Chapter 72: Shopkeeper David’s business will be booming next year!
The 20th day of the twelfth lunar month is cold.
There was fluffy white snow on the dark tiles. The rising sun was warm and dazzling, but it had no energy to melt the snow on the eaves.
A few birds perched for a moment on the dripping branches, then swooped down to the small pile of rice on the ground. Snow lay all around, yet there suddenly appeared a handful of good winter food.
The rice was golden yellow, and two sparrows were jumping around, pecking at the rice grains with their sharp beaks, making a rustling sound.
With a "bang", the bamboo basket fell heavily on the snow.
But the basket was empty. The birds that had just eaten their fill of rice had already flapped their wings and flew away. One of them was even holding a grain of rice in its beak, chirping contentedly as it flew towards a branch.
"Brother Meng, you pulled too fast and you didn't catch it!"
The child in the lamb cloak sighed deeply.
"I didn't see it right this time. Next time I'll pull slower and I'll definitely catch it!"
Meng Ge'er raised his head and hummed. He opened the bamboo basket and set it up again, reached into his pocket to take out the rice, squatted down and put it there.
The birds must be starving in the snow, so he needs to feed them more rice. If he fails to catch anything after pretending again, it’s definitely not because he pulled it out too early.
Porters carrying loads on their shoulders would pass by Tianqing Temple from time to time. In the jars at both ends of the loads, pig's trotters were soaked in a brown sauce and steaming, fresh herring tails were splashing in the water in the buckets, and boxes of snacks tied with red silk were piled high. These were all New Year's dishes that were sent as New Year's greetings before the New Year.
There were so many New Year goods to carry on these trips that they hired a porter, which gave everyone some free time. The porter increased the price by two cents, and they were very motivated to earn money.
The aroma of roasted chicken and duck filled the air in front of Tianqing Temple. Zhao Xiangping brought the golden-braised chicken and duck to the chopping board, chopping them with a resounding "dong dong" sound. She discarded the buttocks and tossed them into the bucket below, adding loofah and edamame to the meal. Some people also liked the meat, saying it was soft, chewy, and fragrant.
It's almost Chinese New Year, and if you're hosting a family banquet, you'll want to prepare cooked food and cold dishes. The best cooked food places are undoubtedly Li's braised pork shop in front of Tianqing Temple and Mrs. Zhao's braised duck.
There were so many people at Zhaoji Cooked Food that there was no room to squeeze in.
A child wrapped in a bunny cloak went out with his mother to buy prepared food. The furry hood covered his face, leaving only his round eyes. He bumped into a child wearing a chicken cloak. They both groaned and huddled together, saying "Hey, hey, hey" a few times. When they realized it was their playmate, they hurriedly pulled off the hood of the cloak, revealing their grinning faces.
Joining them in the queue were children wearing tiger cloaks. Standing there in the crowd, they looked like a group of chubby little animals moving across the snow.
Wei Jinyun was kneading all kinds of pastries in the kitchen. Gu Xiang took out trays of steamed pastries to cool down and placed gift boxes towards the wine. Wan Wu was packing the baked peach cakes, sesame cakes and osmanthus cakes into red silk boxes.
Chang Siyan checked the gift lists of each family, muttering from time to time, "This is from Shopkeeper Zhao of Shiquan Street," "This is three boxes of exclusive items from Mr. Li," "Shopkeeper Chen's fifty boxes must have been packed, why did the idle guy only give two? He really thinks he is a strong man," and so on...
The heat mixed with fresh air spread from the backyard. Wang Qiulan walked in front holding a large bowl, while Wei Fuling and Wei Fuqiu followed behind, each holding a wet towel and holding two smaller bowls steadily.
Wei Fuling put down her bowl and waved her hand. "Sisters, come and try the mackerel wontons that Sister Ling made. They're super, super, super delicious. I've already let you try two!"
The flounder wontons in the bowl float in the clear soup, sprinkled with thinly chopped egg, comfrey and dried shrimp floating in between.
Chang Siyan scooped up a wonton from the bowl, blew on it, and took a bite. The fish filling was delicious, the delicate fish meat was so tender that it almost didn't need chewing, and mixed with the salty fragrance of the dried shrimp in the broth, it was a refreshing and fresh taste.
Satisfied, she scooped up another one and said to Wei Jinyun, "Brother Baoen is amazing. The flounder is most delicious in early spring, and it's snowy here, and you're still able to catch one for our shopkeeper Wei."
Wei Jinyun scooped up the soup and glanced at her, then said slowly, "Oh, speaking of Lu Lan, I'll save your lucky money and give it to you in the spring."
Chang Siyan immediately swallowed the wonton in his mouth, shaking his head like a rattle, "I was wrong, I was wrong, everyone loves to eat flounder wontons."
Gu Xiang beside her could eat two in one bite. She finished half a bowl of squid wontons in a few gulps. She looked up and asked, "Manager Wei, Lord Lu has been sending fish for quite a while now, and it's a different kind every day. Why don't you let him come to Yunlaixiang to rest? The inspection office is closed."
Wei Jinyun gritted his teeth and snorted, "He's injured, so he needs to recover. Why would he come out here and deliver fish instead of taking a good rest?"
Every time he came, he would bring her some fish, and sometimes she didn't even know he was there.
Yuanbao meowed in delight at the aroma of the flounder. After Wei Jinyun finished eating the wontons, he took his bowl and fed him the flounder paste.
After eating and drinking his fill, Yuanbao was about to lie down on the rattan chair with his legs up in the air to take a nap, when Wei Jinyun picked him up.
"Look at you, Yuanbao, what has he done to you? Do you still have the determination to be a good raccoon slave?"
Wei Jinyun tapped Yuanbao's head to teach it a lesson, "You must move now, you are the overlord in front of Tianqing Temple, not just a car!"
He was like a grandmother feeding a cat, and all he could do was mutter: Is it enough for the child? Is it enough for the child?
Yuanbao meowed twice in grievance, then obediently went to the door of the shop and began his exercise which lasted for "a short while".
The loofah's fur shone beautifully in the sun, glossy black and smooth, like a majestic hound. Maodou was rubbing its fluffy head against Mengge'er's hand. Mengge'er said, "Sit down quickly," and Maodou sat down obediently, sticking out his tongue and opening his wide, watery eyes to receive two pieces of greasy duck buttocks.
Suddenly, a bright red appeared in the snow. Lu Lingxiang ran over wrapped in a pomegranate red cloak. The cuffs of the green jacket she wore underneath were exposed, and the brocade box in her hand was tied with red silk.
She quickly ran to Wei Jinyun and put the brocade box on the table, panting. "Jinyun, do you miss me?"
"Of course I do, Xiangxiang, you're finally back from Bianjing."
Wei Jinyun hurried to pour her some hot tea.
Lu Lingxiang took a sip of hot tea and immediately opened the brocade box. Inside, a silky red satin covered the floor. Two crabapple-shaped hairpins, inlaid with pink beads, lay diagonally, next to a gilded butterfly-wing hairpin, its wings inlaid with emerald. Beneath it lay two boxes of rouge, one a delicate peach pink, the other a warmer orange. Opening the mother-of-pearl powder box next to it, she revealed the powder inside, as fine as snow.
"Look at the good stuff I bought for you."
Lu Lingxiang pushed the brocade box towards her.
Wei Jinyun picked up the crabapple pearl hairpin, and the pink beads trembled twice, which was very beautiful.
She couldn't help laughing, "Xiangxiang, have you made a fortune? This looks so expensive."
"Yeah, all for you."
Seeing her smile, Lu Lingxiang nodded with satisfaction, "These are really all for you. If you don't accept them, I will be unhappy. Can you bear to make Xiangxiang unhappy?"
Lu Lingxiang stared at Wei Jinyun as he picked up the pearl hairpin, muttering to himself.
In reality, she hadn't made a fortune buying these things; she'd gotten small change from her parents, and her second brother had also stuffed her with a bag of money. She'd dragged her grandmother along to choose the jewelry, and she'd looked over the pearl hairpins on display, saying pink pearls would look better than white ones to complement Miss Wei's complexion.
My sister-in-law helped me choose the rouge and powder. My eldest brother even joked with her, saying that I should tell my sister-in-law what Miss Wei looked like and ask her to help me choose. She said Jinyun looked like a fairy, and my second brother would often "pass by" her shop.
The eldest brother and sister-in-law laughed so hard that they fell down. They said that they were too busy in Bian Jing this year to return to Pingjiang Prefecture, and they would ask for leave from the emperor next year and come back to see the person who made them and the second brother worried about them.
Thinking about this, Lu Lingxiang moved closer to Wei Jinyun and said, "Please accept these quickly. I spent a long time picking them."
Wei Jinyun gently placed the pearl hairpin back into the brocade box, smiled and nodded, "Then I really accept it. Thank you, Xiangxiang."
Lu Lingxiang immediately smiled and reached out to close the lid of the brocade box. "You can take it! You take second brother's fish every day, but you can't not take Xiangxiang's jewelry."
"Don't mention Lu Lan."
"Don't mention it."
There was also thick snow on the eaves of the Inspection Office. Several of his men bought a few red lanterns and hung them under the corridor, and also pasted a few red paper-cuts to add some New Year atmosphere to the dark and snowy Inspection Office.
Lu Lan folded up the river patrol records and placed them on the table. He looked up at Zhan Wenxing and said, "It's time to rest. You can go back."
Zhan Wenxing packed up his writing brush and ink, and said with a smile, "This year's holiday is two days earlier."
"Pingjiang Prefecture is peaceful, so naturally he was released two days earlier."
Lu Lan flipped through another stack of files. "In previous years, you always went on duty with me. Leave early today and have a happy new year with your brother."
"Thank you, sir."
Zhan Wenxing responded quickly and put the things into his bag swiftly.
They said that the master entered the Inspection Office at the age of fourteen, and so did he.
He remembered it was also a winter day. His parents had sent a letter saying they would return after selling the goods. However, the merchant ship they were returning from encountered pirates, and they were thrown into the Yangtze River, leaving no trace of their bodies.
From then on, he no longer liked the Chinese New Year.
When he finally grew up, he ignored his brother's dissuasion and joined the Inspection Office. He had only one thought in his mind: kill the bandits, kill the bandits, kill the bandits.
He was always at the forefront, and the master appreciated him, treated his injuries, and said he was like an old friend who also liked to fight. So he asked him to follow him. At the age of fifteen, he became the master's adjutant.
Adults are kind, especially to their subordinates. Adults rarely smile, always serious, yet they love sweets—strangely enough. Adults always share the snacks they buy with their subordinates, and they care about every little person. It's as if they remember everyone's name.
The adults are really nice, and Zhan Wenxing is willing to stay by their side all the time.
At the age of sixteen, he began to look forward to the New Year again.
When he reached the door, he turned back and said loudly, "Master, please get off work soon. The herring vendor left the fish for you at the door today, and it's still splashing in the water!"
After he said that, he walked out on the snow, first to weigh some honey-fried dumplings and ginkgo nuts, and then to buy two roasted ducks. His brother had been studying hard recently and had not been going to Zhaoji Cooked Food Store.
By the time Lu Lan finished his shift, dusk had already settled over the streets of Pingjiang Prefecture. Lanterns were lit, casting a red glow on the snow. He first went to the back alley of the Inspection Office and distributed the New Year's goods—red silk-wrapped snacks, preserved meat, and fresh fruits—to the remaining men. Then he returned to his house and strung the herrings from the wooden barrel at the door onto a straw rope.
Snow fell on the grave, and a thick layer of it accumulated on Chen Heru's tombstone.
Lu Lan squatted down, poured the wine he brought onto the stone table, and placed snacks and food on it.
"It's New Year's again, Heru."
The wind picked up, and he looked at the tombstone, his voice so soft as not to startle him, "He Ru, I like her, the young lady Wei who I brought to see you last time. Do you think she's good too?"
The tombstones were silent, with only the snow falling silently.
"I know you think she's great too."
Lu Lan suddenly laughed twice and patted the tombstone. "I'm going to tell her my feelings. Can you teach me how to say it? What does she like? You tell me, I'll buy her all the snacks in Changmen and bring them to her, okay?"
He thought for a moment and muttered to himself facing the tombstone, "What do you think she likes... Will she like me? Will she like my family?"
Snow fell on his shoulders, but he didn't move. He just looked at the name on the tombstone and smiled.
A group of people were sitting in a mess around Yunlaixiang's long table.
Gu Xiang slumped in his chair, his arm resting on the corner of the table. "I can't take it anymore. I didn't expect this last day to be so tiring. I feel like our Yunlaixiang stove is about to explode. I haven't rested for a moment since this morning."
Chao Jiu drank half a bowl of tea, wiped his mouth and smiled, "Boss, you feel tired too. Wan Wu and I always thought you were made of iron and didn't even know how to write the word 'tired'."
After all, the boss in their eyes was the one who swung a broom like Guan Gong swinging a sword, and he was so powerful that they had never seen a place cleaner than Yunlaixiang.
"Go! Go! Go."
Gu Xiang raised his hand and patted her arm, but it was limp and weak. "I'm a living person, a living person. Even the strongest person can't stand it for three or four hours. I collapsed."
Chang Siyan rubbed his sore wrist and shook the list in his hand. "We actually put out so many lists for dim sum. I almost couldn't get it right when I was reconciling it just now. My hands are sore from writing."
Wan Wu walked over and sat down, looking towards the kitchen and whispering, "Speaking of which, Shopkeeper Wei is the most tired one. She's busy from morning till night and is still squatting in the kitchen. I went in and saw that she was still tying red silk around the last few boxes of dim sum."
Wei Jinyun came out from the backyard after lifting the curtain. Her hair on her forehead was wet with sweat, and her cheeks were red from the stove fire.
She sat down at the counter and collapsed on the rattan chair. "I can't take it anymore. We need to hire people. When Chunri hires people for Meow Meow Bakery, she can also hire two more for Yun Lai Xiang. If this continues, I will collapse."
Wei Fuqiu sat aside, nibbling at a honey bun. She looked up at Wei Jinyun and said, "Sister, you've been talking about hiring people since before the winter solstice, but you haven't hired anyone yet."
Wei Jinyun sighed, "It's the New Year now, most of the people working in the pawnshop have gone back to their hometowns, so there's no one looking for work. It's different in the spring, when there are more people looking for work outside, and it's easier to choose. Let's recruit them all at once then."
"Manager Wei, take a good rest. I'm going to make today's Little New Year's Eve dinner."
Wan Wu was about to stand up by holding onto the table when Wei Jinyun stopped her and said, "We don't need you. You better get some rest. Your shopkeeper Wei has already hired someone and they should be here soon."
The few of them were paralyzed for a while, and soon the sound of wheels crunching snow came from outside the yard.
At the door stood a lady in an orange jacket, with a plum blossom hairpin pinned to the side of her bun, and a large, shiny iron pot on her back. Behind her was a donkey cart piled high with food ingredients: fresh meat, juicy dwarf greens, live fish... and neatly bundled dried goods.
She smiled and asked loudly, "Excuse me, is this Yunlaixiang? Is this the lady Li that Shopkeeper Wei invited?"
Wei Jinyun immediately stood up from the rattan chair, "Wan Niang, you are finally here."
Li Shiwan glanced at Wei Jinyun's flushed cheeks and jokingly said, "Oh, look how tired our busy man is... Mr. Lu didn't even come over to show some concern."
She untied the iron pot from her back and said, "I have accepted several thousand yuan from Manager Wei, so I must show off my cooking skills and make sure you all enjoy your meal."
"Hurry up and stop standing there. The fire in the kitchen has just gone out, so it's perfect for use."
Wei Jinyun breathed a sigh of relief and pushed her to the backyard.
"Oh, I haven't even had two sips of tea yet, and you're so anxious. I can't miss out on yours."
Li Shiwan responded and turned around to smile at Chang Sixian and the others. Gu Xiang picked up the ingredients from the donkey cart and followed them into the kitchen.
When Master Li entered the kitchen, he first took down the iron pot and placed it on the stove, wiping it clean.
She tied her arms and took out the braised duck from the basket. The duck skin was shiny red and oily. She chopped it skillfully and placed it on a porcelain plate. She also cut the emerald green garlic into sections diagonally and placed them around the edge of the plate.
Then she took the Tibetan fish from the cold water, fished it out, squeezed it dry, cut it into thin strips, and placed it in a porcelain bowl. She peeled two heads of fresh garlic, mashed it, and chopped half a bowl of scallion shreds. She added a spoonful of vinegar, fermented soybean paste, and a drizzle of sesame oil to the bowl, stirring the mixture with chopsticks.
Tibetan fish with green onions is a great appetizer and cold dish.
To make shrimp and chicken head rice, pat the fresh shrimp dry with a clean cloth, sprinkle half a tablespoon of flour on them and mix well. Then stir-fry them with the plump, white, and juicy juicy rice. Heat the oil in a wok until it's smoking hot. First, add the shrimp and stir-fry. Then add the juicy rice and sprinkle with a handful of green beans. Stir-fry briefly before serving. Both the juicy rice and shrimp are tender, so don't over-fry them to ensure they're delicious.
Braised eel is braised. When the broth is half reduced, ladle the broth over the eel repeatedly with a spoon and sprinkle with chopped garlic leaves for a rich sauce flavor. Steamed mandarin fish is simpler: score the fish a few times, stuff it with sliced ginger and scallions, drizzle with wine, and steam it in a steamer for a while. Remove the fish, remove the ginger and scallions, drizzle with hot oil to enhance the aroma, and top with a spoonful of fermented soybean paste.
Braised pork and bamboo shoots are a slow, meticulous process. The pork belly is thickened with broth, the meat is glossy, and the bamboo shoots are soaked up with the meat's aroma. Li Shiwan pokes the meat with chopsticks to see if it's tender and flavorful before placing it on a deep plate.
As for stir-fried bean sprouts and water celery, they are both quick and easy dishes. Pour them into hot oil and stir-fry quickly, then serve them on a plate. Cut the water celery into sections and stir-fry with shredded dried tofu for a refreshing and refreshing dish.
......The sound of bells and clatters came from the kitchen. Li Shiwan had prepared countless dishes, and the aroma passed through the curtains into the lobby.
At Yun Lai Xiang's table, Chang Siyan slumped over the back of his chair, his head nodding. Gu Xiang simply lay on the table, drooling in his sleep. Chao Jiu and Wan Wu also had their eyes closed. They had been busy all day, and sleepiness had already crept into their heads.
After an unknown amount of time, two soft forces shook their arms. Wei Fuling shook Chang Siyan's sleeve, "Sister Chang, wake up!"
Wei Fuqiu gently nudged Gu Xiang's arm and whispered, "Sister Gu, the meal is ready."
A few people opened their eyes in a daze, and a fragrance first wafted into their noses, instantly dispelling their sleepiness.
They immediately sat up straight. Gu Xiang rubbed his eyes and said, "This smell... Is our New Year's Eve dinner ready?"
“Come and serve the food!”
Wei Jinyun called out from the kitchen.
They all jumped up, splashed cold water on their faces in the backyard, and then rushed into the kitchen. She brought the braised duck, you the chicken head, rice, and shrimp, and the others carried plates of braised pork and bamboo shoots, carrying them one by one to the lobby.
Bright red braised duck, oily braised pork and dried bamboo shoots...dishes filled the long table, with steam rising with fragrance.
Li Shiwan was standing in the kitchen, wiping the freshly cleaned iron pot with a cloth. As she was busy, she said, "Manager Wei is very generous. He specially asked me to cook the meals for the staff before the New Year."
Wei Jinyun stood aside, holding a bag of snacks wrapped in oil paper. "You should sit down and have a bite before you leave. You've been busy all day, how can you go back on an empty stomach?"
“No, no.”
Li Shiwan waved her hands and wiped her iron pot clean. Only after she could find no water stains did she put it back on her back with peace of mind.
She smiled. "Working for pay is my duty. Now that the dishes are ready, it's time for me to go. My father is waiting for me at home. If I don't go back, he'll start to accuse me of being unfilial. Master Li, in your old age, is still out preparing banquets for others, neglecting the elderly at home. He's really a fool, calling himself an old man at forty."
Wei Jinyun handed over the snacks and said, "Then take some snacks away. I haven't put in the new honey buns yet. Let Shopkeeper Li try some."
"I like that."
Li Shiwan took it and said, "Then I'll keep it. I wish you all the best in the new year and may you make even more money in the coming year."
"Wan Niang is also the best cook in Pingjiang Prefecture."
"I like that too. You're so sweet."
Li Shiwan laughed a few times, then she went out, took the donkey's reins, waved to Wei Jinyun, and the donkey cart crushed the snow and gradually disappeared in the light of the lanterns in front of Tianqing Temple.
The dishes on the long table were still steaming. Wei Jinyun took out a red envelope with words on it from the counter. Inside was a bulging red envelope. He pushed one in front of each person and said, "Thank you all for your hard work this year. Take your wages and red envelopes and have a good New Year."
Gu Xiangxian held the lucky money in his hand and immediately shouted auspicious words in a cheerful tone, "Thank you, Shopkeeper Wei! I wish you a prosperous business in the new year. Next year, Yunlaixiang's orders will be lined up at the end of Tianqing Temple Street. I will make Yunlaixiang's place more famous."
As she spoke, she picked up a piece of braised pork with chopsticks, put it in her mouth and ate it with a smile on her face.
Chang Siyan held the red string of lucky money and smiled, "Thanks to Shopkeeper Wei, I wish you all the best in the new year. I will come up with many jokes for Shopkeeper Wei next year and make a lot of money for him."
She picked up the wine glass, clinked it with Wei Jinyun, took a sip of wine, and picked up the chicken head, rice and shrimp with chopsticks. The taste was so delicious that she squinted her eyes.
Chaojiu put the lucky money into his pocket and said crisply, "Thank you, Shopkeeper Wei! I wish you a happy new year and good health. I hope Yunlaixiang will continue to prosper! We've hired some new people in the spring, so Wanwu and I can learn some new pastry recipes and help you share more of the work in the future."
She also gave Wei Jinyun a drink.
Wan Wu's voice was sincere. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Wei... I wish you all the best in the new year, and may Yun Lai Xiang and Miao Miao Bakery all go smoothly. I'll watch the stove more carefully from now on, and I'll make lots of delicious food for Shopkeeper Wei."
After she finished speaking, she slowly scooped a spoonful of water shield soup, drank it in small sips, and still toasted Wei Jinyun.
Wei Fuling lay at the edge of the table, watching her sister hand out lucky money to everyone, and joined in the fun, shouting, "I wish my sister endless money in the New Year!"
Wei Fuqiu said slowly, "I hope Sister can gain some more weight."
Wei Jinyun smiled and rubbed the sisters' heads.
The people at the table were eating and laughing. After toasting Wei Jinyun, they went to toast Wang Qiulan. Wei Jinyun was dizzy with the toasts, and Wang Qiulan was also very happy. All the bad things that happened to the people who came from Jiangning Mansion a while ago disappeared with the shouts of "I wish Manager Wang's tailor shop a prosperous business."
A loud "bang" sounded from the door of the shop, and several people who were chatting and laughing immediately rushed to the door of the shop.
In the snow, Zhan Ziming, wrapped in a snow-colored cloak that practically melted into the snow, rolled up his sleeves to his forearms and holding a long incense stick, bent over to light a firework.
Sparks licked the paper twist, and he immediately took two steps back, smiling and waving his hand, "Sister Xiangping, look quickly, look!"
Fireworks shot up into the night sky, exploding into a ball of golden and red fireworks, illuminating the snow. Then, as they exploded, they transformed into lavender tassels, slowly drifting down, landing on the snow in an instant. Then came layers of pink and white petals, wrapped around the golden core in the center, a gorgeous sight...
Zhan Ziming was holding up the incense sticks and smiling, while Zhan Wenxing was holding two eider ducks with his arms folded.
He stood aside, watching his brother's joy, smiling inwardly as he did on the surface. He had agreed to study for the exam at home, and now he was off here setting off fireworks.
Ever since my parents passed away, my brother has taken on the responsibility of supporting the entire family. I haven't laughed so happily in a long time.
Zhao Xiangping, holding Meng Ge'er's hand, with Chuntao and Xiaoman beside them, stood in the snow, looking up. Fireworks were still exploding in the sky, their golden-red light reflecting on Zhao Xiangping's cloak. She stared at the fleeting pink and white petals in the air, a faint smile spreading across her lips.
Zhan Ziming was waving at her from a distance. What a likable young man.
Meng Ge'er ran to Zhan Ziming, raised his head and stretched out his hands, "Brother Ziming, open your hands."
Zhan Ziming was stunned for a moment, then smiled and did as he was told. As soon as he opened his palm, Meng Ge'er poured the things on it.
"This is the happy pill that my mother gave you."
Zhan Ziming held a handful of pistachios and said, "Thank you, Meng Ge'er. How about we watch the fireworks together?"
Meng Ge'er nodded immediately and looked up at the night sky with him. A new firework just exploded, and the pale blue light stretched the shadows of the two people long.
Gu Xiang looked at the street corner in front of Tianqing Temple and suddenly pointed at a shadow not far away and shouted, "Guardian, guardian, guardian... Manager Wei, Master Lu is here!"
Everyone followed his gaze. In the snow, Jingfan's silhouette flickered in the light of the fireworks. His horse was laden with several bulging cloth bags, and Lu Lan was walking quickly towards him, holding the reins.
In just a moment, he arrived in front of Wei Jinyun and saw Wei Jinyun shaking her body with a flushed face.
She reached out and touched the cloth bag on Jingfan's back, her voice a little unclear, "Lu Lan, why did you let Jingfan carry so many things? It must be tiring."
Lu Lan raised his hand to support her, then quietly took it back, "I bought this for you. I bought it from every shop that's open in Changmen right now."
Wei Jinyun blinked, then suddenly moved closer to him, her nose almost touching his chest, and asked in a low voice, "Oh...are there any fish today?"
Lu Lan nodded, "Yes, on horseback."
Gu Xiang immediately dragged Chang Siyan to the other side of Jingfan, with Chao Jiu and Wan Wu following suit. "Let's go get it. Shopkeeper Wei, you talk to Lord Lu. Let's go feed Jingfan some fodder!"
Several people pulled Jingfan aside and hurriedly unloaded the cloth bag.
Footprints trailed in the snow, one in front of the other, as Lu Lan followed Wei Jinyun toward the river. The snow crunched under their feet. Fireworks occasionally exploded in the sky, sending golden and red sparks falling on their shoulders. The river, a thin layer of ice, reflected the fireworks.
Lu Lan walked beside her and asked softly, "Are you still unhappy?"
Wei Jinyun kicked the snowball at his feet and said, "I'm not unhappy."
"Then, don't be angry with me, okay?"
He turned around and looked down at her.
"I'm not mad at you for that."
"and you......"
Lu Lan was stunned for a moment, but was quickly interrupted by her.
Wei Jinyun raised his head, his eyes shining brightly after drinking, as if soaked in water. He said in a muffled voice, "Why have you only been sending fish lately? Why don't you go to Yunlaixiang to sleep?"
Lu Lan was stunned, his eyes full of surprise.
He originally thought that she was annoyed that he had pretended to be injured to get her attention, so he deliberately did not enter the shop, but he did not expect that she was thinking about this.
The fireworks exploded at this moment, and the pale pink light fell on her upturned face. The pink jacket made her cheeks even redder. Her watery eyes looked straight at him, making him forget how to say what he had thought of on the way.
Lu Lan's nervousness hadn't dissipated yet. When she heard her words, she almost immediately responded, "I'll come here from now on, every day from now on."
Wei Jinyun shook his head. "That's not what I meant... Lu Lan still wants to be the pride of the people. She's not just the Lu Lan that belongs to Yun Laixiang."
After she finished speaking, her head suddenly lost strength and she leaned lightly on his chest, with a faint smell of sweet wine on her breath.
Lu Lan froze for a moment, then slowly raised his hand, vaguely protecting her back, and asked in a very low voice, "Are you drunk?"
The person in his arms didn't respond, only the warm breath gently fell on his clothes.
The fireworks in the sky were still exploding, the golden-red light reflected on her flushed cheeks, and her pink jacket swayed gently in the snowy wind.
Lu Lan looked down at her drooping eyelashes and couldn't help but smile.
His fingertips gently touched the ends of her hair and he called softly.
"Ayun."
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The author has something to say: Shrimp wontons are knife fish wontons, and Tibetan fish are jellyfish.
Jinyun: Why didn’t you come? [holding chin]
Lord Lu: Is she thinking about me? [starry eyes]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
