On New Year's Eve, the Tang Dynasty also had the custom of reunion and keeping the year old.
The Duke's Mansion became lively early in the morning. The servants stood outside the door of Li Qinzai's room, waiting for the fifth young master to get up at three o'clock in the morning, and then congratulated the young master on the New Year.
Of course, as the young master, my servants have already said auspicious words, so I must express them.
So the servants lined up outside the door. Every time a person came in and said a few auspicious words, Li Qinzai took a copper coin strung with a colorful rope from the table. The number of copper coins was uniform, most of them were more than ten coins.
Around that, it can be regarded as a year-end bonus of thirteen salary to the servants.
In the past, trivial matters like this in the Duke's Mansion were handled by Li Qinzai's mother, Li Cui. As the mistress in charge of the government's accounts, it was naturally not anyone else's turn to give out red envelopes to the servants.
It's a pity that Li Siwen and his wife went to Runzhou to serve as officials. Apart from the husband, the only one left in the mansion was the Fifth Young Master. This year, the Fifth Young Master took over the job.
One after another, the servants stood outside the door and stamped their feet in the cold. One entered, came out in a moment, and then immediately rushed into the next one, like a women's restroom in a shopping mall with a large number of customers.
Li Qinzai became a little impatient when he reached the fifteenth servant...
Those who work hard govern others, and those who work hard govern others.
I am a hardworking person, or I am a freshly baked and steaming Qinfeng county magistrate. Why should I be allowed to do such physical work?
The sixteenth figure rushed in and bowed as he entered: "Congratulations on the New Year, may the country be peaceful and the people be safe, may my father be blessed and live long, may you have children and grandchildren..."
Li Qinzai's old face darkened, and when he took a closer look, he saw that it was actually Qiao'er.
"Qiao'er, as for the matter of raising a son, next year I will be able to do it with hard work, but you still have to rely on yourself to raise a grandchild..." Li Qinzai sighed.
Qiao'er blinked innocently: "Can Qiao'er also have one next year?"
Li Qinzai thought for a while and said seriously: "It's a bit difficult. It may take some years."
"Qiao'er can't do it even if she tries hard?"
"Some things become more despairing after hard work. When you grow all your hair, we, father and son, can almost talk about this topic."
The topic was too abstruse for Qiao'er to understand, so he simply didn't bother to ask. He held it in front of Li Qinzai with both hands and said, "Dad, give me the money."
"Can we open up the situation? You are the son of the county magistrate after all, and you are so worthless just hanging out with your servants to cheat money."
Li Qinzai smiled evilly: "I don't need any money, but for my father, I worked overtime last night and made you a big gift with my own hands. It's a gift that belongs exclusively to Qiao'er."
Qiao'er said in surprise: "What is it?"
Li Qinzai pulled out a stack of paper from the chair under his buttocks like a magic trick and said: "Selected elementary school math olympiad questions! There are a hundred questions in total, so difficult that you will doubt your life! Are you surprised? Are you surprised?"
Qiao'er's expression suddenly changed, she stood up and ran away subconsciously, but Li Qinzai quickly grabbed her by the collar and carried her up.
"It's a gift from the elders, and you can't refuse it. It's a gift that dad made with his own hands. It's so rude of you to turn around and run away. Take it! I'll start working on the questions tomorrow morning. I'll check it in the evening for my father's sake."
Qiao'er took it with a sad face.
"Why are you so stupid? You haven't said thank you yet."
"...Thank you, dad." Qiao'er's eyes sparkled.
"Shouldn't you be happy for such a great gift? Smile."
Qiao'er tried her best to smile, her cheeks trembled, and two strings of tears fell down her cheeks.
"This kid is crying with joy. Go back to your room and do the questions." Li Qinzai said lovingly.
Qiao'er bowed her head and walked out of the room. The moment she walked out, Li Qinzai clearly saw Qiao'er slap herself in the face, hard and loud.
At about this moment, he began to doubt his life and regretted why he had sneaked in to get red envelopes.
Li Qinzai smiled brightly, what a sensible child, what a fulfilling and happy childhood.
…………
In the afternoon, a visitor came to the door.
The guest visiting was not Li Qinzai, but Li Ji.
This guest’s name is Li Yifu.
Li Yifu's visit was in the name of giving New Year's gifts. Loads of gifts were lined up outside the gate of the Duke's Mansion. Li Ji personally welcomed him out, holding Li Yifu's arm with both hands and laughing. His attitude was very kind, like an old friend he hadn't seen for many years.
Li Yifu entered the front hall and bowed to Li Ji to apologize before he sat down.
He looked guilty and frightened, and he admitted his mistakes very frankly. He said frankly that he was obsessed with things, was bewitched by subordinate officials, caused some trouble in the court, and unintentionally offended the young man of your house, Jun Yunyun.
Li Ji didn't take it seriously. He smiled and forgot all the grudges. The host and guest had a great time chatting with each other.
After apologizing, Li Yifu took his leave. Li Ji personally sent him out the door, holding his hand and sincerely saying that we all serve as officials in the same court, so there is no need to take any misunderstandings seriously, and we must watch and help each other in the future.
After sending Li Yifu away, Li Qinzai quietly appeared next to Li Ji.
"Grandpa, this old guy doesn't look like a good person..." Li Qinzai stared at the carriageway leading away from Li Yi Mansion.
Li Ji raised his hand and slapped him hard: "I am older than Li Yifu, am I also an old guy?"
"Grandpa, you can live to be two hundred years old, and you are still a tender young boy now." Li Qinzai's mouth was particularly sweet.
Li Ji smiled. Although his grandson was a bastard, he had such a sweet mouth.
"Qin Zai, let's put the grudge with Li Yifu to rest. Don't provoke him in the future." Li Ji said seriously.
"What if he provokes me?"
"Then there's no need to be polite. People from the British government are not to be insulted."
"As Grandpa said, if Li Yifu provokes me in the future, my grandson will burn his whole family."
"Just pretend that I didn't say anything just now. When you see Li Yifu from now on, you will kneel down."
Grandfather and grandson looked at each other and smiled, and then the smile on Li Ji's face suddenly turned cold.
"I've even come to apologize, but I still can't let go, haha!"
"how do I say this?"
Li Ji stroked his beard and said slowly: "You are the one Li Yifu has offended, so he should apologize to you. From the time he came to the house to now, he has not mentioned a word about you, or even mentioned seeing you at all. He clearly still cares about you." I can't afford it, the old guy is so rampant that he will end up badly sooner or later."
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, it's best not to apologize to your grandson. If he apologizes in person, your grandson will be embarrassed to take action if he becomes an enemy in the future."
Li Ji glanced at him and said: "Your Majesty issued an order yesterday to set up a firearms bureau in the suburbs of Beijing, and summoned 200 craftsmen to make gunpowder full-time. The supervisor is Li Jingxuan, the official of Tongping Zhang. Because you claimed to be lazy, your Majesty did not give you any You arrange the errands."
Li Qinzai said nonchalantly: "My grandson has presented the secret recipe to His Majesty. I don't care what he wants to do."
Li Ji said slowly: "It's not that simple. Gunpowder was made in your hands. Although you don't have an official position in the Firearms Bureau, many things cannot go around you. You will have to deal with Li Jingxuan in the future."
"Who is Li Jingxuan?"
"He is your majesty's true confidant. When your majesty was in exile, he was your majesty's attendant. He was the right concubine of the crown prince and a bachelor of Hongwen Palace. He will definitely be the prime minister in the future."
"It's the New Year's Day. Will my grandson go to his house and kneel down for him?"
Li Ji was so angry that he slapped him again: "A good person, how come he has such an open mouth!"
Suddenly, there was the sound of gongs and drums outside the house. Li Ji was startled and suddenly smiled: "It's another year..."
Li Qinzai bowed respectfully to Li Ji and said, "Grandpa, happy New Year."