Chapter 134

Knowing that Pei Liu was going to teach that shameless stinky thing a lesson, Gu Ran was in a good mood and decided to make some delicious food to reward Liu Niang.

The weather is hot, so of course we should eat something cool to relieve the heat. At this time of year, what can be better than loofah to clear away heat and reduce internal heat?

I immediately decided to make a soup with the loofah, but since I only had some loofah, I decided to add some other ingredients, such as clams.

Mussels are also called clams.

Gu Ran now has a boat. Not only does he often go to the county dock, but he also goes to the harbor to shop for goods. It is also convenient. However, it is still quite a long voyage to the harbor, so he rarely goes there. But whenever he goes there, Gu Ran never forgets to purchase goods. He buys seafood rations from Dunzi Island and fills up his space slot No. 8.

The mussels taken out from space grid No. 8 are naturally fresh.

Worried that the mussels alone wouldn’t be rich enough, I added a few abalone and shrimps to enhance the flavor. When it was ready, looking at the full jar of loofah soup, it was full of freshness.

If you want to eat soup, then you might as well not eat rice and just eat noodles.

If the soup noodles are too bland, make fried rice noodles.

Soak three handfuls of fine rice noodles, wash them and set aside, slice the pork belly, cut the bamboo fungus and mushrooms into shreds, prepare some dried shrimps, minced meat, and shred the ginger and green onion, and beat two eggs.

Fry the pork belly in oil, pick up the fried golden pork belly slices, pour in the egg liquid, then break up the formed egg flowers, add the bamboo fungus, mash the mushrooms and dried shrimps, stir-fry until cooked, then add the rice noodles, green sauce, salt, shrimp paste, mix well, and finally add the shredded ginger and chopped green onions.

After having the staple food and the soup, there must naturally be a dessert after the meal, so let’s eat white shells.

Bai Ke means white koji.

This is the finished product she bought from a restaurant in Jianzhou Prefecture. It is also made entirely by hand using the restaurant's secret recipe. It is said that it has to go through ten steps including washing rice, grinding rice, drying, drying and fermenting, and the process is quite complicated.

This traditional snack is not available all year round, as one of the steps is fermentation, which can only be successfully achieved in a specific climate - that is, during hot summer days when the temperature is high, and can produce the best quality white koji.

The finished white koji is not only as white as snow and shaped like a silver dollar, but also has a very unique taste and texture, so it is very valuable among all foods.

In the past, she could only buy a few to try, but now, as a rich woman, she naturally bought a lot of it generously and stockpiled it, eating it whenever she wanted.

White koji is a cooked food that can be eaten directly. Local people usually use it to make sweet or salty soup in the summer.

Now Gu Ran uses white koji to make sweet soup.

The method is also very simple. After boiling water and rock sugar, add some honey, or add osmanthus honey or other nectars and jam according to taste, and then directly put in an appropriate amount of white koji.

Having convenient conditions, Gu Ran also cooled the prepared white koji sweet soup with ice. When eaten in this way, it is smooth and tender, refreshing and thirst-quenching, and is indeed a great delicacy for the dog days of summer.

These days, while staying in the mansion to escape the summer heat, Gu Ran would eat a bowl of it from time to time.

When Pei Liu came back and washed his hands and face, Gu Ran had already placed a full jar of loofah and clam soup and a large plate of fried rice noodles on the table in the patio.

While serving soup to Pei Liu, she said, "Thank you for your hard work today, Liuniang. Come, drink the soup first and see if it tastes good."

Pei Liu sat obediently opposite Gu Ran, glanced at her, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, picked up the soup served to him, and took a sip first.

"Delicious?"

Pei Liu nodded.

Of course it tastes good. I’ve lived with her for so long and I’ve never eaten anything she didn’t cook well.

Gu Ran smiled, "After we finish these fried rice noodles, there's also white koji."

"Okay." Pei Liu continued to nod and slowly started eating.

After finishing the fried rice noodles and mussel soup, they cleared away their bowls and cups, holding the icy white koji and eating it under the starlit night sky. Then Gu Ran asked, "That man, did you drive him away?"

"Well, don't worry." Pei Liu pinched the soup and scooped up the slippery white koji inside. "If he comes again, I will beat him every time I see him, until he dares not come again."

"Okay." Gu Ran expressed his satisfaction, took a sip of the sweet soup and swallowed it.

Under the moonlight, Pei Liu ate slowly and couldn't help but glance at her from time to time.

Just as I saw her light red lips close, a slight swallowing sound was heard, and my sight followed the smooth curve of her chin to her white goose neck. I seemed to see the moment when the sweet soup flowed down her snow-white neck into her body.

Gu Ran noticed his glance and didn't dodge, but went up to him:?

His ears turned slightly red and Pei Liu quickly looked away.

But in my heart, there was a sound like a drop of sweet soup falling into the lake of my heart.

There were ripples that disturbed my heart and spread out in circles.

Is it time to find an opportunity to reveal my identity to Er Niang?

That night, Pei Liu, who had become the eldest son, lay on the couch, his heart burning with anger, and he could not fall asleep for a long time.

Gu Ran, who was in the other room, also noticed the look Liu Niang gave her tonight. She was puzzled for a moment, but without thinking much about it, she quickly fell asleep.

In an inn at the ferry crossing of Xiaxi Village, Qin Si, who was beaten with a bloody head, reluctantly asked the shopkeeper for some medicinal wine. After applying it to his wounds, he huddled in the inn in anger, gritting his teeth.

Damn Gu Erniang, damn Pei Liuniang, tomorrow I will go to the police to report them for intentionally beating innocent people!

Yes, we must sue them for bullying others and bring them to ruin!

After cursing like this many times and tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep because of the wound, he gradually calmed down. Thinking of the Qiao family behind Gu Er Niang, and then thinking of Pei Liu's fierce eyes and methods, he finally regained his sanity.

I heard that they had a good reputation among the county government because they had killed the evil bandits. Now that she had just been favored by the emperor, if he really went to sue her, would he end up making things worse?

He was going to take the imperial examination in the future. If he lost the lawsuit, or was framed by the government, what would happen to his reputation and career?

Qin Si tried hard to suppress his anger.

hateful!

A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. When he passes the exam and becomes a high-ranking official in Beijing, he will come back and slowly deal with them!

The most urgent task right now is, what should we do when we return to Pingtan Village?

My mother, my third brother, and everyone in the family hope that I will reconcile with Gu Er Niang. If I go back and say that Gu Er Niang did not take me seriously and even let someone beat me up, not only will I be embarrassed, but I am afraid that I will no longer get their support to support my studies.

what to do?

Qin Si gritted his teeth.

I can't tell them the truth about this, and, most importantly, the silver, I have to get the silver.

All that would be fine is to let him go back to school, take the imperial examination again, and pass it. Not only would he be qualified to move up in the social ladder, but he would also have the confidence to be in front of them.

I have to find a way to make them give me some money to pay for my tuition before the college entrance examination in April next year.

Qin Si pondered all night, and when dawn came, he finally came up with a solution.

He did not go back to Pingtan Village directly, but returned to Yongchang County, found an inn to stay in, and recuperate.

He couldn't just go back with injuries like this, otherwise everyone at home would know what happened at a glance, and how could he fool them?

Fortunately, they all supported him in coming to Xiaxi Village to find Gu Erniang. Not only did they make sure he was dressed appropriately, they also gave him a lot of money.

Qin Si stayed there and had good food and drink, while recuperating from his injuries and planning his future.

Ten days later, his wounds healed, and Qin Si noticed from the bronze mirror that he looked in good spirits. Only then did he feel at ease and return to Pingtan Village.

The Qin family was inevitably excited to see Qin Si finally return.

Everyone was waiting for Qin Si to reconcile with Gu Er Niang. The longer Qin Si was gone, the greater the possibility. Otherwise, if things didn't work out, wouldn't he have been driven back long ago?

Seeing Qin Si finally come home, his face flushed and full of energy, everyone's expectations grew even greater. They surrounded him and asked, "How was it? Did you see Gu?"

"What did Gu Erniang say?"

"Is she good to you?"

Qin Si put down the souvenirs he bought in Yongchang County, turned around and smiled.

Before returning, he not only used the last bit of silver he had to buy these local products from Yongchang County, but also made himself a new set of clothes.

"Well, I've been living in her orange grove these days. I've had good food and shelter, and I'm living a good life." Qin Si said, "She really can't forget me, so she hasn't thought about getting married all these years. You don't know how excited she was the moment she saw me."

"Then why didn't she come with you to see us?" Grandma Qin was a little confused.

"That's right. If you want to be the daughter-in-law of our Qin family, how can you not take the initiative?" Mrs. Qin let out a long sigh and couldn't help but put on airs.

"But, after all, our Qin family wronged her back then."

Qin Si's words made Mrs. Qin and Mrs. Qin San look at each other in silence.

When they were exiled in Qingyi, when Gu was critically ill, they did not act very kindly.

"Is she still mad at us for that?" asked Grandma Qin San. "If she is still mad, then we should apologize to her, right?"

"That's right, how can this Gu family be so narrow-minded?" Mrs. Qin also shook her head, her face grim. "A person should be magnanimous, and a wife should be even more open-minded."

"But, because of this, I have persuaded her many times, but she just can't let it go. Moreover, she said that if I want to get back together with her, there must be conditions." Qin Si glanced at the people in the family, coughed, and said.

"Are there any conditions?"

"What conditions?"

"She said that our Qin family... no, it's me, Qin Si, whose status is not worthy of her. If I want to continue our relationship and let her become Qin Si's grandmother, I must at least have some achievements."

The Qin family all looked at Qin Si.

"What did you say?"

"She's serious?"

"Seriously, do you really think, with our current status and position, she would be willing to marry into our family without any reservations?"

The Qin family thought about their own situation and fell silent.

"If it weren't for the nostalgia for our past relationship and the fact that she couldn't let me go all these years, she wouldn't want to see me." Qin Si secretly observed everyone's expressions and tried again: "She said that when she married into the Qin family before, she married up and wasn't worthy of me, but now it's the Qin family that's not worthy of her. But if I can pass the exam, she'll still be willing to live with me for the sake of our marriage."

"How did she know you were taking the imperial examination?"

"Why did you tell her this?"

"Then, we, husband and wife, will talk about everything after we meet. I casually mentioned that I passed the examination for a Tongsheng (a student). Is that strange?" Qin Si said frankly, trying his best to appear innocent. "Before she married into our Qin family, she didn't ask for anything. Now she's asking for this one condition. How can I not agree to it?"

The Qin family remained silent.

"She said that her requirements were not too high. She just wanted me to show my sincerity in marrying her and pass the imperial examination to become a scholar." Qin Si continued.

"What if you fail the exam?" asked Grandma Qin.

Qin Si paused and looked at his sister-in-law: "Sister-in-law, she didn't say that."

"If she really can't forget you, then she would be willing to be with you even if you fail the exam to become a scholar, right?" Qin San also asked.

Qin Si did not deny it and looked at Mrs. Qin: "Mother, just tell me, should I take the exam for this scholar?"

"Was it really that Mrs. Gu who proposed it?" Mrs. Qin stared at Qin Si and asked.

Qin Si nodded. "If you don't believe me, you can go to Jianzhou and ask her in person. It's just..."

"What is it?"

"That's right. Her luck has turned around now and she's very proud of herself. She might not be very nice to you. Just don't take it to heart." Qin Si's eyes were vague. He glanced at Qin San quickly and then lowered his head.

"Mother?"

Everyone looked at Mrs. Qin.

Mrs. Qin didn't think for long before looking straight at Qin Si: "I'm sending you to school again. This time, you have to try your best to pass the exam for me."

"Mother, don't worry. For Second Mother and the vast orange grove, I will definitely pass the examination and become a scholar."

Qin Si swore a solemn oath and fabricated a story about his trip to Dunzi Island and Xiaxi Village, telling it to the Qin family, which made the Qin family members eager to take action.

Blinded by greed, and afraid to face Gu Ran because of their past actions, they didn't even think of going to Xiaxi Village to verify it in person. The whole family devoted themselves to supporting Qin Si to continue his studies. Until the following year, when Qin Si failed again and used the excuse of being ashamed to meet Gu Ran, he decided to go to Xiaxi Village and was shocked to learn the truth.

Not to mention that Qin Si was secretly proud of himself for successfully tricking his mother and third brother into giving him money to go to school, in Xiaxi Village, Li Ji finally returned.

Compared to the person who harmed Mr. Shen's family, although he was the patriarch of the Suzhou Shen family, he did not have much real power in the local area, and hunting down Mr. Shen's family was also a personal grudge. Therefore, Mr. Shen quickly resolved the matter of the patriarch's murder, and then returned to Xiaxi Village with Shen Erlang. After discussing with Shen Dalang, he went back to work.

However, the case in which Li Ji was framed first implicated Feng Tongpan, the powerful official in the Zhengzhou government office. Secondly, he was mistakenly identified as a suspect in the murder he committed, which also involved a major case. Finally, in order to investigate Feng Tongpan's motives for framing Li Ji, Feng Duojin's own misdeeds had to be exposed. Although it was just one case, it involved many other things. It took more time and energy than the Shen family to investigate it thoroughly.

Fortunately, in the end, the Feng family bullied the weak in the local area, Feng Duojin wantonly bullied prisoners and took human lives, and Feng Tongpan confused right and wrong. Everything was investigated clearly. The Feng family fell, Feng Duojin was whipped after his death, Feng Tongpan was demoted and imprisoned, and was despised by everyone. Li Ji's grievances were finally cleared, and he hurried back to Jianzhou before Mid-Autumn Festival.

Li Ji was cleared of all charges and restored his innocence. After returning to Xiaxi Village, he held a banquet at the Li family and invited people from the Lu, Liang and Luo families who had been implicated to celebrate together.

Of course, Village Chief Wu, the Shen family, Gu Ran, and Pei Liu also sent invitations.

As Li Ji's boss, Gu Ran naturally appreciated his favor.

There were so many people attending the banquet that the Li family set up ten tables. The tables in the main house could not accommodate all of them, so they set up the tables outside the courtyard gate.

Fortunately, the weather was still hot at this time, so it was comfortable to sit outside the house.

Seeing that they were all families close to the Li family, Gu Ran tactfully sat at the table outside the house. He happened to be sitting at the same table with the Shen family, and was surprised to find that Mr. Shen and Shen Dalang had returned to the village at some point.

"Master Shen!"

"Hey, Mr. Gu, Madam Pei, this is the first time we've met since you came back from the capital!"

Mr. Shen looked much more cheerful, probably because he was no longer worried about someone secretly hiring someone to kill him and had to avoid the assassins. He no longer had to worry so much and felt relieved and healthy. He had regained his energy. Although he had been running around outside for some time, he looked very energetic.

"Yes, what has Mr. Shen been busy with these days? Big business?"

Gu Ran often saw Jiaojiao playing with the cats in the cat house on Dunzi Island, and he also got to know Mrs. Shen and Grandma Shen who accompanied her there, and learned that Mr. Shen used to be in the silk and cloth business in Suzhou.

His business was quite extensive, so he managed to accumulate a considerable fortune in just a few years.

Now that the danger is over, I'm afraid Mr. Shen will continue to do this business with Shen Dalang. I wonder if the Shen family will consider moving back to Suzhou.

Hearing Gu Ran talking about the big deal, Master Shen laughed, "Speaking of this, Mr. Gu, I would like to talk to you about it later."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's a big deal." Mr. Shen said readily.

When Mr. Shen really came to the Gu family's small house to chat the next day, Gu Ran found out that Mr. Shen and his eldest son had indeed started the Suzhou silk business again. However, it was not only Suzhou silk, but also other goods and merchandise from Suzhou.

After bringing Patriarch Shen to justice, Master Shen considered the way out for the Shen family.

The Shen family has now settled in Fujian. Moreover, during those years in Fujian, although Mr. Shen had been dormant, he was also observing the business ecology of Fujian. After buying his own Fujian ship, he also frequently traveled between the provincial capital and the seaport.

With the success of Fusheng Trading Company as a precedent, Mr. Shen became more confident.

He also wanted to be a maritime merchant.

"Suzhou's silks and satins are not only popular in the capital, but are also sold to Southeast Asia. They are in short supply and are extremely expensive." Master Shen told Gu Ran truthfully, "When we first came to Xiaxi Village, we brought a lot of Suzhou silk with us because our main business was this. We once took a few pieces of Suzhou silk to the harbor and showed them to the red-haired people and southern barbarians (Southeast Asians) who had crossed the ocean. They all showed great interest in the Suzhou silk and offered prices that were even higher than those of the merchants shipping to the north. At that time, we wanted to start a business of shipping Suzhou silk to foreign countries, but the situation at that time prevented us from doing so. Now that there are no obstacles, we are naturally doing it on a big scale."

Mr. Shen found someone he trusted in Suzhou and formed his own caravan. After transporting Suzhou silk and other goods to Quangang, he went to the shipyard and spent a lot of money to buy a large cargo ship. When Gu Ran and others did not return, he and Shen Dalang personally escorted the goods to several countries in Southeast Asia: Annan, Siam, Luzon, etc.

When talking about their experiences in Southeast Asia, Mr. Shen and Shen Dalang who came with him were both very excited.

Gu Ran widened his eyes.

Wow, the Shen family is so bold. She hasn’t even thought about going abroad, but they went there before her.

"We're going to inspect it ourselves. These southern barbarians are extremely interested in the customs and products of our Great Sheng Dynasty. Most of them are in Quangang, collecting goods and commodities from all corners of our Great Sheng Kingdom. They are especially interested in the Su silk and brocade we brought." Master Shen said happily, "In the future, if our merchant ships don't sail, we can buy Su silk and other fabrics directly from Suzhou and send them to Quangang for direct trade."

"It's not just Su silk, but also ceramics, spices, tea, and so on from the Great Sheng Dynasty. We can trade with the Nanfan people or the Red Haired People." Shen Dalang said, "We can bring our goods to these Nanfan people and the Red Haired People for inspection, and sell them if they want them. Or they can directly ask us for something, and after our merchant ships return to Suzhou, we can find the corresponding goods, purchase them, and then send them to Quangang to trade with them."

"That's right, Mr. Gu. We're already a step too late in the maritime trade. Merchants from the north have been trading with the southern barbarians for countless years. Even many merchants in Minzhou do business with them every year. For example, many local teas are hot-selling products."

Gu Ran nodded.

When she went to Quangang to trade in oranges, she had of course seen many southern barbarians or red-haired people who made a living as merchants with the Dasheng Dynasty.

"What about the big deal that Mr. Shen wants to discuss with me?"

"Boss Gu, didn't you plant a lot of orange trees?"

"That's right."

"When sailing on the sea, you naturally need to have some oranges on hand. And I remember you sold a lot of marmalade and canned oranges. Are you doing business with Fu Sheng?"

"That's right."

"So, what I'm saying is that the Gu family's tribute oranges, as well as these orange marmalades and canned oranges, can be provided to the stewards and clerks on the sea vessels, or exported to the countries of Southeast Asia." Master Shen asked directly, "What does Master Gu think?"

Gu Ran smiled.

The Gu family tribute oranges have only been known for a short time. I heard from Uncle Lu that many merchants have come to the island to negotiate and make advance reservations for the Gu family tribute oranges. Now it seems that a big customer, the Shen family, has to be added to the list.

"Why, haven't all your tribute oranges been ordered?"

"Not really." Gu Ran rubbed his chin proudly. "We transplanted a few hundred more orange trees this year, but they're late in blooming and fruiting, so we can't estimate the yield in advance. I wonder if you want early-ripening or late-ripening oranges, Mr. Shen, and how many you want?"

"We need at least 3,000 kilograms of oranges, as well as orange marmalade and canned oranges. We'll have to see how much the owner can provide us. We'll take as much as we can."

"Mr. Shen is very generous. It seems that you made a lot of money during your trip to Southeast Asia?" Gu Ran asked.

Mr. Shen and his son looked at each other and burst into laughter.

It was a rare trip to Southeast Asia, so the Shen family's cargo ship returned naturally with a full load. After selling half of the goods brought back from Southeast Asia to the trading company in Fujian Province, they had already made a profit. As for the other half of the goods, they shipped them to Suzhou, and made another profit there.

With just one trip back and forth, the Shen family made up for the money they had lost in the years of not doing business.

No wonder maritime merchants can easily make a fortune.

Seeing the Shen father and son smiling without saying anything, Gu Ran clicked his tongue.

Well, she couldn't do such a risky business, so she could just be jealous for a while.

"Okay, then when the goods are ready, I'll ask you, Mr. Shen, to come pick them up. Maybe we can even supply you with a new product."