On New Year's Eve, after days of heavy snow, the sun finally broke out. Although it was a bit cold with the snow melting, the people were looking forward to this day and started working early in the morning. The air was filled with joy and happiness.
Red lanterns have been hung in front of every household, and there is singing and laughter everywhere.
Prince Qiao arranged shifts, so that the soldiers guarding the border were able to take half a day off to feel the joy of reunion.
The palace began its busy day at dawn.
In addition to setting up the banquet scene, Zhang You and the others also have to help prepare food in the kitchen.
Qiao Er and Qiao Si had already invited famous merchants in Dingzhou City and were just waiting to take the prince and princess to see the surprise they had prepared in the evening.
On New Year's Eve in Dingzhou, people had a lunch banquet. Near noon, Prince Qiao rode his horse back specially just for this reunion dinner.
Even Prince Qiao's concubines and aunts were there. It was the first time Zhang You had met Qiao Wu and Qiao Liu. The two little girls were only four years old, and they were dressed warmly in winter, like two little glutinous rice dumplings.
Zhang You and the others were in the side room, waiting for Qiao Si's instructions at any time.
Through a door, Zhang You and the others gathered to watch Qiao Si and his family's family feast. There were twelve people alone, including the concubine, the concubine, Qiao Wu, and Qiao Liu. There was also the prince and princess sitting in the main seat. Next to the prince sat the previously met General Qi, followed by Qiao Da, Qiao Er, and Qiao Si. Next to the princess sat Qiao Nai.
"Hey, hey, hey? Don't push me, I can't see." Hongmei lay in the front and muttered softly.
"Why did General Qi also come to the palace to celebrate New Year's Eve together?" Zhang You had never noticed him before, but now that he saw him, he felt strange.
"You don't know this. He is the prince's apprentice. He has been in the military camp with the prince since he was very young. He is also a young general." Cui Liu has been following Qiao Si and knows all this.
"I heard that the prince picked him up. He was about five or six years old, right? He was quite pitiful. He lost his parents in the war, so the prince kept him with him and would bring him home every New Year."
"Is he very powerful? He looks only in his twenties?" Zhang You was curious.
"Of course he is very powerful! He is very famous in the military camp. In the battles back then, he was also very brave. He defeated the larger force with a small number of troops many times and firmly defended Yimen Pass."
"I know what this is called, the prince's right-hand man!" Hongmei said excitedly.
"It's so powerful!" Qiuyue was slightly shocked.
Zhang You was sighing and was deeply attracted by the dishes they were eating.
She doesn't have many hobbies on a daily basis, and food is one of them.
She looked at the table full of delicious food that Qiao Si and the others had set up. She had seen Chef Chen make these dishes when she ran to the kitchen a few days earlier. Everything was exquisite, with good color, aroma and taste.
Just looking at it from afar now makes me very greedy.
Jingzhu served the dishes to Qiao Si, picked up the crab meat from a dish stuffed with orange and put it into Qiao Si's bowl.
Qiao Si gracefully raised his chopsticks, slowly picked up a small piece, and put it into his mouth.
"Ah, it looks delicious." Zhang You couldn't hide his excitement.
"Which one?" Hongmei asked curiously.
Zhang You has always liked to think about food when she has nothing to do. Hongmei is her confidant. One of them is willing to think about cooking, and the other is willing to enjoy eating.
The key is that Hongmei always thinks what Zhang You makes is delicious.
This is really flattering!
So, when Zhang You comments that a dish is delicious, Hongmei will definitely be the first to try it.
This moment is no exception.
"That's crab stuffed with oranges. These are fresh crabs that were just delivered two days ago. The crab roe is thick and the crab meat is firm. And the oranges were also delivered not long ago. They are so fresh.
I watched Chef Chen steam it for a long time, and the aroma was so fragrant! "Zhang You couldn't help but take a deep breath, as if she could go back to that time and smell the fresh orange fragrance in the pot.
"No, I feel so hungry just thinking about it."
Zhang You looked at it from afar with regret, and the gluttony in his stomach was aroused.
"Ah - after listening to what you said, I want to eat it. Ahhhhhhhh, I can't eat it..." Hongmei said coquettishly in a low voice.
"Hey? Then look at that dish!" Cui Liu saw her greedy look and pointed at the sweet-scented osmanthus cake next to Qiao Nai, teasing her. "That's your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus cake~"
Hongmei saw this and swallowed.
"I'm so hungry. Just looking at this makes me so hungry. Can we eat these today?" She touched her stomach aggrievedly.
"That depends on what the kitchen prepares for us today." Dongmei was also feeling hungry after hearing what they said. "Oh, I hope there will be fish, preferably braised!"
"Why?" Chunhua was curious. She had never seen her like fish so much before. Once before, there was a fish soup for lunch, but she only drank the soup and didn't eat the fish. She thought she didn't like fish.
"You're not going to say, 'Because there's surplus every year,' are you?" Zhang You thought quickly and replied directly. As she finished speaking, she realized that her joke was a joke that no one would understand and probably wouldn't laugh at.
As a result, Qiuyue and Cuiliu, who were standing next to them, had already laughed out loud. The sound was almost loud enough to be heard, so they tried to suppress their laughter and cover it with their hands.
Hongmei was still thinking about the delicious food in front of her when she heard their laughter. She realized what had happened and asked belatedly.
Dongmei pretended to be angry, "No! I just like eating fish. On weekdays, I resist eating it in order to finish my meal earlier. If I eat fish, I have to eat out the bones one by one and spit them out.
It’s because eating is too much trouble, so I never eat when I have work to do. But New Year’s Eve is different! You can treat yourself on New Year’s Eve.”
Everyone laughed when they heard it.
I don’t know if they were talking too loudly, or if they were discovered because they were blocking the way here.
I saw Qiao Si whispering something to Jingzhu, and Jingzhu actually walked towards them.
When Jingzhu arrived, they realized that Qiao Si had guessed their personalities and prepared food for them, telling them to wait inside with peace of mind and not to keep watching her, as she would feel uncomfortable eating.
They then sat quietly at the table in the side room and waited.
There was a pot of tea and a plate of cakes on the small table.
They simply ate, drank, and gossiped while waiting for the dishes to be served.
When the dishes were served, they realized how nice Qiao Si was to them.
The dishes included Dongmei's favorite braised carp, Hongmeixian's favorite osmanthus and gorgon fruit cake, Zhangyou's favorite tea-flavored spareribs, and Chunhua's favorite four-season stir-fries...
Not only did he remember everyone's hobbies, but he also prepared a dish for each person. They and Jingzhu happily ate together in the side room, feeling grateful in their hearts.
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