Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 167 Happy Chinese New Year

On New Year's Eve, Datang also has the custom of reunion and keeping the year old.

Early in the morning, the Duke's Mansion became lively, and the servants stood outside Li Qinzai's door, waiting for Wu Shaolang to get up at three o'clock in the morning, and then congratulated the young master on the new year.

Of course, as the young master, the servants have said auspicious things, so they must express it.

So the servants lined up outside the door, and every time a person entered and said a few auspicious words, Li Qinzai took a copper coin from the table that was strung with a colorful rope. Around, it can be regarded as giving the servants thirteen salary year-end bonuses.

In the past, such trivial matters in the Duke's Mansion were handled by Li Qinzai's mother, Li Cui. As the mistress of the mansion, it was naturally not up to others to send red envelopes to the servants.

It's a pity that Li Siwen and his wife went to Runzhou to become officials. Apart from the old man, there was only Wu Shaolang left in the mansion. This year, Wu Shaolang will do the job for him.

One by one, the servants stood outside the door and stomped their feet in the cold. After entering one, they came out in a short while, and then rushed into the next one, like a women's toilet in a shopping mall with a lot of traffic.

Li Qinzai became a little impatient when he sent No. 15 servants.

Those who work hard govern people, and those who work hard govern others.

I am a laborious person, or a freshly baked and steaming Qinfeng county son, why should I do this physical work?

No.16 figure rushed in, and bowed as soon as he entered the door: "Congratulations on the Chinese New Year, the country is prosperous and the people are safe, and I wish my father a long life and many sons and grandchildren..."

Li Qinzai's old face darkened, and when he took a closer look, it was Qiao'er.

"Qiao'er, as for Tianzi, next year Daddy will work hard and barely manage it, but Tiansun will have to rely on you to fight for himself..." Li Qinzai sighed.

Qiao'er blinked innocently: "Can Qiao'er have one next year?"

Li Qinzai thought for a while, and said seriously: "It's a bit difficult, and it may take a few years."

"Qiao'er can't work hard?"

"Some things are even more desperate after hard work. When you grow all your hair, we father and son can almost talk about this topic."

The topic was too profound, and Qiao'er didn't understand it, so she simply didn't bother to ask, and put her hands in front of Li Qinzai: "Father, give me the money."

"Is it okay to open up the pattern? You are the son of the county magistrate anyway, and you are too worthless to hang out with the servants and cheat money."

Li Qinzai smiled evilly: "I don't want money, but for my father, I worked overtime last night and personally made you a great gift, a gift unique to Qiao'er."

Qiao'er asked in surprise, "What is it?"

Li Qinzai pulled out a stack of papers from the chair under his buttocks like a juggler, and said, "A selection of elementary school Mathematical Olympiad questions! There are a total of [-] questions, so difficult that you doubt life! Are you surprised? Are you surprised?"

Qiao'er's face changed suddenly, she got up and fled out subconsciously, but Li Qinzai quickly grabbed her by the back collar and picked her up.

"Gift from the elders, you can't refuse it. It's too rude for you to turn around and run away from the gift made by your own hands. Take it! I will start doing the questions tomorrow morning, and I will check it at night for my father."

Qiao'er took it with a sad face.

"Stupid? Why don't you say thank you."

"...Thank you dad." Qiao'er's eyes sparkled.

"Shouldn't you be happy with such a heavy gift? Smile."

Qiao'er tried her best to pull out a smile, her cheeks trembled, and two strings of teardrops ran down her cheeks.

"This child is crying with joy. Hurry up and go back to the room to do the questions." Li Qinzai said lovingly.

Qiao'er walked out of the room with drooping head. The moment he went out, Li Qinzai clearly saw Qiao'er slap himself hard and loudly.

At about this moment, he has begun to doubt his life, regretting why he sneaked in to cheat red envelopes.

Li Qinzai smiled brightly, what a sensible child, what a fulfilling and happy childhood.

…………

In the afternoon, a guest came to the door.

The guest was not Li Qinzai, but Li Ji.

The name of this guest is Li Yifu.

The name of Li Yifu's visit was to give New Year's gifts, and there were loads of gifts lined up outside the gate of the Duke's Mansion. Li Ji greeted him personally, holding Li Yifu's arms with both hands and laughing, his attitude was very kind, like an old friend whom he hadn't seen for many years.

Li Yifu entered the front hall and bowed to Li Ji to apologize before he was seated.

The expression is guilty and terrified, and the attitude of admitting mistakes is very frank. He said that he was obsessed with ghosts and was bewitched by the officials below.

Li Ji didn't take it seriously, he just smiled away his grievances, and the host and guest chatted happily.

After apologizing, Li Yifu said goodbye, Li Ji personally sent him out of the door, held his hand and sincerely expressed that we are all officials in the same dynasty, some misunderstandings should not be ignored, and we must watch and help each other in the future.

After sending Li Yifu away, Li Qinzai quietly appeared beside Li Ji.

"Grandpa, this old guy doesn't look like a good person..." Li Qinzai stared at the carriageway where Li Yifu was leaving.

Li Ji raised his hand and slapped him hard: "This old man is older than Li Yifu, is he also an old man?"

"Grandpa, you can live to be two hundred years old, and you are still a pink and tender boy." Li Qinzai's mouth was very sweet.

Li Ji smiled. Although this grandson is an asshole, his mouth is really sweet.

"Qinzai, put an end to the grievances with Li Yifu, and don't provoke him in the future." Li Ji said seriously.

"What if he provokes me?"

"Then you don't have to be polite. People in the British government should not be insulted."

"With grandfather's words, if Li Yifu provokes me in the future, my grandson will set his whole family on fire."

"Just pretend that the old man didn't say anything just now, and you will kneel when you see Li Yifu in the future."

The grandparents and grandchildren looked at each other and smiled, and then the smile on Li Ji's face suddenly turned cold.

"I have come to the door to make amends, but I still can't let it go, heh!"

"how do I say this?"

Li Ji stroked his beard and said slowly: "You are the one who offended Li Yifu, and it is reasonable to apologize to you. Since he came to the door until now, he hasn't mentioned a word about you, and he hasn't even mentioned meeting you at all. From now on, the old man is rampant, and sooner or later he will end badly."

Li Qinzai said with a smile: "It's okay, it's better not to apologize to grandson, if he apologizes face to face, grandson will feel embarrassed to attack when he becomes an enemy in the future."

Li Ji glanced at him, and said: "Your Majesty issued an order yesterday to set up a firearms bureau in the suburbs of Beijing, and call 200 craftsmen to make gunpowder full-time. Errand."

Li Qinzai said indifferently: "Grandson has dedicated the secret recipe to His Majesty, what he wants to do, grandson doesn't care."

Li Ji said slowly: "It's not that simple. The gunpowder is made in your hands. Although you don't have an official position in the Firearms Bureau, many things can't get around you. In the future, you and Li Jingxuan will have to deal with each other."

"Who is Li Jingxuan?"

"He is His Majesty's true confidant. When His Majesty was diving into the dragon, he was His Majesty's attendant. He was the right concubine of the crown prince and a bachelor of Hongwen Museum. He must be the choice of the future."

"It's New Year's Eve, grandson will go to his house to kneel for him right now?"

Li Ji was so angry that he slapped him again: "A good person, why did he open his mouth!"

There was a sudden burst of gongs and drums outside the mansion, Li Ji was startled, and suddenly smiled: "It's been another year..."

Li Qinzai bowed respectfully to Li Ji: "Grandpa, Happy Chinese New Year."

(End of this chapter)