On New Year's Eve, the Tang Dynasty also had the custom of reunion and keeping the year old.
The Duke's Mansion became lively early in the morning. The servants stood outside the door of Li Qinzai's room, waiting for the fifth young master to get up at three o'clock in the morning, and then congratulated the young master on the New Year.
Of course, as the young master, the servants have already said auspicious words, so they must express it.
So the servants lined up outside the door. Every time a person came in and said a few auspicious words, Li Qinzai took a copper coin strung with a colorful rope from the table. The number of copper coins was uniform, most of which were more than ten coins. Around that, it can be regarded as a year-end bonus of thirteen salary to the servants.
In the past, trivial matters like this in the Duke's Mansion were handled by Li Qinzai's mother, Li Cui. As the mistress in charge of the government's accounts, it was naturally not anyone else's turn to send red envelopes to the servants.
It's a pity that Li Siwen and his wife went to Runzhou to serve as officials. Apart from the husband, the only one left in the mansion was the Fifth Young Master. This year, the Fifth Young Master took over the job.
One after another, the servants stood outside the door and stamped their feet in the cold. One went in, came out in a moment, and then immediately rushed into the next one, like a women's restroom in a shopping mall with a lot of customers.
Li Qinzai became impatient when he reached the fifteenth servant. .
Those who work hard govern others, and those who work hard govern others.
I am a hardworking person, and I am still a freshly baked and steaming Qinfeng county son. Why should I be allowed to do such physical work?
The sixteenth figure rushed in and bowed as he entered: "Congratulations on the New Year, may the country be peaceful and the people be safe, may my father be blessed and live long, may you have children and grandchildren..."
Li Qinzai's old face darkened, and when he took a closer look, he saw that it was Qiao'er.
"Qiao'er, as for having a son, I can barely do it next year if I work hard, but you have to rely on yourself to have a grandson..." Li Qinzai sighed.
Qiao'er blinked innocently: "Can Qiao'er also have one next year?"
Li Qinzai thought for a while and said seriously: "It's a bit difficult. It may take some years."
"Qiao'er can't do it even if she tries hard?"
"Some things become more despairing after hard work. When you grow all your hair, we, father and son, can almost talk about this topic."
The topic was too abstruse for Qiao'er to understand, so he simply didn't bother to ask. He held it in front of Li Qinzai with both hands and said, "Dad, give me the money."
"Can you open up the situation? You are the son of the county magistrate after all, and you are so worthless by hanging out with your servants to cheat money."
Li Qinzai smiled evilly: "I don't need any money, but for my father, I worked overtime last night and made you a big gift with my own hands. It's a gift that belongs exclusively to Qiao'er."
Qiao'er asked in surprise: "What is it?"
Li Qinzai pulled out a stack of paper from the chair under his buttocks like a magic trick and said: "Selected elementary school math Olympiad questions! There are a hundred questions in total, so difficult that you will doubt your life! Are you surprised? Are you surprised?"
Qiao'er's expression suddenly changed, she got up and ran away subconsciously, but Li Qinzai quickly grabbed her by the collar and picked her up.
"It's a gift from the elders, and you can't refuse it. It's a gift made by my father. It's so rude of you to turn around and run away. Take it! I'll start working on the questions tomorrow morning. I'll check it in the evening for my father's sake."
Qiao'er took it with a sad face.
"Why are you so stupid? You haven't said thank you yet."
"...Thank you, dad." Qiao'er's eyes sparkled.
"Shouldn't you be happy to receive such a great gift? Smile."
Qiao'er struggled to smile, her cheeks shook, and two strings of tears fell down her cheeks.
"This kid is crying with joy. Go back to your room and do the questions." Li Qinzai said lovingly.
Qiao'er bowed her head and walked out of the room. The moment she walked out, Li Qinzai clearly saw Qiao'er slap herself in the face, very hard and loud.
At about this moment, he began to doubt his life and regretted why he sneaked in to cheat the red envelope.
Li Qinzai smiled brightly, what a sensible child, what a fulfilling and happy childhood.
…………
In the afternoon, a visitor came to the door.
The guest visiting was not Li Qinzai, but Li Ji.
This guest’s name is Li Yifu.
Li Yifu's visit was in the name of giving New Year's gifts. Loads of gifts were lined up outside the gate of the Duke's Mansion. Li Ji personally welcomed him out, holding Li Yifu's arm with both hands and laughing. His attitude was very kind, like an old friend he hadn't seen for many years.
Li Yifu entered the front hall and bowed to Li Ji to apologize before he sat down.
He looked guilty and frightened, and he admitted his mistakes very frankly. He bluntly said that he was obsessed with things and was bewitched by subordinate officials. He caused some trouble in the court and unintentionally offended Jun Yunyun, the young man of your house.
Li Ji didn't take it seriously. He smiled and laughed away his grudges. The host and guest had a great time chatting with each other.
After apologizing, Li Yifu said goodbye. Li Ji personally sent him out the door, holding his hand and sincerely saying that we are all officials in the same court, so don't take it seriously if there are some misunderstandings, and we must watch and help each other in the future.
After sending Li Yifu away, Li Qinzai quietly appeared next to Li Ji.
"Grandpa, this old guy doesn't look like a good person..." Li Qinzai stared at the carriageway away from Li Yifu.
Li Ji raised his hand and slapped him hard: "I am older than Li Yifu, am I also an old guy?"
"Grandpa, you can live to be two hundred years old, and you are still a young and tender boy now." Li Qinzai's mouth was very sweet.
Li Ji smiled. Although his grandson was a bastard, he had such a sweet mouth.
"Qin Zai, let's put the grudge with Li Yifu to rest. Don't provoke him in the future." Li Ji said seriously.
"What if he provokes me?"
"Then there's no need to be polite. People from the British government are not to be insulted."
"As Grandpa said, if Li Yifu provokes me in the future, my grandson will burn his whole family."
"Just pretend that I didn't say anything just now. When you see Li Yifu from now on, you will kneel down."
Grandfather and grandson looked at each other and smiled, and then the smile on Li Ji's face suddenly turned cold.
"I've even come to apologize, but I still can't let go, haha!"
"how do I say this?"
Li Ji stroked his beard and said slowly: "You are the one Li Yifu has offended, so he should apologize to you. From the time he came to the house to now, he has not mentioned a word to you, or even mentioned seeing you at all. He clearly still cares about you." Come on, the old guy is running rampant and will end badly sooner or later."
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, it's best not to apologize to your grandson. If he apologizes in person, your grandson will be embarrassed to take action if he becomes an enemy in the future."
Li Ji glanced at him and said: "Your Majesty issued an order yesterday to set up a firearms bureau in the suburbs of Beijing. He called on two hundred craftsmen to make gunpowder full-time. The supervisor was Li Jingxuan, the official of Tongping Zhang. Because you claimed to be lazy, your Majesty did not give you any. Arrange errands.”
Li Qinzai said nonchalantly: "My grandson has dedicated the secret recipe to His Majesty. I don't care what he wants to do."
Li Ji said slowly: "It's not that simple. Gunpowder was created in your hands. Although you don't have an official position in the Firearms Bureau, many things cannot go around you. You will have to deal with Li Jingxuan in the future."
"Who is Li Jingxuan?"
"He is His Majesty's true confidant. When His Majesty was in Qianlong, he was His Majesty's attendant. He was the right concubine of the Crown Prince Leiqian and a bachelor of Hongwen Hall. He will definitely be the prime minister in the future."
"It's the New Year's Eve. Will my grandson go to his house and kneel down for him?"
Li Ji was so angry that he slapped him again: "How come a good person has a mouth!"
Suddenly, there was the sound of gongs and drums outside the house. Li Ji was startled and suddenly smiled: "It's another year..."
Li Qinzai bowed respectfully to Li Ji and said, "Grandpa, happy New Year."
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