Chapter 70: Relatives’ New Year Greetings “Can my child be a child model?”…
Carpenter Wang was really fooled by Yun Laixiang.
Since Yun Lai Xiang's business boomed, numerous restaurants and teahouses came to his shop to order a wide variety of tables, chairs, benches, and carved wooden windows. Even his pushcarts became popular, with vendors requesting simple designs. The shop was so busy that his wife worked tirelessly weaving bamboo.
That wasn't so bad; the more work I did, the more money I earned, and I could save more for my children. But no one had as many ideas as Shopkeeper Wei.
What are the new requirements for doors, windows, tables and chairs? The drawings are all of them in the posture of raccoons. His wife kept saying that she could weave, she could weave anything. But he had to ensure that these tables and chairs were flat and not tilted, and also that they looked straight!
Even in his dreams at night, he heard a group of cats meowing at him.
It's not that he can't do this... He worked hard to make a meow bench, and when he asked Manager Wei to come and see the sample, she smiled at him again?
Come on, what's the point of this?
Manager Wei asked him to come to the new shop to measure the dimensions so that the things he made could fit in and not block the way.
Snow fell all over the streets in front of Tianqing Temple, and the morning sun rose, casting a bright light.
Carpenter Wang, wearing a thick dark green coat and gray earrings, made his way to Tianqing Temple. Passing by Qian's Soup and Noodle Shop, he was immediately drawn in by the rich, red aroma of the braised fish in the large iron pot.
He hadn't eaten at this old soup noodle shop in a while, so he ordered a bowl to try. In winter, soup noodles are popular, and a bowl makes you feel energetic. He couldn't find an empty seat anywhere. He informed the shopkeeper Qian and took his bowl to Yunlaixiang to check it out.
The freshly cooked soup noodles were emitting white mist in the snowy weather. The thin noodles were served in a light brown soup, and a few slices of golden fried fish were covering them.
He walked on the snow towards Yunlaixiang, and when he arrived, he sat on a small bamboo chair outside.
Carpenter Wang blew on the soup cake, picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and slurped it down his throat. He then picked up a piece of fried fish. The skin was slightly chewy, but the fish meat inside was soaked in the sweet and fresh marinade. He swallowed it down with the freshness of the soup.
He ate quickly, gulping down half a bowl of noodles. All the wind and snow he had eaten along the way melted in the hot soup.
Carpenter Wang slurped his noodles, his eyes fixed on the painting on the wooden frame outside the shop.
The painting shows four different styles of cloaks. The chicken cloak has a goose yellow background, with a pointed beak and pompom-shaped tail feathers. The rabbit cloak is a soft white velvet with pink silk stitching on the ear tips. The sheep cloak has a white fur collar and curled horns. The tiger cloak has an orange background with black embroidery and a long tail.
Yunlaixiang's raccoon, wrapped in a bright red cloak, was digging up snowballs with its claws at the door of the shop. Two dogs, one black and one yellow, with their red cloaks revealing their erect ears, rushed around in the snow, and jumped into the snow pile with a "whoosh".
Several groups of adults with children entered Yunlaixiang. Most of them walked in with smiles on their faces, and the children also walked in happily with their braids shaking.
Carpenter Wang was just eating the last few mouthfuls of noodles when he saw Wei Fuqiu come out holding a book.
She was wrapped in a small yellow cape with two small pompoms hanging on it. She raised her eyes and greeted politely, "Uncle Wang, you are here."
Carpenter Wang finished his noodles in a few mouthfuls and put the bowl aside. He was immediately attracted by her bright clothes and asked, "Yes, Miss Qi, you are dressed so beautifully today. Is this a new dress your sister bought for you?"
"No, it was made by my grandmother."
Just as she finished speaking, Wei Fuling poked her head out from behind her and said, "It looks great, doesn't it?"
“It looks good.”
Carpenter Wang smiled and nodded.
He already knew how to distinguish the two sisters. The one who spoke more calmly and composedly was Wei Fuqiu, while the one who squinted her eyes and smiled the moment she saw him was Wei Fuling.
Carpenter Wang's gaze fell on the children who came in.
The children were all dressed brightly.
The little girl brought by the woman had her hair combed into a bun and a touch of light pink rouge on her lips. The little boy had rosy cheeks and a small vermilion dot on his forehead.
He was a little puzzled. It was still a while before New Year's Day, so why was everyone so dressed up?
Wei Jinyun also came out of Yunlaixiang and saw Carpenter Wang at the door. He said with a sigh, "Hey, Manager Wang, why are you sitting outside? Come in quickly, it's cold outside with the snow and wind."
"Well, I just wanted to have a bowl of soup noodles outside. Otherwise, if I came to Yunlaixiang, everyone inside would be eating dim sum. It would be inappropriate for people to see me slurping my soup noodles... Your shop is really good business. So many people are eating dim sum so early in the morning."
Carpenter Wang looked at the children coming and going and thought he had entered some academy for the start of school.
"There are many people in my family who are having breakfast right now, and they can also eat soup noodles."
Wei Jinyun waved towards Yunlai Xiangli, "Most of them aren't here for snacks, they're here to campaign."
"Election?"
Carpenter Wang was stunned.
Wei Jinyun pointed at the painting on the wooden frame at the door. He looked over and saw a piece of paper next to the painting. It read, "Selection of six child models aged three to twelve." There was also a note below: Those selected would receive a sample cape, a Meow Meow medal, and future cooperation with the shop. Those not selected would receive a pair of Meow Meow ear warmers as a participation prize.
He pointed at the words "child model" and asked in confusion, "What... is a child model?"
"It's just about choosing people to try on new clothes."
Wei Fuling smiled and explained, "Grandma's children's clothing store is opening after the New Year, so this is a good opportunity to select a few people to try on the cloak, so everyone can see what different people look like wearing Grandma's cloak."
Yuanbao in the snow was using his claws to dig out a not-so-round snowball and was showing it off to the loofah and edamame. The loofah and edamame were circling around it, and the three red cloaks were fluttering in the snow.
At this moment, a figure stopped nearby. It was a young lady wearing a pink skirt and a light green cape. She was holding a plump three-colored raccoon cat in her arms and a small basket filled with snacks for the cat in her hands.
She stared at the ingots in the snow for a while, gently scratched the chin of the cat slave in her arms, and asked Wei Jinyun with a smile, "Shopkeeper Wei, I just saw a picture about selecting child models... Take a look, can my child be a child model?"
As she spoke, she lifted the cat in her arms forward. The little fellow opened his eyes and his tail swayed gently in the wind.
She was joking. Today she came to Yunlaixiang to buy some sun tarts to visit relatives.
Wei Jinyun stared at the raccoon in the young lady's arms for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Why... can't I?"
If I can make clothes for children, I can also make clothes for raccoons and dogs. Maybe I can even make clothes for babies to wear in the future...
The clothes of Yuanbao and the others were originally made of leftover fabric scraps from their grandmother. She could always wear them in new styles, and people who came to Yunlaixiang for snacks found it new every time.
Wei Jinyun thought of this and said to Wei Fuqiu beside her, "Sister Qiu, quickly grab some paper and pen and add another list. Let's hire a few more child animal models!"
The young lady exclaimed "Ah" and touched the raccoon in her arms, "Jinjiao, you also need to wear new clothes for the New Year."
Carpenter Wang found this interesting and jokingly said, "Manager Wei, can my son Dalang also be a child model?"
Erniu was laying bricks in the new shop and happened to come out to get some fresh air.
He laughed heartily. "Shopkeeper Wang, please stop kidding me. Brother Qiang's arms are thicker than mine. He's no longer a child model, he should be called a strong model. Next time Aunt Wang's tailor shop sells strong men's models, I guarantee you'll choose Brother Qiang. Come in and take a look. We've finished the partitions in the tailor shop. Shopkeeper Wei is waiting for you to come and make something."
Carpenter Wang also laughed and followed Wei Jinyun towards the new shop.
The shop, which was originally spacious, was just the right size for a garment shop. The windows facing the street were open, and the early sunshine after the snow shone in obliquely, falling on the ground and making the whole shop bright.
"Manager Wang, look by this window."
Wei Jinyun pointed to the empty space by the window and said, "We need to put a large table that can accommodate four or five people, and a few rattan chairs. My grandmother is going to teach her embroidery apprentice here. Please help take the measurements."
"It's a simple matter. I remember it."
Carpenter Wang nodded and was about to use a ruler to measure when Wei Jinyun handed him a blueprint.
He took it and squinted at it, then yelled, "Ouch!" "Are you...going to carve someone? You scared me!"
Wei Jinyun smiled and nodded, "Yes, it is carved into the shape of a half-grown child, and used to wear new clothes from the clothing store for display."
Carpenter Wang took the blueprint and clicked his tongue twice. "Ordinary clothing stores just use wooden racks to hang clothes, but you've gone so far as to just put up a few wooden figures. Don't you find it creepy to have these little wooden figures standing in the room?"
"Only human figures can best show the posture of children's clothes. You can just make three wooden figures first. The rest of the clothes can be hung directly on the wall next to them."
Wei Jinyun smiled and replied, "I'd also like you to make a few clothes hangers and some wooden pestles for clothes. I've drawn the drawings at the back. Please take a look at them."
Carpenter Wang held a thick stack of drawings, looked up at the clothes hanging area on the wall, then looked at the place called "teaching corner" by the window, and couldn't help but shook his head.
"No wonder you insisted on having me come in to take your measurements. Your grandmother's shop is a place where not a single ounce of space is wasted. It's all been thoughtfully planned out."
He stuffed the drawings into his arms.
I have to show Manager Wei what a living Lu Ban is.
Do!
Carpenter Wang finished taking measurements, packed up his ruler, and was about to leave when Wei Jinyun steered him toward Yunlaixiang. He figured since it was a rare visit, it wouldn't hurt to sit for a while before leaving. Normally, when buying Yunlaixiang snacks from the shop, he'd have to ask a slacker to deliver them, and he'd have to pay for the round-trip fare. This time, he'd buy more, since it was winter anyway.
He was stunned the moment he walked in. He'd only just gone to the shop next door to check it out, and it was already packed. Seeing a number of people gathered around the counter applying for credit cards, he leaned over to take a look.
It didn't matter that I went to investigate, but somehow I ended up getting a Furong card.
He looked at the hibiscus-embroidered card from left to right, wondering why Gu Xiang had become so eloquent after coming to Yunlaixiang to work! He kept saying "Uncle Wang" and "I'll give you a whole one" and he was so coaxed into applying for a Peony Card if he hadn't been short of money today.
He knew Gu Xiang well; he had also hired Old Gu's donkey cart. Sometimes, after working the docks, she'd ride home on her father's donkey cart. She didn't talk much then, sometimes just calling him "uncle" and smiling.
The shop was filled with sweet aroma. Carpenter Wang first ordered two chestnut cakes, and then he saw the red bean porridge in the bowls of the children around him, so he asked for a bowl too.
Yunlaixiang's red bean porridge is a little more sophisticated. The bowl is split in half: on the left is the thick, white rice porridge, and on the right is the delicate red bean paste. At the intersection of red and white, round glutinous rice balls and dried osmanthus flowers are sprinkled, creating a sweet and fragrant aroma.
Carpenter Wang found a family to share a table with, scooped up some porridge, and looked up at Wei Jinyun behind the counter and asked, "Shopkeeper Wei, why are you selling porridge in your pastry shop?"
Wei Jinyun was helping to pack snacks and replied with a smile, "We had a child model selection these past two days. The children came early and it was cold, so I made red bean porridge to warm them up."
"Speaking of this red bean porridge, we often eat it during the Kitchen God Festival, the Winter Solstice, and New Year's Day."
Carpenter Wang looked at the porridge. "According to the tradition passed down by our elders, people used to fear evil spirits around the winter solstice. They said Gonggong's incompetent son became a plague ghost after his death, and they were afraid of red beans. Nowadays, we cook red bean porridge every winter to ward off evil spirits and plague, and bring peace. I never thought your porridge would be so delicious."
"This is called red clouds covering snow."
Carpenter Wang laughed heartily. "Exquisite, indeed exquisite! No wonder your Yunlaixiang business is so good."
The little girl next to him held the bowl, scooped up a small dumpling with a spoon, then scooped a spoonful of red bean paste mixed with porridge, and swallowed it with a slurp.
Carpenter Wang also picked up a spoon and gently stirred the red and white porridge. The sweet and glutinous porridge mixed with the soft bean paste slid into his throat, driving away the winter plague.
Wei Jinyun also placed a bowl of red bean porridge on the counter. Red Cloud Covering Snow was its original name, and it could also be called Mandarin Duck Osmanthus Porridge.
When the weather gets cold, you can always hear the "knock knock knock" sound of clappers on the street. The vendors carrying camel-shaped poles or the old women in the porridge shop will lift the porridge bucket and fill it with warm and fragrant porridge.
At that time, her grandparents always took turns holding her hand to eat. She would lie on the table and slurp the porridge, listening to her grandparents asking her to recite the nursery rhyme "Knock knock knock, selling sugar porridge. Three pounds of walnuts, four pounds of shells. Eat your flesh, return your shells..."
The entrance was still bustling, and Wang Qiulan came in with an oil-paper bag in her hand.
"The line at the Qian family's was halfway around the block today. It's almost Chinese New Year, and everyone is rushing to eat their fried fish soup and pancakes. Even if they don't want the soup and pancakes, the neighbors still have to buy two pounds of fried fish to take home."
She raised the oil-paper bag in her hand and said, "Luckily I finally bought it. Let's eat it together later."
The fried fish at Qianji Soup and Noodle Shop is made by cutting fresh fish into thick slices, marinating it thoroughly with sugar and soy sauce, frying it until the skin is golden and crispy, then taking it out and soaking it in the marinade overnight. The marinade seeps into the fish meat, making it fresh and sweet when you bite it.
"Grandma, I want to eat!"
Wei Fuling immediately moved over.
"Grandma, I want to eat too."
Wei Fuqiu also followed forward.
Wang Qiulan smiled and picked up some for them with her chopsticks, not forgetting to put a piece in Wei Jinyun's bowl.
Since all three granddaughters had a share, it would be a shame not to give some to the busy servants. Wang Qiulan simply opened the oil-paper package and said, "Try it, everyone, try it!"
This taste is enough to taste most of the mouth-watering fried fish.
Wang Qiulan looked at the half-empty paper bag and smiled, "We're still waiting for lunch, and we've already given you so much. You won't feel choked if you just eat it straight. Drink more tea later."
Li Ji brought Zhi Duo Xing to have snacks as usual.
Zhi Duo Xing wore a green jacket and a small hat. As soon as he entered the room, he broke away from Li Ji's hand and said, "Wei Fuqiu, do you think I can be a child model?"
Wei Fuqiu was practicing calligraphy by the window. She raised her head and looked him up and down.
She shook her head. "You need to eat less, or your cloak won't fit."
Zhi Duo Xing's face fell and he sat down next to her. "But it's Chinese New Year. We have soy sauce recipes and fried golden chicken eggs at home. Meng Ge'er's fried chicken is crispy and crispy. Your sun tarts are my favorite. I can't help it...but I really want to be a child model too."
Li Ji walked forward, rubbed his son's head helplessly, then turned to Wei Jinyun and said gently, "Give Cheng'er some red bean porridge... He got a stomachache a couple of days ago, and I don't know what he ate. Thanks to Sister Qi and Sister Ling for bringing him some bayberries. It was hard for them in the heavy snow."
He still remembered that Cheng'er was clutching his stomach and groaning, and even after taking medicine, the pain hadn't subsided when two children wearing rabbit cloaks came to his house. He even treated them to some snacks from his own house.
"Well, they knew Cheng'er had a stomachache, so they just left with a jar of bayberry wine and didn't even say hello to me."
Wei Jinyun smiled and replied, "Cheng Ge'er always teaches them how to read and write, and they are very close."
"Um."
Yunlaixiang was bustling with activity, but it was snowing outside.
Qin led Wei Lao San and the crying Hao Ge'er and walked on the snow.
Wei Lao San followed Qin with his neck hunched, heading towards Yun Lai Xiang, muttering, "Is this Pingjiang Prefecture inn a money-grabber? I've been staying here for three days, and my money's been wasted. If I stay for another two days, my pockets will be empty. I'm so heartbroken!"
Qin, holding Hao Ge'er in her arms, replied impatiently, "Stop grumbling, we're almost there. My inquiries these past few days have finally paid off. I found out that the girl opened a pastry shop. I even asked about the man who often came there, and he's a military officer... I want to see if she really relied on this man to dare to leave us relatives behind and open such a big shop."
"That's right. Looking at the grandeur of this shop, I wonder how comfortable she's been. When we meet later, I'll have to ask her where she's kept her uncle's tablet and the reputation of the Wei family."
Wei Laosan quickened his pace, his eyes fixed on the flag swaying in the wind in front of him.
Last time, they had been tricked by Yun Yatou, so this time they weren't going to play a game they had no chance of winning. They had already arrived in Pingjiang Prefecture and often hid in front of Tianqing Temple to watch first, but this time they were finally caught.
When they arrived at the door of Yunlaixiang, Wei Laosan cleared his throat first.
He immediately spotted Wang Qiulan standing at the door watching some children playing with candy balls, and immediately burst into tears, "Aunt! Why did you take Yun and the others away without a word?"
As he said that, he pushed Hao Ge'er in his arms and said, "Hurry up and cry for your aunt. Your aunt is living a good life here and has forgotten all about us Wei family members!"
Hao Ge'er was already feeling aggrieved by the cold snow, and when he was pushed by him, he immediately burst into tears. Qin hurried forward, patting the child's back and wiping his tears.
Wang Qiulan didn't react in time and immediately grabbed the two sisters and hid behind them.
"Aunt, we're not here to bother you, but you're really doing something wrong. Uncle's tablet is still in the Wei family's ancestral hall, and yet you took the children away without telling the clan. Now everyone in the village is saying that the Wei family has no one left and doesn't even care about the ancestral hall. Tell me, where does this leave the Wei family's reputation?"
Wei Lao San sighed and burst into tears, "Yes, Auntie, we are happy to see that Yun girl's shop is doing well, but no matter what, we can't forget our roots. If my uncle knew about this, he would be so heartbroken to see that you took his flesh and blood away from home and didn't even go back to the ancestral hall!"
Haoge'er was sobbing breathlessly, his cries especially loud in the snow. Qin deliberately didn't try to comfort him, letting the child's cries drift in front of Tianqing Temple, attracting the attention of passersby and even all the neighbors.
Wei Jinyun frowned when he heard the sound, and then sent out Yunlaixiang. All the customers in the shop came out when they heard the noise.
Li Ji protected Zhi Duo Xing behind him, stepped forward to block Wei Jinyun, frowned and said, "Shopkeeper Wei, who is this?"
"Excuse me, neighbors, for making fun of me. I'm a distant relative from Jiangning Prefecture."
Wei Jinyun supported Wang Qiulan and asked Meng Ge'er and Zhi Duoxing to take the two sisters to Zhaoji Delicatessen's shop first.
"What distant relative? You are a girl from the Wei family, why don't you acknowledge your relationship with me?"
Wei Laosan came over and cried.
Qin also pulled Hao Ge'er and continued, "You've forgotten your roots just because you're relying on the Si Hu Lord. You don't even care about your uncle's tablet? We come to give you some advice, but you call us distant relatives?"
Wei Jinyun supported Wang Qiulan, frowning, and said coldly, "Are you sick? What are you talking about?"
"Yun girl, you have a comfortable life now, but you must not forget your roots. I heard from my second aunt's cousin that her distant niece works in Pingjiang Prefecture and saw you go to the residence of the Minister of Household Affairs with her own eyes."
Wei Lao San just started talking nonsense.
Qin pulled Hao Ge'er in and sat down in the snow. "Master Si Hu's child had a stomachache, and you sent Sister Qi and Sister Ling to go. An unmarried girl is so concerned about someone else's child. If she's not thinking about becoming a stepmother, what else is she thinking?"
As she spoke, she suddenly pinched Hao Ge'er in her arms, and pushed him towards Wei Jinyun by the head. She leaned close to his forehead and guided him, "Tell me quickly, what did your mother teach you? Tell your aunt."
Hao Ge'er was sobbing and sobbing, and he didn't dare to stop because he was being pinched. He shouted incoherently, "Auntie wants to find me an official as my uncle! She also said that from now on, all the snacks in this shop must be given to the official's children first!"
Seeing that the military officer next to Wei Jinyun had a frown on his face, Wei Laosan moved closer.
"I also heard from my distant aunt that her neighbor's daughter-in-law was getting medicine at the pharmacy. She saw you buy angelica and white peony root and asked about your period. What's the point of an unmarried girl asking about this? I'm afraid... Yun girl, are you so anxious to settle down in Pingjiang Prefecture?"
"That's right."
Qin pointed at the tip of Wei Jinyun's nose and shouted, "Is your stomach unable to wait?"
She shook Hao Ge'er's arm, and he cried heartbreakingly, "Auntie is pregnant! She also said she wants to live with the adults who take care of the baby!"
Seeing Wei Jinyun's cold face and unwillingness to respond, Qin simply stood up from the snow and said, "Girl Yun, don't be angry with us. Even if you want to register as a resident of Pingjiang Prefecture and open this shop, you can't ignore the rules of the Wei family. We have already found a good match for you in our hometown of Jiangning Prefecture. He is the youngest son of Zhang the butcher in the neighboring village. He is strong and capable. We have already negotiated the betrothal gift with him. Come back with us to get married and don't get involved with others here."
She continued, "Listen to what my aunt said. Women have to get married eventually. Butcher Zhang has three tiled houses. Isn't that better than you sitting here guarding a shop and gossiping with others? Besides, this marriage was approved by the elders of the clan. If you don't agree, you will be disobeying the elders. How can you face the Wei family's ancestral hall?"
Wei Lao San chimed in, reaching out to pull Wei Jinyun's sleeve, "Yes, Yun girl, this marriage is for your own good. That boy is honest and will treat your unborn baby well."
Just as his hand was about to touch Wei Jinyun's sleeve, Wei Jinyun raised his hand and slapped him. The crisp sound of "pa" was particularly clear in the noisy doorway.
Wei Lao San was stunned by the beating. He covered his face and stumbled back half a step. When he came to his senses, he jumped up and shouted, "Why are you still hitting people? You are a rebellious person! A girl from the Wei family dared to hit an elder. I think you have been bewitched by the people outside!"
"I'll fight if I want to. How about that?"
Wei Jinyun stared at Wei Lao San's flushed face and asked, "What kind of elder are you?"
Wei Lao San rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward again, angrily saying, "You ran away and didn't care about the Wei family anymore. I will teach you a lesson today!"
Before his hand touched Wei Jinyun's arm, Wei Jinyun slapped him again.
Wei Lao San felt dizzy and confused. How could this girl be so strong in just half a year? Wasn't she a weak person? How could she dodge so quickly?
He was about to charge forward again, but Li Ji stepped forward and grabbed his wrist, squeezing his knuckles hard. Wei Lao San grimaced in pain.
He looked up and saw that it was Li Ji. He immediately changed his expression and said flatteringly, "Master Si Hu, I know you care about our girl Yun, but this is a family matter of the Wei family. She disobeyed the elders and hit people. As relatives, we have to intervene. And Master Si Hu, you did this to our girl Yun... I have no face to face the Wei family."
Wei Laosan's wrist was still held by Li Ji, and the surrounding neighbors were in an uproar.
Zhao Xiangping frowned and said, "It's New Year's Day, what are you doing? Are you sick? You're blocking the door of someone's shop and spreading rumors, and even trying to hit them. No wonder our shopkeeper Wei had to come all the way from Jiangning Prefecture. With relatives like you, who wouldn't avoid you?"
Shopkeeper Liu also nodded. "That's right. I'm watching over the shop every day. Shopkeeper Wei is either watching over the shop or going to Changmen to talk business with the vendors and buy goods. How could he have the time to go to the Si Hu Lord's residence? You guys just keep talking nonsense. Do you have a clear conscience?"
"And about that medicine, Shopkeeper Wei helped me get some angelica and white peony root a few days ago. It's because I have irregular periods and am weak."
Chang Siyan looked at the three people making trouble and pointed at his belly, "Why didn't you tell me that I have a baby?"
The neighbors chatted one after another, and the conversation became more and more lively.
"That's right, Shopkeeper Wei is so kind to everyone. Last time, when my baby was crying, he even gave him a handful of candy!"
"It's obvious these two have bad intentions. It's New Year's Day and I'm in trouble. I won't be able to draw the Meow Meow Book Bag."
"How dare you talk about family matters? How can you spread rumors and hurt others about family matters like this?"
"I don't care whether you believe it or not. Even if the Lord of Household Affairs is here, he has to admit this. Wei Jinyun is not currently registered in Pingjiang Prefecture and is under the jurisdiction of Jiangning Prefecture. Since she is still a member of our Wei family, is it wrong for us to take care of her?"
After Wei Lao San said this, he looked at the people in front of him in bewilderment.
The sound of horse hooves stepping on the snow came from far away, with a steady rhythm and a terrifying momentum, instantly drowning out the noise at the door.
At the edge of the snowy field, several figures rode towards him. Lu Lan, wearing light armor and a hair tied up, reined in his horse in front of the crowd, his crimson armor dazzling against the white snow.
He dismounted and walked a few steps to Wei Lao San. He said in a deep voice, "Who said that outsiders who have settled in a place for less than a year cannot register as a household?"
"She helped the government arrest Zhang Dazui and engineered the capture of Li Dabing. The government has already issued a commendation. Even for her descendants, Pingjiang Prefecture should show some respect. With such contributions, Lord Li, is it enough to grant her immediate residency?"
Li Ji nodded, "Of course it's enough."
"If that's enough, then let's open a household right now."
Lu Lan didn't look at Wei Lao San again, turned and walked towards Wei Jinyun.
Qin stared at his armor, then suddenly realized something, her voice trembling a little, "You, you are Inspector Lu, Lord Lu?"
Wei Jinyun's eyes only fell on the white cloth wrapped around Lu Lan's waist, and his brows knitted together. "Why did you come back just now? Are you injured?"
"Yeah, a minor injury. Does your hand hurt?"
Wei Jinyun said, "Ah," "Not bad."
Lu Lan turned to look at Wei Lao San and the other two who were frozen in place, and said in a flat tone, "Are you here to pay New Year's greetings?"
Wei Lao San didn't dare to say "no" and nodded hurriedly, "Well, well..."
"Since you're here to pay New Year's greetings, you should be polite."
Lu Lan raised his hand and called his men.
"Zhan Wenxing, have them come over and kowtow to Manager Wei and Old Madam Wang to wish them a happy new year."
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The author has something to say: Red bean porridge is really called red clouds covering snow, which originated in the Southern and Northern Dynasties and was named in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The nursery rhyme was circulated during the Republic of China period. Su's fried fish is sweet fried fish.
Jinyun: Are you injured? [holding chin]
Mr. Lu: Does your hand hurt? [Breaking into tears] (I’m also too late.
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