sbdcsierra Chapter 526 He ate a lot.
Chapter 526 He ate a lot.
The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The government office, which had been busy and stifled for a long time, was bustling with activity like never before.
After this case, the yamen was thoroughly cleaned up. Those who remained before were punished for their crimes, and the innocent were willing to follow the prefect when they saw him. This led to an unprecedented unity within the prefect's yamen.
Therefore, early in the morning, Prefect Ling personally led people to set off firecrackers, and then ordered the kitchen to make a lot of dumplings and glutinous rice balls, which were then sent to the yamen runners who were still busy at the yamen. He also told them to set up a large pot at the yamen gate so that the wandering beggars and poor people could all have a bowl of hot food.
And they sent people out early in the morning to spread the word that people could come to the yamen gate to pick up dumplings and glutinous rice balls.
The people of Yuzhou were grateful for the benevolence of the new prefect, and many came to join in the fun, while others brought their own food, which they then distributed.
I don't know how it started, but it attracted more people to join in the fun, and they all brought out their own food to share.
Jiang Zhiyi and the girls also brought out many dishes from the Jiangnan region.
Prefect Ling originally only intended to take care of those people who couldn't afford to eat during the New Year, but somehow he ended up filling both streets outside the yamen with people, eventually turning them into a long, continuous feast.
Upon hearing the news, the people rushed over to join in the excitement.
Lu Yangyang and Wen Qingqing also came out to join in the fun. Wen Qingqing was completely dazzled: "I've never seen anything like this in my life!"
She grew up in Medicine God Valley. Her maternal grandfather preferred peace and quiet, and her mother was often away from home. Therefore, every year during the Spring Festival, she would observe the proper etiquette, with her fellow disciples exchanging New Year's greetings and then going about their own business.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, everyone celebrates the Lunar New Year so enthusiastically!"
Jiang Zhiyi couldn't help but laugh: "Where would it be so lively? I've seen banquets before, but this is the first time I've seen one like this. Lord Ling is an unexpectedly good official."
“Yes, yes, that’s right, he loves a lively atmosphere. Back in Qingzhou, the county was quite poor, but during festivals, people would bring their own food to Lord Ling. He wouldn’t accept it, but he didn’t want to disappoint the people, so he set up tables and chairs at the yamen entrance and invited passersby to join in the fun.” Lu Yangyang recounted the past. “The first time I met Lord Ling was during a festival. They said the yamen was going to deliver food, and I wanted to go and freeload. But when his wife saw how thin and small I was, she thought I was particularly pitiful and secretly gave me a few big steamed buns. They smelled so good!” I almost couldn't walk. Then, while I was secretly showing off my steamed buns, the brothers from the escort agency brought their superiors to find me. They confidently claimed they could perform autopsies, and when they saw me, they didn't doubt me at all. They even wanted to take me to the mortuary, forcing me to show off all the steamed buns at the mortuary entrance, which scared them. They said they'd take me to their house to eat my fill after they finished their business. As soon as I got there, I told his wife about it, and he got a good beating from her. From then on, every time I saw his wife, she would personally cook steamed buns for me to take home. Ah, it's a pity his wife never came to Yuzhou; I really miss that taste.”
Lu Yangyang shook her head: "That's just how he is. From the moment I met him, he could chat with all sorts of people, from the most humble to the most uncouth. You couldn't tell at all that he was a scholar!"
Back then, she often teased Lu Wei, telling him to learn from Lord Ling, to be more magnanimous, and not to be all scheming and petty, lest he ruin his brain.
Lu Wei scolded her for being stupid, running around for people just to get a bite of steamed buns, but he ate every single one of the steamed buns she brought back.
Prefect Ling and Zong Que walked up behind them, laughing and scolding, "I could hear you cricketing behind me from afar, you greedy girl. What, you're eyeing my lady's steamed buns again?"
Lu Yangyang turned around awkwardly, about to speak, but her eyes first fell on Zong Que.
Since leaving the capital, Zong Que has always dressed casually in plain clothes made of very ordinary fabrics. But no matter how many times you meet him, you will still be easily attracted by his demeanor, making it hard to look away.
Lu Yangyang rarely saw him walk towards her like this. Amidst the clamor of the crowd, everything around her seemed to suddenly fall silent, leaving only his gentle gaze.
Lu Yangyang heard her heart skip a beat again.
She couldn't help but wonder, in this world, are there really people who, through repeated encounters, begin to feel their hearts flutter?
She moved her lips, about to speak, when a voice from afar shattered this overly beautiful scene.
"Lu Yangyang!"
Lin Wuji, dressed in a deep red brocade robe with floral patterns, his long hair tied up high with slight curls and draped with brocade tassels, was walking briskly toward Lu Yangyang with bright eyes.
Lu Yangyang frowned. Wait, why is he here?
What is he here for?
Oh no, we can't let him find out about Zong Que!
Although Lin Wuji had never met Zong Que and was unlikely to discover his identity, Lin Wuji, as the leader of the Salt Gang, was too deeply involved with the government. If Zong Que discovered any clues, who would dare to gamble?
Lu Yangyang subconsciously glanced towards Zong Que's direction, and before Lin Wuji could look over, she quickly took a few steps forward to divert Lin Wuji's attention: "Why are you here?"
Lin Wuji looked at Lu Yangyang in surprise as she walked towards him. He opened his folding fan, leaned closer to her, and said, "So proactive? Miss Lu, are you starting to think I'm quite the charming and dashing young master...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yangyang stomped hard on the back of his foot without any expression.
Lin Wuji nearly jumped up in pain: "Hey, why do you always have to kick my feet every time we meet? Your kick felt like a stone hitting my foot! Ouch, it hurts so much! I think my bones are cracked!"
Seeing Lin Wuji's face contorted in pain, almost like a mask, Lu Yangyang breathed a slight sigh of relief and frantically waved her outstretched hand at the person behind her.
He gestured for the person to leave quickly.
Then he asked Lin Wuji, "You still haven't said what you're doing here?"
“Of course I…” Lin Wuji glanced at Lu Yangyang’s indifferent expression and said helplessly, “Of course I’m here to do business. I heard that a major event happened in Yuzhou, and they’ve invited many merchants to come. I had already boarded the ship, but hearing such good news, I naturally had to come and join in the fun. Maybe I’d even run into you! Look what a coincidence! I knew you’d be here!”
Lu Yangyang just wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.
She certainly didn't want the dangerous Lin Wuji to discover His Highness's identity!
Her eyes darted quickly to the table with wontons not far away, and she began to speak.
"I'll treat you..."
A hand landed on her shoulder.