Looking at his aggrieved younger sister, Xu Di felt as if his heart was being soaked in a pool of spring water, both comfortable and tender. He felt that his sister was the best sister in the world.

Xu Di said softly, "We're not going to take the imperial examination to become the top scholar. What's the use of memorizing all this? Our parents and brother are teaching us, Xiao Jiu, to read and write so that we can understand things. In the future, as long as we, Xiao Jiu, can live a good life and enjoy life, that's enough."

Granny Lu was doing needlework on the kang (heated brick bed), making a new cotton-padded jacket for Xu Zhi. Listening to the brother and sister's conversation, she felt a wave of helplessness. Her reputation as the top-notch governess in the capital was probably going to end with this little dumpling.

After the first snow, the weather grew colder and colder, and the atmosphere along the border became tense, not only at Yanmen Pass but also throughout the entire region.

Xu Zhi naturally couldn't feel any of this. She stayed at home all day. Her parents were often not home during the day, but her brother was. He would take her to see the plants that had sprouted or even started to grow. When her parents came home in the evening, the whole family would sit together and have a lively meal. After dinner, they would wash up in the warm house, and then her parents would take her to read books, and her father would help her practice calligraphy. She lived a very leisurely life.

Xu Zhi's birthday is on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, which is also the Little New Year. On this day, Zhang Zhaoci rolled out longevity noodles for her early in the morning. Xu Di took out the birthday gift he had prepared, and Xu Rao made a thick album for Xu Zhi. On the fourth page, he wrote birthday wishes for Xu Zhi and handed it to her, saying that she should write birthday wishes in it every year on her birthday. Xu Zhi treasured the album and put it in the box where she kept her precious items.

During the day, Xu Zhi celebrated her fifth birthday, and in the evening, it was time to bid farewell to the Kitchen God. Every household had to send the Kitchen God to heaven on this day. Before it was even completely dark, the sound of firecrackers could be heard from near and far.

Xu Zhi followed Xu Di and set off firecrackers in the front yard. They then returned and kowtowed to the Kitchen God together. After the incense in front of the Kitchen God's statue burned out, Granny Lu took down the offerings placed in front of the Kitchen God's statue and distributed them to everyone.

Xu Zhi loved eating candy made from malt, which was white and sweet, along with two kinds of fruit and several kinds of fried dough.

After the Little New Year, the festive atmosphere on the streets became even stronger. Zhang Zhaoci even took Xu Zhi out for a stroll. It was the first time Xu Zhi had ever walked on such a lively street in both her lives, and she was very excited. When Xu Rao returned in the evening, Zhang Zhaoci talked to her for a long time, which made Xu Rao feel extremely sorry for her. Every family takes their children out from a young age, afraid that they will miss out on opportunities to see the world. But now, it's not so bad for boys. Girls have to stay at home all day, never leaving the house. How stifled her daughter must be!

Xu Zhi went to bed early that night. She had been so excited all day that she couldn't stay awake any longer.

Looking at the little girl lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), Xu Rao said to Zhang Zhaoci with heartache, "Just go for a walk in the street, look how happy the little girl is. We should take her out to see the world more often in the future."

Zhang Zhaoci was organizing the medical records of a frostbite patient he had treated at the General's Mansion during the day when he heard Xu Rao's words and said, "Isn't this how it is now? If we go too far, it won't be good for the child either."

Xu Rao said, "I know that. I just think we can sneak her out. When Xiao Jiu is a little older, we can dress her up as a little boy and take her out like that. Anyway, we can't always keep the child locked up at home. Even the smartest child can become stupid if locked up at home for too long."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."

Xu Rao lay on the warm kang and said, "The New Year is just around the corner. I feel like the past six months have gone by so fast. I don't feel like I've done anything. It's all gone in a flash. When spring comes next year, let's hurry up and plant those corn and sweet potatoes. Let's see how they are. If they are good, we'll promote them on a large scale. When people have grain in their hands, they will feel that life is better and they have hope for the future."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "And those seeds that Xu Di planted, I think there are tomatoes in them. Oh my, I've been craving scrambled eggs with tomatoes so much."

Xu Rao said, "It's not just you who wants it, I want it too. And then there's the chili pepper. With the chili pepper, let's make a spicy hot pot to try. There's the freshest beef and mutton outside the pass. We'll slice it thinly and lightly blanch it in the spicy broth. Oh, I can't talk to you anymore, or I really won't be able to sleep."

Zhang Zhaoci said with a smile, "It must have been tough for you, a famous gourmand, to have spent half a year here living a life of bland food and water."

Xu Rao said, "Once these chilies are grown, we'll develop hot pot soup bases. My soup bases are very authentic. Then we'll open hot pot restaurants, we'll open a chain, we'll open them all over Daliang, and we'll even open them overseas."

Zhang Zhaoci laughed out loud, then quickly covered her mouth, afraid of waking Xu Zhi who was already asleep.

The seeds that Xu Di planted in the wooden box have all grown into plants. Xu Di even built trellises for some of the vines that were about to climb, but because the sunlight was really not good, they are almost flowering time and are not blooming very well.

Spinach and cilantro are great. In the morning, when I'm making noodles, I pick a couple of tender spinach leaves, wash them, and throw them in when they're ready to be taken out of the pot. They're so fresh and green, they make my mouth water just looking at them.

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