Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

"Quickly put Mora in your wallet, let's go shopping and buy holiday gifts."

"Where's Xiaobai?" Zhongli asked, turning around.

"I went to Qingquan Town to buy pork from the local pig farm. I'm looking forward to your big meal tonight..."

A short while later, the two people, one adult and one child, went out.

Hu Tao was carrying a long list in her hand, muttering to herself as she walked.

"A new set of clothes for each person, a box of Fontainebleau specialty bubble oranges, a box of fresh milk, a box of crabs, and ten kilograms of rice..."

"I've already ordered the clothes, and the tailor has finished making them. I just need to go pick them up. As for the rest, I'll have to buy them one by one..."

Normally, Hu Tao would direct Zhong Li to do these chores, but since she had nothing else to do today, she decided to go with Zhong Li.

Anyway, she has storage space, so there's no need to worry about not being able to carry it all.

After arriving at the tailor shop and putting away the custom-made garment, something suddenly occurred to me.

"Guest, would you like some new clothes?"

"New clothes?" Zhongli shook his head.

"I have a lot of clothes in my wardrobe, and it would be a waste if I couldn't wear them all."

Hearing Zhongli's words, Hu Tao felt a pang of sadness.

"If only you could be as rational when buying antiques as you are when buying clothes..."

She also gave up the idea of ​​buying new clothes for Zhongli.

Zhongli is very particular about her clothes; a custom-made suit can take her an hour or two to get ready.

The two went on a shopping spree in the bustling street. Zhongli picked out the best items and bought a large quantity, with Mora pouring out like water.

Thankfully, Hu Tao was there to negotiate the price; otherwise, it would have felt like Zhong Li would have lost a lot of money if she had bought it at the original price.

One morning, Hu Tao and Zhong Li returned to the Hall of Rebirth with a space full of things, distributing the New Year's gifts one by one.

After distributing the gifts, it's basically time for the Lantern Festival holiday to begin.

Except for the ritual officiants who live and work at the funeral parlor, everyone else got a ten-day holiday.

"See you next year, Master!"

Each officiant left the funeral parlor with a beaming smile, carrying several boxes full of New Year's gifts. Some of them couldn't carry them all in one trip and had to make two trips.

As the Rebirth Hall gradually became deserted, Hu Tao sat down, drank a cup of hot tea, and uttered a sigh:

"I always feel a bit sentimental at this time of year. The last day of the year is both an end and a beginning..."

Time, stories... everything that flows quietly in this world will come together at the last moment of this day.

Whether it's a raging torrent or a gentle stream, it always flows ceaselessly...

"Time marches on, and life always gets better and better..."

"I'm back!"

Jiang Bai's voice interrupted Hu Tao's brief reflection.

He carried a large basket of fresh bamboo shoots in his left hand and a slab of pork in his right.

The bamboo basket also contained freshly picked Sichuan peppercorns, mint, mushrooms...

Wow! You've made so much!

"It's the last meal of the year, so of course we should eat more! We'll use the extra ingredients for a barbecue!"

Hu Tao's bright eyes turned to Zhong Li.

Zhongli was very satisfied with these fresh ingredients.

"After lunch, we'll prepare the ingredients together."

Cleaning, cutting, marinating, and skewering – Jiang Bai and Hu Tao were working with great enthusiasm.

Zhongli rolled up her sleeves, tied on an apron, and put the chopped ingredients into the pot, simmering them slowly over a low flame.

Before we knew it, night was falling.

The moon is exceptionally bright tonight, and visibility in the courtyard is exceptionally good even without lights.

In the spacious open space, Jiang Bai set up the barbecue grill, and wisps of smoke rose from the lit charcoal.

Instead of rushing to put the ingredients on to start grilling, Jiang Bai conjured a stone table and placed the two main dishes that Zhong Li had prepared on the table, along with a thousand-year-old cellar of fine wine dug up from Fengqidi.

"This wine..."

Zhongli keenly sensed the unusual nature of this wine; its rich, breezy aroma clearly indicated it came from an old friend.

"This is a fine dandelion wine that has been buried in Fengqi Land for a thousand years. I dug it up last night and prepared it especially for you, Master."

Zhong Li smiled as he imagined a drunkard's furious reaction to losing his good wine.

Upon opening the plastic seal on the jar, a clear and refreshing aroma of wine immediately wafted out, spreading its fragrance on the wind.

"It is indeed good wine."

Wendy, who was on the street outside, immediately stopped in her tracks upon smelling the aroma and followed the scent of alcohol all the way over.

"What fragrant wine..." He leaned against the high wall, gazing longingly at the wine jars in the courtyard, deliberately making noise to attract the attention of the people inside.

Upon seeing him, Zhong Li's lips curled up slightly, but she pretended not to notice him.

Wendy looked at Hu Tao with longing eyes, and even from a distance, Hu Tao could feel his expectant gaze.

"Master Hu! May I come in?"

"It's Wendy! Come on in!" Hu Tao warmly invited him in, and nudged Zhong Li with her elbow as she spoke.

"Guest, really! I remember you two are friends, right? Why don't you even entertain your friend when he comes to visit?"

"I just came here to freeload some drinks..." Jiang Bai muttered.

I was in Mondstadt last night, and I'm in Liyue today.

He wasn't satisfied with the 20 jars of his good wine he was promised; he still wanted to come and drink for free. Calling him a drunkard is really an understatement.

"Long time no see, Mr. Poet."

Zhongli arrived at the foot of the wall to greet this uninvited friend.

Wendy crosses her arms and glances sideways:

"It hasn't been that long, has it, Mr. Zhongli?"

"The last time we met was the last time. I wonder if you brought any gifts since you specifically chose to come today."

Wendy tossed him an apple.

"Hey, here's a gift."

Before he could react, she quickly ran to the table and under the table.

"Oh my, delicious food and drinks! I'm in for a treat today!"

"Yes, this is a special dish prepared by our guest elder himself. It has been stewed for several hours. Ordinary people can't get to eat it."

Zhongli straightened his robes and sat down, his posture upright and elegant, a world apart from that unseemly fellow.

As the hot soup went down her throat, Wendy gave a thumbs up.

"That's great! But it would be even better with a drink!"

Zhongli ignored him, poured herself a cup first, and then poured it into the cup that Wendy had brought over.

"I also want."

Jiang Bai brought over his and Hu Tao's cups together, as he hadn't yet tasted Wendy's precious wine.

“The hall master cannot drink.” Zhongli refused to pour him any.

"Take a sip. This is the wine that even the Wind God longs for. I don't know if I'll get to drink it again next time. It would be a shame not to try it."

Hearing Jiang Bai say that, Hu Tao nodded her head vigorously.

Such a rare wine, I must try it and see what it tastes like.

"You can only try one bite."

Zhongli poured a small sip into Hu Tao's cup, while Jiang Bai didn't hesitate to pour a generous amount into his.

Walnut held the wine glass and tasted it with curiosity.

The crisp, refreshing liquor is like a breeze blowing from afar, as if spring dandelions are blooming, swirling, and floating between your lips and teeth.

"Delicious! I want more!"

Chapter 804 Happy New Year

"You can only drink one sip."

Zhongli shook his head and placed the wine jar on the other side, out of Hu Tao's reach.

Hu Tao grabbed his sleeve, looking at him longingly with her eyes filled with desire.

Zhongli remained as firm as a rock, completely unmoved.

Hu Tao turned to look at Jiang Bai, who shrugged, indicating that he was powerless to help.

With the leader's alcohol tolerance, one sip is enough, otherwise...

Jiang Bai shrank back and subtly covered his chest.

terrible.

Walnut turned her gaze to the last person, and Wendy quickly picked up her wine glass and hid it.

Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol!

There's only one jar, so he has to find a way to drink as much as possible; he can't share it with others.

Hu Tao puffed out her cheeks, feeling targeted.

"Fine, I won't drink it then..."

She channeled her grief and anger into her appetite, and began to challenge the immortal to jump over the wall.

Zhongli slowly savored the fine wine that had been in his cup for a thousand years, and time seemed to have turned back to the old days.

"It's a pity that of the friends I used to drink with, only the two of us are left now."

"Indeed, but there are advantages to having fewer people; we can drink to our hearts' content."

Wendy clinked glasses with him, downed her drink in one gulp, and then quickly poured herself another glass.

Zhongli drinks, but he's not a big drinker; in other words, he could drink more than half of this jar of wine by himself!

Beautiful~

Zhongli didn't stop him, watching with a smile as his old friend drank one cup after another.

Jiang Bai didn't disturb the two old friends' reminiscing; he took Hu Tao to the side and started grilling meat.

The fresh pork belly sizzles with oil, and the aroma of charcoal fire elevates the flavor of the food to another level.

Hu Tao picked up a skewer of pork belly, blew on it to cool it down, and put it in her mouth.

The aroma of caramelized meat bursts on the tongue, and the tender ingredients, marinated to perfection, result in a delicious flavor.

"That's great!"

"Right, I think it's good too."

As expected of the pork he bought early in the morning from Qingquan Town, it has a chewy texture and leaves a lingering fragrance.

Jiang Bai brought a plate of grilled food to the table for them as a snack with drinks, and then grilled more food while eating.

"what--"

Hu Tao picked up a skewer and held it to his mouth.

This is a skewer of pure meat, skewered very tightly.

"Try what I baked."