In a blink of an eye, it was the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. On this day, An Ning and An Dashan got up early as usual to practice martial arts. After practicing martial arts, Gensheng's mother had already prepared breakfast.
After breakfast, An Dashan and An Ning discussed going to Juxianlou to deliver another batch of preserved meat tomorrow. They estimated that after this batch of preserved meat was finished, Juxianlou's own preserved meat would be ready for consumption. Therefore, they would keep the remaining preserved meat for themselves.
When the father and daughter were discussing how much time to stay, they heard someone knocking on the door. An Dashan walked to the door with some doubts, opened the door, and found that it was the yamen runner who followed the master last time. An Dashan hurriedly said, "It's the official, please come in."
The official laughed and said, "Brother An, you don't have to be so polite. I'm younger than you. From now on, just call me Zhang Li."
An Dashan invited the man into the house and said, "In that case, I won't be polite. What do you want to do this time, brother Zhang Li?"
Zhang Li said, "The county magistrate asked me to bring a New Year gift to your family. The gift is in the car outside. Come with me to move it down later."
An Dashan was flattered and said, "Oh, this county magistrate still remembers a small person like me?"
Zhang Li nodded and said, "Yes, the county magistrate thinks highly of you as his lifesaver."
An Ning brought tea to the two of them. An Dashan whispered to An Ning, "Ningning, prepare some bacon and sausage for Constable Zhang and give them to him later." An Ning nodded and retreated.
Zhang Li took a sip and said, "This tea is quite good."
An Dashan said, "This is the chrysanthemum tea that my daughter made. Drinking it in winter can help reduce internal heat."
The two chatted for a while, and then Zhang Li stood up and said, "Okay, come with me to move the New Year gifts down. I have something else to do, so I won't stay any longer."
An Dashan nodded repeatedly, handed the bacon and sausage that An Ning had prepared to Zhang Li, and said, "Brother Zhang Li, this is some food made at home. If you don't mind, take it back and try it."
Zhang Li knew what was good, so he said, "Isn't this bacon and sausage? They are very popular in the county town recently, and they are quite expensive. I ate them once when I went out to a banquet with my master. I didn't expect your family could actually make them."
An Dashan didn't say that he figured it out himself, he just said, "I just tinkered with it. Who knows if it tastes the same as the ones sold in the county town."
As they talked, they walked to the gate. Zhang Li took all the things off the carriage and said, "I have something else to do, so I won't take you in. You can carry them back by yourself!"
An Dashan sent Zhang Li away and was about to carry the box back home when he heard Chun Yaniang from next door say, "Brother An, I saw that man was wearing a yamen official's uniform. Is he from the yamen?"
An Dashan nodded and said, "Yes, didn't I help the county magistrate last time? The county magistrate specially sent a yamen runner to give me some New Year gifts."
When Chun Ya Niang heard this, she immediately said, "Oh my God, the county magistrate actually sent a New Year gift to your family. This is a great thing."
An Dashan smiled, said nothing, and went back with the boxes.
An Ning saw her father coming back carrying boxes and hurried forward to help.
An Dashan said, "I can still carry such a small amount of stuff. Come into the house and see what's there."
An Ning followed An Dashan into the main hall, and Gao came out. An Dashan put the box on the table and opened it. On the top were four pieces of cloth, the colors of which were carefully chosen, and they were very suitable for An Ning's family. Under the cloth were eight kinds of candies and cakes, and nothing else.
This New Year gift was very valuable to an ordinary family, and An Dashan's family was very satisfied. An Ning said, "Dad, when we deliver the bacon tomorrow, let's also give some New Year gifts to the county magistrate!"
An Dashan nodded and said, "We don't have much to bring out at home, so let's just bring some bacon and sausages!"
An Ning nodded and said, "Take two more rabbits!"
An Dashan nodded and said, "Okay, we can eat the roe deer, or we can just take the roe deer with us."
An Ning said, "Dad, we are just ordinary people. It's good enough for us to take these."
Gao also nodded and said, "Yes, the gift is small but the sentiment is great!"
An Dashan added: "Take two more rabbits and give them to your Uncle Zhao as a New Year's gift." An Ning nodded without objection.
After the discussion, the three of them went about their own business.
The next morning, An Ning and An Dashan packed the cured meat that needed to be delivered to the restaurant and the things to be sent to the county magistrate and Zhao Meng, and then set off with An Dashan.
The two men arrived at the city gate, where Zhao Meng was on duty. After they greeted each other, An Dashan handed the rabbit and the basket to Zhao Meng and said, "This is a New Year gift for you. We have other things to do so we won't come to visit you."
Zhao Meng said, "Brother An, you are too polite. I haven't finished the bacon and sausages you brought me last time, so you brought me more this time."
An Dashan said, "They are not valuable things. We have things to do, so we won't disturb you on duty. We can drink together next time if we have the chance."
After saying goodbye to Zhao Meng, the father and daughter went directly to Juxian Tower. This time they brought 200 kilograms of bacon and 100 kilograms of sausage, and got a total of 59 taels of silver.
After coming out of Juxian Building, the father and daughter went to the county government office. They did not go to the main gate of the county government office, but went to the back door they went to last time. The old servant who was guarding the door recognized the father and daughter and asked, "Are you two okay?"
An Dashan said, "Uncle, I'm here to give the county magistrate a New Year gift. I wonder if you can help inform him."
The old man said, "Okay, I'll go and inform them. You guys wait here for a while." After that, he closed the door and went to the front yard to inform them.
In the front yard, the county magistrate was talking to the county magistrate's wife and the eldest daughter. After hearing the old servant's report, the county magistrate said, "Go and invite them over!"
The old servant didn't dare to delay and turned back to the back door.
Because An Dashan was a stranger, the county magistrate's wife and the eldest daughter avoided him. Before leaving, the eldest daughter, Chen Mengxi, said, "Dad, I think the daughter of my savior looks very kind. Please tell her that she can come and play with me when she has time."
The county magistrate nodded and said, "I understand."
The old servant took the father and daughter to the front yard.
Arriving at the front yard, An Dashan and An Ning bowed to the people. An Dashan took off the basket on his back and said, "Sir, this is some food made by my family. Please don't dislike it."
The county magistrate was knowledgeable and recognized that the things in the basket were bacon and sausages. He asked, "Is this made by your family?" He had heard from the owner of Juxianlou that this bacon was developed by a farmer's family, but he didn't expect it was from An Dashan's family.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
