Chapter 192: New Year’s Eve Dinner and Betrothal Gifts
This put Tuolei at ease. He figured that if Miss Ji had been willing to stay, Batel would have kept her at the Royal Court long ago, and there would be no need to chase after her now!
However, as a subject, he couldn’t be negligent in the King’s task. He immediately led his tribesmen along the route the Xia Envoy had taken. As a result, he heard tales of the Xia Immortal everywhere he went.
There were already wandering bards who had compiled the deeds of the Xia Immortal into songs, preparing to sing them in various cities and tribes.
Tuolei listened in astonishment the whole way. Just how many things had Miss Ji accomplished on this journey?
She had cured the sheep plague, bartered for tea and sugar, healed many people’s stubborn illnesses, saved a mare in difficult labor, treated a herd of cattle with pox, and even specifically removed the cowpox…
Tuolei grew anxious. Xia Immortal, if you keep walking so leisurely, I’m really going to catch up!
Fortunately, when Tuolei reached the border trade post, he encountered Yan Jiu and his group who were stopping there. He heard them talking about how Miss Ji and Lord Li had established a peaceful trade zone and set up a post station there a few days prior.
The clan leader’s son, whose kidney stones had been cured by Jinsui, had become a devoted fan of Miss Ji, praising her medical skills as if she were a divine being descended from heaven.
When asked what Tuolei was doing there, Tuolei found it too embarrassing to admit he was there to escort Miss Ji back to the Royal Court, fearing he might be beaten.
He changed his story to say he was there to see Miss Ji off. Although everyone was puzzled, he had escorted her all the way from the Royal Court to here, almost to someone else’s doorstep.
Yan Jiu sensed something and privately told Tuolei, “Miss Ji will likely not return to the Northern Frontier. Whatever the King intends to do will be in vain.”
At this moment, Jinsui and her group officially entered Great Xia. Coincidentally, it was New Year’s Eve in Great Xia.
Celebrating the New Year on the border road was truly a rare experience.
Jinsui had long ago handed over the kitchen duties to the Black Feather Camp brothers. Apart from taking some energy bars and compressed biscuits daily, she ate whatever everyone else ate, without any special meals.
Only occasionally, when it was too cold at night, would she make some milk tea to drink with Gu Changxiao.
But today, she took back the kitchen duties. Now that they were on their own territory, everyone relaxed.
The Northern Frontier soldiers wouldn’t come here. Even the former subordinates of the Left Wise King wouldn’t dare to provoke this army. As for bandits, they probably hid in their burrows at the sight of the military banner.
As for Prince Yu’s assassins, there was even less to worry about. Prince Yu was currently preoccupied with the Northern Frontier envoy.
In short, with everyone relaxed and it being the New Year, they wanted a good meal. Jinsui specifically discussed with Gu Changxiao and set up camp early to prepare for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
They had already exchanged supplies for over three thousand sheep on the road. Today, they would slaughter three hundred to eat stewed mutton and dumplings.
Jinsui actually wanted to treat everyone to hot pot. The kitchen range she had in her space was enough if they made do. But she felt it would be too extravagant, and the soldiers of the Northwest Army would likely be shocked.
It was better to have simple stewed mutton! The dumpling wrappers were made from sifted black flour. Jinsui wanted to sift it a couple more times, but the soldiers of the Northwest Army said it was already good enough to eat wheat flour.
They usually ate bean and pea flour, which was rough on the throat.
Jinsui led a group of brothers to build stoves, slaughter sheep, chop fillings, and knead dough… Using seasonings from her space, some soldiers found wild scallions from a distant mountain stream. The mountain stream was warmer than outside, and the wild scallions were not frostbitten.
There was no wine, so they used mutton soup as a substitute. Everyone raised their bowls to celebrate the New Year.
There was wine in her space, of course, but since they were in the wilderness, they still needed to be vigilant. They would save the wine for later, and have a good drink once they returned to the border city.
Gu Changxiao stood up to say a few words for the toast. Jinsui thought he would say something like, “Soldiers, you’ve worked hard,” or “I’m very happy to spend the Spring Festival with you.”
Instead, he said, “The border city is very close. Tonight, after everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, we’ll make a final push home and then have a good drink!”
That didn’t sound like a general speaking to his subordinates at all! It wasn’t inspiring in the least.
Jinsui grumbled softly. Gu Changxiao chuckled, “Whether it’s the Northwest Army or the Black Feather Army, they no longer need me to motivate them. Besides, if I say too much, the soup will get cold.”
At this moment, Hei Hu loudly said, “Leader Ji, you should say something too.”
When he hadn’t spoken, Jinsui’s mind was still coming up with toasts for Gu Changxiao, running through various platitudes.
Hei Hu’s mention of it instantly cleared Jinsui’s mind. She picked up her soup bowl, stood up, and looked at the expectant faces of the soldiers.
A mix of emotions surged through her. How many life-and-death trials had they endured to share this New Year’s Eve dinner together!
Her eyes welled up, afraid she might say something disheartening that would dampen everyone’s spirits even while eating meat.
At the same time, she understood why Gu Changxiao wasn’t saying inspiring words at this moment. The goal now was happiness, not sentimentality.
She raised her bowl and said, “Everyone, one and all, come to Leader Ji after the meal, and I’ll give you lucky money!”
Everyone was stunned at first. There weren’t many people younger than you among us!
Hei Hu led the cheers, “Hooray! Thank you, Leader Ji!”
Only then did the others realize that the lucky money wasn’t from the older to the younger, but from their Leader Ji to the brothers!
If you don’t accept it, are you not acknowledging her as your leader?
Even the soldiers of the Northwest Army, like Xie Maolin, cheered, “Haha, it’s been many years since anyone gave us lucky money!”
Gu Changxiao even leaned in and said, “Leader Ji, I want lucky money too.”
Jinsui pushed him away, and everyone laughed even harder.
The steaming dumplings had only been out of the pot for a few breaths before the steam disappeared, and in a few more breaths, they would be lukewarm.
Fortunately, the brothers ate quickly. Their mouths were wide open. As soon as one plate was served, the plate for the person at the front of the line was already finished.
There were many dumplings, and the added vegetables in the meat soup were obvious, but when tasted in the dumplings, everyone treated it as a delicacy. Jinsui took out radishes, shiitake mushrooms, and Chinese cabbage from her space to mix the filling.
Perhaps white flour was insufficient, but black flour was plentiful. She had a large stock of it in her space. Her plan was to also make dumplings for breakfast the next day, but she had underestimated the soldiers’ appetites.
They had said they would eat until they were full and satisfied, but they couldn’t set a limit per person. Anyway, after finishing one plate, they could queue up and get another.
Hei Hu explained his theory for eating dumplings: “Dumplings are like that, you don’t know when you’re full. When they reach your throat, drink a couple of mouthfuls of meat soup to push them down, and I can still eat!”
He was the most exaggerated, eating a total of seven plates! Jinsui was afraid he would overeat, but he still said, “Just eat until you’re seventy percent full.”
Because there weren’t many stoves, everyone ate in line. Initially, Jinsui was responsible for cooking the dumplings, but later, the soldiers who finished eating first took over.
After eating their fill, Jinsui chatted with Gu Changxiao, “I wonder what Han Xing and the others are eating tonight? If we had waited a few more days in the tribe, we could have celebrated the New Year with them.”
Gu Changxiao remained noncommittal. He had no desire to celebrate the New Year with Yan Jiu!
“Don’t worry! The Yan family brought more food, so their New Year’s Eve dinner will definitely be sumptuous.”
“I wonder if Liu Yun remembers that today is New Year’s? After all, he called me Senior Sister so many times, I should still be concerned about my Junior Brother.”
Suddenly, Jinsui thought of someone, “Right, where is Huo Zi’an? I haven’t seen him at all.”
Gu Changxiao chuckled, “You just noticed he’s not here? He’s with the Northern Frontier envoy, secretly watching Eunuch Zhou and also guarding against Prince Yu sending assassins to kill Eunuch Zhou.”
Jinsui also smiled, “This task is indeed most suitable for him. Has this guy completely pledged his allegiance to you?”
Gu Changxiao nodded, “But he still can’t act openly. I plan to have him operate in secret from now on. He’ll stay in Chang’an to gather information.”
Seeing that everyone had eaten their fill, Jinsui quickly said to Gu Changxiao, “I’ll go to the felt tent to prepare the red envelopes. Don’t let anyone else in.”
Gu Changxiao personally guarded the door for her, not even entering himself.
Jinsui, of course, went into her space to prepare. She didn’t lack money; even if she packed two taels of silver, it would only be a little over two thousand taels in total.
She lacked red envelopes! She couldn’t just give out silver directly; that would lack ceremony.
Making sachets and red envelopes for over a thousand people wouldn’t be possible in a short time.
Seeing the fabric she had prepared, she thought of the simplest method: cut red cloth into handkerchief-sized pieces, wrap the silver in them, and tie them with red rope.
It took her over an hour to finish preparing them. She packed them in a wooden box and said to Gu Changxiao outside the door, “Alright, have the soldiers finished eating?”
Gu Changxiao chuckled, “Let’s give out the New Year’s lucky money after the New Year has officially begun!”
Jinsui didn’t notice anything unusual at all. Her mind was entirely occupied with the matter of distributing red envelopes. She hadn’t realized that Gu Changxiao would be so oblivious to her disappearing from the felt tent for so long.
Gu Changxiao had certainly noticed. If even Liu Yun could detect it, how could someone as meticulous as him not?
But compared to revealing the truth and questioning Jinsui, Gu Changxiao’s thought was simply that as long as she stayed by his side, nothing else mattered!
At the turn of the year, according to custom, firecrackers had to be set off to drive away the Nian beast and welcome peace and good fortune in the New Year.
Where could they get firecrackers now? In the end, Jinsui discussed with Gu Changxiao and decided to use a fish oil firearm for the occasion.
Gu Changxiao would throw the fish oil into the air, and archers like Hei Hu would shoot at it. The fish oil would explode in mid-air, creating a much grander spectacle than fireworks.
To make a lucky number, they fired nine fish oil firearms in succession. Each time, the soldiers cheered in unison, “Great! So beautiful!”
If Batel knew that he had committed sacrilegious acts, such as imprisoning a Han woman in the Divine Palace, all for the sake of obtaining fish oil firearms.
And then Jinsui used them as fireworks, he would surely jump with rage and come to capture her himself.
Jinsui, still wanting more, said, “If only I had brought some fireworks.”
Gu Changxiao chuckled, “When we return to the border city, I’ll invite some fireworks makers to create fireworks specifically for you.”
Jinsui shook her head, “If we can invite skilled fireworks makers, it would be a waste to make fireworks. Let’s make gunpowder! Firearms and fire bombs are much more destructive than fish oil!
Combined with long-range catapults, our border city will become the most impregnable city in the world, and the border army will become an invincible force!”
If the world were peaceful, Jinsui truly wouldn’t want to develop the gunpowder formula. But now, their enemies were too numerous, and she still had a “little day” to eliminate.
To minimize the sacrifice of soldiers, it was better to develop gunpowder as soon as possible!
Gu Changxiao was stunned. A weapon even more powerful than fish oil firearms? His heart pounded.
He took a deep breath, “I will definitely find the greatest fireworks makers for the border city.”
Recalling Batel’s accusations and the past misunderstandings he had with Suisui, he felt it was better to clarify some things.
“Suisui, there’s something I’ve never told you.”
“When I was looking for you in the Divine Palace, I confronted Batel. He accused me and Yan Jiu of exploiting your talents and not even giving you the respect you deserved.”
Jinsui waved her hand dismissively, “You’re listening to his nonsense…”
“No, I think Batel is right. From the moment I arrived at the border city, no, it should be from the moment you impersonated Lord Li, you’ve done too much for me.
And I seem to have become accustomed to it, taking credit for your achievements with a clear conscience. This time, you came to the Northern Frontier for me and the Black Feather Camp, risking your life.
And I have nothing to repay you with. Suisui, how should I repay you?” Gu Changxiao interrupted her and asked sincerely.
Jinsui joked, “Didn’t you already reward me with ten thousand mu of fertile land? Reward me with more, reward me with a mountain, reward me with a pasture. Being a big farm owner is my dream.”
Gu Changxiao looked at her with piercing eyes, as if about to say something very important.
Jinsui’s heart raced under his gaze. What was this guy going to say? It’s New Year’s, don’t make me so excited!
Gu Changxiao suddenly reached out and gently caressed her face, then leaned close to her ear:
“That’s far from enough! Since there’s no way to repay you, Suisui, how about I offer myself in return?”
His breath on her ear, his hot hand on her cheek, and then he said such a thing!
Jinsui’s eyes widened abruptly, her entire body flushed with heat, from her forehead to her neck, burning red.
She abruptly pushed Gu Changxiao away, “You, what nonsense are you talking about? If you don’t want to part with land and pastures, you’re trying to fool me with this?”
Gu Changxiao immediately looked wronged, “In Suisui’s heart, am I still not as good as other rewards?”
Jinsui said with absolute certainty, “Not as good! What’s so great about men compared to money and land?”
Gu Changxiao felt the veins in his temples throbbing, but he knew very well that the more Jinsui said this, the more it meant she had feelings for him.
He exaggeratedly clutched his chest, “Too heartbroken! Suisui, quickly check for me, has my heart shattered?”
Jinsui was amused, “Be careful your subordinates see the dignified Lord Li being so glib.”
Gu Changxiao laughed, “Alas, facing such a cold-blooded Miss Ji, this King admits defeat! Then how about I make you the City Lord of the border city?”
Jinsui still shook her head, “Then wouldn’t I be working for free? No, no, being a City Lord is too tiring!”
Gu Changxiao suddenly took her hand, “Then what does Suisui want?”
He leaned close to her ear again, “I mean, what betrothal gifts does Suisui want?”
Jinsui still wanted to brush it off, but looking at his sincere eyes and her own flushed ear tips, she suddenly realized that Gu Changxiao was also very nervous.
Since that confession, she hadn’t officially answered him.
He probably didn’t want to pressure her too much, which was why he was expressing his feelings in this way.
Today was New Year’s! She couldn’t say joking words; the gods would hear them.
Jinsui clasped his hand back and leaned into his embrace, “No matter what I want, will you give it to me?”
Gu Changxiao nodded heavily, “Even if Suisui wanted my life…”
Jinsui immediately covered his mouth, “Don’t say unlucky things on New Year’s! What would I want with that? At most, I’d want your money.”
Gu Changxiao smiled, “From now on, my private treasury will belong to Suisui.”
Jinsui shook her head, “I do have one thing I really want, and only you can help me achieve it.”
She didn’t mention Father Ling’s case. She planned to formally discuss this matter with Gu Changxiao when Grandpa and Jin’an were present.
Instead, she said, “I want the country of Wa to be destroyed! This is the only betrothal gift I want!”
