Maybe combing a lucky hair bun really opened up a good start for the new year.

  Chao Sheng not only combed for Man Er and Wu Mama, but also the others in the yard came over to join in the fun: "Come on, come on, give me one too."

  Maybe it's the festive atmosphere of the New Year that makes everyone relax for a while. The usual sarcasm and quarrels, who would mention them on such a good day?

  Chao Sheng couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the woman sitting in front of her, who had pinched her ear so hard it almost bled.

  She spent the whole morning doing nothing but styling her hair. She tried various hairstyles, such as yuanbaoji, jinfengji, meihua ji... Her hands were numb and her arms ached from lifting them up.

  They had a New Year's Eve dinner of boiled niangao - actually, the ancestors of the Tsai family were northerners and more accustomed to eating dumplings. But here they didn't have to be picky, the boiled niangao was also delicious, this should count as their New Year's Eve dinner. The niangao was soft and sticky, with a hint of sweetness.

  This sweet taste seems so luxurious and illusory.

  Chao Sheng has been moved by sweetness for the second time.

  It seems like this flavor can make her numb tongue recall the happiness of the past.

  New Year's is great, you can dress warmly, eat a lot, and don't have to put your hands in the icy cold water to wash clothes - actually, the well water that has just been drawn from underground is not cold, and it feels warm when you put your hands in.

  But outside it's very cold, and sometimes the wind is so strong that it makes your eyes hard to open. Hands that have touched water quickly feel like they're going to freeze stiff, but you can't keep them submerged in water all the time or they'll get frostbite. Even if you don't feel cold yourself, the chill has already seeped into your bones.

  There wasn't anyone very old in the alley of washing clothes, and Chao Sheng didn't dare ask why.

  The oldest person in the courtyard is Wu Mama, who has the longest seniority and indeed looks very old, with white hair scattered on her temples and wrinkles on her face. However, according to Man Er, Wu Mama is not yet forty. In Man Er's impression, there has never been anyone over fifty here.

  However, Chao Sheng thought she probably understood the reason.

  If I continue to work so hard, I probably won't live for long.

  Besides, the living conditions here are not only harsh, but more importantly, there is no hope.

  Every day is a repetition of the previous one, opening and closing eyes are all the same days.

  When ill, it's impossible to invite a good doctor, and even if you can get some medicine, it will be very expensive.

  So Cai Sheng thought back now, he had narrowly escaped death under the forty lashes, and it was really just good luck.

  If her mother hadn't gotten her medicine at that time, she might not have had any bones left, and would have been thrown away to the place mentioned before.

  That place is called Gongren Xie.

  After everyone gathered around the stove had said enough, they ate peanuts and roasted taro and dispersed. Chao Sheng and Man Er stayed behind to clean up - they were the youngest.

  No matter where you are, newcomers always have to be ordered around.

  Wu's mother somehow got hold of some wine. Actually she would drink a little usually, but today she obviously drank too much.

  She sat there with a red face, if it wasn't for people who knew her well, they really couldn't tell that she was actually drunk.

  Man'er and Chao Sheng helped her onto the bed, but Wu Mama didn't feel sleepy. She sat there, suddenly chuckling to herself, then sobbing again.

  Chao Sheng was at a loss, she had never taken care of a drunk person before. But Man Er seemed to have done it many times, fetching water to help Wu's mother wipe her face, wash her hands and feet, and supporting her to lie down. She did all these with ease and naturally.

  Chao Sheng suddenly remembered that she was raised by Wu's mother.

  Maybe when she was little, her mom took care of her like this. Now that she's grown up, the roles are reversed.

  "Wu's mother muttered to herself: 'What's wrong with the laundry girl... Is the laundry girl inferior? You've wronged me... All of you have wronged me...'"

  Man'er put down her account book and turned around to explain to Chao Sheng: "Wu Mama is drunk and keeps talking about this, but she's not usually drunk."

  Chao nodded slightly, she understood.

  These endless, joyless days will drive people crazy and crush them.

  People always need something to rely on.

  Wu's mother would occasionally drink two cups.

  But Man Er yearned for everything outside. She felt that she would always go out. Looking at the beautiful clothes being ironed and embroidered in the upper house, the light in her eyes was simply dreamy.

  "Maybe one day I'll be able to wear clothes like that too."

  While Chao Sheng, she is tied to the past.

  Distant firecrackers sounded, what should have been a lively sound, in the desolate Washing Clothes Alley, seemed so illusory and bleak.

  The tide rolled up the quilt a bit tighter and fell fast asleep.

  The next morning, Cai Zhu arrived early.

  She was wearing new clothes and had a smile on her face.

  "Cháo shēng." She tightly held her hand and whispered: "Guess who I saw yesterday?"

  "Who?"

  "Green Mirror!" As soon as the words left her mouth, she tensely looked around, afraid that her voice was too loud: "No, can't call her Green Mirror now, she's Li Cai Ren now."

  "Li is talented?"

  Chao Sheng thought he might still be half asleep, with a buzzing in his ears.

  "Yes, it's Li Cairen. Yesterday our master took me to Fuhui Palace to deliver something to Empress Dowager Cixi, and I saw her, no mistake, it was really her, others called her Li Cairen. She was dressed up nicely and looked good. I didn't dare go up to talk to her. But I'm sure it's her."

  Finally, there was news of the old people from Yunxia Palace, but it made Chao Sheng even more confused.

  Green Mirror... Li Cairen...

  Zai picked out a small package from his sleeve and handed it to her: "This is for you."

  "Don't always give me things..."

  "I have everything I need to eat and wear, these are extra." Cai Zhu said in a low voice: "I didn't talk to her, but don't worry, since she's alive and doing so well, Huan Xun and the others should also be alive, they're just somewhere else." Cai Zhu grasped her hand tightly: "Maybe Huan Xun has become a noblewoman too, next time we see her, we won't even recognize her."

  Although there was a lot of exaggeration in these words, both people got a lot of comfort from them.

  Zai picked up the pearl and said a few more words to her, but she couldn't stay any longer.

  Chao Sheng just had time to say to her: "You must be careful and don't do anything you shouldn't, or you'll get into trouble."

  She picked up her pearls and turned around, waving goodbye as she quickly ran off.

  Chao Sheng was still in a daze, shocked by the news she had just brought.

  Qing Jing became a talented person?

  That night, she was also serving in Chen Fei's room.

  The tide of life outside the door has led to this point, but the green mirror inside the house...

  What about the others?

  Where is Xun? Where is Sui Ye? Where will they be?

  What have they become?

  The tide is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the pearl picker once again, and she may bring more news.

  Let Chao Sheng understand what happened in the first place.

  And let her find her own way in life.

  But as winter gradually passed, ice melted and snow thawed, willow trees also sprouted faint green buds, but the pearl picker never came again.

  The life of Chao Sheng finally had some changes.

  To others it may be a small change, but for Chaosheng, this change is huge.

  Wu's mother called her over and told her she was going to be transferred upstairs to do some weaving and sewing.

  Yes, darning.

  Although it is also a hard job, from dawn till dusk, some people's eyes are blinded by the intense labor. However, compared to washing clothes, weaving and mending at least provides a roof over one's head, no need to endure the scorching sun in summer or put hands in icy water in winter.

  What a good opportunity, why did it fall on its own head?

  As for the relationship between them, Man Er and Wu Mama are even closer, their relationship is sometimes like mother and daughter.

  Chao Sheng has learned to be vigilant and silent.

  Wu's mother smiled and said, "I knew you had this skill. When you first came, I changed your clothes and knew that the hands of a seamstress are different. But at that time, I couldn't directly send you to the sewing room."

  "Alright, no need to think so much nonsense." Wu's mother took a sip of tea and spat out the tea leaves: "Someone asked me to take care of you, I'll help you out if I can. Otherwise, I wouldn't have lent you money to buy medicine in the first place. Let me tell you, I still remember the account, two cents interest, you'll have to pay me back someday."

  Chao Sheng's heart skipped a beat: "Is... who asked you to take care of me?"

  Her mother ignored her, waved her hand: "That person I can't afford to offend, you can't afford to offend either - I reckon that person just said it casually, probably forgot about you long ago. Alright, there's an opportunity in front of you now, go for it. Who knows, maybe someday you'll be lucky and don't forget to repay the money then."

  ——————

  Tomorrow should first update this, then update the wedding dress or live color, this is written smoothly, that is relatively... Cough... Today it's raining heavily to pick up my son, put on his raincoat. He hasn't worn one before, at first he didn't dare walk, taking small steps, then found out he wasn't getting wet, started splashing and playing in the water.