When an elder offers a gift, one should not decline.
Regardless of the amount, it is a common custom for god - parents and elders to give red envelopes. After politely declining twice, Qi Jiao accepted it.
Aunt Ye also gave Pei Xia a big red envelope. After all, her god - daughter and son - in - law were a married couple, and good things should come in pairs.
Next came Ye Geng, the eldest son of the Ye family, and his wife, Jiang Yuniang.
Ye Geng looked more like Aunt Ye with his simple and amiable appearance. But his character was like Uncle Ye's, silent, gentle, and not good at expressing himself.
It wasn't his first time meeting Qi Jiao, but it was the first time he greeted her as a family member.
The man in his twenties grinned, "Sister Jiao, come to our home often in the future. Mom and Dad will be so happy! So will I and your sister - in - law."
Jiang Yuniang stood beside Ye Geng with her round belly. She was petite and smiled shyly, "If you don't mind, sister Jiao, come and play with me more often."
Qi Jiao nodded with a smile and readily agreed.
Ye Yun, the second son of the Ye family, was relatively more familiar with Qi Jiao. When they first met in the county town, he even gave her a silver ingot as a greeting gift.
This time was no exception. He took out a small and delicate silver ingot in the shape of a persimmon, brand - new in appearance.
Some people were like this when giving gifts, always maintaining their own stable style.
But Qi Jiao was more than happy to receive the silver ingot.
She barely managed to hold back her laughter, "Thank you, Second Brother. I'm sure the master values you highly. I wish you continuous promotion and a fortune every day."
Ye Yun said cheerfully, "I'll take your kind words, sister."
After Ye Yun, it was Ye Pa's turn.
Qi Jiao had never seen this third brother of the Ye family before. This was the first time.
Ye Pa was about the same age as Qi Jiao, only two months older, so he was ranked as the third brother.
On his way back, Ye Pa had heard about Qi Jiao's deeds and was already very curious about her.
Now that he saw her in person, he sized her up with a look of polite curiosity.
Poor Ye Pa, who was supposed to be smart, didn't know that every extra glance he took at Qi Jiao was noted down by someone.
After Ye Pa gave Qi Jiao a box of rouge, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his round head.
Qi Jiao didn't know when Pei Xia had suddenly appeared beside her.
She only saw Pei Xia hold her hand with one hand and take the rouge from Ye Pa with the other, smiling, "Thank you, Third Brother, for your kindness. Jiao is wearing narrow - sleeved clothes today. This box of rouge is so big. I'll keep it for her first."
Ye Pa felt a sharp pain in his hand for a moment. When he came to his senses, he saw Pei Xia looking calm, with a half - smile on his face. What else didn't he understand?
This guy was jealous!
Ye Pa was both annoyed and amused. So Pei Xia had his moments too?
Immediately, he pretended to be dissatisfied on his face, "I'm just saying, Pei Xia. You're older than both Jiao and me. How can you call me Third Brother just like her? It makes me sound old! Let's address each other according to our own relationships."
Pei Xia smiled faintly and deflected the topic skillfully, "I'm Jiao's husband, and you're her newly - recognized god - brother. In terms of closeness, I should follow her lead."
Ye Pa almost choked. This guy was so shameless.
So what if he was a husband? Was being a husband something to be so cocky about?
The words "newly - recognized" and "god - brother" were all over the place. Ye Pa felt a bit heart - broken and didn't want to talk to him anymore.
After this little argument, Qi Jiao finally understood after looking back and forth.
Was Pei Xia jealous?
Hahaha.
Their hands hidden in their sleeves were clasped together. Qi Jiao secretly pinched him and said softly, "In that case, husband, you should recognize Third Brother along with me."
Pei Xia nodded and looked at her, "You're right, Jiao."
Ye Pa couldn't bear to look anymore and immediately went to Aunt Ye to say that he also wanted to get married.
Aunt Ye was very pleased, "As long as you stay at home quietly, Mom will start looking for suitable young ladies for you. Just one thing, behave well in front of the young ladies. Don't be too wild, or you'll scare them away."
After she finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter, teasing Ye Pa.
Qi Jiao was always a considerate person and had prepared gifts for everyone in the Ye family.
Besides the pair of shoes and socks for each person that Tang Guiniang helped to buy, Qi Jiao gave Aunt Ye two bottles of osmanthus hair oil and two silk handkerchiefs, and Uncle Ye a jar of Huadiao wine and a set of knee pads.
She gave each of the three brothers a gourd - shaped brocade sachet filled with herbal packets for dispelling wind and calming the nerves.
For Jiang Yuniang, it was a bottle of jasmine hair oil and a bottle of tea oil. The tea oil was like essential oil that could help her massage to reduce stretch marks. Qi Jiao had specially gone to the county - town pharmacy to inquire and buy it.
There was also a jar of drunken crabs, two bottles of crab roe paste, and half a kilo of fish maw (40 pieces per half - kilo), which were for the whole Ye family.
Pei Xia was a very shrewd person. Seeing that Qi Jiao had recognized the Ye family as her god - family, he quietly did everything a standard son - in - law should do.
Although the Ye family lived in a fishing village, they didn't make a living by fishing. They usually exchanged seafood with other villagers.
Pei Xia came with a whole cartload of fresh seafood, which was fully loaded, showing his sincerity.
He didn't come as a guest. He was quick - eyed and willing to help.
While the women were chatting over tea, Pei Xia had already chopped all the firewood piled outside the wood shed, enough for ten days or half a month.
He also filled the water tanks in the kitchen and quickly swept the front and back yards clean.
Uncle Ye and Aunt Ye were beaming with joy. They thought their son - in - law was perfect in every way and regarded him as their own son. No, he was even better than their own son.
They kept urging Pei Xia and Qi Jiao to drink sweet soup and eat rice cakes.
Seeing that his parents were closer to Pei Xia than to him, their own son, Ye Pa felt heart - broken again.
Tang Guiniang was also treated as an honored guest. The three brothers of the Ye family and Jiang Yuniang served her politely.
Apart from being close friends and neighbors, the two families now had an in - law relationship, making them even closer and more enthusiastic.
After three rounds of tea, everyone sat around the table. The meal at the Ye family today was extremely sumptuous.
Aunt Ye was busy with work outside, so Uncle Ye usually did the cooking at home.
Practice makes perfect. Over time, Uncle Ye became quite good at cooking.
Today, Uncle Ye cooked braised chicken, pickled vegetables stir - fried with chicken gizzards, deep - fried crispy pork, minced meat with okra, braised tofu, squid whiskers stir - fried with chili peppers, rape with mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots braised with pork, and two plates of sweet and glutinous persimmon cakes cut into rounds. He also steamed a large basin of soft white steamed buns.
The home - cooked dishes on the table were full of the warmth and enthusiasm of Uncle Ye and Aunt Ye.
Qi Jiao tore the steamed bun and ate it with the minced meat and pickled vegetables. Gradually, her eyes felt a bit sore. This was the taste she had been longing for for a long time.
Today, Jiao finally had a home.
After the meal, Aunt Ye led Qi Jiao to a small house in the back yard.
When they opened the door, they saw that it was clean and tidy. The bed was covered with thick quilts, all freshly washed.
There was a set of tables, chairs, and a wardrobe beside the bed. The window paper was newly pasted, and there was a bunch of wild chrysanthemums in a clay pot on the floor. Everywhere exuded a warm atmosphere.
"Jiao, this is your room. Whenever you want to come back and stay, it's ready for you."
Aunt Ye pulled Qi Jiao to sit on the couch and said gently, "My dear god - daughter, Mom hopes that your life will be smooth and worry - free. But if you ever encounter troubles or adversity, we're here for you. Don't try to bear it alone. At worst, you still have your three older brothers in front to help you. They may not have great abilities, but their characters are beyond reproach."
Qi Jiao took Aunt Ye's hand and said movedly, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll remember everything."