The city was bustling, packed with people who'd come to buy New Year's goods. Stalls of every kind lined the streets.
Xu Qing rarely got the chance to visit the city, so everything seemed new to her. After walking for a while, her hands were already full: candied hawthorns, a Ghost Mask, a pinwheel...
Xu Yang bought her everything she wanted. Only when both her hands were loaded down with things did the two of them start shopping for New Year's supplies.
Ham, peanuts, melon seeds, glutinous rice...
In the end, they couldn't carry it all, so they found a handcart and hauled everything home.
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. The Liu Family had let the Attendants go home for the day, and they wouldn't have to return until the third day of the new year.
Xu Yang got up early, ate breakfast, then took Xu Qing up the mountain to pay respects to their mother.
When they returned, three men were standing outside his house. Two carried shoulder poles loaded with baskets, while the third stood empty-handed.
As soon as he saw Xu Yang, the empty-handed man hurried forward and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Master Xu."
He had become one of the men addressed as "Master."
The man was none other than Wang Xinggui, the Tri-Union Gang's minor officer in charge of collecting fees in White Stone Ward.
Xu Yang nodded lightly, his gaze passing over the loads carried by the two men behind Wang Xinggui. The baskets held fruit, cloth, yellow wine, rice, meat, and other goods.
"Master Xu, our chief was worried you'd be too busy practicing your martial arts to prepare New Year's supplies, so he sent me to bring you some." Wang Xinggui bent at the waist, his face