It’s the twelfth lunar month, and the flavor of the Chinese New Year is getting stronger and stronger.
Early in the morning, the housekeeper Wu Tong led the servants of the house and drove the carriage to the West Market to buy several large carts of new year's goods, ranging from various meats to silks and satins.
Qiao Erle went crazy. Li Qinzai not only exempted him from ten days of homework, but also returned the slingshot to him. Not only that, he also made a bunch of firecrackers for him.
The prerequisite for letting him play is that he is not allowed to hurt anyone. If he is found to have any harmful behavior, the slingshots and firecrackers will be taken back, and he will also be punished and grounded, and he will have to do homework every day.
Qiao'er agreed excitedly, turned around, lit a firecracker and threw it into the water tank. There was a loud bang and the water tank broke.
It only takes a moment for extreme happiness to lead to sadness. Qiao'er looked miserable and handed over the firecrackers in despair.
Cui Jie took out all the embroidery work from the bottom of the box in previous years and made a new set of clothes for Li Ji, Li Siwen, Li Cui and her husband's son. Even her brother Cui Sheng, who was an official in Chang'an, also gave them as gifts. Got a set.
What follows is endless exchanges of favors.
Every festive season, there are many dignitaries and officials in Chang'an who give big gifts. Especially the British prince's mansion. During the festival, the dignitaries must pay a visit to the mansion where gifts are given. When others give gifts, the British prince's mansion will naturally return gifts.
This year, there was an extra county prince in the British government, and there was an endless stream of people giving gifts. Li Qinzai didn't like it anymore, but the worldly world forced him to socialize reluctantly. For several days in a row, he was either receiving gifts or on the way to give gifts.
Li Qinzai is becoming more and more impatient. This kind of life is definitely not what he wants. His patience can only last him a few days at most.
So I secretly decided to take my mother-in-law and son back to Ganjingzhuang after the New Year, away from the human contact in Chang'an City.
In the study room in the backyard of the Duke's Mansion, Li Qinzai, wearing new clothes, took out a few strings of beads from his arms and presented them to Li Ji like a treasure.
Li Ji took it, squinted his eyes and looked at it, and said, "What is this? Buddha beads? Haha, I don't believe this."
"Grandpa, this is not a Buddhist bead. It is called 'Chuan'er'. It was made for you by my grandson himself."
Li Ji's expression condensed, and he immediately became serious. He held the skewer in both hands and looked at it carefully. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that the skewer in his hand was not simple. Although it was made of wood, it had a faint murderous intention.
The thing that my grandson made with his own hands must be no less than a three-eyed gun.
After looking at it for a long time, Li Ji couldn't figure it out, so he solemnly said: "What is the use of this thing...? For the military or for the people?"
"It's for serving."
Li Ji frowned: "What is 'pan'?"
Li Qinzai took the chuaner and showed it to Li Ji. He saw the chuaner constantly turning and rubbing in his hand. Li Qinzai sometimes turned the chuaner with one hand and sometimes rubbed it with both hands. His movements were like a steel virgin visiting a brothel for the first time. , I won’t stop until I touch it’s bald skin.
Li Ji hissed and said, "Then what? After rubbing it like this, how powerful will it be?"
"Completely powerless."
Li Ji looked at him silently, while Li Qinzai looked directly at him with an innocent face.
The grandfather and grandson were silent for a long time, and Li Ji slowly said: "So, it is just a plaything?"
"Ahem, this is a toy with cultural heritage, especially suitable for greasy middle-aged and elderly people. This thing is made of agarwood or rosewood. Wear it regularly and rub it. It can activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, calm the energy and nourish the mind, and has the effect of prolonging life..."
Li Ji held the string of beads in his hand, and his old face was tangled for a while, as if he was hesitating whether to give his grandson a good beating or to praise his filial piety.
"I heard that you have been banging in your yard these past two days just to make these toys?"
"Correction, it is not exactly a plaything. If grandpa keeps holding it, kneading it, and playing with it, over time, a layer of patina will form on the beads. This thing will be considered big. Then grandpa can play with it. You are embarrassed in front of your colleagues."
Li Ji sighed and said: "Although you are young, you should know that time is precious. Why are you wasting your good time on such trivial matters? Don't you know that playing with things makes you lose your ambition..."
"Grandpa, if your grandson doesn't play with things, he will lose his ambition. His lack of success has nothing to do with whether he plays with toys or not."
Li Ji was choked and rolled his eyes: "You are quite upright."
Holding a few beads in front of Li Ji, Li Qinzai said with a smile: "Grandpa, remember to plate them all the time. My grandson spent a lot of effort to make them. Don't let down your grandson's wishes. If you plate them a few more times, grandpa You will know how wonderful it is and you will definitely become addicted.”
Li Ji laughed and said, "That's all. Although I don't know the significance of this thing, in my spare time I will... um, 'disk' it."
Li Qinzai smiled happily, and then decided to make two sets of large pants and a few pairs of slippers when he went back.
Imagine that after the weather warms up in spring, Li Ji wears big pants and slippers, holding a skewer in his hand, swaggering through the city of Chang'an. His literary style mixed with a rich greasy smell will definitely trigger a fashion trend in Chang'an City. .
By the way, give Li Zhi a few skewers as well, and the monarch and his ministers will be greasy together.
"Grandpa, do you like it?" Li Qinzai happily waited for Li Ji's praise.
Li Ji lived up to his expectations and praised: "I like it, but I won't do it next time."
…………
It’s the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, and tomorrow is New Year’s Eve.
The servants of the Duke's Mansion had just cleared the snow from the door, and a carriage slowly drove up from the end of the street.
The carriage stopped in front of the Duke's Mansion. Butler Wu Tong led several servants and maids forward and opened the curtain of the carriage.
A pair of figures were helped down from the carriage, and surprisingly they were brother and sister Zhao Daoyun and Zhao Daosheng.
Butler Wu Tong stepped forward to greet him, his expression still kind and friendly, but compared to the spirit with which he greeted Li Qinzai, he was much less enthusiastic.
"Old Wu Tong, the steward of the British government, has met the young lady."
Although they were obviously brother and sister, Wu Tong only saluted Zhao Daoyun, while Zhao Daosheng next to him was completely ignored by him, which shows the status of the concubine.
Zhao Daoyun didn't dare to ask for help, so he hurriedly bowed: "I'm causing trouble to Butler Wu."
Wu Tong smiled and said: "Erlang had known that the young lady had come to Chang'an and was staying in Guanyi. The New Year was coming, and he couldn't bear to have the young lady and her brother spend the New Year in the deserted Guanyi, so he sent his servants to pick him up.
Come."
Zhao Daoyun looked frightened and uneasy, seeming to feel uneasy about alarming Li Siwen and causing him trouble.
"My... brother and I have no intention of visiting the house presumptuously. We came to Chang'an just to increase my knowledge. It doesn't matter if we stay at the hotel for the Chinese New Year. But Butler Wu has to worry about it."
Wu Tong stepped aside and said politely: "I'm just following my orders. If you have anything to say, Madam, you might as well say to Erlang and Madam, please come into the house."
Zhao Daoyun stood in front of the mansion, looking up at the solemn plaque of the British Duke's mansion, a flash of excitement flashed in his eyes, and then he quickly concealed it.
Zhao Daosheng said nothing, as if he was just a servant accompanying him. He half-bowed respectfully and helped his sister through the door.
There were no flower bridges, no propaganda, and no guests.
Zhao Daoyun quietly entered the door of the British Duke's Mansion.