Today's New Year's Eve, Lin Dan and Du Ruyan bought a lot of things, they hired an ox cart to bring them all back. The two were chatting while sitting on the hood of the car. In fact, most of the time, Du Ruyan was talking and Lin Dan was listening, but the atmosphere was not stiff at all. Du Ruyan was holding back too many things in her heart, and she needed a silent and serious audience.
"Dan, you were really mighty just now! I always thought you were not good at words, but I didn't expect your mouth to be more poisonous than my brother. Look at how angry you are with Meng Si, and you are crying on the street. It's not ashamed."
"My mouth is not poisonous, I just like to tell the truth." Lin Dan said slowly.
Du Ruyan seemed to remember something sad, and sighed: "Did you know, truth is the most terrifying thing. My aunt is too truthful, so she will end up where she is today, as long as she is ruthless, don't take it too seriously. If you put it in your heart, your heart won't be broken..." Having said that, she turned her head to look at the mountains in the distance, and there were faint tears in her eyes.
"Get out of the car, you're home." Lin Dan interrupted her thoughts at the right time.
"Okay. Faint, this is the gift I bought for Aunt Hui and my two aunties, don't forget to bring it. I won't buy Cuilan's gift, she's all caught in the eyes of money, I'll give it to her directly A golden melon seed, let's see how it will make her happy. I made a lot of money this year, hahaha..." Du Ruyan's laughter stopped abruptly, because there were many carriages parked in front of her house, a few people The guards in strong suits were carrying boxes and boxes of things under the car, and soon blocked the door of the Du residence.
Sun Bozheng was talking to several guards with a grateful face, and when he saw Du Ruyan, he immediately raised his hand and shouted, "Look, miss, this is a New Year's gift from His Highness to our family."
"Where's Your Highness?" Du Ruyan's expression was a little stunned. Since she changed her surname and left the bustling circle of the capital, this is the first time she has heard news from her old friend, and it is also the first time she has received a gift from her old friend.
"His Royal Highness is still inspecting Haiphong. It's almost the end of the year. In order to prevent Japanese pirates, the army can't relax. They work harder, so we can have a good year!" Worth of juniper.
"Soldiers are the hardest and greatest." Lin Dan agreed with Sun Bo's words, and went home with his belongings. There are distinguished guests in the Du residence, so she can't stand outside to watch the fun.
However, as soon as she put her things down, Du Ruyan stepped on the tree trunk and climbed to the top of the wall, tilting her head and laughing: "Frankly, there are not all bad people in the palace. I thought that after my aunt was deposed, the people in the palace would give her to her. I forgot, but I didn't expect His Highness to remember. His Highness's mother and concubine passed away very early. My aunt raised him. He and my brother are excellent friends and take good care of me. He originally You can either not come to see us, or come to see us in secret, so as to avoid angering the emperor. But he didn't, instead, he gave many years of gifts with great fanfare. This is to tell everyone in Lin'an Mansion, even if my brother and I are down and out, behind the scenes Someone took care of him. I just don't know how the emperor will blame him after the news is returned to the capital, but this kind of heart is really rare."
"There are still many good people in the world." Lin Dan took out a lively fish from the bucket, stunned it with the back of the knife, then neatly scraped off the scales, removed the internal organs, and cut it into thin slices.
Du Ruyan said in surprise: "Dan, your handling of fish is amazing!"
Lin Dan said without raising his head, "Really?"
Zhang Hui came out just in time, and sent out an invitation with a smile: "Tan'er cooks better, and the dishes he cooks are even better than those made by the chefs of Yumian Restaurant. Yan'er, your brother can't come back today, so you can come to my house. Let's celebrate the New Year's Eve, we are all lively and lively together." If Du Ruyan was very good at communication and business, and made up for her daughter's shortcomings, Danyan Embroidery Village would not have opened so smoothly. Zhang Hui treats Du Ruyan as his own son and nephew. If there is anything delicious or fun, he will not forget to set aside a copy to send to the next door.
Du Ruyan agreed immediately, jumping off the wall with her skirt in hand, how could she still look like a young lady? She originally thought that Zhang Hui's words were exaggerated, but an hour later, when she ate the stew made by Lin Dan, she was immediately overwhelmed by the indescribable deliciousness.
"It's delicious, it's so delicious!" She praised while waving her chopsticks: "Dan, you can embroider, cook, make money to support your family, and everything is top-notch, why are you so good?"
"You know how to socialize, do business, and know how to resolve disputes between guests. You are also very good." Lin Dan said truthfully.
Du Ruyan covered her mouth and snickered a few times, feeling extremely satisfied. In the past, she was often praised, but she didn't think so. Now, Lin Dan just praised her casually, but she was happy. After all, it was because Lin Dan held a different weight in her heart than others. Lin Dan was one of the most psychologically powerful people she had ever met, so the praise from the other party seemed so rare.
Zhang Hui knocked on the edge of the bowl and reminded: "Okay, alright, stop touting each other, eat quickly. The weather is cold, and it will be cold if you don't eat."
Du Ruyan hurriedly took a few bites of rice, and she didn't know what to think, but her mood became low: "We are eating hot food and hot dishes here, what is my brother doing, is there anything to eat? He is getting thinner and thinner recently. Faint, can you leave some food for my brother? I'll send him to the barracks later."
"The leftovers are not delicious," Lin Dan said, putting down the bowls and chopsticks, "I will cook a meal for your brother again."
What kind of life the soldiers lived, even if Lin Dan had never seen it with his own eyes, he could imagine it. While they were throwing their heads and blood on the front lines, ordinary people enjoyed reunion at home. Without them, there would not be the prosperous Great Zhou Kingdom, nor the thriving Lin'an Prefecture.
Thinking of this, Lin Dan said again, "I made some winter coats and leather armor for your brother to keep out the cold, and you can bring them with you later."
"You can be busy after dinner." Du Ruyan hurriedly jumped off the kang to pull her.
"It's okay, it's getting dark after dinner, so it's not safe to go back and forth. Let's take your brother's stuff first. We can eat hot rice and hot dishes at any time when we get home, but your brother can't." Lin Dan didn't care. He waved his hand, and after entering the kitchen, he rolled up his sleeves and cooked vegetables, without the slightest impatient look on his face.
Du Ruyan wanted to help her at first, but found that the more she was helping her, the more she could do, so she could only squat down by the stove and make a fire. She looked at Lin Dan's busy figure, smelled the rich and attractive aroma of the food, and sighed, "Dan, why don't you marry my brother? If you marry him, you don't have to leave the Lin family, let's take the middle Wouldn't it be great to tear down the courtyard wall and form a family?"
Lin Dan glanced at her with no shame on her face: "My mother wants to recruit a son-in-law for me, but your brother can't."
"My son-in-law is also fine. My brother has already changed his surname once, so it doesn't hurt to change it again." Du Ruyan immediately sold her brother, which made Cuilan, who was passing by, cover her mouth and laugh.
…
Du Rusong held a long halberd and led a line of soldiers, walking slowly across the river. The howling sea breeze lifted the hem of everyone's clothes, blowing the cold air into their bones. A soldier's hands were frozen, and he couldn't hold the heavy halberd at all. He dropped it several times but couldn't pick it up, and his eyes were red on the spot. His fingers were all festered, not to mention holding weapons, and even the chopsticks for eating could not be grasped firmly.
"The weather is getting colder every year, but our military salaries are getting smaller every year. The winter clothes issued this year are only stuffed with two taels of cotton, and they are light on the body and can't keep out the cold at all. The big guy is cold and hungry, You have to go into battle to kill the enemy and patrol all night, this is killing people!"
"Okay, don't complain anymore, we'll be able to go back sooner after we tour this area of the river."
"Why go back? There is no charcoal fire to roast, no food to eat, only a bed as hard as a slate and a quilt so thin that only one layer of cloth is left, it is not much better than going back here! We soldiers are not enough to eat and wear If it’s not warm, we have to fight with our lives, but those officials deduct our military salaries and eat spicy food in the rear. Sometimes I think of it, I’m really unwilling, but when Japanese pirates attack, I can’t help rushing. Go up. If we don't rush, who will protect the people in the rear? Among these people are our wives, children, fathers, and mothers!"
Several soldiers held the halberd and wept silently, but the hot tears were blown by the salty sea breeze and turned into ice again, freezing on their red and cracked faces.
Du Rusong licked the same chapped lips and waved his hand: "Keep going, I'll pay everyone to drink when I go back."
"Thank you, Centurion." Everyone patted the ice beads off their faces and continued to patrol in spirit. With spirits to warm up, tonight should be a little better. However, they did not expect that when they returned to the barracks, there were dozens of jars of fine wine and hundreds of roast ducks waiting for them. Under the protection of several guards, the two women were standing at the door of the barracks, looking towards this side with ardent expressions.
"Miss Lin, Yan'er, why are you here?" Du Rusong couldn't help but walk a few steps quickly, revealing a surprised smile.
"Brother, let's accompany you on the New Year's Eve." Du Ruyan smiled and bowed to the guards: "Thank you, eldest brother, I have waited for my brother, you go back to your Highness and return to your life." The purse was stuffed to the guard at the head.
Several people insisted not to accept Du Ruyan's gift, and they went to meet the once famous and famous Prince An Ding, and then left the barracks. These people are the First Prince's personal soldiers, and the military uniforms they wear are obviously different from ordinary soldiers. Even if their rank is not high, it is not something that these non-staff generals can afford to offend.