Time flies, and soon the annual Lantern Festival will be here.
Prior to this, Ningguang had already sent someone to deliver all the ingredients needed to make the glutinous rice balls, as per the contract.
As agreed, Jiang Mu successfully produced a batch of glutinous rice balls using the recipe and machinery he purchased from the system.
As agreed, Jiang Mu had delivered all the glutinous rice balls to Wanmintang and told Master Mao how to cook them.
After tasting it, Master Mao kept asking Jiang Musuo for the recipe for the glutinous rice balls.
Jiang Mu had no choice but to settle for second best and told him how to make Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls).
(I don't know what the difference is between Yuanxiao and Tangyuan in your hometown, but in my hometown, these two foods are different in terms of taste, appearance, and other aspects. This is a matter of personal opinion.)
Master Mao also stated that this food will only be sold at Wanmin Hall after the Lantern Festival.
"In that case, it shouldn't count as breaking the contract with Ningguang, right..."
Jiang Mu muttered to himself.
………………
And so, this year's Lantern Festival arrived amidst these gradual preparations.
Hehe~
At Qingce Manor, Jiang Mu was preparing dinner for the evening when suddenly, a pair of slender, soft arms quietly reached out from behind and slowly wrapped around Jiang Mu's waist.
“Xiangling…” Jiang Mu said helplessly.
"Let go of me! I need to cook, this is making things difficult for me..."
"Mmm (third tone) ~~~~~"
A girl's sweet, delicate voice came from behind.
"Um?"
Jiang Mu frowned.
This voice... doesn't sound like Xiangling's...
Jiang Mu quickly pried the girl's hands open, turned around, and was stunned.
The person standing in front of me was indeed not Xiangling, but...
walnut!
"Hehe~┗|｀o′|┛ Aww~~"
Hu Tao made a face, then turned and ran away.
"Ah, this..."
Jiang Mu was stunned. Just then, another pair of arms wrapped around him from behind...
"Hehe, this time it's my Xiangling!"
Jiang Mu was furious and turned around to grab the naughty little girl.
As a result, this guy slipped away from Jiang Mu's hands like an eel.
"Don't run!"
Jiang Mu was furious and grabbed her with his hand.
"Go on, Guoba!"
Xiangling, however, calmly picked up Guoba, who was watching the show with a smile (?), and threw it at Jiang Mu.
"Throw your rice crust at me!"
(Xiangling says she doesn't want to talk to you and throws a rice cracker at you.)
Guoba: Although I'm not human, Xiangling, you're really shameless.
"Lulu lulu~"
Jiang Mu quickly caught the rice crust, but when he looked again, Xiang Ling had already run away...
"well……"
After putting down the rice crust, Jiang Mu patted its head.
"Go outside, I'm going to start cooking now."
"Lu?"
Guoba pointed at the stove, somewhat excited.
"No need," Jiang Mu said with a smile, "I don't need this today."
"Lu~~~"
Guoba seemed a little disappointed and walked out with his head down.
Jiang Mu looked at its "despondent back" and found it somewhat amusing.
"Let's get started."
Looking at the ingredients in front of him, Jiang Mu grinned.
"Let's begin. There are quite a few people here today..."
"Oh, right."
Jiang Mu suddenly handed over the system.
"Has that piece of unfinished jade from that day been used up?"
Remember that stone Zhongli gave Jiang Mu that day? It turns out that unremarkable stone was an immature jade formed from the essence of the ancient rock dragon lizard. Jiang Mu had just stored it in the system space when it was absorbed by the system. Now, who knows what's going on with this system...
"Reporting to the host, the system update is nearing completion. Please wait."
"Almost done..."
Jiang Mu spoke with some anticipation.
"I wonder what it will look like after the optimization..."
"Please rest assured, host," the system said in its usual cold tone.
"Once optimized, the system will definitely give you a pleasant surprise."
"I hope it's not a shock..."
Jiang Mu murmured, but his hands were indeed moving quickly as he stirred and stir-fried the food.
………………
As Jiang Mu cooked the dishes, his invited guests arrived one after another.
"Looks like I arrived pretty early..."
Master Hu stroked his beard and chuckled.
"Master Hu, it's been a long time," Master Mao, who arrived a few steps later, chuckled.
"Oh," Hall Master Hu chuckled, "You're giving up your Wanmin Hall business?"
"Look at what you're saying," Master Mao said with a smile. "Once the Lantern Festival arrives, everyone goes home for dinner. I also sold all the glutinous rice balls I made with ginger wood a few days ago. I'm quite relaxed now..."
"Haha...that's good..."
Master Hu smiled, his eyes narrowed.
"I heard that your little Xiangling and Jiang Mu have a good relationship?"
"Of course," Master Mao said casually.
"These two kids hit it off immediately. That boy Jiang Mu has been wanting to adopt my Xiangling as his little sister ever since he saw her. You know what... sigh..."
"Oh." Upon hearing this, Hall Master Hu replied with a forced smile.
"It seems that Jiang Mu really likes your Xiangling?"
"That's right..."
Master Mao continued.
"If it weren't for the fact that neither of them seemed interested, I would have really wanted to marry Xiangling off to that boy..."
"snort!"
Master Hu waved his hand and went into the house, leaving Master Mao standing there, completely bewildered.
"What...what happened?"
………………
Qunyu Pavilion.
"Why does Senior Gan Yu seem so energetic today?"
The three secretaries whispered among themselves, while in front of them was a coconut sheep writing furiously... no, it was Gan Yu.
"have no idea……"
"Oh right, today is the Lantern Festival. Is Senior Gan Yu going on a date with her boyfriend?"
"That's impossible! Senior Gan Yu is so old, how could she have a man..."
Bai Xiao said nonchalantly, but suddenly, the temperature around her dropped sharply, making her shiver.
"Senior Gan... Gan Yu..."
Bai Xiao looked at Gan Yu, who suddenly raised her head and narrowed her eyes into slits, with trepidation.
“Bai Xiao…” Gan Yu said calmly.
"You've finished your work, right...?"
"without……"
Bai Xiao's expression changed drastically, but before he could finish speaking, Gan Yu forcibly stopped him.
"In that case, I'll leave these tasks to you. Besides, I have something to do today..."
"Remember, you can't leave work until you finish."
Gan Yu smiled slightly, walked out lightly, and disappeared outside the door.
"I……"
Bai Xiao was confused. Today was the Lantern Festival, and she wanted to go and visit it too...
Senior Gan Yu, you've changed. Have you become so cold and heartless after getting a man...?
………………
"Condensed Light".
A woman wearing a cheongsam and high-heeled over-the-knee boots, with long black hair and bangs covering her left eye, pushed open the door and stood in front of Ningguang. Her red eyes stared at Ningguang, and she spoke in a carefree manner.
"What do you want with me?"
Upon hearing this, Ningguang put down her pipe and smiled faintly.
"Are you going to a unique banquet?"
Do you have any wine?
"Given his personality, he'll probably prepare a lot of wines you've never tried before."
"I've never tried it before?" Upon hearing this, the woman was overjoyed.
"Quick, let's go!"
"Yes, yes, yes..." Upon hearing this, Ningguang's eyes were filled with helplessness mixed with a hint of doting.
“My dearest Dragon King…”
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