My game even includes ancient times

Time always flies when you're working.

After He Yu and Zhang Yushi finished their meal and tidied up the things that needed to be prepared in the shop, it was already past four o'clock in the afternoon.

Zhang Yushi said she had a club activity at school, declined He Yu's invitation to stay for dinner, and left in a hurry.

He Yu watched her board the bus, then locked the shop door behind her.

Game time!

She checked everything one last time for tomorrow's opening, and after confirming that everything was in order, she turned off all the lights and limped upstairs to the second floor.

The bed in the bedroom was still the same as when she left that morning, with the quilt spread out to the side and the milky white soft pillow leaning crookedly against the headboard.

After changing into her home clothes, He Yu plopped down on the small chair that matched the dressing table at the foot of the bed and opened "Jianghu Order" with great interest.

Just as she was about to choose the "Immersive" gameplay mode, a question suddenly popped into her mind: what is she like in reality when her consciousness is immersed in the game?

He Yu took out an old cell phone from the drawer, turned it on, and saw that it still had more than 40% battery left.

She turned on the video recorder, placed the phone on the bed, propped it up with something, and adjusted the angle to point it at herself.

With everything ready, He Yu sat back down on the small chair and clicked "Immerse." After a brief period of blurred consciousness, she opened her eyes.

Practice makes perfect, and He Yu wasn't confused this time.

She got out of bed and walked to the door. Just as she was about to open it, she suddenly felt that she should be more cautious, so she first selected "Invisibility" and then opened the wooden door with peace of mind.

Stepping outside, I found myself in the same spot where I had logged off last time.

He Yu looked around and noticed that on either side of the two characters "Chu Shi" on the front of the stone tablet, there was a bright red couplet with a horizontal scroll. Even the back of the stone tablet had a "Fu" character pasted on it.

?

Looking at the incongruous scene before her, she slowly remembered that in the game, today seemed to be New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve...

Time flies in the game; more than two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

He Yu glanced at the clock; it was 5:54 PM. In another hour or two, it would be time for the New Year's Eve dinner. He wondered how He Shi's first New Year here was going.

She withdrew her gaze from the stone tablet, turned around, stepped onto the stairs, and walked towards the village.

I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but as I walked along, it felt like there were fewer people in the resort. Did they all go home for the Chinese New Year?

As we slowly made our way to the vicinity of the main kitchen, more and more people began to appear. Bright red Spring Festival couplets were pasted on both sides of the main entrance, and white steam carrying a rich aroma was rising from several windows. Many people wearing aprons and with their hair wrapped up were going in and out, busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

He Yu stood by and watched for a while, then strolled over to where He Shi lived.

Along the way, all the buildings were decorated with Spring Festival couplets and the character "福" (good fortune), and peach wood charms hung on the doors, swaying gently in the wind. Coupled with the bright red lanterns that could be seen everywhere and the smiles on the faces of the people coming and going, the entire mountain resort was immersed in a festive red ocean.

It felt like Chinese New Year.

He Yu strolled along, feeling as if he were watching a folk film, the kind that could win a Best Art Direction award.

He Yu arrived at Bai Yushen's courtyard soon. Standing in front of the gate, He Yu looked at the two tall and imposing door gods pasted on the dark door panel and was a little troubled.

How do I get in?

There were faint sounds coming from inside the door, as if someone was talking in the yard. It wouldn't be appropriate to just push the door open and go in like that, lest we scare them.

As for climbing over the wall, He Yu looked up at the wall, which was at least two and a half meters high, and decisively shook his head and gave up.

Just as she was struggling with her decision, the voices coming from inside the door grew louder, and it was clear that it was Bai Yushen's voice: "Hurry up, junior brother, believe me, you look really handsome dressed like this!"

Then came He Shi's hesitant and doubtful voice: "This..."

"Hey, what's this? Let's go!"

With a creak, the door suddenly opened in front of He Yu. She was startled, looked up, and came face to face with Bai Yushen walking in front of her. His imposing figure made He Yu subconsciously take a step to the side, and then she saw He Shi following behind him.

Today, He Shi wore a wood-red brocade narrow-sleeved long robe with two thin gold threads embroidered on the collar, extending to below the left chest and forming a lifelike Vermilion Bird. A pair of white jade Qilin belt buckles were fastened at his slender waist, and the cuffs were also edged with gold thread, which would flash faintly when he raised his hand. He wore gold-embroidered cloud-patterned shoes, a white fox fur cloak draped over his shoulders, and his black hair was tied up high, with a small and exquisite white jade hair crown with cloud patterns on it.

Perhaps it was because he had been well cared for by the Chu family these past few days, but although he hadn't gained much weight, his complexion had improved significantly. Coupled with his magnificent attire, he looked like a deity descended to earth, leaving He Yu completely stunned.

He Shi, feeling somewhat unaccustomed, lightly flicked his heavy fox fur cloak, quickened his pace to catch up with Bai Yushen, and brushed past He Yu, who was standing at the door.

The breeze he created as he walked brushed against the back of her left hand, feeling cool.

He Yu suddenly came to her senses, turned around and looked at He Shi's thin but upright back, silently marveling at him.

This child, though still pretty even when her hair was messy, became so beautiful after this makeover that she almost didn't recognize her.

With a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, mixed feelings), He Yu followed the two of them all the way to the entrance of the small canteen.

Chu He was dressed in black, with a crimson vine-patterned belt around his waist, from which hung an oval orchid-shaped jade pendant. His dark hair was tied up with a matching ribbon. He was holding a sword and leaning against the door. When he saw He Shi and Bai Yushen coming over, he straightened up and said, "My two junior brothers, wishing you a peaceful and healthy New Year's Eve."

Bai Yushen laughed heartily, stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder: "Happy New Year's Eve, Second Senior Brother, are you bringing your sword to the New Year's Eve dinner this year too?"

Chu He's lips curled slightly, his left hand holding the sword, his right fingertips lightly brushing the scabbard, his voice as cold as ever: "Take care."

He Shi smiled shyly at the two of them, then looked at the newly decorated canteen with a blank expression.

This was the first and only Lunar New Year's Eve that Lao He had spent in the years since his death.

In remote and impoverished places like Yuanshan County, most people would at most put up a couplet for the Spring Festival, grit their teeth and buy something to eat, and those with some savings would set off a few firecrackers and change into new clothes. At most, they could put a few pieces of candy and a handful of peanuts in their children's pockets as snacks.

Even the wealthiest family in the county, the Li family, would simply hang a few more red lanterns and set off a few more fireworks on New Year's Eve, and send a servant to stand at the gate of the courtyard to give some snacks to the children who were passing by, hoping for good luck.

Where can one compare to the renowned Chu Family Manor, which is famous throughout Yunzhou and even the entire dynasty?

Upon seeing He Shi's expression, He Yu knew that the child must have been thinking about the past again. He subconsciously reached out to pat his head, but then stopped in mid-air and slowly withdrew his hand.

No, that's not appropriate, there are so many people here...

Why don't we wait until He Shi is alone tonight to talk about it?

He Yu lowered his eyes in thought.

Just then, she heard Bai Yushen's deep, chuckling voice from the side: "Master, Senior Sister, and Junior Sister are here."

Chu He, He Shi, and He Yu looked up together and saw three figures walking towards them on the stone steps not far away.

Even from a distance, Chu Zheng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting from afar: "Everyone, wishing you a peaceful and healthy Lunar New Year's Eve!"

Bai Yushen and Chuhe returned the greeting: "May Master have a peaceful and healthy Lunar New Year's Eve, and may Senior Sister and Junior Sister have a peaceful and healthy Lunar New Year's Eve."

He Shi was a beat slow, and awkwardly returned the greeting as well.

Chu Zheng led Xia Yuan and Chu Yunsi closer and immediately noticed He Shi standing quietly: "Little Shi is not bad. He has an outstanding temperament at such a young age. He is clearly a promising talent!"

He Shi smiled gently: "Thank you for the compliment, Master."

Just then, He Yu, who was standing aside enjoying the New Year atmosphere, paused. Just moments before, a loud mission notification sounded in her ear.