Wuxia: Drinking with Spring Breeze

The secret book was personally delivered by Fang Ke.

"This..."

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Yang Ge looked at Fang Ke, almost drowned in bundles big and small, a bit hesitant but still took the initiative to receive the packages from him, "You didn’t bring anything you shouldn’t have, did you?"

Fang Ke laughed, "I did want to take something, but I was afraid you’d kick me out and not even leave me a bite to eat!"

Fang Ke knew that Yang Ge was referring to silver.

Yang Ge relaxed and said, it was New Year’s after all, and he didn’t want to embarrass Fang Ke, "Then what’s all this in these big and small packages?"

Fang Ke, "These are the New Year’s gifts the palace rewarded you with, these are the New Year’s goods Shen prepared for you, these are my New Year’s gifts to you... oh right, this is something General Jiang Kui sent for you!"

Yang Ge, "How did you manage to bring all this stuff over by yourself?"

Fang Ke, "Old Gu dropped me off at the street corner, I didn’t let him come in."

Yang Ge, "You, you..."

The two placed the big and small bundles under a trellis at a stone table, and Fang Ke swiftly sorted the bundles into four parts.

The things that came from the palace were the most valuable, the packaging itself was of fine brocade and sandalwood, one could tell at a glance they mustn’t be cheap.

Shen Fa’s gifts were the most numerous, there were things to eat, wear, and accessories, as if afraid Yang Ge couldn’t find good stuff at Lu Ting.

The things Fang Ke personally prepared were the simplest, just everyday preserved meats and other New Year’s goods, there were even several strings of sausages...

And the gift from Jiang Kui was the least, just a wooden box sealed with sealing wax...

Yang Ge frowned at the sandalwood boxes wrapped in fine silk, "What kind of New Year’s gift is the Emperor supposed to give to a cook like me?"

Fang Ke chuckled, "In this world, it seems you’re the only one who considers himself a cook!"

Without picking up on his banter, Yang Ge grabbed the preserved meat he brought and headed for the kitchen, saying with a smile, "You know me best!"

Fang Ke picked up the sausages, following behind, "Then today I want to order a dish!"

Yang Ge, "No problem, just say whatever you want!"

The two, arms linked, hung the preserved meat and sausages up near the stove, so the smoke billowing out could properly cure them.

After they finished, they came out of the kitchen, wiping their hands.

Yang Ge, "Has it been quiet at the garrison lately? How does Shen find the time to prepare New Year’s goods for me?"

Fang Ke, "Busy or not, doesn’t it depend on the person? With the connection between you and Shen, even if he forgot about the upper right camp, he wouldn’t forget about you!"

Yang Ge, "You little rascal..."

The two returned to the trellis, where Yang Ge took Jiang Kui’s wooden box, inspected the wax seal carefully to ensure it was intact, and then opened it in front of Fang Ke.

Inside, there lay a letter and a brand-new bound book with "The Five Elements Convergence Qi" inscribed neatly on the cover.

Fang Ke peered over for a glance, then recoiled, "That’s why they say good people get good returns. No matter how the court assesses your achievements, people with clear minds have their own measure!"

Yang Ge closed the wooden box, twisted his head with a frown, "You seem to have a lot to say today, pointing at me, huh?"

Fang Ke hurriedly shook his head, "I wouldn’t dare..."

Yang Ge, "It’s New Year’s, speak your mind, fart if you must; miss this chance, and there’ll be no next opportunity!"

Fang Ke hesitated for a moment, then earnestly said, "It looks like there might be big moves in the garrison, and the day of your reinstatement is probably just around the corner..."

Yang Ge glanced at the items from the palace, inwardly impressed with this guy’s scheming.

Shaking his head, he said, "What if I told you that even if a royal decree came, I wouldn’t take up the post again, would you believe me?"

Fang Ke nodded, "I believe, but what if I said that the brothers are all looking forward to you taking charge again, would you believe that?"

Yang Ge opened a box of pastries Shen Fa sent and handed a piece to Fang Ke, "Of course, I don’t believe that. Not to mention others, just you, weigh it in your heart, is it easier to serve under me or under Vice Commander Qin and the others?"

Fang Ke accepted the pastry with both hands and thoughtfully replied, "To be honest, I initially thought it would be easier to serve under Vice Commander Qin and the others."

"But as time passed, I felt it was dull, dreadfully dull! Can’t do anything of substance, always have to watch one face or another for small matters, they have not even drawn the knives, and someone is already whispering and complaining aside... Who wants to serve and have to look at somebody’s face."

"If you have to look at everyone’s face, better not to do anything at all!"

"Might as well go home and raise pigs!"

Yang Ge shook his head and gently patted his shoulder, "You can’t think like that, our old ways are only good for cutting through the mess. If you want to last, you have to follow the rules."

Fang Ke laughed bitterly, "Didn’t you used to feel differently?"

Yang Ge, picking up the box to go inside, "Times change, I’m now just a cook, of course, I should say what a cook ought to say!"

Fang Ke only laughed.

He understood Yang Ge too well. Yang Ge could talk so casually only because trouble hadn’t come knocking on his door!

Should something like three grain merchants hoarding grain to drive up prices trouble him, he would surely act even more ruthlessly than before!

Back then, he had fallen seriously ill after killing a man...

After securing the secret book, Yang Ge, wearing his apron, came out with bravado, loudly saying, "Tell me, what do you want to eat today? There’s chicken, duck, fish, and meat all available at home!"

Fang Ke rubbed his hands together, grinned, and said, "This... I want to eat sticky rice dumplings, I had a taste here last year and have been reminiscing the whole year round!"

Yang Ge too grinned and gave him a thumbs up, "Good, you have taste, I admire you!"