There was enough food on the estate. In addition to the rice stored in the estate’s warehouse, Wei Ruo also had several cartloads of sweet potatoes transported from Xingshan County, as well as pickled vegetables (like pickled radish, salted vegetables, mustard greens, etc.) made from the large amount of vegetables harvested after the rice harvest on Xiaoyang Mountain in Xingshan County.These food supplies were enough to get the more than two hundred people on the estate through the winter.After witnessing the plight of the poor people outside in the freezing cold, many of the refugees who had been taken in felt even more deeply grateful to Wei Ruo.If it hadn’t been for being taken in by Wei Ruo, they would have either frozen to death or starved to death by now.Even the local residents who were hired also felt gratitude, because not every landowner treated long-term workers so generously. In such a year, not only did she not cut their wages, but she also gave them extra cotton clothes.At the Colonel’s Residence, each courtyard was allocated charcoal for heating. They were given smokeless charcoal, which was better than ordinary black charcoal—it wouldn’t produce black smoke and make the house full of smoke when burned.At the same time, each courtyard was also given two new cotton quilts for the year.All this was thanks to Wei Mingting’s promotion. Not only did he receive rewards, but his salary was also increased, and naturally, the situation in the Colonel’s Residence improved quite a bit.Then Yun Shi invited a tailor to the house to take measurements and make clothes for each young master and young lady to wear during the New Year.Among them, Wei Ruo had three sets made, while everyone else, including the eldest son Wei Yichen, only had two sets.This was because Wei Ruo originally had fewer clothes. Now that she had arrived in the prefectural city, she would inevitably have to attend some events. As the eldest daughter of the household, it wouldn’t do for her to keep appearing in the same two or three decent outfits.Originally, Yun Shi had also wanted to have an extra set made for Wei Yichen, as he had just gone to study at Anzhou Academy, where he would be interacting with more people and needed to be presentable.But during the fitting, Wei Yichen declined. He told Yun Shi that he was going to Anzhou Academy to study, not to compete with others, so there was no need to pay attention to such outward appearances.Wei Yichen knew in his heart that the Colonel’s Residence was not wealthy. This year, the grain was insufficient, and the weather was especially cold—there were more urgent places that needed silver.Besides, the clothes he had made in previous years were already more than enough, so this year he would save some money.When Wei Qingwan found out, she was heartbroken and upset for quite a while.But her sadness and discontent didn’t change anything. Aside from her two loyal servants, no one else in the household was aware of her emotions or thoughts.On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Laba Festival*, Wei Ruo and Xiumei cooked several large pots of Laba porridge and distributed them to the people on the estate.
*The Laba Festival (腊八节, Làbā Jié) is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar — the "twelfth lunar month" is called “làyuè (腊月)”, and "eight" is “bā (八)”, hence Làbā.
The Laba Festival marks the beginning of preparations for the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). It’s a time to pray for good fortune, health, and a bountiful harvest.
Although the Laba Festival was officially the next day, Wei Ruo had other plans for the actual day, so the porridge for the estate people was handed out a day in advance.The Laba porridge made by Wei Ruo and Xiumei was generously prepared with plenty of ingredients. The people on the estate devoured it ravenously.In addition to those on the estate, Wei Ruo also packed a few buckets wrapped in cotton cloth and brought them back to the city.The nursemaid and Uncle Xu’s share were not to be missed, as well as the shopkeeper and workers of the Sibaozhai, and Chen Aqing and another worker from Xu’s Braised Food Shop.As for the estate in Xingshan County, Wei Ruo had already sent a letter a few days in advance, instructing the steward there to cook Laba porridge on the day of the festival and distribute it to everyone.