On the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, people begin to prepare to worship the Kitchen God.
The Ulanara clan's residence was no exception. The large kitchen was short of manpower, so with the consent of the manager, the cooks and cooks from the small kitchens of each courtyard were borrowed to help.
No, Aunt Liu will not be able to return to Yingxi House until the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month. Therefore, in the next three days, all meals and snacks will have to be made by Yao Chan carrying a large food box and going around most of the mansion.
Take it from the kitchen.
"Chan'er, Gege, I believe that if you make these dishes, they will be no worse than those from the big kitchen." Jinxi took the chopsticks and poked at today's lunch: bamboo shoot stew, braised crucian carp, sour powder and cabbage soup. Look.
If you eat it, you will lose your appetite, let alone eat it.
"If Gege doesn't mind, I will go and cook some of Gege's favorite dishes." Yaochan smiled happily and wanted to go into the kitchen and try her best side dishes.
"I don't dislike it, of course I don't dislike it." No matter how bad the food is, it's probably only as good as a big kitchen. Jinxi happily waved her hand and let Raochan do her best. Maybe there will be Aunt Liu who comes second. As the saying goes, people should not be judged by their appearance. Don't look at Raochan.
He is thin and thin, and his posture when picking up bones with a machete is unmistakable.
"Gege, sister Xia'er came to send a message, saying that Fujin was leaving the house in the afternoon, and asked Gege if there was anything he wanted to buy?" Mo'er stood on the porch and dusted off the snow on his body, and then entered the warm main room. Seeing Jin
Xi had no appetite for the lunch on the table, so she simply put it away, replaced it with a few plates of snacks that Aunt Liu had planned to prepare, and brewed a pot of the fine Biluochun that the young master had specially sent a few days ago to satisfy Jin Xi's hunger.
"Oh, E Niang just doesn't want me to follow you." Jin Xi curled her lips, threw a piece of sesame cake ball into her little mouth, chewed it, and muttered in a low voice. Ever since she beat her and made that little kid cry, Cheap Niang has been beating her.
He made up his mind not to let her follow him to Futa Temple, for fear of another eventuality.
Huh? But don’t you usually go to the morning to offer incense? Why did you choose to go out in the afternoon today? Could it be that you are not going to Futa Temple?
"Let's go to E Niang's place and have a look." Jin Xi took a sip of Biluochun. It was a waste for Qi Ke to give her such a good tea.
After staying abroad for five years, she is used to drinking milk, coffee or red wine. Tea, which is known as the national drink, to her, is nothing more than black tea, green tea, scented tea, fruit tea, etc.
Nothing else.
He led Mo'er out of the Yingxi Building, wrapped himself in a cloak that reached to his ankles, and walked carefully toward Liutang Courtyard against the snowflakes in the sky.
"Ah, there's such a heavy snowstorm, why is Xi'er here?" As soon as Minrong heard that her precious daughter was coming, she immediately dropped what she was doing, got up and left the main room. When she saw Jinxi, her whole body seemed to be wrapped in white flour.
As if, he couldn't help but laugh and said: "If you look at this from a distance, how would you know it's E Niang's little sweetheart? He's just a candy man!"
Jinxi tugged at the corner of her mouth speechlessly. Isn't this embarrassing because she is short and clumsy? It's not funny at all!
"Mom, are you going out in the afternoon?" She quickly took off her cloak and changed the subject, so that the cheap girl wouldn't stop laughing at her awkward appearance of not being able to see her legs while wearing a cloak.
"Yes. E Niang's distant cousin asked someone to send a message and wanted to meet E Niang." Minrong explained a few words briefly. In fact, she was not convinced in her heart. Ning Jing and herself were almost in two different worlds.
We didn’t get along very well with each other when we were young, but now that we are married and have children, we come here to reminisce about old times. However, even so, we still have to meet each other. Otherwise, if word spreads, it will be said that Fei Yanggu’s Fujin is married
If you don't want to talk to your mother's family, wouldn't it be a disgrace to the master?
"Can't Xi'er come with us?" It's the twelfth month of winter and it's boring to stay in a small building. It's better to go out and enjoy the snowy scenery on the street.
"Eniang is afraid that Xi'er will catch a cold..." Minrong pinched the tip of Jin Xi's nose with a smile and explained. It wouldn't be a big deal to take her to see her distant relatives, but it's just that it's windy and snowy now. What if something happens?
Things are good no matter how they happen.
"Xi'er is not afraid of the cold. Didn't Xi'er come here by herself just now?" Jin Xi stared at Minrong longingly and begged. It has been almost four months, and she has left the house three times in total. Even if she is a death row prisoner,
, there are also two breaks a month.
Alas! At this rate, it would be some time before she could see the two large boxes of treasures placed in the attic of the cathedral.
It was a gift given to her by Nan Huairen. According to his words, it was to celebrate his fate with her. Oh, just because she accidentally bought the piece and he consigned it to Liulicuan, but it was left on the shelf for ten years and no one cared about it.
A glass hand mirror. The two large boxes of treasures he gave away are said to include a series of original books he brought from Belgium in his early years, as well as various daily necessities produced in Belgium that he rarely used after becoming an official in the court.
appliance.
I really want to see what kind of treasures they are. However, since Nan Huairen can praise the things in the two big boxes as treasures in front of her, she tentatively believes that they are not fake. At least, they are not like
A gadget like a glass hand mirror. Otherwise, it would simply be an insult to her, an elite housekeeper from the 21st century.
"Xi'er really wants to go, then let's go together." Seeing her daughter's eagerness, Minrong didn't dare to dampen her enthusiasm anymore, and nodded in agreement. Fortunately, it was a carriage ride, and the meeting place outside the house was the largest in the capital.
The "Xiangji Teahouse" in the hotel has heating measures that are no worse than those in the mansion.
"I know Eniang is the best!" Jinxi smiled and leaned towards Minrong's cheek, "baha" and "baha" two big mouths, leaving a hot saliva mark on each cheek of Minrong, which made Minrong angry.
Rong can't laugh or cry.
…………
The reason why Xiangji Teahouse is known as the largest teahouse in the capital is mainly because the owner behind the teahouse is said to be a member of the royal family. At first, because he often received some high-ranking officials’ descendants, it was rumored by good people, meaning that he came to this auspicious place.
Those who remember the teahouse are either nobles or officials. With this coming and going, more and more Eight Banners nobles and official families will choose to come here to discuss or chat, to indirectly demonstrate their status.
The entire teahouse is in the shape of a back, and the hollow area in the middle is a half-story liftable stage. Two plays are performed every day. Of course, if you can afford the price, it is not a problem to order a play and sing on the spot.
The teahouse has two floors, with the lobby downstairs and the private rooms upstairs. On the second floor, the rooms facing the street and facing the stage are private rooms that have been reserved for a long time by various "yellow belts".
Jinxi followed behind Xiangji Teahouse, looking at the facilities in the teahouse with relish, praising her in her heart. In other words, a modern version of the praise: The boss behind Xiangji Teahouse is really a great person. Look at this floor.
The decoration is simple yet elegant, while the second floor is full of luxury, which is a typical show-off. Even ordinary people with no money and power will be frightened by the luxurious and exquisite decoration upstairs even if they accidentally enter the second floor.
His legs became weak and he rolled down the stairs.
Min Rong held her hand and followed the waiter who came to greet her as soon as she entered the teahouse. She walked cautiously to the second floor and came to the entrance hall at the corner that didn't look like an entrance hall. The waiter entered an elegant room near the stairs.
At this time, Jinxi looked around and dialed the mahogany-carved waterwheel on the viewing platform beside her, which was as tall as a person. She sped up its operation, and the gurgling water rushed to the mini brocade underneath the waterwheel.
The sudden splash of water in the carp pond almost wet Jinxi's sleeves.
Who made it? It looks like a modern version of the small bridge and flowing water viewing platform.
As soon as they finished mumbling, the waiter came out with a big smile and welcomed them into the private room.
"Minrong, long time no see, oh, is this Da Gege? Well, it's my fault that I didn't have time to come see you. I heard that you have suffered a lot in the past three years..." A well-dressed young woman said as soon as they met.
I started to bury the cheap girl. From time to time I would use the silk handkerchief on my hand to wipe the corners of my eyes that were obviously dry.
Jinxi decided to hate her at first sight.
"Cousin, I'm living a good life now." Minrong interrupted Nalan Ningjing's empty words with a slight smile, not wanting to continue listening to her nonsense.
"That's right. It's all over. Why bring it up?" Ningjing pulled Jinxi over with a smile on her face and looked her up and down: "Minrong, this child is really pretty. Look at that face.
It's so crystal clear that you really want to pinch it..." As she said that, she actually used her hand with the long scarlet nails to pinch Jin Xi's cheek, but Jin Xi ducked away with a tilt of her head.
"Eniang..." Jinxi helplessly asked for help. Whose cat and dog wouldn't tie up a leash if they went out for a run?
"Cousin, Xi'er is an introverted child. Xi'er, come and sit next to E Niang." Minrong smiled and waved, finally getting rid of Jin Xi's encirclement.
"Cousin, why do you have time to come out to Minrong today, but something is wrong?" Ningjing, who has always had a high level of attention, has disliked a humble status since she was a child, and Minrong, who has a calm temperament, if Minrong really comes to her this time just to chat,
Minrong was in disbelief.
"Look at what you said, we are cousins after all. Although we are not close relatives, I have always treated you as my sister. Why should I come out to have a cup of tea and chat with you?" Ningjing seemed to be unhappy with Minrong's behavior.
She said with a straight face. Seeing that Minrong was stunned, she smiled and said the purpose of her trip somewhat flatteringly: "As you know, I have a daughter at my knees, who will be thirteen after the Chinese New Year.
Although I can't bear to send her to the palace, I can't push away the emperor's mighty grace. No, after thinking about it, you are the only one who can help me."
After Jinxi heard this, a black line suddenly appeared on her forehead. How can this be called chatting over a cup of tea? She obviously had her eyes set on the second-grade official position of the cheap father and the relationship between the cheap mother and Yi Fei. Tsk tsk... What a shame she said that.
Have to export.
"Cousin, how can I help with the talent show?" Minrong smiled self-deprecatingly. Sure enough, there was a purpose, and it was a very far-from-simple purpose. I almost believed what she just said.
He also said that she was really looking for him to reminisce about the past. Unexpectedly... ha...
"Minrong, you must help me this time! You also know that I only have a daughter... From now on, it will be difficult for me to have children... If she is good, I will be safe for the rest of my life. Those blind concubines in the house
My roommate dares not to bully me. Minrong... I beg you. Sir... he has never been to my house since Fucha entered the house... I..." Ningjing
The sudden collapse-like cry frightened Minrong and a group of maids. As for Jinxi, she huddled behind Minrong, seemingly scared, but in fact, there was a deep powerlessness towards the current situation in her heart. This was a woman in the Qing Dynasty.