I am dying of old age, and I have awakened to the character of longevity.

This time, Xie An took a carriage.

Having become a Hall Master, the branch naturally provided a carriage for出行.

According to the branch's standard configuration, there was also a coachman. However, Xie An had Yu He, this all-around maid, so he dismissed the coachman.

Giddy up!

Yu He was wearing a brown fur coat, leather boots, and sat outside the carriage, driving it towards the outside of the canyon.

Although the weather was cold, Yu He didn't feel cold at all, but instead looked heroic.

She turned her head and asked into the carriage, "Master, where shall we go first?"

"Shuideng Town is bustling, and the New Year goods are more diverse."

"Master, hold on tight."

The carriage broke through the wind and snow, the wheels crushing the heavy snow, leaving two long tracks.

Xie An, however, comfortably sat in the warm carriage.

The seat was covered with a layer of exquisite animal skin, and next to it was a hot water bottle, spreading warmth throughout the carriage, making it cozy.

Xie An had already stepped into the Refined Flesh Realm, his flesh like copper and skin like iron, and he was no longer afraid of the cold or heat, needing neither a hot water bottle nor even a carriage…

But the feeling of being taken care of was still good.

Traveling by carriage provided a private space, without having to show his face in public… which was also very nice.

Just like in his previous life, taking the subway and driving were both for going from point A to point B, but the feeling of driving was undoubtedly better, except for traffic jams…

Having lived to this day, Xie An had long understood:

There was no need to be too obsessed with pursuing wealth, but there was also no need to reject it. The only thing to be careful of… was not to let wealth erode one's will.

With will, wealth would naturally be all the better.

Suddenly, Xie An had another thought: Beauty… was it the same?

"…"

Not long after, they arrived at Shuideng Town.

Although it was snowing, it couldn't hide people's enthusiasm for the Little New Year.

The shops on both sides of the street were hung with red lanterns and paper-cut window decorations, very festive. There were also countless mobile vendors and stallholders, all hanging red "Fu" characters on their stalls, loudly hawking and selling.

Families took their children out to stroll the streets, especially sugar figurines and candied hawthorns sold well. Basically, every child held a sugar figurine or a candied hawthorn in their hand. Hopping and skipping on the road, taking a lick of the sugar figurine, they felt it was the greatest enjoyment of the year.

"Mom, I want that piggy sugar figurine."

"After the New Year, it's the Year of the Monkey, I'll buy you a monkey sugar figurine."

"I don't want it! I don't like monkeys, I like piggies. Mom, I want a piggy sugar figurine, I want it, I want it… Waa, Mom doesn't love me anymore."

"Okay, okay, don't cry, don't cry, then a piggy it is."

"Hehe. Mom is so good."

Looking at the mother and daughter, Xie An couldn't help but reveal a smile.

Yu He, who was holding Xie An's arm, couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile, "Master, shall I go buy a sugar figurine?"

Xie An flatly refused, "Those are for children to eat. Let's go, let's go, to Wufangzhai. Also, buy two sets of good cotton-padded jackets."

Even Wuqiao Town had a branch of Wufangzhai, so the more prosperous Shuideng Town naturally had one as well. Although the pastries and New Year goods inside were expensive, the quality was good, and the taste was excellent.

Xie An planned to buy a set for each of his two disciples and Madam Li, and also buy a set for Chen Yuan, the pawnshop's shopkeeper, and Chen He, the shopkeeper of the Chen Family Martial Arts Hall's pharmacy.

As for the cotton-padded jackets, they were naturally for his two disciples.

With Xie An's current wealth, he could completely buy better fur or wool clothes. However, his two disciples were working at the pawnshop after all, and wearing clothes that were too luxurious would easily make them stand out.

Jackets made of fine cotton were not only good-looking, but also had a good warming effect.

…

Wuqiao Town.

Chunlan led a group of servants and maids to start sweeping away dust, pasting window decorations, making dumplings, making sugar melons, and making baked wheaten cakes, etc. As the mistress of the house, Madam Li personally went to the kitchen to paste a new portrait of the Kitchen God, and then offered incense and worshiped.

The custom of worshiping the Kitchen God on the Little New Year was a common one.

From princes and grandees to ordinary people, they would all paste a new portrait of the Kitchen God and offer incense and worship on this day. Praying for a good harvest and peace every year.

Madam Li was getting old and paid even more attention to this.

Worshiping the Kitchen God was one of the Five Sacrifices. Ranked alongside the Gods of the Door, Earth, Gate, and Travel. All were objects of worship that each household especially valued.

Most of the common people in the Great Qian Dynasty lived a hard life, and they especially valued this kind of sacrifice, hoping to get the blessing of the gods.

After the Little New Year's Kitchen God worship, there would be busy days ahead:

The twenty-fourth welcomes the Nuo Opera and sweeps away the dust; the twenty-fifth welcomes the Jade Emperor; the twenty-seventh sacrifices the Spring Ox; the twenty-eighth cuts window decorations; the twenty-ninth welcomes the Door Gods… until the Spring Festival of the Great New Year.

After finishing all this, Chunlan helped the frail Madam Li back to the living room and massaged her back.

"Madam, your health is not good, don't do these chores yourself, just leave them to us servants."

Madam Li smiled and said, "While my body is still nimble, I'll do it while I can. By the way, did you inform Chen Yuan, the shopkeeper of the pawnshop? Tell him to come to the mansion for lunch."

"I informed him yesterday."

"And He Chunli, although he is young, he is an appraiser after all, and the proper etiquette cannot be lacking. This year, although the shop's business is a little worse than when Old Xie was here, there have been no mistakes. I see that Little He is steady in his work and has some of Old Xie's demeanor."

Chunlan didn't answer.

Huh?

Madam Li keenly sensed something, "What's wrong?"

Chunlan stammered, "A few days ago, there was a deficit in the shop, saying that Master He used two hundred taels to buy a dead pawned antique, but when the master asked other appraiser masters to look at it, they found it was worthless. Later, the master asked Chen Yuan to take the item to Yong'an Pawnshop in the county town, and it was also worthless…

The master was furious about this and even whipped Master He."

Madam Li was shocked to hear this, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Chunlan lowered her head, "The master didn't allow us to say more… saying that the madam is too kind to the servants, which is not conducive to disciplining the servants. Also…"

"Also what?"

"Also… the master doesn't know how, but he found out that the madam had secretly met Master Xie before and gave Old Xie one hundred and eighty taels to redeem himself. Although Master Xie didn't want it, the master has some complaints about this." Chunlan finished speaking and prostrated herself on the ground, "Madam, it wasn't me who said it. I swear!"

Alas.

Madam Li sighed and quickly helped Chunlan up, "I know it wasn't you who said it, get up quickly. The master is good at everything, but he's obsessed with money and treats the servants harshly. Which appraiser master doesn't misjudge, a reliable character is the foundation."

Immediately, Madam Li went to the drawer in the room and took out a piece of broken silver, and stuffed it into Chunlan's hand, "Take this two taels of silver to Little He, and let him buy some medicine to recuperate. By the way, say a few good words for the master. Then let Little He come to the mansion for the New Year tea and meal."

Chunlan held the broken silver, looked at Madam Li with white hair on her temples, and felt very uncomfortable, muttering, "If the master knows, he will inevitably quarrel with the madam again."

Cough cough cough.

Madam Li coughed lightly, "My health is not good, I guess I don't have many years to live. I want to do more good deeds, not only for myself, but also to accumulate virtue for the master and Shaoyun. What is a little nagging, go ahead."

"Yes, madam."

"Also, recently Shaoyun has been doing well in the Tiger Wolf Gate, has been appreciated, and has also been given martial arts training resources. It is most important for a family to be harmonious. Shaoyun will be back for the New Year tea and meal in a while. You must call Little He over, lest he develop any grudges. Understand?"

"Understood."

…

"Hiss! Be gentle! Don't treat my butt like it's nothing."

"Turtle, I haven't even applied the ointment yet, and you're already shouting?"

"Ah, you haven't applied the ointment yet… Ah! ! !"

In the room in the backyard of Li's Pawnshop. He Chunli had his pants pulled down, lying on a bench, and Han Li next to him grinned even before applying the ointment. When the ointment was actually applied, his grin turned directly into a wail.

"Okay. Apply twice a day, and once more at night." Han Li put away the ointment and muttered, "I have to say that Master Li is too ruthless, I checked that jade pendant first, and its value is two hundred taels, no problem. How could it be worthless? Or is there something wrong with the method that the master taught us?"

"You still have the nerve to say… If you hadn't insisted on taking that jade pendant, would I have agreed? I'm taking the blame for you." He Chunli looked aggrieved.

Han Li then took out a string of candied hawthorns in shame, squatted under the bench, and put a large red hawthorn in front of He Chunli's mouth, "Okay, okay, Shopkeeper He is taking the blame for me. Until your butt is completely healed, I'll take care of you, okay? I'll do whatever you want me to do."

Crack.

He Chunli bit off a hawthorn, sour and sweet, and his mood improved a lot, "That's more like it."

Han Li squatted on the ground, and after He Chunli finished eating a hawthorn, he held up the string and fed the next one, serving him very well. And every time He Chunli bit off a hawthorn, he deliberately made a loud noise, looking very proud.

Han Li got angry and took away the string with the last two hawthorns left, "I'm feeding you a candied hawthorn, and you're putting on airs. I'm not feeding you anymore."

Hiss!

He Chunli immediately showed a painful expression, "Han Li, you're inhuman…"

Han Li couldn't bear to see it and moved the string over again, "Forget it, seeing that you're not having an easy time either, I'll give you some face. Eat it properly, don't glare at me."

He Chunli no longer showed off and enjoyed the hawthorns deliciously.

Han Li then became melancholy, "Where do you think our master has gone? There hasn't been any news for a year… Could it be… ?"

He Chunli was very anxious when he heard this, and swallowed the hawthorn in his mouth without chewing, "Don't talk nonsense. Master is practicing the Health Cultivation Technique, and I heard that the Health Cultivation Technique can make people live longer."

Han Li said, "That's right. We learned Master's health cultivation technique, and after a year of practice, our bodies have improved a bit."

He Chunli looked up, watching the flying snow outside the door, his thoughts racing, "Without Master, there would be no me today. I really hope Master is well... Master, I miss you so much."

Han Li also looked up at the window, murmuring, "Who doesn't? I also miss Master very much. I wonder if Master is doing well now, whether he is suffering from hunger and cold..."

Snow filled the sky, and the ground was covered in silver.

Such an atmosphere easily evokes sorrow in people's hearts.

He Chunli asked, "Brother Han Li, do you still resent Master for letting me be the appraiser?"

Han Li smiled wryly, "In the beginning, when Master let you be the appraiser, I felt a bit disappointed and resentful. Because at that time, I felt that I was more suitable... But after this year, I realized that Master was right.

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The pawnshop business is too deep, and it is easy to stumble if you have any greed. Zhang Bing before was the best example. Although my mind is active, I am also greedy. If I had been the appraiser a year ago, I would probably have followed in Zhang Bing's footsteps.

Master is right, we are just servants. Even if we make a lot of money for the shop, Master Li may not reward us with anything. But once something goes wrong with the shop, we will be beaten and scolded."

After speaking, Han Li looked at He Chunli's bruised buttocks, feeling a burst of fear.

Even someone as cautious and steady as He Chunli could not avoid being tricked.

Let alone Han Li himself?

You should know that after becoming an appraiser, the temptations faced are too great. The pricing depends entirely on the appraiser's decision, and even a slight adjustment can create a lot of room for personal gain. But once it gets out, it's over.

Han Li asked himself if he could withstand such temptation a year ago.

"I now know that Master's decision was for my own good. He wanted me to gain more experience. Moreover, when Master had a stroke, you were the one who served him and showed filial piety by his bedside. Even if I were Master, I would have given you the position of appraiser."

The current Han Li is much more mature than he was a year ago.

Previously, when they were following Xie An, Master was always there to protect them from the wind and rain. They thought less and had never truly faced the pressure of society, as well as the deep and complex nature of the pawnshop.

This year after Xie An left, they were finally facing the wind and rain on their own, facing the whip of society alone.

They became mature all at once.

He Chunli gave Han Li a thumbs up, "Brother Han is amazing, with good comprehension. I've thought it over, I'll be an appraiser for a few years, save up some money, and then go to Master Li to redeem myself, and then give you the position of appraiser."

Han Li was greatly surprised, "Then what are you going to do?"

Hehe.

He Chunli smiled, "I'm going to find Master and take care of him in his old age. I know I don't have much ability or ambition. I'm not like you, who has a family... If Master hadn't valued me, I would have starved to death on the streets long ago. After finding Master, I'll marry a wife and have a child. I'll have my child recognize Master as his godfather, and we'll take care of Master together in his old age.

I know that Master, like me, is a pitiful person with no family. It would be terrible if he were a lonely old man with no one to care for him in his final years."

Han Li was deeply shocked, and suddenly felt that not only had he matured this year, but He Chunli was even more mature than him.

Pa.

Han Li patted He Chunli's shoulder, "If you have a child, I'll give a big gift. Your child has to recognize me as his godfather."

"This... isn't that good? You're two years older than me, godfather is almost the same as uncle.

"No, just godfather."

"I don't like the sound of it. Either godfather or nothing. It's up to you."

"Damn, so stingy."

Just then, a crisp sound of footsteps came from outside the door, the "da da" sound of light steps on the snow.

Han Li glanced towards the door and exclaimed, "It's Miss Chunlan coming, quickly pull up your pants."

As the person involved, He Chunli was even more nervous, "Help me quickly."

"I'll stop her for a moment and tell her to come in slowly. Your hands aren't injured, put them on yourself." Han Li rolled his eyes at He Chunli speechlessly, and then walked out the door to greet Chunlan.

He Chunli looked at his hands.

"Oh, that's right..."

Putting on his pants, He Chunli picked up the dragon-head cane left by Master, enduring the pain as he limped out the door, "Miss Chunlan, why are you here?"

Chunlan glanced at He Chunli's buttocks, and then presented the silver: "The master and madam sent me to check on Master He's injury. Master He, please accept this two taels of silver, it's a token of the master and madam's concern. In fact, the master was also very remorseful after returning, feeling that he had hit too hard. He couldn't bring himself to say it, so he sent me to apologize to you."

He Chunli was greatly surprised and hurriedly cupped his hands, loudly saying towards the direction of the Li residence outside the house: "Thank you, Master."

Seeing that He Chunli had accepted the silver, Chunlan finally breathed a sigh of relief, "That's right. Master He, please come to the residence for tea and food this year. Don't forget, I still have to be busy."

Leaving a sentence, Chunlan hurriedly left.

He Chunli shouted loudly from behind: "Thank you, Master, for your kindness."

Han Li saw that He Chunli was still using the dragon-head cane and felt a little unbearable, "You're already like this, and you're still going to the Li residence for food. You won't even be able to sit down later."

He Chunli said, "Do you think I want to go? How dare I disobey Master's orders? But there are too many rules in the Li residence, and I can't relax and eat. I'll just eat a few bites and then come back... Let's go to Feiyun Restaurant in town for a meal."

Han Li smiled and said, "You're a good brother, my treat. Consider it a thank you for taking the hit for me."

"Forget it, you have a family. Your little income still needs to subsidize your family, I'll treat you. But don't order too much, at most three meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and one soup!"

Han Li looked at the limping guy, his eyes a little red, and suddenly blurted out, "No, I'll treat you. It's all my fault for making you like this."

"No, think more about your family. Your father's illness still needs money. In this world, He Chunli only has you as a friend."

Han Li's nose felt sore.

This year, He Chunli has grown a lot.

Although he is a few years younger than him, he has the responsibility of an older brother.

...

It is said that Chunlan had just arrived at the entrance of the pawnshop when she discovered a crowd of people cheering on the street. She couldn't help but curiously look in the direction of the crowd.

She saw a very luxurious carriage slowly driving over.

The tall black horses were particularly mighty, bringing a great sense of oppression to people on the street. Outside the carriage sat a beautiful and heroic woman wearing a brown fur coat, sitting upright, driving the horses while coldly looking around.

Perhaps it was because the carriage was luxurious, or perhaps it was because the person driving the carriage was too beautiful, attracting passersby on both sides of the street to stop and watch.

The Great Qian Dynasty did not prohibit merchants and commoners from traveling in carriages, but in Black Creek Town, apart from the Chen Family Martial Arts Hall and the Li Family, no one else dared to sit in a carriage. Although the Li residence was equipped with a carriage, it was rarely used.

The doorway is small, and the carriage is too ostentatious.

Perhaps because of this, so many passersby came to watch.

As the wheels rolled over the snow, the carriage finally stopped in front of Li's Pawnshop.

The beautiful woman jumped out of the carriage, and then led a middle-aged man in a straight blue brocade robe out of the carriage, slowly walking towards Li's Pawnshop.

In Chunlan's eyes, the middle-aged man was extraordinary, his steps were steady, and his eyebrows revealed a noble temperament different from ordinary people, quite like a crane standing among chickens.

Chunlan felt that this middle-aged man was very familiar, but also different. For a moment, she stared blankly for a long time.

Finally, Chunlan only thought that these two distinguished guests were clients, so she bowed and said, "Please come inside, I'll go find the appraiser."

"Miss Chunlan."

A familiar voice, a pair of kind hands, helped Chunlan up.

"You are?" Chunlan looked at the noble man in front of her with a puzzled face. In her heart, she felt that it was Xie An, mainly because this person's temperament was too extraordinary, and completely different from the former Xie An. Chunlan didn't dare to believe it, let alone recognize him.

"Hey, it's me, Xie An. When I had a stroke, you came to visit me many times and gave me two taels of silver, have you forgotten?" Xie An naturally saw that Chunlan was a little timid, so he took the initiative to lower his posture and acted very kind and natural.

Chunlan's eyes gradually became brighter, but she still maintained a bowing posture, "Master Xie... Master!"

"It's me. Get up quickly. Miss Chunlan, if you're not busy, can you allow me to come in for a cup of tea?"

Xie An's kind and amiable attitude greatly reduced the pressure on Chunlan, and the distance was not so far. She hurriedly led Xie An into the door excitedly, "Okay, the wind and snow are heavy outside, come in quickly."

While leading the way, Chunlan did not forget to look at Xie An out of the corner of her eye.

Although she didn't know what Xie An had done this year, seeing Xie An's luxurious brocade robe and his upright demeanor, she knew that Xie An had become a superior person. Now, this is considered returning home in glory!