"Of course, Second Sister, you'll have to try my cooking later!"
"..."
The New Year's Eve dinner ended in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed the meal very much. Of course, the most popular dish on the table was the sweet and sour fish made by Jing Zhe.
After dinner, everyone watched Jing Zhe lead Zhu Tangwen and Hanhan to set off fireworks in the courtyard. As the fireworks bloomed in the night sky, everyone looked up, perhaps making wishes for the new year.
There are many customs on New Year's Eve. After 7 PM, there are few pedestrians on the streets because people who come to offer sacrifices will come out at night to invite the God of Wealth. If you bump into someone, you will have bad luck in the new year.
Therefore, people who come out to welcome the God of Wealth at night are very superstitious and will generally choose to do so after 7 PM. Even if they meet someone on the road, they cannot speak. Yu Xiangrong and Zhang Xiaoyu did not come out to look for Jing Zhe at night because of this. Zhu Tong also believed in this, so he wanted to keep Jing Zhe there at night.
However, Jing Zhe rejected him.
Having dinner here tonight is fine; it would be really inappropriate to stay overnight.
Therefore, before 7 PM, Jing Zhe left the Prime Minister's residence with Zhu Xinning, while Hanhan was left behind again.
This year, Jing Zhe crossed the New Year through Zhu Xinning's arms. Considering that Zhang Xiaoyu wasn't there to share the burden, Jing Zhe crossed the New Year with exceptional gentleness and for an exceptionally long time.
When the sound of bells rang out in the darkness, Zhu Xinning let out a soft moan that sounded like both crying and laughing, and then hugged Jing Zhe tightly.
History has turned a new page. For Jing Zhe, the first Lunar New Year's Eve without the Spring Festival Gala has passed just like that. Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye, and his life has entered a new chapter.
...
The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year. As usual, everyone went from door to door to pay New Year's visits. Jing Zhe and Zhu Xinning, who were dressed in the same new clothes, left home early in the morning and went to the Prime Minister's residence to pay their respects.
Because Jing Zhe had shone brightly in Jingzhou City, many people wanted to visit him, but Jing Zhe had already locked the door, so everyone went to the Prime Minister's residence instead.
Seeing the endless stream of people coming to pay New Year's visits this year, Zhu Tong's smile lingered for a long time.
Meanwhile, Jing Zhe had already left the Prime Minister's residence with Zhu Xinning. He had many people to visit for the New Year, including the Crown Prince's Palace, the Duke of Huguo's residence, and the Zhang family. He also visited the Grand Tutor's residence and the Duke of Wei's residence.
Although he was not close to the King of Xiang, he still went to see him at this time as a matter of courtesy.
The polite Jing Zhe naturally wouldn't forget Bai Qingyuan; after all, it's a new year, and there should be a fresh start.
So after having lunch and recounting to Zhang Xiaoyu how he spent New Year's Eve with Zhu Xinning the previous night, Jing Zhe finally left home and headed to the Grand Tutor's residence.
The servants of the Grand Tutor's mansion had heard a great deal about Jing Zhe, after all, he was the guy who had repeatedly made their master faint with anger and caused their master to curse people every day...
However, as Jing Zhe's status rises higher and higher, these servants can only look up to him and have no other thoughts.
Although Bai Qingyuan has not been doing well in the court recently, his prestige is still there, so countless people came to pay their respects in the morning. Given his age and seniority, he naturally does not need to pay respects to others.
After a busy morning, Bai Qingyuan was a little tired after lunch. He lay down on the armchair in the hall, sipped his tea, and enjoyed the tranquility of the winter afternoon.
At that moment, the servants rushed in like madmen.
Bai Qingyuan remained lying down, his face expressionless.
"Haven't I told you many times? Don't panic when things happen."
In recent years, because the King Xiang he served was in decline, Bai Qingyuan felt that his voice in the court was getting smaller and smaller. Therefore, when he returned home, he often satisfied certain desires by lecturing his servants. At this time, he started lecturing again.
"Master... sir... that..."
Even after hearing Bai Qingyuan's words, "Don't panic in a crisis," the servant still couldn't remain calm and spoke haltingly.
Bai Qingyuan shook his head upon seeing this.
"Don't speak yet."
"Inhale..."
"Yes, exhale again..."
"Yes, again."
After repeating this several times, the servants' expressions finally calmed down. Bai Qingyuan watched this scene with a great sense of accomplishment.
"Hehe, when the mind is calm, everything is calm. That's why I always tell you to calm your minds!"
Bai Qingyuan stroked his white beard, feeling somewhat smug. This feeling of smugness was something he hadn't experienced in a long time, and he felt completely at ease.
Then he said, "Alright, let's talk about what's going on."
The servant felt a little ashamed. The master was indeed the master; it seemed he had acted rashly. He calmed down and pointed outside, saying, "Master, he has come to wish us a Happy New Year!"
"who?"
Bai Qingyuan didn't react immediately, but his brows furrowed quickly: Who's so clueless as to come at this time?
"It's Director Jing from the Da'an Daily!"
"Splash!"
Bai Qingyuan stood up instantly, and because he stood up so quickly, he almost knocked over the armchair.
"He...he...why is he here? Don't...don't let him in! Just tell him I'm not feeling well!"
Bai Qingyuan practically roared it out, his composure and calmness from before completely gone, and his face turned pale.
The servant opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't utter a word.
What happened to not panicking in the face of trouble?
What happened to the saying that if you have a calm mind, everything will be calm?
It was all a lie, after all.
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go out and stop him from coming in!"
Bai Qingyuan was still in shock when he suddenly saw the servants standing there dumbfounded, and he immediately became angry.
"Yes... sir..."
"No!"
Just as the servant finished speaking, Jing Zhe's voice came from outside the door, and Bai Qingyuan staggered, almost collapsing to the ground.
"Who...who let you in?"
"Grand Tutor Bai, that's not right of you. It's the first day of the Lunar New Year this year. As a junior and subordinate, shouldn't I come to offer my New Year's greetings? The gates of your residence are open precisely to welcome guests, aren't they?"
"..."
Bai Qingyuan cursed the servant inwardly, then said coldly, "I am welcoming guests. Are you a guest?"
"Grand Tutor Bai, although we sometimes bicker in court due to differing political views, you can't say that about me, can you?"
"..."
Bai Qingyuan didn't speak, but the servants beside him thought to themselves, "Do you two only bicker occasionally? Whenever you meet, you're bound to have a huge fight. The frequency of your arguments is even higher than the frequency of the master getting up at night!"
"Besides, one shouldn't hit a smiling face. Since I've come all this way to offer my New Year's greetings, if Grand Tutor Bai were to shut me out or kick me out, wouldn't outsiders say that Grand Tutor Bai is petty and intolerant?"
"..."
Jing Zhe spoke cheerfully, while Bai Qingyuan nearly exploded with anger.
————
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