After two days of discussion, from site selection to decoration style, everything was basically decided. Qi Zhenzhen drew up the plans solemnly, saying that after the first month, she would personally go to the county town to get things done.
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Lin Ruixue went to the kitchen for a look. There were plenty of ingredients, but for the New Year's feast, not a single thing had been prepared.
"Zhenzhen, it's not customary to use knives in the first month, you..."
"What do you mean, not use knives? How can we cook without knives?"
"Exactly, after the minor new year, every household steams jujube buns, makes stuffed buns, and dumplings, preparing enough food for the entire first month," Lin Ruixue said. "Don't tell me you didn't know?"
"In the past few years, we were just happy to have food, how could we have so many formalities?" Qi Zhenzhen was a little embarrassed.
Lin Ruixue sent Hu Zi to the Song family to call Yu Shi over. Yu Shi listened to Lin Ruixue's words and also looked puzzled. It was her fault for being careless before, not thinking of this. Fortunately, there was still time, and if they hurried, they could probably get it done.
Yu Shi specifically went home to call her mother-in-law and Chen Shi over. They squeezed into the Qi family's kitchen and got busy.
It was winter, so there was no worry about food spoiling if too much was made. Once steamed and cooled, it was directly packed into large jars that had been frozen thick with ice. After covering them, they could simply be steamed again when eaten.
Two large pots of jujube buns were steamed, and they also fried dough sticks, meat balls, tofu balls, and radish shred balls. In addition, they fried dough fritters, made by cutting dough kneaded with cane sugar and oil into thin strips and frying them in hot oil, a common snack for children during the New Year.
A whole jar of stuffed buns was also stored, and even many dumplings were frozen.
Meat dishes were stewed in basins, ensuring there would be no shortage of food for the entire first month without cooking.
Everyone worked for two full days, and it wasn't until the evening of the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month that everything was finished.
Qi Zhenzhen gave each of the three women from the Song family a red envelope as thanks.
As the year was drawing to a close, every family had a lot to do, and they couldn't let people work for nothing.
Fearing that they might get tired of too much meat and fish, Qi Zhenzhen also specially mixed a large basin of shredded pickled vegetables, adding sesame oil and shredded scallions. It was best to eat them with porridge after eating too much meat.
In addition, she also made pig skin jelly, which was cut into strips with a bamboo knife and served on a plate when eaten, which was very convenient.
On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Xiaoniu returned. He was not a servant of the Protector Duke's mansion, so he could go home for the New Year. He didn't stay long after arriving home and came directly to the Qi family—
"Zhenzhen, this is what the young lord asked me to bring back for you," Zhang Xiaoniu handed a sandalwood box to Qi Zhenzhen. "The young lord said this is a New Year's gift for you."
Inside the box were three smooth, yellowish stones with fine green veins.
Qi Zhenzhen looked surprised, "Gu Sinian gave this to me?"
Zhang Xiaoniu nodded, "The young lord specifically instructed me to bring it to you. I was also wondering why he would send stones, they can't be eaten or used as money."
Thinking of the three chicken blood stones, Qi Zhenzhen subconsciously thought these three stones were also unusual, after all, the box they were in was made of sandalwood.
Qi Zhenzhen put away the box and planned to show it to Yun Shi later.
If she didn't recognize them, it didn't mean Yun Shi wouldn't.
"Zhenzhen, this, this is for you," Zhang Xiaoniu shyly took out a long, thin small box.
Qi Zhenzhen opened it and saw a wooden hairpin. She couldn't tell what kind of wood it was, but the craftsmanship was very exquisite, and it looked quite beautiful.
She closed the box and handed it back to Zhang Xiaoniu. One shouldn't accept hairpins casually; they were usually exchanged between lovers. What would it mean if she accepted it? She didn't have that kind of feeling for Zhang Xiaoniu, and it would be bad if people misunderstood.
"What do you mean? You accept a few broken stones but not my hairpin?" Zhang Xiaoniu's eyes widened.
"I saved Gu Sinian's life, and what he gave me is a token of gratitude for saving his life. No one would say anything if they knew. You tell me, why should I accept your hairpin? Don't tell me the shopkeeper didn't say anything when you bought it," Qi Zhenzhen glared at him.
Zhang Xiaoniu was a bit guilty. When he bought the item, the shopkeeper had asked if he was buying it for his beloved girl.
"What could they say?" Zhang Xiaoniu said stubbornly, "I just thought the hairpin was beautiful. If you don't want it, fine, plenty of people will."
Qi Zhenzhen glared at him, "Did you take my words as empty talk? I told you, we are not suitable for each other. Don't waste your efforts on me. Isn't it good for us to be like this? The friendship of fellow villagers is more reliable than anything."
Zhang Xiaoniu had stayed at the training grounds for several months and interacted with many people older than him. Several of them had girlfriends, and they often talked about matters between men and women in jest. Love only works if both parties are willing, and it's meaningless if one party is interested and the other is not.
He wanted to test the waters this time. Following the young lord, he would be a person with prospects in the future. If Zhenzhen still didn't like him, he couldn't pester her and ruin their relationship.
"I want to eat roujiamo," Zhang Xiaoniu said indignantly, his sorrow turning into strength. He was going to eat a lot today.
Seeing his demeanor, Qi Zhenzhen couldn't refuse. She turned and went into the kitchen. Fortunately, the family always kept white crescent rolls, which just needed to be heated on the griddle.
Six roujiamo were placed in a bamboo basket and Qi Zhenzhen put them down heavily in front of Zhang Xiaoniu.
Zhang Xiaoniu happily began to eat, "By the way, the young lord praised you, saying your cooking is delicious, the roujiamo and noodles are both good, but he still thinks the roujiamo is better. One bite, and it's crispy and fragrant, you can never get tired of it. Oh, and the young lord also said your persimmon cakes are delicious and asked me to bring some back this time. Don't worry, although I am his subordinate, our relationship is better, and I fought for benefits for you. One persimmon cake is twenty wen, while the ones sold at Yipin Lou are only fifteen wen each."
Qi Zhenzhen's mouth twitched, unsure whether to praise Zhang Xiaoniu or beat him up.
However, she hadn't expected Gu Sinian to like persimmon cakes so much?
"Let me tell you secretly, Gu Qing later found me and said the young lord never liked sweets since he was a child, but that day he ate several here. We pondered for a long time but couldn't figure out why. Later, Gu Qing said it was probably because Madam liked to eat them, and he was showing filial piety to Madam."
Showing filial piety to his mother made one feel a sense of goodwill.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded, "Alright, I'll pack some for you when you go back."
"Why not now?"
"Do I not know you? If I give them to you now, will there be any left by the time you return to the capital?"
Zhang Xiaoniu wasn't embarrassed when he was exposed, grinning sheepishly.