Chapter 112 (Fried Meatballs)
The next day
Zhou Zejing and Yan Qiuyuan said goodbye after breakfast.
When the news came, Yan Qiushu, Xiao Huaiya and Zhao Shuhong were having breakfast.
Under her leadership, Xiao Huaiya and Zhao Shuhong always got up a little later, just in time with her.
Today's breakfast is tea eggs and crystal shrimp dumplings.
The good thing about having a neighbor who devotes his energy to raising shrimps is that he is afraid that they won’t have shrimps to eat, so he sends them to them every now and then. There are too many shrimps, so he makes them into shrimp dumplings and puts them in the ice cellar, which can be stored for a day or two. The small shrimps are made into shrimp cakes, which are also a food. Then they are dried and ground into powder to make porridge, which is very good for children’s health.
However, they don't have children, and this kind of porridge would be a bit fishy, so it is not in their recipe for the time being.
The tea eggs that have been soaked overnight are opened, and the plump body is revealed on the tender egg white as if due to natural patterns, and it tastes even more salty and delicious.
Yan Qiushu took a bite and got to the part with the egg yolk, eating it very seriously.
When Manager Gu came over and said this, she didn't even bother to look up. After soaking overnight, it was really thoroughly flavored and not dry at all.
Xiao Huaiya was quite puzzled. After Steward Gu left and they were alone in the restaurant, she asked, "You said they came here just to let Han Ronglun seduce me?"
Zhao Shuhong was quite drunk last night and didn't know anything about it. When she heard the words, the drowsiness she felt when she just woke up disappeared in an instant. She looked at Xiao Huaiya eagerly, wanting to hear the person involved recount the story.
After she finished listening, she said angrily: "You are unworthy of being a scholar!"
Yan Qiushu said silently: "I thought you already knew his character."
Zhao Shuhong gritted her teeth, "I didn't expect him to be so bad! He's truly from the same bloodline as his brother!"
Seducing a girl, what was he after? Wasn't it for the Xiao family behind her? Otherwise, why would they go to such lengths after just one meeting? As a man, he'd already taken advantage of her, yet he still wasn't satisfied. Exploiting women is the most despicable thing.
As someone who had been used, Zhao Shuhong could empathize with this. Fortunately, Xiao Huaiya was smart enough to see through it.
Yan Qiushu picked up a shrimp dumpling for her and said with a smile, "Okay, it's all resolved. She whipped Zhou Lanyi yesterday, and it was quite severe."
Zhao Shuhong's anger subsided a little after hearing this.
Xiao Huaiya smiled complacently.
Yan Qiushu said, "Zhou Zejing came to see me late last night."
"Hiss!" Zhao Shuhong took a deep breath, then her face changed slightly, and she blinked desperately at Yan Qiushu.
You careless girl, the person sitting next to you is your sister-in-law!
Xiao Huaiya's face darkened: "What does he mean? Does he still have any regard for my Xiao family?! How could he do such a thing!"
Yan Qiushu finished her tea eggs and moved on to the shrimp dumplings. The shrimp dumplings had a light flavor, with a whole shrimp ball inside. They were slightly salty and lightly salty, and the overall taste was a bit bland. She dipped them in soy sauce before putting them in her mouth. The salty and fresh taste immediately filled her mouth. She said calmly, "He was testing me. He wanted to better figure out how to deal with the Xiao family. He was afraid that I would leak the secret."
Xiao Huaiya was in high spirits: "What method? Do you know?"
"He has arranged people in the Ministry of Revenue and also people in charge of military pay. The most likely thing is that he tampered with the military pay. He is probably afraid that I would know these things and came to test me. Remember to remind your family that no matter whether they will do this or not, they must check carefully and be prepared to be on the safe side!" Yan Qiushu said with a smile.
She was originally still struggling with how to reveal this news. She came here a year ago, and Xiao Huaiting had been on the expedition during that time. It was impossible for her to know about this conspiracy.
But now that Zhou Zejing has brought the excuse to her door, it is impossible for her not to use it.
The Xiao family is absolutely very cautious in this regard. Regardless of whether it will happen or not, military pay will definitely be the top priority. Even if the military pay cannot be fully protected, they will prepare it themselves. The Xiao family now has the capital to make special preparations.
Xiao Huaiya nodded seriously. Marching and fighting were serious matters that could not be taken lightly. "I'll go back in a couple of days and tell my mother and eldest brother."
Since she brought this news, she shouldn't be kept by her mother, right?
Xiao Huaiya's eyes flickered for a moment.
Yan Qiushu felt relieved and picked up another shrimp dumpling and put it into her mouth, filling her little mouth.
Hmm, I forgot to dip it in soy sauce, so the taste is a bit bland.
After hesitating for two seconds, she picked up her dish and poured a few drops directly into her mouth.
Perfect!
Xiao Huaiya & Zhao Shuhong: "...Ashu, remember, you are a girl after all!"
Xiao Huaiya had good intentions, but unfortunately, when she returned to the Xiao family, she was kept back by Mrs. Xiao.
Since she is willing to go out and play, then naturally she has let go of her dislike and discomfort about the scars on her face. You can try to find someone, and if you like him, you can start a family.
Mrs. Xiao also wanted her daughter to get married before, but she got angry because the matchmakers were not suitable.
No matter how much she dotes on her daughter, she is a woman who grew up in this feudal society. No matter what, she still hopes that her daughter can get married, start a family, and have children. Even if her man is gone, she will not have to be alone in the future.
No matter how good your sister's children are, they are not your own children, and it is difficult for them to be like biological mother and child.
There was no suitable candidate before, but this time there might be one, so she was kept.
Dongdong, who had delivered the message, described her to Yan Qiushu: "My little aunt is so pitiful. She is being dressed up by grandma, and she gets beaten for not obeying!"
Yan Qiushu hung the washed sausage casings and nodded with lingering fear. Fortunately, Mrs. Xiao was always gentle to her, otherwise she would not dare to come to her house.
After Dongdong finished talking about the Xiao Mansion, his attention shifted to her hands, and he asked curiously, "What are you doing? Is it delicious again?"
"Yes!" Yan Qiushu nodded decisively.
Generally, sausages are made from November to January in the Gregorian calendar. During these two or three months, the temperature will be around 10 degrees Celsius. However, the lunar calendar was used in this era, and the temperature in ancient times was much lower than in the future. Now it is almost September, and the sausages can be prepared.
Otherwise she was afraid that the army would have to set out before the sausages were ready.
Dongdong said coquettishly: "What is that? Can I eat it now?"
"No, you have to wait for several days." Yan Qiushu told him regretfully, her hands never stopping. The washed casings were hung up one by one and exposed to the scorching sun. The first batch had already dried a lot.
Not only her, but also Zhao Shuhong, Shui Yu and other maids and old women in the farm were helping. During this period, they collected countless intestines, including large and small intestines. The grease and other things inside had to be scraped off, leaving only a thin and transparent piece before it could be used.
At this stage, they are sent to the farm, and then Yan Qiushu and others carry out the final cleaning and disinfection. At this time, the white casings are hung on the poles, and as the breeze blows gently, there is a faint fishy smell in the air.
Dongdong sighed in frustration: "Well, I can't eat it for the time being!"
Wan'er ate her Sanzi in small bites and was amused by Dongdong: "It's only two days, you can't wait?"
Dongdong wrinkled his nose and said seriously, "When you come across something delicious, of course you want to eat it right away. It's so uncomfortable to have to endure it when you can't eat it!"
Yan Qiushu nodded in agreement: "Yes! But there is no other way, this must wait." As soon as the voice fell, she slapped her head and said with a smile: "But there are other delicious foods that don't require waiting!"
"What?!" Dongdong asked with his eyes lighting up.
Yan Qiushu said: "Fried meatball spring rolls!"
Wan'er stopped chewing on the sanzi and came over affectionately, asking curiously, "What are spring rolls?"
Yan Qiushu smiled and said, "It's a kind of food rolled up in dough and fried. It's delicious."
She said it was delicious, so it was of course the most delicious. The two children's eyes sparkled, and at her instruction, they called Xiao Pingsong, who was enthusiastically milking the cow, back to help.
Among the few people, Xiao Pingsong is the strongest.
Yan Qiushu said she wanted to make fried meatballs and fried spring rolls, but in fact, they were only New Year's goods that could be eaten during the Chinese New Year when she was a child. However, her life became better later, and these delicious things that she could only eat once a year became a frequent sight on the table. As a result, she got tired of them and didn't think about them for a long time.
For example, she had been in this world for a year, but she didn't even think about fried meatballs, fried spring rolls, and lotus root dumplings during the Chinese New Year last year. Of course, that was mainly because the Xiao family had arranged all the New Year's goods, and the food was also local specialties.
It’s different now. She is in her own home and as the mistress of the house, she has to worry about everything. She just happened to think of it while chatting with Dongdong.
The Chinese New Year is coming soon. In order to let Xiao Huaiting have a good year, New Year's goods can be prepared in advance, and she can also have a good meal.
Yan Qiushu has limited energy, so she plans to make fried meatballs and spring rolls.
Meatballs are the simplest among them. The meat filling is a mixture of fat and lean meat. It is chopped into small pieces and seasoned with onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, starch, pepper salt and other seasonings. It is ready when the tender meat filling turns light brown.
Xiao Pingsong skillfully lit the fire, ignited the stove, and put half a pot of oil in the pot. When the oil temperature was about right, he could squeeze the meatballs.
This requires a skill. Grab a piece of meat with clean hands, make a circle with your thumb and index finger, and tighten the other fingers. The meat will automatically emerge from the circle. Then use a porcelain spoon to pass it, and a round meatball will appear on the spoon.
The porcelain spoon must be rinsed with water first so that the meatballs will not stick to the spoon. With a slight movement, the meatballs will fall into the oil. With a sizzling sound, the meatballs will be directly wrapped by a bunch of small bubbles. Put the spoon back into the water and dip it, and then squeeze out the second meatball.
Meatballs were squeezed out from Yan Qiushu's slender fingertips one after another. This operation made people feel inexplicably magical.
Xiao Pingsong was bored while making the fire, so he stretched his neck to look: "Aunt Yan, how did you do this?!"
Dongdong was still trying to tiptoe, and he became even more anxious after hearing that. However, Wan'er was blocking the way, so he couldn't see anything for a moment. "What's wrong?"
After a year, Wan'er had grown taller, so tall that she could be seen without having to stand on tiptoe. Watching her smooth movements, the meatballs were scooped away by the spoon and dropped into the frying pan in the blink of an eye. Her long-standing habit of helping Yan Qiushu made her eager to try. "Huh? That's amazing! Sister Shu, can I do this?"
Yan Qiushu smiled and nodded: "Of course, go wash your hands."
Wan'er ran away quickly, making room for Dongdong. He was able to see her and opened his mouth wide in surprise: "Wow!"
Seeing this, Yan Qiushu asked, "Do you want to try? I'll put a bench for you."
Dongdong looked at her slender and flexible fingers, then looked at his own short, fat hands, and shook his head decisively: "No, it's better for me to wait and eat. I see that the first few meatballs I put in have changed color. Are they ready to eat?"
Yan Qiushu: "...almost."
Is this child really too clear-headed?
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