NCCnovel Chapter 244: New Year's Eve
Chapter 244: New Year's Eve
After another thirty miles, the road became increasingly rugged and full of difficulties and obstacles. Even on horseback, we had to move slowly, as the slightest mistake could lead to a fall into the turbulent river.
By the time we arrived at our destination, the sky was already as dark as ink, and the night enveloped the earth.
"Yelu Feng, let's cross the river tomorrow. Let's find a place to rest first and don't disturb the ferryman." Lan Yilan said weakly with a tired face.
"The cold wind at night is like sharp ice spikes, so biting that several brothers have caught cold and fallen ill last night." Yelu Feng frowned and responded worriedly.
"We brought the medicinal herbs purchased from the Central Plains. Let's quickly light a fire and boil some medicine for them to drink. As long as they hold on a little longer, they will definitely get better." Although Lan Yilan was extremely tired, she still tried to muster up energy and said.
Yelu Feng knew very well that Nalan Yilan's decision was difficult to change. As her loyal follower, he always obeyed Nalan Yilan's orders. Whatever she said was an order, and he had no choice but to obey.
Everyone set up a simple camp in a corner sheltered from the wind. Nalan Yilan and Yelu Feng took care of their sick brother without stopping, and were busy making fire and boiling medicine.
Yelu Feng looked at Lan Yilan's busy figure, and couldn't help but feel an indescribable pity in his heart: "Princess, you should also rest for a while, don't exhaust yourself."
Nalan Yilan shook her head slightly and said firmly, "I won't be in the way. The most urgent thing is to stabilize the brothers' conditions first."
After the medicine was prepared, they carefully gave it to their sick brothers one by one.
As the night grew darker, everyone gradually fell asleep in exhaustion. Only Lan Yilan and Yelu Feng were still guarding the fading campfire, worried about tomorrow's itinerary.
Suddenly, the distinct sound of horse hooves approached from afar, seeming particularly abrupt in the quiet night. Nalan Yilan and Yelu Feng instantly tensed up and became alert.
"Who could it be? Could it be the enemy who is pursuing me relentlessly?" Yelu Feng tightly gripped the long sword in his hand, his palms full of sweat.
Nalan Yilan lowered her voice and said calmly, "Don't act rashly. Hold your breath and observe. See the situation clearly before making a decision."
The sound of horse hooves grew closer, their hearts rose to their throats, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.
……
The noise made by Chen Da was under Zhao Sheng's surveillance, and the soldiers he took away were all veterans from Dingzhou. When something happened to the entire team, it was impossible for them not to have emotions inside.
Secondly, Chen Da’s mother and brother are still in the workshop, how can he just ignore them?
Zhao Sheng once firmly believed that Chen Dahui was the most reliable person and would never betray him.
"What does Chen Da's betrayal mean?"
Before the end of the year, Mr. Zhao went to Shigang Village, where Ajinomoto's core secrets and equipment for distilling liquor are hidden.
There are no heavy troops stationed here. There are only a few trusted people who are here for the first time. All the people hired around here are the refugees from that time. Zhao Long's younger brother Zhao Hu, Zhao Erniu and others are here.
Although the group of orphans he took in all regarded him as their family, who could actually tell whether they would betray him in the future?
"Chen Da was originally a man with dreams, wandering here. Thanks to your kindness, he has always been by your side. He might have been loyal to you. However, you placed him in a position where he could realize his ambitions."
Li Shuya and Zhao Zhen were sitting in the carriage. When Li Shuya heard Zhao Sheng's question, she answered it.
"So, it was my fault from the beginning?"
Mr. Zhao was full of doubts as to why he had not noticed it.
Li Shuya has been traumatized since her miscarriage and didn't want to think too much about it, but Mr. Zhao's companionship during this period of time has given her great comfort. Today, Mr. Zhao also invited her to go out together.
Hearing Zhao Sheng ask again, he continued:
"After Chen Da ascended to power, he didn't realize he was getting the respect he deserved, and things started to change inside him. It's like an old farmer who suddenly becomes a landlord and starts to hate all the rich and become even more cruel to his tenants."
Hearing this, Zhao Sheng thought of some people in later generations who had the opportunity to enjoy their old age, but wanted to make their own way when they were young. When they got old, they found that no one took care of them, and they were bribed by certain capitals and talked nonsense in public.
People, sometimes you can't be too friendly to them, otherwise...
Thinking of this, he looked out the window and then put away his previous thoughts.
Zhao Sheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought. After a moment, he slowly spoke:
"Perhaps this is the complexity of human nature. Desire and greed always lead people astray. But we can't let this lesson stop us from moving forward. We must continue to give opportunities and trust those who are truly talented and loyal."
Li Shuya beside her nodded and said, "My husband is absolutely right. However, we need to be more cautious with people like Chen Da to prevent him from causing trouble in the future."
The carriage slowly moved forward towards Luancheng. The dead trees standing on both sides were like watchtowers, slowly receding from sight.
A cold wind blew by, bringing with it a bit of winter chill. As the wind swayed gently, a few dead leaves occasionally broke free from the branches and slowly fell onto the dust, adding a touch of desolation to this silent journey.
As the Lunar New Year draws near, the pace of time quietly quickens, and the streets gradually become filled with a warm and busy atmosphere. People emerge from their homes and flock to the bustling markets, beginning their heartwarming journey to buy New Year goods.
Every stall was filled with laughter and joy, and the dazzling array of goods shone with an alluring luster in the sun. From bright fruits to fragrant cakes, from fiery red lanterns to exquisite window decorations, all of them carried beautiful expectations for the New Year.
People walk around, carefully selecting items and occasionally bargaining with stall owners. The bustle and harmony seem to be able to dispel the last bit of winter's chill and bring warmth to people's hearts.
The children tightly grasped the candies they had just received, their eyes sparkling with endless yearning for the New Year; the elderly preferred traditional handicrafts, stroking them gently, as if touching the traces of time and telling stories of the past.
The joy of preparing for the festival together makes every ordinary day no longer ordinary, and allows the charm of the New Year to quietly brew in every purchase and every laugh, becoming more and more rich and mellow.
The Cui and Zheng families are now responsible for the overall sales of the spices from the Luancheng workshop. The Li and Zhao families originally had this idea, but were rejected by Zhao Sheng.
Luancheng's primary goal was to fill its granaries. The Cui and Zheng families, a match made in heaven, held the key to the granaries, making them the natural choice for this financial boost.
Their footprints, intertwined between the golden wheat fields and the busy granaries, painted a gorgeous picture of harvest and hope.
On the other hand, the discontinuation of the sale of Xinjun Liquor was like a snowstorm in winter, which quietly caused the leader of the Nalan family, Nalan Eagle, to lose his former glory.
This wasn't just a reduction in the family's financial resources; it felt like a subtle chill amidst the raging war on the frontier. Weizhou and Dingzhou, two pearls of the frontier, were shrouded in the shadow of war.