Sick Man Turns Out to be a General

0Even before the news from the salt pens from the south could be heard, the capital had entered a festive atmosphere. Every street was bustling with activity, shops were busily inviting customers to buy New Year's food, and the people outside the city had made new year's food to sell. The atmosphere was extremely joyous.    4

    

Under the orders of the Nanny Jin, Shen Jingli also began to purchase new year goods. He ordered a few new clothes from the clothing workshop for New Year's and Spring Festival, bought some fish and chicken, and also bought a variety of dry goods such as mushrooms, wooden ears, mushrooms, abalone, squid, etc.    

    

The dried goods and fish were all stored in the warehouse. They were all bought and raised at home, where they would be slaughtered and eaten on the day of the new year. As for the pork, part of it was made into cured meat, while the other part was frozen, waiting to be made into stewed meat before the new year.    

    

After their own family finished collecting the New Year gifts, Shen Jingli personally gifted them with last year's gifts.    

    

In the past two years, Shen Jingli had earned a lot of money, so this time he gave a very rich annual gift: six foot long big carp, still alive and kicking in the pail, a 100 pound fat pig, six wild chickens, six domestic chickens, six ducks, six big geese, and the cow skin candy he made. In order to celebrate, he specially made it into the shape of five blessings, a few barrels of peanut oil and tea oil, as well as several fruits for the season.    

    

The meat of a chicken, duck, or fish was nothing to the rich officials. What was valuable was the fruits during the season, as well as the soft tobacco as thin as muslin. Rumor had it that each piece was worth more than a thousand taels of silver.    

    

Although there were many rich families in the capital, it was rare for them to be rich enough to make use of something like this, especially officials. The salary of the imperial court was only a few thousand taels of silver a year, and if there were no other businesses in the family, they would only be able to lead a comfortable life.    

    

Going to the Western Mu Mansion would require going through the Marquis Zhen Yuan Mansion. After the Old Lady Mu and the Dehui County Lord found out about this, they got angry again and started a ruckus in the palace.    

    

Shen Jingli didn't know about this at all, but even if he did, he wouldn't care about it.    

    

And ever since Old Lady Mu and Dehui County Lord had caused trouble at the County Prince's Mansion and ordered him to kill one person, Marquis Zhen had forbade Old Lady Mu and Dehui County Lord from going back to the County Prince's Mansion, and even forbade them from seeing Shen Jingli again.    

    

Along the way to the Western Mu Mansion, Shen Jingli alighted from the carriage at the main entrance, and the carriage carrying the New Year's gift entered through the back door.    

    

"We have everything at home, why bother to send over the New Year's gift?" Third Old Lady couldn't help but scold Shen Jingli the moment he saw him.    

    

From this, it could be seen how satisfied she was with Shen Jingli. She turned around and said to her grandchildren: "You guys, learn to be smarter, don't even know these etiquette, others will say that we Mu Mansion's people have no education, and do not know how to educate the younger generation."    

    

"Got it, I will definitely learn from sister-in-law." Mu Sihua walked over, held onto Third Old Lady's arm, and said coquettishly.    

    

Third Old Lady looked at her with a blaming look, she laughed proudly, and secretly winked at Shen Jingli from behind the old lady.    

    

Mu Siyu and Mu Sitong obediently stood to the side. They were Shu ladies, and in front of guests, they did not dare to act coquettishly towards the Countess like Mu Sihua. Even if they spoke carelessly, they would not allow it.    

    

"Girl, you're almost going to talk about the people you're close to. You're still not young at all." Madam Qin shook her head in disdain, but her eyes were still filled with love.    

    

Mu Sihua stuck her tongue out mischievously, not taking her mother's words to heart. Instead, she looked at Shen Jingli and asked, "Sister-in-law, what kind of new year gift did you give us?"    

    

"It's just an ordinary New Year's gift." If there was anything special about it, it would be the variety of sugars.    

    

After Shen Jingli stayed in the Mu Family for two hours, the Third Old Lady asked him about his recent situation and told him about the situation of his family. Mu Jing and Yang Ningyi were to marry after the new year, while Mu Siyu was already determined to marry after Mu Jing.    

    

Sacrifice was a huge matter, so Shen Jingli didn't dare to agree on Mu Chen's behalf. He said that he would tell Mu Chen about this matter, and only left after worrying about the Old Madam's body a bit more.    

    

After that, Shen Jingli made another trip to the Yang Mansion, where people were much more fervent than those with Mu Family.    

    

"Sister-in-law, I've been missing you so much recently, why haven't you come to see me?" When Yang Ningxin heard that Shen Jingli had come, without even wearing her cape, she rushed out and came in front of Shen Jingli, asking for credit, "Sister-in-law, I sold the chilli sauce I took from you last time for over 1000 taels of silver, is it very powerful?"    

    

She looked at Shen Jingli with a smile, the intention to praise was too obvious. Shen Jingli extended his hand to caress her head, and said with great power: "So powerful, how did you do it?"    

    

He didn't give her much chili sauce, only around ten jars. At most, they could hold a hundred small bottles. Could she have sold them for ten taels of silver each?    

    

The little girl proudly raised her head, the expression on her face clearly said, "Hurry up and ask me, hurry and ask more."    

    

"Sister-in-law, don't bother with her. This girl can't hold it in. She'll say it herself in a while." Yang Ningtian who was specially against Yang Ningxin walked over and pointed out his thoughts.    

    

"Yang Ningtian..." Yang Ningxin called out Yang Ningtian's name in dissatisfaction, and immediately swung her fist to beat him up.    

    

Seeing the two chasing each other, Shen Jingli turned to ask Yang Ningya, "What's going on?"    

    

"That lass is smart. She gave a small bottle to the shopkeepers in the big restaurants of the capital. After others have tasted it, she'll go to the auction. The highest bidder will have it." "Yang Ningya truly thought that this little sister's mind was enlightened," Those shopkeepers are all intelligent, they just want to auction off this new item, and at the end of the year, doing favors is worth more than selling them in the shop, it's not a loss at all.    

    

I heard that the Old Lady of the Rong Country's residence really liked that spicy sauce restaurant. Because of this, their relationship with the Rong Country's residence had become even more popular.    

    

"Those shopkeepers know how to do business." Shen Jingli gave her a fair answer.    

    

"After all, he's been an old shopkeeper for many years." Yang Ningya laughed, with an elegant posture, she looked like a lady from a noble family.    

    

Entering the room, the servants had already moved the New Year goods Shen Jingli brought in, the meat had all been moved to the kitchen, and here, were some dry goods, candy, medicinal herbs and cloth.    

    

"Sister-in-law, what's this?" Yang Ningxin asked as she picked up a piece of cow skin candy and started to eat, "Eh, it's pretty delicious."    

    

Yang Ningtian also saw the unique style and felt that it was quite creative. He also picked up a piece to eat.    

    

"Sister-in-law, the sugar looks quite unique."    

    

"Those are flowers blooming with wealth." Peony represents wealth. A peony in full bloom is also a flower blooming with wealth.    

    

"What about this one?" Yang Ningtian raised another one.    

    

It was a blessing." Bat Ton Fu, five bats are five to five, bamboo is also tall, plus a carp is like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, fat kid holding big carp is more than a year old … It was a very simple method. In the modern world, many people knew of it.    

    

Shen Jingli introduced them one by one. During this time, Yang Ningxin opened her eyes wide, and when Shen Jingli finished explaining, her pupils had practically turned into copper coins. Without a doubt, this girl was trying to figure out another way to earn money.    

    

"One thousand taels." Before she could even open his mouth, Shen Jingli had already calculated a number.    

    

Yang Ningxin was startled, "What 1000 gold?"    

    

"I'm not cooperating with you. I'll sell you the recipe once and for all." In order to make a flower out of a flower, Shen Jingli only needed a mold to make it. In fact, he could totally do this business himself, but he was lazy by nature and didn't think that he could do it for too long.    

    

"Why? This is a way to make money. " If they were to sell it in the Jin Xuan restaurant, they would earn at least several hundred silver taels per month.    

    

"I'm lazy." Shen Jingli admitted it without hiding anything.    

    

"…"    

    

Yang Ningxin felt that she had nothing to say, and nodded her head, "Alright then."    

    

Buy it out, buy it out. Worse comes to worse, after earning some money, buy something meaningful for my sister-in-law.    

    

Thinking about it more carefully, every time sister-in-law had a good idea, she would remind them of it. The reason they were able to earn a large amount of pocket money today was all thanks to their sister-in-law.    

    

Shen Jingli only stayed in Yang Family for two hours or so, before returning home with a gift from Yang Family.    

    

After going back, Shen Jingli discussed the matter of offering sacrifices to the ancestor with Mu Chen.    

    

"Third Young Madam said that after spring, Third Grandpa will bring the few uncles back to offer sacrifices to the ancestors. She asked if you would like to go with them?"    

    

Shen Jingli had also gone to pay his respects to his ancestors with the old man before, and he would remember things that were of great importance to him for the next few lifetimes.    

    

He felt that with such a grand ceremony, if he returned, Mu Chen, the person who was kicked out of the sect, would bring about trouble.    

    

"Sacrifice?"    

    

It had been a long time since he heard these words, and Mu Chen was in a daze for a while. The ancestor of the great clan, he had grown up and had gone back to participate with the old man once when he was young.    

    

"Yeah, if you don't want to go back, then just let Third Grandpa know."    

    

This matter actually reminded Mu Chen. Mu Family said that he would be expelled from the sect, but in reality, they did not allow him to return to the ancestral hall, nor did they ask for his name to be written down in front of all the ancestors.    

    

If his name was still in the family tree, he would still belong to the Mu Clan. There were many things he could not do as he pleased.    

    

"I know."    

    

"..."    

    

After collecting the New Year goods, Shen Jingli was busy with the preparations for the New Year, organizing a cleaning for the people in the residence.    

    

The new year gradually approached and in the blink of an eye, it reached 29. On this day, besides pasting doors and windows, the most important thing was to pay respects to Old Master Mu and the Mu family.    

    

Shen Jingli had already prepared the offerings and paper early in the morning, and when it was dusk, the family of four entered the Ancestral Hall.    

    

Mu Chen first wiped off the Old Master's and Mu Yang's memorial tablets, then lit a candle and placed the offerings on the table. The whole family of four went up to pay their respects, and after that, Mu Chen explained the year's situation, while introducing Xun Er to them. As he spoke, Shen Jingli and Mu Jin burned the paper at the side, as well as the specially made houses, big ingots, palanquins, and so on.    

    

Everyone believed that the things they burned could be received by the people in the Underworld, and they could also have a good year.    

    

After the worship was over, the family went back to their rooms to rest and to have a good night's sleep to welcome the coming New Year's Eve.