Chapter 34: We worked together to deliver some smoked bacon.
"How do you think about this?" Gui Zhier waved her hand, signaling Liu Qianjin to come closer. "I heard that the foreman's mother buried some old wine for you brothers and sisters..."
After hearing the whispers in her ear, Liu Qianjin unconsciously sat up straight, her beautiful eyes wide open in astonishment.
The handkerchief in her hand slipped quietly, but she was completely unaware.
"If this gets exposed..." She gritted her teeth, feeling hesitant.
"If everything goes well, we will have crossed the Chuhuai River by then." Guizhier gave her a reassurance.
"Okay, then I'll take a gamble." She raised her chin slightly and spoke frankly in a cherry-like voice, as if declaring war on an unknown fate.
The first step of the plan is to achieve it.
After finalizing the details of the plan, Gui Zhier cautiously left Yaoyue Tower. Next, she needed a messenger.
The darkness fades and dawn comes quietly.
In the northern border in December, the biting cold wind howled across the vast land.
The sky was gloomy, and it seemed as if heavy snow would fall at any moment. An old man in a thick cotton-padded jacket was walking briskly, carrying a load on his shoulder.
After Laba Festival, it is the New Year. The curtain of the new year has been raised, and the festive atmosphere is getting stronger day by day.
On a day like this, with such temperature, he would not go out if he didn't have to go to Linghe County to visit his daughter and her husband's family.
"Grandpa, grandpa, please stay!" Guizhier came running over.
The breath turns into frost, and the words exhaled turn into a white mist in the air.
She lifted the hem of her cotton skirt, which was embroidered with plum blossoms and had a circle of fine rabbit fur on the cuffs. It was as white as snow, adding a touch of cuteness.
"Mr. Weng, please take a letter for Lord Liu and hand it to the Linghe County Government - Magistrate Luo." Gui Zhier said.
She smiled sincerely and bowed.
"I get paid as a gatekeeper, not a messenger." The old man grumbled, not very satisfied.
Tofu Weng, who was originally a gatekeeper at the government office, couldn't help but complain a few words when he received extra work.
"The end of the year is approaching, and more and more officials are asking for leave. I have no choice but to ask you to do it for them." Guizhier took out a delicately crafted gadget from her arms.
"Dong, Dong, Dong", making a crisp and cheerful sound.
It's a rattle.
Two wooden balls hang on either side of the drum, tied with colorful ribbons, making it exquisite and unique. The brightly colored paintings on the drum are especially striking, unlike the crude ones sold in the northern markets.
As the drum handle turned flexibly in his hand, Tofu Weng's face was full of wrinkles with smiles.
"For your little grandson to play with." Guizhier added at the right time, and everything was fine.
After all, even the housekeeper had repeatedly reminded her that Miss Gui was the prefect's guest of honor.
Tofu Master naturally had no suspicion of anything.
In winter, the trees are wrapped in unmelted ice and snow and cannot bear the weight. Some even creak under the weight of the accumulated snow.
Guizhier stood in the middle of the empty street and took a deep breath.
Now there's only one last thing left.
Prepare a colorful New Year's Eve dinner for the public and the government, a grand buffet.
There is no precedent for a central capital city.
The family banquet was held in the newly renovated government office to invite "guests" who could not go home for the New Year.
Soldiers on duty guarding the city, widows, orphans, the elderly and children, officials who have left their hometowns... all spend a warm New Year's Eve together.
"Miss Gui, you are really suitable to be a female official!" The housekeeper was amazed when he heard about this plan.
You can say it's about sympathizing with the people or winning their hearts.
A banquet for hundreds of families is definitely a good idea.
"She always has unique ideas." After hearing the housekeeper's report, Liu Shanyuan stopped painting and smiled slightly.
I haven't picked up a pen for a long time, so my skills are a little rusty.
Ink and rice paper outline the facial features of a young woman in this small space, and the large areas of white space appear pure and natural.
He has thick eyebrows, a straight nose, a heroic appearance, and a pair of eyes like the autumn sky.
The butler took a quick glance and then lowered his head, not daring to look again.
"You can satisfy whatever requests she makes as appropriate." Liu Shanyuan put down his pen and thought deeply, supplementing Gui Zhier's plan.
"We must not delay the city's defense. We will strengthen patrols and public security at the end of the year, and have the directors cooperate in checking the registered population."
The butler wrote them down one by one and nodded in agreement.
She was in charge of every detail of personnel scheduling, and all that was left was to teach her step by step how to organize a large-scale event.
The housekeeper felt that the master was determined to recruit Miss Gui into his team.
For an ordinary person entering politics, the first thing is to accumulate reputation.
The person involved did not know that he had been arranged clearly.
"One cabbage, two cabbages..." Guizhier was bending over to count the stock in the cellar.
The cabbages are tightly packed together, and the leaves on the surface are slightly yellowed, which is caused by long-term storage.
"Swish." Peeling off the outermost layer, the tightly wrapped cabbage heart is still fresh and tender. Moisture condenses into water droplets on the surface, making it look juicy.
Stockpiling cabbage is the biggest ritual for people in the north to welcome winter.
Because the border is not accessible by land and water, vegetable plots are deserted in winter. If you want to eat fresh vegetables, you can only store them in cellars.
"Rare meat and cabbage, meatballs, cabbage and vermicelli soup, the big pot of food must be steaming hot." Guizhier was confident.
Under the pressure from the system, she had a new guess about how to progress the task.
This annual banquet can verify this.
Of course, the most important thing is to let the prefect relax his vigilance and then escape during the chaos.
"Knock knock knock." Guizhier had just moved the cabbage out when she heard a knock on the door.
"Mrs. Gui, I heard you're going to cook a big pot of New Year's Eve dinner. We have some cowpeas at home. Do you think they can be used?"
"The second uncle in my village killed a pig and gave me some smoked bacon."
"I don't have anything to show you. If you need help, just ask your aunt."
The shops were crowded with people who loved to join in the fun, and some of them didn't even have enough money to spend on a meal.
But at least some people have enjoyed Guizhier’s “free trial of new products”.
Guiji Braised Food Shop has become a food landmark in the central city.
"Thank you for your support!" Guizhier took them one by one.
Her eyes were bright, curved into two crescents, and her smile was as beautiful as a flower.
"Although it's New Year's Eve and the number of guests is limited, I can't invite everyone to the table." Guizhier said with a smile, "But-"
She paused, and her mysterious expression aroused everyone's curiosity to the extreme.
"Thanks to the grace of the prefect, a float parade will be held!"
"Wow!!!"
The life of ordinary people is actually very boring. They are confined to spring plowing and autumn harvest, or chasing petty profits every day.
After deducting taxes every year, there is not much left.
Everything from food, clothing, housing and transportation costs money. For example, going to Yaoyue Tower to watch a play is an entertainment exclusive to the rich.
"The new prefect is a good official, and this year will surely be a peaceful year." Similar praises continued.
New Year’s Eve arrives with great anticipation.
During the day, every household is busy cleaning the house, getting rid of the old and bringing in the new, offering sacrifices to ancestors, hanging peach charms, and changing into new clothes. It's a busy but joyful time.
"Along and Ahu, don't run around for me!" The woman who couldn't help wearing new cotton shoes a few days ago, dressed up even more carefully today.
She put down her broom, put her hands on her hips and shouted, "The float is coming soon!"
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