My Daming New Empire

The Lantern Festival started yesterday on both sides of the Qinhuai River, and the crowds were like weaving.Yesterday he brought his younger siblings to watch the Lantern Festival, and they were so crowded that they couldn't move, but this morning, the lights were all turned off and the crowd disappeared.

It was about ten miles from here to Habayashi School outside Chaoyang Gate. As long as it wasn't raining heavily, he would run to the school every time.

It's still a holiday today, he doesn't have to go to school, but he can't slacken his daily running.He ran along the Qinhuai River to Qingliangmen, and turned back from there. He felt that he had just warmed up.

But going to the master's house today, he might have to be trained, so he didn't dare to torture himself too hard.

If you don't practice well for a while, you will be beaten.Thinking of this, he felt a pain in his buttocks.

But even though he was often beaten, he still respected this master very much.This villain in the eyes of others is just like his father.

No, more father than father.

When I ran back to the neighborhood entrance in Yunguili, most of the shops hadn't opened yet, but one shop selling tofu nao had already opened.

"Uncle Hu, use your jar to give me [-] cents worth of tofu nao, and another [-] sticks of fried dough sticks. I'll give you the money later when I deliver the jar."

"Zifeng, did you run again so early? Are you going to join the army?"

A diner from the same neighborhood shouted disdainfully: "Joining what army? Second...Zifeng is now the apprentice of Lord Jinyiwei, and he is destined to join Jinyiwei in the future. What's more, he is still studying at the Habayashiwei Academy of His Royal Highness Taisun. After coming out, at least they are all bosses..."

Since being accepted as an apprentice by the master, he can feel obvious changes.Those high-ranking adults in the past have a bit of respect for him.

No one called him "Er Gouzi, Er Gouzi" anymore, they all called him by his name Li Zifeng.

The yamen servant at Neighborhood Counseling didn't even look at him at first, but now he still talks and laughs with him, even complimenting him from time to time.

At first, he was a little shy, but when he arrived at Habayashi Guard School, he could learn so much new knowledge every day, and when he was fighting with those honorable children, he was beaten to pieces.

He is very clear that if he wants to stand out, he still has a lot to learn!

Back home, grandma saw the deep-fried dough stick in his hand, and began to scold him again. "Why do you buy so many deep-fried dough sticks? The deep-fried dough sticks cost two cents a piece, and you can buy two steamed buns, and you can't bear the hunger. You are a big spender..."

Er Gouzi ignored her and entered the house with a smile on his hands. "Sanba, Niuniu, wake up soon, if you wake up late, there will be no tofu nao, eat fried dough sticks."

As soon as he yelled, the younger siblings in the side room got up and ran out without thick clothes on.

They quickly ran to the kitchen, brought several large bowls, divided the tofu brains, and then each of them took a deep-fried dough stick and ate it.

Sanwa likes salty ones, so she ate them with diced pickles, while Niuniu likes sweet ones, so she took the sugar bowl from the table under the portrait of the founder of the Sanqing Dynasty in the main hall, carefully squeezed out a pinch, and sprinkled a thin layer.

White sugar is a precious thing, if the master hadn't given him a jar during the Chinese New Year, no one in the family would be willing to spend money on it.

After taking two bites, it didn't feel sweet. Niu Niu wanted to get the sugar bowl again, but she was hit on the head by grandma. "Did you waste such an expensive thing?"

Niu Niu rolled her eyes and looked at Er Gouzi begging for help.Er Gouzi smiled and said: "Grandma, let Niuniu eat, is there still a lack of this at home? Today is the holiday, everyone is happy."

The old woman favored sons over daughters, and now the family's prosperity is mainly due to the eldest grandson, so although it is long-winded, it is almost obedient to the elder grandson's words.

She hesitated for a moment, but still stuffed the sugar bowl into Niu Niu's hand. "Eat you stinky girl."

At this time, father Li Hai and mother came from another room, holding a child in each of their arms, the older one could already talk, and wanted to eat fried dough sticks when he saw it, the younger one was not weaned yet, staring wide-eyed and toothless. Smiling, the saliva flowed out.

Li Hai is still working as a broker in the government-run dental firm, and with the help of Er Gouzi, he has a relationship with Jin Yiwei.Now Jinyiwei is looking for anyone who wants to rent a house. The adults in Jinyiwei are relatively frequent and the business is constant, which makes his life much easier.

"Today you are going to the master's house, and bring the air-dried raccoon that your second uncle from the countryside brought over to your master a few days ago."

"Well, I see." Er Gouzi put down the bowl, wiped his mouth and said, "I won't be back at noon, mother, help me tidy up the quilt, and I'm going to school tomorrow."

"It's all packed, so you won't miss your business."

Sanwa asked with some reluctance: "Second Brother, are you still going to the Lantern Market tonight? I didn't see Lei Gong discharge yesterday..."

"That's not Lei Gong's discharge, it was researched by His Highness... I can't tell, anyway, people can discharge. If I come back early, I will take you to see it."

Sanwa and Niuniu immediately became happy, especially Niuniu, who is already 11 years old this year, without Er Gouzi, who doesn’t even give up the door, can go to the Lantern City to play, and her brother can buy food for her, that’s the best Happy thing.

Er Gouzi was about to go out, his mother didn't care about eating, so she went to get him the dried raccoon, and was stopped by Er Gouzi when she was helping him change into new clothes.

"Mother, I have to practice martial arts when I go to Master's place, so I will wear my school uniform. This school uniform is more stylish than new clothes..."

Li Hai nodded and said: "That's right, Your Highness is back. Habayashi Wei Xue is in trouble now. It is said that many wealthy businessmen can't buy a place for admission if they want to spend 200 taels of silver. Wearing this clothes is better than those earl uniforms." Not bad."

"200 taels of silver!" The old woman was surprised and said: "Er Gouzi, this is all the grace of your master, you must remember your master's great kindness."

"Understood." Er Gouzi entered the back room and opened his cash box. There were a few silver dollars and a lot of copper coins in it. of.

He is not yet 16 years old and cannot open a bank account, so the money can only be locked at home.In another two years, when he is 16 years old, he will save the money in the bank without such a hassle.

He took out two fifty copper coins, took another handful of change, and locked the box.

After he came out, he gave the handful of copper coins to grandma. "Grandma, you keep the coins for flowers."

The old woman is actually reluctant to spend it, but there are a few grandsons and granddaughters who have copper coins and can buy them something when they are hungry.

Saying no, she finally put it inside her clothes.

When I went out with the jar and the lizard, I met more people this time, and everyone greeted him, calling Zifeng instead of Ergouzi.

When he came to the master's house in Chang'an Square, he found that martial law had been imposed here today.Fortunately, he was wearing the clothes of Habayashi Guards, and those people under martial law belonged to Habayashi Guards, so they just asked him, verified his identity, and let him in.

It is Habayashi Guard who is under martial law. Could it be that His Highness is going out today?Will he come to Master's house?

Li Zifeng's heart jumped violently. He knew very well that the change in his fate was the result of being met by His Highness three years ago.

The master originally didn't want to accept him as an apprentice, but only accepted him for His Highness's sake.But in the past three years, his master has treated him better and better.

When he came to the small courtyard of the master's house and saw the servants coming in and out, he made sure that His Highness was coming to the master's house today.No wonder Master told him a few days ago that he must come here on time today.

He was finally able to see His Highness again, and his heart was extremely excited.

Yang Zhangde's home is not very big in Chang'an Fang, where rich and powerful people gather, but he can have a small courtyard with two entrances here, which would not be exchanged for a big house.

It is less than one mile away from the imperial palace, and the front, rear, left, and right are the court's yamen, and being able to live here is already a status symbol.

"Er Gouzi, ouch, I brought a gift today!"

A skinny Taoist in his fifties wearing a Taoist robe cried out when he saw Li Zifeng. "This is Lord Yang's apprentice, studying at Habayashi Guard School."

A young servant smiled and said: "I can see that those who can enter the Habayashi Guard School are all from our own family. But the rules cannot be broken..."

The so-called rules are inspections, this time the inspections are much stricter, a short training dagger in Li Zifeng's arms was searched out and placed in the porter's room.

But with this procedure, Li Zifeng was always immersed in the excitement of seeing His Highness, and he didn't feel disgusted by the eunuchs touching his body.

Entering the small courtyard, I found that the kitchen here has been taken over by the servants, everyone is busy in an orderly manner, and everyone can take care of him, a half-grown child.

The Taoist said with a smile: "Er Gouzi, I heard that you have met His Highness, you are more fortunate than me. I came to Yingtian Mansion from Wudang, and this is the first time I have seen His Highness."