Chapter 120 Hot Pot
Gu Yanqing had been in the countryside for two months and had learned a lot of farm work, so building an earthen stove was no problem for him.
"My lady, it's done, take a look."
Gu Yanqing wiped the mud off his face and looked at Shen Jinan with a smile, waiting for praise like a big stuffed dog.
Seeing his appearance, Shen Jinan walked into the yard and surrounded the earthen stove that looked like a work of art, praising it repeatedly.
"You are worthy of being my husband. This stove was built so well and quickly!"
Shen Jinan praised generously, took out the handkerchief from his sleeve, stood on tiptoe and wiped the remaining mud on Gu Yanqing's cheek.
The distance between the two of them suddenly shortened, and Gu Yanqing could almost feel the faint scent of soapberry and medicine on Shen Jinan lingering around his nose.
His handsome face with sharp edges immediately turned red. "Ahem, thank you, my lady."
"You're welcome."
Shen Jinan put away the handkerchief with a smile and patted Gu Yanqing's shoulder, "Husband, go and have a rest. We will wait for my sister and the others to come back for dinner."
In the evening, Hongniang and Yue Buwei almost stepped into the yard together, and the two of them pushed and shoved each other like children.
"I came back first! What are you arguing about, Old Monster Yue?"
"Crazy woman, do you understand propriety, righteousness, and shame? I am old, don't you know how to give way?"
"Bah, you're buried before me, why don't you go first?"
The two of them chattered, which immediately added a bit of liveliness to the yard. Sui Sui Huan Huan had just finished practicing calligraphy and ran out when he heard their voices.
"Auntie Hongniang! Grandpa Yue!"
The dumplings threw themselves into the arms of Hongniangzi and Yue Buwei, who then stopped fighting and focused on teasing the two children.
When Shen Jinan put the pot on the stove, Duan Ya also came back in the twilight.
Everyone gathered around the stove in the yard, wondering what Shen Jinan was doing.
"Let's have hot pot tonight!"
Shen Jinan threw the hot pot base into the boiling pot and explained to everyone with a smile.
The aroma of various spices and butter immediately filled the entire yard, and everyone was intoxicated by the fragrance.
Gu Yanqing took out six or seven small stools that students used for school and placed them around the stove. Sui Sui Huanhuan pulled a few people to sit around the stove, waiting obediently for Shen Jinan to come over with the ingredients.
Shen Jinan came out with a basket full of ingredients. Gu Yanqing was afraid that she would be tired, so he hurried over to share the burden.
The ingredients were placed on the small table. Shen Jinan picked up a thin slice of beef and put it into the hot pot as a demonstration. "Hot pot is to put your favorite ingredients into the pot and cook them, and then dip them in your favorite dipping sauce."
After saying that, she dipped the cooked meat slices into the spicy red sauce and put them into her mouth. The hot feeling immediately burned into her heart.
Everyone was drooling as they watched, and they all picked up their chopsticks and started eating the hot pot.
The yard was suddenly filled with the aroma of hot pot and the laughter of everyone.
After dinner, Duan Ya found Shen Jinan and said that he wanted to have a good talk about what happened today.
Shen Jinan's expression straightened up, and he immediately brought out two chairs and a small square table, poured a pot of good wine, and motioned Duan Ya to sit down and talk slowly.
Seeing her acting so arrogantly, Broken Tooth smacked his lips, didn't bother to be polite with her, and sat down.
"Miss Shen, that ruffian Cai came to cause trouble today. It must be someone behind the scenes who instructed him. As for who it is, I don't need to say more. Miss Shen also knows."
Seeing him say this, Shen Jinan sighed and poured a cup of mellow medicinal wine for Duan Ya.
"I didn't mean to provoke him, but I just couldn't live happily under the control of this local tyrant. I had considered renting a shop, but when I asked around, I found out he was charging twenty taels a month, while I only made a few hundred wen a day."
Broken Tooth waved his hand and picked up the wine glass and took a sip.
"I have an idea."
Shen Jinan's originally furrowed brows relaxed slightly when he heard these words.
"Brother Broken Tooth, please speak."
Duan Ya leaned close to Shen Jinan's ear and muttered for a while. Shen Jinan suddenly realized and then praised Duan Ya.
"As expected of Brother Broken Tooth, this is divine help!"
Broken Tooth just squinted his eyes, smiled and drank the last glass of wine.
On the second day, after Shen Jinan said hello to Gu Yanqing, he went to the Nanyang government office and asked to visit the prefect's wife.
Two servants were standing under the imposing red gate of the government office. Seeing that Shen Jinan was wearing coarse cloth clothes and dressed like a peasant woman, they scolded and drove her away.
"You are just a country bumpkin, yet you dare to come to the government office and dream of seeing the prefect's wife. How audacious! Get out of here!"
Shen Jinan was not annoyed at being driven away, but smiled, "I heard that the prefect's wife suffers from headaches every day and night. I have a folk remedy here, and I guarantee it can cure her illness. Then you two will be considered great contributors."
Hearing this, the two servants looked at each other and began to waver.
Shen Jinan struck while the iron was hot, stepped forward and secretly took out a piece of silver and stuffed it into the hand of one of them.
"This is your drink money, please accept it. Just go in and let me know, and the rest is up to me."
Now the two servants were beaming with joy, and one of them went into the small door to report.
Shen Jinan’s hands hidden under his sleeves were a little nervous, and his palms were sweating.
If this is successful, then the business can be saved.
Not long after, the servant came out happily, "Miss, our lady said that you can have a try."
Shen Jinan was overjoyed after hearing this and followed the maid who led the way into the government office.
The government office was even more magnificent, with flowers, birds, trees, rockery and flowing water, all of which highlighted the nobility of the prefect.
Shen Jinan sneered in his heart. Gu Yanqing was the prime minister of a country at that time, and the Gu Mansion had never been so luxurious. This prefect must have embezzled a lot of money.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally stopped at a beautiful courtyard. Shen Jinan looked up and saw the plaque on the courtyard that read Huiyaju.
There is a word "Ya" in the name of the magistrate's wife, so this must be her courtyard.
As expected, the maid who led the way lifted the curtain after entering and said softly, "Please come in, young lady. Our lady is waiting for you."
Shen Jinan responded and walked in.
The decoration in the house is elegant and luxurious, and the furnishings everywhere are of great value. The crane burner for burning incense alone is worth thousands of taels.
A lady in gorgeous clothes was half leaning on the beauty couch, and a maid in pink collar was rubbing her head.
"Are you the doctor who claimed to cure my headache?"
The prefect's wife, Yang Yaying, slowly opened her eyes, and a well-maintained, elegant face appeared in front of Shen Jinan.
Shen Jinan took the medicine box, walked forward a few steps, and saluted.
"Yes, ma'am. I am confident that I can cure your headache. However, there is one thing I need your help with."
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