Chapter 78 Green sunflowers, waiting for the morning dew
Cui Lin thought about it over and over again, always having trouble making a decision.
After thinking again and again, he finally decided to meet Gao Rou, an old friend in charge of the judicial prison.
After all, as a child, Wen Ji, I owed him too much.
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After Xia Houxuan sent You Ling'er away, he returned to the west hall. At this time, the matchmaker who came to the Hefu to talk to him had been sent away by Bi Han.
"Aunt Han, has the matchmaker left already?"
Xia Houxuan took off his plain robe and handed it to the maid. While asking, he bathed his hands in the copper basin handed over by the servant.
Bihan smiled and replied:
"Yes, I told the matchmaker that this is a good thing, but I have to ask the head of the family for permission before I dare to apply for the job."
Xia Houxuan nodded and said:
"In this case, Xuan'er will write a letter and send it to Xiangyang, Jingzhou. After asking his father, he will choose a good and auspicious day to arrange the wedding for Mr. He Kui and Yu'er."
"So good."
Thinking that her daughter would have a good home, Bi Han was very happy. And this joy naturally overshadowed the reluctance in her heart that her daughter was about to leave home. Bi Han said again:
"Xuan'er, I've asked Magu to prepare dinner. Go and call Feng'er, Xian'er, and Tiger Tiger to stop playing and come have dinner together."
"Okay, Aunt Han."
Xia Houxuan smiled and immediately rushed to the backyard and asked Xia Houxian and the others to go.
Not long after, everyone was seated.
Under the arrangements of Gu Ting and Magu, the servants began to get busy. After a while, steaming soup and noodles were placed on everyone's desks.
"Wow, it's winter squash soup! It smells so good!"
When Yu Huan lived in Taishan County in his early years, winter squash was always served as the main dish at home. However, Yu's family was in decline at that time and how could they afford a good cook? Therefore, for many years, they had never had three meals a day.
This winter squash soup is so delicious and fragrant, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Xia Houxian smiled and said:
"Tiger is really lucky. The first time he came to my brother's house for dinner, he happened upon Magu's signature mallow soup. Like me, it takes me a month to have a chance to eat it."
Xiahou Feng, who likes Confucian classics, also laughed and said:
""Shen Nong's Materia Medica" says: Sunflower is the top grade. According to the season, this sunflower can be divided into spring sunflower, okra and mallow. And this mallow must be a seedling or young stems and leaves before it can be eaten, so it is the big brother
It’s hard to eat it every day at home.”
Bi Han, who was interested in medical skills, also smiled and said:
"What Feng'er said is absolutely true. This mallow is sweet, astringent, and cold. It can clear away heat, soothe water, and smooth the intestines. If the whole plant is used, it can also be used as medicine."
Yu Huan listened to what others were saying, tasted the soup, and asked with a smile:
"Brother Xuan, what is said in the Yuefu "Fifteen Military Expeditions" you taught me a few days ago: Valley is born in the courtyard, and sunflowers are born in the well. Grains are used to pound rice, and sunflowers are picked to make soup.
Is this the mallow that can make soup?"
Xia Houxuan, who had just served some soup to 'Amo' next to him, looked at Yu Huan approvingly, nodded and said:
"What the tiger said is true, it is the 'Lord of Vegetables', mallow."
Everyone chatted while eating. After dinner, it was already the time when the sun was setting in the west and the red sun was setting in the west.
After Xiahou Xian, Xiahou Feng and Yu Huan had eaten, they also said goodbye to Xiahou Xuan, Bihan and Xia Houyu and went back to their homes.
"Aunt Han, now that Yu'er's matter has been settled, Xuan'er has something to deal with later. He may not return to the house tonight. Aunt Han and Yu'er can rest early and don't wait for Xuan'er."
Bihan smiled and said:
"In that case, Xuan'er should dress warmly and be careful."
Xia Houxuan took the big cloak handed to him by his subordinates, put the 'Quality' sword on his waist, and bowed to Bihan:
"Xuan'er knows."
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When Xia Houxuan arrived at Tingwei Gaorou's residence in the "White Bird", it was already dusk in Xushi.
It was dusk at this time, and the sun had already faded behind the western mountains.
The sky and the earth are dim and everything is hazy.
"Tuk, Tuk, Tuk."
Xia Houxuan got off his horse, tied it to the horse-tying stone guarded by a servant outside the gate of Gaofu, and knocked on the side door of Gaofu.
"Hey, it turns out to be Mr. Xiahou. Why are you here today?"
The servant saw many people on weekdays and had a good memory, so he was no stranger to Xia Houxuan, a noble son.
Xia Houxuan smiled and replied:
"Xuan came today because he has something to discuss with Duke Wenhui, the court captain."
"So that's it." The servant thought for a moment and said, "Master Xiahou, please come with me."
"In this case, I'll have you to help me."
The two of them said that and headed towards the south of the mansion.
The servant led Xia Houxuan to Gao Xun's Nanyuan, bowed his head and said:
"Young master, please forgive me. My master is drinking tea and chatting with Cui Deru and Cui Gong of Dahonglu at the moment. However, I dare not ask you to wait, so I have arranged for you to come to my house first to meet you."
Xia Houxuan smiled slightly and said:
"It's okay, thank you for your hard work, brother."
"Sir, please excuse me."
After the servant finished speaking, he went back to wait at the gate of Gaofu.
"Brother Xiahou, what kind of wind brought you here today?"
Gao Xun heard the conversation in the courtyard and went out to greet Xia Houxuan before he could knock on the door.
"Brother Gao, Xuan came today because he wanted to visit Duke Wen Hui, but Duke Wen Hui was not available yet, so he came to bother him first."
Gao Xun smiled and said:
"My uncle is indeed drinking tea and having a long talk with Mr. Cui. He probably won't be free for a while. Come on, Brother Xiahou, why don't you choose a different day to try my newly brewed wine?"
Xia Houxuan smiled and said:
"Why, another novelty wine prepared for Princess Dongxiang? I really want it, but I have to meet Duke Wen Hui later, so I don't dare to drink too much today!"
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!"
Gao Xun smiled and went into the house hand in hand with Xia Houxuan.
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The Marquis of Duyang, the residence of the General Hussar.
Although it was dusk at the moment, there was a bustling crowd in front of Cao's Mansion, with people coming and going in a steady stream.
This is because today, General Cao Hong held a grand banquet.
Rumor has it that Cao Hong, the general of the Hussars, spent a full two hundred thousand dollars to prepare for this banquet. As for whether this news is true or false, no one knows.
Today, Cao Hong not only invited some old friends in the army, such as General Xian Yufu of Fuguo, General Wang Zhong of Qingchao, but also some princes, nobles, and noble men to the banquet.
However, the only prince who came to the banquet was the newly crowned King of Dongwuyang, Cao Jian.
As Cao Hong expected, Cao Rui, King of Pingyuan, and Cao Lin, King of Hedong, refused to come, citing physical discomfort and busy schedules as excuses.
As for the young princes, such as Zhong Yu, the eldest son of Tai Fu Zhong Yao, and the four brothers Xun Can, Cao Xi, Cao Yan, Cao Ze, and Cao Xun, the princes of the Xun family, as well as Fu Gu, as well as Xu Yun and Cui Zan who were arranged by Li Yi to protect Cao Jian,
Yuan Kan, Yuan Liang, Sima Zhao, He Guan, etc. all came to the banquet.
Due to the large number of guests, it was difficult to arrange seats, and there were many drinks and food. Therefore, it was not until around Hai hour that all the guests inside and outside the hall were seated one by one.
Cao Hong, the hussar general, was sitting in the main hall, facing north and south.
The remaining guests were seated one by one according to their family status and official position.
After everyone greeted each other politely, the host Cao Hong finally spoke:
"Everyone, Cao Zilian has no other intention in hosting this banquet today. He just wants to drink wine, eat meat and enjoy happiness with everyone. Tonight, we will not go home until we are drunk!"
"Thank you, General Hussar!"
After everyone thanked Cao Hong, they all drank a cup of wine.
Soon, elegant music was playing inside and outside the hall, and the servants began to serve the dishes.
The first dish is the five-flavored preserved food that is the favorite of the royal family of this dynasty.
When everyone saw this dish, they all licked their fingers.
Speaking of these five-flavored preserved meats, they are usually made in February, September or October, and are the most delicious. As for the meat, it can be made from cattle, sheep, deer, deer, or pork.
Cut the meat into slices or strips with a knife, then break the bones of the meat into pieces and boil it into bone juice. After skimming off the foam, add black bean sauce and cook again.
When the color is sufficient and the flavor is strong, strain out the residue and add salt to the pot.
Then mash the finely chopped scallions into a pulp, add minced peppercorns, orange peels and ginger. Dip the meat into the fresh juice and rub it with your hands to infuse it with flavor.
The preserved slices need to be soaked for more than three days and nights. After the preserved slices are marinated, hang them with strings under the northern eaves of the house to dry in the shade.
When the candied strips are semi-wet, squeeze them tightly with your hands repeatedly. After the candied meat is made, put it in a large and clean warehouse, wrap it in a paper bag and hang it until you eat it in the summer. The taste will be the best.
After everyone tasted the first delicious dish, they all believed the rumor that two hundred thousand was spent to prepare the banquet.
The servants of the Cao family are very busy at the moment, constantly adding wine to each table.
Not long after, the second dish was also served on the table.
"It turns out to be snakehead fish breasts. The General Qiaoqi is so generous!"
General Wang Zhong of Qingchao couldn't help but feel very happy when he saw such delicacies.
This snakehead fish is commonly known as mullet. The preparation of this dish is to boil a pot of extremely salty seasoning soup, add more ginger and minced Sichuan peppercorns to the soup, fill the mouth of the fish, and then use a bamboo stick to pierce the eyes.
Ten strings are hung with the fish mouth upward under the north eaves of the house. They will not be ready until February or March of the following year.
At this time, the five internal organs from the belly of the fish are cut out raw and soaked in sour vinegar. It tastes extremely delicious.
Before serving, the mullet is wrapped in grass, and then the fish meat is lightly pounded with a wooden hammer. The meat is as white as snow and has an unparalleled umami flavor. It is an extremely precious food to be enjoyed with rice and wine.
"Come on, everyone, drink this cup! Hahahaha!"
Cao Hong was enjoying the meal at this moment, and his heart was extremely happy.
Not long after, the wine in his jar was drained.
After eating two dishes, everyone had drunk a lot of wine, and some of the guests who drank less felt a little dizzy.
"Come here, I'll serve you some Hu Geng to relieve your hangover. It's been a long night, how can you get drunk so fast!"
Cao Hong gave the order and the servants immediately started running.
This Hu Geng is a dish introduced to the Han Dynasty after Zhang Qian of the previous dynasty traveled to the Western Regions.
And only a wealthy member of the royal family like Cao Hong could afford to eat this dish every day.
For this soup, first take a few pounds of mutton ribs, add a few pounds of mutton, and four liters of water. After cooking, remove the ribs, cut the meat into pieces, add onions, coriander, and a few pounds of pomegranate juice to adjust it.
taste.
The soup is extremely delicious and is perfect for drinking.
Night has come, and everything should be in a state of tranquility, but at this moment, in Cao Hong's mansion, the lights are on and people are buzzing.