In the warm bedroom, Wang Shijing hugged his sleeping wife with a profound gaze. He thought that he already knew his so-called family members very well, but in truth they turned out to be even more shameless and frightening than he had thought. With a hot kiss on Shao Yunan’s forehead, Wang Shijing closed his eyes, thinking of his wife.

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On the day Wang Shijing went to buy the New Year’s goods, he went to the Yamen to meet with Jiang Kangning and asked him about his plans for the New Year, whether he was planning to go back to capital or stay here. If he stayed in the province, he should definitely come over to celebrate the New Year with them. 

Jiang Kangning had already sent a letter to his brother to send his nephew to him, but he had not yet received a reply from his brother. Jiang Kangning also did not plan to return to the capital for the New Year. The tea and wine business brought profits and influence far beyond Jiang Kangning’s expectations, even beyond the expectations of the emperor and Master Weng, so Jiang Kangning returning to the capital would only be throwing himself ‘in a self made net.’

After getting a positive answer, Wang Shijing didn’t stay any longer and went out to buy more things. He had a lot of things to buy, so it might even take a few days to buy all the New Year’s goods. There were going to be many people coming to pay New Year’s greetings this year, so it would be a shame if he ran out of goods.

Wang Shijing did not talk to Jiang Kangning in advance, and at that time, Jiang Kangning also did not know. It was only six or seven days until the New Year and Wang Shijing spent three of them running around buying New Year’s goods. Shao Yunan was also not idle. The stove in the large kitchen of the new house burned almost from morning to night. As a result, the previously warm house became even a little hot. 

Wang Nizi and Wang Qing also didn’t go to the Master Ceng’s house and stayed at home helping their Little Father. The new clothes for the family of four that they would wear for the New Year, were left to aunt Zhou, while Shao Yunan made a special trip to the county town for more padded coats, ordering them from the best clothing store. 

Brothers Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu also wore new clothes from head to toe. Only Wang Nizi’s new jewelry was missing. Since daughters should show her family status, Shao Yunan thoroughly implemented this on Nizi.

On the twenty-ninth day of the month, Wang Zhisong left the village in a hurry before dawn. Almost no one in the village knew he had left, neither did Shao Yunan. One day, Shao Yunan asked Wang Shijing to go to the county town again. He made his own peanut candy, sesame candy, goat milk candy, tea candy, peanut candy, four or five kinds of cookies, as well as bread, pastries, five spice peanut melon seeds, fried melon seeds, caramel melon seeds, and tea spice melon seeds. 

Together with fresh vegetables grown in the greenhouse, he wanted to send it to Master Cen and the two teachers’ houses. He also sent some sweets and snacks to shopkeepers Xu, Zeng, and Xie. Since Jiang Kangning would come over for the New Year, there was no need to send it over to him. The capital side of the New Year’s gift had already been sent away by Jiang Kangning four days ago.

On the evening of the 29th, Jiang Kangning’s carriage drove into Xiushui Village and went straight to Wang Shijing’s new house. When Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan got the news and came out to meet him, they saw Jiang Kangning holding a tightly wrapped child in his arms and Jiang Kangchen by his side.

“Big Brother, Big Brother Kangchen.” Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing hurriedly greeted them as Jiang Kangchen spoke. “Shijing, Yunan, Big Brother came to trouble you.”

“Don’t say that Brother Kangchen. Just hurry up and enter the house.” Shao Yunan did not expect Jiang Kangchen to come too. It seemed that Jiang Kangchen had accepted Jiang Kangning’s suggestion of sending the child over. The child in Jiang Kangning’s arms was quietly held by his uncle, with his head down, not looking at Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing as he just held a wooden toy with a carved flower pattern in his cotton gloved covered hands.

Since the New Year was coming, Uncle Zhou and Aunt Zhou didn’t come over to help. In addition to Wang Shijing’s family of four, there were only Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu. Jiang Kangning and Jiang Kangchen have both seen Guo Zimu’s appearance, so Guo Zimu didn’t hide from them. Jiang Kangchen brought two servants with him and Jiang Kangning also brought his own servants. 

The three servants lifted five or six large boxes from the carriage, as Wang Shijing pointed the three servants to the place where Jiang Kangchen and Jiang Kangning could live, while Shao Yunan took them to the main hall of the house. Wang Qing and Wang Nizi, in silent understanding, prepared tea and snacks, while Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu cooked. Jiang Kangchen had rushed over as soon as he got off the ship, so he didn’t have a chance to eat. Besides, he had a child with him.

Entering the main hall, the warmth hit them in the face. Jiang Kangchen took the child from Jiang Kangning’s arms, took off his hat, gloves, and several layers of cotton-padded clothes. Jiang Kangning was also feeling hot, so he took off his own cotton-padded clothes. Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu brought two basins of hot water, Shao Yunan welcomed them to wipe their hands and faces.

Jiang Kangning wiped his eyes and said, “Zimu just cook me some noodles, no need for anything too troublesome.”

“Alright.” Shao Yunan said, “Bring some tea eggs and some of the spicy cabbage that we made ourselves.”

“Okay.”

When Jiang Kangning and Jiang Kangchen finished wiping their hands and eyes, Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu left with the basin of water. After they went to cook the noodles, Jiang Kangning smilingly said to Shao Yunan, “What delicacy have you cooked up again?”

Shao Yunan smiled and said, “Don’t you want to celebrate the New Year? I had to make something  delicious. Brother, if you like it, I’ll cook it for you anytime and make enough so you can bring it with you when you return to the capital. Did you already receive the New Year’s food I sent?”

Jiang Kangning smiled lightly (with a little helplessness). Holding the silent child in his arms, he said, “I got it, Xi’er loves to eat a lot. But on hearing that I am coming to visit you for the New Year celebration, Lord An took most of it, saying that the emperor’s side did not have enough. So after sending some to master Wang, the rest was given to Lord An. The emperor asked me to bring the recipes back, when I return.”

Shao Yunan almost laughed. How greedy and money hungry was the emperor?  Jiang Kangning also smiled as he just shook his head. “It is hard to get those things, even for a thousand gold in the city. The tea and wine are also all sold out, so many people observe my Big Brother to see when the next batch will be ready. The tea houses and dim sum restaurants have also opened, but can only supply a limited amount every day. The Empress plans to make a lot of money during the New Year celebration, so he even directly sent a palace cook to be a chef.”

Jiang Kangchen added, “The Empress and Emperor are full of praise for your recipes. Lord An also asked me to tell you that the Empress has been eating the solid yuan paste. The eunuchs in the palace also made a batch according to your recipe, but the taste is much worse. If the Empress can really feel better after eating it, the Emperor wants you to be responsible for all the solid yuan paste in the future. The Empress also wants to know if you can make more for the Emperor to eat too, the wine could be provided by the place.”

Shao Yunan nodded. “That’s no problem. I brewed the yellow rice wine myself. I don’t need to get it from the palace. Eating two tablespoons of paste two times a day is enough. I will make more of it when the spring comes so the Empress and Brother Kangchen can eat all they want. If you also want to send it to someone else, let me know in advance, but I need some good gum.”

Jiang Kangcheng, “I’ll send you some when I get back. Just tell me what you need.”

Jiang Kangning interjected. “Please make more If you can. I want to send some over to my father’s side.”

“No problem.”

Edited by: Jaisland

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