A lively New Year
At the entrance of Qinzhou Prison, Gu Heng and the others, having learned of Pei Qingwu's impending release early in the morning, waited there with eager anticipation.
As soon as she saw her come out, Qian Tao's eyes were already filled with tears. Ignoring the jailer who was still following behind her, she rushed up and threw herself into her arms, sobbing and calling out to her master several times, but she couldn't say anything more.
Gu Heng appeared calmer, though his eyes were still brimming with tears, glistening and clear. He saw her smiling and comforting Qian Tao, stroking her hair with her delicate hand. Feeling that Qian Tao had calmed down a bit, she looked up and smiled at him, saying, "Don't worry, everything's alright now."
Growing up in a brothel, beatings and scoldings were commonplace for Gu Heng. When he was thirteen, the madam forced him to entertain customers. When he refused, long silver needles pierced his fingernails one by one. The pain was excruciating, and he rolled on the ground in agony, yet he held back his tears. But today, seeing Pei Qingwu's gentle smile, it was as if he had bitten into a sour apricot. His nose stung, tears streamed down his face, and his eyes reddened. He forced himself to say, "Master, you've suffered."
"It's alright. With Lieutenant Zhao here, he didn't suffer much. Besides, it's all in the past now, isn't it?" Pei Qingwu said. "But you guys, coming to pick me up in this freezing weather, you should just stay home and wait."
"We won't be at ease until we see our employer safe and sound with our own eyes." Gu Heng wiped away his tears with his sleeve.
Pei Qingwu shook her head helplessly, stepped forward, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, and carefully wiped his eyes: "Alright, a man doesn't easily shed tears. What kind of behavior is this, crying like this? Is everything alright at home?"
As she leaned closer, a delicate fragrance wafted on the evening breeze, instantly entering his nostrils. The scent was extremely elegant, initially the warm and gentle aroma of agarwood, with a hint of sweetness. Before he could discern it further, a crisp and cool fragrance of plum blossoms quietly emerged, like a solitary bloom remaining on a branch after a snowfall. Within it, the unique spiciness of cloves was subtly intertwined, lingering and lingering, like silk threads, a strange scent unlike any other orange fragrance he had ever smelled before.
He certainly knew where the incense came from. After all, he had personally witnessed Zhao Xu sending people in, and they had even exchanged glances. The latter had asked, "Are you the little guard from Master Pei's household?"
A strange, indescribable sourness suddenly rose in his throat, and the aroma seemed to transform into an invisible constraint, tightly binding his heart.
"Huh? What's wrong? Did something happen at home?" Pei Qingwu asked again, puzzled.
Gu Heng lowered his eyes, concealing the bitterness and inferiority surging within them, and simply said in a low voice, "No, everything is fine."
Qian Tao, having composed herself, came over and took Pei Qingwu's arm: "Yes, we're fine. The magistrate didn't make things difficult for us. Sister Yin Lan prepared pomelo leaves and a brazier early on, just waiting for the master to return so she could properly dispel the bad luck."
"Okay, we should go."
Back at the courtyard gate, Yin Lan was waiting there. She had specially changed into a pomegranate-red jacket with auspicious magpie patterns, looking as festive as a New Year's picture doll. She held a handful of bright green pomelo leaves in her hand, and there was a blazing brazier beside her. As soon as she saw Pei Qingwu return, she immediately greeted him with a beaming smile and gave him a deep curtsy: "Master, you're finally back. Step over this brazier and sweep with these pomelo leaves, and all bad luck will be gone, and everything will go smoothly."
"Okay, okay." Pei Qingwu smiled and let her do as she pleased, lifting the hem of her skirt and stepping over the brazier.
As the refreshing scent of pomelo leaves swept over her shoulders, Pei Qingwu's heart seemed to settle down along with this charming ritual. The warm yellow light in the room enveloped the familiar furnishings, which she found particularly pleasing to the eye at this moment.
The low table in the center had already been set up, with a ceramic pot on it. The charcoal fire under the pot was burning brightly, making a bubbling sound and constantly surging with hot white steam, sending a strong aroma to every corner.
"Does that smell like mutton soup?" Pei Qingwu sniffed. "It smells so good..."
“That’s right. It’s cold and damp in the prison. Eating some mutton is just right,” Yin Lan said with a smile, leading Pei Qingwu to sit down.
The broth is a rich, milky white color, with glistening specks of golden mutton fat floating on top, like a sprinkle of gold dust. Large chunks of mutton ribs with skin on float among the broth, stewed until the meat separates from the bone. The pinkish-white mutton has a clear marbling and has absorbed the essence of the broth. Several mutton bones stand upright in the pot, their fat having dissolved into the soup base. A few pieces of ginseng and astragalus are faintly visible, further enhancing the rich flavor. The fresh aroma mixed with warmth instantly whets the appetite.
The earthenware pot is the main attraction, surrounded by a dazzling array of delicacies. There are freshly baked flatbreads, golden brown and crispy on both sides; freshly picked water celery, lightly blanched in boiling water, tossed with aged rice vinegar and a few drops of sesame oil, bright green and crisp, refreshing and appetizing, perfectly balancing the richness of the mutton; and tofu, a local specialty of Qinzhou, carefully marinated with wood ash, then cut into thick slices and fried in mutton fat until golden brown on both sides, forming a crispy outer layer while remaining tender inside—a famous local dish, Ash-Baked Tofu.
There are also two jars of Sanlejiang, which is the most popular fruit wine in recent years. It is made from three kinds of fruits: Amala, Pilile and Helile. It has a light golden color and a sweet and slightly sour taste, which is perfect for cutting through greasiness and enhancing the mood.
Yin Lan deftly ladled out the soup and picked out the biggest and fattest rib for Pei Qingwu. She also picked up a bone and said, "This lamb was picked out by Xiao Aheng early this morning in the West Market. The bones were cracked open and the meat was simmered for most of the day. The soup is thick and the meat is tender. Try it."
Qian Tao was also busy distributing flatbread to everyone. She broke the steaming flatbread into pieces and soaked them in the hot, white mutton soup. She then placed a large chopstick of pickled celery on Pei Qingwu's plate and said, "Master, please eat quickly. These past few days in prison have been far worse than being at home."
Gu Heng silently handed the poured mutton soup to Pei Qingwu, watching her sigh with satisfaction amidst the rising steam, pick up her chopsticks, and put a piece of mutton into her mouth.
The tender, savory flavor melts on the tongue, the rich broth soothes the stomach, and the warmth immediately dispels the last trace of chill from the body.
Pei Qingwu's eyes narrowed with satisfaction: "Mmm...this is the taste! Thank you for your hard work, Yinlan, it's delicious."
The group sat around, laughing and chatting.
As the piping hot mutton soup went down, the delicious flavor lingered in my mouth, with the wheat aroma of the flatbread, the refreshing taste of the vinegared celery, the caramelized aroma of the fried tofu, and the fruity sweetness of the sanle sauce all intertwined.
The aroma of delicious food and the warmth of reunion after the ordeal blended together, creating a cozy atmosphere in the courtyard and completely washing away the gloom of imprisonment.
Yinlan even put the bunch of pomelo leaves in a small bottle and placed it on the corner of the table.
As the warm wine went down his throat, the relief of surviving the ordeal and the warmth of having family and friends by his side completely relaxed Pei Qingwu's tense nerves.
The Sanlejiang (a type of Chinese liquor) was sweet but had a strong aftereffect. With Qiantao and Yinlan taking turns toasting her, her fair cheeks gradually turned rosy, her eyes became misty and watery, and she talked more than usual, her laughter becoming clearer and louder.
"Alright, alright, Master, you've had enough to drink. You can't drink anymore." Yin Lan looked at Pei Qingwu's slightly swaying figure, understood, and smiled as she took away the wine cup in front of her: "You'll have a headache tomorrow."
As she spoke, she deftly cleared away the cups, plates, and bowls on the table, then turned to Gu Heng, who was quietly standing by, and instructed him, "Little Heng, the master is a bit drunk. You're strong, so carry him back to his room to rest. Be careful."
"Yes..." Gu Heng replied in a low voice, his heart inexplicably beating faster.
He got up, walked to Pei Qingwu's side, and looked at her unusually childlike and confused appearance. He took a deep breath, carefully bent down, put one arm around her shoulder and back, and put the other arm under her knees. With a little effort, he steadily lifted her up in his arms.
Pei Qingwu's body was very light, and the warm breath carrying the scent of alcohol brushed against his neck. The faint fragrance mixed with the aroma of alcohol wrapped around him.
He walked very lightly, carrying her through the main room and into the inner chamber, where he gently placed her on a low couch covered with a clean, fine linen mattress.
Just as he was about to pull the thin blanket over her, the person in his arms seemed to let out a soft moan due to the change in position. Unconsciously, she leaned against his strong arm and mumbled something indistinctly, her voice soft and sweet with the characteristic of drunkenness: "Hmm... Ah Heng, you seem to have gotten so much stronger..."
The sudden intimate whisper was like a hot pebble that crashed into Gu Heng's heart, creating ripples all around.
He felt a rush of blood to his cheeks and ears, making those two places instantly feel incredibly hot. His movements froze in mid-air, and his arms felt as if they had been burned, becoming extremely stiff.
He didn't even dare to look down at her expression; his breath caught in his throat for a moment, and he didn't know what to do.
Fortunately, at that moment, Yinlan called him for something, and as if relieved, he practically fled.
"What's wrong, Xiao Heng? Why is your face so red?" Yin Lan asked疑惑地, "Could it be that you've caught a cold?"
"No, no..."
Gu Heng managed to fool her, and while she turned her back to wash the dishes, he tried to flex his arm and pinch the muscles on it.
"Have you really gotten much stronger?"
Thinking this, he pinched it again.
Although Magistrate Zhao cleared Pei Qingwu's name and released her without charge, a life had been lost after all, and many people began to have doubts.
Some, who were already quite thoughtful, began to suspect that the shop owner might have offended someone, which led to this trouble. What if the person behind it wouldn't let it go and targeted them next time they tried to frame someone?
As a result, the once bustling Sushan market suddenly became deserted.
Qiantao sits in front of the counter every day, but there are very few customers. That's fine, but there are even people who ordered pastries and then came back to cancel them.
Qian Tao was so angry that she cried.
Pei Qingwu's hair turned white with worry. After racking her brains for several days to come up with a marketing strategy, she angrily blamed the military governor and Young Master Cui for this—even though she still didn't know their names.
"When I'm powerful enough, I'll make sure you all pay. What are you..." Pei Qingwu cursed and ordered Gu Heng to close the shop.
"Master, aren't you going to hold on a little longer?" Gu Heng asked, puzzled.
"No, it's already come to this. Anyway, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, so let's put this matter aside and celebrate the New Year in a lively manner."
A cold wind swirled with scattered snowflakes, tapping against the tightly closed doors and windows of Sushan Market. Inside, however, it was a different world altogether, with a charcoal fire burning brightly, warm and cozy as spring.
On New Year's Eve, Pei Qingwu spoke early on, setting aside his worries and focusing on staying up all night.
Yin Lan led Qian Tao to clean the courtyard until it was spotless. Red paper-cut auspicious beasts and flowers were pasted on the doors and windows. Gu Heng changed into a rare brand-new blue jacket, which made him look tall and spirited. Following Pei Qingwu's instructions, he climbed a ladder to hang the newly bought glass palace lantern in the main room.
A warm yellow halo poured down, illuminating the busy and joyful figures of people.
Just after 5 PM, the New Year's Eve feast was set up.
The low couch was moved aside, and a wide dining table was set up in the center, which was full of delicious food and aromas, brimming with the festive spirit of the New Year and Yinlan's ingenuity.
The staple food is wild rice①, with snow-white and crystal clear wild rice steamed until each grain is distinct, emitting a unique fragrance, and served in a large celadon bowl, with steam rising from it.
Another type of dumpling is called "laowan" (literally "laowan"), which is made of finely chopped mutton with a good balance of lean and fat meat. It is mixed with minced ginger, pepper, and light soy sauce, and then wrapped in a thin dough. Some of the dumplings are steamed until they are snow-white and fluffy, and the aroma is irresistible when the steamer is opened. Other dumplings are fried in sesame oil until they are golden brown and crispy, with an enticing layer of ice flowers forming on the bottom.
The hot dish is a hot pot, with a milky white broth bubbling in an earthenware pot, stewing mutton, pork, fish slices, winter bamboo shoot slices, frozen tofu, and a few meatballs symbolizing completeness.
Simmering slowly over a low flame in a pot, steaming hot, it is the absolute star of the meal.
The geese and ducks were roasted until they were golden red, with crispy skin and tender meat. The oil dripped onto the flatbread underneath, sizzling and emitting a mouthwatering aroma.
Water celery is mixed with crisp, chewy, and translucent jellyfish strips, drizzled with balsamic vinegar, sesame oil, and a little wasabi sauce, making it refreshing and not greasy.
The soup is a special seasonal soup, Seven Treasures Soup, specially prepared by Yin Lan. It is made with meat broth as the base and includes diced turnips, shepherd's purse, lily bulbs, lotus root, chestnuts, tofu, and a few slices of pine mushrooms, which symbolize longevity. The soup is thick, colorful, and auspicious.
The dessert was a sugarcane juice-filled flaky pastry, small and exquisite, placed in a delicate glass cup, white as jade, emitting wisps of cool air. Qian Tao carefully poured the warm sugarcane juice over it, the amber-colored juice flowing down and enveloping the cool cheese, creating a wonderful contrast.
With everything prepared, Pei Qingwu announced the start of the banquet.
The four sat around the table, the hot pot bubbling and the aroma filling the air. Pei Qingwu personally poured warm Tusu wine into each person's cup. The wine was slightly spicy, and mixed with the warm fragrance of the food, it was intoxicating.
"Come on!" Pei Qingwu raised his glass, his cheeks flushed from the warmth of the heater and the aroma of the wine. "Let's cast aside the worries of the past year and rejoice in this New Year. May we all be safe and sound every year, and may everything go smoothly for us! Cheers!"
"May you have peace and prosperity every year!" Qian Tao, Yin Lan, and Gu Heng responded in unison, their cups clinking together with a pleasant tinkling sound.
For a moment, chopsticks clattered and laughter filled the air.
Qian Tao eagerly took a bite of the crispy fried meatballs, scalding them and gasping for breath, which made everyone laugh; Yin Lan was busy scooping the cooked ingredients from the hot pot for everyone; Gu Heng silently used clean chopsticks to place the fattest piece of roast goose leg onto Pei Qingwu's plate.
Pei Qingwu tasted the crispy mountain drizzled with sugarcane juice. Its cool and sweet taste instantly soothed her stomach, which had been burning from the hot pot. As her eyes darted around, they met Gu Heng's gaze.
He was steadily wielding the bamboo knife, carefully slicing goose meat for her. His clear eyes, reflecting the light of the glass lamp, were less gloomy than usual, and more warm and comforting. He glanced at her and then quickly looked away, while his ears quietly blushed slightly.
The cold wind howled outside, and the snow was getting deeper.
Inside, however, the hot pot was steaming, laughter filled the air, and the four of them sat around the stove, chatting about everyday life and their vague hopes for the future, as they watched the last moments of the old year pass.
Water droplets condensed on the window frame slowly slid down, reflecting the warm and cozy light filling the room, as if isolating it from all the wind, snow, and scheming of the outside world, leaving only this corner of peaceful and harmonious sanctuary.
Pei Qingwu looked at the leaping flames in the hot pot and said softly, "With such a strong fire, our stove will surely be prosperous next year!"
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