stingy landlady

Chapter 164 Annual Gift

As the year draws to a close, there's always a lot to do. Guizhi arranged for two pigs and several geese to be caught and sent home. She also had Dazhu arrange for them to be slaughtered and distributed as welfare to the farmhands. And she sent New Year's gifts to relatives and friends!

Guizhi thought for a long time before she specially sent blood sausage and pork ribs to the Qu family, and also caught a goose as a New Year's gift.

"Uncle Qu! I only used the fattest pigs to slaughter these blood sausages and ribs! The best ones will definitely be reserved for Uncle Qu and Mrs. Qu!"

I know Uncle Qu is wealthy and doesn't care about such a small gift. But the New Year is almost here, and Guizhi has received a lot of help from Uncle Qu this year! Please don't mind, it's Guizhi's heartfelt wish! It's a small gift but a big sentiment!

Mr. Qu was still very happy, and said with a smile:

"Good! Good! Guizhi, you're so thoughtful! This is already a very nice gift! But Guizhi, Uncle Qu has already prepared New Year's gifts and arranged for someone to put them in the car. You can take them back later."

Guizhi was a little anxious and at a loss, saying:

"Uncle Qu! I didn't mean to exchange pork for gifts! Uncle Qu! That's not right!"

Qu Dongjia looked at Guizhi earnestly and said:

"Guizhi! Many of our business partners exchange New Year's gifts! Guizhi, you're still young and don't understand that in business, reciprocity is essential for long-term success!"

"You got lucky today, by sheer coincidence. If you hadn't come, I would have already arranged for someone to deliver it to your home! Your arrival saves the staff the trouble of making a special trip!"

On her way home, Guizhi took a special look and saw only some fabrics and food. She felt a little relieved; this must be what Qu Dongjia had said—that everything had been prepared long ago! However, for Guizhi, it felt like she had learned another lesson, another new skill.

After bringing the New Year's gifts from the Qu family home, Guizhi asked Dazhu if they should give Manager Qu something as a gift.

"Guizhi! Manager Qu sent someone to deliver New Year's gifts yesterday, and Father returned a large goose and some pork! That's about all we have to offer!"

Li was muttering to Guizhi from the side:

"It's almost Chinese New Year, and Guixiang and Guihong aren't coming back to help out! The quilts at home need to be taken apart and washed, the house needs to be cleaned, and the ceiling needs to be swept!"

So much time has passed, and you haven't even thought of your mother! Your mother misses them terribly!

Guizhi smiled and comforted Li:

"Mother! I'll be going home in a couple of days! There's something I need to take care of over there! I'll have Chunlan and Zhou Qiong help me take apart and wash the bedding at home."

Aunt Zhou arranged for us sisters to do the auspicious and lucky things!

"With so many people in our family working, you can rest assured! Even our new clothes for the New Year are all ready over there! We'll just have to wait to dress up beautifully for the New Year!"

After speaking, Guizhi glanced at the jewelry Li was wearing, and sure enough, it was the set Guixiang had chosen. She chuckled to herself.

"Your father was generous. On the day he slaughtered the pig, he gave each of the farmhands five catties of meat, which amounted to dozens of catties! He also gave your grandfather the pig's head and tail, and cut off a lot of meat and fat! That's enough to make a lot of oil!"

Your dad said we'd all eat there during the New Year! We can't go empty-handed, we have to bring something, right? We have rice and flour at home, Guizhi! I saw they gave us a lot of fabric, how about we take two bolts? One bolt for your grandma, and one for your fourth aunt and second aunt to share, so they can each have half!

Guizhi asked curiously:

"Mother! You're finally willing to give Second Aunt some fabric?"

Li's face turned slightly red.

"It's been so long! Besides, what family doesn't have its disagreements? She's been behaving so well lately, always hanging around me. She's always helping me with this and that, otherwise I wouldn't pay any attention to her!"

Let her stink and stink all over the place! Hahaha!

After saying that, Li laughed to herself, as if she had just thought of something!

"Mom! Is there anything else we need to buy for the New Year?"

After thinking about it carefully, Li shook her head and said:

"There's nothing else to buy! This is already great! We have chickens, ducks, and geese! We'll buy a few big carp later! There must be fish on the table for the New Year! May there be abundance every year!"

We have all the clothes and jewelry we need. The New Year is just about having slightly better food and clothing than usual! We don't lack any of that, that's fine!

Guizhi still had a few things to buy: the ring she promised Dazhu. But there was still plenty of time.

"Dad! Take me to Huanghua Village! I won't be staying at home tonight. Please pick up my eldest and second sisters while you're at it. I'll wait for Uncle Xu Hong and the others to come down from the mountain, and then they'll take me home!"

Dazhu readily agreed, and in the carriage, he asked Guizhi:

"Guizhi! Lin Qian is back? Why did you specifically ask me to take you? Is something good happening?"

Guizhi looked at Dazhu and put on a stern face.

"Oh! My dad's a landlord now! He doesn't even care about picking up and dropping off his own daughter! Humph!"

Da Zhu laughed heartily:

"Guizhi! No one knows a daughter better than her father! Don't I know my daughter well? Hahaha? Tell me! What do you want your father to do this time?"

Guizhi couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing.

"Dad! Let's go buy a ring! A gold one?"

Dazhu shook his head hurriedly.

"No! Save the money for something else! There are so many of you! You should be more frugal! Eating and drinking are fine, but buying a ring? What kind of grown man wears jewelry in our village? It'll just make us a laughingstock!"

"Dad! I see Uncle Qu and Uncle Shopkeeper are both wearing rings! They look nice! Besides, I already promised you, so how about this, we buy two of the same kind, one for you and one for Grandpa, so that you and Grandpa can both wear rings, and no one can say anything?"

"Okay! I'll do as my daughter says! Just buy two silver ones!"

When choosing a ring, Dazhu listened attentively to the salesperson's introduction. He heard the salesperson pointing to a gold-set jade ring and describing it...

"This jade gourd symbolizes happiness, prosperity for descendants, and good health and longevity!"

He then pointed to the ring beside him and said:

"This is a jade bean, symbolizing many children and grandchildren! This one is a jade peach, also signifying good fortune and health..."

Dazhu stopped Xiao Er from continuing his introduction, pointing with his finger at the jadeite lucky beans and jadeite lucky gourds!

Dazhu said somewhat happily:

"Use these jadeite lucky beans and jadeite lucky gourds to wrap up these two rings!"

"Father! Try it on first!" Guizhi gestured for Dazhu to put it on!

Dazhu hesitated for a moment, then put on the jade bean ring and said to Guizhi:

"Give the jade gourd to your grandfather; it has a good meaning! Dad likes this jade bean!"

Guizhi looked closely at the ring on Dazhu's hand and said:

"Dad loves many children and grandchildren! Grandpa wishes for prosperous descendants and long life! Dad! You know how to choose a ring! Gold inlaid with jade! Not bad!"

We're packing and paying here. Guizhi is pressing down on the one in Dazhu's hand, indicating it doesn't need to be taken off.

"Dad! You'll get used to wearing it! Don't keep taking it off, or you'll easily forget where you put it! Just wear it like this!"

Dazhu was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "Many children and grandchildren! My wife and I are still young, we can have a few more boys in the future!"