Chapter 90: A New Year with a New Look (Part 2)
"Xiaoxue, the county magistrate, is late today. I have to punish you with a drink!"
Having food but no wine always feels a little lacking.
When the two old men saw Xue Yongan coming in with the jar of wine, they became very excited and didn't even bother to say the usual polite words. They just pushed him to sit on the stool next to them.
"Xiao Xue is really kind." Doctor Chang took the jar of wine impatiently and opened the lid. The aroma of wine spread out, and his eyes lit up. "This wine... is quite strong!"
The North is a famously bitterly cold place, and the locals love it. Only spicy liquor can relieve the chill.
Chen Chunxing shrugged, snatched the wine that Doctor Chang had poured for Xue Yongan, poured it into his mouth, and sipped twice: "That's it?"
For a modern person who has been immersed in drinking culture for years in order to pass the civil service exam, it is as bland as water.
"What do you know, little girl?" Doctor Chang was unhappy. "The wine from the Northern Territory is famous throughout the entire Xiayuan Kingdom. Ordinary people can't drink this if they don't have a good alcohol tolerance."
While he was talking, Wang Youcai guzzled three cups of wine. Suddenly, he tilted his head and asked Xue Yongan, "Is there anything with a higher alcohol content?"
Xue Yongan shook his head helplessly, "This is already the best wine you can find in Honglu County."
“It’s really close.”
Lao Wang is a Shandong native who has lived in Northeast China for half his life. This is the legendary half-pound amount!
In his eyes, low-alcohol liquor that has not been distilled is not as good as plain water.
"It's useless to just pique people's interest but not satisfy their cravings. If you had brought the wine earlier, I might have been able to think of something else..."
Hearing the unfinished meaning in his words, Chen Chunxing had an idea and took the initiative to pick up a piece of chicken for Wang Youcai.
"You also know how to make wine?"
Wang Youcai looked down at the chicken breast that was passed to him, then glanced at the chicken leg that fell into Xue Yongan's bowl, and gritted his teeth.
"When you reach my age, you'll know a little bit about everything... People outside say your grandma is partial, but I think you're no less!"
Hearing this.
Diao knocked on the table to express her dissatisfaction.
What's wrong with being partial?
Who wouldn't favor the eldest son over the legitimate grandson? Xiao Xue is a handsome man, and if the eldest girl doesn't favor him, then why would she favor you, an old man? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself...
Chen Chunxing saw what her grandmother meant and laughed first, "That's great! Since you have this ability, you can't waste it. Next year, we'll plant corn!"
Shushu is also known as sorghum.
It tastes bitter and difficult to eat, and is generally only used to feed livestock. Very few people eat it. Therefore, even though the output is considerable, it is still difficult to promote it within the territory of Xia Yuan.
When Diao heard this, she became anxious and no longer cared about arguing with others.
"Is it really possible to grow that stuff? In this remote place, even if we brew good wine, will anyone buy it? If it's a waste, how can we repay the debt?"
Nowadays, almost everyone in the narrow village owes a sum of relief food.
When the summer harvest comes, no matter what you take, the government will definitely not accept sorghum.
"That depends on Mr. Wang's skills. By 'knowing a little bit', is it really this much, or this much, or... this much?"
Chen Chunxing's gestures evolved from picking up a pinch of salt to holding a large watermelon.
Vivid and figurative.
Everyone couldn't help but smile.
Wang Youcai touched his chin and didn't agree immediately. "I'll make a note of this. We'll see when the time comes."
When he doesn't take on too much, he appears to be quite cautious.
Doctor Chang was silent for a long time, looking at this and that suspiciously.
"Are you drunk and talking nonsense?"
Wanting to make a living by selling wine in the northern border is tantamount to asking him to open a clinic in the capital and compete with the descendants of the imperial hospital.
Fantastic and ignorant of the immensity of the world!
The three people who were pointed at looked at each other and laughed.
"That's right, we're all drunk, and you're the only one who hasn't drunk yet! Hurry up, you're raising fish here!"
Wang Youcai put the wine glass under Doctor Chang's nose, and waited for him to finish drinking it. As if it was not enough, he took two tea bowls from the table and filled them up.
"I've been here for a while now, and I haven't had the chance to properly thank everyone, especially Old Chang, for giving me a place to stay. This bowl of wine is for you!"
Doctor Chang's eyes widened.
Before he could reach out his trembling hand, he saw Wang Youcai drinking a bowl of wine and talking to himself.
"You are now my breadwinner. I, Old Wang, will always remember this friendship! From now on, we are brothers. As long as I have a bite to eat, I will never forget you!"
As he spoke, he drank another bowl of wine.
"This third cup..."
Doctor Chang suddenly stood up and shouted, "Put it down! Put it down! Isn't it enough that I trust you?"
In order to prove that he can drink a lot, he is really trying hard... The old man's eyes are very complicated.
"You're not complaining about the wine being too bland, you're clearly trying to find a way to get some!"
It was Chen Chunxing who was sharp-eyed and saw through Wang Youcai's "sinister intentions" in one sentence.
He had already drunk half of the entire jar of wine.
Diao brought out a few bowls of dishes that she had specially reserved and asked everyone to sit down and eat slowly.
Maoping waved his hand.
How could he dare to eat at the same table with the master? After looking around, he simply sat at the children's table.
There are fewer people there, but a lot of food.
Except for a plate of braised pork that was snatched away clean, the rest seemed to have been untouched.
As children, they like sweets like pumpkin pie, and they eat them while playing.
Although Wu Qing has now returned to normal, he is still willing to play with Chen Yandong. The two boys huddled together and whispered to each other, talking at cross purposes, and were only fed a few bites when they were caught by their respective sisters.
After the food was cleared away and the dishes were cleared away, replaced with sunflower seeds and peanuts, Chen Chunxing brought over a large teapot and asked, "Who wants it?"
Everyone except the two old men waved their hands.
I just drank a belly full of broth, there is no room left.
Normally, after eating the New Year’s Eve dinner, it is time to give out lucky money, then stay up all night, waiting for a string of firecrackers to be set off, and then go to sleep with good wishes.
But it doesn’t apply right now.
There are people in this room, both inside and outside, some are poor... and some are even poorer.
No one should pretend to be so powerful and just bluff the issue.
Diao gave each child a red egg, even Wu Minchen Chunxing was not spared.
"Eat one per person, and the coming year will be prosperous."
Chen Chunxing slapped the egg onto the table, making a loud bang.
"Grandma, you're being too perfunctory. Who can eat at this moment?"
She couldn't squeeze it in anyway.
After Chen Chunxing peeled the eggshell, he stuffed it into Xue Yongan's mouth.
"Who told you to eat it now? It's just a New Year's gift, you have to save it until tomorrow morning!" Diao glared in dissatisfaction.
Chen Chun's movements froze. Looking at the remaining half egg in his hand, he started to discuss with Xue Yongan: "How about you spit it out again?"
Xue Yongan's Adam's apple rolled.
An embarrassed expression.
"Spit it out, you can't keep it..."
Everyone laughed.
Chat for a while.
Thinking that the time was about right, Diao asked Yang Yi to send the Wu siblings back.
There are no firecrackers to be heard around, and it’s freezing cold, so there’s no need to celebrate the New Year. Just go to bed early and feel comfortable.
The two old men drank some wine without being told by anyone, and left arm in arm.
After everyone had left and the three children had been washed and dressed, Diao waved to Chen Chunxing.
"Come with me."
She was asking Xue Yongan about conscription and turned around when she heard the voice.
The old lady's eyes flickered, and the laughter and joy at the dinner table disappeared in an instant, leaving only a hint of sadness on her face.
Chen Chunxing patted Xue Yongan's arm, motioning him to wait for him, and then followed Diao to the backyard.
"Right here, kneel down."
Facing the dark yard, Diao pointed to the corner.
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