Chapter 196 Chapter 196 New Year in Beijing
In previous years, when the twelfth lunar month came, Yu Li was very busy. He was either busy slaughtering pigs for the villagers, or was invited to other villages to help slaughter pigs for the Kitchen God ceremony.
This year, as they are celebrating the New Year in Beijing, she doesn't need to worry about all these things anymore. No one around here knows her and would ask her to slaughter a pig.
Although he has free time, Yu Li will find things to do for himself.
In addition to going to the Western Suburbs Palace, she would also stroll around Liuwen Lane and begin to occupy her territory bit by bit.
This is her habit. Whenever she settles down in a place, she likes to start to mark out an area for herself, marking off the places she has walked through as if they were her own territory, and ensuring the safety of the surroundings.
Seeing that the Chinese New Year was just a few days away, Zhou suggested that they go buy New Year's goods together.
Zhou smiled and said, "It's rare that we can celebrate the New Year in the capital this year, and Li Niang is not too busy, so why don't we go buy some New Year's goods together."
Although there are many servants in the house, Zhou is a person who cannot sit still. She still likes to do many things herself. Moreover, this year is the first New Year they spend in the capital after returning to Beijing. It has a very special meaning in her heart, and she wants to buy New Year's goods herself.
Yu Li agreed immediately.
Upon hearing this, Fu Wenxiao put down the book in his hand and wanted to go with them.
Finally, even Fu Yanhui and Fu Yansheng wanted to go together, and with Qing Huan, a group of people went out in a mighty manner.
When she arrived at the street, Zhou saw that it was crowded with people coming and going, and she was worried that she would be squeezed out.
She proposed to act separately, letting Fu Wenxiao and Yu Li go to the West Market to buy things, while she would take the two children and Qinghuan to the East Market.
Yu Li had no objection and said, "Mom, go back after you buy the things, you don't have to wait for us."
After separating from Zhou and the others, Yu Li and Fu Wenxiao walked towards the West Market.
In fact, the manager of the house has already prepared the New Year's goods. They came out today mainly to buy some things they like and also to relax.
Yu Li likes shopping and regards it as a leisure activity.
Along the way, she bought a lot of things, all kinds of food, and Fu Wenxiao was responsible for helping her carry them.
Passing by a grocery store, Yu Li said in surprise: "Xiao brother, there are milk dumplings, I want to buy some."
These milk dumplings are a specialty of the northern border. I didn’t expect they are also sold in Beijing.
In May, they sent Fu Lieyun to Northern Xinjiang. Although they did not reach Northern Xinjiang in the end, the city where they rested was only three days' journey from Northern Xinjiang. There were many goods from Northern Xinjiang in the city, and this milk ball was one of them. Unfortunately, the weather was hot at that time, so they did not dare to buy too much for fear that they would go bad.
Yu Li bought a big bag of milk dumplings in one go.
Seeing that she liked it, the shop assistant enthusiastically told her several ways to eat milk dumplings. He also said that they could be used to make tea, which would turn into milk tea and would be absolutely delicious if some sugar was added.
Yu Li decided to go back and try this way of drinking milk tea.
Fu Wenxiao stood aside and watched with a smile as she asked the waiter about other ways to eat milk dumplings. It seemed that as long as it came to food, she would always be very interested and her expression was extremely focused.
Suddenly, Fu Wenxiao turned his head and looked through the crowd on the street to the street corner not far away.
There was a black painted flat-roofed carriage parked there. The curtains of the carriage were open and a man was sitting there, looking over here.
Fu Wenxiao had an indifferent expression. He just glanced at her and then looked away.
At this time, Yu Li also finished chatting with the shop assistant, turned to him and said: "Xiao brother, let's go."
Fu Wenxiao responded with a smile and reached out to take the bag of milk balls. She didn't let him take it and said, "You have too many things in your hands. I'll take this."
Fu Wenxiao insisted: "It's not heavy actually."
He is not sick now and can't even carry things, so he needs her to do it for him.
Moreover, he had practiced physical skills. Although he was not as strong as her, he was much stronger than the average man, so he could still lift some things.
"I know." Yu Li said, "But you have too many things, and you don't have enough hands to hold them... Hey, Xiao brother, there are some jujube flower crisps over there, I want to eat some."
Fu Wenxiao accompanied her to buy jujube flower crisps.
The stall selling jujube flower pastries is a small one, and they only sell one kind. However, there are quite a few people queuing up, which shows that the jujube flower pastries are indeed very well made and attract many customers.
The two of them also went over to line up.
While waiting in line, Yu Li took out a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts, which were still hot, and ate them while waiting.
She ate one herself and fed one to Fu Wenxiao.
There were many people around, doing all kinds of things, very noisy, busy buying New Year's goods and had no time to care about other things. The two of them just stood there eating and did not attract much attention.
Until a man walked up to them and let out a noticeable sneer.
Yu Li turned around and was a little surprised when he saw the person coming.
The other person was dressed in brocade clothes and jade belt. He was a young man about the same age as Fu Wenxiao, with a heroic appearance. He was accompanied by a tall and burly guard. Judging from his clothes and demeanor, one could tell that he had an elegant background.
However, his expression was gloomy, and when he looked at people with his eyes slightly narrowed, he gave people a feeling of ill intention.
At this moment, his eyes fell on Fu Wenxiao, and he said sinisterly, "Fu Xiao, long time no see."
Fu Wenxiao looked at him calmly and said, "You got the wrong person."
Seeing that he denied it, the man didn't care and deliberately said sarcastically: "When I saw you before, I thought I recognized the wrong person. I never knew that you, Fu Xiao, would appear in a place where you would never come before, and eat on the street... Fu Xiao, where are your rules?"
"Fu Xiao, look at how you look now, you are really in a mess!"
As he spoke, he looked Fu Wenxiao up and down. He was holding a variety of things in his hands, just like the busy people around him, as if he was at the market...
Even though he was carrying a lot of stuff, it didn't affect his demeanor, and he still looked elegant and noble, and out of tune with the people around him. However, in the eyes of men, Fu Xiao was considered decadent. After he lost his status as the son of the Duke of Zhenguo, he also indulged himself.
"What's it got to do with you?"
A voice came crashing down on him, causing the man to pause and turn around to look.
When he saw Yu Li standing with Fu Wenxiao, the man's eyes narrowed slightly, then he quickly looked away without saying a word.
Yu Li felt that the man looked very hypocritical and said, "It's not illegal to eat on the street, why do you care so much? Do you live by the sea?"
As she spoke, she peeled another chestnut and fed it to Fu Wenxiao.
Then she ate one herself and raised her eyebrows at the man.
"You..." The man's expression became a little reluctant, and he said, "You are Fu Xiao's wife, right? I don't argue with women."
Yu Li: "I won't argue with a man who lives by the sea."
man:"……"
Fu Wenxiao raised the corners of his lips slightly and said, "Prince Yue, are you free?"
Hearing this, Yu Li looked at the gloomy-faced man in surprise. It turned out that he was a prince, but he was too nosy and made people dislike him.
When Prince Yue saw that he finally stopped pretending not to know him, he was not very happy.
Originally, he came here specifically to mock Fu Xiao's downfall, but he seemed to be mocked by the couple together, especially Fu Xiao's wife, who was smart-mouthed and looked so beautiful and lovely, but she did some vulgar things in public, which was really... vulgar.
When Prince Yue saw Fu Wenxiao standing here calmly, he suddenly felt bored.
He suddenly smiled, stared at Fu Wenxiao and said, "I heard that you are going to Beijing to take the exam this time. I hope you will have a smooth exam next year."
"Thank you for your good wishes." Fu Wenxiao replied calmly.
Prince Yue snorted coldly, turned and left.
He walked to the black, flat-roofed carriage not far away and got on it directly.
Sitting in the carriage, he lifted the curtain and looked over there again.
When he saw the woman whom he called vulgar sharing food with Fu Xiao, Fu Xiao did not refuse. When he lowered his head and took the chestnuts she fed him, his brows softened, and one could see the undisguised affection in his eyes.
Prince Yue sighed and sneered, "Zhenguogong's son Fu Xiao actually loves someone..."
His eyes gradually became bloodshot as he stared at the two men.
-
Over there, Yu Li noticed that gaze, looked over, and found that the other party's carriage had not left yet, and the people in the carriage had been staring at them. He thought that the Prince of Yue might be sick.
She tilted her head and asked, "Xiao brother, is this also your enemy?"
Fu Wenxiao hummed, "I guess so."
Yu Li looked again and said, "I've seen him."
"Have you seen it?" Fu Wenxiao looked surprised, "Where did you see it?" His mind raced, and he thought of a possibility in an instant.
Yu Li said: "Didn't we go to the provincial capital for the first time for the college entrance examination last year? He was on a very luxurious pleasure boat at the time, and he was drinking with a dancer..."
Even though it was just a glimpse, she had a good memory and would remember someone even if they only met once.
But she didn't think much about it at that time, and didn't know that the man wandering on the pleasure boat was actually a prince. And judging from the tone of this man just now, it seemed that he wished Fu Wenxiao a bad life.
Fu Wenxiao was not surprised to hear this, but he did not expect to meet him while boating on the lake. It seemed that Prince Yue should have seen him at that time.
Recalling the look Prince Yue gave Yu Li just now, his expression darkened slightly.
By the time they bought the jujube blossom cakes, the carriage finally disappeared.
Yu Li didn't take this matter to heart. He continued to buy New Year's goods while eating freshly baked jujube flower cakes.
After both of them had their hands full, they finally went home together.
Zhou and her friends have returned and piled their shopping items in the hall.
Zhou packed up her things and said to Yu Li, "Mother Li, when you go to the palace tomorrow, take some with you. This is the New Year gift I prepared for His Highness."
She was thinking about Princess Yuan'an who was in the palace. Whenever she thought about how she had been under house arrest in the palace, sickly and sick like Fu Wenxiao in the past few years, she felt very uncomfortable.
The next evening, Yu Li and Fu Wenxiao went to the palace together to deliver New Year gifts.
The arrival of the two made the palace more lively in the middle of the night. Princess Yuanan was already used to waking up in the middle of the night, and she found it a little funny to see that they brought a lot of things this time.
Princess Yuan An had someone bring them some hot soup to warm them up, and said, "Why did you bring so many things? We don't need anything here, you don't need to bring anything."
"This is the New Year gift your mother prepared for you." Yu Li said.
Upon hearing this, Princess Yuan'an turned around and told Yuzhu to put the things away.
The two stayed in the palace for one night and left the next evening.
Before leaving, Fu Wenxiao said, "Mother, the day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We will come to accompany you after we have the New Year's Eve dinner."
"No need, you can just celebrate the New Year in the city. Why do I need you to accompany me?" Princess Yuanan was reluctant to let them run around and suffer, so she let them have a good rest in the city.
"It's okay." Yu Li interrupted, "Mother is worried about you being alone here, so she asked us to come and keep you company."
Princess Yuanan said nothing more, but there was an obvious smile on her face, and she was obviously happy.
When they left the palace, Princess Yuan'an also had people pack up a lot of New Year gifts for them to take back.
These were sent from the imperial farm.
The New Year is approaching. Although the palace is isolated from the outside world, the New Year gifts will be delivered. Princess Yuanan and Nanny Ru cannot eat so much, so some is packed for them to take back.
**
In the blink of an eye, it is New Year's Eve.
Early in the morning, Yu Li, Fu Wenxiao, Zhou and others finished eating dumplings and started to get busy.
Because it was the New Year, there were not many servants left in the house, so Fu Wenxiao asked them to reunite with their families and come back after the third day of the New Year.
So they still need to do some things themselves.
But it was like this in previous years, so Yu Li didn't think it was a big deal. Seeing that the snow on the roof was too thick, she jumped directly onto the roof to sweep the snow.
When the two children saw her floating on the ground, they jumped up lightly, screamed and clapped their hands.
Seeing this, Qing Huan and the others were very nervous and hurriedly said, "Madam, please be careful and don't fall down. Otherwise, you can come down and let this servant go up!"
Yu Li waved at them to indicate that it was nothing, and took a broom to sweep away the accumulated snow.
At this moment, a gust of wind blew by, and everyone was nervous.
However, Yu Li on the roof was still standing steadily, without even shaking, which finally made the group of people feel at ease.
After sweeping the snow off the roof, Yu Li jumped down.
Qing Huan and the others had never seen such a scene before and were frightened by her. They came over to check on her nervously until she landed safely.
It’s no wonder that they were so nervous. Not many people knew that Yu Li could climb over walls and walk on roofs, and Qing Huan and the others were unaware of this.
After sweeping the snow, Yu Li went to the study to find Fu Wenxiao.
He is writing the word "Fu". All the "Fu" characters in the house are written by him.
After writing the word "Fu", Fu Wenxiao did not ask the servants for help, and went to the door with Yu Li to paste the word "Fu".
Just as they pasted the word "Fu" (good fortune), they heard someone praising the word. They turned around and found that it was their next-door neighbor, a scholar.
Fu Wenxiao greeted the other party and introduced themselves to each other.
Then the two of them went to the kitchen to help Zhou prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.
But I didn't expect that in addition to Zhou, there were two cooks and several servants helping with cooking. There were a lot of people helping, and they didn't need to do anything.
Seeing two people coming, they were a little nervous and asked hurriedly if they had any instructions.
Zhou smiled and said, "Li Niang, Xiao Ge'er, there are too many people here, we don't need your help, just go and have fun."
Things are different nowadays. There are many people serving in the house and many people working in the kitchen, so they no longer need to do it themselves.
Yu Li looked at her and asked, "How about you, mother?"
Zhou said, "I'll make some noodles and give it to them later."
Hearing this, Yu Li did not insist on staying, and went to the study room with Fu Wenxiao to play chess, and the two children followed them.
Seeing her sitting there fiddling with chess pieces out of boredom, Fu Wenxiao said, "There are fewer people at home now, and we don't have to be busy with ancestor worship. It's a bit more relaxed. Will Ah Li feel uncomfortable with this?"
In fact, what he wanted to ask was whether she would be uncomfortable with being served like this?
He knew that she longed for freedom and didn't like being restrained. He always wanted to give her the best, but was afraid of restricting her.
Fu Wenxiao lowered his eyes, holding a white piece, and looked at the chessboard.
At this time, he heard her say: "It's not that I'm not used to it. It's good to have someone to serve me."
"real?"
She scratched her face and looked up at him. "People make money to enjoy themselves, and they climb up the ladder to enjoy themselves. Of course, it's the same for me. I like to enjoy myself as well."
Although she was not used to being served, she had to admit that it was really comfortable to be served.
Besides, this is an added benefit of his status, so she won't refuse it.
Fu Wenxiao lowered her eyes and smiled, her expression becoming happy. She could always dispel some of his concerns with just a few words.
Yu Li glanced at him and said, "Xiao brother, you don't have to lose to me on purpose later. It's New Year's Day, and it's not good to always lose."
He will take part in the imperial examination next year, so we have to be cautious and not let him lose all the time.
Fu Wenxiao couldn't help laughing and agreed.
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