Lord of the Desert

Chapter 111 Scars
The sun sets on the thirty day.

The moon is sideways, and the surrounding fields are covered with red clouds.

In the main hall of Asahiyuan, the charcoal stove was burning hot, and the tables were full of pots and bowls.

Fried tofu balls, fried fish, poached chicken, pork belly in sauce, steamed sausage...

In addition to six or seven plates of meat, there are two plates of pickled vegetables and a plate of stir-fried winter bamboo shoots.

Naturally, wine is also indispensable.

Listening to the "Yuquan Burn" specially sent by Haige years ago, the wine is clear, mellow and fragrant.

The dishes and chopsticks were set, and five masters and servants sat down at the table.

Placed in other places in the Hong Mansion, the servants must not be able to sit with the master's house, but in Chaori Courtyard, it follows Hong Fan's intention.

Aunt Liu got up to pour the wine.

Hong Fan and Tang Da used bowls, while the two little girls, Pink and Willow, used cups.

Only Aunt Liu used tea instead of wine, and kept saying that a sober person should be left to clean up the house.

After Hong Fan took the lead in tasting a ball, everyone started to move their chopsticks.

After the maids had a little more belly, Hong Fan raised his glass to celebrate the New Year.

Du Kang enters the throat, Xia Fei's cheeks.

A festive atmosphere filled the dinner table.

Aunt Liu said how she traveled halfway across the city to buy tofu, which was delicious and cheap.

Tang Daguo mentioned which horses Hongqi had bullied again, and became the overlord of the stables.

The peach red and the willow green gossip about the boys and girls in the family.

Happy for a while.

Ten dishes for five people, with Hong Fan, a big eater, eating less than half of them quickly.

The porcelain vase containing Yuquan burnt was also half empty.

Compared with the other disciples of the Hong family, Hong Fan has a good reputation among the servants, being tolerant, cheerful and approachable.

But in the past six months, no one dared to disrespect or deceive him.

This matter is not just about martial arts.

Some say it's because of his bearing, some say it's because of his looks, and some say it's because of Xingjun's natural majesty.

The same is true for peach red willow green.

After getting along for two months, whenever they were looked at twice by their young master, they would start to stutter with anticipation.

Today, the whole family was sitting at the same table, drunk from drinking, Tao Hong finally dared to talk to Hong Fan.

"The young master is the son of the great master, and he hasn't married yet. Why don't you go to Xiongguangyuan for the New Year's Eve dinner?"

she asked with blinking eyes.

"Because the New Year's Eve dinner has to be eaten at home."

Hong Fan replied with a smile.

"My home is this Asahiyuan, so I'm naturally here too."

Tao Hong Liu Lu was still confused when she heard the words, but she didn't dare to ask again.

At this time, Big Tang was pouring wine for himself silly and happily, while Aunt Liu bowed her head to eat the food.

The paper window was suddenly illuminated with five colors of light.

A moment later, thunder rumbled.

"It's someone else's house that is setting off fireworks!"

Taohong and Liulu said happily, looking at Hong Fan eagerly.

Seeing the latter nodded, they got off their seats, put out two candles first, and opened the windows and doors.

What rushed in with the cold wind was colored light.

To be honest, comparing with what Hong Fan saw in his previous life, this fireworks is about the level of the smallest ten-ring fireworks in a roadside shop.

But he still appreciates being very focused.

Across half of the Hong Mansion, meteors rose one after another and exploded into different colors.

A ray of light is like a visitor visiting every room with its doors and windows open.

After lingering for a while, he left without saying goodbye.

Aunt Liu and Taohong Liulu were fascinated by watching.

The Hong family is the wealthiest family in Jinhai City, and there are quite a few fireworks in each house and courtyard.

The east side darkens, and the west side lights up again.

All kinds of light intermittently stopped after a cup of tea.

Close the doors and windows, and the room is warmed up quickly by the scorching heat.

Most of the dishes on the table have been wiped away.

"I didn't know that the fireworks in this world already have so many colors."

Hong Fan chatted casually.

"On New Year's Eve in previous years, fireworks would be set off in the mansion. But at that time, we lived in a remote place, and my aunt and I could only see some corners on the courtyard wall."

He said and laughed.

"Tao Hong Liu Lu is a newcomer to the mansion, and I probably haven't seen our residence at that time - a small courtyard with two small rooms, just the two of us."

"No, there is also a big locust tree."

"The sky is open and the earth is wide, and I have a corner to myself; now that I think about it, I feel at ease."

Hong Fan said in a reminiscing tone.

But the vague memory he inherited is an unforgettable scar in others.

Aunt Liu finally couldn't hold back and shed tears.

"Young master is talking nonsense. Last year's New Year's Eve you ate steamed buns with dipping sauce."

She wailed softly with distress.

"The meat and vegetables on the table are only the oil residue I begged for and five taels of water from the second room..."

The candlelight was flickering, and Aunt Liu lowered her face slightly without wiping her tears, as if she was drunk.

"It was very bitter before, and I was not comfortable at all."

"Asahiin is ten times better than back then, a hundred times better!"

She snatched the wine bowl from the bewildered Mr. Tang, took a sip, and then looked at the young master with tears shining.

"Master, tell me, we won't go back again, right?"

Hong Fan was silent when he heard the words, and then stood up happily.

He picked up the wine bowl respectfully with both hands, and touched the rim of Aunt Liu's bowl half an inch lower.

"Auntie, I promise you, I will never go back again!"

He spoke more solemnly than ever, and drank the whole bowl of wine in one gulp.

Half an hour later, the leftovers were brought back to the kitchen, and the table was polished brightly by pink and willow green.

Just after the beginning of Haishi (nine o'clock in the evening), there were energetic shouts outside Chaori Courtyard.

"Brother Fan, First Young Master Cui is here!"

Hong Fu yelled twice, pushed open the courtyard door and entered without hesitation.

Hong Fan poked his head from the house and saw the little fat man's cheeks were flushed, obviously he had also drunk alcohol.

And behind him, Cui Yutang, who entered Chaoriyuan for the first time, followed.

"Brother Fan, tonight is New Year's Eve, my family is going to make iron flowers, so I'm here to invite you and Brother Fu!"

First Young Master Cui smiled and asked sincerely.

"Auntie, Lao Tang, and the two young ladies, please come together..."

"You really have a heart."

Hong Fan replied with a smile.

Given his position in Jinhai today, there will definitely be many appointments tonight.

But Cui Yutang is, after all, the most troublesome in the circle of young and old in the city.

He gave a generous gift a few years ago and specially prepared things for Aunt Liu, and this time he came here to make a fortune...

"I know that your family has to fight iron flowers every year, and every time there are a lot of spectators and a sea of ​​people."

Hong Fan asked intentionally.

"There are six of us here, will there be no place?"

"How could there be no place?"

Cui Yutang smiled even wider.

"No matter how crowded you are, you and your aunt must not be squeezed, otherwise I will be the first to go out!"

Half an hour later, Chisha Avenue.

Crowds filled the broad streets.

As soon as Cui Yutang led the people to arrive, two blacksmith apprentices who were waiting came up to greet them, using their strong arms to open the way for them.

On the open ground at the intersection next to Duanshan Hall, an octagonal shed more than ten feet high and covered with firelighters was erected.

In the center of the shed, a long pole three feet high stood straight, with a string of firecrackers hanging on the top.

Under the shed, five pairs of bare-chested middle-aged blacksmiths were ready to carry the newly melted molten iron.

Hong Fan and the others stood in the best first row on the street.

When the auspicious time was approaching, Second Master Cui tidied up his appearance and stepped into the middle of the street.

(End of this chapter)