Chapter 112.1

Yu Miao Qi had locked herself in the room ever since she returned from Lin manor and refused to see anyone. It was not until the night of Lunar New Year’s Eve dinner that she took small brisk steps into the main hall.

When the Old Madam saw her, she only greeted her indifferently, as if she did not notice her haggard face. After eating the Lunar New Year Eve’s dinner and playing cards for a while, as the sky was getting dark and the sound of firecrackers were heard all over town, the Old Madam waved her hand and said, “Come, let’s head outside and drive away Nian[1]”

The so-called Nian were driven away by firecrackers, which were naturally done by the servants in other families. However, in Yu manor, Yu Pin Yan would personally do it. He ordered people to bring a large box of firecrackers and throw them one by one into the sky.

Although Yu Xiang’s legs were broken, she was spoiled by Yu Pin Yan and became increasingly unrestrained. She held an incense stick in her left hand and a firecracker the size of two-finger thick in her right hand. She lit them one by one and did not throw it anywhere else but into the lotus pond. Peng! Peng! Peng — The loud popping sound created a big hole in the frosty layer of the pond and the fish were blown out of the ice, flopping about on their white bellies.

“Quickly fished it out. We will have roast fish for supper this evening!” She leaned over the lotus pond and instructed Tao Hong and Liu Lu to use their nets to catch the fish.

As Yu Si Yu saw this, she was coveting to try it. She asked her for a firecracker and wanted to set it off as well.

“Be careful. You know the one guarding the backyard, Liu Zi, who has three fingers missing?” Yu Xiang waved her palm and said with a wry smile. “His fingers were blown up when he didn’t throw the firecracker in time.”

Yu Si Yu’s heart trembled as she hurriedly threw the cannon without lighting it. However, by coincidence, it was thrown into Liu Lu’s net, which caused her to be horrified and screamed a few times. She dropped the net and waited for a long time, but when she saw no movement, she realised that the firecracker was not lit at all.

They looked at each other as if they were relieved from a burden, but Yu Xiang laughed so heartily that tears rolled out of her eyes as she smacked her wheelchair.

The Old Madam stood on the veranda and looked at the coloured banners and lanterns, the laughter and chatters in the courtyard. She felt that this year was the most peaceful and happy year for the Yu manor. Even though there had been many ups and downs before, the end of the year had finally come to an end.

“Look, your leg is not healed yet and you are so playful like this. If your leg is healed, won’t you climb up the roof and remove the roof tiles?” The Old Madam pointed at her granddaughter who had started to fry fish again, scolding her with her mouth but showing a doting expression.

“Let her be happy. It’s just a few fishes.” Yu Pin Yan watched his younger sister closely as his lips curved slightly. 　　

“A few fishes? That’s a lion-headed koi I bought from Yangzhou at great cost.” The Old Madam snorted softly and rebuked, “You are just spoiling her. If she were to climb up the roof and tear the house down tile by tile[2], you would probably be holding the ladder at the bottom. ”

Yu Pin Yan softly chuckled, “How is that so? It’s too dangerous for her to climb that high, why don’t I just help her lift it?”

The Old Madam only thought that her grandson was joking and laughed facetiously. After laughing, she beckoned towards the two children, “Alright, don’t set it off. Don’t freeze yourself on a cold day, go inside and warm yourself by the fire.”

Tao Hong and Liu Lu immediately brought their master indoors. Yu Pin Yan took her cold hands and rubbed them together, then placed them on the hand warmer to warm them. The Old Madam pulled the quilt over her granddaughter’s legs and asked, “How is it? How many steps have you been able to take lately?”

“Just about ten steps.” Yu Xiang’s smile faintly faded.

The Old Madam quickly consoled her, “There’s no hurry. You couldn’t even stand up before, but now you can at least walk a bit. With more practice in the future, you will definitely get better and better.”

“En. Not only would I be able to walk and run, one day sooner or later I will be able to fly.” Yu Xiang nodded confidently.

The Old Madam was amused by her words while Yu Pin Yan pinched the tip of her nose and teased, “Now you can fly too. For you to be so playful, that you can soar.”

This time even Yu Si Yu covered her mouth and laughed.

Yu Miao Qi looked at the few people talking and laughing and having a good time, but her heart seemed to be soaked in venom, eroding it into bloody hole after bloody hole. She bent down with a cold face and bowed, “Grandmother, this granddaughter isn’t feeling well, so I will not be able to see in the New Year, I will take my leave.” Without waiting for the Old Madam to nod, she walked away.

The Old Madam’s gaze darkened for a moment, but a smile quickly resurfaced and waved her hand, “Xiang’er has just recovered from her leg injury, so she should rest well. Your Elder brother, Elder Sister and I will see in the New Year[3].”

Yu Xiang did not refuse, and Yu Pin Yan naturally went to push her wheelchair. The two of them walked along a corridor lined with large red lanterns, lined with many plum trees, the branches of which were surrounded with plum blossoms.

[1] 年兽(nián shòu)- According to Chinese mythology, Nian is a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains. The character nianmore usually means “year” or “new year”. The traditions of firecrackers, red lanterns, and red robes found in many lion dance portrayals originate from the plan the villagers had in which drums, plates and empty bowls were hit, red robes were worn, and firecrackers were thrown, causing loud banging sounds that they hoped would intimidate the nian. Credits: Wikipedia

[2] 上房掀瓦(shàngfáng xiān wǎ)- It is used to describe a person who is naughty or even rebellious and disobedient. The full sentence is “If you don’t beat this person for three days, the house will be torn down tile by tile.”, and is mostly used by elders to describe naughty children.

[3] 守岁(shǒusuì)- See in the New Year/stay up all night on the eve of Chinese New Year. A long time ago, there was a ferocious creature called Nian. Each time, Nian emerged at night and returned to the forests after the dawn and he would only come out to attack humans once every 365 days. People would call the eve of Chinese New Year a critical moment to defeat Nian. After the reunion dinner, people dared not to sleep and sat together to embolden each other. People lighted candles or oil lamps to stay up late, as a symbol to ward off illnesses and demons. This tradition has been passed down from then on.