Chapter Twenty-Four: New Year

  Fireworks rise in the darkness, only for that moment of brilliance, illuminating people's faces with wonder, and then dispersing into blue smoke. Because it is not a time for grand fireworks displays, it seems somewhat desolate.

  Fireworks are brilliant, but they only bloom for a moment, and that's it.

  Yu Xuanji pulled Zhu'er's hand, standing in the courtyard to watch. After tonight, it will be another year. Looking for a while, there were only a few sparse ones, and Zhu'er was slightly disappointed.

  Before long, the firecrackers started to sound, first from a few households, and then the whole city was filled with thunderous noise. Only this small Taoist temple remained quiet as if nothing had happened.

  "Bang bang bang", a knock at the door.

  Yu Xuanji frowned, could it be that someone was coming to have their fortune told at this hour? But Zhu'er clapped her small hands and exclaimed delightedly: "I know who it is." She then ran quickly to open the door.

  A big pile of New Year's goods was blocking the entrance, and Xu Xian poked his head out from behind and smiled at Yu Xuanji.

  Yu Xuanji herself didn't know why, but looking at Xu Xian's silly appearance made her want to laugh, so she laughed. In that instant, it was like a full tree of apricot blossoms scattering in the wind.

  Three people sat together wrapping dumplings.

  Yu Xuanji asked: "Don't you need to stay home tonight?"

  "My sister has her husband to accompany her, and I'm just a spare tire." Xian replied and pinched out another dumpling. If he let his master and apprentice eat Yu Xuanji's big pot dish again for the New Year, Xian would feel guilty. They finished dinner early at home and came over.

  "Look, Master, I made this fish-shaped dumpling!" The flour was still on his face, and his adorable expression was endearing.

  Yu Xuanji wiped the flour off her face and said, "Master also come to help." With her joining in, the speed was indeed much faster. Although she didn't have any talent for cooking, she was a first-rate pastry chef.

  Wrapped around dumplings, telling jokes, Xu Xian occasionally teased Zhu'er, Zhu'er resentfully told on Master, Yu Xuanji glared with her apricot eyes, and Xu Xian immediately apologized. This senior sister recently painted many restraint charms, specifically used to deal with herself.

  A bare door had a couplet posted on it, but no door gods were pasted because Yu Xuanji said that with just one talisman, she could summon heavenly soldiers and generals of this level. In the end, Sun'er took up her brush and drew two door gods on red paper, one was herself and the other was Xu Xian. They said they wanted to protect their master together.

  Zhu'er opened the red envelope given by Xu Xian, only to find one coin of silver inside. She loudly complained that this master was too stingy, while her master was more generous, giving her two coins! As a result, Xu Xian took advantage of Zhu'er's carelessness and snatched all her red envelopes away, causing Zhu'er to chase after him around the whole courtyard.

  When eating dumplings, Yu Xuanji accurately picked out a dumpling from Xu Xian's bowl and gave it to Zhūn. Inside, there was indeed money wrapped up! Xu Xian loudly called foul and insisted on getting back his one coin. Zhūn of course didn't give it back and was extremely pleased with himself.

  Most of the time, it was Xu Xian and Zong'er who were frolicking, while Yu Xuanji just quietly watched from the side with a faint warmth in her heart. But when Xu Xian said "I should go back!", she felt a little reluctant in her heart.

  "If I don't go back to keep the year, my sister will chop me off. The firecrackers are ready, and Zhūn is in charge of setting them off, but don't blow yourself up. There's a lot of food that I've cooked, just heat it up tomorrow." Xǔ Xiān said as he walked away.

  Yu Xuanji just smiled faintly, while Zhu Er looked reluctant to part with her.

  The big gate of the Taoist temple closed behind him, and Xu Xian turned back to take a look. On the door, one side was pasted with bamboo shoots, and the other side was pasted with himself, but somehow his face had an extra pig nose on it. Xu Xian shook his head and smiled.

  The sky had already darkened, and the snow reflected off the white sky. Xu Xian took a deep breath of the icy air, refreshing his heart. Just as he was about to head back, the door behind him creaked open, and Zhūn'er ran out and placed a warm copper coin in Xu Xian's palm. "Thank you, Master Uncle! Master is very happy today!"

  Xu Xian stroked her face "Really well-behaved, Master Shu will take you to see the lantern festival on Yuanxiao Festival, okay?"

  The bamboo shoots were somewhat displeased, turning their faces away, not allowing Xu Xian to touch them. But upon hearing that they could go see the lantern festival, they happily agreed. Letting Xu Xian, this evil uncle, take advantage of the situation and heavily satisfy his craving for a few times, the bamboo shoots became extremely embarrassed and escaped back to the Taoist temple.

  Xu Xian took out two "divine movement talismans" and stuck them to his legs, a new technique he had recently learned. He then rushed home in a mad dash, almost as fast as a galloping horse. He thought that if he could master this skill, he could also be known as the "Divine Movement Great Protector". However, in this world, even with Liangshan, it's impossible to reach the top, otherwise it would become "Liangshan underwater", and the great heroes would probably drown before they could achieve their goal, and their noble ambition to uphold justice would be stillborn.

  Facing the night wind, Xu Xian was lost in thought.

  In Hangzhou's Tingyuelou.

  A majestic and handsome man, looking no more than twenty-eight or nine years old, cupped his hands and said: "I only ask to see Miss Cai Feng, nothing else."

  It was already late at night, and there were only a few guests in the Listening to the Moon Building. After all, it was still a minority who would go whoring during the Chinese New Year. The ordinary courtesans had nowhere else to go, so they just stayed in the building and opened the door.

  The old procuress yawned, glanced sideways at the man in front of her, dressed normally, with a dusty face, not like a rich and noble family. But his face was rough and bold, very masculine, if she were twenty years younger, she would have liked such a person. Now, however, she only recognized that yellow-white thing.

  "Can't you see what time it is? It's still early, and Miss Cai Feng said she wasn't receiving guests. Even normally, is Miss Cai Feng someone who can be seen by just anyone?" The disdain in her eyes was evident beneath her fatigue.

  The man's face flashed with a hint of anger, but if he didn't need something from her, why would he suffer such humiliation? He was also a seasoned veteran and knew the old procuress's love for money. He pulled out a silver note from his pocket and handed it to the old woman: "Please introduce me, I'll repay you later."

  The old procuress's eyes were firmly fixed on that thin piece of paper, three hundred taels to see her once, this kind of person was exactly what she was scarce of now.

  Hangzhou's Fengyue Alley was not originally called Fengyue Alley. It is unknown when the two sides hung up the "Fengyue" sign, and later changed its name to Fengyue Alley. The popular girls could find a place to live on this street, unlike ordinary prostitutes living in brothels. However, they still had to be managed by the teaching office, and there were some madams who took care of business. They just looked more dignified than ordinary brothel women, and also more comfortable.

  Even drifting to this point, it's still the New Year. The two sides of Fengyue Alley are also decorated with lanterns and couplets, no different from ordinary people's homes, perhaps even more enthusiastic. After all, throughout the year, there are only a few days that can be considered leisurely, and the fine wines and delicacies, red silks and brocades, although good, have flavors that only one knows oneself.

  "Miss, it's New Year's Day, and you're making me see guests. It's really bullying. I'll go back to that old thing." Qing Luan said as she was about to walk out.

  Cai Feng hastily blocked the way: "We are not afraid of her, but it's not good to offend her. Just seeing each other won't be a problem, help me dress up!"

  The blue phoenix had no choice but to agree, she knew that her own young lady was always reasonable.

  Cai Feng finished her makeup and turned around the middle gate, then went to see that unexpected guest. As she entered the room, the man who was waiting had his eyes lit up immediately, staring at Cai Feng intensely. The old madam beside him cleared her throat lightly, and the man hastily stood up saying: "I am Chu Jianxiong, nice to meet Miss Cai Feng. If I have been rude in any way, I hope Miss will not mind." He tried his best to appear polite, but his heart was actually slightly nervous.

  Cai Feng smiled and returned the courtesy: "Thank you, Master Chu, for your kindness." Then she turned to the old procuress and said: "Mother, you can rest now. Qing Luan will attend to things here."

  Chu Jianxiong was stunned again by her voice, and even the oriole seemed too frivolous in comparison. He couldn't help but evoke the legendary phoenix's cry, with words that carried the majesty of a hundred birds paying homage. He also couldn't resist mocking himself for making such comparisons.

  Then Cai Feng responded calmly as usual, she had seen such people countless times and heard such words countless times, nothing special.

  At that time when Chu Jianxiong said "I want to redeem you, miss!", Cai Feng's expression on her face was still faint.

  Chu Jianxiong couldn't help but feel greatly disappointed, he thought Cai Feng would be surprised and delighted, even if she wasn't, she should have had some reaction, but with his martial arts skills, he couldn't detect any emotional changes on the woman in front of him.

  "The young master's favor is deep, Cai Feng has understood, but since Cai Feng is registered in the music registry, if she wants to be removed from it, she still needs the permission of the county magistrate." This statement is both realistic and an excuse. Cai Feng has seen countless people and has roughly figured out the true nature of the man in front of her. He seems to have a remarkable skill that is not common, as well as considerable family wealth. Looking at his appearance and demeanor, it's likely that he doesn't engage in honest business. People like him may hold great power in certain places, but in official circles, they probably won't be able to exert much influence.

  The man suddenly stood up excitedly and said, "A few days ago, I passed by Hangzhou and saw the girl's beautiful appearance, and I couldn't forget it. That's why we met today. Don't laugh at me, but I'm also a wandering son who has been drifting around the world. Now, as long as you say one word, I'll take you to travel all over the world and never be bound by anyone again." However, Cai Feng was not moved by his words and said, "I know that Yun was wrongly killed, and Chu is not talented, but he knows some martial arts. He wants to avenge your grievances for you."

  Cai Feng's face changed as she heard the words, "Shut up." Her chest heaved with anger. She then forced herself to calm down and said, "Young Master, please leave. There's no need to say such things." The atmosphere in the hall became tense, Qing Luan almost couldn't help but take action, but she felt that Chu Jianxiong's martial arts skills were above hers, afraid that if she took action, she wouldn't be able to control him and would instead provoke his ferocity.

  If he dares to harm Miss, I will kill him even if it means risking my own life. Qing Luan's heart was determined, and she no longer felt like a maid, but rather like a sharp sword being unsheathed.