mtlumby2d Chapter 186 New Year’s greetings
Chapter 186 New Year’s greetings
It was not until after midnight that the family members washed and rested, and Liu Shuisheng and Zhang Pingan could just sleep in the same bed.
He was covered with a silk duvet, which was very warm. Liu Shuisheng touched the quilt and said with a smile, "Okay, Ping'an. It seems that Second Uncle has made a lot of money in the past few years. He has a silk duvet. I heard that this duvet is very expensive, almost equivalent to my annual salary."
"My classmate's family happens to be doing this business. I helped him with some small favors, so he gave me a few beds. By the way, I also left a down vest for you. I'll give it to you tomorrow morning," Zhang Ping'an replied with a smile.
"Okay, then I won't be polite. Let's go to bed quickly. I'm so sleepy." Liu Shuisheng yawned, wiped his tears, and quickly covered himself with the quilt and went to sleep.
It is warmer sleeping with two people than with one, and soon they both fell asleep.
After a good night's sleep, the two of them rarely stayed in bed the next morning. The quilt was really too comfortable. There was nothing to do on the first day of the New Year. If they were in the village, they could visit each family to wish them a happy new year. But they had no relatives in the capital, so they could only stay at home.
Zhang Laoer pushed the door open and came in, saying, "It snowed heavily again last night. You can get up a little later today. If you're hungry, I'll bring you some noodles."
Zhang Ping'an struggled in his bed for a moment before sitting up and putting on his clothes. He said, "Dad, I'll go to the yard to help you shovel snow. It's a good opportunity for us to go to the teacher's house and a few classmates to pay New Year's greetings. Oh, and we have to go to the teacher's house too. There will be nothing to do on the second day of the New Year. I want to sleep until noon tomorrow."
Liu Shuisheng also sat up and said, "I also have to go to the shopkeeper's house to pay New Year's greetings. I'll come back after that."
Zhang Laoer said with a simple smile, "Come out for breakfast first. The chicken noodle soup I made this morning is delicious. It's still early, so there's no rush!"
After the two got up, dressed and washed, Xu's noodles were already cooked. She invited everyone to the kitchen to eat and warm up. Zhang Ping'an and Liu Shuisheng each picked a bowl of noodles and sat on small stools to eat with fish jelly and pickles. It tasted very good.
"Second aunt, this fish jelly is really good. I haven't eaten it for a long time since I came to the provincial capital," Liu Shuisheng praised.
Xu was smiling. Today was the first day of the new year, and she was in a good mood. She said, "If you like it, eat more. I'll fry a plate of fresh fish at noon and add more soup. Then you can have fish jelly for dinner."
Liu Shuisheng said sweetly, "Second Aunt, you are so kind. You are just like the kindhearted person often described in opera scripts."
Wu Ya and Liu Ya almost choked on their noodle soup when they heard this.
Xiao Hu said, "Yes, my mother said that when Second Aunt was young, she was one of the most beautiful girls in our village and she was also very capable."
Zhang Pingan finished his noodle soup and then smiled and said, "Xiao Hu, your mother is very discerning. Otherwise, how could she have given birth to such a handsome son like me, right, Dad?!"
Zhang Laoer smiled innocently and said, "Yes!"
Xu was so delighted by the praise that her crow's feet became more obvious. She said proudly, "Come back early for lunch. I'll make you some braised duck and red-braised pork."
"Then we are in for a treat," Zhang Pingan said with a smile.
It was still early after dinner, so Zhang Pingan and Liu Shuisheng helped shovel the snow in the yard to both sides before going out.
Liu Shuisheng refused to let anyone see him off, and instead called a cart and left.
Zhang Ping'an got on the family's mule cart and took Xiaohu out with him. Xiaohu had nothing to do in the past six months since coming to the provincial capital, and had already learned to drive a cart from Zhang Laoer. Before, Zhang Ping'an's classes at the provincial school were close by and he could walk there, so Xiaohu rarely had the opportunity to learn. He drove the cart very carefully for fear of accidents.
Zhang Pingan soothed him, "Don't panic, we're not in a hurry, just take your time."
"Hey," Xiaohu responded nervously, staring straight ahead.
They first went to Professor Han's house, but there were so many students coming to pay New Year's greetings on the first day of the Lunar New Year that Zhang Ping'an even ran into Lu Xiao and Tan Yaoqi in the flower hall. After nodding and greeting them, he sat aside and drank tea.
Yuan Ziang arrived soon after. He had made a large sum of money before the New Year, and Old Madam Yuan had also declared that the money belonged to Yuan Ziang personally and formed his own private treasury. So he was full of energy and pride, and he even decorated his headband with rubies and wore a jade ring, giving off the aura of a nouveau riche.
Zhang Pingan really wanted to laugh, but it was very difficult for him to hold back his laughter.
Yuan Ziang came over and sat down when he saw his acquaintance. "Ping An, I was just about to go to your house to wish you a happy new year!"
"What a coincidence! I'm also planning to visit your house to wish you a happy new year, but your house is closer. How about we go to your house first and then to mine?" Zhang Ping'an asked with a smile.
Yuan Ziang didn't care and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
After a while, another seven or eight students arrived. Seeing that the hall was almost full, Professor Han came out, encouraged everyone, and then sent them away.
When Zhang Ping'an said goodbye, Professor Han stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Today is the first day of the new year. Don't forget to pay New Year's greetings to my cousin."
Zhang Ping'an's eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He smiled and said, "Of course."
In the morning, Zhang Ping'an had actually thought about whether to go to Mr. Han's house, but after all, they had only met once, and Professor Han had not yet told him the result. If he rashly went there, it would seem that he was too eager and that he was trying to curry favor with him. So Zhang Ping'an had already decided not to go, but now it seemed that he had to go after all.
After saying goodbye, Zhang Pingan went to Yuan's mansion first. Yuan's mansion was also bustling today. Many people came to pay New Year's greetings. Some were members of the Yuan family, and some were good friends. After drinking half a cup of tea, Zhang Pingan said goodbye and left.
Yuan Ziang originally wanted to go with them to the Zhang family to pay New Year's greetings, but he was stopped by his relatives and asked all sorts of questions, so he couldn't get away. Zhang Pingan said sympathetically, "Ziang, we are close, so we don't mind these empty formalities. It doesn't matter if you come a little later. I'll be home all afternoon."
He could take this opportunity to visit Mr. Han's residence.
Yuan Ziang bowed and said, "Okay, thank you for your understanding, Ping An. I'll be free and go as soon as possible."
"No rush," Zhang Ping'an said with a smile, then said goodbye and left.
Next, Xiaohu was asked to drive the car directly to Mr. Han's residence. There were fewer people coming to pay New Year's greetings at the Han residence than at Professor Han's residence. The people at the door were very polite. The coachman and the servant would let them warm themselves by the fire in the small hall next to the gatehouse, and they were given peanuts and melon seeds to eat. It was Xiaohu's first time to enter such a wealthy family, and he was very curious.
Seeing that Xiaohu had adapted quite well, Zhang Ping'an followed the servants to the flower hall next to the main hall for receiving guests.
After sitting for a cup of tea, another servant came and took Zhang Ping'an to Mr. Han's study.
After a while, Han Juren came in. Zhang Pingan stood up and bowed to greet him. Han Juren raised his hand and smiled faintly, "Sit down. No need to be polite. I didn't expect you to come and wish me a happy new year."
Zhang Pingan said in a deep voice, "I hope Mr. Han will not be offended by my intrusive visit."