The sound of firecrackers bids farewell to the old year.
Lin'an City is brightly lit and noisy, and there is also a sea of celebration outside the city.
Although most of the new urban area in the eastern suburbs is still a construction site, there are also 30,000 to 40,000 households living there.
The temporary houses they live in are uniformly built, made of cement bricks and cement prefabricated boards like building blocks. They are two feet wide, three feet long and nine feet high. They are as square as a matchbox. Even if there are five or six people in a family , can barely live in it.
Facing south, there are twelve rooms in a row. Basically, the heads of households are from the same class in the construction camp.
Yes, in order to facilitate management, Prince Yan's Mansion adopted a military establishment to organize construction workers. Each battalion formed a residential area, which was square and neat.
Although the houses are simple and simple, they are enough to protect them from wind, rain and cold. For the people who were mostly refugees, there is nothing they can't be satisfied with.
King Yan gave them generous wages, so the furnishings in the house were all purchased by each family. Most of them were produced by workshops affiliated to Prince Yan's Mansion and were of high quality and low price.
On weekdays, whether you are working in a construction camp or in a workshop, there is a collective canteen to provide meals.
All children over the age of six in each family, regardless of gender, must be sent to elementary school, pay a monthly fee, and have three meals a day.
As for the very young children and the elderly with limited mobility, if there is no one to take care of them at home, there are special day care centers that only cost the same amount per month.
In addition, these temporary residential areas also have commercial areas that provide a variety of goods and services.
The reason why an all-inclusive approach is not adopted is that, firstly, workers have a stable source of income, secondly, the idle labor force is allowed to play a role as much as possible, and thirdly, the money in the hands of workers is circulated.
This can not only promote economic development, but also maintain social vitality to prevent it from becoming rigid.
As a result, the workers who worked for King Yan earned more and spent more, becoming a consumer group that was deeply loved by Lin'an merchants.
During the Chinese New Year, the workers all got a total of seven days off, the first two days and the last five days. They bought enough New Year goods for their families. Although they couldn't eat in the canteen, each family also had stoves.
A group of twelve families moved out tables, chairs and stools and arranged them in a long row in front of the house. Then they made a large New Year's Eve dinner with a few dishes from your family and a few dishes from his family. Dozens of people sat around and enjoyed themselves.
Outdoors, even if there are many coal stoves and charcoal pots nearby, it is actually cold, but people's hearts are hot. When the dishes are cold, they will be reheated. This atmosphere is what they want.
The children, who put on new clothes, ran away after a few bites, and went into groups to play with fireworks in the open space.
Amidst the rumbling of firecrackers, people who had had enough to drink and eat were full of emotions about their current life.
"On New Year's Eve last year, our family of four huddled in a drafty shack and shared two grain cakes. We never imagined that we would be able to live such a good life of wine and meat."
"Hey, at that time I didn't even know how many days I had left to live, how could I dare to think about eating and drinking..."
"That's right. Don't say we were hit by a disaster and lost everything. Even before the disaster, I had never tasted alcohol."
"Haha, we are the same. If we are lucky, we can catch some shrimps and fish to make a tooth sacrifice. We have eaten meat, but this wine is beyond the reach of farmers like us."
"It's really like a dream. We don't know how many people are envious of us today."
"The day before yesterday, I went into Lin'an City to wander around. People saw that I was wearing construction camp clothes, and everyone was very friendly. Some people asked me if I had a family..."
"With your Majesty here, our lives will only get better and better."
"That's right, old man, I'll start, and everyone will fill up their glasses... and raise their glasses... to the great king's birthday!"
"Longevity for the great king! Drink victory!"
Everyone congratulated in unison, and their glasses were dry.
Immediately, as if a live fire was lit, the entire residential area erupted in congratulatory prayers, "Longevity for the king! Drink victory!"
Neighboring residential areas responded one after another, and then it seemed that the sky in the entire eastern suburbs resounded, "Longevity for the king! Drink victory!"
The joy and blessings floating in the air,
It's as strong as the smell of gunpowder smoke.
At this happy moment for thousands of families, a carriage was wandering alone on the road in the eastern suburbs.
In the carriage, Qian Xiaopang could only sit on the floor aggrievedly because Qian Duo thought he would crush the seat.
The dignified heir to the Qian family could only endure such unfair treatment.
"Sister, if we don't eat the reunion dinner and stay home to watch the New Year's Eve, will we be beaten to death by our father?"
"Are you scared?"
"How can you not be afraid? Even if you don't get beaten to death, kneeling in the ancestral hall is very fatal..."
"Then go back, I won't stop you."
"The city gate has been closed a long time ago. How do you want me to go back?" Qian Xiaopang frowned.
They sneaked out of their homes and hurried out of the city in front of the city gate. They had been wandering on this road for more than an hour.
If we keep strolling, it will be next year...
Qian Xiaopang glanced at Qian Duo with a straight face and couldn't help but said, "Sister, if you want to celebrate the New Year with His Highness, let's go quickly. What's the point of wandering around here."
"Who said I'm going to celebrate the New Year with that bastard? I, I just feel bored at home, so I came out to have fun..." Qian Duo was as stubborn as ever.
"My sister, I've already told you that you probably misunderstood His Highness's intentions. How could His Highness like someone you've never met before? Why do you have to be sulky when it's obviously nothing? What? Why bother?"
Qian Xiaopang shook his head, deeply feeling that his sister seemed to be getting more and more confused, especially when she got involved with Prince Yan, which would always give rise to a bunch of weird emotions.
"Even a blind person can see that in His Highness's heart, if you are not ranked second, you are still ranked third..."
"Huh!? What do you mean?" Qian Duo raised her eyebrows and widened her almond-shaped eyes. "It doesn't matter if I don't come first. You want me to rank third!? Besides Sister Wanwan, who else dares to rank? In front of me? Oh...I know..."
Qian Duo seemed to have thought of something. He jumped out of his seat and grabbed Qian Long's ears. "You follow him every day. You must know that he hides women outside and help him hide it from me." , What a shame, you little fat kid has actually started to eat up everything!"
Qian Long was held up by the ears and couldn't laugh or cry, "Sister, what are you thinking about every day? As we all know, Princess Fengguo is His Highness's heartthrob. She always ranks first and no one can take her away."
"That little bean sprout..." Before he could finish his words, Qian Duo himself was discouraged and let go of Qian Long's ears, "Well, seeing how pitiful she is, I won't argue with her."
"So, if His Highness chooses to be the first wife, it will be either you or Sister Wanwan. Of course, I think Sister Wanwan is more likely... No, Sister Wanwan is more likely to be you."
Qian Xiaopang realized that he had said the wrong thing again and quickly corrected himself.
I thought I was going to suffer again, but after waiting for a long time without any movement, I turned my head and found that Qian Duo had sat back and didn't look angry, but there was a little loneliness between his eyebrows.
It seems that the elder sister has admitted in her heart that Wanwan is ahead of her...
Qian Xiaopang actually felt sorry for his sister, "Sister, didn't my aunt say two days ago that she will definitely find a way to make you the main wife, don't be discouraged."
Qian Duo seemed not to hear it and had no reaction at all.
He wanted to comfort him, but he was asking for trouble. Qian Xiaopang couldn't help but said, "Sister, can we go to Prince Yan's Mansion now?"
"Yeah." Qian Duo looked out the window and only responded softly.
Qian Long got up happily, walked to the front wall of the carriage, opened a small window, "Go to Prince Yan's Mansion!"
The carriage was already wandering around not far from the palace, and it arrived soon. When the guards saw Qian Long and Qian Duo in the carriage, they let them go.
The two siblings got off the carriage and came to the garden where Zhao Mengqi lived. They saw Huang Gou standing in the yard, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, handing out red envelopes to the maids and servants who were queuing up.
Fatty Qian was immediately startled, and with an agility that was totally out of proportion to his size, he dodged in front of Huang Gou, stretched out his fat hand, "Old Huang, congratulations on getting rich, bring me the red envelope."
"Ah, Qian Langjun, you
Aren't you celebrating the New Year at home? Could it be that he came here specifically for this red envelope..."
Talking and laughing, Huang Gou put a red brocade bag in Xiaopang's hand and said, "Good luck in the new year."
Qian Xiaopang couldn't wait to untie the brocade bag and poured out the two gold coins contained in it. When he saw the inscription "Dang Bai Guan" on it, he immediately laughed out loud, "Your Highness is so majestic... These new gold coins made by the Royal Bank are really beautiful. !...By the way, where is Your Highness?"
Huang Gou raised his chin towards the three-story attic behind him, "Hey, Alang and the young lady are both on the roof."
"The roof? It's not too windy..." Qian Xiaopang muttered and looked up.
Zhao Mengqi was banned and did not go to the palace to celebrate New Year's Eve. In order to accompany his brother, Zhao Yu did not return to the Rongwang Villa in Lin'an City.
On a whim, Zhao Mengqi wanted his sister to have a different New Year's Eve, so he took her to the top of the highest building in the palace.
The brother and sister sat side by side on the ridge of the roof, looking at the lights of thousands of houses and the brightness of the world with great interest.
A cluster of particularly dazzling fiery flowers bloomed in the distance. Zhao Han clapped her hands in excitement, "Fourth brother, look, it's so beautiful there."
"Are you pretty? If you like it, can fourth brother make you something more beautiful?" Zhao Mengqi rubbed his sister's little head.
At this time, I heard movement behind me, turned around and saw Qian Duo's head popping up from the eaves.
"Coming? Be careful..."
Zhao Mengqi walked over on the tile surface and brought Qian Duo over.
"You're all right, what are you doing up here? If you fall down, your life will be gone..."
Qian Duo muttered, and sat down with Zhao Mengqi. He pretended to be afraid, and moved closer to Zhao Mengqi.
Zhao Mengqi smiled, put his arms around her waist and pulled her, "If you are still afraid, just hug me. Even if you fall, you will die."
At this moment, all the unhappiness in Qian Duo's heart disappeared, "I don't want it."
I don’t know what she doesn’t want.
Zhao Mengqi did not ask any further questions, "You came just in time, you are already seated..."
Immediately, he put his fingers into his mouth and blew a loud whistle.
For a moment, the entire palace fell silent, and then, with the sound of thunder, a bright light roared into the sky in front of their eyes.
After rising to a high altitude, the speed of the light seemed to slow down, and then suddenly there was a "bang" sound, and a golden flower suddenly bloomed, lighting up the entire night sky.
"So beautiful!" Qian Duo hugged Zhao Mengqi's arm tightly, his body trembling slightly.
Zhao Han opened his mouth half-opened, his face full of shock, his eyes widened for a long time without blinking, "Wow..."
Then, with a loud rumbling sound, one after another bright lights rushed into the sky, blooming one by one at the highest point, like a goddess scattering flowers, or like many peacocks competing to open their tails.
Colorful, blooming one after another, red like fire, yellow like gold, white like snow, green like grass...
Some are like fireballs, some are like silver snakes, some are like ears of rice, and they are more like flowers blooming and shooting stars falling like rain.
The night sky in Lin'an has never been so beautiful and gorgeous.
At this moment, all the Lin'an people who were alarmed by the sound walked out of their houses one after another and looked at the sky. They were all immersed in this beauty and could not extricate themselves for a long time.
Zhao Guan's family was also extremely surprised at this time. Without thinking too much, he knew that it was his son's handiwork. He couldn't help but laugh, "This brat can do things that shock the world even if he is locked up..."
