Chapter 298 New Year's Eve Dinner

Yue Zhi said again.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wen has handed me a letter from the Queen from Qingzhou."

After saying that, he took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Pei Luoshu with both hands.

Pei Luoshu showed joy on his face, took the letter and opened it.

Traveling in winter is difficult, and coupled with the recent political unrest, Chen Shiyi plans to spend the New Year in Qingzhou this year in order to reduce his burden.

Pei Luoshu held the letter in his hand, and gradually his palms exerted force, causing wrinkles on the letter paper.

"Yue Zhi, do you know what I am thinking right now?"

"I don't know."

"I did all this so that I could be with her forever, without any threats from anyone, and she could do whatever she wanted. But now, it's going the other way. I can hardly even see her now."

Yue Zhi comforted him.

"Your Majesty, why don't you write a letter and ask Prime Minister Wen to deliver it to the Queen to reassure her. After all, the Prime Minister has been in Kyoto for more than ten years, and he must have his own way."

Pei Luoshu's face suddenly looked a little bad.

"Yue Zhi, no matter what, you should connect that road in the next few days. There is no need to mention the Prime Minister anymore."

"yes."

As the New Year was approaching, Chen Shiyi prepared New Year's goods and gifts as usual, cut red paper and wrote couplets by himself. In this simple way, he, Fu Da and Jing Ran spent the New Year in Qingzhou.

She hadn't looked for Situ Yu for a long time, and no longer had the audacity to interfere with other people's lives.

Just before the New Year, I prepared a generous gift for him.

For the New Year’s Eve dinner, Chen Shiyi was the chef, Jingran was helping, and Fu Da was in charge of the cooking.

Fuda’s favorite dish recently is fried pigeon.

Just three simple words, but the process requires many steps.

Eight delicious dishes have been placed on the table, all simmering on a charcoal stove over a low fire. If the dishes get cold, they will not taste good.

Yesterday, I finally received a reply from Pei Luoshu.

He told himself about what had happened recently, solemnly apologized to himself, and promised that if everything went well, he would take himself back to the palace in just one year, once the stone under his feet was removed, and wished himself a happy spring.

Chen Shiyi didn't feel too sad or disappointed.

The two places are far apart, and many things are unpredictable.

Even if Pei Luoshu had not received this letter, she firmly believed that he must have had his reasons.

The wine tonight is very fragrant. I don’t know where Fu Da got it from.

"This is Bai Li Xiang, a strong liquor. Don't drink it. No one will take care of you here. Jing Ran and I, two grown men, won't do that."

Jing Ran thought it was okay.

"Boss, just drink. If you are really drunk, then you can bother Madam Situ. What's the harm? Besides, you may not get drunk."

The table was filled with delicacies and strong liquor. Chen Shiyi decided to drink a little. After all, it was New Year's Eve and they were all at home, and they were all family, so he was not afraid of making a fool of himself.

Chen Shiyi picked up the wine glass and licked it. There was a hint of spiciness on the tip of his tongue, which slid into his mouth and was very pungent. He didn't taste anything, but he wanted to take a second sip.

"Boss, you can't just drink, you have to eat the food too."

Chen Shiyi was scolded several times, and suddenly there was a knock on the door.

Several people looked at each other at the same time.

Who could it be?

Jing Ran opened the door, and outside was Situ Yu's family.

"Mr. Situ."

When Chen Shiyi heard Jingran's exclamation, he quickly stood up and ran to the door to greet him.

Outside the door, it was snowing lightly, and the awnings of several people were covered with snowflakes.

Situ Yu said with a smile.

"Ping'er said that she wanted to spend the New Year's Eve with you, so now she wants to have a New Year's Eve dinner together. I wonder if this is disturbing you?"

He lifted the things in his hands, which were two large food boxes.

Chen Shiyi was very happy and quickly welcomed them in.

"Don't disturb me, of course not. I'm so happy."

There were six more dishes on the round table. The dishes were from Wancheng, with a sweet taste and beautiful appearance. One could tell at a glance that they were made by Mrs. Situ.

Jingran filled everyone's glasses with wine, and Chen Shiyi went to the room and gave Ping'er a big red envelope.

Ping'er was really well-behaved and tried to refuse.

"This is New Year's money, a blessing, and you must accept it."

Ping'er looked at Situ Yu with his eyes rolling, and only accepted it after Situ Yu nodded.

"Thank you."

Chen Shiyi pinched his cheek.

"So good."

A table full of food, a room full of laughter, a red window paper-cut with a fat doll cut out of it, and a string of red firecrackers hanging in the corridor.

Festive and lively.

Chen Shiyi and Situ Yu were talking.

"Ping'er can come out today?"

"Yes, Dr. Chu's method is very useful, thanks to Yun Cang's efforts."

"Ping'er is a good child. God can't bear to see him suffer."

Situ Yu took a sip of wine and his face turned slightly red.

"I have thought carefully about your last proposal and decided to accept your proposal and become the headmaster of your academy."

Chen Shiyi was shocked.

"What did you say?"

Situ Yu smiled.

"Are you still going to give me the money you promised me last time?"

"Here, here..."

Chen Shiyi asked in confusion.

"Mr. Situ, how come you suddenly figured it out?"

Situ Yu put down the wine glass in his hand and thought for a moment.

"I heard that you not only built a school in Qingzhou, but also built schools in various places in Daye, exempted the children of poor people from tuition and miscellaneous fees, and recruited skilled people everywhere to make pens and refine ink. Is this true?"

Chen Shiyi couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Mr. Situ has a capable person under his tutelage. After all, things are done in secrecy. I did this very secretly. I wonder how Mr. Situ knew about it?"

"I do have a capable person, a friend, I guess. I asked him to check you out a few days ago, so I know what happened."

"Did you agree to this for these reasons?"

"Yes, but not entirely. Didn't you give me the silver?"

Chen Shiyi smiled helplessly.

She looked at the snowflakes falling outside and sighed.

"Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. This year is a good year."

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Chen Shiyi began to feel dizzy.

At this moment, the door of the outer courtyard rang at an inopportune moment.

Everyone was thinking the same thing, who could this be?

Jing Ran went forward and opened the door, and found a middle-aged man wearing a brown straight robe, who seemed to be the owner of a store.

"Excuse me, is this Master Yuncang's home?"

Jing Ran asked in confusion.

"May I ask who you are?"

"I am the shopkeeper of Fu Man Lou. A distinguished gentleman has reserved a table for New Year's Eve dinner at Fu Man Lou and I am sending it to you now."

After saying this, he motioned the person behind him to go in.

Each of these waiters carried two food boxes in their hands and rushed in like fish.

Seeing that there was no room on the table, Fu Da moved in another round table.

Soon, the table was filled with sixteen exquisite and delicious dishes.

The shopkeeper left a cage and a letter for Chen Shiyi and left.

The six people in the room looked at the round table filled with dishes without saying a word.

Jing Ran sighed.

"I'm afraid we'll have to eat this until next year."

Fu Da frowned and asked Chen Shiyi.

"Who sent this?"

Chen Shiyi shook his head and opened the letter in his hand.

"These are all your favorite dishes. The pigeon is in the cage, remember to write me back."