Spring is the season for eating sprouts and flowers, so Grandma Sun took a day off and went to the Wei River in the city with her three little girls, Fuling, Wang Yan, and Chunye.

The road was lined with willow trees, so the three of them each took a small basket and picked only the newly sprouted willow buds and shoots.

After picking a full basket, one person bought another basket of water celery from an old man selling vegetables by the river.

Back in the small kitchen, find a medium-sized earthenware pot for kneading dough, take out the willow buds that have been lightly blanched in boiling water, and put them into ice water with ice added, and let them soak for a whole day.

It's important to remember to change the water 2 to 3 times during the process. Although willow buds taste delicious, they are slightly poisonous.

The next day, take out some of the willow buds that have been soaked in cold water, put them in a plate, add a piece of crushed tofu, a little salt and vinegar, and drizzle with a little sesame oil.

The first dish, mixed willow buds, was ready. For the second dish, Grandma Sun cracked two eggs, beat them, and added some whole willow buds. She spread them out in a pan, folded them into small square pieces.

The second dish was willow bud omelet, and the third dish, a spring delicacy, was Bijian soup.

I took the water celery I bought yesterday; each stalk was still fresh and tender. I chopped it into fine pieces.

Pour the spring water that I just bought this morning into the pot. Once the water boils, add a few drops of oil, thicken with cornstarch slurry, add a suitable amount of salt, add chopped celery and stir-fry for a few moments, then add a few drops of sesame oil to enhance the aroma.

Tear the celery flowers into small pieces and carefully sprinkle them evenly over the hot soup that has just come out of the pot, then mix in a cold dish.

Grind some more sesame salt, cut the remaining water celery into long strips, blanch it in water with oil and salt, quickly remove it, put it in a prepared bowl or plate, pour in some vinegar, and mix well.

After preparing a pancake, two side dishes, and a soup, Aunt Sun arranged them neatly and carefully carried them to the main room.

The leftovers were shared among the kitchen staff, and the food was full of the aroma of herbs and plants, making it refreshing and delicious.

Chunxi smelled the aroma while she was cooking and came over. At that moment, she took a bite of willow branch and a bite of egg pancake with her chopsticks, and then a sip of soup.

They were eating with great relish. I wanted to praise them, but with their mouths full of food, they whimpered and couldn't speak. They clapped their hands twice.

The same was true for Ms. Gao. She found the soup delicious and ordered another dish, "Fried Fragrant Soup".

Upon hearing the order, Wang Yan quickly ran to the small kitchen to retrieve the tender willow leaves that had been collected and prepared last month.

Steam a pot of mung beans, remove the outer skin after they are cooked, grind a section of yam, add musk and willow leaves, and put them together with garlic and mash them.

Put it in a very small earthenware jar and let it steep for three days. When you want to drink it, just boil it.

This year's spring feast was the most enjoyable meal I've ever had!

………………

Liu Xiang'er was also eating Liu Ya'er's pancakes, which she had specially ordered from the head kitchen's cook. This year, she dared not mention asking for the enamel bowls and plates used by the masters.

Unfortunately, just as I picked up the bowl and took a bite, Aunt Yang arrived again.

She had originally intended to take the plate of pancakes over and eat them with the Third Young Master, but as soon as she turned her head and saw Aunt Yang coming with her people, she quickly went back into the house.

She hid in the room pretending to be dead, but managed to get Hongye out so she could overhear what Aunt Yang and the young master were saying.

Hongye was shocked, but she couldn't resist her repeated urging and had no choice but to leave.

Sure enough, Hongye brought her some big news.

"The young master is getting married, and it seems that the concubine is discussing with the young master about cleaning up the unclean things in that room."

Liu Xiang'er was startled. "What do you mean by that, Aunt?"

Hongye shrugged, "I don't know!"

Xiang'er became increasingly anxious as she thought about it, and couldn't even eat the pancakes on the plate. Hongye, on the other hand, didn't care. She stretched out her face, sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating.

Liu Xiang'er was frightened and anxious, pacing around the room. Naturally, she didn't care what Hongye had eaten.

After a while, she finally calmed down a bit, and the wicked plan in her mind rose up again. She revived the evil thought she had during the New Year.

If your aunt doesn't provoke her this time, all will be well. But if she really punishes her, don't blame her for being impolite.

But if this succeeds, who will be blamed? Chun'er is out of the question.

Not to mention that the girl seems to have become increasingly clever lately, I'm also worried that if she's pushed out, she might implicate many things.

He glanced at Hongye again, but that didn't work either. That girl was cunning and shrewd, leaving no room for error in her dealings with others. And she even had a good relationship with Fangli.

After racking their brains, no one in the courtyard could be blamed. Even Xingzi, who had been in charge of the tea room for two years, had become cautious and couldn't find a single loophole.

It would be great if we could transfer a new person, a new person?

A thought flashed through my mind: What about Wang Ying?

If the third young master in the courtyard gets married, they'll definitely need to send more people. Bringing Wang Ying back and pinning the blame on her would both provide a plausible explanation and satisfy our anger.

How reasonable! He was kicked out by his master for more than half a year because of a fall and injury, and harbored resentment, so he poisoned someone.

The more Liu Xiang'er thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Now she just had to wait and see if the news that the Third Young Master would be kicking people out for his wedding was true.

After finishing her pancake, Hongye took the plate out and returned it to the main kitchen.

As soon as she stepped outside, Fangli came out with a teapot to fill the tea room. Hongye gave her a barely perceptible nod when she saw her.

Fangli was immediately in a good mood. If she used this opportunity properly, she could avenge her sister's frame-up.

Although in the past six months or so, I have privately helped Aunt Yang deal with her quite a bit.

But even being forced to kneel, being hit on the hand with a board, doing excessive embroidery work, and being slapped—these trivial matters could not quell the hatred in this vicious woman's heart.

Fangtang was tricked into slamming her head against a rock, bleeding profusely. If it weren't for the luck that a servant happened to pass by, she probably would have died before she could be carried back to the courtyard.

But when she later begged to let Fangtang stay for three days to recover from her injuries, it was clear in her eyes that Liu Xiang'er was trying to instigate the young master to kick Fangtang out.

What a vicious scheme! Not content with harming people, they want to trample them to death.

If she doesn't have any more malicious thoughts this time, that's fine, otherwise, hmph!

Just as I finished making the tea, I bumped into Chun'er as I went outside. "Sister Fangli, let me help you carry it."

Fangli smiled faintly, "No need, you should hurry back to your room and do your needlework. Is the embroidery on the outer robe that the young master is going to wear finished?"

When asked about her proper job, Chun'er smiled shyly. She had been embroidering for a long time and was tired, so she came out to pour herself a cup of tea.

Fangli should have exchanged a few more polite words, but she was in no mood for small talk. She simply smiled, nodded, and left with her tea.

Once inside, Xingzi poured her a cup of tea. She was very polite, but didn't say much and remained quite silent.

Helpless, Chun'er could only take the tea and go outside for some fresh air.