First-rank palace maid Su Jixiang

Chapter 237: The First New Year's Eve in the North

She has always felt that she cannot fit into Daxie's life. Even if she goes with the flow, it is only to save her own life.

And today, as she looked at the people gathered around the round table, she suddenly felt that she really had a home.

Wei Ling came over and gently held her hand, "Thank you for your hard work, Madam. You made so many delicious dishes."

He smiled gently and looked at Su Jixiang with focused eyes.

Everyone else in the family was used to it, but Nangong Rui was new. He was used to seeing Wei Ling in the military camp, but this was the first time he saw Wei Ling so gentle, and he couldn't help but be a little stunned.

Wei Dong tugged at his sleeve, and Nangong Rui came back to his senses.

He has been living in the general's mansion for four days. During these four days, Su Jixiang did not arrange anything for him. Only Uncle Zhong asked him to follow Weidong and help.

Because the Chinese New Year was coming soon, Su Jixiang and Wei Ling were very busy. Su Jixiang was busy looking after her shop, while Wei Ling had found someone to help with the renovation. Wei Ling also had to go to the military camp every day, and both of them would not come back until night.

Nangong Rui tried to ask to see the general several times, but was rejected by Wei Ling every time.

So even though they lived in the same courtyard, Nangong Rui could only look at Wei Ling from afar without even saying a word.

He had been living too comfortably in the general's mansion these past few days.

No one yelled at him, and he didn't have to worry about any messy things, so he rested very well these days.

"It's the New Year." Su Jixiang said with a smile.

Wei Ling took Su Jixiang to sit down, and then looked at the people standing.

"Please sit down. Today is New Year's Eve. There's no need to be so reserved." Wei Ling said to everyone with a smile.

"Thank you, General. Thank you, Madam!" Wei Zhong led everyone to pay their respects to Wei Ling and Su Jixiang, and then they took their seats one by one.

Nangong Rui was a little dazed, and it was only after Weidong pulled him that he sat down. However, he sat very carefully, with only half of his buttocks resting on the stool, as if he could bounce up at any time.

"You've been here for a few days. Are you used to the life here?" Wei Ling glanced at him and asked slowly.

Nangong Rui stood up immediately.

He clasped his hands together excitedly and wanted to answer the question, but his lips were shaking so much that he couldn't stop himself from saying a word.

"You scared him!" Su Jixiang said with a smile when he saw this.

She didn't pay any attention to Nangong Rui these days, but someone told her about Nangong Rui's condition.

"Don't be nervous. Just answer whatever the general asks you." Su Jixiang said softly to Nangong Rui.

Nangong Rui couldn't hold back and choked up.

His legs went limp and he knelt straight on the ground, kowtowed three times to Wei Ling and Su Jixiang, "General, Madam, I was wrong! I shouldn't have allowed those people to do what they did. I feel guilty towards you and the entire Black Tiger Army! You valued me so much and entrusted the entire Mangcheng to me, but I failed you! Now you and Madam are still helping me, I really have no face left."

"Since you know your mistakes, get up now." Wei Ling said calmly, "The mistakes have been made, and you have been dismissed. You can't enter the army again. You should work hard in the general's mansion in the future. You will have a chance to redeem yourself in the future. Your brothers have also been sentenced. Fortunately, they didn't cause any disasters, otherwise they would have lost their lives. Now they have been expelled from the good family and punished to quarry stones in the Black Mountain. They are not allowed to return to Mangcheng for life. As for your family's property, it will all be confiscated and used for military expenses. Considering that your father is already old, he will not be punished and will be kept at home."

When Nangong Rui heard that his brothers were punished to go to Black Mountain to quarry, he knew that unless there were special circumstances, they would probably not be able to come back in this lifetime.

The Black Mountain Quarry was mostly used by criminals sentenced to serious punishment, and it was still 500 miles away from Mangcheng. In the past, he had also punished many robbers and bandits who had robbed houses there.

Therefore, once his brothers entered the Black Mountain Quarry, they would be in great danger.

"I will have nothing to do with them anymore." Nangong Rui said, still kneeling on the ground. "I have been removed from the Nangong family. Please give me a name in the future, General."

"That's fine." Wei Ling thought for a moment, "Since we're done, let's do it once and for all. From now on, you can just follow the general's family name Wei. Your name won't change."

"Thank you, General!" Nangong Rui, oh no, now he should be called Wei Rui, he kowtowed to Wei Ling and Su Jixiang again.

"That's enough. It's New Year's Day now. Since everything has passed and you've changed your name, don't dwell on the past anymore." Su Jixiang smiled and tried to smooth things over. The atmosphere in the hall was indeed a bit solemn, which was very inconsistent with the festive decorations around. "Everyone should look forward. I believe you have figured out what to do. Get up, our New Year's Eve dinner will get cold if we don't start eating!"

Wei Rui quickly kowtowed again, and then stood up with the help of Wei Dong.

"Alright, alright." Wei Dong said with a smile, "You are so strict with the rules, it seems that we are too mature and don't know the rules. Hurry up and sit down, otherwise we won't dare to eat!"

After hearing what Wei Dong said, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Even Wei Ling, who had a stern face just now, raised his wine glass, "Okay, let's have a happy meal. The old year is about to pass. I wish our general's mansion a peaceful and smooth life in the future! I wish the people of Mangcheng can live and work in peace and contentment!"

Everyone stood up and raised their glasses, "I wish the general and his wife a long life, peace and good fortune!"

Su Jixiang quickly picked up his glass and said with a smile, "Jixiang, it's all auspicious, everyone is fine!"

The wine on the table today is fruit wine. It tastes sweet and has a bit of fruity aroma. It is very delicious.

The New Year’s Eve dinner made by Su Jixiang was extremely delicious. They were obviously home-cooked dishes cooked in ordinary ways, but after being made by Su Jixiang, they were full of flavor and were definitely different from those of ordinary people.

The steamed fish was cooked to the exact temperature and the meat was tender and chewy.

There is also a stew made with fish fillet and lamb, which tastes extremely delicious after just one bite.

"I've never eaten such a dish before." Wei Ling liked it after just one bite. "This is the first time I've seen fish and mutton stewed together."

"Don't fish and mutton add up to the same word, 'fresh'?" Su Jixiang said with a smile, "This dish is called 'Fish and Mutton Fresh'!"

"Madam is indeed well-informed! Thank you for your advice!" Wei Ling said with a smile.

The whole general's mansion was filled with joy during the meal. Even Wei Rui, who felt that he had made a big mistake and had always been a little hesitant, was integrated into the general's mansion after this New Year's Eve dinner.