Chapter 77

The entire Wang Family Village was surnamed Wang, with almost no outsiders. Wang Xian, looking at the size of the village, estimated that it had more than a hundred households. However, in the household register of the eighth year of Yongle, Wang Family Village had only fifty-three households, meaning at least half were unregistered.

This was the chaos of the household registration system under the Ming Dynasty's tax system, Wang Xian sighed inwardly. It wasn't until his father finished the lengthy sacrificial text that Uncle Three, who was serving as the master of ceremonies, said hoarsely, "Play the music!" Then several elderly clan members played the sheng, xun, yue, and xiao, producing solemn and elegant music.

Hearing the music, Wang Xian finally came to his senses. He was now inside the Wang Family Ancestral Hall. At dusk, all the male members of the clan gathered here to worship their ancestors. This year's main sacrificer was Wang Xingye, which had been decided long ago. So Wang Xian had wrongly blamed his father; he was wearing official attire to show solemnity, although... given his father's character, there was also a component of showing off.

In the music, Uncle Three hoarsely directed, "Kneel. Light the incense. Pour the ground. Bow, rise; bow, rise; bow, rise; bow, rise. Return to your positions..."

After four bows to the ancestors, Uncle Three said, "Stop the music."

Then more offerings were presented, and more bows were made, leaving Wang Xian dizzy and brain-fogged, wishing the ceremony would end quickly.

However, not every family was so complicated. The key was that the Wang Family was a branch of the Langya Wang clan, the same Wang clan mentioned in the poem "The swallows that once nested in the halls of the Wang and Xie now fly into the homes of commoners." Although they were now just ordinary commoners, they still adhered to the ancient rituals passed down for thousands of years.

Unlike the current noble families, who served fish, meat, and bowls of dishes in high bowls, the Wang clan followed the ancient order of presenting rice, tea, silk, wine, food boxes, sacrificial meat, and blessings... completely adhering to the dining etiquette of the ancient aristocracy. In comparison, those noble families seemed a bit like nouveau riche.

However, Wang Xian would rather be a nouveau riche... what good was being a descendant of the Langya Wang clan? This wasn't the Wei or Jin dynasties; he still had to struggle hard to rise from the mire.

Finally, the ancestral worship ended. Uncle Three distributed the offerings to the clan members, and then everyone went to the courtyard to have the New Year's Eve dinner.

The New Year's Eve dinner in Wang Family Village was quite unique, with over five hundred clan members eating together. The wide courtyard, used for drying grain, was filled with fifty tables, each lit by several thick red candles, illuminating the entire courtyard.

While the ancestral worship was taking place, the women had already set out the cold dishes. After the men were seated, steaming hot dishes were brought out one by one. The New Year's Eve dinner was not only abundant but also auspicious... a tray of pig intestines was called "Smooth Sailing"; a bowl of fish balls and meat balls was called "Family Reunion"; braised meat with fish head was called "Hopeful"; spring pancakes with shredded meat were called "Gold Wrapped in Silver"... even ordinary vegetables had auspicious names, such as soybean sprouts called "Wishful Vegetables"; peanuts called "Longevity Fruit"; and a mix of yellow lotus root, lotus root, water chestnuts, and red dates called "Prosperity"... because in Fuyang dialect, "lotus root" sounds like "prosperity," and the shape of the yellow lotus root resembles a gold ingot, combining sound and shape to mean "prosperity."

In short, it was all to bring good luck for the coming year, hoping for great fortune and wealth.

The banquet hadn't been going on long when the clan members began toasting. Wang Xian followed Wang Gui, toasting the elders one by one. The elders, seeing Wang Xian, would warmly hold his hand and say, "I've always said this child is extraordinary, but you didn't believe me at the time. Now what? He's become the god of wealth for Fuyang County. Come, god of wealth, have a drink with me, and in the future, give a hand to your unworthy cousin."

Each elder said something similar, but it was puzzling that none of the "non-believers" appeared.

Fortunately, thanks to his father, Wang Xian's seniority was relatively high, and he completed his task after a while. However, he didn't dare return to his seat because many of his peers and juniors were waiting to toast him. Wang Xian was already feeling the effects of the alcohol and feared he would pass out if he let them continue.

He patted Wang Gui's shoulder and said, "I need to go to the bathroom."

"Okay," Wang Gui said, "I'll go with you."

"No need, you go back first. It wouldn't look good if we both left," Wang Xian said, leaving his brother behind. He deliberately walked halfway across the courtyard, circled around to Lin Qing'er's seat, and cleared his throat before leaving the courtyard, staring at the dark sky.

After a long while, a gentle breeze brought a faint scent of chrysanthemums. Wang Xian turned his head and saw Lin Qing'er, her face flushed, standing beside him.

Looking at her worried expression, Wang Xian said softly, "During the holidays, one misses family even more. Sister, are you thinking of your mother-in-law and brother-in-law?"

The first half of the sentence touched Lin Qing'er's heart, almost making her cry, but the second half made her laugh and cry at the same time. She glared at him, "Don't call me that."

"Hehe," Wang Xian, taking advantage of the situation, wrapped his arm around her waist and said with a grin, "Am I wrong, my lady?"

"Let go..." Lin Qing'er, both nervous and shy, struggled a few times. Hearing the word "my lady," her heart was filled with sweetness, and she lost her resistance.

Wang Xian obediently let go, and Lin Qing'er almost fell to the ground, feeling empty inside. She looked up with a pained expression, only to be tightly embraced by Wang Xian again.

"Annoying, you just like to tease me!" Lin Qing'er, her hands on his chest, her eyes watery and bright, her gaze filled with a mix of anger and affection...

Wang Xian, entranced, said softly, "Sister, you are truly beautiful..."

"Nonsense," Lin Qing'er, blushing, lowered her head, "It's so dark..."

Her intention was that it was too dark to see anything, but Wang Xian took it as a hint. He slowly extended his hand, his index finger hooking her porcelain-like chin, gently lifting her delicate and graceful face.

"Your every frown and smile are deeply etched in my heart, no need to see with my eyes," Wang Xian's sweet words, though cliché in the future, were bold and unrestrained in the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, invincible.

Lin Qing'er, who had long considered herself his, felt her heart melt at Wang Xian's passionate words. She closed her eyes with a soft moan, tightly gripping his shirt.

Seeing her in a state of surrender, Wang Xian didn't hesitate, lowering his head to kiss her lips...

An electric sensation spread through both of their bodies. Lin Qing'er, tense and trembling, her teeth chattering, almost bit Wang Xian's tongue.

Wang Xian, however, was not deterred but rather delighted. This was a precious first kiss for a girl. He gently caressed her back, his tongue no longer aggressively exploring but gently kissing her lips and teeth, patiently guiding her to savor the beauty of her first kiss.

Under Wang Xian's patient guidance, Lin Qing'er gradually relaxed, though still slightly trembling. She loosened her teeth, timidly allowing this rogue to invade, taste, and soothe her, gradually becoming intoxicated, soft, and moist...

As they became lost in passion, Lin Qing'er was about to learn to respond when a voice called out, getting closer, "Uncle Two, Uncle Two..."

After a moment of shock, Lin Qing'er, like a frightened deer, sprang up, fumbling in the dark to tidy her disheveled hair, hairpins, and dress, too shy to look up.

"Sister, what I really wanted to say," Wang Xian remembered his purpose for coming out, "is that I will spend every New Year with you, no matter where we are, no matter how old we are."

"Um," Lin Qing'er, hearing this, her eyes welled with tears of joy. A marriage that was once filled with resignation had blossomed into a field of beauty, how could she not be overwhelmed with joy?

Though she didn't have the courage to look up, Lin Qing'er extended her small hand, grabbed his large hand, and placed something in his hand, whispering, "Don't think it's ugly..."

By feel, Wang Xian guessed it was a sachet. The person looking for them was already close, so he quickly put it in his pocket.

The New Year's Eve dinner was a slow affair, lasting until late at night, then switching to dried and fresh fruits. Men, women, and children forced themselves to stay awake, staying up to welcome the New Year.

However, Wang Xian was an exception. After returning, he was indeed drunk. When he woke up, it was already the morning of New Year's Day. After eating a bowl of tangyuan, he was pulled by Wang Gui to bow and greet the elders, receiving many red envelopes.

However, the downside of being a senior was that for every red envelope he received, he had to give out ten... Fortunately, there were treasure notes! These worthless bills were perfect for New Year's money, both impressive and cost-effective.

After a round, the brothers distributed over 200 guan of treasure notes, equivalent to more than four taels of silver, making Wang Xian quite pained, while Wang Gui laughed happily, "Last year, Mother came back empty-handed, eating and drinking for free, and we got many cold looks. This year, we've earned back our dignity."

"Turns out Big Brother has a sense of vanity," Wang Xian laughed.

"Face is everything in life. Before, we had no choice," Wang Gui, since becoming the master, spoke much more refinedly, "Mother often says that in private, face is nothing. But in fact, she used to say that one shouldn't lose face, and one shouldn't lose substance..."

"Um," Wang Xian thought of his mother, who was surrounded by a group of aunts and grandmothers, receiving endless flattery, and couldn't help but laugh, "Mother must be very pleased."

---

The New Year's Eve dinner was to be enjoyed slowly, lasting until late at night, then switching to dried and fresh fruits. Men, women, and children forced themselves to stay awake, staying up to welcome the New Year.

However, Wang Xian was an exception. After returning, he was indeed drunk. When he woke up, it was already the morning of New Year's Day. After eating a bowl of tangyuan, he was pulled by Wang Gui to bow and greet the elders, receiving many red envelopes.

However, the downside of being a senior was that for every red envelope he received, he had to give out ten... Fortunately, there were treasure notes! These worthless bills were perfect for New Year's money, both impressive and cost-effective.

After a round, the brothers distributed over 200 guan of treasure notes, equivalent to more than four taels of silver, making Wang Xian quite pained, while Wang Gui laughed happily, "Last year, Mother came back empty-handed, eating and drinking for free, and we got many cold looks. This year, we've earned back our dignity."

"Turns out Big Brother has a sense of vanity," Wang Xian laughed.

"Face is everything in life. Before, we had no choice," Wang Gui, since becoming the master, spoke much more refinedly, "Mother often says that in private, face is nothing. But in fact, she used to say that one shouldn't lose face, and one shouldn't lose substance..."

"Um," Wang Xian thought of his mother, who was surrounded by a group of aunts and grandmothers, receiving endless flattery, and couldn't help but laugh, "Mother must be very pleased."

---

The New Year's Eve dinner was to be enjoyed slowly, lasting until late at night, then switching to dried and fresh fruits. Men, women, and children forced themselves to stay awake, staying up to welcome the New Year.

However, Wang Xian was an exception. After returning, he was indeed drunk. When he woke up, it was already the morning of New Year's Day. After eating a bowl of tangyuan, he was pulled by Wang Gui to bow and greet the elders, receiving many red envelopes.

However, the downside of being a senior was that for every red envelope he received, he had to give out ten... Fortunately, there were treasure notes! These worthless bills were perfect for New Year's money, both impressive and cost-effective.

After a round, the brothers distributed over 200 guan of treasure notes, equivalent to more than four taels of silver, making Wang Xian quite pained, while Wang Gui laughed happily, "Last year, Mother came back empty-handed, eating and drinking for free, and we got many cold looks. This year, we've earned back our dignity."

"Turns out Big Brother has a sense of vanity," Wang Xian laughed.

"Face is everything in life. Before, we had no choice," Wang Gui, since becoming the master, spoke much more refinedly, "Mother often says that in private, face is nothing. But in fact, she used to say that one shouldn't lose face, and one shouldn't lose substance..."

"Um," Wang Xian thought of his mother, who was surrounded by a group of aunts and grandmothers, receiving endless flattery, and couldn't help but laugh, "Mother must be very pleased."

---

The New Year's Eve dinner was to be enjoyed slowly, lasting until late at night, then switching to dried and fresh fruits. Men, women, and children forced themselves to stay awake, staying up to welcome the New Year.

However, Wang Xian was an exception. After returning, he was indeed drunk. When he woke up, it was already the morning of New Year's Day. After eating a bowl of tangyuan, he was pulled by Wang Gui to bow and greet the elders, receiving many red envelopes.

However, the downside of being a senior was that for every red envelope he received, he had to give out ten... Fortunately, there were treasure notes! These worthless bills were perfect for New Year's money, both impressive and cost-effective.

After a round, the brothers distributed over 200 guan of treasure notes, equivalent to more than four taels of silver, making Wang Xian quite pained, while Wang Gui laughed happily, "Last year, Mother came back empty-handed, eating and drinking for free, and we got many cold looks. This year, we