in2ebook Chapter 310 Happy New Year 1
Chapter 310 Happy New Year 1
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the masters of the various palaces in the palace stayed quietly in their own palaces throughout the day.
In the first half of the day, he opened the main hall and sat in the main seat, accepting New Year greetings from the stewards, servants and guards who came to pay their New Year's greetings in batches, and gave out countless red envelopes.
In the second half of the day, I played backgammon (similar to Monopoly, but with drawings by the artist) and ate all kinds of sweet, salty, meat and vegetable fried foods produced by Zheng Palace, enjoying the freedom of fried foods.
When the kitchen was about to start preparing dinner, Gong Shangjiao could not wait to leave Jiaogong and strode into the gate of Zheng Palace with his head held high, as if he was at home.
It is said that the chefs of Jiao Palace have been training in Zheng Palace for quite some time and have made great progress in food processing and seasoning, and can fully meet the requirements of Gong Shangjiao. Gong Shangjiao can go there after dinner as planned.
But Gong Shangjiao couldn't help but worry about the two little ones at home. After not seeing them for a day, who knows if the younger brother and sister are just like him, not enjoying their meals, thinking about each other all the time, and unable to concentrate?
"I don't think this is a good idea. I'd better come back and stay with you guys so that everyone can feel at ease." Gong Shangjiao said lightly.
His rogue attitude of "I don't care what you think, I only care what I think" successfully blocked Zhang Xueming and Gong Yuanzheng.
Gong Yuanzheng narrowed his eyes and stared at his brother for a long time, and finally gave in: "Okay, brother. You are right, brother."
At dinner time, maids carrying food boxes filed into Hua Chao Ju.
The dining table in the dining room has been replaced with a double-layered rotating round table. The high-back chairs allow one to stretch one's legs, and the heat from the smoking cages around ensures that the dishes don't get cold quickly after being served.
The three of them sat facing the dining room door, with Gong Yuanzheng sitting between them. The two brothers' eyes lit up as they watched the dishes gradually spread over the top of the round table.
In view of the excellent performance of the chefs in the later period, Zhang Xueming loosened his grip and gave them a bonus equivalent to half a year's salary in addition to the big red envelope. They put in all their efforts and started preparing seven days in advance according to the recipes provided by Zhang Xueming. Tonight, they presented the host family with a meal that was even more sumptuous than the New Year's Eve dinner.
Crab meat and pork belly, braised abalone, Longjing shrimp, braised fish maw, fish balls in original soup, Dongpo pork, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, braised oxtail, casserole lamb, white jade chicken breast, eight-treasure duck, fruit wood roast duck, steamed cured meat, stuffed tofu, vegetarian three delicacies, lotus root and pork ribs soup, lotus seed soup...
Zhang Xueming doesn’t like the original flavor of food, doesn’t like overcooking, and is born to love eating meat, with vegetables as embellishment.
This table was just what I wanted, and the presentation was exquisite. The radish carvings on the edge of the plate earned her an appreciative smile: "Not bad, quite interesting."
Gong Shangjiao and Gong Yuanzheng were also in a good mood, but before they could pick up their chopsticks, they were greeted by another person who said "I think".
Gong Zishang leaned against the carved door frame of the dining room, twisting his body to make an "S" shape. "I felt that Zhao Zhao would lose her appetite after not seeing me for a day, so I hurried over. Zhao Zhao, isn't your sister considerate?"
If Zhang Xueming hadn't said that people were not allowed to be sarcastic or say bad things during the New Year, Gong Yuanzheng would have been spewing venom.
"The more people there are, the better the food will be." Zhang Xueming was stunned for a moment, then he stood up with a smile and invited Gong Zishang to take a seat.
He picked up his chopsticks again, and Jin Miao came to report that the two people from the Snow Palace had arrived.
Zhang Xueming had no choice but to ask the maids to put the other thermal food boxes aside and leave Huachaoju, leaving only Su Rong and Qing Zhi.
When guests come to the house, the host should go to greet them.
Gong Yuanzheng sat with Gong Shangjiao and Gong Zishang, while Zhang Xueming led Su Rong and Qing Zhi to the door to welcome people in.
After entering the small living room, Su Rong took the hooded cloaks from the two people and hung them up carefully, and then brought two pairs of velvet-lined home shoes for them to change into.
Qingzhi poured some hot water and wrung out a hot towel.
Xue Zhongzi and Xue Gongzi changed their shoes and held the hot towels at a loss. Zhang Xueming smiled and said, "Isn't it cold to come here in the wind and snow? Wipe your face and wash your hands to get rid of the cold."
They both did as they were told, drank a cup of warm water and a cup of honey water, and then relaxed themselves completely.
"I'm sorry for my intrusive visit." Xue Chongzi felt embarrassed.
"No, it's lively and crowded. You came at the right time, just in time for dinner." Zhang Xueming comforted in a slow voice, making people feel like spring breeze.
On the way to the dining room, Master Xue looked around as he walked, smiling foolishly, and immediately revealed his true colors: "The Snow Palace is too quiet, and Xue Zhongzi and I can't play backgammon by ourselves, so we wanted to come and play with you and Master Zheng."
"It's an honor." Zhang Xueming said with a smile, "Brother and elder sister arrived before you, and the six of us just make up a perfect 66, which is a good omen."
"Really? That's great!" Master Xue smiled even more foolishly, and Xue Chongzi couldn't even bear to watch.
Zhang Xueming arranged for the two of them to sit between Gong Yuanzheng and Gong Shangjiao, with Xue Chongzi sitting next to Gong Shangjiao.
As soon as the two of them sat down, they looked at the dazzling array of dishes with their eyes wide open.
Gong Shangjiao asked, "Wait a little longer?"
I’m afraid that as soon as I raise my chopsticks, someone else will come.
"Is anyone else coming?" Mr. Xue struggled to tear his eyes away from the huge duck legs and asked Gong Yuanzheng curiously.
He had a pure heart, and Gong Yuanzheng didn't want to hurt his friend's feelings, so he answered wittily: "My elder sister is here, Mr. Hua..."
"Oh, then there's no need to wait. He can't come." Master Xue laughed, "We went around to the Flower Palace first. Elder Hua is at home and he can't come out."
"Elder Xue didn't go back?" Gong Yuanzheng was surprised.
"He went back to his tribe." Master Xue said, "In previous years, he always went back to his tribe to celebrate the New Year, not with us."
Gong Yuanzheng pursed his lips and said, "Will he go to the Snow Palace to check if you are there?"
Before Xue Zhongzi could stop him, Master Xue answered frankly, "No, he comes back after the fifth day of the first lunar month every year. There are children in the tribe, so it's lively."
Gong Yuanzheng asked Zhang Xueming in his heart, and after getting her agreement, he said, "Then don't go back these days, just stay at Zheng Palace. It's more lively with more people, and we'll have company to play backgammon, right, brother?"
Gong Shangjiao was silent for a few seconds and nodded in agreement.
It was no big deal to relax for a few days during the Chinese New Year. Besides, he planned to let Gong Yuanzheng go to the Three Realms Trial after the Chinese New Year. With Gong Yuanzheng's current strength, passing the level would not be a problem, and he would also face fewer obstacles when going out.
Zhang Xueming served everyone a bowl of soup and said with a smile, "Okay, let's use soup instead of wine. Let's drink one bowl first. May everyone be happy, peaceful, worry-free, and healthy."
Everyone laughed, stood up and repeated her blessing in unison, clinked their bowls with great enthusiasm, drank the soup, and began to feast on it.
After the meal, the big-bellied man's team had two new members.
Gong Shangjiao and the two from Xuegong stayed and refused to leave. Gong Zishang also did not plan to return to Shanggong and kept asking Zhang Xueming what the gift was.
The gift was prepared by Zhang Xueming and Gong Yuanzheng. It was a five-in-one gift box produced by Zhenggong, which included shampoo, bath, skin care, makeup and fragrance, and it consisted of two extra-large nine-square grids.
Gong Zishang was so happy that he howled like a wolf while holding the box.
Gong Yuanzheng stretched out his hand: "Big sister, red envelope."
Gong Zishang bared his teeth and poked him lightly with his finger: "I knew you wouldn't forget this."
Her expression changed in an instant, and she said indifferently: "No red envelope, but there are gifts."
His expression changed again in an instant, holding the two large wooden boxes he brought with him, he walked in front of Gong Yuanzheng and Zhang Xueming with devilish steps: "Clang clang clang clang~ I'm well prepared~"
One box per person.
When he opened them, Gong Yuanzheng was wearing a pair of elbow-length gloves woven with extremely fine metal wires, the kind that could stand up when placed on the table.
Zhang Xueming had six hidden weapons, all of which she had discussed with Gong Zishang: an incense ball-shaped pear blossom needle, a fan-shaped peacock feather, a lotus crown-shaped golden lotus thorn, a bracelet-shaped Qiankun ring, a belt-shaped nine-claw hook, and a pair of copper-colored brass knuckles.
Seeing Zhang Xueming's surprised smile, Gong Zishang proudly put his hands on his hips and said, "Now, I wonder which stinky man in the Gong family dares to look down on me. Although I am a young girl, I also have the heart of a craftsman!"