Chapter 26: Family Letter

The twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month.

Offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, also known as Minor New Year.

Lanyang Prefecture City was already brimming with New Year cheer, but Prince Lanyangs Estate, having suffered two major mourning events in one month, dared not show any celebratory signs publicly.

At noon that day, a package was delivered to the Estate by the post service running between Central Heaven and Lanyang Prefecture.

The recipient was Ding Suian.

Before opening it, he already guessed who sent it.

Inside the package were several snacks: Fried Rice Strips, Gorgon Fruit Cake, and Osmanthus Preserves. These were all treats Ding Suian loved as a child.

However, he only tasted a few of each, and the rest were plundered by the hungry devils led by Chest Hair.

Besides the snacks, there was a set of undergarments, including a close-fitting singlet, underpants, and cloth socks.

The stitches along the seams were crooked, yet they were sewn densely in several layers.

What slightly broke Ding Suian’s composure was that the underpants were actually crotchless.

At the bottom of the package was a letter.

‘My son Sui’an, seeing this word is like meeting you face to face.

My son left home for duty, and two months have passed in a flash. With the New Year approaching, I sit alone in the courtyard, recalling the sound of your childhood reading, as if it were yesterday.’

Old Ding, who wanted to show off his literary skill, must have learned these two pretentious phrases from someone.

But the plain language that followed exposed his true level.

‘I heard that last month you nearly fought someone while protecting the Princess Consort of Lanyang! What did Dad tell you when you were at home? Even if it’s your duty, don’t stick your neck out for everything. Safety first!’

‘When Dad got off duty yesterday, he passed by Maidiao Zhai and bought some snacks, all your favorites, and sent them to you. Do you remember Maidiao Zhai on Shuyuan Street? The one you used to drool over every time you passed by as a child. Remember to share some with your comrades-in-arms. You are young, and as their superior, you need to act righteously, or it will be hard to gain their respect. But don’t give everything away; secretly hide some for yourself to eat when you get hungry at night.’

Ding Suian smiled unconsciously.

‘Dad took the time to sew you a set of undergarments. I don’t know how big your *jiujiu* is now, so I made the underpants crotchless so they wouldn’t squeeze you too tightly.’

‘Oh, right, Ruan Ruan came back from Xuanji Palace last month to visit relatives and specifically came to see me (actually, she came looking for you). She was quite disappointed to learn you went to Lanyang City. Son, Dad is telling you, Ruan Ruan has blossomed into a beauty—she looks incredibly charming now. Do you two have that intention? Anyway, Dad thinks Ruan Ruan does. If you do, Dad will go sound out Ruan Guofan.’

‘Son, Dad has saved up a sum of money, which should be enough to rebuild the old house. Once the new house is built, you can marry a wife. Seeking fame and status has no end; marrying early and having children is the Righteous Path.’

Old Ding was still so long-winded.

That afternoon, Ding Suian hunched over his desk and first wrote a reply to his old man, then continued to write furiously, dedicated to promoting the spread of Proliferative Literature in Great Wu.

In his previous life, he grew up with his grandfather, who was a professor in the Chinese Department of a normal university.

To cultivate the traditional Huaxia scholar he envisioned, the old man half-forced and half-coaxed Ding Suian to study zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting to cultivate his character.

Ding Suian studied for more than ten years, mastering none but dabbling in all. His character didn’t seem to have been cultivated, but he secretly read the books the old man hid at the bottom of the bookshelf—*Ping Mei*, *Putuan*, and *Feihua Yanxiang*—over and over again.

If not reciting them backward, he certainly knew them inside and out.

As he grew older, Ding Suian opened a magical door called the Internet. The massive amount of instructional videos and direct, crude visual stimulation quickly overshadowed classical Proliferative Literature, which he soon discarded like worn-out shoes.

Who would have thought that in the world of Great Wu, it would once again have a potential use?

Thank his former diligent self.

Thank my grandpa.

During the Shen Hour, Granny Zhang suddenly brought a set of new clothes to Diying Garden.

What was going on today?

New clothes, one set after another.

“For me?” Ding Suian looked surprised.

“Yes. Squad Leader Ding, please try it on. If it doesn’t fit, this old woman will take it back and have the embroiderer alter it.” Granny Zhang then added a small explanation, “In the past couple of days, we have important guests visiting the Estate—the Princess Consort’s maternal family.”

The way she spoke made it sound as if Ding Suian were the Lin Family’s prospective son-in-law.

The Princess Consort’s older sister gifted him a knife and bestowed a Medicinal Pill, and now she even sent new clothes for the New Year…

How could a dignified man, seven feet tall, repeatedly accept charity?

A moment later, Ding Suian, having changed into the new clothes in the inner room, walked out.

A moon-white long gown, woven with auspicious cloud patterns, was light but tightly woven.

It was lined with a half-inch layer of short white fleece, making it very warm.

The sky-blue sash was woven from eight strands of silk ribbon, inlaid in the center with a Chi-Tiger Patterned Jade.

The shoes were a pair of brocade slippers, with toes curled like rolling clouds, lined with camel fleece.

Fully dressed, Ding Suian twisted around in front of the mirror. He couldn’t help but sincerely admire the aesthetic taste of these Rich Old Folks.

The clothing was simple in color, without complex embroidery or gold and silver decoration, yet when worn, it was incredibly dashing. And it was the Advanced kind of dashing.

Dashing in a reserved way, dashing in a simple way, dashing in a demure way.

It actually made this Smelly Soldier look like a refined Young Master from an Aristocratic Family.

Charity, how fragrant!

Huguai Garden, first floor of Ji Pavilion.

The warmth was enveloping.

Narcissus blooming profusely in a magnesium flowerpot and Winter Sweet branches covered in flowers in a flower sachet competed in beauty.

Lin Hansu wore a rouge-red, wide-sleeved gown embroidered with a hundred butterflies passing through flowers, wrapped inside with a madder-pink, gold-painted lotus flower bustier, tied at the waist with a sky-blue silk sash, and wearing a pleated skirt below—more beautiful than the flowers themselves.

Only the sachet hanging at her waist, with its loose stitching, seemed a bit unworthy of her luxurious clothing.

Complementing this outfit were several Camphor Wood Chests placed inside the room.

Inside, the glittering jewels and treasures were dazzling.

Lin Hansu held the List of Gifts, carefully checking the precious items, gold, and jade inside the Camphor Wood Chests for any discrepancies.

‘Squeak~’

Lin Hansu looked back, saw Granny Zhang push the door open and enter, and temporarily put down her work. “Did he try it on?”

“He did.”

“Does it fit?”

“It fits.”

“How does he look?”

“Handsome. Even the Young Masters from Aristocratic Families in the Capital are not as good as Squad Leader Ding.”

Although Granny Zhang’s reply was concise, it always pleased Lin Hansu. The latter smiled demurely, turned her attention back to the treasure chests, and instructed Granny Xu: “Now that we have dismissed some servants, the Estate is short-handed. Granny Xu, tomorrow, take the Official Boat to Central Heaven City and ask Father for some Born-in-the-House Servants to bring back. Also, deliver the New Year gifts at the same time. These three chests of headdresses, gold, and jade are to be sent to Princess Xingguos Residence.”

Lin Hansu made a mark with a brush on a small ledger, then continued: “The chest containing the Four Treasures of the Study from Xishan Zhai and calligraphy and paintings from the previous dynasty should be sent to Second Sister’s house. Second Brother-in-law is a scholar; he loves these sorts of things.”

“This chest of silver should be sent to the Prefecture Office tonight and given to Lord Li.”

Granny Xu was quite surprised.

One must know that whether voluntarily or forced, Li Fengrao had participated in the search for Lin Hansu. This time, not only did she not hold a grudge, but she even prepared a New Year gift?

Rationally speaking, maintaining a good relationship with Li Fengrao was beneficial and harmless. After all, Prince Lanyangs Estate governs the fiefdom of Lanyang City, and for at least the next two or three years, Li Fengrao would be an unavoidable neighbor.

In the future, whether Li Fengrao cooperated or obstructed the Estate’s affairs would make a world of difference.

But after Lin Hansu dealt with Steward Hou and Granny Liu yesterday, Granny Xu thought she was going to launch an indiscriminate retaliation. Now it seemed Lin Hansu knew exactly what was most advantageous for her and hadn’t been blinded by emotion.

Punish those who should be punished, and win over those who should be won over.

“This chest.”

Lin Hansu stopped at one spot. The Camphor Wood Chest below contained an expensive set of Jingzhou Celadon Tea Ware and several jars of fine tea. She hesitated for a long time, seemingly worried the gift wasn’t valuable enough, or perhaps worried it was too valuable and might startle the recipient. Finally, she said, “Sigh! Let’s leave it at that. When Granny Xu arrives in Central Heaven, take this chest of New Year gifts to Chilao Alley and hand it to a Dutou surnamed Ding in the Winged Tiger Army. Send it in Squad Leader Ding’s name.”

…

Granny Xu sighed silently to herself. Her Mistress’s temper could hardly be called submissive or gentle, yet now, for that faint, illusory possibility, she was actively trying to curry favor with the father of a certain person.

And she was anxious about the gain and loss involved.

On the other side, Lin Hansu pointed to the last chest, which was much smaller. This chest was the simplest, lined only with a layer of Silver Ingots, amounting to about three or four hundred taels.

“This chest is a gift for Squad Leader Ding’s superior. If Granny Xu doesn’t know who Squad Leader Ding’s superior is, ask Second Brother-in-law to help you inquire. Send it out in Squad Leader Ding’s name as well.”

A valuable bribe—this was paving the way for Squad Leader Ding’s future.

What painstaking effort.

Seeing that the Princess Consort was almost finished with the arrangements, Granny Xu spoke up to remind her: “Mistress, did you forget to prepare a New Year gift for the Eldest Lady?”

The ‘Eldest Lady’ referred to Lin Hansu’s Eldest Sister, the one who was the somewhat scandalous concubine’s quarters of Prince Yinyang.

“There’s no need to prepare a New Year gift for Eldest Sister this year. Knowing the recent turmoil in the Estate, she wrote a few days ago saying she would come to Lanyang City to spend the New Year with me. She should be arriving in the next day or two~”

Speaking of this matter, Lin Hansu’s delicate eyebrows lifted slightly, her joy evident.

“Then…” Granny Xu hesitated slightly. “Should we prepare a New Year gift for the Master?”

The faint smile between her brows vanished instantly. “He lacks nothing. There’s nothing good to prepare.” Yet immediately after, Lin Hansu’s Phoenix eyes involuntarily fell upon the Camphor Wood Chest containing the Jingzhou Celadon Tea Ware, making her feel somewhat uneasy.

She hadn’t even met the father of that Young Master, yet she was rushing to send him a New Year gift.

But showing no regard for her Own Father, wouldn’t that be a tiny bit unfilial?

“Sigh, it is the New Year after all. Granny Xu, I remember the kitchen still has some Cured Bacon smoked the year before last. Pick a few pieces that aren’t the best looking and take them to Central Heaven to give to Father.”

Lin Hansu rubbed her forehead, seemingly depressed because she was *too* filial.

Just then, Yi Huan jogged into Ji Pavilion and excitedly announced: “Mistress~ Mistress, the Eldest Lady, Jie’er Wan, and Ge’er Xuan have arrived outside the Estate gates!”

Thanks to reader: 20241226021148610 for the reward.