Traveling through ancient times: living a different life

On New Year's Eve, the Snake King and the four generals all came. Everyone divided the work to prepare things for the New Year, some washed vegetables and some fetched water.

The four generals had to have names, so Bi Yue said to them, "Come here, you four. Now that you have transformed into humans, you can't have no names. So let's name them according to the four directions, Chen Dong, Chen Nan, Chen Xi, and Chen Bei, which is short for East, South, West, and North. It's simple and easy to remember."

"Thank you, Master. We now have names."

Two flowers bloom, one on each side.

In Shuwan Village, except for my fourth uncle and his wife who have now gone to Beijing with Chief Zhu, basically the whole family is in the countryside.

Now Shuwan Village is developing better and better. The high yield of sweet potatoes makes the emperor of Changping Kingdom very happy. He happily rewards the ninth-rank agricultural official Chen Qingyun to commend him for his contribution to the Great Changping Kingdom. Now he has been promoted twice to the eighth-rank agricultural official, in charge of the agricultural affairs of a province.

It is now being promoted throughout the country. Many poor areas are no longer hungry because of the high yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes. The memorials submitted by the Ministry of Households and local officials at all levels show that this is a great thing that benefits both the country and the people.

The family's winery, braised food and roast duck business are stable, and everything is moving in a good direction.

Today is New Year's Eve. The whole family is busy preparing all the New Year's Eve dishes. The big round table in the main hall is filled to the brim.

Tingsong went to the door and lit a string of firecrackers. The crackling sound welcomed the New Year's Eve.

The New Year's Eve dinner began. Grandpa picked up the wine glass in his hand and said to his children and grandchildren: "This year is another year of good harvest. Life at home is getting better and better. Although the fourth son and his wife and granddaughter are missing from today's reunion dinner, I hope they are safe and happy outside. Let's start eating."

After putting a piece of braised pork in their own bowls, everyone started to eat. The family was in a joyous, lively, satisfied and happy mood.

On the other hand, the atmosphere in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion in the capital was a little subtle. The servants were cleaning the courtyard and garden, and scrubbing the tables and chairs.

Big red lanterns were hung inside and outside the mansion, and the atmosphere was full of the New Year. The kitchen was also busy. In a solemn ancestral hall, the Crown Prince's wife Jiang Zhenzhu knelt alone in front of the ancestors, muttering: "I pray that my ancestors will bless my son Luo Chen to turn danger into safety and turn disaster into good fortune. He must survive. You are still so young. If you die, how can you let me, your mother, live on!"

I was crying as I read, and I miss my family all the more during every festive season. Ever since I heard that my youngest son had an accident, I had a serious illness and was ill for more than four months. It has been less than two months and the New Year has arrived. Today is New Year's Eve. Thinking that my youngest son has been missing for more than half a year, with no news, and no idea whether he is alive or dead, how can I, as a mother, spend the New Year with peace of mind.

When his illness had just improved, he would drag his weak body to the Citang every day to beg the ancestors. The family knew that Luo Chen might have passed away, but no one dared to mention it, fearing that his mother would have another attack after hearing the news. She could not accept the sad news that her youngest son had died, and she struggled.

The two maids stood outside and dared not make a sound. At this time, a man in his forties with an imposing manner came from outside. He came to the beautiful woman and said softly, "Madam, you have been kneeling for too long. Your husband will help you stand up slowly. Let's go to the front hall to have the New Year's Eve dinner. Chen'er must have received your prayers from a distance and will come back to see you after the New Year."

"What my husband said is true. Chen'er is still alive. Did you receive any news?"

"There is no news for now. No news is also good news, which means the person is still alive."

Han Shaoqing thought to himself: In the past few months, I have sent people out to inquire, spent a lot of money to hire martial arts sects to go to the scene of the incident, and also asked around the surrounding areas, but there is no news at all.

General Zhao was held accountable by the Crown Prince for this matter and was demoted from the fourth-rank General Xuanwei to the fifth-rank General Youqi. He also felt that he had failed to live up to the trust of the Dingyuan Marquis's family and was very sad for having made the life and death of a good young general unknown.

The place where the accident happened is close to the sea. If he flows into the sea, there will be no possibility of survival. Not to mention whether he can swim, the whale sharks in the sea will eat Chen'er until not even a bone is left. This is a cruel result. I don't want such a thing to happen to my son, but the reality is cruel. Only time can dilute the sadness of losing my son.

The couple supported each other and went to the front yard and sat in the hall. The old marquis was in his sixties with gray hair, but he was in good spirits. He sat at the top of the table in casual clothes. Next to him was the old lady of the marquis. She came over, held her daughter-in-law's hand, and comforted her, telling her to relax and that Chen'er would be fine.

These are nothing but self-deception.

On the nameless island, the eight people worked together to wash the side dishes, and Biyue and Xiaomai started to cook in the big pot.

The dishes that needed to be stewed were also stewed on the charcoal stove, including clear-boiled chicken, fried duck with chestnuts, pig's feet, braised food, pork ribs stewed with yam, stir-fried sea fish, stir-fried lobster, etc. With strength in numbers, we cooked 18 dishes.

Knowing that they were all men with big appetites and ate a lot, each dish was served in a large bowl. I steamed four baskets of buns and a large pot of rice, and placed the dishes on the round table in the living room.

Xiaomai asked Chen Chen to set off firecrackers at the door. The sound of firecrackers exploded, making the quiet island extremely lively. Other snake groups also gathered around the yard to feel the human New Year atmosphere.

Bi Yue said, "Today is New Year's Eve, a big day for our human race. It is also the first time for me to leave my parents and relatives and come to this nameless island to celebrate the New Year. I am very happy and satisfied to have your company. I hope that from now on, we will get better and better, our dreams will come true, and we will always be healthy and happy! Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses and drank them all. Chen Chen filled his glass with beer and said to Bi Yue, "Thank you, Master, for giving me a new life. These are things I have never had in the past 45 years. I feel that I have lived in vain before. From now on, I must live every day clearly, with pursuits and ideals. I toast to you."

Biyue drank the wine offered by Chen Chen, followed by Xiaomai's, and the four people from Dongnan, Xibei and Beibei. Haisheng smiled and said to Biyue, "Although I don't remember much about the past, I am very happy now. I hope to be with Biyue forever. Cheers!!!"

We drank a lot of wine and started to eat. Every dish was delicious. The electric fans on both sides of the table blew cool air, so no one felt hot.

After dinner, they all sat in the room staring at each other. Xiaomai suggested playing mahjong, and everyone moved the large round table to the side. Xiaomai asked the lady to order two square tables and chairs, as well as two sets of mahjong, and began to teach them in the living room. They were all very smart, and after being taught twice, they started playing cards. Two mahjong tables were set up in one living room, and it was very lively.

At midnight, Bi Yue felt sleepy and went back to her room to sleep.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Chen and Dongnanxibei also came to wish Bi Yue a happy new year and gave each of them a small gift.

Bi Yue accepted it happily. Now it was her turn to distribute New Year gifts to everyone. She asked Chen Chen to come over and input the advanced martial arts and light skills into his forehead.

He then took out the elementary martial arts and Qinggong, and input them into the center of the eyebrows in the east, south, west and north, and said to them, "Practice them first. When you have practiced well and have the ability to protect yourself, you can practice the intermediate and advanced ones after you have passed the examination.

The four of them said in unison: "Thank you for your training, Master. We will work hard to learn martial arts."

Haisheng came to Biyue and said, "Little fairy, I also want advanced skills."

Haisheng had previous martial arts skills, and after half a year of practice, his martial arts skills have improved greatly. Now he can be taught advanced skills.

So he took out the jade token of advanced skills and placed it between his eyebrows. Haisheng accepted it and smiled happily.

After giving out the gifts, a few people started playing mahjong again. The New Year is all about eating and drinking, having fun together and being happy.