Evergreen Immortal.

"Master, do you think the master will let the kitchen cook braised pork at the end of this year? I heard that he carried two big pigs yesterday."

Wang Zhao said with eyes shining.

He could even smell the aroma of last year's braised pork.

That taste will never be forgotten no matter how many years it takes.

Ordinary people in Qinghe may not be able to eat meat even once a year, but in the Zhu family it is possible. This is why some people are willing to sell themselves into slavery.

Li Rui gave Wang Zhao a chestnut.

"Think about eating."

"By the way, do you remember what I taught you about adding beans and chicken, and how to identify whether there is food in the horse's belly?"

Wang Zhao nodded proudly: "I've written it all down."

The master is so good!

These were all things that the groom kept at the bottom of the box, and they were all passed on to him.

But soon, Wang Zhao seemed to have thought of something, and he suddenly burst into tears.

"Master, are you going to die?"

"You must not die. At least you should wait until the New Year."

He often heard the old people in the village say that people have telepathic feelings before they die. Before his grandfather died, he put on clean clothes and slept on the bed by himself.

The master's behavior these days seems to be that he is explaining his funeral arrangements.

Li Rui glared at Wang Zhao: "You kid, are you cursing me to death?"

Seeing his master's reaction, Wang Zhao felt relieved.

Li Rui looked at Wang Zhao's careless look and sighed secretly.

Their master-disciple relationship has come to an end.

With his current ability, it would be good if he could escape. It was impossible to take away Wang Zhao. The Zhu family was the first-class wealthy family in Qinghe, and he couldn't afford to offend him.

After he redeems himself, Wang Zhao should be able to become the new groom.

This position was actually supposed to be Ma Yang's, but he was too impatient and ended up losing his life for it.

As for Lao Yang, there is no need to take care of it.

Yang Yong was originally a nurse, and his status in the Zhu family was pretty good. At most, he only had a few drinks.

During this time, he had arranged everything.

"Tomorrow is the day of redemption."

The Zhu family is a large family with a lot of rules. The New Year matters have been arranged as early as a month ago.

Open the ancestral hall, clean, pack the artifacts, invite the god, exchange peach charms

The Chinese New Year is a big event for a family, so it shouldn't be taken carelessly. It's not only about family tradition, but if it's not done well, other families in the city will laugh at it for a year.

Not only does the eldest grandma of the Zhu family supervise closely, but even the master of the Zhu family often personally intervenes.

I have to work hard until I am twenty-nine.

That is today.

On this day, the master's family will usually be kind enough to give their servants a day off. Heads of families with better family traditions will even fund their servants to have a good meal after they have been busy for a year.

Last year's braised pork was eaten at this time.

But there are some differences this year.

Because someone in the Zhu family is about to turn seventy.

According to the laws of the Yu State, seventy is considered auspicious, and the local chief official needs to visit in person. However, the person who came to the Zhu Mansion today was not the magistrate, but Dian Shi, the fourth in command of the Yamen.

"Ma Dianshi's visit to our house is really a blessing."

Zhu Ping, the head of the Zhu family, received him personally.

The Zhu family's business is big, but it cannot do without the help of the county government, so it is natural to be polite to these officials.

Ma Dianshi is a lean middle-aged man.

Ten years ago, at the age of forty, I passed the imperial examination and became a civil servant, and then I took the position of Dianshi. The position of Dianshi was responsible for the etiquette of a place.

"Master Zhu, I heard that there is an old man in his seventies in your mansion. I was entrusted by Zhang Zhixian to come and visit him."

Zhu Ping smiled so hard that his small eyes could not be found: "It is the groom named Li Rui who lives in the house. He will be seventy years old in spring."

Someone can live to be seventy years old, which is a major event that can be recorded in the county annals.

The Zhu family will also benefit from this.

The key is that in ancient times, it was still a symbol of family prosperity.

Zhu Ping's attitude towards Li Rui over the years has actually been quite good, but he is just worried that Li Rui will die before he reaches his seventies.

With that said, he welcomed Ma Dianshi into the lobby.

Then he ordered the steward to call Li Rui.

How unbecoming would it be for a dignified official of the imperial court, even if he is seventy years old, to have him go to meet a servant in person?

Soon, Li Rui was brought to the lobby by Manager Zhu.

When he saw the person sitting in the main seat with Master Zhu in the lobby, he recognized him at a glance as Master Dianshi of the county government.

When you get your head, you have to bow.

Ma Dianshi waved his hand in advance: "When you are seventy, you no longer need to worship me. I can't bear it."

Hearing this, Li Rui straightened up.

Ma Dianshi chuckled: "Are you Li Rui? Will you turn seventy in spring?"

"Sir, that's right."

"Very good, very good. With Mr. Li here, it shows that Qinghe is managing the county well, and we, Dayu, are safe and healthy."

Ma Dianshi was in a good mood.

There is a seventy-year-old man under his command, and he can add to his political achievements.

If you accumulate political achievements one by one, you might be able to become a bookkeeper one day, or even a county magistrate.

As for the county magistrate, he didn't even dare to think about it.

He was a scholar from a poor family, but if he could become a county magistrate, he would be like smoke rising from his ancestral graves.

Zhu Ping, the master of the Zhu family, was also smiling.

This is a political achievement for Ma Dianshi, and it is not evidence of his good family management. In just thirty years, the Zhu family has grown from an unknown small family to the largest family in Qinghe.

In addition to the two brothers of the Zhu family who dared to fight in the early years, it is also inseparable from Zhu Ping's emphasis on running the family.

He knew very well that he wanted to make the Zhu family one of those centuries-old or even thousand-year-old families.

Family tradition is very important.

The servants from the big clans are more honorable than the direct relatives from the smaller clans. This is the difference in family management.

That's why he was very disgusted with his second brother's behavior.

After all, being a side sect is not a long-term solution.

Ma Dianshi greeted Li Rui again, expressing his parents' "consideration" towards the people.

Of course, it's just a question.

Li Rui was also very sensible and did not make any requests that would embarrass Ma Dianshi.

Ma Dianshi couldn't help but sigh, it would be great if the people in Qinghe were as easy-going and obedient as the old man in front of him.

He turned his head and looked at Zhu Ping, indicating that the other party could start the last part of the day.

Zhu Ping was all smiles.

"Old Li, how do the Zhu family treat you?"

"My master treats me very well."

Zhu Ping was even more satisfied after hearing Li Rui's answer.

"Old Li, let's do the math. It's been fifty years since you came to the Zhu family. You have served my Zhu family for three generations and have made a great contribution. If you are willing, you can continue to stay in the Zhu family. If you don't want to, you can leave."

Zhu Ping looked confident.

Li Rui is already seventy years old. He has left the Zhu family and cannot even farm. Moreover, he has no wife or children and is a widower. There is no reason to leave the Zhu family.

That's why he was so sure.

But Li Rui shook his head.

"I don't want to."

"Please give me the grace to take off my slave status."