A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

At first, it was a few neighboring families and aunts and older women who were related to the Chen family who came to visit, somewhat embarrassed, with red paper in hand.

"Wanxing, could you write one for my family too? We have many sons, and we're hoping for a prosperous family..."

"Wanxing, your aunt didn't ask you to write for nothing. This is freshly steamed jujube cake. Try it."

"Niece, could you write another 'May the livestock prosper' sign and stick it on the pigsty? My sow is about to give birth..."

But after they happily took the written couplets home, they couldn't help but bring it up when they visited each other.

"Hey, you guys didn't see it, but Wanxing's handwriting is better than those old scholars in Ping'an Town. Our gate will be bright and spacious this year. Tsk tsk, the Chen family is really lucky to have such a beautiful daughter."

"Who says otherwise? That girl is not only capable, but also has a very good temperament. I said I wanted someone who is safe and healthy, something simple would be fine, but she didn't mind the trouble and immediately came up with several auspicious phrases for me, such as 'May your happiness be as vast as the Eastern Sea' and 'May your longevity be as long as the Southern Mountain,' which sound very lucky."

Once this topic was raised, it truly spread throughout the village.

Later, the other villagers thought about it and realized that if they went to the town to ask for help, it would be freezing cold, and the line of people could stretch from one end of the street to the other. If they went a little late, it would take a whole day.

If someone in my own village can write it, and it's even my own niece, then why bother going to all that trouble and suffering?

So, starting from the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, the number of people coming to Chen Wanxing to write Spring Festival couplets suddenly increased. Most of them handed over red paper with simple expectations and a little bit of restraint.

Chen Wanxing did not refuse. The main hall of the Chen family was bustling with activity. On the long table in front of her, red paper was piled up, and the air was filled with the fragrance of ink.

She would patiently inquire about each family's situation and expectations, and then, after a moment's thought, she would write down her thoughts. For families with many children and grandchildren, she would write "May your family be blessed with prosperity and happiness," for those who were diligent and thrifty, she would write "May you have plenty to eat and drink," and for those who hoped for a good harvest, she would write "May the weather be favorable and the harvest plentiful."

She even wrote the inscription "A carpenter's square can make round objects, and a straight line can shape beams and pillars" for Chen Kun's family, the only carpenter in the village. He was delighted and repeatedly praised Chen Wanxing for her expertise.

Chen Wanxing wrote diligently, stopping to rest whenever his wrist ached. People came in droves to ask for his calligraphy, and the Chen family members also helped him by cutting the paper, drying it, and carefully rolling it up.

Grandma Chen and her mother kept greeting the villagers. Watching Chen Wanxing being surrounded by the villagers and thanking her, the smiles on their faces never disappeared. The satisfaction in their hearts was sweeter than honey.

Even Aunt Chen, in this atmosphere, unusually refrained from making sarcastic remarks, and sometimes even took the initiative to help greet the guests, after all, this prestigious matter fell on the shoulders of the Chen family.

Of course, everyone might have some petty things to worry about, but they're not exactly thick-skinned people and wouldn't do anything to bully others. Besides, Chen Yongde was watching, and he was quite surprised when he heard that Chen Wanxing could read and write.

It was already much more convenient not having to go to town. No one would dare to take advantage of Chen Wanxing, so most of those who came to ask for calligraphy did not come empty-handed. They mostly paid the same price as the old scholars in town.

"Niece Wanxing, I can't let you work for nothing. Here are ten copper coins for you." An old man with gray hair insisted on stuffing money into Chen Wanxing's hand. Grandma Chen sat next to Chen Wanxing and would introduce every villager who came by to Chen Wanxing. This old man was one of Chen Wanxing's distant cousins, so their kinship wasn't actually that far.

Chen Wanxing quickly declined, saying, "Uncle, this is too much. It's just a matter of writing. We're family, it would be awkward to talk about money. The red paper was brought by you, and I only contributed some ink. It's not worth it."

The old man insisted on giving it to him: "The ink costs money, doesn't it? You're a kind child, but we can't take advantage of you. If you don't accept it, I won't feel at ease keeping this couplet."

After several rounds of back and forth, Chen Wanxing realized she couldn't resist her elder's stubbornness and sincerity, so she had no choice but to compromise. She thought for a moment and said, "Since you insist on giving, then I'll shamelessly accept a little money for ink. It doesn't matter how much, as long as it's the token. I'll give three coins per household. It really is just for ink. If it's any more, I really can't accept it, otherwise it would be a slap in my face."

She spoke sincerely; three coins was practically free for a pair of Spring Festival couplets, and the villagers were even more touched.

The copper coins, each still warm from the villagers' touch, were casually placed by Chen Wanxing into a nearby earthenware jar, where they jingled.

Chen Wanxing only asked for three coins, so some villagers who felt that three coins was not enough to give felt even more guilty.

So, people would often bring something to the Chen family's courtyard: a bunch of garlic sprouts still covered in mud, homemade roasted peanuts, and even half a basket of carefully selected, uniformly sized sweet potatoes.

The items weren't expensive, but they were all things that a farmer could offer, and they came with sincerity. These things made Chen Wanxing feel better than the dozens of copper coins in the pottery jar.

New Year's Eve finally arrived amidst everyone's busy preparations in Xiahe Village. Although the family had now separated, Grandma Chen's words still carried the highest authority in the Chen family.

"Dividing the kitchen is a way of life, but it's the first New Year since Wanxing came back. It's not good to not eat the New Year's Eve dinner together. I'm not at ease with that. From New Year's Eve until the second day of the Lunar New Year, the three of us will eat the same meals as before."

When everyone heard Grandma Chen say this, they naturally had no objections.

On New Year's Eve, at the end of the Yin hour (3-5 AM), the sky was still a thick, dark blue, and the moon was still faintly visible in the sky.

There was a rustling sound in Xiahe Village. The men of the Chen family, including Father Chen, Second Uncle Chen, Third Uncle Chen, along with the half-grown Chen Yanbao, Chen Yangui, and even Chen Youcong, all silently got up and dressed.

Chen Youcong was carefully wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat by his elder brother and held in his arms. They were going to the ancestral graves to invite the ancestors home for the New Year, and all the men in the family, young and old, had to go.

The women stayed at home, where the fire in the stove was already lit, its red light illuminating the busy figures of Chen's mother, Chen's second aunt, Chen's third aunt, and Hui Niang.

Thick millet porridge simmered in a large pot, the aroma of rice mingling with the smell of firewood, gradually dispelling the chill of the morning. Extra porridge was deliberately cooked, with a bowl of thick porridge reserved. Once cooled, it would become the best natural paste for pasting Spring Festival couplets.

Chen Wanxing was still a little lazy, but Qinghui's excitement kept her out of bed. "Sis, everyone's up, you should get up too! It's New Year's Eve today! We'll have something delicious for lunch and white flour dumplings for dinner."