Is there such a good thing? Because Zhou Ling's family was poor and his two younger brothers had no money to study, he was sold by his father into Zhu Yuanwai's house as a maid. During this period, thanks to Mrs. Zhu's attention, Zhou Ling learned some numbers and accounting knowledge. Her
She has always had an idea in her mind that literacy can change her destiny. This time, Mrs. Zhu sent her to Shiyue Tower because she knew numbers and could keep accounts. She was so excited when she heard that Mrs. Feng was willing to teach her literacy.
They all stammered a little, and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Master, here I am, please bow to me, my disciple."
Mrs. Feng second wife hurriedly supported her to prevent her from kneeling and said: "I'm sorry for killing my sister. My sister has taken so much care of you these days, and there will be many people who will rely on you in the future. Let's treat each other as sisters. I'll teach you how to read, and you will
Teach me how to cook.”
Zhou Ling bowed again and said, "What is Madam's identity? How dare this little girl go to Yue?"
"What a bullshit identity. She followed a man for no apparent reason." She said angrily, "My sister will definitely have a better future than my sister."
Zhou Ling no longer refused, and the two of them called themselves sisters from then on. In ancient times, every pillar in a brothel had two brushes, and they were proficient in writing, calligraphy, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Mrs. Feng was born in this way, so she was naturally proficient in these.
Learning calligraphy started with writing letters. Zhou Ling dictated the content and asked Mrs. Feng to help write the family letter. Then, she copied it with a brush and asked someone to send it to her two younger brothers. In the letter, she wrote:
Pan Tan is living a good life, has accumulated some money, and has met a new sister these days, who treats her very well, and so on.
Xianju County is a palm-sized place, and the distance between them is not far. At noon on the third day, Zhou Ling heard a familiar voice calling her at the door. When she came out, she saw that it was her brother. Because he had money, his father planned to
He was sent to Tongjiang Academy to study, so he rushed to Pantan overnight.
"Sister, my father was very happy after reading the letter. Fortunately, my sister has always met good people in her life. We have dozens of pullets at home. This basket is of newly laid eggs, which are the most nourishing to the body. My father asked me to bring them to you as a gift.
My new sister." The younger brother kept chattering, "From now on, my younger brother will study in the academy. I will definitely get a good name and honor my ancestors."
The younger brother took the money and ran off to pay the tuition. She took a dozen new-born eggs to the kitchen. New-born eggs are also called nest eggs or first-lay eggs.
The first clutch of eggs laid within ten days. These eggs are usually smaller, and because they are the first eggs laid by the hen, their nutritional content is usually higher than ordinary eggs. Newborn eggs are the first eggs laid by the hen after they develop.
For a nest of eggs, each chicken needs to accumulate nutrients for an average of three to nine days to lay a small egg, which reflects the essence of eggs.
"Sister, let me boil three young eggs for you today. These are the most nourishing. My brother said that he gave them to you specially. Thank you for teaching me how to read." Zhou Ling said excitedly: "My brother also entered.
I went to Tongjiang Academy to study, and now I have a scholar in my family."
"How many younger brothers do you have? Are they all boys?" As soon as she said this, Mrs. Feng laughed. How could there be any younger brothers in the world who were girls? She quickly changed her words and said, "I said they all go to the academy to study.
Is it done?"
Zhou Ling was startled. By the way, the second brother has entered the academy, and the third brother is still at home. One is because there is not enough money, and the other is that if both brothers enter the academy, the father will have to do the farm work alone.
She was too busy. For a moment, she remained silent. This is the tragedy of the poor peasant family. Although the two brothers are equally smart, when faced with a choice, only one can be given an opportunity, and it cannot be solved by a few small coins.
Mrs. Feng Er gave her an idea and said: "Tell the master and ask your brother to do odd jobs here during the off-season. Anyway, there is a shortage of people here, so calling someone is not a call. Instead of calling someone a stranger, it is better to call him a relative."
"
Although part-time workers made money during the Song Dynasty, their social status was not as good as that of land-owning farmers. Zhou Ling thought about it again and again and fell into silence again.
"Sister, let me ask you, are you stupid? Even if your family has twenty acres of land, and one acre of land can harvest two dan of grain, and it takes only 40 dan of farming for a year, the whole family will work to death, but only twenty taels of silver will be earned.
I work part-time here, and a clever waiter can earn a tip of more than a hundred wen a day, or five taels of silver a month, which is several times higher than a family's income from farming. If you have money, you can't sell the land and hire people to farm.
"
Mrs. Feng Er was born in a brothel, and she knew money matters better than anyone else. Zhou Ling was stunned again and again, and her head was confused, and she said: "Thank you for your advice, sister. I feel like my thoughts are not enough."
Okay, let my sister think about it carefully."
After saying that, he picked up three young eggs and went to the kitchen. The chef was thinking about how to make some new dishes for the three ladies to create his own reputation. When he saw Zhou Ling boiling the young eggs in water, he was busy
Forbidden: "It's for Mrs. Feng, I guess. The master will teach you a simple method, which is guaranteed to be much more delicious than boiling, and it will also be more nourishing for the body."
After that, take a small bowl, add water, cooking wine, salt and a few drops of sesame oil, then break in the eggs, stir well, use a spoon to remove the foam, cover it with a lid, and put it in the steamer
Steam it over medium heat. After the incense time has passed, open the pot, take off the lid, sprinkle with chopped green onion and soy sauce, and say to her: "Okay, you can serve it to Mrs. Feng."
Zhou Ling took a look at it and saw that it was light yellow. When he picked it up, it was still swaying gently, like topaz, and the color was very beautiful. I had steamed eggs for Mrs. Zhu before, and it seemed that the steps were the same, but
After steaming, there are small holes one after another inside. What is the difference?
"It's better to go back and have steamed eggs"
Eat as simply as possible,
Beat the eggs into the water and mix well.
Steam with salt and sesame oil over medium heat,
Two slices of chives and a few drops of oil.
Eat simply.
This steamed egg looks very simple, but is smooth and tender when eaten. It also has a special aroma, like a newborn baby that has just taken a bath. The taste is simply immersive. Mrs. Yang and Mrs. Yu came again.
After taking a bite, he salivated and asked Zhou Ling, "Do you still have some at home? Bring us a few dozen."
In the market, there are also peasant women carrying bamboo baskets selling newborn eggs, one full basket at a time. In ancient times, no one had a chicken farm. Most farmers raised three or five chickens at home, and some big families kept dozens, one basket full at a time.
Newborn eggs are not something that a farm family can afford. It is obviously a lie. Why Zhou Ling's parents raised more than a dozen eggs is because their daughter became the head of Shiyue Tower and her income was high. The family invited villagers for the New Year. Just dozens of them.
A little hen, with only one egg in its lifetime, has been promised to Mrs. Feng, how can there be anything left? Zhou Ling shook her head.
The two ladies took the baby away, and Zhou Ling and Mrs. Feng were discussing in the room to explain why the master's steamed eggs were so smooth and tender. Mrs. Feng also couldn't figure out that she had eaten it when she was a pillar in Chunhua Tower.
There are a lot of steamed eggs, but every time they are like fermented dough, filled with countless small holes, and they don't taste so smooth. Is there any secret hidden in this? Is it because the eggs are steamed?
Suddenly, Zhou Ling stood up and said, "I thought of it."