Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 578: New Year (Part )

Since the beginning of winter, all the trees in the capital city have withered, and light frost has formed on the eaves and walls. The whole city is in a cold and solemn tone. A few days ago, a heavy snow finally came, covering all the lanes and alleys with a layer of white. Today, festive red has begun to embellish the city, with brand new spring couplets hung on the old wooden doors, red lanterns hanging on the eaves, and the laughter of the crowd and sporadic firecrackers echoing in the streets and alleys make the whole city bustling.

The noise in summer is irritating, but the voices of people in winter are friendly. Pei Ye asked Xu Chuo about the number and height of the doors in Xu Xiang's house, strolled around Leyouyuan with great interest, and finally returned to the carriage with a small basket of spring couplets and many things whose purpose could not be seen.

Xu Chuo had originally been following him around. Although the heater had burned out, she still had the youth's energy. However, although she had the mind of a 23-year-old adult and the innocence of a 13-year-old girl, she found it difficult to resonate with the interests of a 17-year-old village boy.

While she was still looking around, wanting to carefully select a few small items, the young man in front of her had already waved his hand and generously bought thirteen pairs of Spring Festival couplets from a stall.

"We have to put it up inside and outside the house anyway, and the size is suitable," the boy explained, feeling quite pleased with himself for getting the job done in one go.

Xu Chuo frowned and looked at them. They were all the most perfunctory couplets, with ugly characters and even wrong tones. But in the eyes of the boy, all Spring Festival couplets were obviously the same. He went to a stall and asked a few questions, then bought most of the couplets. He went to three stalls and got the required number. Then he continued to move forward with a full basket in his arms.

Xu Chuo thought that she would not be able to visit any more houses with this man, so she asked for the kitten in her arms, walked around the field twice, recalled the time when she went to the New Year market when she was young, and then returned to the car.

At this time, the curtain was pushed open by Pei Ye's head. With a red smile on his face, he got on the carriage, which was very simple all year round, holding a basket of messy things.

"What do you mean?"

"They are all useful things." Pei Ye closed the basket lid and didn't show it to her.

"You didn't have much to play with when you were a child, so now you're squandering it." Xu Chuo laughed.

"I'm not that naive." Pei Ye leaned back in the car contentedly and sighed softly, "I just haven't seen so many new things. I just looked around. If I really bought them, I wouldn't like to play with them anymore, so I'd just leave them to collect dust."

Xu Chuo didn't believe it: "What about your basket?"

"Don't worry about it." There was still a hint of pride on Pei Ye's face.

……

The old residence of the former prime minister.

This house, which has always been closed and kept secret by passers-by, has brand new and brightly colored New Year pictures pasted neatly on its gate today. Just as the news came from the court a few days ago, Li Du retired and returned to his hometown, Yuan Zhao ascended the throne, and the old case from ten years ago was re-examined, the good reputation of old Prime Minister Xu was likely to be restored.

But there is only one New Year picture, and only the right door is pasted on it, while the left side is still empty.

The two girls, one holding up the other, finished applying the paste. Cui Zhaoye nodded with satisfaction. Jiang Yiner looked down at the starched dress and complained with a smile: "I told you that you added too much water, but you didn't believe me. It's too watery."

Of course, Cui Jia Mingzhu had never done such a thing before, and she had no way to retort at this time. She smiled and hugged her as she walked towards the door.

The remaining snow in the yard was swept away, revealing the clean stone path, and even the short pear tree was tied with several new colorful silk ribbons.

Across the yard, the door of the main room was open. Changsun Jue, wearing a thick cotton coat, stood in front of the desk, holding a thin brush in his hand and drawing on a large piece of paper. Bright colors had already filled most of the paper.

The girl from the Changsun family is not only good at poetry and calligraphy, but also very skilled in painting. She has painted dozens of window paper-cuts at the desk today, and her wrists have become sore a long time ago. After finishing this New Year picture, she will never pick up the pen again.

"I'm not spending the New Year with you. I have to go back home in the evening, so I won't come tomorrow." Chang Sun Jue said reluctantly, "You can't not go home on New Year's Eve."

"Yes, come over early the day after tomorrow." Cui Zhaoye bent over the desk, "What is this painting about?"

"The previous one is 'Wenqu Descends to Chang'an', which is for Mr. Xu; this one is 'Hero Enters Dragon Pond', which is for Young Master Pei." Chang Sunjue said with satisfaction, "Both are my own paintings - look at the green one, that's Young Master Pei's sword."

"But the face doesn't look like it."

"Of course, no one would stick their face on the door." Chang Sun Jue said, "As long as there is a symbol, it will be fine."

Jiang Yin'er liked it very much and tilted her head and said, "Ms. Changsun's painting is really good."

Footsteps were heard on the steps. Qu Xin, dressed in gray, stood under the eaves holding a broom and looked at them with a frown: "You've finished sweeping. Does Pei Ye really live here?"

The young man was not found in the Sword Training Institute yesterday, so Cui Zhaoye brought her here this morning. Even though it is the end of the year, not everyone returns to their hometowns. At least Jiang Yin'er and Cui Zhaoye are both staying in the capital, so they use this old house as their place to celebrate the New Year. Today they swept the house, decorated the courtyard, and made the whole house cleaner and more festive.

"Just believe me. Since he didn't go back to the Sword Training Institute, he must have come here. Don't think of anything else." Cui Zhaoye said.

With the three girls watching, Chang Sun Jue quickly finished the last painting. Cui Zhaoye stuck to Qu Xin again and said, "Doctor Qu, what letter are you going to give to Young Master Pei? Who sent it to him?"

The other two also looked over curiously.

"We don't know what friends Young Master Pei had in the past." Cui Zhaoye said, "Doctor Qu, you knew him a long time ago, so just tell us about him."

Qu Xin glanced at her calmly: "You have a crush on him?"

"..."

“How vulgar.” Cui Zhaoye rolled his eyes. “Just tell me—don’t you like eating Jinchen’s buns? Tell me and I’ll tell you where you bought them.”

"It's not convenient to inquire about other people's private messages." Qu Xin said in a calm voice.

"I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow morning."

"...But since you are familiar with Pei Ye, it's nothing." Qu Xin continued calmly, "The sender of the letter is Li Piaoqing, the head of Yufei Mountain in Bowang Prefecture. This woman is seventeen years old. She kissed Pei Ye, but they didn't have sex. They are still in contact now, so you have a chance."

Chang Sun Jue covered his ears with a flushed face: "No need to be so detailed!"

Jiang Yin'er was curious: "It's Li Piaoqing... Sister, I really want to meet her."

Cui Zhaoye seemed to be thinking about something, frowned and murmured: "Young Master Pei has too little experience in love affairs. If he wants to practice the sword of love in the future, I'm afraid it will be difficult to do so without any rice..."

"Remember to get up early and buy me buns tomorrow." Qu Xin said.

The carriage stopped in front of the house. Pei Ye and Xu Chuo came back at this time. The young man looked at the newly renovated yard in surprise until he arrived at the main hall and saw four girls gathered together, chatting in different postures.

Pei Ye was obviously a little surprised, but also a little surprised: "Miss Cui, Miss Changsun, Yin'er - Miss Qu?"

The first three are common, but Qu Xin has not been seen for some time. This face, which I am used to seeing after being seriously injured, is the same as always, young, cold, and clean. The gray clothes and hairstyle have not changed.

It is obviously a pleasure to suddenly see an old friend again.

After he broke through the snow with his sword on the Ridong Sword Stage that day, the girls finally saw this young man for the first time. His appearance and smile were still the same, but his temperament seemed to have changed a little, as if the state on the Ridong Sword Stage that day had fixed a part of him. It couldn't be said that the sword state had changed him, because that was the true meaning that came from his heart, and now it seemed to be clearer and sharper, but a simpler way of saying it should be...

Qu Xin glanced at him and said, "You seem to have grown up a little."

Pei Ye was really surprised: "I have grown taller?"

The boy walked onto the stage, stood beside her, and tried to measure the top of her head.

Qu Xin stopped talking.

Several people sat down in the hall. Xu Chuo obviously had a high status next to Cui Zhaoye and Changsun Jue. He was asking something to Jiang Yin'er at this time, while Pei Ye stood with Qu Xin.

"How was your harvest in the west? Is Longdi easy to travel?" Pei Ye said with a smile. "Not bad, I found most of what I wanted to find." Qu Xin said calmly, looking at him, "There are many good people in Shaolong, except Li Piaoqing, she won't let me eat if I don't buy her medicine."

"..." Pei Ye couldn't help laughing and said seriously, "It's not Piao Qing's fault. Just buy some from her."

"Are you paying?"

"I'll pay if I want to." Pei Ye was not penniless now, so he padded his wallet and asked, "How much did she sell it to you for?"

"One thousand seven hundred taels a year. You pay a quarter of it, and Taishan Yaolu will do this business and give you dividends."

"..." Pei Ye looked at the pear tree outside the courtyard as if nothing had happened, and said calmly, "Ah... As the young master, you are indeed talking about big business."

"I can't afford to pretend anything."

Pei Ye changed the subject: "Don't keep talking about money. Let me ask you, when did you come? Do you know what the biggest turmoil in Shenjing was a few days ago?"

He pursed his lips and raised his head, thinking of the "Seventy-Seven, Taishan Medicine House, [Little Medicine Master] Qu Xin" whom he saw that day in Shaolong Mansion.

"A bet on the sword power in front of Suzaku Gate?"

"That's right!" Pei Ye smiled happily. "It seems that even though you didn't see it with your own eyes, you have heard a lot of rumors in the past few days. I might be ranked ahead of you in the next Crane and Duck List."

Qu Xin nodded and said calmly, "It's really amazing. I saw several reports. They all said that Mr. Pei was a young prostitute. He came on stage in dishevel after drinking wine. He had a woman's belt on his head and lip marks on his chest and neck... The description was very detailed, but I thought it was ugly so I stopped reading it."

Pei Ye was stunned, looking at her helplessly with a blank expression on his face: "...What did you say? Is this the rumor that is spreading all over Shenjing now?"

Qu Xin smiled faintly and nodded at him.

With a "pop" sound, the girl's hand pressed on the back of the chair in front of her.

Qu Xin was slightly stunned.

Jiang Yin'er leaned over with a righteous look on her face and said seriously, "Doctor Qu, you can't spread rumors anymore. Brother Shi has a good character and is a first-class good man. We have found several people who wrote such nonsense in the past few days and are reporting them to the government to have them arrested."

"That's right! If Doctor Qu wants to read the rumors in Shenjing, he should read "Chang'an Sword Affairs", "Shenjing Gazette" and "Guozijian Gazette". At the very least, he should read "Baifang Daily News" and the like. That's the heroic style of classmate Pei. How can he read those shameless tabloids that really ruin his reputation as Little Medicine Master?" Changsun Jue also frowned.

Cui Zhaoye was the closest, and she lowered her phoenix eyes coldly: "What a boring thing to say. Master Pei, if he likes to drink wine, he can drink wine, if he likes to stay in brothels, he can stay in brothels, and if he wants to sleep with any girl, he can sleep with whichever girl he wants. He is still the best swordsman in Shenjing! You are talking about such boring things in front of Yijian Potian."

Pei Ye looked at her in horror and waved his hands repeatedly.

Qu Xin looked at the three of them in silence, lost in thought.

Xu Chuo glanced over with a smile: "Are you three his maids now?"

Cui Zhaoye smiled at Pei Ye. She had the clearest and most translucent eyes. When she squinted her eyes and smiled, she looked like a blooming winter flower. She turned around and said, "Mr. Xu, I have established a 'Pei Ye Club'. My eldest grandson and sister Jiang have both joined."

Chang Sun Jue and Jiang Yin'er both widened their eyes. Chang Sun Jue said angrily, "I am only protecting the reputation of classmate Pei, that's why I won't join your club. Classmate Pei, I don't mean to dislike you."

"..."

Jiang Yin'er also said seriously: "This Shixiong Club is too weird, I don't agree with it either."

Amid the noise, Qu Xin suddenly said calmly, "What are the requirements of your club?"

"I like Pei Ye." Cui Zhaoye said.

"Then I'll join."

"..."

"..."

Several girls looked at her in amazement.

"I like him very much." Qu Xin glanced at Pei Ye, thought about it and seemed to have some ambiguity, and added, "I mean, I like his body very much."

Now Xu Chuo also looked at her.

……

"Kitten, I feel like I am a toy in this house." After a noisy dinner, Pei Ye stood alone under the pear tree, sighed softly, and watched the white mist drifting into the night sky.

"I hope you can reflect on how I felt when you handed me over when someone gave me that glowing look," the black cat said calmly.

"……sorry."

"forgive you."

This was the last night before New Year's Eve, and the old house was cleaned up, waiting for tomorrow's guests. On the other side of the yard, several girls were still gathered together, chatting about their games.

Qu Xin asked earnestly, "So, as a member of this club, what kind of feelings should we have towards the great Pei Shaoxia?"

Cui Zhaoye said: "Of course it is noble, unique, supportive, trustworthy and admirable."

"Then you really don't have a crush on him?" Qu Xin explored.

"Why do you always ask such cheesy questions?"

"I'm sorry, I don't understand you accurately." Qu Xin looked like he was studying medical classics. "President Cui, can you tell me about your feelings?"

Cui Zhaoye sighed softly: "Since you don't have the highest pursuit of swordsmanship, how can you understand my noble feelings."

"In your heart, is Young Master Pei the only one?"

"of course."

Cui Zhaoye looked at the clear night sky and said earnestly and devoutly: "If there is no moon in the sky, it means there is no Young Master Pei in the world; if there are no stars in the sky, it is in Young Master Pei's eyes. If there is only one person in the world who is qualified to hold a sword, it is Young Master Pei; if Young Master Pei already has a cat, then I am willing to be his dog."

Changsun Jue buried his head in the table and laughed, while Jiang Yin'er held her forehead in her hand and remained silent.

"Ah..." Only Qu Xin showed an expression of admiration and clapped his hands. At the same time, he mentally prepared what he would say next time he met the disciples of Yunlang Mountain.

——"Everyone in our Pei Ye Club knows that Ming Qitian was born two years too early. Shenjing Pei Ye is the best swordsman in the world."

The high, cold and vast night sky was dotted with cold white spots, accompanied by sporadic firecrackers, and the last snow of the Xinsi year fell in the capital.

(End of this chapter)