Xu Zhi quickly thanked him. Seeing that it was getting late, Zheng Boyuan went back to the east wing to sleep. Xu Zhi went to the lamp on the kang table, opened her purse, and saw two gold cakes inside. She couldn't help but smile.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, Madam Li made several trays of dumplings. Bai Ying and Bai Guo went to help Madam Li cook the dumplings. Zheng Boyuan and Xu Zhi took purses containing gold and silver coins and distributed red envelopes to the servants in the mansion. When Xu Zhi and Zheng Boyuan arrived at the kitchen, Xu Zhi handed one to Madam Li's daughter, Ying'er.
Madam Li wanted to decline, since Ying'er wasn't really a member of the household yet. She only lived here because she was her daughter and was still young, and Xu Zhi had never said anything about it.
But today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and no one can refuse the red envelopes given by the host. Madam Li quickly told Ying'er to come over and kowtow to Xu Zhi. Xu Zhi took Ying'er's arm and said with a smile, "Madam Li, we already have red envelopes, there's no need for this. Today is the New Year, after we eat dumplings, let's take Ying'er to the street to have some fun. It's not good for the little girl to always follow you around in the kitchen."
After thanking Bai Ying and Bai Guo, Madam Li helped deliver the cooked dumplings to the guards outside. Seeing that it was getting late, she quickly cleaned up the kitchen. Madam Li wouldn't go back to the street. Only the matchmaker knew that she was working as a cook for Xu Zhi. Madam Li had repeatedly asked the matchmaker not to tell her husband's family or her own family, just to avoid trouble. Taking the children to the street might cause trouble if her husband's family or her own family saw them.
There were several kinds of dumpling fillings, but Xu Zhi still loved the cabbage, pork, and scallion filling the most. After eating a few, she tried the sauerkraut and pork filling, which was also delicious. It has to be said that the Li family has been able to pass down their culinary skills for generations, which is truly remarkable. Xu Zhi is now quite glad that she didn't stop using Li Niangzi because of the troubles she had with her.
Bai Ying and Bai Guo ate dumplings, and seeing that Xu Zhi and Zheng Boyuan were still eating, Bai Ying wanted to ask Xu Zhi if she and Zheng Boyuan wanted to go for a walk in the streets. In Luzhou, the streets were quite lively on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The two of them had never seen exactly how lively it was, but they had heard others talk about it.
Xu Zhi didn't want to go out. She had gone to bed late last night and got up early this morning. She leaned lazily on the couch and watched Zheng Boyuan eat two big bowls of dumplings.
After eating dumplings, Zheng Boyuan still wanted to inspect the garrison on the border river. During holidays, people tend to be complacent, which is also when foreign tribes are more likely to invade. Yesterday, on New Year's Eve, Zheng Boyuan stayed at the garrison on the border river until the chieftain's time before returning. Before leaving, he repeatedly told everyone to be vigilant. Although the cliffs on the border river are a natural barrier, who can guarantee that the cliffs are absolutely impregnable?
Seeing Xu Zhi's lazy appearance, Zheng Boyuan said, "If you're tired, lie down and rest. I'll take some people to check the border river. I'll have lunch there and come back to have dinner with you in the evening."
Xu Zhi agreed, then, thinking about the several hundred people still at the garrison, asked, "Do they make dumplings for the New Year there?"
Zheng Boyuan said, "The cooks have taken care of it, so we're having dumplings together this morning."
Xu Zhi sat up and said, "After the New Year, I'll arrange for someone to send two pork patties, along with some rice and flour, over there."
Zheng Boyuan sighed and said with a smile, "Ah Zhi, you've already sent quite a few things over before the New Year."
Xu Zhi waved her hand and said, "Brother Boyuan, this is all we should do. We are here in Luzhou to guard the soldiers on the other side of the border river, aren't we? They guard the front line, and we help them guard the rear. It is only right to send them some things. It's just that the bamboo paper workshop on Huitou Ridge hasn't been built yet. Once it's built and we can sell the paper and make money, I plan to take 20% of the profits to improve the living conditions of the border guards on the other side of the border river."
Zheng Boyuan naturally knew that when the Xu family was guarding Hexi, they truly shared weal and woe with Wei Lang, who was guarding Yanmen Pass. Even now, Xu Di still sends a portion of the annual income from his several estates between Hexi and Ganzhou to Wei Lang to improve the living conditions of the soldiers guarding Yanmen Pass.
Zheng Boyuan bowed deeply to Xu Zhi, which made Xu Zhi a little embarrassed. She quickly pulled Zheng Boyuan to stand up and said, "Brother Boyuan, I have been with my parents and brothers in Hexi since I was a child. I understand very well what it means to be able to hide safely behind the border guards. I don't expect others to act like me. I am doing this according to my conscience. I do good deeds and don't care about the future."
Zheng Boyuan was riding his horse and was almost at the garrison. The emotion in his heart had not yet dissipated. Xi Jing'an, who was behind him, saw his general come out of his house with a face full of emotion. Even when they arrived at the garrison, the expression on his face had not disappeared. He was curious, but he knew that this was not something he should ask.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the village head brought several pheasants he had caught from the mountain to Xu Zhi's house. Xu Zhi knew that the village head had already chosen someone and made an appointment with him to go to Huitou Ridge on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year to meet the person the village head had chosen and then discuss the location of the workshop together.
After the New Year, the streets were still bustling with activity, but Xu Zhi and Zheng Boyuan were busy with their own things.
Many problems were exposed at the garrison. Zheng Boyuan not only had to train the old, weak, sick and disabled, but also had to improve their living conditions. Xu Zhi, after meeting with the village head and Zhou Erzhu at Huitouling on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the two sides toured the area around Huitouling twice and finally chose a place at the easternmost part of the village, closest to the boundary river.
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