Dabao brought four potatoes and threw them into the ashes in the stove. Qi Zi followed behind and brought a few more.
"Dabao can eat three by himself, and bury four potatoes, how can there be enough for everyone."
Qi Zi squatted at the stove, burying ashes while talking, "On the morning of the 30th, the young lady was not at home, so the second uncle of the Xie family came on horseback. When he heard that the eldest young lady was not at home, he did not even get off the horse and went back."
Second Uncle Xie, he wouldn't be thinking about her birthday, Song Yuehua thought. Their birthdays are close to each other, and she doesn't make much preparations every year, which makes her seem heartless.
It started snowing outside, so the four siblings came outside to watch the snow. After a while, the snow got heavier and heavier.
"Master, you're back!"
Liu Xue came in from the gate holding an umbrella. She was seen carrying a large backpack on her back. Song Yuehua helped her take it down and asked, "What are you carrying in this?"
Bai Shu also came in from behind with an umbrella. When he saw Song Yuehua coming back, he greeted her with a smile.
"Why are you running around in such a cold day?" Song Yuehua invited people in.
"We are celebrating the New Year, and the livestock in the compound are also celebrating the New Year, so we have to go back and take care of them."
Liu Xue opened the backpack and found two little hens inside. Qi Zi took them and said, "Dabao is in for a treat."
Song Yuehua glanced at Dabao and then at Xiaobao.
Xiao Bao pointed at Da Bao and said, "Sister Qi Zi made chicken soup for him yesterday, but he insisted that he wanted to eat roast chicken, so Sister Liu ran to the courtyard early in the morning to catch a chicken for him."
Song Yuehua pinched Dabao's face helplessly and said, "You are really thoughtful and always know how to torture people. I will boil water and pluck the chicken feathers later. You can help too."
When he heard about plucking chicken feathers, Dabao was quite happy. He nodded vigorously and his nose started to run.
Xiaoyu quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped his nose.
The snow is beautiful, but it is not worth it if it freezes people. Song Yuehua took a few people into the house and lay on the kang bed.
"How did you spend New Year's Eve when Xiaoyu and I were not here?" Song Yuehua asked.
She left in a hurry at that time and was only concerned with the payment of wages, without making any arrangements for other things.
Dabao raised his hand and said, "Grandma Wang made dumplings with four kinds of fillings. I like pork filling the most. Sister Xia boiled sweet soup for us, Sister Qi Zi also baked potatoes for me, and Brother Xiaohu came over to help us bake a big cake."
Dabao only remembered what he ate, and it was Xiaobao who supplemented it.
"During the day on New Year's Eve, the villagers bought red paper and asked Master Yi to write for them. People from Hongye Village also came. Many people asked for the word 'Fu' on the couplets. Brother Rushan also helped write for a long time."
"Uncle Dafu found a band to play music and sing in the village, which was very lively. After dinner, every household in the village lit up lights. Brother Baishu and Brother Lanyu took us to burn bamboo, which made crackling sounds. Brother Weifeng made small lanterns for us, and Yuan Tieniu and Zhou Xinai also held small lanterns. We played at home for a long time."
"It's really lively this year." Song Yuehua said with a smile, "We can play, make noise, and eat dumplings."
Liu Xue thought she was craving for dumplings and said, "We still have a lot of flour at home. Tomorrow is the fourth day of the New Year, and there should be a butcher for sale in the county. Call Granny Wang tomorrow night, and we'll make dumplings with some stuffing."
Song Yuehua shook her head and smiled, "No need. If you miss this year, there's always next year. This time won't make a difference."
"Then what do you want to eat for lunch today? I'll make it for you." Liu Xue put on her shoes and prepared to go to the kitchen to get busy.
"Aren't we going to make roast chicken?" Song Yuehua said, "Let's do that."
Liu Xue and Qi Zi went to the kitchen, and Dabao and Bai Shu followed them. Just as Song Yuehua leaned on the kang, she heard someone entering the yard. She went outside and saw that it was Zong Yi.
"Master Zong!"
Liu Xue patted the chicken feathers on her hands and said happily, "When did you come back? I went to your house to pay New Year's greetings the day before yesterday, and heard from Aunt Tian that you hadn't returned home yet."
"I just got back today." Zong Yi replied with a smile.
Qi Zi brought over a stove, and Song Yuehua poured him a pot of hot tea and asked, "How is it? Are you used to it?"
"It doesn't matter whether we are used to it or not," Zong Yi said, holding the teacup, "We were all deceived by Xie An."
"What's going on?" Song Yuehua's expression tensed.
Zong Yi clenched the teacup in his hand and said, "The young general has a counselor named Wan Ye. The centurion who came to capture Jin Shaoyang fell into his trap. As for whether Wan Ye got the young general's instructions, it is still unknown for the time being."
"I originally wanted to remove the centurion from his horse on the charge of greed, but I didn't expect that the entire team would be killed here."
"After the incident was exposed, Wan Ye was doomed to die, but Xie An saved him. I couldn't understand why at first, but then I realized that Xie Feng had killed a lot of soldiers that day. Only by letting Wan Ye bear the brunt of the consequences would the impact on the others be minimized."
After a cup of tea, Song Yuehua poured him another cup. Zong Yi laughed angrily, "Xie Feng took the blame. It didn't matter whether I went or not. It was just my fault that I was flustered at the time and fell into Xie An's trap."
Song Yuehua drank a glass of water silently, thinking to herself that she had to be more careful in the future, otherwise she wouldn't even know when someone made a fool of her.
"Manye will have to pay for the lives of the villagers one day."
Song Yuehua hurriedly said, "Don't think about it. Think about your wife, children and mother at home. Evil deeds will be punished by heaven. Don't lose your life in vain."
"Don't worry, sir," Zong Yi said with a smile, "I won't be so reckless. This time I come back, I want to take someone with me."
"who?"
After leaving the Song family, Zong Yi went to Liushan Pao's family first.
After he blocked an arrow for him on the city wall, he hadn't thanked the man properly yet. So he took the opportunity of coming back this time to give him some silver to show his gratitude.
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