Heaven is constant, not to survive, not to die. Ignoring all the changes in the court, no matter how things change in the world, the Lord of Time always stands quietly outside the sky, focusing on completing his work. The winter solstice has passed, and with the fall of several heavy snowfalls, the autumn wind, which could only be regarded as cold, has now turned into a cold wind and snow, like a steel knife, blowing from the ground from time to time.

Although the weather is cold, people's hearts are warm.

The New Year is approaching, and every household, rich or poor, has begun to prepare and actively start buying New Year's goods. Small traders and vendors also shout in the streets all day long, selling their goods, making the market even more lively.

The Liangguo Mansion is even more active in the preparations for the New Year, but unlike the ordinary small households, in addition to the purchase on the street, these noble families also have two more items, one is to reward the people in the house, and the other is to usher in the reciprocation of favors.

In the past few days, the housekeeper in the house has given each of his subordinates some silver coins according to their different positions, the less may be a few treasure money, and the more is a few coins of silver. Xu Ruyi, as the companion of the little young master Lan Chun, also got a tael of silver. The whole house is enthusiastic, and they work extra hard, Xu Ruyi got a lot of silver or two, but the most should be the porter Lao Li. It has been several days in a row, and there are always officials who come to visit Liang Guogong every day, and of course the accompanying New Year's gifts are not less. The gifts of civil officials may be less, after all, they don't have much, and Zhu Yuanzhang is also strict about corruption, but the nobles are different. Although they will not come to the door in person, the gifts sent by the housekeepers are extremely rich, and the rewards for the concierge are naturally indispensable.

"Yohe, Ruyi, why are you here?" Lao Li said with a smile, "This is going out?"

"Uncle Li" Xu Ruyi nodded, "Happy New Year, I will give you an early year"

Xu Ruyi first gave Lao Li a salute, after all, he is an elder, and the gift cannot be wasted, "I want to go to the street to buy some ingredients, and make something delicious for my godfather today." ”

"Okay, good, it's rare that you have this filial piety," Lao Li said, "Go early and return early, is there enough money?"

I have to say that Wang Fang's personnel in the mansion are still good, they are kind to people, and they don't rely on their relationship with Lan Yu to put on a show.

"Haha, thank you Uncle Li, but the money I brought is enough" Xu Ruyi politely waved his hand and left. Lao Li's temperament is a little picky, he also knows it, and the so-called giving some money is of course just kind words, and it can't be taken seriously.

Today is the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, Xu Ruyi wants to make a good meal for Uncle Wang, although there is a family banquet in the mansion, but the relatives invited are Lan Yu and his wife, and the next people cannot participate, Xu Ruyi and Wang Fang are naturally no exception.

"Let's make a braised pork," Xu Ruyi thought for a while, "Buy another jar of good wine." ’

Just the two of them eat at night, it doesn't have to be too complicated, and it is really suitable to make a pot of braised pork at a reasonable price. Wang Fangjun was born in the army and loves to eat meat, and Xu Ruyi has long understood it.

First went to the butcher of the king of the bazaar and cut a large piece of fine pork belly, which was about four or five catties, and then bought some condiments of oil, salt, sauce and vinegar. In the end, I went to the wine store to buy a large jar of wine, and the wine store was relatively close to the back door of the house, and Xu Ruyi returned to the house from the back door by the way.

"Are you back?" Wang Fang was cleaning in front of the house, and as soon as Xu Ruyi opened the back door, he happened to hit a square.

"Well, I'm back," Xu Ruyi nodded, at the end of the year, the little young master was often pulled by Lan Yu and Mrs. Mu to meet guests, sometimes in the house, but more often he still had to go out. Xu Ruyi was also put on vacation, and accompanied Lao Wang to do some groceries all day long, chatting about household chores or something.

"The stove has been set up, and I have prepared the iron pot and spoon, on the table in the room, do you see what is missing?" Wang Fang said casually.

Xu Ruyi had already greeted Wang Fang in the morning about cooking. The stove can't be left outside the house, after all, it's cold and it's windy outside. Meals can't be made in the kitchen of the house, after all, there is a family banquet today, and the kitchen has been preparing the evening banquet since the morning, and it will be used to cook the meals of the people in the house if there is a little time.

Xu Ruyi checked the utensils, dishes and chopsticks in the house, and found that there was nothing wrong, so he took the kitchen knife and cutting board and began to prepare. The stove is ready-made, and it already adds up as early as when the weather turns cooler. In the winter in Nanjing, it is really difficult to have a stove in the house. It's probably the way it was now, but after all, braised pork needs to be boiled and stewed more to get flavored, so there's no harm in making it early.

Outside the house, Wang Fang was almost cleaned, and he also walked in, "Ruyi"

"Daddy"

"I've got a new set of clothes for you over there, and I'll put them on your bed, so remember to change them at night. ”

"Yes, thank you, Dad"

"It's nothing" Wang Fang waved his hand, "After all, it's the New Year, you always have to change to a new set, you prepare first, I'll go to the kitchen, calculate the time, the dumplings in the kitchen should be about the same"

"Yes"

Wang Fang told a few more words to be careful not to cut his hands or something, and then turned around and went out again。。。。。

The days of Rotten Man Alley are still not easy, but they are still a little stronger than before. Although the weather is cold, but after the Chinese New Year, there are more people on the streets of the city, and the people are a little more generous than before. What's more, the weather is cold, and they have a lot less epidemics here, colds and the like are indispensable, and there are still people dying because of this, but there are many fewer other malignant diseases.

In a vacant lot on the side of the rotten alley, more than a dozen cauldrons were set up at this moment, and some miscellaneous things were boiling in the pots, rotten vegetable leaves, leftover rice, and some wild vegetables. The water in the pot was abundant, and the firewood below was also burning strongly. There was a gurgling sound in the pot. This kind of cauldron stew is the tradition of rotten people's alley, every Chinese New Year's Eve, everyone will scrape together some money or ingredients, make such a few pots of "pearl jade white jade soup", which is also regarded as the New Year. Today is a little different than in previous years, there are four or five chickens in each pot, and some pork belly and sheep lungs and other additions.

The rotten people heard that this was a suggestion from the newcomer Uncle Yun to the third master, saying that it was to celebrate the end of the younger brother. For this proposal, Bo San'er gladly accepted, bought some chickens from the farmer, and then touched two while people were not paying attention, and the sheep lung and pork belly didn't cost a few dollars, so it was good to make everyone happy. My brother is finished, and he is still alive, which is indeed worth celebrating, and more importantly, this is what the uncle surnamed Yun next to him said, and he didn't dare to disobey it.

Bo San'er could feel that since his brother's death, the power of his small group had indeed increased, but his own strength had decreased. Yun Zheng didn't give him any orders, just mingled with his subordinates and the rotten people below every day. Many people know that this newcomer Uncle Yun is strong in martial arts, so he deliberately welcomes him, and Yun Zheng doesn't put on a show, he always laughs at Mimi, and after coming and going, he has vaguely become the boss in name, but in fact he is the second.

"Alas, I hope he can spare my life for the sake of my best efforts" Under a pine tree, Mi San'er had just finished draining the water, and sighed while fastening his belt.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you," a shrill voice sounded behind him.

The cold hair of the stuffy three children stood up, and when he looked back, he didn't find anyone.

"Yes ... It's me who scares myself," stuffy San'er's upper and lower teeth trembled。。。。。

The thirtieth day of the Chinese New Year's Eve is the last day of the lunar calendar, and the night of this day is also called Chinese New Year's Eve. According to tradition, on Chinese New Year's Eve, families always get together for a reunion dinner.

In Wang Fang's hut, Xu Ruyi and Wang Fang sat opposite each other, chatting with each other, talking about the past, and also talking about their expectations and wishes for the New Year. Now that the time is approaching, the hustle and bustle in the house has slowly calmed down. The banquet in the front hall had not yet dispersed, but only the men and heads of the house, women, children and children had returned to the back house to rest. After all, the night is a little late, and the men are not tired of drinking and boxing, but the women and children can't stand it.

When the time came, at the banquet in the front hall, with Lan Yu's "drink victory" banquet also entered the final peak.

"Dad, Happy New Year" Xu Ruyi knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times at Wang Fang.

"My son, hurry up" Wang Fang helped Xu Ruyi up, and took out a piece of silver from his arms, looking at the size, it was about five taels.

Wang Fang stretched out his hand and handed the silver to Xu Ruyi, "This is your New Year's money, Dad won't take a red envelope to wrap it for you, it's troublesome."

"Thank you, Dad" Xu Ruyi reached out and took it in his hand and put it in his arms.

The new year has finally arrived.