In the blink of an eye, the days passed day by day. The southernmost area of Mo Dynasty had become warmer, but it was still cold in the bustling capital.
"Master! Aunty! It's time to eat!"
"Hey! Here we come!"
There were sounds from inside and outside a simple wooden house. More than ten days have passed, and there seems to have been a big change here: houses that did not exist before have been built, land that did not exist for planting has been developed, and huts that did not exist before have also been built...
Life here is changing day by day, and it is also separated from the outside world.
"Wow, today's meal is much richer than usual." Chunxu rubbed his hands together impatiently.
"That's right. Master, don't you know what day it is today?" Li Xiran said with a smile.
Li Xiran today is different from the past. It seems that after starting a new life, Li Xiran, who was originally a maid, has become a peasant woman, and her complexion has improved a lot.
"What day?" Chunxu seemed to have forgotten what day it was.
"Look at the young master's memory. Today is the New Year's Day. Didn't you accompany Ziyuan outside the door last night and listen to the sound of fireworks outside." Mammy said with a smile.
After hearing this, Chunxu scratched the back of his head and said with a smile, "Look at my memory."
Li Xiran watched the young master's every move and smiled sweetly.
At this time, Ziyuan, who was being held by Granny Zhang, suddenly burst into tears.
"Oh, oh, oh, don't cry, don't cry." After saying that, Nanny Zhang hurriedly took out the rattle, but no matter how she shook it, the child didn't behave.
"Xi Ran, come and hold the child." After saying that, Nanny Zhang hurriedly handed the child to Li Xiran.
After Li Xiran took it, he changed his expression on Zi Yuan who was holding him in his arms. The child actually stopped.
"This kid is closer to Xi Ran." Nanny Zhang smiled.
These words reminded Li Xiran of the days when his master was still here. Looking at the table full of food, Xiran wished that his master could also eat these.
After thinking about it, Li Xiran seemed to have entered into his imagination, and only came back to his senses after Nanny Zhang and Chun Xu called out a few times.
"Xi Ran."
"Xi Ran."
"Ah? What's wrong?" Li Xiran looked at Nanny Zhang and Sun Chunxu in confusion.
"What are you thinking about?" Sun Chunxu asked with a smile on his face.
Li Xiran shook his head and said: "It's nothing, young master. I haven't been so happy for a long time."
"Xi Ran, mama, please call me Chunxu from now on. The young master sounds a little uncomfortable," Chunxu said.
"Okay, Master." Li Xiran smiled.
"My name is Chunxu." Sun Chunxu said with a slight smile.
Grandma Zhang on the side looked at Li Xiran's appearance and laughed together.
"Okay, Chunxu and Xi Ran, let's coax the children and have dinner." Nanny Zhang said.
"Hey." Li Xiran responded.
Their life away from the prosperous capital city still does not feel like a torture at all. On the contrary, every day they live here is fulfilling and enjoyable. Perhaps this is the real reason why many officials like to live in seclusion.
After the meal, Sun Chunxu came outside the wooden house alone. Looking at the leafless grass around him and the trees frozen in the snow, he instantly fell into fantasy. . .
But this side of the capital is indeed extremely prosperous. There are vendors selling novelty gadgets on the street, and there are also urchins lighting firecrackers on the street. People are coming and going on the street, which is very lively.
However, Sun Zhicai, the seemingly happy master of Sun Mansion, seemed to be full of sorrow in his heart.
"Master, today is the New Year, I am very happy." After saying that, Ma, the second wife of Sun Mansion, picked up a piece of bright-looking pork belly and put it on the plate in front of the master: "Master, this is your favorite pork belly , try it, it tastes the same as last year, it hasn’t changed at all.”
The second wife, Ma, who originally thought that this piece of pork would restore the master's mood, was a little bit surprised.
Mr. Sun probably didn't say a word. He looked straight at the pork on the plate in front of him, without blinking his eyebrows or saying anything.
Seeing the Master like this, the Madam couldn't sit still and carefully pushed Master Sun with her elbows. However, all she got in return was a sidelong glance from the Master.
After thinking about it again and again, Mr. Sun finally couldn't sit still. Looking at his favorite braised pork, he had no appetite at all.
He stood up and looked at his two wives, two sons and second daughter with a kind look on his face: "You go ahead and eat. It's a holiday for everyone. I have no appetite, so I won't eat."
After saying that, Sun Zhicai walked towards his study as before.
Seeing the master walking away alone, the people at the dinner table seemed to have lost their appetite.
Madam He, who was in more pain than anyone else, choked up and looked at the children and the second lady with tears in her eyes, saying: "Master is right, today is the New Year, so you should be happy and have a good meal. "
As soon as he finished speaking, the eldest son Sun Junze took the lead, picked up the rice bowl, and continued to eat the food with tears in his eyes. . .
Mr. Sun walked to the study room, locked the doors and windows, sat on a mahogany chair that had long since lost its luster, and took out an old book from the drawer.
Carefully touching the words with dates on it, tears suddenly fell down one drop at a time, falling on the book. He burst into tears and whispered to himself: "Yan'er, dad misses you so much." , I shouldn’t have married you to the prince in the first place, it’s all my fault, dad, for not being able to think of a way to clear your grievances with the prince, dad can’t forgive you..."
As he spoke, unknowingly, the two spread pages were quickly stained with tears.
Seeing the family's mood this year, the eldest son Sun Junze said: "Mother, little mother, this is the first year that the new emperor ascends the throne. I want to participate in this year's general examination and seek an official position."
"Okay, try to be a good official and make your father happy." Madam Zheng said with a slight smile.
"My dear, I encourage you to pass the examination." The second lady said with a smile.
"Thank you, mother. I will definitely work hard."
"Luolin." The eldest lady shouted.
"Mom, I'm here." Sun Luolin raised his head and looked at his mother with a smile on his face.
"After this new year, mother, I hope you will cause less trouble and don't do what you did before."
"Yes, I promise."
Seeing that Sun Luolin was able to agree to this matter, Ma, as the second wife, said: "Chunxu was not sensible before and always said unreasonable things to you. I apologize for you. You also know , Chunxu is a stubborn kid, and it’s hard for me to say anything about him. He’s going to make his own way in the world, but you can’t imitate him and do something meaningful, whether it’s an official or a business, my mother will support you.”
"Yes, I understand, little lady." Sun Luolin responded readily.
Seeing that her two sons could be so sensible, the wife, as her own mother, felt a little relieved. . .
However, the Su Mansion is very different from the Sun Mansion at this moment.
Dozens of people from the Su family gathered in the courtyard, a banquet was served, and everyone looked at the play on the stage.
"Today's New Year, I'm going to toast to my father." After saying that, Su Runchen stood up and offered a toast to his father.
Su Yun, the master of the Su family who was sitting at the top of the mahogany table, smiled slightly and looked at his eldest son Su Runchen with a forced smile.
"You boy, my father has not yet settled the accounts with you for your last marriage. This glass of wine today will be your punishment. After drinking this glass and two more, my father will let you go." Su Yunqi said with a smile. .
Several colleagues at the same table, Su Yunqi, laughed happily as they watched the father and son's actions.
"Come, Mr. Su, Yang will also toast you a drink." A young official stood up, picked up the wine glass with a smile on his face, looked at Su Yunqi, and said: "Mr. Su, Yang wishes you better future. Sheng, you will have a successful career!" After saying that, the young official named Yang Youcheng drank the wine in the glass and looked at Su Yunqi with a smile on his face.
Yang Youcheng was from Lezhou. His family owed a lot of debt when he was young. Fortunately, he was a scholar. When he was desperate, Su Yunqi introduced him to the court and helped Yang Youcheng. He was admitted to the Juren Examination and later found a minor official. In addition, in the later period, he relied on his own efforts step by step to become today's Doctor of the Household Department, a member of the fifth rank.
"Thank you very much." Su Yunqi thanked him. After saying that, Su Yunqi raised his glass of wine, looked at the guests at the tables in front of him with a smile, and said with a happy face: "Thank you all for coming to my Su Mansion for the banquet today. You don't have to be polite today, just feel free to eat. .”
Seeing Su Yunqi raising his glass of wine, everyone sitting there picked up their wine glasses. The women of the Su Mansion across the curtain were no exception. They all raised their glasses and congratulated Su Yunqi.
After sitting down, Mrs. Fan of the Su family looked at Cen Yinzhu, who had just joined the family, with a smile on her face: "Yanzhi's daughter-in-law, today is your first year in our Su family. Just let go of everything. Like home.”
"Okay, madam." Cen Yinzhu said while eating and drinking.
Although the women of the Su family couldn't stand it, she was the eldest daughter of the Cen family after all, so the women had no choice but to show great affection to their fat and not-so-good-looking daughter-in-law.
