People on this side of Hexi Village attached great importance to a child’s first birthday.

Of course, how much importance depended on the family’s background.

Rich families would hold birthday parties and give their children some silver bracelets and jewelry. If they didn’t have money, they could only have a meal with their own family.

The Zhao family had become the richest family in the Hexi Village, so the birthday party they hosted for Zhao Mingzhu was naturally very lively. Even more lively than Zhao Liu’s original birthday banquet.

Zhao Mingzhu wore red clothes and a red headdress with gold bracelets ordered by Zhao Liu and Zhao Fugui on both of her wrist and two silver bracelets with bells on her ankles. With a gold lock piece hanging from her neck, she was dressed in a very nouveau riche manner.

Wen Yingniang thought that this dress was very rustic, but Zhao Mingzhu liked it very much. She sat on a small stool, happily fiddling with her gold lock piece and shaking her feet from time to time to listen to the bell ringing.

After a while, she stood on the stool that Zhao Jinge had placed beside her and stamped her feet to make the bells ring.

Jiang Zhen was chatting with He Chunsheng about the Jinzhen Escort Agency while also paying attention to his daughter. He saw Zhao Mingzhu stomping hard, and her hands unconsciously let go of the stool.

Not only that, stomping her feet slowly, she unexpectedly walked forward.

Having been able to stand firmly for a month, she was finally willing to walk on her own.

Jiang Zhen suddenly had no time to listen to He Chunsheng’s report because he focused all his attention on his daughter, careful not to disturb or startle her.

Zhao Mingzhu walked to the wall and then finally realized her situation. Probably because she was frightened, she sat down on the ground and began to cry.

Zhao Jinge came over and was so distressed when he saw this situation that he hurriedly picked up his daughter and looked over at Jiang Zhen. “What’s going on?” 

With the importance Jiang Zhen attached to Zhao Mingzhu, he would not let Zhao Mingzhu sit and cry alone.

“She walked there by herself,” Jiang Zhen said.

Zhao Jinge opened his eyes wide in surprise. “My Mingzhu is very great. Not only did she start speaking early, but she walks early too!”

“That’s right. We know whose daughter she is.” Jiang Zhen was also very proud. Most of the children on this side of Hexi Village could not eat well, so many of them still did not know how to walk. Zhao Mingzhu was definitely considered a baby who started walking early.

Of course, this was mainly because she ate very well.

Zhao Mingzhu cried for a while then kicked her feet, wanting to be let down. After being placed on the ground, she started to walk cautiously.

Seeing this, Zhao Jinge was so proud that he bent down and took Zhao Mingzhu out. After taking her outside, he let go of her hand.

Step by step, Zhao Mingzhu walked steadily forward then went under the eight immortal tables, sat down on her butt, and did not move.

“What a good-looking girl!”

“She looks strong.”

“She already knows how to walk. That’s amazing.”

 

. . .

 

The guests began to praise Zhao Mingzhu.

Zhao Jinge was also very proud.

Wen Yingniang looked on and was a little envious.

She was not very fond of children, but not having a child made her feel a little frustrated.

Even if she could adopt a baby, it would not be quite the same as having her own.

Zhao Mingzhu’s birthday banquet was held in accordance with the customs of the countryside, so the dishes on the table were not about refinement but about affordability.

After all, for the people of Hexi Village, chicken stew was definitely more affordable than pigeon stew.  A pigeon—didn’t it only have a few mouthfuls of meat in total?

Wen Yingniang didn’t like the dishes that were served, but the lively surroundings lifted her mood, so she ate a lot in the end.

“Boss, there is someone outside who wants to give a gift.” Jiang Ming suddenly ran in from the outside.

“Who?” Jiang Zhen asked. Zheng Yi and the others had already sent their gifts in advance, so who else would come to send their gifts right then?

“They say they’re from the Wen family in Minnan.”

“The Wen family?” Jiang Zhen was a little surprised. Wen Yingniang got divorced only a few days ago, how could the Wen family already arrive?

The people from the Wen family were quickly invited in.

The person who came in was a young man in his thirties. Of course, Jiang Zhen used to call people of this age young, but for the people of this era, they were not considered young. Many women in their early thirties were already grandmothers.

“Good day, Master Jiang.” The man smiled at Jiang Zhen and made a bow. “My name is Wen Ming, and I am from the Wen family in Minnan. Since today is Miss Zhao’s birthday, I have prepared a gift. Just a small token of respect.”

As he spoke, someone behind him came in with the gift.

The gift was inside a wooden box, so they couldn’t see what was inside. Just looking at the exquisite box, everyone could tell that the gift was definitely worth a lot of money.

“Please come in, Mr. Wen.” Jiang Zhen invited Wen Ming inside. He was not sure of the specific identity of the person in front of him, so he would just take this person to Wen Yingniang first.

There was no need for Jiang Zhen to take Wen Ming to her since Wen Yingniang came out. When she saw Wen Ming, she was a little surprised. “Wen Ming, why are you here?”

“When we heard that the young lady had been wronged, his lordship and his ladyship asked me to have a look,” Wen Ming turned to Wen Yingniang and answered.

“How did Father and Mother learn about this?” Wen Yingniang was startled. She was still thinking about what to tell her parents.

“Master and Madam received a letter passed by the flying pigeon,” Wen Ming said.

 

Edited by: Faro

Proofreader: Antiope1

 

Support translation: