Chapter 189: Joining for a Meal

During the New Year, in small places like Lexiang County, the market only opens in the morning. After all, throughout the entire year, there are only a few days when people return from all over the country, and the time they can spend together is limited.

Because of this, the vendors selling goods only set up shop for the morning. Some pack up as early as after an hour or two, while the latest ones close by lunchtime to return home.

Thus, to purchase New Year’s supplies, Gu Ning’an woke up early, put on the white robe made by Old Ma, and headed to the market in the morning sun.

To his surprise, despite the holiday, most vendors only raised their prices slightly, with no cases of outrageous price hikes.

This was something rare in the kind of environment he had experienced in his previous life.

As he walked through the market, many people who had met him before—even some he had never seen—recognized him.

Perhaps after spending enough time together, people knew that Gu Ning’an was easygoing, so they either smiled and nodded when their eyes met or greeted him directly with a “Happy New Year.”

“The previous owner selling the house at such a low price really was a stroke of luck for me.”

Smiling as he sighed at his fortune, Gu Ning’an carried his full load of New Year’s goods home. After arranging the items he needed, he picked up some chicken, duck, fish, and meat before heading out again.

Following a moss-covered stone path, he passed through a road lined with ginkgo trees on both sides. At the end of the road, an open courtyard came into view.

In the center stood the house, with a vegetable garden enclosed by a wooden fence on the left and a livestock pen surrounded by a railing on the right.

Inside the pen, the round-faced Hu Shi was wearing a thick cotton coat, squatting beside the chicken coop. In his hand, he held a handful of raw rice, occasionally tossing a few grains toward the right side of the coop.

“Go eat! Go eat!” Hu Shi muttered as he carefully observed the old hen crouched on a nest of straw.

The hen’s sharp eyes seemed to recognize the raw rice as bait.

However, in the end, it couldn’t resist the temptation.

Sure enough, after a moment, it stood up, took a few steps toward the rice, lowered its head, and started pecking.

Seeing that the timing was right, Hu Shi tiptoed cautiously to the entrance of the coop and swiftly reached in to grab at the nest.

Moments later, he successfully retrieved three fresh eggs.

Before he could celebrate, the hen—having finished the rice—noticed what had happened!

“Cluck—cluck—cluck!”

With its neck stretched out, wings spread wide, the hen charged straight at Hu Shi!

Startled, Hu Shi hurriedly threw all the remaining rice from his hand. “Take all the rice! It’s the New Year, can’t I at least have a couple of eggs?!”

“Cluck! Cluck! Cluck!”

This time, the hen wasn’t fooled by the rice. Screeching loudly, it flapped its wings and lunged at Hu Shi.

He ran as fast as he could, barely making it out of the pen just as the hen was about to peck his backside. The furious hen could only cluck angrily outside the fence.

Phew—phew—

Exhaling deeply, Hu Shi looked down at the eggs in his hands, his face breaking into a satisfied grin. “Seriously, it’s just two eggs for the New Year, and you still wanted to peck me!”

“Good thing I run fast!”

Muttering complaints at the hen, Hu Shi turned around—only to see a white-robed figure standing at the entrance of the courtyard.

“G-Gu… Gu… Master Gu?!”

“What’s this? Stuttering again?”

“N-no, no, no!” Hu Shi quickly turned and shouted toward the house, “Grandpa! Grandpa! Master Gu is back!”

Inside the kitchen, Old Master Hu immediately put down what he was doing and rushed out. Upon seeing Gu Ning’an, his wrinkled face lit up with joy. “Oh my, Master Gu! You’ve been gone for so long!”

Gu Ning’an quickly stepped forward and handed over the two bamboo baskets he was carrying. “Happy New Year, Old Master Hu.”

“Happy New Year! Happy New Year!”

“Master Gu, you could’ve just come over—why bring all these things?”

Gu Ning’an responded with a smile, “I’m here to join in for a meal. How could I come empty-handed?”

“Ah, we have plenty of fish and meat at home. If you don’t feel like cooking for yourself, just come over anytime.” Old Master Hu didn’t refuse and simply gestured for him to come inside. “Master Gu, go rest in the main hall. I’m in the middle of cooking, and the food will be ready soon.”

“Hu Shi, you rascal! Why are you just standing there? Have you given your New Year’s greetings to Master Gu yet?”

Hearing this, Hu Shi immediately dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowed, and called out loudly, “Happy New Year, Master Gu!”

“This… Giving me a kowtow on New Year’s—are you hoping for a red envelope?” With a flip of his palm, Gu Ning’an revealed a palm-sized, square red envelope. “Here, take it.”

“Master Gu, this is too much!” Old Master Hu stepped forward to decline.

Gu Ning’an waved his hand. “Ah, it’s just for good luck. Don’t be so formal—we’re all family here, no need to be polite.”

Hu Shi scrambled up, accepted the red envelope with both hands, and then cupped his hands in a bow. “Thank you, Master Gu! May you have great fortune in the Year of the Dragon!”

“This kid—ever since he stopped stuttering, he’s been picking up all sorts of sayings from who knows where!” Old Master Hu laughed and scolded him.

“Come on, let’s cook together.” Gu Ning’an rolled up his sleeves, securing them at his elbows, and pulled Old Master Hu along to the kitchen.

Seeing that Gu Ning’an was interested, Old Master Hu didn’t stand on ceremony. He called for Hu Shi to bring the eggs into the kitchen, and the three of them busied themselves with the meal.

By the third quarter of the hour of the Snake (9-11 AM), after working all morning, Gu Ning’an and Old Master Hu finally sat down at the dining table.

On the table, there were eight dishes and one soup—chicken, duck, fish, and meat, all present.

The vegetables were homegrown by Old Master Hu, looking especially fresh.

He poured a generous bowl of his homemade rice wine for both himself and Gu Ning’an.

The two clinked their bowls, while Hu Shi raised a bowl of chicken soup to join in. After exchanging New Year’s greetings, they began eating heartily.

Gu Ning’an picked up a piece of green pepper and placed it in his mouth.

The pepper was crisp, with a slight spiciness that stimulated the appetite.

“Old Master Hu, homegrown green peppers really do taste fresher and better.”

Hearing this, Old Master Hu set down his chopsticks and turned to his grandson, who was gulping down chicken soup. “Stop eating for a bit. Go pick some vegetables for Master Gu—make sure to get plenty of everything.”

“Okay!”

Hu Shi nodded and was about to hop off his stool when Gu Ning’an pressed him back down. “Hey, finish eating first. There’s no rush… I’m not in a hurry to leave.”

Seeing that Gu Ning’an wasn’t refusing, Old Master Hu chuckled and said, “Alright then, we’ll do it after we finish eating…”