The Kunshan County government office was decorated with lights and lanterns, and everyone wore new clothes. Even the lanterns at the entrance of the government office were replaced with new ones, creating a festive atmosphere.

On New Year's Eve, Master Zhao and a group of assistant officials dressed neatly in the morning and came to the lobby to perform the sealing ceremony.

The so-called "sealing" does not mean to seal away any demons or monsters, but to seal up the county's seals, official seals, etc., and affix seals to them, indicating that the government office is on holiday and has stopped working.

In fact, according to the court regulations, the Spring Festival holiday should start from the first day and end on the fifth day.

However, there was nothing to do in the government office on New Year's Eve. Master Zhao took pity on his subordinates and sealed the documents early, allowing everyone to go home and celebrate the New Year.

All the clerks and runners went back to their homes, but the four masters were from other places and were officials, so they had to stay in the yamen.

"I'm going back so early and I have to listen to my wife's nagging." He Wenwei suggested: "Master, let's play a few games?"

"Yes, yes. I have nothing to do during the New Year so I can play mahjong." Bai Shouli really loves this chess and card game improved by Mr. Zhao. He claims to build the levee during the day and the Great Wall at night. Even his wife is dissatisfied.

“……”Xiong Dianshi was a bachelor and no one asked for his opinion.

Zhao Shouzheng looked embarrassed and said, "I am too busy to be with you. This year my father and elder brother are coming to celebrate the New Year together."

"Master, please go quickly. Filial piety is important." County Magistrate He said quickly, "We can play again when we have time."

"Okay." Zhao Shouzheng nodded and left.

~~

After a while, Mr. Zhao appeared in Jinfeng Garden in a casual robe and a large hat that could cover his face.

"Old senior, why are you here to see me so early?" The young master had just gotten up and was brushing his teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

"Ahem," Zhao Shouzheng took off his hat and said in an awkward but kind manner, "I'm here to invite you to my home to celebrate the New Year."

"Okay, okay!" Li Chengen said happily, "I was just thinking about Xiwa. Is he feeling better?"

"He's almost healed, but he's still not in a good mood." Zhao Shouzheng sighed and said, "Ah, my nephew left him to me and my father, and he gets injured every other day. It's really shameful."

"Old senior, please don't be like this. People of our generation don't care about fortune or misfortune, and life and death are determined by fate." Li Chengen said with emotion: "Although Xiwa is indeed a little unlucky, he actually let a dog bite his butt, alas..."

As they were talking, the eldest princess came out of the hall. She was wearing a purple sea otter-shaped rabbit on her head, a dark blue jacket with peony embroidery and a short crimson fox fur cape, and holding a purple gold hand warmer, which made her look even more noble and gorgeous.

Although Zhao Shouzheng saw her every day, he always stared at her.

Li Chengen on the side muttered quietly: "My mother looks younger and younger, but the old senior looks very old recently."

“Ahem…” Zhao Shouzheng’s old face flushed as he said, “It’s unavoidable to be exposed to the wind and sun.”

"Go play somewhere else." The eldest princess waved her hand, chased away her son who was in the way, and said, "I'd better not go over. We are spending the New Year here very well. It has never been so quiet before."

"That's fine for other days, but how can I not let you come home during the New Year?" Mr. Zhao said manly, "Will I still be called a man if I do that?"

"Zhao Lang." The eldest princess's eyes suddenly sparkled, and she said softly, "It's enough that you have this intention. But I still won't go over. You feel sorry for me and I feel sorry for you, so how can I burn you on the fire during the New Year's Day?"

"Don't worry, it won't happen." Zhao Shouzheng said confidently, "At least... not today."

"Oh?" Ning An couldn't help but feel happy, thinking, could it be that Zhao Lang had convinced his father?

~~

When Zhao Shouzheng brought his "cousin" and her family back to the county magistrate's office, the princess finally understood why he was so confident.

It turned out that Zhao Hao invited all the thirty or so students who had followed him from Beijing to his home to celebrate the New Year.

Before coming, he specifically told them that the old man was in a bad mood and asked them to comfort Zhao Liben.

So a large group of young people surrounded the old man, calling him great uncle, playing chess with him, massaging his back, serving him tea, and helping him peel oranges. They coaxed the old man into a state of confusion and turned him into a kindly grandfather.

When the old man saw the eldest princess appear in front of him, his pupils shrank, and he greeted her with a smile, as if he wanted to make a truce for the day.

The eldest princess knew that Zhao Liben was concerned about the presence of so many younger generations and was worried about losing face for three generations of his family.

She then politely greeted Zhao Liben, also with a humble look. If someone respects me one foot, I will naturally respect him ten feet.

Zhao Liben said with a more amiable expression: "You guys go and have fun. It's enough for me to have the boss and these guys accompany me here."

"Come back later to talk to uncle."

When she came out of the main hall, the princess held Zhao Hao's hand with relief and whispered, "My dear son, your mother really loves you well."

Young Master Zhao Rumu smiled and said, "If there is one, there will be another. Mother, please come and visit more often in the future. It is the right thing to do to resolve the knot in your heart with grandfather."

Zhao Shouzheng on the side nodded vigorously and said, "There is no such thing as a difficult time."

"Hey..." Ning An thought that this hurdle was a bit big. So he nodded to the father and son with some difficulty and said, "Okay, I'll try after the New Year. At worst, he can throw me away too..."

"What are you throwing away?" Mr. Zhao asked curiously when he heard her stop talking halfway.

"No, nothing." The princess hurriedly shook her head, thinking that it was so cold out there, she should try a different way of apologizing...

~~

Over there, the young lord had been asking around and had slipped into Xiwa's room.

When he pushed open the door, he saw Xiwa lying on the bed with her butt sticking up, her trousers pulled down to her knees.

Nurse Wang Gangdan, the younger brother of head nurse Wang Tiedan, is changing the bandage on Xiwa's buttocks.

"Oh, it's not ready yet..." Li Chengen said.

"Get out!" Xiwa's pillow flew over.

With a crisp sound of "pa", Wang Tiedan slapped Xiwa's butt hard.

"Behave yourself!"

Xiwa looked ashamed and angry and buried her face in the quilt.

"Nurse, he's not well yet?" The young lord walked over and threw the pillow on the bed.

"Although the dog is not rabid, its teeth are very dirty and his butt is a little inflamed." Wang Tiedan used a cotton swab, dipped in ointment, and applied it to Xiwa's left buttock, where there was a circle of wound that looked like a tooth mark.

Well, that's the tooth mark...

Speaking of which, it was really unlucky for Xiwa to get injured this time.

Well, every time he got injured it wasn’t bad luck.

Previously, he had accompanied the young master and his sister to Suzhou for fun. The two had already agreed to see the romantic industry in Suzhou. But Li Mingyue was watching closely, so he didn't dare to go openly. He had to sneak out through the back door while the girls were asleep.

As a result, he stepped on the dog's tail in the dark. The guard dog let out a howl and bit his butt.

Xiwa immediately screamed and jumped up and down, with a dog still attached to her buttocks...

Fortunately, Li Chengen was a skilled fighter who had played with many dogs before, so he kicked the big dog in the waist. The beast whimpered, collapsed to the ground, and let go of Xiwa's butt.

ps. I was busy with all kinds of trivial things today and didn’t write much. I feel ashamed and left with my face covered.