Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, a secluded residence on the mountaintop.
In the afternoon, after returning from Willow Breeze Academy, Lin Zhao personally brewed a pot of paste outdoors. Then, with the two children Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong, he proceeded to paste couplets on every door and building of the mountaintop residence. First, he affixed the largest pair of couplets at the mountain gate. Gu Lingyu had written: "Willow breezes send forth fragrance, pine moonlight brings the cool night." Afterward, he walked up the mountain path, pasting couplets on the residences of Chu Yu, Zhuang Yirong, and Chen Ben. Each door was also adorned with a pair of door gods. In truth, cultivators on the mountain generally needed no door gods, being already impervious to evil spirits. However, for good fortune, they were all pasted up.
When it came to the Natural Abode, Gu Lingyu's couplets read: "Two or three bamboo stalks hold autumn colors, ten thousand layers of mountains bear the rain's form." The calligraphy was exceptionally refined, each couplet exuding a powerful, elegant style. Lin Zhao found immense satisfaction in the sight. Subsequently, Lin Zhao pasted couplets on his and Little Jiuer's room on the second floor. Then, he affixed a pair of door gods on the main door of the living room on the first floor. Afterward, he clapped his hands, picked up the paste, and led the two children further up the mountain. Many more residences, even unoccupied guest rooms, needed pasting to add a touch of warmth and liveliness.
By evening, Chu Yu had taken Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong to the peach grove to practice sword and fist techniques. Lin Zhao, along with Liu Liying, Little Jiuer, and Tong Yu, helped prepare dinner. The custom in the Great Chen Dynasty was for every household to steam buns for the New Year. In leaner times, they could only afford plain, solid buns. But now, with improved circumstances, Dongcang had prepared a large basin of filling with yellow beef, taro, and vegetables. Thus, the buns steamed at the mountaintop residence this year were all filled with meat.
Not long after, the gatekeeper, the scruffy man Tang Guangjun, lumbered over. He sat by the lotus pond near the Natural Abode, his hands tucked into his sleeves, waiting for the mountain lord to call him for buns. Lin Zhao, completely unaware of Tang Guangjun's presence, tended to two stoves with Liu Liying. He first cooked a pot of wild boar, followed by wild rabbit and deer leg. Once the meat dishes were ready, he began stir-frying vegetables, like spring onions with cured meat, with effortless skill. Liu Liying watched with admiring eyes, finding her young master's cooking unparalleled. Regardless of the taste, his graceful wielding of the spatula already possessed a divine aura befitting a sword immortal! Da Feng Novel
After busying himself for a while, Lin Zhao finally caught sight of Tang Guangjun squatting by the lotus pond. He couldn't help but smile, "Tong Yu, take two of the freshly steamed buns to Tang Guangjun to try. Tell him to come over for dinner later."
"Mhm, okay!"
Tong Yu grabbed two steaming meat-filled buns and rushed over, holding them in her hands before Tang Guangjun, saying, "Brother Lin Zhao asked me to give these to you to try. He also said to remember to come for dinner when it's ready."
"Ah?!"
Tang Guangjun's heart overflowed with joy. He grabbed the two buns, bowed repeatedly in gratitude, and then, riding a streak of sword light, descended the mountain. He squatted before the mountain gate, munching on the buns. He always remembered his duty as the town's gatekeeper. Since he had received such a generous gift from the mountain lord's junior brother, he resolved to be even more diligent. It was New Year's Eve, and the safety of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake was paramount.
...
After preparing the wine and dishes, Lin Zhao, accompanied by Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong, descended the mountain. As they walked down from the mountaintop residence, they saw the desolation outside the small town, the ground covered in snow, devoid of any life. In the distance, smoke curled from the chimneys of every household, as families awaited their New Year's Eve dinner. The stone bridge appeared exceptionally desolate, which made Lin Zhao feel a pang of sadness. He recalled his childhood, when the turn of the year was always the most difficult time for him. It was the lean season then, and he relied entirely on the charity of others for food. If not for the meager aid from Mr. Qin's modest bookstore each year, Lin Zhao would have struggled to survive those difficult turns of the year.
Young Lin Zhao understood the hardships involved.
The difficult year passed, and the days of hardship were endured, one by one, as it always was.
"Master."
Zhang Luobai seemed to sense Lin Zhao's low spirits and tugged on his sleeve, asking, "What's wrong, Master?"
"Nothing, nothing," Lin Zhao said, smiling as he ruffled the young boy's hair. "Come, let's invite Lord Su and Old Sword Immortal Han to join us for New Year's Eve dinner."
"Mhm, okay!"
Before the Mountain Lord's Shrine, Lin Zhao, with Tong Yu and the two children, clasped his hands in a distant salute and said with a smile, "Lord Su, Old Sword Immortal Han! Come up the mountain for dinner! And come for drinks too!"
Within the ancestral hall, two figures who were playing chess emerged. In truth, if Lin Zhao hadn't called them, Lord Su and Han Buyu had already decided to make do with a pot of old wine and a plate of peanuts. For deities, the New Year's atmosphere wasn't of great importance; it was merely a festival for the beings of the world.
However, since Lin Zhao had invited them, the New Year had to be celebrated properly.
"Lord Su, Old Sword Immortal Han!"
Tong Yu stepped forward and cupped her fists in greeting.
"Mhm, good," Old Sword Immortal Han narrowed his eyes, looking at this most promising young person of the mountaintop residence. He smiled, "Tong Yu, you'll be ten years old after the New Year, won't you? Almost a young lady."
Tong Yu's pretty face flushed slightly, "Yes, another year older~~~"
Lord Su smiled faintly. This way, it seemed, everything was just right.
The group walked up the mountain together, passing through the small town.
Lin Zhao looked at the myriad lights of the town and said to Lin Xingchu in his heart, "Aunt, would you like to come up the mountain for New Year's Eve dinner? Technically, I should have invited you much earlier, but I worried that as the Lord of the Wash Sword River, you have many subordinates and friends at the River God's Shrine, and it might not be appropriate."
Lin Xingchu smiled, "I won't go today. I'll visit on the second day of the New Year!"
"Mhm, okay!" Lin Zhao nodded with a light smile. The second day of the New Year was for visiting one's parents' home. Although Aunt Lin Xingchu was not married, the sentiment of returning to one's family home was still pleasant.
Afterward, Lin Zhao looked in the direction of the Fusang Great Wall. Lin Wanhua was also inconvenient to invite. She was the Lord of the Fusang Great Wall, and her home was there. She would undoubtedly be celebrating the New Year at home.
...
At night, the Natural Abode was lively, with a large table laid out with dishes. All the invited guests had arrived. Chu Yu, Mu Zhua, Chen Ben, Xu Sheng, and others had also come up the mountain. As for Zhuang Yirong and Zhang Luobai, they had reunited with their parents at their homes below the mountain. After all, they couldn't deprive them of their New Year's Eve dinner at home.
However, Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong ate quickly. As soon as they finished, they rushed back up the mountain. By the time Lin Zhao and the others had finished the first round of toasts, the two children had arrived. Dongcang then got up to fetch fireworks and firecrackers for the children. Soon, the crackling sounds echoed from outside, accompanied by the children's joyful laughter. Tong Yu, who didn't drink, finished her meal early, bowed to the elders, and then went out to join the festivities.
Lin Zhao, Lord Su, and Old Sword Immortal Han drank toasts one after another, enjoying themselves immensely. Little Jiuer nestled beside Lin Zhao, like an adornment, wishing she could cling to him. The drinking session lasted a long time. Lin Zhao, Lord Su, Han Buyu, Mu Zhua, Xu Sheng, and others became thoroughly drunk. Meanwhile, Dongcang, Liu Liying, Nanzhi, Su Qingjiu, and the other women of the mountaintop residence either accompanied them with smiles or repeatedly warmed the cooling dishes.
Late into the night, after the New Year's Eve dinner concluded, Lord Su and Han Buyu, with drunken eyes, stumbled their way down the mountain. Mu Zhua, Xu Sheng, and Chen Ben agreed to spar together on the mountaintop. In truth, Chen Ben's martial arts were the highest among the three. Even when sparring with his master, Mu Zhua, he had to hold back, otherwise, he could easily cause his master to vomit blood profusely. Xu Sheng, with the lowest cultivation, followed the two who had reached the fifth realm, purely to learn their techniques and gaining immense advantage. Since none of the three had wives, they agreed to stay up all night, practicing martial arts on the mountaintop to keep vigil.
In the Natural Abode, after the dining table was cleared, Lin Zhao lit a large charcoal brazier. Dongcang brought out a pile of sweet potatoes, peanuts, and other snacks. When keeping vigil together, one always needed something to eat, and roasted peanuts and sweet potatoes were the best choices.
They chatted about past events. Lin Zhao smiled, talking with Little Jiuer, Nanzhi, and Dongcang about the original mountaintop residence. The younger generation, Zhang Luobai, Zhuang Yirong, and Tong Yu, couldn't interject, but they could imagine the scene back then.
Liu Liying sat beside Lin Zhao, smiling. She casually crossed her legs, holding a gleaming folding fan. Seeing her young master happy made her happy. In fact, although Liu Liying was a mural goddess, an essence manifested from the Great Dao of a hundred flowers, she deeply cherished such human warmth and hearth.
Not long after, Zhang Luobai began to feel sleepy.
"Master," he said, struggling to open his heavy eyelids.
"Sleepy? Then go to sleep," Lin Zhao replied.
"Not sleepy!" Zhang Luobai shook his head, poking the peanuts by the charcoal fire with a bamboo branch. They were already burnt. He chuckled, "Master, may I go to the fish pond and roast a fish?"
Nanzhi's forehead creased. This rascal truly couldn't sit still and was always restless.
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded. There was nothing wrong with the boy's youthful spirit. "Take a black fish to roast. Black fish is the most fragrant when roasted. Remember to get some salt, soy sauce, and other seasonings from the kitchen, or it won't have any flavor. Take a few more, so everyone can try."
"Yes, sir!"
The mischievous child sprang from the bench and enthusiastically pushed open the door.
A short while later, the crackling sound of roasting could be heard by the charcoal fire. The mischievous child began roasting fish, while Su Qingjiu and Nanzhi, among others, wished they could beat him.
...
Deep into the night.
Yunzhou, Cloud Ascending Pavilion.
Shi Hanyin sat by a small stove, reluctant to sleep. Two sisters from the Cloud Ascending Pavilion, both strikingly beautiful, were beside her. One of them giggled, "Sister Hanyin, are you truly not sleeping all night? Tomorrow, there's a performance on the first day of the New Year. If that young master who has always admired you sees you looking exhausted, I wonder how heartbroken he'll be!"
"I don't want to sleep," Shi Hanyin said with a gentle smile. "When I was little, I used to stay up all night with my father and mother during the New Year. I'll catch up on sleep the next day."
"That's true," the woman in the apricot-yellow long skirt picked up a piece of pastry and said, "Young Master Chen's Hibiscus Province White Jade Cake is truly exquisite. It's soft, glutinous, and sweet. Would you like to try some?"
"No, thank you." Shi Hanyin opened a paper packet and said with a smile, "Snow Domain Heavenly Lake's tea fritters, would you like to try some?"
"Ah?!" The other two young ladies were dumbfounded. What kind of tea fritters could possibly compare to the legendary "one catty of white jade, one catty of silver" White Jade Cake?
Shi Hanyin bit into a crispy tea fritter. It was fragrant and delicious, making her feel that this New Year was even more flavorful.