The remaining few days were much easier. I went to work and Huimin Pharmacy and the wine shop were on the right track. There are just too many orders for alcohol, and the three of us have to work overtime every day.
There is no point in rushing this thing. There are no suitable candidates to add in, and Zheng Xiong does not intend to expand the manpower. Maybe there will be a commercial spy among the people recruited.
On New Year's Eve, Zheng Xiong prepared about ten tables. Most of the food is steamed, and the meat is mainly beef, mutton, chicken and duck. Green vegetables are a luxury item in this cold winter month. They all have to be specially preserved and there’s not enough for me to eat, let alone sell. There are only a few things that are durable and are kept until winter to sell for money. The price is too expensive. Even if you have money and want to eat, you can't buy it in other winters.
It’s not rich, and there’s no fresh river food, except for a few kinds of fish. The hungry people were unwilling to eat it because it was too fishy. Also eat oil, salt, and various seasonings to remove the fishy smell to make it delicious. In this ancient time when supplies were extremely scarce, some people could not afford even food or salt.
Seafood does not have these problems. Simply steaming it is delicious, and it also requires oil and salt. However, the biggest problem is transportation. It smells bad before it is halfway through.
Zheng Xiong also understood the situation and went to the restaurant to ask when he had nothing to do in the past two days.
I didn't care for a while.
But after I came back, I couldn’t help but think of all the delicacies of later generations.
I haven't noticed it after traveling for so long. I must be used to it in this life, and my body's instincts don't feel monotonous. Zheng Xiong was also busy, so he didn't feel bored.
Having these banquets this time has awakened my foodie nature. If I have money and leisure, I really don’t know what to do except eat, but now is not the time to think about that.
Even so, everyone present was very satisfied with the food, and some low-alcohol wine from the wine shop was also brought out.
Everyone exchanged cups, ate meat and drank wine. Some people even started crying while eating. Thinking about the days when they were hungry and satiated over the years, this was probably the best meal they had ever eaten in their lives.
Can wine allow people to express their inner true emotions? With a grateful heart, they frequently toast to Zheng Xiong.
There are too many people, and after one drink, there will be a second drink, and the low-alcohol wine cannot withstand the brewing. Besides, Zheng Xiong’s drinking capacity was not good either. He slipped under the table within a few rounds.
Seeing that Zheng Xiong was drunk, several people at the table quickly helped Zheng Xiong to the bed in the side hall. Now that I have money, I specially bought two beds considering the special nature of the night shift. It allows everyone to take turns to rest, but not many people use it. It is basically exclusive to Zheng Xiong.
After Zheng Xiong was settled, the group of people quickly returned to the wine table. There was good wine and good food, and it would be a loss if you didn't eat.
Without Zheng Xiong, everyone was more open-minded.
As we chatted, we talked about Zheng Xiong.
"Master Tiling is such a good person. It's good for people like us to have food and drink. Since I met Master Tiling and paid wages, not only has the whole family had enough to eat and drink, but with the reward, it can also be given to our family. Those boys are going to get some new clothes."
"Me too, I have never had such a meal since I was a child. It is really good for us that Mr. Tiling can prepare this banquet for us. When those officials saw us, every one of them had their nostrils turned upward. , Fortunately, after a hard day’s work, we still have to peel off a layer of skin from our bodies. Sir Ti Ling, I admire you from the bottom of my heart. From now on, we will only follow Ti Ling’s lead. If we violate this intention, God will strike with five thunderbolts.”
On top of the alcohol, the man became more and more excited as he spoke, and directly launched the oath. In this age where we believe in gods and goddesses, oaths can be the most powerful words.
"You're right, we only have this life, and we will sell it to Lord Tiling for the rest of our lives. If anyone has trouble with Lord Tiling, just step over me."
All the people were also drunk and expressed their allegiance. I was led to a rhythm unknowingly, so what if I knew I was being led to a rhythm? Isn’t it my true thoughts?
I slept until evening and rubbed my sore head. It took me a while to realize that I was afraid that I might have lost my drink, which would really embarrass the time traveler. With the average level of Dionysus among time travellers, I really was his younger brother.
When you get up and go home, the bed at home is the warmest and most comfortable, and other people's beds are always a bit uncomfortable.
Approaching the main courtyard, he explained the New Year arrangements.
The people on duty were more respectful than before.
Prestige is invisible, but it is reflected in every aspect.
I was a little confused, so I just ate one meal, what about it?
Little did he know that he had a group of loyal younger brothers, and the rhythmic man didn't even know his name.
I got up early the next day, not daring to eat or drink water. After a big court meeting, it can really make you choke to death. A small eighth-grade official would not dare to say anything. Enter from the outer city to the inner city.
At about three o'clock in the morning, the ministers came to wait outside the Meridian Gate. The Meridian Gate is the main entrance to the Forbidden City. In the middle of the main entrance is the royal road, which is usually closed. About two gates are used for flag schools guarded by generals and guards on duty. There is one door on the left and right, called the left door and the right door, which are the gates for entering the court meeting.
The upper floor of the Meridian Gate is called "Five Peaks", with bells and drums set up, and the eunuchs responsible for the bells and drums are in charge.
The next step is to wait. There are special rooms for high-level officials in the three provinces and six departments. As a small official, he could only tremble in the small room with everyone.
In order to make it easier for officials to wait "for leaks", the imperial court built multiple rooms in the imperial city. Officials would sit according to their rank and wait for the palace door to open.
Officials began entering the palace around 5 a.m. Civil servants enter from the "men" on the left, and officers enter from the "men" on the right. First, sort by grade on the south side of Jinshui Bridge.
After being flogged, they crossed the bridge one by one and came to Fengtianmen Red Palace, where the civil servants were from the left class and the officers were from the right class. During this time, the Kingsguard are on guard and anyone coughing, spitting, crowded or disorganized will be logged for treatment.
The center of the throne on the Tianmen Corridor is known as the "golden platform". To the left and right of the steps are the bands of drum and bell masters, and the temple is decorated with "generals" in full armor, while the officials and civil and military officials on the imperial road are standing there with knives and military flags. When Lao Zhu arrived at the imperial gate, he was led by the sound of bells and drums and sat on the throne in front of the palace.
Let two people go inside, one person holding an umbrella and standing on the seat, the other person holding "five cups", mixed with two fans, standing in the middle behind the seat.
Then Honglu Temple "sings" to enter the class, and the left and right civil and military classes advance into the royal road side by side. At this time, the civil servants "go up north to west" and the military officers "go up north to east" and perform the salute of one bow and three kowtows, which is called "big class". The princes, consorts, and uncles formed their own group (the Xunqi Class), which was located in front of the military attache's class but slightly away from it.
It’s nothing, just a New Year’s greeting to the emperor. The emperor is happy and will let you have a meal.
Lao Zhu was in a good mood today and had a meal with everyone. Not delicious.
But everyone came hungry, and they all ate to their heart's content.
The normal New Year greeting process is similar. You have dinner and go home.
Not bad, only two or three times a year, it’s a strange thing to see it for the first time. After the fall of Hu Weiyong and the chaos, it was terrifying to go to court every day. Don't dare to think, don't dare to think.
When I go home in the afternoon, the whole family gets together to have a meal during the Chinese New Year, which is warm and simple.
Many years later, looking back, things have changed. The dullness of today may not be the most missed time in the future.
Parents from previous lives, how are you? My son misses you.
