Great Tang Idyll

The caravan left, and Jia Wei'ran also got a new horse. He didn't carry that many heavy copper coins with him, so he had to use some silver bits to pay for it. This horse was much better than the previous one and was not slow.

After warming up, Jia Wei'ran began to scold the Zhang manor again, and fantasized about what his future would be like.

*

At the Zhang Manor, the houses were built, and everyone began to prepare food for the evening on the 30th. All of the residents reported to the person in charge of recording what they were able to bring from their homes. Originally, Zhang Xiao'bao planned to get every household to just bring a small dish to eat at the table.

Unexpectedly, the residents did not agree with this arrangement. It was not like they did not have money. Their income this year was several fold greater than before. With the skills of the Zhang and Wang families, things will be even better in the future.

It was not just this. In addition to a higher income, they also spent less. For the sake of unity, their clothing was given to them by the master family and they were given several different outfits to wear throughout the year. During the most tiring days, the master family were also the ones who provided them food, and additionally, their children were able to eat three meals at school.

Under the circumstances of money coming in and no money being expended, they had more spare money. Thus, they planned to bring more things over. They couldn't always depend on the master family to feed them. Everyone reported every single item they could bring. When the time comes, others will decide how much each family should bring and what to bring. Everyone should bring items that were around the same price.

The Zhang and Wang families also bought around twenty lambs from outside, and the two cows that could no longer work. Everything was ready and they just needed to slaughter them for the New Year meal. In addition to this, they also prepared new chopsticks and bowls, which was paid for by Zhang Xiao'bao. Who's to blame that he was the richest?

The vegetables were also ready. When the time comes, they just need to go to the vegetable garden in the back, select the vegetables and harvest them. There are also various seasonings and sauces, and some nourishing medicinal materials, which were also set aside for use.

The last item was dough and different kinds of meat fillings. Zhang Xiao'bao was going to make two kinds of dumplings– ones stuffed with pork and green onions, and the other stuffed with shrimp and pork. There were prawns they traded for, and some fresh shrimp from the river that could be used. The shrimp and eggs can be wrapped with onion chives, and the river shrimp can be paired with garlic chives.

The meat had to be minced first, so that they could be wrapped into dumplings when the time comes. Several women were tasked with this. There was a charcoal fire next to them, and the meat was placed on the chopping board. These people minced it up like it was a competition.

The little kids knew that they would be spending New Year's Eve together this year. They happily ran and jumped, chasing each other, and laughter could be heard from time to time.

Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan were also on the side, watching the adults fry things there. Some of these items were sweet dough that were filled with various fillings.

The residents were working there and chatting about the affairs of the manor. Some of the older people sat next on the side and told the children that they brought over about how the New Year was like in the past.

Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan also liked to listen, so they joined the group and squatted there.

"I was still young when I first arrived at the Zhang manor. At that time, the Old Master was the head of the household. The days back then cannot be compared to now. During that time, who would dare to eat like this during New Year's Eve? If we ate a New Year's Eve dinner like this, then after the New Year begins, we wouldn't have to live anymore. We would just wait to starve to death."

The old man squinted his eyes, recalling the past and telling the little kids. However, there was no sign of sadness on his face.

"Grandpa Wan'nian, do you mean that the Old Master was incompetent back then?" A little boy who was simple minded asked after hearing this.

"Don't talk nonsense." Grandfather Wan'nian softly smacked the kid's forehead. He glanced at Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan, and saw that the two little masters were not dissatisfied at all, so he was relieved. Otherwise, the Old Master would be sad if he heard about this.

Then he continued, "If there was no Old Master, how would we have our current master? This is the Old Master's capability. At that time, we were not like you. You could go to school every day to study, while it was good enough for us if we did not starve to death. Every time when the yield after the harvest was low, the Old Master would collect less. With 100 households in the fiefdom, no one in our manor starved to death.

Look at you now, you are living in happiness. You have books to read, and the manor provides you with three meals a day. You need to study well and then work hard for the manor once you grow older.

Where was I? Food. What we ate was just random stuff. How would it even compare to now? Nowadays, we can eat meat every few days and there is rice if we want rice, and flour if we want flour. There is also new clothing to wear. By next year, we can eat meat in every meal."

When the old man said this, he felt tired from sitting for a long time. He rubbed his waist and was ready to go back. The little kids were listening happily. Seeing that Grandpa Wan'nian wanted to leave, two clever munchkins immediately went behind Grandpa Wan'nian and began massaging his back. One of them said, "Grandpa Wan'nian, don't leave, we'll massage your back."

Massaging his back was not effective at all, but the old man still nodded with a smile, "Okay, I'll continue talking. Let's talk about food. Have you seen those cows and lambs? On the 30th, you need to save your stomach, otherwise you won't be able to eat it. There are also dumplings and pig trotters— I wouldn't even dare to think about these foods back then.

If any of you don't believe me, you can go to other manors or ordinary people's homes to see if they have any of these things to eat. It would be nice to make dumplings using white flour and other types of flour during the New Year. How would they dare put in meat like this? There's only a bit of scallions, and the rest is all meat and shrimp. "

"I know about this, Grandpa Wan'nian. When other residents and other ordinary people encounter the residents from our two manors, they are full of envy. The way they speak is also different from before. I know what kind of dumplings were eaten during the past New Years. They were vegetable dumplings with a tiny bit of meat in it."

A slightly older child replied, and at the same time he recalled what he ate in the school. There was milk, eggs, pancakes, and meat. Even the vegetable buns had quite a bit of oil in it. When chewed, oil will seep out of the mouth and drip down.

Thinking of this, the child set his eyes on Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan who were also happy, and said, "Young Master and Young Miss, don't worry. We will protect you when we grow up. Can you treat us like how the present master does?"

"Okay, okay. Things will be even better than it is now. By then, my family will have more money, and yours will be the same." Zhang Xiao'bao agreed.

Wang Juan laughed on the side. All of these things belonged to Zhang Xiao'bao. The children in the manor were so cute; they dared to ask anything.

Grandfather Wan'nian also looked at the little masters of the Zhang and Wang family with joy. He didn't know that all of these were the work of the two little masters, but he knew that the old days were not so good. Ever since the Zhang and Wang families' little masters were born and turned one year old, the conditions at the manor suddenly changed.

People were no longer worried about whether or not they could eat tomorrow, and they were not afraid of not having clothes to cover their bodies. Their life was getting better and better. These were the blessings brought by the two little masters—it must be so.

"Also, look at our houses now. It will be replaced by new ones next year. Then..." Grandpa Wan'nian continued to talk, and the children listened. They were sheltered by the surrounding houses and there was a charcoal fire so it didn't feel cold at all outside.

Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan watched Grandpa Wan'nian rub his waist from time to time. They looked at each other, and mouthed some words to each other.

"Xiao'bao, do you think that Grandpa Wan'nian has a herniated disc or lumbar strain? How about we find a way to help relieve it. This way, the people in the manor could feel more comfortable."

Wang Juan didn't want these family-like residents to be too uncomfortable, and asked Zhang Xiao'bao.

"How would I know? It seems that his lumbar muscle should be strained. I don't know which kind it is. I have never had this before. We should get a place with steam, get him to soak in traditional herbal medicine, and then massage him with alcohol. I know two techniques. I was injured before, and when I went to get a massage, I chatted with them and learned how to. Sometimes I would massage myself."

Zhang Xiao'bao didn't know how to diagnose illnesses, so he could only rely on the tidbits he heard from others and the knowledge he learned. However, he could not help massage the old man, since he still had a lot of things to do.

Wang Juan also knew about Zhang Xiao'bao's situation and said, "You can teach others, and our family's doctor can do acupuncture. In the future, we can train some people to specialize in the treatment of various diseases, such as massaging, cupping therapy, gua'sha treatment, etc. Let's convert the two Zhang and Wang manors into a comprehensive place.

By then, if something happens, someone will be able to stand up immediately. After the new year, write a project proposal. I will give the children military training every day. When they are older, we will have people that we can use. Don't tell me you don't know how to write proposals. "

"I do know. According to your words, I am an international conman. How could I con people if I don't know how to write project proposals? I'm thinking that children should not be the only ones who study. Adults should study too. When the adults are not busy, get them to join.

If everyone is literate, they will be able to read more books and understand the meaning in it. It is also a kind of accumulation of experience. After learning to write, then when they have a good experience, they could write it down. Why use oral transmission, which is easily lost, to pass on experience and skills?"

Zhang Xiao'bao continued down this train of thought. He knew that during his time, knowing words might not be a big deal since everyone was literate. However, at this place, not everyone has the opportunity. For example, for some families, even having food to eat is a problem. How would they have money to buy brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, etc? It is impossible to learn something without a coin. Who would pay the teacher?

Wang Juan also understood the importance of knowledge lies in inheritance. Many good folk recipes are passed down by word of mouth because the people do not know how to read or write. In the end, no one will remember them.

"Okay, I agree. Anyway, they don't need to pay. They just need to join in to study, and when they gradually trust the master more, I will teach them physics and chemistry. I don't need you. I know that you don't know. Just help me find all kinds of experimental supplies."

"Yeah, I really don't know. I didn't undergo traditional education. Now I know that that kind of education is really not ordinary. Twelve years of compulsory education is more powerful than nine years. This allows the society as a whole to develop." Zhang Xiao'bao had to admit that education improved the quality of the nation.