border cook

The New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and all the restaurants and teahouses in Xizhou City are closed to let the staff below go back to celebrate the New Year.

Jiang Yanyi had also finished all the clothes that Mrs. Chen had made, and the clerks at Ruyilou and Noodle Shop each had a new piece of clothes, plus a red envelope with a hundred cash. Wish you prosperity and wealth.

He was the only one left in the old scholar's house, and it was very deserted, so he simply talked to Jiang Yanyi, and set up a stall in front of the Ruyi Building to help people write couplets.

He wrote a good handwriting, he wrote the couplets of Ruyi Building and Noodle Shop, and Jiang Yanyi also posted a pair at the door of the shop on Duhufu Street.

Thousands of households always exchange new peaches for old talismans.

Every household cleans the door, bids farewell to the old and welcomes the new, which can really be seen from the red couplets in front of the door.

The children in the neighborhood who often rolled in the ashes had also changed into brand new clothes. If it weren't for the two snots still hanging under their noses, Jiang Yanyi would hardly have recognized him.

They went back to the Chu family for the New Year. Chu Zhong and Yang Xiubingshao were slaves of the Chu family, so they would go back with them. Aunt Guo broke her arm and was still not recovering. Qiu Kui took the initiative to stay and take care of Aunt Guo. Chen Guogong said that he was going to seal the mansion for the New Year.

Huo Jianjia weighed it up, and felt that he could eat more delicious food with Jiang Yanyi, so he chose to go to Chu's house with Jiang Yanyi.

The carriage had just arrived at the gate of the Chu family, and the three sisters of the Chu family came out after being notified by the porter.

Chu Shubao rolled up his sleeves and rubbed a lot of flour on his face. When he saw Jiang Yanyi, it was as if he had seen a savior: "Come here, I told my grandmother that our sisters will cook by themselves during the Chinese New Year this year. Grandma I want to eat spring pancakes, but I haven't made the dough yet."

Mrs. Chu is an out-and-out southerner. Usually when the Chu family celebrates the New Year, the cook at home will prepare southern New Year snacks according to Mrs. Chu's taste.Xizhou is not happy to eat spring pancakes during the Chinese New Year, and the newly recruited cook of the Chu family can't make them either. Chu Shubao asked the old servant in the house how to make spring pancakes, but unfortunately, the old servant was also a half-baked man, and said he couldn't make it.

Chu Zhong returned to the carriage with Chu Yan on his back, Jiang Yanyi helped him close the cloak and hat to keep out the wind, and said with a smile, "Dare you expect me to come, just to let me spread spring pancakes?"

Chu Shubao sighed and said, "Good Ah Yi, don't run on me at this time."

Chu Chengmao stood aside with folded arms, and looked at Chu Shubao with disgust: "Who is it that boasted in front of grandma that he stole a master from the back chef of Ruyi Building and learned how to cook all kinds of dishes now?"

Chu Shubao couldn't hold back her face, so she turned her head and said: "Second brother, you know how to eat, so you have the nerve to talk about me! You also come to the kitchen to help, and you can make noodles!"

Chu Chengmao ruthlessly refused: "It's not me who praised Haikou."

Chu Shubao hummed in anger, but the other sisters all laughed.

It was the first time for Jiang Yanyi to bring a maid home, and Huo Jianjia had a birthmark on her face, only Chu Huibao, the youngest, showed a little surprise on her face, while the others didn't take it seriously after being slightly stunned.

Chu Huibao looked at the attitudes of his brothers and sisters, and quickly put away his strange expressions.

Since childhood, Huo Jianjia has been rejected by others because of the birthmark on her face. She has never been treated badly by Jiang Yanyi, and when she returned to the Chu family, the Chu family did not treat her as a monster. I was a little moved in my heart.

Chu Yangui was sent back to his own yard, and Chu Chengmao hid in Chu Yangui's room to play chess with Chu Yangui in order not to listen to Chu Shubao's nagging.

Jiang Yanyi took off the cold cloak, Huo Jianjia took it to the greenhouse to help Jiang Yanyi dry, and Jiang Yanyi followed Chu Shubao into the kitchen.

Mrs. Xue, the sister-in-law in the lobby, was busy working on the stove. When she saw Jiang Yanyi, she also warmly said, "Yanyi is here."

"Sister-in-law's stewed lamb chops, it smells so good." Jiang Yanyi had a good nose, and could smell it as soon as he entered the room.

Mrs. Xue said with a smile: "The boy who purchased bought a lot, and there is still a rack of lamb chops left. The third uncle said that the smoked lamb chops you made are delicious, but I don't know how to cook them. I'm just waiting for you to come and cook."

Chu Shubao hurriedly said: "I need Ah Yi's help to bake spring pancakes."

Jiang Yanyi rolled up his sleeves, "Blanch the remaining lamb chops to remove the blood and cook them in a pot. After a while, set up a pot in the yard to smoke them. Let me see how the noodles are getting along."

In the basin for making spring roll wrappers, the flour is muddy and sticks to your hands when you touch it. Jiang Yanyi said: "When kneading the noodles, add more water, add more flour."

Chu Shubao hurriedly added two spoonfuls of flour under Jiang Yanyi's command. Jiang Yanyi slowly kneaded the dough from flying flocs into a smooth dough, took off a small piece and touched it with the tip of his tongue to taste the salinity.

Someone nearby tugged at the corner of her clothes, and when she looked down, she saw Chu Huibao's frightened face: "Second sister, raw dough is not edible!"

Jiang Yanyi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "I didn't eat."

She threw away the little piece of dough, and added another spoonful of salt to the dough after washing her hands in the basin.

To make spring pancakes, high-gluten flour should be used, and the gluten degree of "kneading" is not enough. Adding some salt can improve the gluten degree.

Chu Shubao nodded Chu Huibao's forehead: "You greedy cat, do you think everyone is like you?"

She had flour in her hands, and with such a small amount, Chu Huibao's forehead was stained with white fingerprints. Chu Jiabao smiled sullenly when he saw it.

Jiang Yanyi was infected by them, and there was a little smile on his face.

Spring pancakes have evolved into spring rolls in later generations, but at this time, spring pancakes don’t need to be deep-fried in a pan, but just use a thin pancake to roll whatever you want on the dinner table.

After kneading the noodles for making cake spring, there are three processes of pressing noodles, rolling noodles and throwing noodles.

Jiang Yanyi clenched his hands into half fists, dipped his knuckles in some water and pressed the dough, waited for the water to fully soak into the dough, then dipped in water and continued to press until the dough was picked up by his hands, and it would not break when pulled from the basin. Indicates that the pressing surface is pressed.

The noodles used to make cakes are different from those used to make steamed buns. The dough has to be soaked in cold water for half an hour.

During this period, Jiang Yanyi began to prepare the stuffing for spring pancakes. Although some people eat pork in this era, rich people prefer to eat mutton during the New Year. Mother Yang, who took care of the old lady, said that in the past, people in the south of the Yangtze River liked to eat mutton stuffing during the Chinese New Year. Therefore, the meat stuffing prepared by Xue and the others is also made of mutton.

But there are still servants in the house, so it's okay to make some pork stuffing and share it with the servants.

Jiang Yanyi cut up some shredded cabbage, and planned to mix it into the meat filling to give it a richer taste.

She poured oil into the pan, and when the oil temperature came up, she first poured the shredded mutton into it and stir-fried over high heat, then added salt, rice wine and soy sauce, and fried it until it was seven ripe, then added shredded cabbage and continued to fry, and when the cabbage was cooked, she Thicken the sauce and remove from the pan.

After making pork and cabbage stuffing in the same way, Jiang Yanyi asked Chu Huibao, "Does Huibao want to eat bean paste stuffing?"

Chu Huibao was on the side to help pass the plates to several sisters, and nodded vigorously when he heard the words: "I think."

Chu Shubao said fiercely, "Be careful of your rotten teeth", but still started to prepare bean paste.

Looking at the two sisters, Jiang Yanyi smiled and shook her head.

The noodles had already woken up, so she poured out the water on the noodles and began to shake the noodles. This step was more laborious. She had to grab the noodles with one hand, let the noodles fall three inches from the palm of the hand, and then shake them back to the palm of the hand until the dough was firm.Whether the dough in your hands is good or not when spreading the spring pancakes depends on this step.

As soon as spring pancakes were to be made, the pan was set up early in the Chu family’s kitchen. When the pan was heated up, it was brushed with a thin layer of oil. Jiang Yanyi held the dough in his hand and turned the pan clockwise, and then As soon as the palm of the hand is closed, the excess dough is taken back, leaving only a thin layer of dough sticking to the griddle.

After a while, the edges of the spring pancakes turned up, and when you peel it off with your hands, a piece of pancake skin is baked.

After Jiang Yanyi baked most of the spring pancakes, Chu Jiabao saw the fun and wanted to try it too. Jiang Yanyi handed the rest of the dough to her. Chu Jiabao was in a hurry and accidentally patted the whole dough The frying pan was installed, causing everyone in the kitchen to laugh.

Jiang Yan wanted to make some fried spring rolls to eat. She wrapped the fillings with a pancake, sealed it with flour, deep-fried it in an oil pan until golden, and took it out. The shell of the spring rolls was crispy, and the cabbage filling inside was rich and juicy.

She fried a plate of mutton and cabbage stuffing, pork cabbage stuffing and red bean paste stuffing.

After the lamb chops are cooked, they have been set up in the yard and smoked with brown sugar, tea leaves and spices. Since it is Chinese New Year, there must be fish during the banquet. Jiang Yanyi even made a dish that is more than enough every year.

When cutting the perch with a flower knife, Jiang Yanyi asked the three sisters of the Chu family and Mrs. Xue to cut the fish. It was a dish that everyone finished together.

Spread the fish with a modified knife on the oiled plate, put the onion and ginger on it, drizzle with the adjusted sauce, put it in the pot and steam it for a quarter of an hour. Less distilled water.

Jiang Yanyi poured out the distilled water, changed to a clean plate, put the fish on the plate again, placed the freshly cut shallots and ginger, put the oil in the pot to heat up the green pepper and pepper, and then poured the oil on the scallion and ginger, With a sound of "Zi", the fragrance of green onion and sesame are all stimulated.

The glutinous rice balls, which are the staple food, are also made by the sisters together. There are pure black sesame fillings, and there are also fillings with chopped almonds, peanuts, walnuts and brown sugar.

Chu Huibao couldn't wrap the stuffing well, so Chu Shubao asked her to make a solid ball. Seeing how frustrated Chu Huibao was, Chu Shubao teased her: "Huibao, you want to eat the solid glutinous rice balls you made yourself. , your tooth decay will be healed next year."

These words successfully distracted Chu Huibao's attention.

When the meal was ready, the whole family was eating glutinous rice balls, and Chu Huibao tore all the glutinous rice balls in her own bowl, and the black sesame and peanut brown sugar fillings all flowed into the soup.

"No..." Chu Huibao didn't find any solid glutinous rice balls in his bowl, so he looked eagerly at Chu Shubao and Chu Jiabao.

Mrs. Liu scolded her: "Hui Bao, eat as soon as you eat, why are you always staring at your sister's bowl?"

Chu Huibao pinched the chopsticks and said, "I'm looking for the solid glutinous rice balls I made."

Chu Chengmao's expression changed after he finished eating a glutinous rice ball: "So you rubbed it, and I said why there was no stuffing in the glutinous rice ball just now."

When Chu Huibao heard this, he pouted and was about to cry: "Second brother ate my glutinous rice balls, my tooth decay will never heal..."

Chu Chengmao was confused, and Chu Shubao quickly made a fried spring roll for Chu Huibao: "Little sister, eat this."

Mrs. Chu looked at the small movements of her children and grandchildren and asked, "What's going on?"

Xue said with a smile: "Shubao teased Huibao that if she ate the solid glutinous rice balls she made herself, next year the tooth decay would be healed."

As soon as these words came out, everyone at the banquet laughed.

***

The Chu family is very happy here. Although the Fengfu also posted New Year's paper-cuts, it is too deserted after all. The servants in the mansion know the master's temper. Everyone is doing their own things quietly, without any appearance of festivals.

Feng Shuo was alone in the study to deal with official business. Butler Fuxi came in and said that the empress dowager had prepared a meal and asked Feng Shuo to go over to eat the New Year's meal. Feng Shuo knew that it was too late for the empress dowager to hate him. It's probably Nanny Song's idea to use the New Year's meal.

If he doesn't go, he still has a thought in his heart.Going there is nothing more than being beaten and scolded by the empress dowager during the Chinese New Year.

Feng Shuo closed his eyes. In the eyes of outsiders, he was a mighty and powerful vassal king, but when he turned around and looked at him, what else was left in this life other than a desolate place?

The only person who can soften his heart is probably still celebrating the New Year's Eve at the Chu family. It seems that the place where she is there can always be more lively.

Most likely because the study was too deserted, Feng Shuo exchanged for Xing Yao: "Did you find anything from the interrogation of the former court lady?"

Xing Yao clasped his fists and said, "Your mouth is very hard, as if you want to die with all your heart."

Feng Shuo closed the official document that he had read halfway: "My prince will go to the interrogation."

*

There was no sign of the New Year in the Fengfu dungeon, and the torches on the wall reflected the blood that hadn't dried up on the ground, making it look a bit gloomy for no reason.

When Fang Zhi was dragged out by the jailer, she was already a bloody man.

Seeing her tied to the rack, the jailer poured another bucket of cold water on her, and Fang Zhi woke up faintly.

Seeing Feng Shuo, Fang Zhi sneered and said, "It's not too bad luck for the prince to come to interrogate himself on New Year's Eve."

Feng Shuo's eyes were cold: "This king thinks about it, let you live through this year, it will be cheaper for you in the end. But I heard that there was your eyeliner in Mu Wuhou's army back then, you just need to tell me what happened to Mu Wuhou's battle. No matter how you lose, this king will save your life."

After the defeat of the Mu family, the military power fell into the hands of the empress dowager's relatives, the Gao family. These people in the previous court would not help the Gao family to obtain military power to strengthen Feng Shiyan's power. They must know something hidden.

Fang Zhi laughed out loud, she was covered in wounds from being tortured, and she was almost out of breath when she laughed, "The matter of the Mu family is indeed a stain on the emperor, but why should I help you use this stain to bring him down? The Feng family This evil seed is not worthy of sitting on my Daqi Jiangshan!"

Xing Yao waved her hand and gave her a whip: "Keep your mouth clean!"

Fang Zhi was whipped and didn't have the strength to speak again for a long time.

What she just said just now made Feng Shuo guess what she must know, he half-closed his eyes and said: "Your noble Princess Daqi is on the way back to the capital, if you really recruit me, I will do well Take you back to her side."

Fang Zhi's throat moved, and he coughed up blood while laughing: "King of Liaonan, do you know why the empress dowager has been insane for so many years?"

Feng Shuo didn't speak, but his eyes sharpened instantly.

Fang Zhi sneered and said, "Because I have used her crazy medicine for more than ten years!"

The veins on the back of Feng Shuo's hands were bulging, and the armrest of the grand teacher's chair made of pineapple blossom was crushed by him.

The angrier he got, Fang Zhi laughed more heartily, "Fang Qing, the imperial concubine next to the empress dowager, is my younger sister. Over the years, the empress empress dowager, who has taken crazy drugs, has always obeyed her... Uh……"

Her throat was tightly locked, and the air was so thin that Fang Zhi's eyes turned white, but she kept grinning at Feng Shuo viciously.

Feng Shuo's phoenix eyes were scarlet, fixedly staring at the face in front of him that was blurred with blood, wishing to peel her skin and bones.

After all, reason prevailed, Feng Shuo took a step back, Fang Zhi hung her head and coughed uncontrollably.

Xing Yao worriedly called out: "My lord..."

Feng Shuo exhausted his self-control so he could not cut the prisoner in front of him into pieces, he said cruelly: "Go to a doctor to see her wounds, this king will let this poisonous woman know what it means to be unable to survive. I can't die, since she likes to give "medicine" to people so much, I made her into a "medicine" person!"

"Medicine" people are not trying ordinary "medicine", some non-lethal poison "drugs" also need to be tried by someone, really life is worse than death.

Coming out of the dungeon, Fang Zhi's words kept lingering in Feng Shuo's ears, his heart was heavy.

He always thought that the concubine mother had been ill for so many years, but in the end she was controlled by a traitor with drugs...

Feng Shuo didn't even have time to change his clothes, so he went to Mingtan Courtyard where the Empress Dowager lived.

Compared with other places in Fengfu, Mingtan Courtyard is much more lively. There is a table of delicious food in the Nuan Pavilion, and the empress and concubine are sitting at the table, but they don't move their chopsticks, as if they are waiting for someone.

Feng Shuo stood at the door of Nuan Pavilion, before he could say "mother concubine", the empress dowager saw him first.

"Emperor..."

Time has never defeated a beauty, and when the emperor and concubine laughed, she was no different from that girl in double teens.

The phrase "Emperor" made Feng Shuo feel dazed for a while, and for a while he couldn't tell whether it was a dream or the empress dowager really recognized him.

The empress dowager stood up, the smile on her face froze when she saw the blood on Feng Shuo's hand, and turned into worry: "Emperor, are you injured?"

"Mother Concubine." Feng Shuo was stunned, still unable to believe that the Grand Concubine really regained her senses.

"Nurse Song, quickly call the doctor!" The Empress Dowager ordered anxiously.

Feng Shuo just woke up like a dream, and walked into the Nuan Pavilion: "I'm not injured, Concubine Mu."

He washed his hands in the sink to remove the blood, and then sat down beside the empress dowager.

The empress and concubine's face remained the same, her eyes were still old after all, she looked at her son who was already able to stand upright, and tears slowly appeared in her eyes: "Busy with work, right? I'll ask Nanny Song to send a message to Fuxi to ask you to come here Let's eat, the food is a bit cold now..."

She compared Feng Shuo's size with her hands, and found that she was very different from the thin child in her memory. She couldn't help but feel sad, "My son is already this big. All these years, the concubine mother always feels like she is in a dream, but I haven't been able to wake up... I am awake today, and my concubine dare not see you, my concubine treats you badly, and made my son suffer so much for so many years..."

Feng Shuo's heart was sore, he shook his head and knelt down in front of the Empress Dowager, with his head resting on the Empress Dowager's lap, with thousands of words choked in his heart, but the last thing he could say was only one sentence: "Mother Concubine... ...My child misses you."

This sentence made the empress and concubine burst into tears, and choked up, "Get up, mother concubine has steamed your favorite rice cake."

When Feng Shuo raised his head, although his face was smiling, his eyes were red, and the empress dowager wiped away her tears a few times with a handkerchief, and put all the dishes on the table into his bowl.

"Mother and Concubine heard that you are engaged, and the other party is a capable girl."

"She is very good, and the concubine will like it when she sees her."

"The girl my son likes is naturally the best girl in the world, how can my concubine not like it?"

***

Jiang Yanyi was staying at Chu's house to watch the new year. She waited from afternoon to night and didn't hear that Feng Shuo would come to her house. She couldn't help but suspect that what Feng Shuo said before was just to tease herself.

In the evening, someone set off fireworks in the city, and Chu Chengmao also made some fireworks and set them off in the yard. Chu Huibao, who was the most fun, had enough food and drink, but was the first to clamor for sleep.

Jiang Yanyi pushed Chu Yangui out to watch the fireworks. Chu Chengmao stood with his arms folded against the corridor. When the fireworks exploded, he stared in one direction in a daze.

The county magistrate of Xing'an Hou asked around for Chu Chengmao's whereabouts, and made a random encounter every now and then. Jiang Yanyi heard a little about it.

It's just that the Jixiang Inn is on the east side, but Chu Chengmao is looking at the south side, so Jiang Yanyi is a little confused.