“This is my New Year’s gift to you. We are not saints, but we can learn from them.”
Su Yan took the words and felt ashamed. "I will reflect on myself every day."
Ye Panjiu patted his shoulder, "Alright, it's rare to have a few days off during the New Year, don't be too hard on yourself."
Su Yan carefully put the words away and placed them in his pocket. He looked at her and said, "A casual chat with you is enough to make me feel relaxed."
Ye Panjiu turned her gaze away from him, "That's good then."
She also felt quite comfortable chatting with him.
As dusk fell, Madam Liu was still diligently stirring the food in the kitchen, using iron pots, earthenware pots, and steamers.
The other members of the Ye family also assisted, working busily and enthusiastically.
It was at this moment that Mu Gu followed Duan Jingcheng to the Ye family.
Ye Panjiu went to open the door, and the good-for-nothing Prime Minister Su naturally followed her to the door.
The moment the door opened, Mu Gu's smile froze after only two seconds. "Lord Su..."
Ah! What is this great demon doing here?!
Duan Jingcheng's already smiling face widened with nervousness upon seeing Su Yan, and he excitedly exclaimed, "Senior Brother! It's been several days since we parted in the capital, and I've missed you terribly!"
Ye Panjiu raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Su Yan.
Su Yan smiled and said, "There are no adults here today, so please come in quickly."
Mu Gu dashed in, keeping a safe distance from Su Yan.
Ye Taohua, who was just coming out to set up the charcoal stall, looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, "Doctor, why are you so afraid of Uncle Su?"
It's as if he can eat people.
Mu Gu glanced at her, then hid behind her. "That old fox is ruthless! I'm afraid he'll sell me out one day and I'll still have to count the money for him!"
With a mind so focused on medicine and completely clueless about political maneuvering, he was terrified of Su Yan.
Ye Taohua shook her head, "How could that be? Uncle Su is so nice, he's not as scary as you described."
Mu Gu looked at her as if she were a monster, "Tsk tsk tsk."
Why does this person's head seem even more straight than his?
Ye Panjiu gestured for Duan Jingcheng to sit down. The dining hall in this house was very large, with a large round table that was big enough for everyone to sit down.
Su Yan clung to her and insisted on sitting next to her.
Duan Jingcheng waved his hand, "I'll sit next to my senior brother."
Ye Panjiu shook her head as she looked at his fanatical fanboy.
The contrast is quite striking. In public, Duan Jingcheng always maintains a composed and serious demeanor, but in front of Su Yan, it's as if you can see his tail wagging constantly.
The food was quickly served, and Old Man Ye and Old Woman Ye sat down at the head of the table, feeling a little embarrassed.
The eldest son's house is on the left, and the second son's house is on the right.
Mu Gu originally wanted to sit next to Duan Jingcheng, but when he saw Su Yan next to him, he chose a spot where he couldn't see Su Yan and was farther away from him.
It is located between the peach blossom and the osmanthus.
Ye Taohua looked at Ye Guihua and said to Mu Gu, "With you in the middle, it's not easy for the two of us to talk."
Mu Gu's butt seemed glued to the stool. "Then tell me, and I'll pass on your message."
Ye Taohua glared at him, "You really are..."
Mu Gu raised his hand, "I know, I'm a kind-hearted person who loves to help others and save lives."
Ye Taohua couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You're really shameless."
Mu Gu disagreed with this statement, saying, "I won't argue with you."
Hengtong and Yanyu sat together, focusing on their meal and listening to what others were saying.
Old Man Ye picked up a jar of imperial wine that he treasured, "On New Year's Eve, let's drink some good wine."
Su Yan stood up. "Uncle Ye, I've prepared some other wines. Please try them."
Yan Yu turned around and brought out four jars of wine. "Two of them are fruit wine, which won't give you a headache. The other two are strong liquor, which will make you drunk easily."
Old Man Ye happily put away his imperial wine.
This will allow him to brag about it to others for a long time.
"I'll have a bowl of strong liquor!"
Yan Yu poured him a bowl.
Old Man Ye picked up the bowl, ready to drink, but Old Woman Ye placed her chopsticks on the bowl and said, "Such a delicious New Year's Eve dinner, you're not going to eat anything and just drink? That won't do."
Mrs. Liu had been preparing for tonight's New Year's Eve dinner for a long time, repeatedly confirming with everyone what dishes to make to ensure that there was one dish that everyone liked the most.
Old Man Ye chuckled, "Good, good, this lamb chop looks delicious!"
The lamb chops were stewed with radishes, and the flavor was so delicious it warmed my blood.
Ye Panjiu had already eaten several dishes; she couldn't possibly refuse her sister-in-law's cooking.
Mu Gu ate very quickly. "If I had missed this meal tonight, I don't even want to think how much I would have regretted it."
Ye Guihua was amused by his wild eating habits.
Ye Taohua asked him, "Aren't you from the Imperial Hospital? Is the food in the palace really not as good as what my aunt cooks?"
Mu Gu kept eating with his chopsticks. "What a question! I'm just a royal physician. The palace doesn't cook for me. How would I know if it's good or not?"
Ye Taohua fell silent; she decided to just eat her own meal.
After pouring drinks for everyone, Yan Yu sat back down.
Neither he nor Hengtong drink alcohol.
It's not that I can't drink it, it's that I shouldn't drink it.
Duan Jingcheng stood up, holding his bowl of fruit wine. "Uncle Ye, Aunt Ye, let me toast you. If it weren't for you, I would definitely be all alone in the government office tonight, or eating with my men in an uncomfortable way. In any case, I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. Thank you!"
Old Man Ye stood up, holding his wine, and Old Woman Ye also stood up, holding her tea.
Old Man Ye said, "Jing Cheng, you're too kind. I hope you enjoy your meal tonight! The new year is just around the corner, let's have a drink together and wish you all the best in the new year!"
Everyone stood up laughing, and Mu Gu was the last to stand up, his mouth still bulging.
A dozen or so wine cups and teacups clinked together, then were put back together, transforming into a warm current that flowed into everyone's body.
The meal took a long time, with casual conversation taking place around the table.
The topics of conversation were wide-ranging and varied, including old men and women talking about things in the fields.
Su Yan and Duan Jingcheng listened very carefully, and their questions were also very important.
There were also casual conversations about raising children.
There are also various gossips and stories about what major events happened in Daliang this year.
Su Yan casually mentioned some gossip that everyone in the palace knew.
Ye Guihua and Ye Cuihua listened with sparkling eyes.
Ye Taohua didn't really care; she found watching Mu Gu eat more entertaining.
The meal took a full hour and a half, and it was almost midnight.
Ye Erniu was so drunk that he was staggering.
Old Man Ye was quite tall, but Ye Daniu was very steady. They went into the yard and hung up the firecrackers.
"A year is about to pass." Ye Panjiu stood by the window and looked at the view.
Su Yan watched her from the side; he hadn't drunk much and was quite sober.
"This year's Lunar New Year's Eve was the most lively I've ever experienced."
Ye Panjiu paused, then raised her hand and wrote the character "福" (fortune/blessing) on the glass window. "Me too."
The Chinese New Year is all about celebrating with the whole family; that's what makes it so lively.
All the loneliness and desolation of being alone was completely driven away.
Just as the clock struck midnight, Ye Daniu lit a tinderbox, and firecrackers crackled and popped.
The window was open, and some firecrackers that had jumped far away rushed in. Su Yan quickly pulled Ye Panjiu's arm and made her stand behind him.
He reached out and closed the window.
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