Chapter 52: Going to Pay New Year's Calls

After finishing three large basins of mixed noodles and exchanging commercial flattery with his mother, Zhang Gui yawned and fell asleep on the wooden bed again.

Being full and satisfied made him even sleepier, but his stomach was a bit bloated, so he couldn't fall asleep immediately.

He began to idly think to himself, "The divine cluster completed the 'Three Treasures' combination, and then a 'Great Saint Seated Fate' integration appeared; this is the final summary of the bloodline aspect."

"Could it be that I will become a character like Sun Wukong in the future?"

"The monkey is the king of the Flower-Fruit Mountain, which is really somewhat similar to my current status as the emperor of a barbarian kingdom."

"Great Saint Seated Fate, Great Saint Seated Fate, it sounds like a kind of 'fate plate'."

"Complete 'Human Harmony', relying entirely on the protection of ancestors, and the name is so cool; could it be the 'all are inferior' that ignores the 'Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches'?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, 'all are inferior' is a golden atmosphere, and my divine cluster is also golden now; the two secretly match, it's likely an extraordinary knowledge point."

"It's a pity I don't have the opportunity to learn it, I can only practice and guess bit by bit."

Thinking and thinking, he digested his food, the sleepiness came on, and Zhang Gui entered the land of sweet dreams.

He slept soundly for who knows how many hours.

When he woke up feeling refreshed, he looked at the burning copper fire basin, got up warmly, finished the strong tea prepared by his mother, and pushed the door open to look.

Outside, it had unexpectedly turned to night again.

The cold wind entered, refreshing his heart and lungs.

Looking into the distance, the entire town was brightly lit.

Zhang Gui stretched, turned to put on new clothes, and prepared to go out.

In the hall next door.

Caiyang Duojie, Qiedan Jiena, and Qiedan Sangjia had already set the table.

Several little girls were laughing and helping on the side.

Seeing Zhang Gui appear before them, energetic and smiling.

Everyone was happy.

"Gui-Gui is really better, may the gods bless you; after a great disaster, there must be great fortune."

"Young men have plenty of vitality, he got better all at once."

"Really good, really good."

"Brother Gui-Gui, you've gotten out of bed; eat the big banquet before you go rest."

"Save your strength before you go play."

Zhang Gui heard this and said with a giggle, "Big Aunt, Little Aunt, I'm very well, don't worry."

"Cousins, don't worry, I'm really fine."

"Amu, I didn't go to pay New Year's calls this morning, I'll go to each house to make up for it now, is that okay?"

Caiyang Duojie nodded, "This is what should be done."

"Especially at Jiujiang's house, kowtow a few more times to the elders."

"This good brother of yours came to pay me a New Year's call early this morning, saw you were sleeping, and didn't disturb you."

"He also said that after he finishes paying his New Year's calls and drinks with his old classmates at the school, he'll come to see you tonight."

Pingyang Town keeps the customs of the Ming Song Northern Kingdom.

After keeping watch for the New Year on the first day of the first month, the elders wait at home, and the juniors, wearing new clothes and hats, go out to pay New Year's calls to the elders of relatives and friends.

You must kneel and kowtow before you even speak when you enter the door.

You cannot stand up until the elder helps you up; this is the rule.

After paying New Year's calls, young people with friendships will gather together to drink and play cards.

Those who are addicted will play for half a day.

As long as it doesn't delay going to the maternal grandmother's house on the second day, the elders won't say anything even if they are strict.

This is also the rule.

Before watching the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first month, there are no taboos; celebrating the New Year is all about having fun.

Zhang Gui naturally understood these things; seeing his mother nod, he went out onto the street leisurely.

Along the way, he made up for the New Year's call etiquette with distant and near neighbors, and harvested a handful of roasted peanuts, sesame candies, and crispy fruits.

Before he knew it, he arrived in front of Zhang Jiujiang's new house.

This is Hehe Ward in the center of the town, taking the meaning of 'harmony and affinity, the way of a hundred blessings'.

It sounds much higher-class than 'Youyu Ward'.

The new clothes of the pedestrians on the road also mostly have silk and satin, rarely fine cotton.

Zhang Gui seized the time to eat the fruit in his hand, preparing to kowtow in a moment.

Then he saw the gate suddenly open, and a familiar figure walked out.

Seeing Zhang Gui, he was stunned for a moment, then, through the bright candlelight of the lanterns on the street, he saw his face clearly and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Afterward, his eyes turned red, he joined his fingers together, and shouted like he was singing in a play,

"Duh, Zhang Gui, you guy, pretending to be sick during the New Year to scare me."

"And running to my door to eat sesame candy to make your brother me crave it, what is your crime?"

Zhang Gui showed a panicked look upon hearing this and offered the fruit in his hand,

"Capital crime, capital crime."

"These fruits are all for you, Brother Jiujiang, to eat and atone for my sins."

Zhang Jiujiang jumped off the stone steps, hugged his little partner's neck tightly, snatched the fruit, and said while eating,

"You bear thing, just recovered from a serious illness during the New Year and talking nonsense."

"On the first day of the first month, can that word be said casually?"

"Quickly spit and say it again."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Pah pah pah, the young are innocent, let the wind blow it away," Zhang Gui said, following the trend: "Jiujiang, brother missed you so much."

"This time I was almost that thing on Giant Serpent Head Island."

"Old thief Zhang Yan truly has deep schemes and ruthless methods."

"He killed that person like a chicken just because he said so."

"Let me tell you, on the night he made his move, Young Master Tong San even called me and a group of managers from Blackwood Town to lecture us."

"Luckily I was smart and didn't spill the beans, otherwise..."

Speaking of this, Zhang Gui used his palm as a knife and drew it across his neck, "I would have been that thing on the ground that night."

Zhang Jiujiang listened with fear and trepidation, unable to care about fooling around, and said with wide eyes:

"You talk like you're watching a play, is it true or false!"

"Are you bragging?"

"If there's even a tiny bit of bragging, you can pull out my tongue."

"Then, then you have to tell me in detail."

"I specifically dealt with everyone else at noon so I could find you at night."

"We have a whole night to live."

"Good fellow, you've become a bit-part player in a legendary story."

"That old thief Zhang Yan is now a famous great pirate in the Eastern Inner Sea and the Outer Wild Ocean."

"They say he can transform into a flood dragon, and has a group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals under him, sinking ships and seizing wealth; how domineering."

Zhang Gui was stunned, "This guy really became the Pirate King."

"Pirate King, this title is interesting."

"But the old thief is a newcomer among pirates after all; no matter how powerful, he can't be called a 'Grass-Head King'."

Zhang Gui chuckled, "That's true."

"Alright, I'll go kowtow to your father and mother first."

"Let's go."

"By the way, is your fake brother here?"

"If he is, I must see him no matter what, so as not to lose etiquette."

"Zhang Jiuqing didn't come home for the New Year at all."

"This is a long story, you go pay your New Year's call first."

"We'll talk in detail in a moment."

Zhang Gui nodded, "Alright, let's do the right thing first."

Saying this, the two walked side by side up the stone steps and entered the door.

Zhang Jiuqing attained the Dao, and the whole Zhang Jiujiang family ascended to heaven.

The family status was already completely different.

A bright three-entry courtyard with trees and flowers.

Behind the shadow wall, one could see the hall, twenty steps wide and ten steps deep, rich and decent.

Under the eaves were several large water vats.

Water plants and koi were raised in the vats.

For appreciation in peacetime, and for saving lives in case of fire.

As soon as he entered the door, Zhang Jiujiang shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Dad, Mom, Zhang Gui is here."

As soon as the words fell, maids and servants came to greet them.

Seeing this, Zhang Gui couldn't help but curl his lips, thinking inwardly:

"Passed the imperial examination, preparing to marry a wife from a prestigious family, and the whole family has instantly become corrupt like this?"

"I've already become the emperor of a barbarian kingdom, preparing for 'Dragon Fighting in the Wild', yet I still live in a tile-roofed house and eat 'Tiger Descending the Mountain'."

"Compared to this, the simplicity is simply explosive!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 53 =====