Happy Spring Every Year

Anyang Bo finally spoke up and invited Jiang Xun to have New Year's Eve dinner together.

Jiang Xun readily agreed.

He always stayed in the Anyang Earl's Mansion on New Year's Eve every year.

Although the teacher has never married, he has the company of Brother Zhou Zhi and his family, and he spends enough time living in the Lin Mansion on weekdays.

On New Year's Eve, since Jiang Xun's body was used, he had to stay in the uncle's house even if he didn't eat the New Year's Eve dinner.

As night falls, firecrackers begin to sound.

Sitting in the warm hall were Anyang Bo and his family of three.

The Lady of Anyang wore bright colors today, a rare occasion, and sat opposite Jiang Xun in a somewhat reserved manner.

With Anyang Bo making jokes on the side, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

The Lady of Anyang hesitated for a while, but finally mustered up the courage to try to pick up a piece of meat for Jiang Xun and put it in his bowl.

"Xun'er, eat more...eat more."

Her voice couldn't hide the trembling.

Jiang Xun looked at the piece of braised meat that suddenly appeared on the rice. It was bright red in color, with the right amount of fat and lean, and exuded a mellow and rich aroma.

Without hesitation, he picked it up and put it in his mouth. It was fat but not greasy, fragrant and sweet.

Jiang Xun's nose suddenly felt sore.

This is the first New Year’s Eve dinner in ten years.

Really delicious.

"Thank you, mother."

Jiang Xun raised his head and smiled at the Lady of Anyang.

Lady Anyang saw this and hurriedly avoided Jiang Xun's gaze. The moment she lowered her head, tears rolled into the steaming sweet soup.

She lowered her head even lower, drinking mouthful after mouthful of the sweet soup as if to conceal it. After a long while, she said in a trembling voice:

"Xun'er, eat more."

"Ah."

Jiang Xun responded softly.

He was not a big eater, but he did eat a lot tonight and even ordered an extra bowl of rice.

Anyang Bo's eyes were hot. He buried his head under the table several times and wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeves over and over again. When he raised his head again, he was smiling again.

"How about we stay up together tonight?" He asked casually.

"it is good."

"it is good."

Jiang Xun and the wife of the Marquis of Anyang responded in unison.

Dinner was removed.

The family of three sat around a low table. Earl Anyang invited Jiang Xun to play chess, while his wife sat on the side and watched the game.

"Oops, that move just now doesn't count!"

"Wait, wait, pick up the black piece first."

"I didn't see the black spot here just now, otherwise I wouldn't have taken this step."

After Earl Anyang regretted his moves countless times, his wife finally couldn't stand it anymore and took over Earl Anyang's position.

When it comes to playing chess, she is much better than her husband!

Anyang Bo sat aside with a slight smile on his face.

Humph, everything is under control!

.......

bang bang bang-

When the sound of firecrackers rang out outside, the three people in the warm hall realized that it was midnight.

It turns out that time can go so fast.

The Earl of Anyang asked the two of them to stand up.

The three of them walked to the door of the warm hall and saw fireworks rising into the sky one after another outside. They could also hear faint cheers coming over the courtyard wall and reaching their ears.

Jiang Xun was mesmerized by what he saw.

What was he doing at this time of year in previous years?

It seemed as if he was reading a file, as if he was staring at the candlelight in a daze, as if... he was sitting quietly in the dark.

In the past, it was sadness that trapped him, and it was also he who trapped himself.

It turns out that the fireworks on New Year’s Eve are so beautiful.

"Xun'er."

Jiang Xun turned around and saw Anyang Bo handing him a glass of wine.

He took it with a smile, and saw Anyang Bo raise his glass and speak first: "Come, celebrate the occasion and be happy!"

Anyang Marquis's wife also smiled, her eyes filled with tears, and she said softly, "Enjoy the joy, every year on this night."

Jiang Xun looked at the two wine glasses extended towards him, feeling his heart swell up. Brilliant fireworks bloomed behind him. He reached out and clinked his glasses:

"Father and Mother, may you be safe and happy every year."

The three of them raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

.......

When I returned to Tingsongyuan, I didn't know what time it was.

Jiang Xun's steps were a little unsteady because Anyang Bo had poured him quite a lot of wine.

When he entered the main house, the candle was still lit. The winds from the east, south, west and north were urged by him to celebrate New Year's Eve.

He walked into the inner room, first washed his face with cold water, and then sat down at the desk and ground ink by himself.

Next to him was a visiting card that looked very expensive. It was covered with silk and embroidered with the image of a gentleman among flowers.

Jiang Xun picked it up and took a look. When he unfolded it, it was still blank.

He stroked it gently, then spread out the rice paper on the table and compared it with the visiting card. It looked like... he was drafting?

If someone who knew Jiang Xun saw him doing this, they would be shocked, because he always wrote with great enthusiasm and completed his works in one go.

But I don't know why today, even writing a visiting card is so cautious.

Jiang Xun wrote three drafts in total, then rubbed his brows tiredly, stood up and walked towards the inner room, but he did not go to the bed, but stood in front of the closet.

He opened the cupboard door, picked up the top black robe very easily, put it in his arms, and then got on the couch.

If Nanfeng were here, he would definitely recognize it at a glance. Isn't this the black robe that he said he would throw away?

But at this moment, Jiang Xun brought her to the couch and held her in his arms.

He seemed to be drunk, slowly closing his eyes, and suddenly curling his lips, he murmured: "Sui Sui, I just wished you well..."

May you be safe every year and always enjoy the peace in Chang'an.

----

The first day of the new year.

Shen Jiasui received a reply from Aunt Zhou.

Last night the Lu residence was extremely lively and bustling with people in chaos.

Gu Xizhi was doused with soup by the furious Mrs. Lu. Lu Yunzheng felt so distressed that he almost had another argument with Mrs. Lu.

It was Gu Xizhi who took the overall situation into consideration and did not care at all. She even smiled and toasted Mrs. Lu with a glass of wine and finished her New Year's speech.

In order to help Shen Jiasui test Gu Xizhi's thoughts, Aunt Zhou personally took action.

In the letter, Aunt Zhou did not specify how she tested him, but only said very modestly:

"Miss Shen, I don't dare to claim that I have seen countless people, but I have also struggled among them in the past."

"Although Gu Xizhi has behaved impeccably, I believe her current affection is not as deep as it was when the young master broke off the engagement and brought her back home."

"It is difficult for human eyes to lie."

"There is one thing I must remind Miss Shen. When I mentioned your name in front of Gu Xizhi, her expression fluctuated much more strongly."

"Gu Xizhi is not simple, and we must be on guard against her."

This is the conclusion given by Aunt Zhou.

Shen Jiasui slowly put down the letter. She naturally had complete faith in Aunt Zhou's abilities, and her guess was vaguely confirmed.

It seems that she did take a detour before. Perhaps compared to Lu Yunzheng, Gu Xizhi is a more critical person!

What did she do in her previous life?

Shen Jiasui was thinking carefully when suddenly Shen Jiaheng came hurriedly from outside.

"sister!"

Shen Jiasui came back to his senses, put the letter down, and asked, "Brother Heng, why are you in such a hurry?"

Shen Jiaheng, however, kept the secret a secret and said mysteriously, "Sister, at this time of year, don't families send each other New Year's greetings?"

Shen Jiasui nodded, looking puzzled. "Yeah, what's wrong? Did we accidentally miss someone this year?"

Shen Jiaheng shook his head, looking surprised. "No, our family received a New Year's greeting from an unexpected person this year!"

Shen Jiasui didn't know why, but his heart skipped a beat. He asked casually, "Who—"

"Master Jiang! It's Master Jiang! He wrote on the post that he will come to visit on the third day of the New Year!"

Shen Jiaheng couldn't hold it in any longer, and before Shen Jiasui finished asking, he blurted out everything.

You know, in all these years in Beijing, I have never heard of Lord Jiang sending New Year's greetings to any house!

Upon hearing this, Shen Jiasui suddenly lowered his head, trying to hide his instantly flushed face in panic.

bang bang bang-

My heart is pounding.

He—is really coming.