Every year on the Laba Festival, there is the custom of eating Laba Congee; on this day, whether in the imperial court, government offices, temples, or the homes of common folk, Laba Congee must be made.

The varieties of Laba Congee are countless and competitive, boasting a rich diversity of ingredients mixed with the white rice, such as red dates, lotus seeds, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, pine nuts, longan, hazelnuts, grapes, ginkgo nuts, water caltrops, shredded silk (presumably candied threads), rose petals, red beans, peanuts... totaling no fewer than twenty types. Most people begin their preparations on the evening of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, washing the rice, soaking the fruits, peeling, and pitting. Then, they start boiling the mixture around midnight, simmering it over a low fire until the morning of the next day, when the Laba Congee is finally ready. Some more meticulous families even carve the fruits into human shapes, animals, or decorative patterns before adding them to the pot.

Once the Laba Congee is cooked, it must first be offered to the gods and ancestors to pray for a bountiful harvest and good fortune. Afterward, it is distributed to relatives and friends, a delivery that absolutely must be completed before noon. Only then can the entire family partake. Any remaining Laba Congee that lasts for several days is considered a very good omen, signifying the meaning of "having surplus year after year."

Madam Yang had long since prepared all the ingredients for the Laba Congee. Furthermore, given the significant changes in their household that year—transitioning directly from poverty to prosperity—Madam Yang placed great importance on this Laba Festival. She selected only the highest quality ingredients, and the variety was much greater than in previous years, all to create the finest Laba Congee for offering to the gods and ancestors, giving thanks for the blessings bestowed upon their family.

On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Madam Yang washed the prepared ingredients, peeled and pitted them, and then rose in the middle of the night to begin boiling the Laba Congee. It wasn't until the morning of the eighth day that the congee was fully simmered.

Because the Laba Festival was a very important observance in ancient times, involving offerings to the gods and ancestors, the academy declared a full day off, allowing Wang Qingchen to spend the holiday at home.

On the morning of Laba, everyone in the household rose early. First, they paid respects to the gods and ancestors. Then, they began dividing the Laba Congee into numerous portions, as these were meant for friends and relatives, and typically, the distribution had to start very early in the morning to ensure everything was delivered before noon.

It was manageable for the old manor, Wang Youtian’s family, and the households in their own village. For those farther away, such as the Luo Second Elder's family or Madam Zhang’s brother’s home, the deliveries needed to be made even earlier.

Madam Yang considered the matter and assigned Wang Youfu to take congee to Madam Zhang's brother’s house. Wang Qinghua was tasked with delivering to the Luo Second Elder's residence, while Wang Qingchen was sent to the town to visit the Master (Fu Zi) and Boss Xue. Madam Yang herself handled the deliveries to the old manor, Wang Youtian, and certain families within their own village. As for Caiyun, she was to remain at home, as it was certain that others would come to their door bearing Laba Congee, and someone needed to be present.

Wang Qingchen briefly considered whether he should also deliver some to the family managing the mill, but upon learning that the mill worker’s wife was already preparing a portion for them, he asked no further questions, simply taking his allocated bowls of congee and heading into town.

Wang Qinghua took the Laba Congee destined for the Luo Second Elder’s home, appearing somewhat absentminded during the journey. He repeatedly reached up to touch his chest, seeming lost in thought as he proceeded toward the Luo residence.

Arriving at the Luo Second Elder’s house, Wang Qinghua presented the congee and was warmly welcomed by Madam Chen. Wang Qinghua did not see the Luo Second Elder and presumed he was out making his own deliveries. After Wang Qingchen dropped off his offering, Madam Chen produced her family’s Laba Congee as a return gift. Wang Qinghua, having received the congee, did not immediately depart but hesitated, looking somewhat uncertain. Madam Chen first looked puzzled, but then, seeing Wang Qinghua repeatedly glance toward the inner rooms, she understood immediately. Smiling, she went inside to call out Luo Qing, asking her to come out and see Wang Qinghua off. Madam Chen then retreated back into the house.

Upon seeing Madam Chen call for Luo Qing, Wang Qinghua’s face instantly flushed crimson with shyness, and he became so flustered he couldn't find any words. Luo Qing, too, felt a degree of embarrassment that her mother had called her out at this particular moment, and she kept her head down, equally speechless.

Unable to think of anything appropriate to say, Wang Qinghua simply pulled out an item he had tucked into his breast pocket and held it out to Luo Qing: “This, this is what I bought for you. I don’t know if you will like it.”

Luo Qing looked at the hand extended toward her. Resting there was a gold-gilded ruyi hairpin (liujin ruyi chai). Both its design and pattern were exactly to her liking; she instantly loved it. However, recalling that such a hairpin likely cost at least two liang of silver, she immediately refused: “This must have cost a great deal, right? It’s too valuable; I cannot accept it.”

Seeing Luo Qing refuse, Wang Qinghua became slightly anxious. “I bought this entirely with my own money, not using any household funds. It’s fine, please take it.”

Luo Qing found this statement strange. Wang Qinghua claimed the money for the hairpin was his own, but under normal circumstances, their family hadn't formally separated their assets. Even though he was managing their mill, any income earned should rightfully go to the family, not be kept solely for himself. Where did he get the silver to buy something so costly? Could it be that Wang Qinghua had been openly misappropriating the earnings from the family mill? Although she had previously entertained the thought that if Wang Qinghua managed the mill, their branch of the family might benefit later, she never imagined he would act so brazenly from the start!

Thinking of this, Luo Qing grew worried. If this were true, Wang Qinghua would surely incur his parents’ displeasure sooner or later, and life would become difficult for him. Despite her concern, she knew that as someone not yet married into the family, she had no right to comment on his family’s affairs. She could only ask carefully, “Do your parents often give you money?”

Wang Qinghua was momentarily confused by the question. After thinking it over carefully, he replied, “Not often, no. And I usually don't spend much money myself.”

Hearing this, Luo Qing became even more convinced her suspicions were correct. Disregarding whether she had yet married into the Wang family, she anxiously inquired, “Then this hairpin is…?”

“Ah?” Wang Qinghua hadn't connected these two lines of inquiry. He was slow to react, but upon careful reflection, he quickly explained: “No, no… you misunderstood me. The money used to buy this hairpin wasn't taken from my parents; it truly came from my earnings managing the mill.” Wang Qinghua feared Luo Qing thought he was deceiving her, so he rushed to clarify.

To his surprise, Luo Qing became even more distressed upon hearing his explanation: “The money earned by your family’s mill should go to your parents, shouldn’t it? How could you take it privately to buy this hairpin? I absolutely cannot accept this. You should hurry back and apologize to your parents!”

Madam Luo immediately worried about how poorly the Wang family elders might view her if they discovered Wang Qinghua had used mill earnings to buy her a hairpin without permission. She felt a sudden surge of anxiety. If she was already viewed unfavorably before even entering her husband's household, her life after marriage would surely be miserable.

Wang Qinghua was rather bewildered by Luo Qing’s words, responding woodenly, “Apologize? Why would I need to apologize?”

Luo Qing paused, wondering if Wang Qinghua genuinely believed his actions were not wrong. She immediately discarded her reservations and explained directly, “The mill belongs to your family, so the earnings belong to your family as well! How could you use them without permission?”

Only then did Wang Qinghua grasp Luo Qing’s meaning—she had completely misunderstood him. Seeing her distress, he quickly explained, “It’s not what you think; this money is truly mine.” Seeing that Luo Qing was about to interject again, he hurried on: “Listen to me. Although I am managing the family mill, I’m not unreasonable. I was always going to give the mill’s earnings to the family. However, my second brother later spoke to my father. He pointed out that once I am married, I will certainly have many expenses, and I can’t keep asking Father and Mother for money every time. So, he suggested that half the mill’s earnings go to the family, and the other half I save myself. I thought about it, and realized that in the future… in the future, after you marry in, if I save a bit more, your life will be more comfortable.” With that, he agreed. Wang Qinghua then cautiously glanced at Luo Qing’s expression.

At this moment, Luo Qing was first stunned, and then all her previous worry was washed away by joy. She imagined it: what daughter-in-law could legally save money right from the moment she married into the family? Realizing that even if their family hadn't formally separated, their branch could still accumulate their own funds after she married, she felt happier than if she had received the hairpin itself. She also thought kindly of Wang Qinghua’s younger brother, surprised that her future brother-in-law would suggest such a thing to their father, and immediately decided he was a good person whom she must treat well after marrying in.

With this realization, Luo Qing suddenly felt a flush of awkwardness, having unfairly suspected someone, and that someone being her future husband. She could only say stiffly, “I got carried away with my thoughts just now; please don't take offense.”

How could Wang Qinghua be angry with Luo Qing? Seeing that she had understood the situation, he extended the hairpin toward her again. “Please accept this. This… this hairpin will look very beautiful on you.”

Once Luo Qing understood the circumstances, her reservations vanished, and she shyly accepted the gift.

Seeing Luo Qing take the hairpin, Wang Qinghua felt a rush of happiness, yet he didn't know what to say next. After a long silence, he stammered out, “Y-you should go back now. I’ll… I’ll head back too!”

Luo Qing murmured softly, “Mm!”

However, Luo Qing remained standing there and did not leave immediately. After a moment of awkward silence, Wang Qinghua spoke again, looking embarrassed, “I, I really must go now.” He then hurried back in a flurry of motion. Luo Qing stayed until she could no longer see his figure before finally returning to the house.

As soon as Luo Qing stepped inside, she spotted Madam Chen peeking suspiciously around the doorframe in her direction. Her face, which had just regained composure, flushed red once more.

“Daughter, what did that boy Qinghua give you?” Madam Chen asked with a smile.

“N-nothing!” Luo Qing clutched the hairpin tightly in her hand.

“I saw it all,” Madam Chen said, looking at her daughter’s deepening blush. “Fine, fine, Mother won’t look anymore. My daughter is truly too thin-skinned.” With that, Madam Chen walked out.

Luo Qing quickly retreated to her own room, shut the door, and picked up the hairpin to examine it closely.