Chapter 45: Celebrating the New Year

Since things could not be seen through clearly, the best course was to keep a distance.

On that particular morning, Jia Ping'an did not go out for breakfast. Instead, he made the rare choice to stay at home, joining his father, Aunt Yu, and younger sister Rongrong at the dining table.

Yu Luoli had not anticipated that Jia Ping'an would suddenly decide to eat at home again. By the time she thought of slipping poison into the food, it was already too late.

"Father, Auntie, the restaurant is about to open. Starting today, I will no longer be living at home," Jia Ping'an stated in a very calm tone.

Jia Fanghao had only recently gotten out of bed and started joining them for meals. It was evident that as time passed, the scars in his heart had healed to some extent.

He had also begun to pay attention to what his son was doing, and deep down, he felt no small degree of astonishment.

Yet, out of paternal dignity, he refrained from praising his son. Naturally, this stemmed partly from a lingering patriarchal mindset, but mostly from the fact that he was truly unable to offer any real help to his son's enterprise. Since he could not help, he might as well continue to "play dead."

He wanted to show others that he still hadn't crossed the emotional hurdle in his heart, which was why he could not assist with his son's endeavors—this was the classic ostrich mentality.

Precisely because of this, Jia Fanghao raised not a single objection when his son announced he would no longer live at home. On the contrary, he remained entirely silent, acting as though he were still bedridden and unwilling to speak.

Yu Luoli, however, spoke up out of genuine-seeming concern. "Are you moving to the restaurant? But there are too many people and it's too chaotic there. How could it possibly be as comfortable as home?"

"It's fine. With Chang Chao and the others taking care of things, I won't wrong myself." Jia Ping'an smiled and shook his head to indicate there was no issue. In truth, he was also using this declaration to signal to the two elders that his mind was made up and his decision was final; he would not change it.

Realizing that if Jia Ping'an stopped living at home, making the Gu worms take effect would become even more difficult, Yu Luoli wanted to say more. At that moment, however, Jia Rongrong spoke up first: "Does big brother not like Rongrong anymore?"

"Of course not. I like Rongrong the best. Besides, I'm just living at the restaurant, and it's not far from home. If Rongrong misses big brother, you can come and find me to play anytime, and I'll bring you lots of delicious food." Jia Ping'an was extremely fond of his little sister. He enjoyed her spoiled coquetting just as much and showed her endless patience.

"Ah, then Rongrong wants to live at the restaurant too and eat lots of delicious food!" Upon hearing the word "food," Jia Rongrong, a self-proclaimed little foodie, instantly changed her tune.

"Absolutely not!"

This time, Yu Luoli intervened, her attitude resolute and her tone exceptionally firm.

A young lady of a good family should not be going out to show her face in public before she was married.

Besides, although the Jia family had suffered hardships, their days were getting better by the day, and there was no need for Rongrong to do anything. All she needed to do was look pretty and wait to be married off to a family of matching social status in the future.

"Mm." Jia Rongrong pouted, evidently quite displeased. Yet, daring not to disobey her mother's words, she could only give a weak assent, then lowered her head to eat, looking rather dejected.

At this, Jia Ping'an said nothing. Aunt Yu was doing this for Rongrong's own good, and as an elder brother, it was naturally not his place to interrupt when an elder was disciplining a child. But if the opportunity arose in the future, he would still take his sister to the restaurant more often. In his eyes, whether a boy or a girl, gaining more exposure and broadening one's horizons could never be wrong.

No matter the notion that a woman should follow her rooster if she marries a rooster, or follow her husband if she marries a husband—in Jia Ping'an's eyes, this was nothing more than an outdated custom. He could not control others, but when it came to his own sister, he was determined to ensure her happiness.

To avoid trouble, Jia Ping'an left the Jia residence. After packing his things, Chang Chao accompanied him to the restaurant. In the backyard here, a spacious courtyard had long been prepared, reserved entirely for Jia Ping'an's personal use.

The Third Storey was not merely a restaurant; it was also an inn, featuring several courtyards designated simply as heaven-tier rooms. This fully demonstrated Jia Ping'an's high expectations for the Third Storey, as if he were entirely certain that distinguished guests would eventually come here to stay.

Once Jia Ping'an moved into the restaurant, it became much more convenient to conduct physical training for the staff. Through his persistent efforts, as the days passed, the physiques and deportment of the forty-eight young women underwent a dramatic transformation. Moreover, with their nutrition finally adequate, their complexions shifted from the original sallow and pale to increasingly rosy hues.

Bai Ruolan was now able to skillfully play *Ambush from Ten Sides*. Because of her proficiency, she felt an even greater sense of adoration for Jia Ping'an.

She understood profoundly how rare the emergence of a musical piece truly was, let alone a masterwork destined to be passed down through the ages—such creations were unimaginably precious.

Yet a composition capable of enduring for centuries, or even longer, had actually been brought into the world through her hands. That was undoubtedly a supreme honor. Before long, owing to this very piece, her name would quickly resound across the lands, becoming known to all.

The thought that she possessed such a distinction filled Bai Ruolan's heart with sweetness. Consequently, every time she saw Jia Ping'an, her heart overflowed with gratitude. Naturally, she also felt a lingering nervousness, especially whenever she recalled that fateful night and the turbulent inner monologue she had experienced, which invariably made her blush and her heart flutter.

While Bai Ruolan was undeniably beautiful—and Jia Ping'an certainly appreciated beauty—taking her as a woman for that reason alone was not something he would do.

Putting aside their differences in status, there was her age: Bai Ruolan was only sixteen, an age that failed to stir any romantic inclinations in Jia Ping'an.

At such an age, back in his past life, she would probably just be starting high school. To harbor improper thoughts toward such a young girl made Jia Ping'an feel like a beast; he simply could not bring himself to act.

Since he could not even cross the hurdle within his own heart, how could he speak of any physical actions or advances? Therefore, Jia Ping'an treated her with an ordinary, composed demeanor. Bai Ruolan, however, struggled to suppress her affection, growing flustered every time she laid eyes on him.

Jia Ping'an actually sensed something of her feelings, but he was well-versed in the intricacies of women's minds; if certain things were spoken aloud, it would only ruin their ability to interact naturally. Thus, he chose to act as though nothing were amiss, merely thinking to himself that once Bai Ruolan grew up—at least past the age of eighteen—if the opportunity arose, he might indeed take her into his inner chambers.

Preparations for the Third Storey proceeded intensely. Three days before the grand opening, the New Year of the sixteenth year of Tianshun arrived.

The New Year, regardless of the era, was always the most bustling and joyous occasion.

True to form, Jia Ping'an spent this New Year together with everyone inside the restaurant.

Not only did his father, Aunt Yu, and younger sister Rongrong come to the restaurant, but Tong Weixing and Guo Tongfang were also personally invited by Jia Ping'an.

Since it was the New Year, naturally it ought to be celebrated lively and together. People were the one thing the restaurant did not lack; following Jia Ping'an's instructions, ten chefs had prepared an abundance of fine and novel dishes. Accompanied by the fifty young women bustling about, everyone gathered closely together in the soon-to-be-opened first-floor hall of the Third Storey.

No members of the Zheng family were present today; for the New Year, they had all returned to their own clan. Free of outsiders, Jia Ping'an felt a profound sense of relaxation wash over him.

Although Zheng Tongheng usually nodded and bowed whenever he saw him, addressing him respectfully as "Young Master" at every turn, Jia Ping'an knew very well in his heart that they were ultimately not people of the same path, each merely pursuing their own agendas. Even if Zheng Tongheng remained by his side, he undoubtedly carried other missions, such as monitoring Jia Ping'an's actions.

Jia Ping'an saw through such petty stratagems clearly, yet he never voiced them, knowing that speaking of certain things served no purpose. Naturally, there was an even more important reason: since they wished to use Zheng Tongheng to keep an eye on him, why couldn't he turn the tables and use Zheng Tongheng instead?

Some matters were not done yet simply because the time was not right, not because they could not be done.

Returning to the dining table: celebrating the New Year with so many people, where every single person was granted their own seat, brought a look of profound agitation and excitement to many eyes.

Performers and servants of this sort were, in truth, domestic slaves of the Jia family, belonging to a class that possessed virtually no human rights, their very lives entirely at the mercy of others.

If lives in Xuan State were to be divided by rank, they essentially occupied the absolute lowest rung of society—the kind of people whose deaths would not concern a single soul.

In other noble households, even during the New Year, they could never dream of sitting at the table; being tossed the leftover scraps of food from their masters' table would be considered the utmost benevolence.

Yet today, Jia Ping'an had permitted them to take seats at the table. Neither Master Tong nor Grandee Guo approved of this arrangement. However, because they were guests themselves, and these slaves were not seated at the exact same tables as them, they swallowed their aversion and suppressed their discontent purely out of respect for Jia Ping'an.

So what if he was an official who had fallen from grace?

So what if he had been exiled?

When all was said and thrown, they had once been officials, and as long as an opportunity arose, who could say they would never have the chance to return to Changdu and serve as officials once more?

Men of their standing could never possibly cast even the lowest of slaves into their eyes; bestowing upon them a single direct glance was completely out of the question.

Yet it was precisely Jia Ping'an's egalitarian approach—his attitude of treating the chefs and performers as genuine human beings—that brought tears to the eyes of many seated around the tables. They were not born slaves; they had been reduced to their current plight only after suffering various misfortunes.

Once upon a time, they too had stood tall as proud, dignified human beings.

It was just that... having served as slaves for so long, they had long since forgotten what it felt like to be treated as a person. Now, suddenly being accorded the status of human beings, they found themselves at a loss for how to express their thoughts and gratitude.

Jia Ping'an sensed it. Although these people said nothing at all, his keen observation had caught every detail.

Having served as a chief secretary, his ability to read expressions and gauge moods was top-tier; otherwise, he could never have competent mastery over such a position. Yet precisely because he felt it, Jia Ping'an remained completely silent.