I bring bad luck to my husband, you bring bad luck to your wife.

Xiangxi's due date was in the first month of the lunar calendar. As the year drew to a close, Yang's mother finally found a suitable wet nurse for Xiangxi's child.

It wasn't the one I wanted to see before; it was recommended by Niu Sanli, a rural woman who had just given birth.

Her surname is Meng, and Xiangxi calls her Sister Meng.

She had already given birth to four children, and with so many children, she couldn't afford to eat, so she started working as a wet nurse.

Yang's mother showed the person to Xiangxi and Yang Tongchuan, and they felt that he was good and had experience in taking care of children.

A typical wet nurse could earn 300 coins a month, which was more than a maid.

Yang Tongchuan gave her an extra fifty coins, and Sister Meng expressed her gratitude and loyalty.

The reason they were able to give more was because Xiangxi insisted that she wouldn't need a wet nurse after her confinement period and would take care of the baby herself.

Xiang Qiang also helped pick out a ewe that was about to give birth and tied it up behind the yard a while ago.

Yang Tongchuan offered to give Xiang Qiang the money to buy the sheep, but Xiang Qiang refused.

"Life was tough before, and I felt bad for Xige. Now that things are a little better, I, as his older brother, want to do something for him."

"Brother, please don't say that. Xiangxi has never thought that way. By the way, didn't you say you wanted to move a house a while ago? How's it going?"

"The old house at home won't fetch much money, and the shops with front stores and back yards at the market aren't cheap either. I plan to borrow some money from a money exchange and pay it back slowly."

"That's one way. I'll have my brother help you find a money exchange with reasonable interest rates, maybe a lower one."

"Okay, okay, I'll have to trouble you then."

Xiang Qiang felt that ever since Xiang Xi married into the Yang family, with the help of her family, life had been too smooth.

Everything is ready now.

We're just waiting for the New Year.

That day, Yang Tongchuan was on duty at the yamen when he was summoned in by Constable Wang, who told him something important.

"I don't plan to do this after the New Year."

"What are you doing? With so many brothers, things will fall apart without you."

"Don't flatter me. Our county magistrate is leaving office next year, probably to be promoted. We don't know what the new magistrate will be like. I'm just giving you a heads-up."

Over the years, Constable Wang has embezzled a considerable amount, but most of it has been given as tribute to the county magistrate and county commandant.

Once the county magistrate's term is over and he is promoted, it will be fine if the county lieutenant can also be promoted. However, if he cannot, the new county magistrate may not be so easy to serve.

"Tongchuan, although you are young, you are smart and hardworking. I have recommended you to the county magistrate, but whether it will be successful in the end is beyond my control."

If Yang Tongchuan didn't show any appreciation after Officer Wang had said all that, he would be considered unreasonable.

That evening, they packed a large gift and delivered it to the Wang family and the county magistrate's family.

The luggage inside the Wang family's house has been almost completely packed.

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"This house has already been sold. We'll move out after the Lunar New Year."

Where will you be working in the future?

Officer Wang paused noticeably before speaking.

"Go and find a job with Chief Escort Lin."

Yang Tongchuan understood. In the case of Lin Yujun's murder of her husband, Constable Wang must have done something behind the scenes.

That's why I was in such a hurry to run.

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year in northern China.

On this day, people traditionally eat dumplings, as a way of sending off the Kitchen God.

As dawn broke, Yang's mother was busy in the kitchen worshipping the Kitchen God.

Everyone got up.

The statue of the Kitchen God was polished until it shone brightly by the swallows.

"Today is the day the Kitchen God goes to Heaven to report back, so we must ask him to put in a good word for our family." Mother Yang respectfully arranged the offerings one by one.

Yang Tongchuan pasted a red note next to the image of the Kitchen God. On the note was a handwritten note from Yang's father: "Speak good words in Heaven, and protect peace on Earth."

[Gods don't have time to concern themselves with mortal affairs.] Yang Tongchuan thought to himself, but dared not say it aloud, nor did he dare stop working.

The eldest brother, Yang Tongshan, went to another city to collect goods with the boss and won't be back until tonight at the earliest.

Yang Tongchuan did all the housework today.

Xiangxi watched him and smiled, while also finding out the brooms they would use for sweeping later.

"Don't climb high places to sweep the dust today. If you can't finish it, leave it for me to finish when I get back from my shift tomorrow, or wait for your older brother to come back." Yang Tongchuan has been very busy lately. With the New Year approaching, the yamen has increased the intensity of night patrols.

Yang Tongchuan often doesn't return until late at night.

"I understand, don't worry." Xiangxi handed two boiled eggs to Yang Tongchuan.

"Hurry up, you're going to be late."

"Okay, I'm leaving now. There are a lot of people on the streets today, so don't go out and get bumped into again." Yang Tongchuan didn't have time for breakfast. After telling his sweetheart to stay home, he left. He had two eggs in his pocket.

The eldest sister-in-law, Mingle, was washing and taking apart the bedding with Yanzi in the yard.

Seeing Xiangxi and Yang Tongchuan being all lovey-dovey so early in the morning, the two of them laughed.

After breakfast, everyone started dividing up the tasks.

Xiangxi mainly involves wiping out the furniture in the main room.

This is what the doctor told him: it's good to move around more before giving birth, as it will make childbirth easier.

In the evening, Xiangxi made dumplings with Yang's mother in the kitchen.

I chose cabbage and pork filling for the dumplings, and my family loves them.

"I don't know if Tongshan will be able to make it back tonight."

"It should be fine. He's been gone for seven or eight days already. Even his employer has to go home for the holiday today."

"I hope so." Yang's mother has had a lot more gray hair lately.

A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles; Yang's mother had many things on her mind.

On one hand, she was worried about whether her eldest son was doing well at work, and on the other hand, she was concerned about her younger sister's previous exile.

Before her aunt was exiled, Yang's mother went to visit her, only to be severely scolded by her aunt.

I was so angry when I got back that I lay in bed and took medicine for three days.

With Xiangxi and Mingle taking turns serving him, he gradually began to recover.

Fortunately, while they were making dumplings, there was a commotion at the door; Yang Tongshan had returned.

I also brought a lot of New Year's goods.

The most excited person in the family was Mingle, because Yang Tongshan had gone to the countryside with his employer to collect things.

Poor and desolate places breed unruly people. The group went down with cash in hand, and Ming Le was on tenterhooks for several days.

"I hope everything goes smoothly." Ming Le looked at Yang Tongshan's shoes, which were covered in mud.

"Yes, everything went smoothly." Yang Tongshan only reported the good news and stuffed the pastries he bought for Ming Le into her arms.

"It's good that you're back. The timing is perfect. Get ready, we'll have dumplings for dinner." When Yang's mother saw that Yang Tongshan had returned unharmed, her smile became much more genuine.

Xiangxi and Yanzi took the New Year's goods to the main room. How to deal with these things was up to Yang's mother to decide.

Mr. Yang didn't go out today; he stayed home sweeping dust.

When the sun set, Yang Tongchuan returned, and his mother personally cooked the first pot of dumplings.

"First, pay respects to the ancestors, then send off the Kitchen God." Mother Yang offered the first plate of dumplings.

Then Xiangxi brought the remaining dumplings, plate by plate, to the table.

The family sat around the table, and Mr. Yang, holding up his cup, began to give a "speech."

Yang Tongchuan was bored, so he started touching Xiangxi's hand under the table.

Xiangxi was tickled by him and dared not move.