There were only three days left until the end of the year. The closer it was to the New Year, the easier it was for something to happen.
The commoners in the prefectural city had already seen several groups of people with iron chains around their necks. They were all arrested and about to be dragged away.
They were all familiar faces. Many people clapped their hands in glee when they saw hoodlums who did not do their jobs all day long being locked up in jail.
This time, the other hoodlums in the city immediately calmed down. They obediently stayed at home and did not dare to wander around. Dao Ba and the others were all taken away. It was said that it was an order from King of Hell Liu. Dao Ba would be severely punished even if he did not die this time. It was better for them to behave themselves. Who knew if the iron chains would suddenly wrap around their necks.
A theatrical troupe in the city suddenly closed its doors. The other troupes followed suit one after another. Only the theaters in the city and the brothels outside the city were still bustling with business. There was an endless stream of spectators. One group after another came and went.
Everyone, including Old Sun, felt reassured when they saw the hoodlums who caused trouble being taken away by the officials.
Now, even if they were to open brothels all over Anxi County, they would not encounter any obstacles. Who would have thought that the young man standing behind them was the county magistrate? Which hoodlum would dare to be reckless?
Li Yi only asked the constables in charge of this street to pay more attention to this place. From today onwards, Old Sun and the others would most likely not encounter any obstacles.
…
…
Perhaps it was because it was the New Year, they did not see the young girl who had become their disciple these few days. Recently, it was a busy time for the women and children. They cleaned up the dust, said goodbye to the old and welcomed the new, and used flour to make all kinds of shapes. On the 30th day of the New Year, the residence was already decorated with lanterns and colored banners.
Regardless of ancient times or modern times, the New Year was the most important festival of the year. On the night of the New Year, the family could gather together for a reunion dinner. This meant that the family would still have a surplus at the end of the year. It was the happiest and most satisfying thing.
Today was a special day. The streets in the city were not very lively. The shops were only open for half a day. When the sky turned dark, everyone returned home to prepare a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.
After closing the door of the residence, the inside became a world of its own.
For the naughty children, today was the happiest day of their lives. As long as they didn't cause too much trouble, their parents chose to turn a blind eye.
After nightfall, a bonfire was lit in the outer residence. The naughty children kept throwing bamboo into the fire, listening to the crackling sounds of the bamboo. They competed to see who threw the bamboo into the fire with the loudest sound.
This was the most traditional "firecrackers". As for the nice-looking fireworks, they were too expensive. His parents could not bear to buy them. They could only watch as white light shot out from other courtyards explode in the sky. Every sound would cause the naughty children to scream.
Li Yi didn't have time to watch the fireworks. He was tired of all kinds of large-scale fireworks displays in his previous life. The scene here was too small, and it didn't arouse his interest at all.
In order to prepare a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, the whole family was busy in the kitchen.
For the remaining dozen or so families in the mansion, this might be the most extravagant New Year's Eve of their lives.
Even for the poorest family, there wouldn't be a single chicken, duck, or fish missing. The family didn't lack money. It was fine to be frugal during normal times, but now wasn't the time to be frugal.
Li Yi moved a small stool and sat in the corner to prepare the fresh fish that he bought this morning. How could such a grand occasion miss out on sweet and sour fish?
Xiao Huan added firewood to the stove. Ruyi blanched the cut meat in the water before scooping it out and placing it on a plate for later use. Beside the table, Ruyi's knife danced in the air, and the tofu was cut into triangular shapes with uniform size and thickness. This was the only work she could do in the kitchen.
Tonight, apart from Miss Liu, everyone would be able to cook two dishes. Xiao Huan had already been trained by Li Yi. In this world, she had already become an existence of the level of a chef.
Needless to say, Ruyi's cooking skills couldn't even be compared to Li Yi's. In just a short while, the table was filled with dishes.
In the past, it was Xiao Huan or Ruyi who cooked. Li Yi and Ruyi only needed to move their mouths. Perhaps it was because the three people in the family were cooking and she was the only one standing at the side waiting for dinner, Miss.Liu insisted on showing off her cooking skills. In the end, there was a plate of black substance in the middle of the table of delicious dishes.
Li Yi found it hard to imagine that the black substance was Liu Ruyi's fried chicken chops. She had clearly covered the chicken in flour and fried it in oil before scooping it out. Such a simple procedure had resulted in such a product when it came to Liu Ruyi.
Li Yi picked up the chopsticks and praised Ruyi's soup. The heat was just right. Xiao Huan's cooking skills had improved again, but she was unwilling to touch the charred substance.
"Try the dishes I cooked." Miss.Liu picked up a piece of chicken chops and put it in Xiao Huan's bowl. Her eyes were fixed on him.
Xiao Huan's pretty face turned pale. The thing she worried about the most had happened. She ran away quickly with the excuse of stomachache.
Seeing that Ruyi's eyes were already looking at him, Li Yi's expression changed. Before he could react, there was an extra piece of black substance in his bowl.
Miss.Liu obviously didn't intend to let him go. It was her first time to cook. If he disgraced her this time, she might take revenge on him next time. Weighing the pros and cons, he felt that it was nothing to eat a little charred food. Eating charred food could make him rich. This was the principle his grandma told him when he was a child. Although it had never worked, maybe it would work here.
A good fried chicken chops tasted like charred food. Li Yi had a new evaluation of Miss.Liu's cooking skills. Such a girl could only be married in the future. In this world, a girl who couldn't cook would be driven out by her family the next day.
"How is it?" Liu Ruyi looked at him and asked.
"Not bad." Li Yi picked up another piece and put it in her bowl. He said, "You try it."
After tasting her masterpiece, Miss.Liu went to rinse her mouth with a gloomy face. After Xiao Huan came back, she quickly put the charcoal back when she was not there. She patted her little chest and looked like she still had a lingering fear.
After rinsing her mouth, Miss.Liu threw those things into the dustbin and didn't mention anything about cooking.
After dinner, there were more activities.
Xiao Huan and a few close friends were carrying out some secret activities. Li Yi lit the fireworks, which caused the naughty children to scream around him. There were explosions in the sky from time to time …
Since he could remember, it was the first New Year's Eve without the Spring Festival Gala. It passed just like that. When the bell rang in the distant night, history turned to a new page. Time officially entered the second year of Jinghe.
Li Yi carried the little servant girl who was sleeping on the night of the New Year and gently placed her on the kang. After covering her with the quilt, he quietly left.
The fireworks in the distance were still brilliant. There was no ban on setting off fireworks and firecrackers here, and there was no need to worry about the haze. Li Yi stood under the porch and looked at the night sky in the distance. He didn't look away for a long time.
The last time he saw something like this, it wasn't this sky.
A long robe was draped over his body. Li Yi retracted his gaze. When he turned around, he embraced the woman in front of him. Under her slightly startled gaze, he held her hand and led her into the room.
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