Prelude to the Dragon Slaying Bureau (Middle) [Please Vote Monthly Tickets]

The twenty-ninth day of the year, daytime.

Because they had recently weathered a major battle and had little time to prepare, the festive atmosphere throughout Sibao Prefecture was subdued, even with the New Year approaching. Though resources were limited, Shen Tang still ordered the administrative seat cleaned and decorated with a few festive ornaments. She also announced to the whole city that from New Year's Eve through the seventh day of the New Year, a lantern fair and fireworks would light up the city each night.

The fireworks were to be watched from a designated spot.

After four years of putting on the event, they had it down to a science.

Shen Tang was quite content to be a hands-off boss.

No, that wasn't quite accurate.

At the moment, she was preparing New Year's money, a task she couldn't entrust to anyone else. Little bulging purses for children and adults alike were piled up like a hill. In the past, they had been so poor that she could give only one or two copper coins. This year, the gifts had gotten a full upgrade!

The angel Lin Feng had come over to help, too.

After all, the vast government office wasn't staffed only by trusted aides like Qi Shan. There were also plenty of clerks across its various departments. Even a little good-luck gift like this shouldn't leave out those hard-working cogs in the machine. As Shen Tang stuffed the purses with silver fragments and copper coins, she muttered, "...What a shame I can't see the games this year. The administrative seat in Ruyao must be bustling, right?"

With Chu Yao and the others holding down the fort in Longwu Commandery, and the autumn harvest exceeding expectations, the common folk had managed to stockpile some grain. With food in hand,