Chapter 17 Fire Breaks Out

Chapter 17: A Fire Broke Out

Outside, the sky was already bright, but Jiang Wang was still lazing in bed, sleeping soundly.

After who knows how long, probably nearing noon, he finally stretched, rolled over, and got up.

Jiang Wang was soaking up this hard-won luxury of "waking up naturally," his happiness practically overflowing.

A great year really does start with the New Year's holiday.

Jiang Wang calculated that from the Grand Court Assembly until the Lantern Festival, he could rest for over twenty days.

Although it was a long break, not a single moment should be wasted.

After getting up, changing clothes, and tidying himself, he immediately dragged Changle out onto the streets.

"Young... young master, where are you taking me?" Changle was somewhat bewildered. "I haven't cooked the meal yet."

"Don't bother," Jiang Wang replied without looking back. "Your young master is taking you to a restaurant!"

Pocket full of cash, he said it with total confidence. Moreover, this money was earned through his own hard work, making him even more assured.

He wasn't just taking Changle out to eat; he was also taking him to buy new clothes and new furniture for their place—whatever was expensive, they would buy!

Jiang Wang had already inquired earlier: near Ruifangzhai, there was a restaurant called "Song Sao's Fish Stew." He planned to take Changle there for lunch and have a full fish feast!

While still some distance away, Jiang Wang could already see people queuing at the restaurant's entrance. Fortunately, the line wasn't too long. After waiting only about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it was soon their turn.

The waiter warmly welcomed the two inside, seating them at a table by the window so they could look outside.

"Young master, what would you like to order?"

The waiter pointed to the wooden menu hanging on the wall, indicating they could refer to it when ordering.

The menu wasn't large, only about an arm's width, but it listed quite a few dishes, each clearly marked with its price.

Just as Jiang Wang was about to speak, he felt Changle quietly tugging at the hem of his robe under the table.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Changle leaned close to Jiang Wang's ear and whispered, "Young master, let's go back. The dishes here are too expensive. We can buy a fish, and I'll cook it for you at home."

For a moment, Jiang Wang didn't speak, but a twinge of guilt welled up inside him.

Although he was a few years older than Changle on the surface, in daily life, it was almost always Changle taking care of him.

When the weather turned cold, Changle would remind him to wear more clothes; when he returned late, Changle would go to the palace gate to fetch him; anything broken at home was repaired by Changle; even every meal was prepared by Changle.

Despite being younger, Changle had already taken on most of the responsibilities, while Jiang Wang seemed to have been contentedly enjoying Changle's kindness all along.

Now, even when they were out eating, Changle was still thinking about how to save money for him.

A thread of guilt spread through Jiang Wang's heart. He decided that from now on, he would treat Changle better, even better than before.

Without saying much, Jiang Wang handed Changle the pouch containing the gold and silver ingots for him to feel the weight, then whispered a few words.

"Your young master has money."

Perhaps the small lumps in the pouch proved Jiang Wang wasn't lying, or perhaps Changle unconditionally trusted whatever Jiang Wang said. In the end, Changle settled in calmly and didn't think about leaving again.

When they entered, Jiang Wang had specifically noticed what the other diners in the restaurant were ordering. Now, looking at the menu again, he had a rough idea.

"Signature fish stew, fried crispy fish, steamed cured meat with dried mushrooms, bamboo shoot and dried shrimp soup, honey-glazed tofu," Jiang Wang glanced at the menu again and added one more, "and two bowls of rice steamed in fish soup."

Before long, the steaming dishes arrived, and the two began to eat.

The fish was tender and springy, the shrimp soup was refreshingly tasty, the cured meat was rich and oily, and the tofu, crispy on the outside and soft inside, coated in a sweet and sour sauce, had its own unique flavor.

It seemed like a lot of food, but the two of them finished every dish cleanly, not even leaving any broth behind.

Jiang Wang glanced at Changle beside him, who was letting out a satisfied burp, and felt that coming to this restaurant was the right decision. He would bring Changle here to eat again in the future.

Once they were stuffed, the two began to visit tailor shops.

After all, the ten bolts of silk and satin from the New Year's gifts shouldn't go to waste. Rather than keeping them, it was better to make a few new sets of clothes for the New Year.

Although ten bolts sounded like a lot, the fabric was expensive and came in small rolls. If they were to make winter clothes for two people, it would only be enough for about four sets.

They eventually chose a newly opened small shop, which had few orders and reasonable prices. Changle delivered the silk and satin that same day, and by the morning of New Year's Eve, the new clothes were ready.

The two eagerly put them on—the size and fit were just right.

As night gradually fell, the lights along the street grew brighter, but fewer and fewer people were on the streets. It was easy to guess: everyone had gone home for the reunion.

Jiang Wang also began his preparations. He put fresh lamb into the pot, added some potatoes and carrots, then brought out the imperial wine and fruits from the New Year's gifts. With just these simple items, he managed to fill the table.

He had never been good at cooking; even this stewed lamb was something he had barely learned by secretly observing the small shops on the street for a long time.

The bubbling sound from the pot gradually rose, and the aroma wafted into the air, spreading around.

Jiang Wang called Changle, who was watching fireworks in the courtyard, inside: "Changle—time to eat!"

He couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. Dishes he wouldn't have even glanced at before, now seemed like the greatest gesture he could offer.

Even though it was just him and Changle, they should still treat it seriously.

If he hadn't traveled to this world, he would still be that idle young master who did nothing but drift through life every day. His mother had passed away early, his father didn't like him, and his friends were only around for his money.

He seemed to be the center of attention, but in reality, there was no one he could speak honestly with.

Now, although life was much harder than before, the money he had was earned by himself. It wasn't much, but it was enough to cover his living expenses.

Moreover, he had Changle by his side—someone who genuinely cared for him. This simple life actually gave him a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Perhaps on this night of reunion, it would be better with more people and liveliness. Jiang Wang suddenly remembered 001.

The system had no physical form and couldn't even be considered human, but they were, after all, the only two in this world who knew each other's true backgrounds.

This relationship made Jiang Wang feel a bit more concerned about the system. After hesitating for a long time, he softly called the system's name.

"001, are you there?"

But there was no response.

As expected, the system was still its usual deadpan self.

But since it was New Year's Eve, Jiang Wang decided to be a bit more forgiving toward 001. He called out twice more.

Just as Jiang Wang's patience was gradually wearing thin, that cheeky voice finally echoed in his mind.

"Happy New Year, host,~"

The atmosphere, which had been somewhat touching, was completely shattered by this greeting. Jiang Wang clenched his fist, itching to punch him, instantly regretting having summoned 001.

"Yeah, happy New Year. If there's nothing else, you can go."

"There is, there is," perhaps sensing the change in Jiang Wang's attitude, the system instantly became sycophantic. "Host, our third task is here~"

"Seriously? There's a task even during the New Year?"

Jiang Wang was more and more sure that calling the system out was a mistake.

"Don't worry, host, it's very simple: just something you often did before you crossed over."

A question slowly formed in Jiang Wang's mind. He really couldn't remember any similarities between his previous life and his current one.

He used to frequently travel to various places or attend banquets, but that was obviously impossible now.

If it were eating or drinking, the system wouldn't make that a task, given its personality...

As he wondered, the task notification sounded.

"Shousui (staying up late on New Year's Eve)."

"Task points: 15."

"Current points: 10."

*Shousui?*

Wasn't that just staying up late? If so, he did do that often.

But that wasn't difficult at all.

A trace of doubt arose in Jiang Wang's heart. Based on the system's track record, tasks that seemed simple usually weren't simple at all.

He asked hesitantly, "...Is that all?"

"Of course, host. Consider this my New Year's gift to you~"

Jiang Wang accepted this but remained skeptical.

Perhaps sensing his host's skeptical attitude, 001 beat a hasty retreat.

"Then I won't keep you from enjoying your New Year's Eve dinner with your friend! Remember to stay up for Shousui!"

The confusion in Jiang Wang's mind deepened. There must be a catch here.

*

The New Year's Eve dinner, though simple, was warm and cozy. Moreover, among the fruits were extremely rare tangerines, which Changle devoured with delight.

He piped up, "Young master, what if I save these seeds and plant them in the yard next spring? By autumn, could we also eat tangerines?"

He'd had similar naive fantasies as a child, but later learned that tangerines grew in the south and couldn't be grown in the north. Besides, ancient times lacked advanced agricultural techniques, making it highly unlikely for tangerines to grow in the north.

However, he didn't shoot down Changle's idea. Who hadn't had a few such thoughts?

"You can give it a try. Even if they don't grow, we lose nothing, right?"

Changle carefully cupped the seeds and nodded firmly.

The young master was right. What if? If they really grew, he and the young master would have lots and lots of tangerines to eat.

The dinner was over. The night stretched long before them, and the "Shousui" task was underway. Jiang Wang couldn't sleep, so all that remained was endless waiting.

Since Jiang Wang was awake, Changle stayed up with him, even though he was already nodding off like a chick pecking at rice, stubbornly sitting by his side.

Actually, he had stayed up for Shousui before, but only as a child, when his mother was still alive and he was a cherished child.

He would snuggle up beside his mother, with her warm shoulder on one side and the cheerful sounds of the Spring Festival Gala from the TV on the other.

Just before midnight, his mother would cook dumplings for him, serving them right at the stroke of midnight, then saying to him, "Happy New Year, sweetheart."

And those words... Jiang Wang hadn't heard them in a long time...

His nose tingled, his throat tightened, and a bitter taste seemed to spread from the tip of his tongue.

Jiang Wang reached out and saw the unfinished wine from dinner, so he poured himself another cup.

He had to admit, the palace wine was delicious.

This wine was different from what he drank at the palace banquet last time. The previous one was mellow and rich, while this one had a cleaner, more refreshing taste, even with a fruity note in the finish.

The slightly sweet wine chased away most of the bitterness in his mouth.

But after a while, Jiang Wang's mind gradually grew muddled.

He was seeing double, including Changle, who had fallen asleep on the table beside him, appearing to split into two.

Jiang Wang rubbed his face, trying to sober up, but such a simple action couldn't withstand the delayed yet overwhelming wave of drunkenness.

In the end, he too slumped over the table and fell asleep.

The moment his eyes closed, his mind was still thinking about the "Shousui" task. Would it fail?

His fifteen points!

Jiang Wang didn't know how long he slept. In his dream, he seemed to feel an all-over heat, a sensation familiar to him, yet somehow different from last time.

The feverish heat from before had radiated from within, but this time it felt more like he was being roasted over a fire, as if the moisture in his body was evaporating.

Jiang Wang groggily opened his eyes and was stunned by the scene before him.

Fierce, blazing orange-red shadows danced wildly outside the window, rising and falling, with a faint tendency to burst through the window.

The black, choking smoke had already slipped in through the cracks of the doors and windows, trying to fill every corner.

With a "crash," the fragile window frame finally succumbed to the flames' assault, shattering.

A cold wind blew, and the fire outside suddenly intensified, like a giant rising to its feet, enveloping their house.

Jiang Wang shook the still-sleeping Changle, shouting, "Wake up! There's a fire!"