After finishing his tea, he stood up and said, "I came to see you today just to talk about this. I have other things to do and will be leaving tomorrow. Is there anything you'd like to exchange?"
Qing Xuanzi thought for a moment and realized that he should prepare more talismans to deal with demonic spirits, so he asked, "Does Senior still have any good talisman paper and cinnabar?"
Tian Shu gave him a knowing look, and under Qing Xuanzi's puzzled gaze, she took out the talismans that her subordinates had made themselves and that she had an inexhaustible supply of, as well as the top-quality talismans that she had made herself.
Good heavens, there are at least forty or fifty thousand of them, and a thousand of them are top-quality.
That wasn't all; she then took out the finest cinnabar and a box of precious Chiyang cinnabar.
Qing Xuanzi swallowed hard: "What would you like to exchange, Senior?"
Tian Shu laughed and said, "I know you have a high success rate in making talismans. I brought so many talisman papers this time because I was hoping to run into you."
"It's quite a coincidence. I was thinking if you had any talismans on hand, I'd like to trade some with you."
"As for the rest, if you have any Hidden Spirit Wood powder, I hope you can exchange some more for me. I will trade you Crimson Sun Cinnabar for it."
Qing Xuanzi was very tempted. Crimson Sun Cinnabar was as precious as Hidden Spirit Wood. In the past, he used to draw talismans, except for some for combat, to draw everyday talismans.
Sometimes I draw random talismans to cheer up Jiao Bao, which makes me feel a little ashamed.
He ultimately didn't offer any talismans in exchange, but instead gave Tian Shu enough Hidden Spirit Wood powder.
Having gotten what he wanted, Tian Shu was satisfied and was about to call his little apprentice home when he saw Rong Jiaojiao surrounding him, calling him "pretty and beautiful" over and over again.
Qing Xuanzi found it amusing that the little girl was actually attracted to handsome men. He would have to teach her a lesson properly in the future, lest she be easily seduced by that pretty young man.
Because of his thoughts at that time and his subsequent teachings, Rong Jiaojiao always kept her distance from handsome boys when she grew up.
With lunchtime fast approaching, Qing Xuanzi politely invited, "Senior Tian Shu, why don't you stay for lunch?"
Tian Shu thought that since the head of the Wei family wasn't home for lunch, he readily nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll trouble you!"
Qing Xuanzi smiled and said, "No need to bother me, please sit here. I'll have Zhigao cook; his cooking skills are better than mine."
He internally slapped himself: "Serves you right for being so quick-tongued! Didn't you know you couldn't leave Jiaobao with her around?"
He called Rong Zhigao and Rong Zhiyuan over and handed them the various braised meats, chicken soup, vegetables, etc. that he had prepared beforehand, so that they could simply heat them up and eat.
Rong Zhigao asked Rong Zhiyuan to start the fire, while he skillfully washed the rice and cooked the rice, his movements practiced and skillful, clearly indicating he had done it many times before.
Tian Shu recalled seeing Rong Jiaojiao squatting on one leg as soon as she came in, and asked Qing Xuanzi, "You've already started training her physique when she's so young?"
Qing Xuanzi nodded: "As you know, my strength is drawing talismans, and I have plenty of time, so I thought I'd train her balance and coordination as soon as possible so I could teach her to draw talismans sooner."
Tian Shu nodded in praise: "You are very patient, but you still need to train her arm stability and flexibility more."
"Yes, I've had her practice for a while now..."
When they talked about their two disciples' future training paths, the two had a lot in common and chatted for a long time until Rongzhi brought in the dishes and called them to eat, at which point they stopped.
Qing Xuanzi took the dishes handed to him by Rong Zhigao and said with a smile, "Senior Tian Shu, please make do with the food the children made today."
Tian Shu smiled slightly: "It's alright. In this day and age, it's good enough to have something to eat, not to mention the children's cooking skills are quite good."
Everyone sat around the table, and Rong Jiaojiao's eyes lit up when she saw the table full of food.
Qing Xuanzi added meat to her plate, and she couldn't wait to pick up a piece and put it in her mouth. Her little mouth was full, and she happily said, "Good!"
Qing Xuanzi also served food to Wei Jingqi, who thanked him softly, "Thank you, Uncle, your food is really delicious."
Qing Xuanzi smiled and said, "Then eat more and eat your fill."
Wei Jingqi nodded and ate in small, delicate bites.
Then look at my apprentice. After finishing the meat in his bowl, he reached into the plate with his chopsticks.
Qing Xuanzi chuckled inwardly: [Should these two kids have their personalities changed?]
But then I shook my head, thinking that if my own disciple ate like that, so slowly and delicately, I probably wouldn't be able to stand it.
Little did he know that Tian Shu was also observing the two children, and seeing Rong Jiaojiao's skillful use of chopsticks, he was quite impressed with Qing Xuanzi's teaching ability.
But looking at how she ate, I felt that my own disciple was more refined and elegant.
Anyway, whoever's apprentice it is thinks it's good.
Not long after the meal, Tian Shu took Wei Jingqi back home, and Qing Xuanzi did not see Tian Shu again until after the New Year.
Before the Lunar New Year, Rong Lianhu finally had a day off to deal with the wild boar in the courtyard.
He called his two sons to slaughter and clean the wild boar, then cut it into large pieces, salted it, and prepared it to be made into canned meat.
This year, the Rong family will spend the Lunar New Year with Qing Xuanzi in the small town again.
As the deputy regimental commander, Rong Lianhu had a regimental commander above him and a battalion commander below him. He only needed to show his face before meals and then he could leave.
This year, no one bothered them, and the family had a happy and harmonious New Year.
The New Year's Eve dinner was exceptionally lavish, featuring braised pork, stewed rabbit, and chicken soup prepared by Rong Lianhu, as well as various side dishes prepared by Rong Zhigao and Rong Zhiyuan.
There was an even more tempting dish on the table: bear paw!
This recipe was obtained by Rong Lianhu from an old chef in the army canteen, and Fu Ya carefully stewed it.
This dish stands out on the New Year's Eve dinner table, with its enticing aroma and golden color, making it incredibly tempting.
Upon seeing the dish, Rong Lianhu couldn't help but praise, "Brother Qingxuan, this bear paw is really well made; it smells delicious."
The children's faces were beaming with happiness.
Rong Jiaojiao sat next to Fu Ya, holding a small wooden carving in one hand and a colorful hairband in the other, which were birthday gifts from Rong Zhigao and Rong Zhiyuan.
Fu Ya's eyes lingered on every dish on the table. She picked up a piece of bear paw for Rong Jiaojiao, cut it into small pieces, and fed it to her: "Baby, try this, it's very fragrant."
Rong Jiaojiao never refuses meat or vegetables; she opens her mouth wide, waiting to be fed.
He pinched the meat into his mouth, chewed it immediately, his eyes sparkling, and praised repeatedly, "Good, good!"
Qing Xuanzi also put a piece on Rong Zhigao's and Rong Zhiyuan's plate, saying, "Eat more, this is good stuff."
As they ate, both of them wore the same satisfied expression: "Thank you, Uncle, it's really delicious."
After dinner, Rong Lianhu took the children to set off fireworks in the yard.
Rong Zhigao and Rong Zhiyuan excitedly held sparklers, drawing various patterns in the air, while Rong Jiaojiao was held in Qing Xuanzi's arms, watching the fireworks bloom with eyes full of surprise.
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