Mid-afternoon, Aunt Liu had to prepare dinner, and Hu’s mother naturally went to help, so the mahjong game disbanded.
Old Master Liu sighed, still eager for more, and wandered the courtyard leisurely with a small purple clay teapot.
Hu Zhou, far from idle, began practicing in the courtyard, executing the Eighteen Forms of Mountain Bearing with precise movements.
Bored, Liu Qingquan alternated between drooling over the pheasants in the kitchen, watching Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan play chess, and running around restlessly.
Naturally, her mouth was as busy as her feet, munching on milk candies, toffees, and preserved plums one after another.
“Eat less, it’s bad for your teeth. They’ll get cavities,” Lu Zheng warned. “Make sure to brush properly, or you’ll end up with a mouth full of cavities and no one will marry you.”
Liu Qingquan bared her small white teeth. “My teeth won’t get cavities. If any bugs show up, I’ll grind them away.”
Liu Qingyan gave her a light tap. “What nonsense. That’s because you brush well.”
“Hee hee!”
Liu Qingquan giggled, took a brown square from another bamboo container, and sniffed it.
“Sister, Big Brother Lu, this is that, what, chocolate? It sounds weird, smells weird too. Is it really tasty?”
“Try one and find out.”
Liu Qingquan blinked skeptically, then popped the square into her mouth.
Liu Qingquan: (´◊ω◊｀)
So delicious!
How could there be such a tasty snack in the world?
“Sister, you try!” Liu Qingquan offered a piece to Liu Qingyan.
“Mm, so sweet!” Liu Qingyan’s eyes sparkled.
How could any girl resist the allure of chocolate?
“Give me another!”
Reluctantly, Liu Qingquan handed her sister another piece, then grabbed the container and bolted. “I’m going to let Mum and Aunt Hu try some.”
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile.
For the New Year’s Eve dinner, Aunt Liu prepared braised pheasant, stewed mutton with dried mushrooms, stir-fried cabbage, pickled radish, and large meat buns.
For Tonglin County, this was a lavish spread, but compared to modern standards, it was about the level of rural central China.
The reason? Limited ingredients.
The truth was clear. Though partly due to technological progress, Lu Zheng couldn’t help but praise the modern vegetable basket project.
Just wait, he thought. Once he’s stronger, he’ll improve the food first.
Liu Qingyan needed more vegetables and fruits for vitamins. Look at her pale face, glowing almost unnaturally, not exactly healthy.
Lost in thought, Lu Zheng clinked cups with Old Master Liu, eating the vegetables and meat Liu Qingyan placed in his bowl.
The meal lasted over an hour, and everyone was full and satisfied, leaving the two old servants to clear the table.
Moving to a side room, Old Master Liu lit a charcoal brazier. Lu Zheng brought in the table, and the mahjong battle resumed.
This time, Liu Qingyan played, while Lu Zheng took the Go board and taught Liu Qingquan a new game: five-in-a-row!
This alternative Go playstyle was like a new world for Liu Qingquan, who played with Lu Zheng gleefully.
Only Liu Qingyan seemed saddened by Go’s fall to such simplicity, frequently glancing at Lu Zheng, her sister, and the black-and-white board with a pained expression.
Candlelight flickered, and the wind howled outside.
The clatter of tiles filled the room with lively shouts.
Experiencing the charm of mahjong for the first time, the usually long vigil seemed to pass quickly.
Snacking and sipping tea, dawn soon arrived.
“New Year’s here!” Liu Qingquan clapped and laughed.
Lu Zheng set down his chess piece, glanced outside, and mused that he’d never stayed up for the modern New Year, yet in the Great Jing Dynasty, he experienced a traditional vigil.
“Lu Lang, Happy New Year!” Liu Qingyan stood gracefully, her face glowing with a smile, giving a gentle bow.
“Happy New Year!” Lu Zheng stood, bowing to Old Master Liu and his wife.
“Happy New Year!” Everyone exchanged greetings.
Since none of the three families had relatives to visit, they ate lunch at the Liu household on the first day before parting.
“Yawn~” Liu Qingquan couldn’t hold on any longer.
“Even the carriage shops are closed. Looks like we can’t go to Peach Blossom Flat until tomorrow,” Lu Zheng said helplessly.
Liu Qingyan smiled lightly. “Then we’ll go tomorrow. Sister Shen will understand.”
“You’ve stayed up all night. Go catch up on sleep,” Lu Zheng urged.
Hu Zhou and his mother had left, and Liu Qingyan walked Lu Zheng to the gate, holding a bundle.
“This is…”
Liu Qingyan looked shy. “I’m not skilled at much, so I sewed you a spring tunic. Try it on and see if it fits.”
“If you made it, it’ll definitely fit.”
Liu Qingyan blushed, glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then stood on her toes, gave Lu Zheng a quick kiss on the cheek, and ran back home, her face red.
Lu Zheng returned home, crossed between worlds twice, and came back to the ancient world with a small box.
It was a gift for Shen Ying, a custom-made peach blossom hairpin from a modern gold shop, adorned with twenty-eight peach blossoms of varying sizes and shapes.
“Lu Lang!”
“Happy New Year!” Lu Zheng spun Shen Ying, who had jumped into his arms, then set her down and presented the peach blossom hairpin.
“So beautiful!” Shen Ying took it delightedly, immediately swapping it for her current hair accessory.
“Does it look good?” She twirled before Lu Zheng, asking eagerly.
Lu Zheng nodded instantly. “Looks great!”
Shen Ying linked arms with him, leading him into the village. “I have a gift for you too.”
“What is it?”
Soon, Shen Ying brought him to her bedroom in the back courtyard, stopping at her dressing table.
“What, are you putting makeup on me?”
Before he could ask, Shen Ying turned, holding a folding fan.
She presented it like a treasure. “Lu Lang, take a look.”
“This is…”
Lu Zheng took the fan, feeling its smooth warmth and faint fragrance.
Holding it up, he saw the fan’s ribs were made of white jade, carved with flowing cloud patterns.
*Snap!* He opened it.
One side depicted drifting white clouds, the other showed rising incense smoke.
Lu Zheng channeled his true qi into the fan, and it flowed without resistance.
“This is… a magical artifact?”
Shen Ying nodded with a smile. “I’ve refined it with incense qi. Nurture it with your true qi for a while, and it’ll amplify your spell power.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes gleamed. “Great stuff!”
“If you hadn’t given that jade pendant to the City God, you’d have two artifacts now,” Shen Ying said, still a bit resentful.
“Haha! I also got the *Tiger Roar Blade* from Brother Xin. Besides, without that favor, would they keep an eye on things here?”
“True,” Shen Ying said with a shake of her head and a smile.
At that, her peach blossom eyes sparkled with a watery glow. She pulled Lu Zheng gently, spinning lightly to the bedside.
“Young Master~”
