Two burly young men, looking dusty and travel-worn, suddenly strode into a small tavern near the city gate.They tossed a silver coin to the young attendant as soon as they entered, quickly ordering so...Jia Xu only just returned home yesterday. It's been said that he stayed at Li's house for a night first, had hot pot, soaked in hot springs, and even on this trip south, he didn't go without Li's family's care.

From Mrs. Jia to Baozhu, everyone from young to old was filled with gratitude towards the Li family.

Thus, Jia Laofu personally led her three daughters-in-law to prepare a New Year's gift for the Li family.

Before the gift could be sent out, Brother Jiaren and his three brothers came to visit, bringing New Year's presents.

The specialty of Suijin Beach is emerald melon and golden fruit. Quite a few of these are planted in Jia Yin's space at this time, but she dare not take them out.

Fortunately, the fruit on the mountain wasn't bad either, so Jiayin decided not to interfere.

So, the Li family prepared New Year's gifts for their relatives and friends, which were basically two baskets of fruits, two baskets of fresh vegetables, two boxes of pastries from Baiyun Guan, one pork leg, plus seafood and dried goods brought back by the shipping fleet.

The pork leg was from three fat pigs that were selected in the pigpen a few days ago and slaughtered together on purpose.

The big white pig from Suijin Beach is now a celebrity pig in the surrounding areas.

Everyone travels far and wide, bringing their own sows to this place to “form a bond,” then giving birth to a litter of white piglets or little spotted pigs.

It may just be an illusion, but everyone feels that these white pigs and pink pigs are easier to raise and gain weight faster. Moreover, the pork tastes less gamey and is more fragrant.

Therefore, this time Li's family chose pork legs for the annual gifts and sent them to each household.

Because she was close friends with the Jia family, Old Lady Li cared about Old Madam Jia, her old sister-in-law, and especially instructed her granddaughter to send two more baskets of good fruit.

For example, bananas, tangerines, pears, grapes, etc.

Older people, as their taste buds decline, always prefer to eat some sweet fruits.

Especially in winter, people sleep on heated kang beds and use heating systems like underground hot water pipes or charcoal stoves to stay warm. This inevitably leads to getting “hot” internally.

At this moment, a juicy and refreshing fruit moistens my throat. It's simply bliss.

Old Mrs. Jia beamed with delight and promptly instructed her daughter-in-law to bring out the family's New Year's gifts.

The Jia family had no fruit and fresh vegetables, but they had cloth shops and farms.

Therefore, the New Year's gift given to the Li family was two cages of wild chickens, two buckets of carp, four bags of new rice, two bags of glutinous rice, and a bag each of various beans.

In addition, there are four pieces of silk, four pieces of fine cotton, and four boxes of embroidery thread and needles.

These are quite a few things, but Jiaren and his brothers still need to go to the Xing family. They can't put them on Li's carriage.

Therefore, Jia Xu first accompanied everyone to the Xing family, and then personally delivered the things to Suijintan.

The Jia family was very pleased to see the Li and Xing families getting engaged, so after a short while, Old Madam Jia chased her grandson out with his brothers.

Mrs. Jia Er had already sent word to her brother's family, so Mr. Xing and Mrs. Xing were waiting at home.

Before, the girl returned, but she endured her shyness and spoke to Madam Xing about many things.

Li Jia's affection and Jia Ren's straightforwardness made Xing Da Ren and Xing Fu Ren very satisfied.

But they never actually saw Jia Ren, so their hearts were still heavy with worry.

Finally, Xing Ning stood at the door, welcoming everyone.

Jiarren walked in the front and was the first one through the door.

Compared to those wealthy families, the Li family had a shallower foundation.

But Jiaren is the eldest grandson of the Li family. Following his family from a poor farming background to their current wealth and glory, he has experienced a lot and has always been studying and looking after his younger brothers. What he lacks the most is steadiness and practicality, and within that steadiness, there's also a touch of scholarly air.

This is the look that all elders love the most.

After all, who wouldn't want their daughter to marry a reliable good man!

Jiārén was dressed in a sapphire silk robe today, with a dark blue belt around his waist, adorned with a jade pendant carved with the Three Friends of Winter, and an emerald-green pouch.

A head of ink-black hair, tied up with a hollow silver hairpin, clean and neat.

With a bronze-tinged complexion, he looked very healthy, completely lacking the paleness and weakness commonly seen in scholars.

He wore boots with white soles and a hidden blue velvet lining, his ankles adorned with golden threads depicting eagles.

Because the weather was cold, he wore a wolfskin vest underneath and an overcoat of black satin embroidered with an eagle, matching his boots.

Mr. Xing and Mrs. Xing, seeing such a handsome young master striding towards them with his feet sinking into the newly fallen snow, were already overjoyed beyond measure.

Soon, both sides politely yielded their seats and offered tea.

Mr. and Mrs. Xing did not neglect Jia Huan, Li Ge'er, and Mao Ge'er.

Jia Huan is honest and kind, Li Ge'er is intelligent and polite, Mao Ge'er is innocent and lively. They are all very likable.

This also made Lord Xing and Madam Xing even happier.

After all, even a good son-in-law needs support from his brothers when he's part of a brotherhood.

As it turned out, the Li family was as united and prosperous as people had heard.

Mr. Xing was a compiler, spending his days immersed in books, so naturally he was very learned.

After just a few casual remarks, he couldn't help but quiz Jia Ren on his studies, not even sparing Li Ge'er and Mao Ge'er.

Only Jia Huan, because he was a cook, escaped the "ordeal".

As a result, not only was Jia Ren's reply to the satisfaction of Xing DaRen, but Li Ge'er and Mao Ge'er were also not bad.

This aroused Xing's love for talent, and he wished to question Jiaren and his brothers until nightfall.

Fortunately, Madam Xing stopped her husband's excessive behavior in time, comforted the brothers Jia Ren a few words, and then urged them to continue delivering New Year’s gifts.

Mr. Xing was still unsatisfied and promised to invite Jiaren for a good, long talk after the New Year when he had some free time.

Jiarren was not timid either, and readily agreed.

When leaving home, one window in the wing room creaked open a crack. Jia Ren guessed it was Wan'er behind it, so he smiled and nodded, then left with his younger brothers...

Without saying how many brothers Jia Ren hurriedly rushed to Lu'an Academy, let alone that Jia Yin was also very busy.

In the main hall of Houfu, the head steward was accompanying Jia Yin, carefully sorting through the received gift lists and preparing reply lists for gifts.

Logically speaking, the Marquis held heavy troops and had made up his mind to be a lone minister. He rarely interacted with outsiders in his daily life.

But humans are social animals, how could there be no trace of human interaction at all!

So, even though the Hou Mansion only gave New Year's gifts to some old relatives and friends of Ye Family, and fellow comrades-in-arms of the Marquis, there were still over thirty households listed.

The steward couldn't help but say, "Thankfully, the fruits and fresh vegetables brought by the county princess added color to the New Year's gifts."

Otherwise, it's always the same things year after year, just being swapped around. This one goes there, that one goes here.

Finally, maybe a lot of people received things that they themselves sent out. That would be so embarrassing.

Jia Yin closed the gift list and said with a smile, “Fortunately, our family has a heated room. We have plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rare and precious at this time of year. It saved us a lot of money on buying New Year's gifts.”

She pointed to ten baskets of fruit in the corner of the storeroom and instructed the head steward.

"Butler, these fruits are for everyone in the household. Would you please help distribute them Tomorrow, I have to go into the palace to present a New Year's gift to Uncle Emperor. If there's anything urgent here, please have someone look for me."

"Yes, my lady," the steward replied with a smile. He was about to speak when the Master returned, followed by two young servants.

The steward took a look and found the person familiar, but for a moment he couldn't recognize them. However, Jia Yin jumped up with joy...econd mistress close by advised, "Madam, this jadeite gourd was specially sent by Miss Lin to show her respect for you. You, you have distributed it to everyone else, but haven't been willing to eat a...