I got up early the next day and continued to take Wang Da and several people to make buns.
There was more fermented noodles this time. After working hard all morning, I finally got enough to satisfy Lin Xuan.
After packing all the steamed buns and glutinous rice balls and putting them on the carriage, Lin Xuan took Liu Da and the others out.
Lin Xuan rode on his horse and asked Liu Da, who was one step behind him: "Your family is from Guanzhong. The New Year is coming soon. When do you plan to go back?"
Liu Da was stunned and said: "We are all Sir Alex's personal soldiers, and we have to protect Sir Alex, how can we go back!"
Lin Xuan said: "Don't you want to go home to reunite with your family during the Chinese New Year? You can go back in two groups. One group will go back tomorrow, and after the Chinese New Year, you can change to another group."
Who doesn't want to go home to celebrate the New Year? If there weren't too few soldiers, he would give them a holiday every month.
Liu Da said hesitantly: "But if half of the people are missing, what will happen to the Duke's safety?"
"I won't be in danger in the city during the Chinese New Year. I won't leave for Luoyang until the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. They can just come back before the fifth day of the Lunar New Year." Lin Xuan said nonchalantly.
"Thank you, Sir!" Liu Da said gratefully.
He hasn't been home for a long time, and he also wants to go back to spend time with his wife and see his son.
"I've said hello to the accountant. When you leave, each of you can collect five guan of money. When you go back, let them ride back. This will be faster." Lin Xuan said.
Liu Da quickly shook his head: "Sir, this is too much, we can't have it."
They are Lin Xuan's personal soldiers. It is normal for Lin Xuan to give them some rewards during the Chinese New Year, but most people give them one or two hundred coins, so how can he give them so much.
"Take it if it's given to you. As long as you follow me loyally, I won't treat you badly," Lin Xuan said.
He didn't need this little money, and Lin Xuan thought it was a good deal to exchange a little money for their loyalty.
Seeing Lin Xuan's insistence, Liu Da said gratefully: "On behalf of the brothers, I would like to thank Sir Alex."
…
Arriving at Cheng's house, Lin Xuan asked the concierge to go in and make an announcement.
Not long after, Cheng Chumo came out and led Lin Xuan in.
"Meet Uncle Cheng!" Lin Xuan said with cupped hands.
Cheng Yaojin laughed, pointed to the beautiful woman sitting next to him and said, "This is my wife, you can just call me aunt."
Lin Xuan quickly saluted, "Meet Aunt Cheng."
Lu smiled and said, "Why do you have so many gifts, kid!"
The Lu family was born in the Lu family of Fanyang, and was not Cheng Yaojin’s first wife.
Cheng Yaojin's first wife died in childbirth when Cheng Chumo was born.
After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Qiwang of the Five Surnames married many heroes in order to maintain their status. It was at that time that the Lu family married Cheng Yaojin.
Although Mrs. Lu is Xu Xian and not Cheng Chumo's biological mother, she treats Cheng Chumo as her own child.
She was a little dissatisfied with Lin Xuan before, after all, Lin Xuan had made Qi Wang, the fifth surname, so embarrassed.
But since Cheng Yaojin told her yesterday that Lin Xuan helped Cheng Chumo speak for Cheng Chumo so that Cheng Chumo could be reused by Li Shimin, her dissatisfaction with Lin Xuan disappeared.
Lin Xuan said with a smile: "Isn't it strange that there are many people giving gifts? Uncle Cheng, Aunt Cheng, I brought some snacks here for you to try."
Signaling Liu Da to bring the things in, Lin Xuan said: "These are steamed buns. They have been steamed. You can eat them as long as they are steamed and hot. These are glutinous rice balls. After the water is boiled, put them in and wait for them to float before eating."
"
Lu didn't pay much attention to it at first, but when Lin Xuan introduced it, she realized that it was something she had never seen before, and said happily: "I'm going to try it later."
Giving gifts during the Chinese New Year is very particular. It doesn’t matter whether they are valuable or not. They must be novel. The more novel they are, the more attentive the gift-giver is.
She had never seen anything given by Lin Xuan before, which meant that Lin Xuan put his heart into it.
"If Aunt Cheng likes it, ask Brother Chu Mo to let me know and I will send some over, or I can teach you." Lin Xuan said with a smile.
"Okay, okay, you guys chat, you must stay for dinner today, I will cook myself." Mrs. Lu said with a smile.
Cheng Yaojin smiled and said, "You have to have a drink with me today."
"Uncle Cheng, Aunt Cheng, I'm afraid it won't work today. This is the first family I came to, and there are still a few families I haven't given away yet," Lin Xuan said.
Like the Yuchi family, the Qin family, the Li family, and the Niu family, he didn't give any gifts to any of these families that he had good relations with. What would they think if he gave gifts to the Cheng family but not to them?
Cheng Yaojin said regretfully: "That can only be done next time."
Lin Xuan sat at Cheng's house for a while and then left.
Cheng Yaojin asked Cheng Chumo to send Lin Xuan out.
"Brother Chu Mo, after the new year I will go back to Luoyang to worship my ancestors. Can we all gather together at noon?" Lin Xuan said with a smile.
During the few days of the New Year, Cheng Chumo and the others were busy, and they probably didn't have time to meet each other. He would have to go to Luoyang after the New Year, so after all, they wouldn't be able to see each other for ten days and a half.
"Okay, shall we go to Mingyue Pavilion? I'll send someone to notify them immediately." Cheng Chumo said happily.
Lin Xuan quickly said: "If it's not Mingyue Pavilion, just go to my restaurant. You don't need to notify them. Anyway, I will go to their house soon and I will tell them."
He was about to be the consort, so if he kept going to Mingyue Pavilion, it would be troublesome if the news reached Li Lizhi's ears.
"Okay then!" Cheng Chumo looked regretful.
Lin Xuan left the Cheng family and went to other houses to give gifts.
The other families did not give gifts to the Lin family. Seeing Lin Xuan coming to give gifts, they all got some snacks for Lin Xuan and asked him to take them back.
In response, Lin Xuan did not refuse, saying that the dim sum they made was quite delicious.
Finally, Lin Xuan came to the East Palace.
Li Chengqian has been thinking about what Lin Xuan said last time these days.
What Lin Xuan said last time had a great impact on him, but because the topic was too sensitive, he couldn't find anyone to discuss it with.
When he heard the eunuch reported to Lin Xuan for a meeting, he happily said: "Please invite him in quickly."
"Wait a minute, go alone!" Li Chengqian tidied up his clothes and came to the entrance of the East Palace.
…
"See His Highness the Crown Prince!" Lin Xuan saluted quickly when he saw Li Chengqian coming out.
"Haha, Lin Xuan, please come inside." Li Chengqian said with a smile.
Li Chengqian led Lin Xuan to the main hall, and after ordering the maid to serve tea, he said with a smile: "Lin Xuan, I have heard that my father will issue a decree to confer marriage after the new year. Congratulations!"
"I would like to thank His Highness the Crown Prince for your help." Lin Xuan said with a smile.
Li Chengqian said seriously: "If you really want to thank me, just stay and chat with me."
Lin Xuan smiled bitterly and said: "Your Highness, I have said everything I should say. Many things still depend on Your Highness. Others cannot help."
If Li Chengqian can't figure it out on his own, it will be useless no matter how much others help him.
"Then why are you here this time?" Li Chengqian asked disappointedly.
Lin Xuan cupped his hands and said, "I made some snacks and sent some to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Oh, thank you very much." Li Chengqian was not interested in snacks or anything else.
"I still have something to ask for help from His Highness the Crown Prince!" Lin Xuan said.
"Let's talk and listen. Anyone who can help will definitely help."
Although Lin Xuan was unwilling to assist him, he didn't mind selling Lin Xuan a favor.