Chapter 90 He Zhi Porridge

During this time, the dried fish soaked in warm water has become soft and is ready to be used to make Hezhi porridge.

Put the soaked rice into the pot, add the dried fish, bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and cook for about three quarters of an hour.

Before serving, add the prepared sauce and pepper and stir evenly with a spoon.

She added a lot more pepper this time, bringing out the spicy taste.

Wen Zhenyi also took advantage of this time to prepare some cold dishes, which diners can mix and match according to their needs.

Wen Chengwen opened the door of the shop, lit the two stoves, brought over two pots of porridge, and placed them on the small stove to warm them.

But today was strange. They had been open for half a day, but there was not a single diner.

What made them feel even more strange was that the people at the market today seemed to have made an appointment and none of them came to set up stalls.

Wen Chengwen walked out of the store and looked around, only to find that the entire street was closed today, even the vegetable vendors were gone.

When Wen Zhenyi came out with the prepared cold dishes, he saw this scene: "Dad, what's wrong?"

"There's no one at the market today."

Wen Zhenyi narrowed his eyes, walked out of the store and took a look: "I'll go take a look."

She placed the cold dishes on the table and looked towards the entrance of the market. She found that the place was blocked and many people were stuck there.

"Why are you blocking the road?"

"Yeah, why don't you let us in?"

A man came out, holding a folding fan in his hand. "This street is being renovated starting today. I'll take the things you have. If you want to buy groceries, I'll give them to you. But you can't go in today."

"Why won't you let us in? We're going to sue you in front of the mayor."

The man didn't take it seriously: "Don't refuse a toast and then drink a forfeit." Then he turned to his men and said, "Stop the man! If anyone dares to let him in, I'll skin him alive."

When Wen Zhen saw the man, a sneer appeared on her face. Wasn't this the guy who was beaten up when he came to her store last time?

When she saw the man, she thought of the person who came last night, and most likely he was related to him.

Are you planning to cut off your own financial resources? That depends on whether you have the ability to do so.

The Cheng family's housekeeper had to deal with other things today, so he specially arranged for a servant to come and buy them breakfast, but now he was blocked outside.

The servant didn't know the man and couldn't get in, so he could only turn around and run back to the mansion to find the butler.

Wen Zhenyi walked to the street corner and wanted to go out, but the servant stopped her: "You can't go out."

"Did you buy this street?"

The man waved his fan and said, "This street belongs to my master. I can close it off however I like."

"So, these shops also belong to your master?"

"That's right, you'd better be sensible, otherwise I will take over your shop."

"Really?" Wen Zhenyi looked at her with his arms folded across his chest.

"good."

Soon the police came and said, "Everyone, get out of the way! The mayor is here."

Mayor Meng stood at the street entrance, looking at the roadblocked street, then looked at the man: "Butler Wu, what are you doing?"

"Nothing, it's just that my master wants to renovate the shops on the street. He's afraid that they might hit innocent people, so he asked me to close the street for a few days."

"Why haven't I seen you register with the government?"

"This was also a last-minute decision made by the master yesterday. I haven't had time to go yet. I thought that once the matter here is resolved, I would go to the government to file it."

Mayor Meng narrowed his eyes and looked at Butler Wu. Did he really think that he could cover up everything just because he had a few bucks?

"Okay, how many days do you want to close it?"

"It will take at least ten days or half a month."

"Okay, very good."

"Boss Wu is really generous. This letter lasts for ten days or half a month, and he is not afraid of losing business." Master Cheng got off a carriage.

When Butler Wu saw him, he was slightly startled, then said with a forced smile: "How can our master be as wealthy as Master Cheng?"

Master Cheng looked at Wen Zhenyi who was standing not far away. He probably asked someone to find out some things: "Since Boss Wu wants to repair the streets and houses, there is nothing we can do. This is also for everyone's safety."

Butler Wu was fanning himself with a smug look on his face, but before he could be happy for long, Master Cheng's next words made him look unhappy.

Mr. Cheng looked at Mayor Meng and said, "Mayor Meng, since Boss Wu wants to repair the streets and houses, it will also contribute to the town. You must have someone supervise his repairs and avoid any safety hazards."

"That's natural, but the people's livelihood is affected by the loss of their market."

"That's okay." Master Cheng turned to the chief steward and said, "Go clear a street and let the people do business there. The stalls will be free of charge."

The butler bowed respectfully and said, "Why don't we go to the street across from the market? It's less crowded and quiet there."

"Okay, right there." Mr. Cheng waved his hand and agreed.

Butler Wu's face was now livid: "Master Cheng, isn't this inappropriate for you to do?"

"Butler Wu, what you said is true. It's important for everyone to eat. You closed the market, but you can't let everyone go hungry. I just provided a place for everyone to buy food."

"Okay, you're cruel."

Wen Zhenyi came up at this time and said, "Mayor Meng, since the market streets need to be repaired, my family would like to leave the shops in the market first to avoid getting hurt."

"It's my duty." He looked at Butler Wu.

Butler Wu was so angry that he clenched his fan tightly. "I'm afraid this is inappropriate. Your shop is still there. If something is missing during the renovation, won't it cause trouble for us?"

Mr. Cheng said with a smile: "It's not something very valuable. I don't think Miss Wen will mind it."

"I don't really care, and I don't plan to continue renting the shop in the market."

Butler Wu sneered at her and said, "You should know that if you don't plan to rent it, you'll be breaking the contract, and we won't refund you."

Wen Zhenyi narrowed his eyes and looked at Butler Wu. It turned out that he was waiting for him here.

Master Cheng turned to look at the butler: "Is there any vacant shop on the street across the street?"

“There are several empty shops.”

"Take someone to help Miss Wen move her things, let her choose a room she likes, and waive her rent for a year."

"Yes, sir." The housekeeper called the servants and asked them to go into the market street, go to the Wen family's shop, and help move things.

Wen Zhenyi looked at Mr. Cheng and thought that she had to accept this favor.

Mr. Cheng didn't care. He liked Wen Zhenyi very much. It would be great if she could be his daughter-in-law.

I just don't know if that brat can have this blessing.

Butler Wu's face grew darker and darker. "Master Cheng, are you planning to go against our master?"

--

A little knowledge, Hezhi porridge is recorded in "Shan Jia Qing Gong" by Hong Lin of the Southern Song Dynasty.

While visiting Tiantai, Zhejiang, Lin Hong encountered a rare way to eat fish: cooking it into porridge. Dried fish is soaked until soft, cut into small pieces, and cooked with glutinous rice, seasoned with sauce and pepper.

Why cook porridge? It turns out that the locals believe that porridge with dried fish (xiang, third tone) can cure headaches, and its efficacy is better than "Chen Lin's Xi, second tone".

Chen Lin's Edict was Chen Lin's public denunciation of Cao Cao's crimes. The whole article was written in fierce language. After reading it, Cao Cao, who was suffering from a migraine, was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. His headache was actually relieved.