Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 457: The restaurant is closed and preparing for the New Year

"But it's good now. Doctor Sun's injustice has been cleared. We just need to wait until after the Chinese New Year to sign the undertaking."

"Everyone can spend the New Year peacefully, and Yuan Qing and I can go back home with peace of mind."

After Boss Li finished speaking, he picked up the still steaming bowl of ginger and jujube tea in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.

After drinking, he wiped his mouth and laughed happily.

Everyone listened to Boss Li's vivid description. Although they had not seen the situation with their own eyes, they all felt very happy and started laughing.

In the afternoon, Boss Li discussed with Li: "Yuan Qing and I are going back tomorrow. We have been here for quite a while, so we have to go back and prepare for the New Year."

Although Li was reluctant to let her eldest brother go, she also knew that what Boss Li said was the truth.

The whole family is waiting for him to come back and preside over the New Year celebrations.

Moreover, this time, Boss Li sent Doctor Sun here, and he won't be back for a long time, so the second brother who stayed at home would be anxious and worried.

After Li figured it out, she took Shen Yu's three siblings and went to the mule cart that Boss Li had brought to pack the things they wanted to take back and the food they would eat on the way back.

Shen Yu helped Li sort, pack and load the New Year's goods bought for her two uncles, and was busy for the whole afternoon.

When I finally finished cleaning up and sat down to take a breath, I always felt like something was missing.

She had been concentrating on Doctor Sun's case these days. Now that the case was solved, her attention returned to the restaurant.

She walked around the yard and the room, wondering what she had forgotten.

When he turned to the kitchen, his eyes fell on the jar of boiled dogwood oil, and he slapped his head and laughed: "Oh, chili!"

"How come such an important thing has been forgotten? Could it be that you haven't eaten chili for a long time and have gotten used to it and don't think about it anymore?"

Shen Yu hurried to his room, took out the chili seeds that were packed in a small cloth bag and sealed in a small ceramic jar, then turned around and went to the kitchen to find Boss Li.

At this time, Mrs. Li and Li Lao Da had also checked the things on the mule cart, and were chatting with Doctor Sun who was sitting in the kitchen warming himself by the fire.

Shen Yu quickly put the bag of chili pepper seeds on the table and said that he wanted Boss Li to help him try growing chili peppers in Lijia Village.

He opened the bag again and asked Boss Li to see whether the chili seeds could survive in this place.

After listening to Shen Yu's story, Boss Li and Doctor Sun poured out two peppercorns that had already dried.

Following Shen Yu's instructions, I broke it open and looked at the small round seeds.

Shen Yu was right next to them, and he repeated all the information he heard from Shopkeeper Chen about how people in the south grew chili peppers, regardless of whether it was useful or not.

Boss Li has been eating a lot of spicy food these days, and when he heard Shen Yu talk about the taste of this sea pepper, he also found it magical.

He was an expert at growing crops. He listened carefully to the growth of the chili peppers and asked Shen Yu a few questions from time to time. Finally, he said confidently, "It sounds like it's not difficult to grow chili peppers. I just don't know if this stuff from the south is suitable for the soil and water here."

"How about this, I'll take a small portion first, and then I'll set aside a piece of land in the vegetable market to try growing it next spring."

"If it works, we'll continue planting."

"After all, these seeds are very valuable. If we sow them all at once and nothing grows, Yuzhi will cry."

"You can ask me to compensate you then. Even if I have money, I won't have anywhere to buy it."

Boss Li's last words made everyone laugh.

Shen Yu hurriedly found a small cloth bag and put a small half of the dried chili peppers into it.

Boss Li took the bag, tied it up, then asked Li for a dry lotus leaf and wrapped the bag tightly, saying that it would be waterproof. Only then did he put it away properly.

The next day, everyone got up before dawn.

After breakfast, thinking that the city gates should be opened, Boss Li and Yuan Qing harnessed the mule and prepared to go home.

Li Laoda sat on the shaft of the cart and said loudly to the Li family who were standing beside the cart to see them off: "We will go back first."

"After the New Year, my second son and I will bring our whole family to come and see you."

Shen Yu took Yu Tao and Yu Cheng to pay their respects and said, "I wish you a smooth journey, uncle. I wish you a happy new year in advance. I wish you two a happy new year."

After hearing this, Boss Li said with a smile on his face: "The children are very thoughtful. Your uncle also wishes you a happy new year."

Li was standing aside at this time, but she didn't dare to speak, for fear that if she opened her mouth, she would burst into tears.

She tried her best to smile, but she remained silent.

Boss Li's mood at this time was very different from the last time he sent the Li family to the county town.

Seeing that Li was about to cry, he smiled and comforted her: "Don't be sad, little sister. We are not far away, and it is easy to meet each other."

"Don't be so fussy, the children are watching us."

"Your family is doing so well now, and as your eldest brother, I am very happy to come here this time."

"Okay, don't stand outside. Don't get cold."

"We walked."

"drive!"

As he said this, he cracked the whip, and the big blue mule, which had been waiting impatiently, immediately rushed out pulling the mule cart loaded with New Year's goods, leaving behind the crisp sound of hooves along the way and on the smooth street that had just been repaired in front of the restaurant.

Li stood there until the car was out of sight, still reluctant to go in.

Shen Yu advised, "Mom, go back soon. We'll meet again after the New Year. There won't be much time between us."

Li wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve, and said with a smile: "Your uncle is right. Our life is so prosperous, there is nothing to cry about."

"Let's go back and make something delicious."

After entering the twelfth lunar month, the days before the New Year always go by quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

This day is an official holiday for the whole country. Government offices are sealed, shops are closed, and people begin to welcome the New Year.

Li followed the example of other shops on the street, setting off firecrackers and worshiping the God of Wealth.

The restaurant officially closed and prepared for the New Year.

Shen Yu was worried about when Mr. Yang would come, so he went to the county government office to inquire about it.

As a result, Master Qian who stayed in the county government office told her: "Lord Yang will not be here for a few more days, so you should prepare for the New Year at home in the next few days."

"When Lord Yang comes to Anping County, he will come to inform the young lady in advance."

Shen Yu finally felt relieved and went back to tell Li.

The whole family began to engage in the joyful and busy preparations before the New Year.

I call it preparation, because it is a restaurant and all kinds of ingredients are sufficient.