifts that Shangguan Xuanyi and Di Zhaowei had given her and registered each one carefully.

Shangguan Xuanyi’s gifts included top-quality blood bird’s nest, shark fins, two abalones, a box of deer velvet, a hundred-year-old wild ginseng, a red fox fur cloak, a pair of deer leather boots, a white fox fur cloak, several bolts of cloth, some silk flowers, a pair of small gold bracelets and a set of the latest fashionable head ornaments from the Imperial Capital. He also gave four sets of bows and arrows.

These were very thoughtful, considering everyone. But what surprised Xiao’er the most was a letter – an invitation from the head of Juxian Academy, and an academy pass!

Di Zhaowei’s gifts included the same combination of rare delicacies and tonic herbs, fabric, furs and the like. Additionally, there were some popular trinkets and fresh foods from the Imperial Capital, along with several rare books, some other books, and some new seeds.

Comparing their New Year’s gifts, Xiao’er felt what she gave seemed somewhat humble, but since her items came from her space and couldn’t be bought outside, she comforted herself.

Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace

Shangguan Xuanyi was busy in his study when Xiao Fuzi, carrying a plate of sliced fruit, arrived outside to see him, "Master, I have returned."

"Come in!" Shangguan Xuanyi continued signing documents.

Xiao Fuzi bowed to Shangguan Xuanyi, then set the fruit platter down, "Master, these fruits were sent by Miss Xiao’er. This is the gift list for the New Year gifts she gave to you."

Xiao’er also gave him a basket full of apples and pears, which he had already tasted on his way back. They were simply more delicious than tribute-quality fruits. Those apples were all the same size - big and red, with a strong fruity aroma, crisp and sweet! Those snow pears were shiny yellow, refreshing, sweet, and juicy. After eating one, he wanted another, causing him to eat several pieces of fruit, and made him keep searching for a restroom along the way!

Shangguan Xuanyi took a bite of an apple slice with a silver pick, then started to eat one piece after another.

The gifts from that girl were indeed extraordinary, even the apples tasted better than the imperial tribute. As he looked at the gift list, he ordered, "Later, distribute a basket of the fruits that girl has sent, to the Empress Dowager, Emperor, Queen, Second Prince, Fourth Prince, Sixth Prince, and the Princess."

"Yes," Xiao Fuzi respectfully answered.

Looking at the gift list in his hand, Shangguan Xuanyi felt this was the first time he had received such a grassroots New Year gift.

Xiao Fuzi brought out a bottle and some gloves from his bosom, "Miss Xiao’er said this is the essential tiger balm, indispensable for home and travel. And the master should use it sparingly. For serious injuries, eat the green one, for heavy illness, eat the yellow one, and for severe poison, eat the white one."

Shangguan Xuanyi opened the white porcelain bottle. Inside lay quietly three differently-colored pills, and a unique fragrance wafted up, revitalizing the spirit. He thought of the burn treatment medicine that the girl had provided last time. It was so rare and precious that money couldn’t buy it.

"Miss Xiao’er also said that the Imperial Capital is in the north and the weather must be very cold. That quilt is made of swan feathers and is very warm. And those gloves prevent your hands from freezing when you ride a horse."

"That girl is thoughtful. Include a portion of the food she sent in my meals every day." Shangguan Xuanyi’s facial expression softened significantly.

"Yes." The rice from Miss Xiao’er’s home tasted so good that it was satisfying even to eat the rice alone. Xiao Fuzi salivated as he recalled the hotpot meal.

Seeing their master in such a good mood, Xiao Fuzi hesitated about whether to tell him about the arrest of Miss Xiao’er’s family.

"Speak your mind!" Shangguan Xuanyi saw Xiao Fuzi’s hesitation and ordered him to speak.

"Yes, just when I arrived at Miss Xiao’er’s house, they were just being arrested and taken to jail!"

"Tell me, what happened?" Shangguan Xuanyi was enraged, his facial expression became instantly severe. Wasn’t it agreed to secretly look after their family? How could they have been arrested?

Xiao Fuzi narrated the events in detail from beginning to end.

"Tell Doctor Luo, if there’s a next time, he’ll answer with his head! You can go now!"

Shangguan Xuanyi clutched the gloves in his hand, walked to the window, and looked in a certain direction. You’re willing to endure, but I can’t bear it.