"Tangyaozi, let's go to Huguang County in a few days." Yang Ruoqing suddenly said.
"Almost every year, it is Brother Zuo, the elder brother, who takes the initiative to wish us New Year greetings."
"We haven't even taken the initiative to wish him New Year greetings. Every time I think about it, I feel so rude."
"So, I want to go to Zuojiazhuang, pay New Year's greetings to Brother Zuo's mother, and stay there for two or three days for a change of environment. What do you think?" she asked.
Luo Fengtang nodded: "Okay, I'll accompany you, and I'll prepare the gifts in the next two days."
Yang Ruoqing nodded.
"Before going to Zuojiazhuang, I want to go to the county first and say New Year's greetings to Magistrate Zou's family and Brother Xu Mang's family first. What do you think?" She asked him again.
Luo Fengtang nodded: "Well, let's finish the New Year greetings nearby first, and then go to Zuojiazhuang."
The decision was made, and before cooking dinner at night, Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang had already told the elders of the two families about their itinerary.
At this time, Blacksmith Luo and Wang Cuilian had already moved back to the old Luo family's house. After hearing this, the old couple immediately decided to move back tomorrow and help Tuoba Xian take care of the two children together.
After dinner, Mrs. Sun came over and filled the bamboo basket with a basket full of salted duck eggs.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Yang Ruoqing was surprised.
Sun smiled and said: "There are a hundred salted duck eggs here, all of which are red oil salted duck eggs that I pickle myself."
"You leave fifty of them for Brother Xu Mang's house for the children to eat, and take the rest to Mrs. Zuo so she can eat porridge in the morning and add some dishes."
"These are things that cannot be brought to the market, and they are not worth much money, but they are what our farmers like, and they are a little thoughtful. You can take them with you." Mrs. Sun said.
Yang Ruoqing nodded happily, "Mom, the salted duck eggs you made are one of our signature dishes at Tianxiang House. Bring them over, I'm sure they will like them."
Sun smiled and asked Yang Ruoqing: "When are you going to come home this time?"
"Your brother Da'an will go back to the county academy to study after he reaches his sixteenth birthday. I don't know when he will come back next time." Mrs. Sun said.
Thinking that Da'an could only stay at home for a few more days, Mrs. Sun couldn't help but show a bit of reluctance on her face.
Yang Ruoqing was also reluctant to give up, but,
"Mom, don't worry, Tang Yazi and I will be back before the Lantern Festival." She arrived.
Mrs. Sun nodded: "That's good. I'll prepare the glutinous rice dumplings you like to eat and wait for you at home."
Early the next morning, Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang set out for the county town loaded with New Year's gifts.
Seeing the young couple coming, Xu Mang's family was very happy, and they were busy killing chickens and fish to entertain them.
Yang Ruoqing went to the Zou family alone to pay New Year greetings.
"It's really unlucky for Miss Yang to come here today. My husband and his wife Tianma Liang took the young master to Cuiwei Mountain to the north of the county seat to worship Buddha."
"I will stay at the temple over there tonight, and I won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."
The Zou family's housekeeper received Yang Ruoqing and said.
Yang Ruoqing smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. I'll keep the gift to represent my feelings. I'd like to ask the old housekeeper to convey it to me."
Everyone likes to get a little sweetness. If you ask someone to convey something to you for nothing, there may be some omissions.
Yang Ruoqing took out two taels of silver and gave it to the old housekeeper.
"For New Year's Eve, here's a little thought from me. I'll buy you some wine." Yang Ruoqing said again.
When the old housekeeper saw the silver, the smile on his face suddenly became several times brighter than before.
"So, thank you very much." He accepted the money without ceremony and respectfully watched Yang Ruoqing leave.
After staying at Xu Mang's house for one night, Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang left for Zuojiazhuang early the next morning.
The car was driving very fast, trying to reach Zuo's house before noon.
Zuojiazhuang.
Zuo Junmo greeted Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang into the yard, and handed the carriage to a servant at home to take them to the backyard.
Zuo Junmo smiled when he saw the gifts in Luo Fengtang's hands and the basket full of salted duck eggs in Yang Ruoqing's arms.
"You can just come over and play. You really don't have to spend so much money. Look at these big and small bags, carrying them on your shoulders. Brother Yu is really..."
"Hey, Brother Zuo, this is nothing. They are all local specialties from some farmers. They are not worth a lot of money. Let's just have fun and celebrate the New Year!"
Yang Ruoqing said with a smile.
Zuo Junmo nodded: "Come, come in and drink tea."
Entering the house, Yang Ruoqing found that Mrs. Zuo was not in the main room.
"Where is the old lady? Have you gone to visit relatives and friends?" She put down the basket and asked.
Zuo Junmo was taking the best tea leaves to make tea. Hearing this, he turned around and said, "Maybe I've caught a cold these past two days and accumulated some food. My mother has had a bad appetite these past two days and has no strength. She has taken medicine." Then he was lying down in the backyard."
"Ah?" Yang Ruoqing was surprised, and then said: "I'll go take a look."
Zuo Junmo said: "Don't worry, you guys have come all the way here and haven't even had a sip of tea. Let's go after drinking tea."
Yang Ruoqing said: "I'll drink later, you two drink first, and I'll go see the old lady."
Zuo Junmo didn't know what to do. He was about to call the maid to come and lead the way. Yang Ruoqing waved her hand and said, "I'm familiar with your home, so you don't have to worry about it. You drink tea first, and I'll come back later."
After saying these words, she went to the backyard like a gust of wind.
In the backyard, at the door of Mrs. Zuo’s house.
The little maid who always accompanied the old lady was feeding a bird in a cage hanging on the porch at the door of the house.
Seeing Yang Ruoqing coming over, the little maid recognized him at a glance.
"Miss Yang, are you here?" She took the initiative to greet Yang Ruoqing.
Yang Ruoqing also raised her eyes and smiled gently at her, and said in a low voice: "I just arrived. I heard from Brother Zuo that the old lady is ill. I'll come over and take a look."
After saying that, she turned her gaze to the half-open door behind the little maid and whispered: "Is she asleep or awake at the moment?"
The little maid said: "I just fell asleep for a while..."
Yang Ruoqing was about to say that since she fell asleep, she could only wait a while before coming back, when Mrs. Zuo's voice suddenly came from inside the room.
"But Qing'er is here? Come in quickly."
"Ah, I just woke up again." The little maid's eyes lit up and she quickly greeted Yang Ruoqing into the house.
Inside the house, I smelled a strong smell of medicine as soon as I walked in.
On the bed over there, Mrs. Zuo had already sat up and leaned on the big pillow behind her.
"Oh, my ancestors, the doctor said your stomach can't get cold anymore, why are you sitting up wearing only one piece of clothing?"
The little maid screamed and quickly picked up the large cotton-padded jacket on the side and put it on Mrs. Zuo.
Mrs. Zuo's eyes kept falling on Yang Ruoqing who had just entered the door.
"Qing'er, come and sit here." She greeted Yang Ruoqing.
"Hey, okay." Yang Ruoqing responded, took a stool and sat beside the bed.
Mrs. Zuo gently pushed away the little maid who had brought a hand warmer again, and said: "I am lying under the quilt, how could I be so cold? Don't be too busy taking care of me, give Qing'er some care first Make tea and get pastries!”
