Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Ye Yu and Hotpot met at the wedding...

The spring rain was dripping, hitting the eaves of the restaurant, making a crackling sound. Duan Zhiwei was busy all day and finally had the chance to take a shower and change clothes. She lit a candle, and the dim light enveloped the bedroom, reflecting a quiet atmosphere.

She sat beside the small rattan-draped bed, holding a cloth and carefully wringing out her long hair. Since entering Chang'an, she has gone with the flow, letting her hair grow to her waist. After each bath, drying her hair has become an extremely time-consuming task.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves was heard outside the door. Duan Zhiwei had an idea and opened an umbrella and held a lantern to go out to see what was going on. I saw a tall figure dismounting from his horse at the door of the restaurant, his black robe soaked by the rain.

"Why are you here?" She looked at the person in surprise.

Yuan Shenji took off his hat, revealing an angular face. Raindrops slid down his chin, gleaming faintly in the candlelight.

This man had come to the restaurant two days ago to complain about guarding Zhuque Street for his colleagues. Duan Zhiwei thought he wouldn't see him for a few days, but he didn't expect him to come in the rain tonight.

"I was passing by here, and I missed the beautiful lady very much, so I came to ask for a bowl of hot drink." His voice was a little hoarse, but it contained a hint of smile.

Duan Zhiwei blushed and quickly pulled him into the store. The water stains on Yuan Shenji's body left a trail of marks on the floor. She took out a clean cloth and handed it to him, smiling, "If you don't mind, there is hot water in the restaurant for you to take a shower."

Yuan Shenji took the towel, his eyes lingered on her face for a moment, and said, "Sorry for bothering you then."

There was still a pot of hot water boiling in the kitchen, and Duan Zhiwei brought out a set of clean men's clothes - this was what she prepared for Yuan Shenji who occasionally stayed overnight.

The sound of water splashing came from behind the screen. Duan Zhiwei looked at the basket of cherries he brought. Each cherries was plump and round, with a smooth and delicate skin, just like carefully carved red agate beads.

She picked up one and put it in her mouth, frowning. Although the cherry looked beautiful, it was indeed a bit sour. She suddenly remembered something, turned around and said to the screen, "Is it time for dinner?

”

Yuan Shenji didn't bother to be polite with her and said bluntly, "It's true that we haven't eaten yet. Don't bother. Just give me two Hu pancakes."

Having said that, Duan Zhiwei couldn't really deal with him with two cold Hu bings.

After all, Yuan Shenji rode a horse through the heavy fog to see her in the middle of the night when it was raining continuously. This thought was still very touching.

It would certainly be impossible to light a fire in the big stove at night. Just pulling the big bellows would alarm everyone in the restaurant.

She thought for a moment, took a hot pot from the wooden shelf in the fire room, and put it on the table. The soup base is clear chicken soup, which was originally prepared for cooking wontons tomorrow morning.

By the time Yuan Shenji finished his bath, she had already set up the hot pot. The chicken soup is boiling in the pot, and the aroma is overflowing. Various ingredients are neatly placed on the celadon plate. The emerald green bean sprouts, snow-white tofu, and bright red meat slices look particularly tempting under the candlelight.

Yuan Shenji walked out from behind the screen, wiping his hair. His clothes were slightly open, revealing his pectoral muscles, which were still covered with undried water droplets. His hair was wet and draped over his shoulders, with a few drops of water sliding down his neck and disappearing deep into his collar.

The air was filled with the faint scent of bath beans, mixed with his unique scent. His skin glowed with health in the candlelight, and his firm muscle lines were faintly visible as he moved.

Duan Zhiwei pretended to cough twice, looked away, and then stuffed the chopsticks into his hand with a red face: "Didn't you say you were hungry? Come and eat."

The oil paper pasted on the window formed a thin layer of mist, blocking out the cold wind outside. The hot pot was bubbling with steam, and the chicken soup was bubbling in the pot, splashing tiny drops of oil.

Yuan Shenji chuckled and said, "This dress seems a little small."

Duan Zhiwei hurriedly said: "Impossible, how can it be small if it is made according to your body size? Unless you are fat..." She stopped abruptly, knowing that she had been fooled.

Yuan Shenji smiled even more: "It was tailor-made for me. I must have been confused just now."

Duan Zhiwei glared at him angrily, and seeing the bean sprouts he had just put into the pot, he said anxiously, "Take them out quickly, or they will become overcooked if you cook them any longer."

Yuan Shenji followed suit and scooped up the bean sprouts with a colander, dipped them in some sesame sauce and put them into his mouth. The rich taste of sesame paste and the sweet taste of bean sprouts intertwined on the tip of his tongue. He couldn't help but squint his eyes and praised, "Excellent."

The sound of rain outside the window is getting heavier, but the room is warm and cozy. The two men sat opposite each other, the steam rising from the copper pot blurring each other's outlines. Yuan Shenji told interesting stories about the Jinwu Guards. The flickering candlelight cast their shadows on the wall, intertwining them.

After eating the hot pot, she brought some green rice dumplings.

"This meat floss green dumpling is quite interesting." Yuan Shenji picked up a green dumpling and looked at it carefully.

Duan Zhiwei nodded and said, "I know you love meat, try it."

Yuan Shenji took a bite and found the outer skin soft and glutinous while the inner filling was salty and fragrant. He couldn't help but exclaim: "It's better than what the imperial chef in the palace makes."

"You're talking nonsense again." Duan Zhiwei chuckled, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Didn't you say you need to guard Suzaku Street for your colleagues these days? How come you have time to come to my little place?"

I heard that the wife of Liu Pei, the Right General of the Jinwu Guard, suffered from heart disease. It was said that she would not live long. Liu Pei was a loving wife, so he became emaciated and did not want to go to work all day. He just stayed by his wife's side.

But patrolling Zhuque Street at night is an important task that requires people, so Yuan Shenji had to be on duty at night for several days in a row.

Duan Zhiwei held his hand with some heartache. He did look a little haggard after being on duty all night.

"But I heard that General Liu's wife's heart disease suddenly recovered," Yuan Shenji said, but his face was not happy: "Yesterday I received a wedding invitation from the Liu Mansion, saying that the General's eldest son is going to get married the day after tomorrow, and invited me to attend the ceremony."

"The day after tomorrow? Isn't that Qingming Festival?" Duan Zhiwei thought of something and told him that before curfew, a respectable butler came to order wedding cakes.

Getting married on Qingming Festival is already strange, not to mention that the cakes ordered were Qingtuan and Hanshi cakes. Besides, heart disease is a chronic disease, how can it be cured easily?

The sound of rain outside is getting heavier, and it seems like a storm is about to come. After Yuan Shenji finished using the hot pot, he cleaned the table and washed his hands and rinsed his mouth carefully. He had been on night duty for days and was extremely sleepy. He fell into a deep sleep soon after he got on the bed.

Duan Zhiwei was lying on the outside and was held in his arms. His chin rested lightly on top of her head, his breathing a little unsteady: "After Qingming Festival... I will come to propose marriage."

Duan Zhiwei felt the warmth coming from behind him, listened to the noisy sound of rain outside, and his thoughts drifted away like raindrops. The breathing sound coming from behind her was like a pair of warm hands, caressing her heart. Her eyelids grew heavy and she slowly fell into sleep.

When he woke up the next day, Yuan Shenji had left quietly. Duan Zhiwei slept soundly last night. He woke up in the morning feeling refreshed and energetic, and was particularly energetic when making breakfast.

In the early morning of Chang'an city, the mist had not yet dissipated, but wisps of smoke were already rising from the chimneys of restaurants. Duan Zhiwei stood in the fire room, and the dough in her hands became smooth and delicate under her skillful kneading. There are rows of wrapped dumplings on the chopping board, with even folds and small and exquisite shape.

"Madam, the oil pan is hot." Putao reminded.

Duan Zhiwei put the last steamed bun into the steamer and turned to look at the oil pan. Yesterday’s Sanzi gave her inspiration, and today she planned to make some fried dough sticks.

Seeing the golden oil surface ripple slightly, she put the fried dough sticks into the pan, and immediately a "sizzling" sound was heard. The fried dough sticks expand in the oil and gradually become golden and crispy.

The dumplings in the steamer also began to emit an enticing aroma, a mixture of the fragrance of chopped green onions and the deliciousness of the meat filling. Duan Zhiwei opened the lid of the steamer and hot steam hit his face. The buns were white and plump, and the rich fillings inside could be vaguely seen.

"The soy milk is ready." A Pan came in from the backyard carrying a large pot of steaming soy milk, and the rich bean fragrance immediately filled the air.

As soon as the restaurant door opened, the aroma wafted out. Soon, diners flocked in.

"Mrs. Duan, give me a basket of dumplings and a bowl of soy milk!"

"What is this crispy fried thing? It looks delicious. Give me one!"

Diners filed in and long queues soon formed in the restaurant. Duan Zhiwei shuttled between the tables and chairs, bringing the steaming breakfast to the guests.

A luxurious car stopped in front of the restaurant.

Du Yourong looked depressed. As soon as he sat down in the restaurant, he ordered two trays of dumplings and ate them all by himself.

After she married into the Pei family, everything seemed to go wrong for her. The Pei family had strict rules and noble traditions, which made her feel suffocated.

All her bright red and silver colored skirts and flower decorations were pushed into the bottom of the box. She could only wear plain and elegant colors every day, which made Du Yourong very depressed.

The way to relieve the stress is to eat delicious food all the time, which has led to Du Yourong becoming an expert on Chang'an food. He can talk about it endlessly and knowledgeably.

In addition to Duan's restaurant, Lu's Biluo in Xishi is also delicious with onion, meat, and crab roe fillings, among which crab roe is the best.

The Sanlejiang sold at the Yunlai Restaurant in the East Market is brought from Persia by foreign merchants on the eve of the Lantern Festival every year. The quantity is scarce and reservations must be made one month in advance.

Although the food is delicious, the consequences are also obvious. Du Yourong gained weight rapidly after getting married. Duan Zhiwei estimated that she had gained at least 20 kilograms. However, plumpness was considered beautiful in this dynasty. She was already bright and beautiful, and after gaining weight, she became a famous beauty among the aristocratic families.

Duan Zhiwei saw her finish two trays of dumplings in silence, and knew that she was in a bad mood, so he brought her a bowl of soy milk and asked, "Who has offended you again, Miss?"

Du Yourong said gloomily, "The stone tablet has been selected. We chose the best gold and stone in Liuzhou. It cost a lot of money. My husband cried for a few times, but then the Liu family suddenly sent a letter saying that their aunt's heart disease has healed."

"That's a good thing." Duan Zhiwei said.

Du Yourong rolled her eyes: "That aunt of the Pei family is a powerful one. She started to torture me and set rules for me right after I got married. In my opinion, she is still..."

The maid Huang Ying quickly covered her mouth and said, "Madam, don't say that anymore!"

Du Yourong said depressedly: "There are no outsiders."

Huang Ying lowered her voice and said, "Be careful, the walls have ears."

Duan Zhiwei's heart moved, and he asked, "Is Uncle Pei the Right General of the Jinwu Guard?"

Du Yourong smiled evilly and said, "My cold-faced cousin can talk to you about anything." She sighed and added, "Did I tell you about the eldest son of the Liu family getting married? What do you think? The elders haven't recovered from their illness yet, but the younger generation is eager to get married, and they chose Qingming Festival. Qingming Festival is a major festival, and the Pei family has many rules, and they have to worship their ancestors. The Liu family sent out wedding invitations and insisted that we go, but Mr. Pei was busy, so they let me go alone."

Huang Ying is well-informed and whispered, "How can a proper family get married on Qingming Festival? Not to mention the family of a fourth-rank official. They must have seen that Aunt Pei is seriously ill, so they just held a wedding to cheer her up."

Du Yourong suddenly understood, and his expression eased a little: "That makes sense."

She turned to Duan Zhiwei and said, "You and my cousin haven't gotten married yet, so it might be inappropriate to go to the wedding with him. Why don't you pretend to be my cousin and go with me so you can have a companion."

Duan Zhiwei was also curious about the strange wedding, but was worried about Yuan Shenji, so he agreed. She had never attended a noble wedding, so she thought there would be a delicious banquet.

Thinking of the intricately crafted soup balls, green onion and vinegar chicken, mando-shaped pancakes, and cherries with sugar and cheese... Duan Zhiwei couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.

On the day of Qingming Festival, it rained heavily. Fortunately, Du Yourong's carriage was made of solid materials and could protect against wind and rain. Duan Zhiwei followed her out of the carriage and saw two red lanterns at the gate of Liu's mansion swaying in the wind and rain.

The steward of the Liu Mansion was welcoming guests at the door. There was no joy on his face and he forced a smile.

Du Yourong glanced at him and whispered to Duan Zhiwei, "Your smile is uglier than crying. I think Aunt Pei is in trouble..."

The Liu Mansion is of extraordinary grandeur, with a spacious front yard paved with bluestone slabs and lifelike stone lions lying on both sides. The servant led the two through the well-arranged corridors of the pavilions. The doors and windows were carved with plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. Duan Zhiwei couldn't help but admire its prosperity and grandeur.

Du Yourong sneered, "The Liu family has served in the Jinwu Guard for several generations and has been favored by the emperor, making a lot of money. Aunt Pei is very picky. Last year, my mother-in-law wanted to find a wife for the eldest son of the Liu family and chose my cousin. However, she thought the Du family was too low and was not among the five clans. Her son is not tall and looks weak. Could he still expect the daughter of Cui from Boling to marry him? Now, in order to get a happy marriage, I don't know which family he married at random. Even my mother-in-law asked again and again, the Liu family refused to tell. In my opinion, he must not be in the eyes of Cui from Boling, so he just found a girl from a small family at random. It's too shameful to say..."

She had been depressed for a long time because the Du family was despised, and now she spoke with a sense of pride.

The two were led to the main hall. The hall is decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, and stacked brackets. Because it was a happy event, the floor was covered with thick bright red mattress, the dining tables were made of precious ebony, as smooth as a mirror, and the tea cups were precious pink Ru kiln products. Duan Zhiwei touched the food table, then picked up the teacup and looked at it carefully for a while, feeling quite envious.

Both the Liu and Pei families are prominent families with many relatives and friends. The main hall was actually already full, with people toasting each other and drinking tea, making it quite lively.

The Pei family's banquet was set up behind the Jinwu Guards. Duan Zhiwei did not inform Yuan Shenji in advance, so he was quite hesitant when he met him today.

As expected, Yuan Shenji found an opportunity to turn his head and look at her, and said softly, "Nonsense."

Du Yourong talked a lot and drank several pots of wine, then he got up to wash his hands. Soon, she came back in a panic, her face pale, as if she had been extremely frightened.

She first glanced at Duan Zhiwei, and then called Yuan Shenji in a shrill voice: "Cousin! Do you remember that we have a little cousin, whose maiden name is Liu Ya..."

Du Yourong's mother and Yuan Shenji's mother were sisters, and both came from the Liu family of Hedong, Puzhou. They also had a younger sister who gave birth to a daughter. They raised her like a treasure until she was sixteen years old. Unfortunately, she died of rheumatism less than a year after she got married and moved to Chang'an.

Du Yourong said in a hoarse voice: "I just saw her in the backyard! She picked some willow branches and made a ring on her head, and she smiled at me!"