Chapter 87 New Year's Flavor
Both of them knew what the border was most in need of, and the holiday gifts they sent were obviously carefully selected.
"Cotton, silk, spices, salt, bacon, and liquor..."
Although they were not very valuable items, they all touched Diao's heart.
She counted them out carefully and praised them with a smile on her face.
"Or maybe he could become a high-ranking official, but he's still thinking about such a small matter. We, the family, have also drunk a lot of that medicinal soup."
Along the way, apart from helping to boil the medicine soup, Diao really couldn't think of any other help the eldest girl had done.
It can't be just for transporting water twice, right?
Therefore, the holiday gift sent by Wei Da seemed too generous.
In the past, I only heard of prisoners bribing officials, but I have never seen officials giving gifts to prisoners!
"Is there something I need from you?"
"What could a dignified captain like you ask a little girl like me to do?" Chen Chunxing was amused and said casually, "Maybe it's to thank Lord Xue. Didn't he and Yang Yi kill the most bandits last time they encountered them?"
Diao was speechless.
That makes sense, but it sounds so strange... A fifth-rank official gives gifts to a maid in order to curry favor with a seventh-rank official?
It feels even more unreliable!
She shook her head and simply ignored it. No one would let the eldest girl suffer any loss. She opened the gift box placed alone on the side and wondered, "Is this, Old Jiang?"
Chen Chunxing looked back, took out the things inside and threw them to the two old men who were sitting in the yard chatting.
“It’s medicinal herbs.”
Doctor Chang's eyesight was blurry due to his old age and he was almost hit on the head. Fortunately, Wang Youcai came to his rescue, caught him, and looked at him carefully in the sunlight.
"Wild Panax notoginseng, this thing is quite rare."
Doctor Chang glanced at his hand.
"How rare is it? Even if it were placed in a pharmacy, it would only be worth a few taels of silver."
The tone was quite disdainful.
Wang Youcai smiled and did not refute.
This thing might have been common in ancient times, but he was sure that Old Chang didn't even have a few taels of silver in his pocket.
When Chen Chunxing was making large purchases in the county town, she never concealed her whereabouts, and it was not difficult for anyone who wanted to inquire about her dealings with the Ge family.
Tian Wanglin's gift is even more thoughtful than Wei Da's, so I guess he has some ulterior motive.
"Keep it. Even if the third brother doesn't need it, there will always be a time when it can be used."
Chen Chunxing glanced at Zhixia who was sitting on a small stool picking vegetables, sat over, took over the work in her hands, and gave instructions.
"Go call Sister Min and Xiaoqing over. It's New Year's Eve, let's have some fun."
Wu Min looks delicate, but she is actually stubborn and never wants to trouble the Shen family.
It’s not usually convenient to invite two people to dinner, but during the Chinese New Year, we can always make an exception.
Among her children, Zhixia is the most well-behaved. As long as she stands at the door, no one can refuse her.
"Is dinner finally ready?" Wang Youcai rubbed his hands together and excitedly headed for the kitchen. "Today I'm going to show you my cooking skills! I'm sure you've never tasted this kind of Northeastern iron pot stew!"
He had been holding it in since morning and had been driven out of the kitchen by Diao three times.
There are only two stoves in total, one for cooking and the other for stewing, steaming and boiling water. How can there be any extra space for the old man to use?
He can only wait until Diao finishes her work before it is his turn.
No one has high hopes for the "iron pot stew". So far, the only man who can conquer the Shen family with his cooking skills is Xue Yongan.
"Can't you cook in an iron pot and eat it at the same time? Where are we going to put such a big pot if we bring it into the house?"
Chen Chunxing was an expert in the matter, and he raised his doubts before the old man took any action.
Wang Youcai stared at the pot silently for a while, then said hesitantly, "How about stir-frying three fresh vegetables?"
“…”
She searched the entire North, and if she could find a potato, she would stand upside down and write the word "admiration" to the old man.
Wang Youcai also realized what was happening and chuckled, "How about changing it to sweet and sour pork?"
Chen Chunxing's expression became even more disdainful. "Okay, okay, you can ask my grandma for candy yourself."
It was not popular to add sugar to cooking in those days. It was a rare thing and was usually locked in the old lady's room.
Wang Youcai smacked his lips.
Quite sad and angry.
He had great cooking skills, but in such a vast ancient time, he couldn’t even eat three Northeastern dishes!
So sad!
Finally, Chen Chunxing came up with a trick for him. He used a clay pot instead of an iron pot, which could barely hold a few pancakes in it, making it a one-pot dish.
Add some leek dumplings and sweet and sour pork, and Wang Youcai's homesickness will be satisfied.
"I emphasize again, I am from Shandong!"
"Then return the sugar and I'll find you two green onions."
“…”
"Well, I suddenly remembered that there's another person in Lao Chang's room. Shouldn't we take care of him?"
"Hey, Doctor Chang, you're not enough for him, how come he's also hiding a mistress..."
After being glared at by the two old men, Chen Chunxing finally remembered, oh, it turned out to be that unlucky guy.
Ever since he was caught in the snow, he has been recuperating at Doctor Chang's place and has rarely been seen.
Diao had only heard that this person had been rescued, but had not asked about his specific identity. Now that she was reminded of it, she waved her hand generously in a rare gesture.
"Call him over to eat with us. There are plenty of dishes today. It's such a beautiful day. Leaving a wounded man alone in an empty room would make our village seem so unkind."
Once the old lady spoke, no one dared to disobey.
Yang Yi looked at Chen Chunxing and saw her nod slightly, so he said, "I'll go and call her."
Then he strode out the door.
Chen Chunxing sorted the things on the ground and divided them into three piles.
Keep one portion for your own use.
Prepare one for the Wu siblings later.
She also has another copy to use in the village.
"I know you are ambitious and willing to study, which is a good thing, but it's not good to stay here alone in an empty room. If Sister Min hears, she will reward you with copying books."
Hearing her granddaughter's joke, Diao's old face turned red. She pretended not to hear it and turned around to bring the dishes to the table.
She can't be the village chief for nothing.
Knowing that she would be unable to make any progress without education, the old lady forced herself to put on a serious face and went to audit the children's classes.
Now the burden of the Shen family falls entirely on the eldest girl's shoulders. Although Diao doesn't say it, she feels very bitter in her heart.
She has always been partial and has her whole heart focused on Shen Chunxing.
Soon, the whole yard was filled with fragrance.
The rich sauce mixed with the sweet and sour smell gives people a novel sense.
“This smell…”
Doctor Chang didn't finish his thought and followed Wang Youcai into the house disobediently.
He stared at the table for a moment, chose a seat near the sweet and sour pork, and said impatiently, "Is everyone here? If so, let's eat!"
The two waves of people came in just one after the other.
Diao hesitated, "Really? Don't we need to wait for Xiao Xue?"
Chen Chunxing set the table for everyone and didn't think twice when he heard this.
"No need. If he wanted to come, he would have come long ago. He hasn't come yet. He must have been held up by something. Let's eat our own food."
Although this is the first year since the two reunited, they are in such a chaotic situation that they don't care about formalities. As long as they know where the other person is, it is enough.
Chen Chunxing understands Xue Yongan very well.
So she was right, he was indeed tripped up by trivial matters.
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