In the early morning, Chang'an was covered in silver after heavy snow. The beautiful scenery after the snow that should have been poetic and picturesque, was messed up by the rolling black smoke. Chen Shubao looked at the pillars of black smoke rising outside the window, and felt that the poetic atmosphere that had finally emerged disappeared without a trace.

You can’t have both fish and bear’s paws. When it’s cold and cold, should you want a beautiful snow scene or a warm room like spring?

Chen Shubao asked himself this question more than once, and he chose the latter every time.

In the cold winter, more and more families use heating in Chang'an City. To determine whether the family is using heating, just look at whether there is black smoke in the chimney in the yard.

Therefore, in Chang'an in winter, you can see black smoke rising from the city day and night, as if there is a fire.

The denser the black smoke, the more wealthy the family.

He took his eyes back from the glass window and looked at the "radiator" under the windowsill. This magical device can warm the room. The only drawback is to burn coal and the rolling smoke coming out of the chimney is awesome.

Chen Shubao, who has always been afraid of the cold, now cannot do without heating. He looked at the "radiator" carefully for a while, then held the left and right wheels of the wheelchair in his hand and prepared to "turn around".

Shen Wuhua, who was standing aside, was about to help, when Chen Shubao looked at the other party and smiled and said, "No, I...I'll do it myself, it's okay..."

After saying that, he slowly turned the wheelchair wheel, skillfully turned the wheelchair toward the desk.

Shen Wuhua followed closely, picked up the newspaper that had just been delivered to the mansion, sat aside, and began to recite softly.

The first page of the newspaper is the "New Year's Message" of the court, congratulating the people of the world on peace and prosperity in the new year.

Today is the New Year, the first day of the new year. Chen Shubao sat upright, picked up his pen, listened to Shen Wuhua reading the "news" in the newspaper, and wrote words on the paper.

Although the handwriting is crooked, it is probably formed, at least it can make people see what the word it is.

Since the demise of Chen State, Chen Shubao, as the king of the fallen country, left Jiankang and settled in Chang'an, the capital of Zhou State. At that time, he was paralyzed, but now he has recovered from the paralysis caused by the "upward wind".

Such a miracle is thanks to Shen Wuhua's persistent efforts.

Without Shen Wuhua's careful care, Chen Shubao would not dare to imagine whether he could return to what he is now.

Although he needs help with urination and defecation, and although he still has no sense of it below his waist, he can sit up, speak, and do it, and at least have the courage to survive.

Although he was not speaking well, he could always talk to people. Emperor Zhou also ordered a skilled craftsman to build a "wheelchair", which increased Chen Shubao's range of movement, rather than lying on a bed all day long.

Chen Shubao received quite good treatment in Zhou State, not only had a title, but also a half-official position. Although it was a false position and could not really take up the job, he received a considerable salary. In addition, the rewards from the Zhou emperor from time to time were enough to allow Chen Shubao and his wife to maintain a decent life.

Decent life with heating.

Chen Shubao put down his pen and took the newspaper from Shen Wuhua. He looked serious and the words in the newspaper were of moderate size, which seemed effortless. Many news was published in the newspaper, allowing him to know what happened in Chang'an City without leaving home.

Everything can be seen in newspapers, from imperial edicts, government announcements, major events happening everywhere in the world, from alcoholic fights in the streets and alleys, and all kinds of news can be seen in newspapers. The newspapers published in a single day made Chen Shubao love it.

As the king of the devastated country, he no longer had the support of the front and back, and long live the mountains. The free and carefree emperor of the past has now lived a peaceful life. His residence is deserted on weekdays, and few guests come to him.

Thanks to the newspaper, Chen Shubao, who never left his home, could also know the world.

Because of the newspaper, Chen Shubao learned about Nanyang and Beiyang Trading Company, Donghai Danluo, Nanzhong Kunming, the magical Yewan Canal, and many things.

He is both a prisoner under house arrest and a traveler who travels around the world

After reading the newspaper for a while, Chen Shubao felt a little tired. He leaned against the backrest and closed his eyes to rest. Chen Wuhua picked up the newspaper again and continued to read the contents in the newspaper. Looking at her husband's ears and listening, she was very happy.

The couple are prisoners and live a life of a cage bird, but they have no worries about food and clothing, and no one comes to disturb them. Chen Shubao is unable to move, so he basically moves in the mansion. In addition to reading books, newspapers, and watching shadow puppets from time to time, he can relieve his boredom.

Chen Wuhua would occasionally invite shadow puppets to perform in the mansion, or play a piano song for Chen Shubao. The couple, who were once like passers-by, had a much harmonious relationship since they became prisoners.

It will no longer be like the past, and I can't say a few words all year round.

Although Chen Shubao was paralyzed and spoke stutteringly, for Chen Wuhua, it would be a good situation for him to be with Chen Shubao often.

Chen Wuhua was born into the Shen family of Wuxing. Shortly after the fall of the Chen State, the turmoil broke out in the south of the Yangtze River. The Shen family of Wuxing was involved. The consequence was that the Shen family's children suffered heavy casualties, and many people were exiled to the mountains and counted on each other and stayed away from their hometowns since then.

So for Chen Wuhua, her family no longer exists, and the only one who can accompany her until old age is Chen Shubao.

It was already the blessing of the Buddha that Chen Shubao could recover from this. She dared not expect anything anymore, but only hoped to spend the rest of her life with her husband.

Chen Wuhua was thinking about the newspaper, and suddenly a servant came to report that the time for the firecrackers was about to come.

She looked at the clock and it was 7:50 in the morning. According to the government’s advance notice, new firecrackers would be set off everywhere in the city at 8 o’clock. At that time, the noise would be very loud, like thunder.

Chen Wuhua learned about the power of new firecrackers in the early morning this morning. At midnight, the Chang'an government set off fireworks, and countless brilliant sparks bloomed over Chang'an, lasting for nearly fifteen minutes, allowing the people who were watching the night of the family to feast their eyes.

The new firecrackers that were set off later made the entire Chang'an City shrouded in thunder, and the atmosphere seemed extremely lively.

Now it is the first day of the New Year, and the government has once again set off firecrackers in several places in the city. There is a saying that it is "a good start".

Seeing that the snow stopped, Chen Wuhua asked the maid to put on a coat for Chen Shubao, and then pushed Chen Shubao to the yard.

At about eight o'clock, the thunder sounded on time in Chang'an City. The crackling sound of firecrackers was deafening, bringing a strong New Year atmosphere to the residents in the city.

“It sounds really…good….”

Chen Shubao said happily. Because it was too noisy, Chen Wuhua couldn't hear it clearly. He thought his husband needed something, so he squatted down beside the wheelchair and looked at the other person.

“It sounds so nice….”

"Well, the sound of firecrackers sounds really lively."

Chen Wuhua also answered happily, and the couple held their hands tightly together and listened to the endless sound of firecrackers.

Not far from the courtyard, a burst of white smoke rose from the street. It is said that this is the smoke produced by the new firecrackers burning, and the smell is a bit pungent.

The white smoke became bigger and bigger, tumbling, as if thousands of troops were galloping, about to break through the smoke and whistle.

The north wind blew, blowing the white smoke to the south. Seeing the choking smoke coming, Chen Wuhua got up and pushed Chen Shubao into the room.
Chapter completed!