Chapter 193 Where is Fengchun Tower?
"Don't worry, Miss Xiao. I've hired the famous Hong Family Troupe for the dragon and lion dances. As for the opera troupe, the most famous one in Hongdu is the Dong Family Troupe. Miss Meng Zhi from the Dong Family Troupe is a famous actress!"
Ever since Zeng Qing confirmed the opening time and wanted to invite an opera troupe, he had already contacted several opera troupes in Hongdu. In order to invite the Dong family troupe, Zeng Qing put in a lot of effort.
"Miss Xiao, that Miss Mengzhi is truly blessed with a natural voice. When she sings, everyone, young and old, loves to listen. She's a frequent visitor to the wealthy families of Hongdu Prefecture!"
Zeng Qing was afraid that Xiao Jiuyue didn't understand, so he explained it in detail, saying, "Any family with a little status in Hongdu Prefecture would invite the Dong family to invite Miss Mengzhi back to practice her singing."
"Tomorrow, find some orphans and spread the news that Miss Mengzhi is coming to the restaurant to perform." Xiao Jiuyue spoke immediately.
"Can an orphan do it?" Zeng Qing said worriedly, "Who can take what this kid says seriously?"
"Tomorrow is the Qiqiao Festival, and Hongdu will be bustling with activity. Regardless of whether people believe what the children say or not, they will all come to join in the fun." Xiao Jiuyue added, "Since the Dong family troupe is so famous in Hongdu Prefecture, wherever the Dong family troupe performs, those who follow them will naturally follow."
"You're right." Zeng Qing nodded repeatedly and said, "I've invited the Dong family for three consecutive days. By the way, the free soup you mentioned will be sour plum soup tomorrow. It's ready and hanging in the well."
"Well, how's the ice cellar thing going?" Xiao Jiuyue asked.
"Miss Xiao, the saltpeter you mentioned is not easy to get. I have already asked people to prepare it. The restaurant has set aside a place to make an ice cellar. We are just waiting for the saltpeter to arrive and we will have it." Zeng Qing had heard of making ice with saltpeter before, but it was a bit difficult to actually put it into practice.
"Then we should hang the things in the well water to cool them down." Xiao Jiuyue thought, if one really wanted to make ice from saltpeter in a large ice cellar, not only would a lot of saltpeter be consumed, but the amount of ice obtained would also be very small.
Take the watermelon shaved ice made by Tang Tian for example, it also takes a lot of effort to make.
"Don't worry, Miss Xiao, we've found the saltpeter." Zeng Qing still wanted to get some ice. In the hot summer, just like Xiao Jiuyue said, a little icy sour plum soup would be especially refreshing to drink!
When Xiao Jiuyue returned to the house, she saw the piano placed in the pavilion when she passed by it. She sat down in front of the piano. She had been busy with her brain all day, and playing the piano seemed like a way to relax.
Lian Xin looked at Luo Kui who was standing aside listening to music and whispered, "Luo Kui, go to the kitchen and tell them to make something light."
"How can this be light? Shouldn't it be something flavorful?" Luo Kui muttered softly. She looked at Xiao Jiuyue playing the piano in the moonlight. There was only one sentence in her mind: a fairy descended to earth.
"You're stupid! We ate so many strong-flavored dishes tonight. Shouldn't we eat something lighter?" Lian Xin whispered. "Forget it. I'll go to the kitchen and talk to Mother Geng."
"Prepare a pot of strong tea for the young lady, and add more tea leaves."
Lianxin went to the kitchen while talking to Luokui.
"I know." Luo Kui muttered as she brewed her tea, "I can serve a good lady, too."
Luo Kui brewed a bowl of strong tea and stood aside to listen to the music. After the music was over, she belatedly handed the strong tea forward and said, "Miss, have some tea."
Xiao Jiuyue took a sip, looked at Luo Kui and asked, "Did you make this?"
"Yes, I know that the young lady likes to drink strong tea, so I put a lot of tea leaves in it." Luo Kui said with a smile.
Xiao Jiuyue put down the teacup and saw Lianxin coming over with a tray. There was a bowl of clear soup noodles with a few chopped green onions sprinkled on it.
"Miss, Mother Geng made chicken noodle soup specially for you." Lianxin brought the noodles and prepared to place them in front of Xiao Jiuyue. Looking at the zither placed in front of her, Luokui moved the zither away with great tact.
"Mother Geng's cooking skills are really impeccable." Xiao Jiuyue finally understood why her grandmother insisted that she bring Mother Geng with her. In Hongdu, being able to taste the flavors of home is truly a blessing.
"Is this too light for you?" Luo Kui stared at the chicken noodle soup and swallowed his saliva.
"Why isn't it light? Even though it's chicken soup, there's not a single drop of oil to be seen. It's not greasy at all." Lian Xin's eyes fell on the tea and she asked, "How much tea did you put in?"
"Just three times." Luo Kui paused and said, "Isn't it usually three times?"
"You definitely have too much." Lianxin was discussing her experience with Luokui. Luokui frowned and said, "Just a little bit more, and the taste will be different?"
"You can try." Lianxin answered in a low voice.
"What are you two whispering about?" Xiao Jiuyue ate noodles, feeling the summer breeze blowing comfortably. She asked, "Ai Qiushi, have you finished seeing the doctor?"
"Miss, after the examination, the doctor said that Ai Qiushi just has a very poor physical constitution and should pay more attention to keeping warm on a daily basis. He doesn't have any other serious illness." Lianxin replied.
"That's good. Strengthen your physique and be careful not to catch a cold." Xiao Jiuyue felt relieved after hearing this. She held the chicken soup and drank it. The chicken soup noodles were not greasy at all and tasted particularly comfortable.
"I want to thank Miss on Ai Qiushi's behalf for your concern." Lian Xin had just finished speaking when Luo Kui beside her sighed. Lian Xin blushed slightly, "Miss, you're busy, yet you still care about Ai Qiushi. I shouldn't thank you very much, right?"
"Well, I should thank you, but..." Luo Kui didn't say it out loud, but his meaning was very clear.
Xiao Jiuyue looked at Lianxin, whose face was completely red, and said, "Lianxin, if you get married, I will make the decision for you. I will give you land and a shop, and you can start your own business when the time comes..."
"Miss, I will always serve you." Lian Xin interrupted her and said firmly: "If you don't marry, I won't marry either."
"You..." Xiao Jiuyue looked at Lianxin and shook his head helplessly. Luo Kui beside him said, "If the young lady doesn't marry, I won't marry either."
"Why are you joining in the fun?" Xiao Jiuyue sighed, looking at the two maids who were about to kneel down and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Go back and rest early. Tomorrow the restaurant opens, I'll take you to see a show!"
"Thank you, Miss." Luo Kui's eyes sparkled as she said, "I haven't listened to opera in a long time."
"Miss, I'll make the bed for you." Lian Xin returned to the room and immediately made the bed for Xiao Jiuyue.
It was late at night and Xiao Jiuyue was lying on the bed. She was feeling a little expectant. Tomorrow was a good day for the restaurant to open. She hoped that everything would go well!
On the seventh day of the seventh month, the streets and alleys of Hongdu Prefecture were suddenly filled with children shouting, "The Dong family troupe is singing The Drunken Concubine in Fengchun Tower."
The Dong family troupe is performing at Fengchunlou? And they're even singing The Drunken Concubine? Could it be that Miss Mengzhi is able to improve her voice?
Where is Fengchunlou?
A group of people who like to listen to Miss Mengzhi's singing started asking the children, "Where is Fengchunlou?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
