Chapter 109, Inn 109: Food Event
Yunyin was also surprised that Magistrate Cui would come in person. "Is the magistrate here for the food event?"
Cui Jing nodded and said, "That's right, it is indeed for this matter."
Even if Yunyin hadn't come looking for him, he would have gone looking for her anyway, since the chili seeds he had distributed to the villagers were now ripening.
But so many chilies couldn't all be left for the villagers to eat. If they were to be sold, only Yunyin would buy them. No one else knew how to cook them or how they could be prepared. So, after receiving Yunyin's letter, he immediately came to find her.
"Not many people know how to eat this nowadays. I thought it would be good for you to organize an event to let more people know how to eat it, so that Long'an County will have another vegetable in the future."
Yunyin nodded and said, "I know. I've already discussed it with the lady of Luo's Restaurant and Manager Gao of Manxiangju. Everyone will cook their best dishes, and I'll also introduce a few dishes featuring chili peppers." She paused and continued, "I also have a new variety here, which Fu Wang brought back from the Western Regions. It's similar to a persimmon. People in the Western Regions call it a 'foreign persimmon,' and I sometimes call it a tomato."
"Tomato?" Cui Jing savored the name and smiled, "It is indeed very descriptive and distinctive."
"I've already tried the chili peppers, but I wonder what the tomatoes taste like? Are they also warming and good for dispelling cold, like the chili peppers?"
Yunyin shook her head and said, "No, it tastes a bit sour, but the scrambled eggs are delicious and easy to make."
"Magistrate Cui, why don't you have dinner here later? I'll cook a few dishes for you to try."
Cui Jing: "Okay, I'll try your new dish."
Yunyin was quick; she made stir-fried pork with chili peppers and scrambled eggs with tomatoes in no time.
Cui Jing ate the sour tomatoes and nodded, saying, "The taste is indeed quite good." He put down his chopsticks and said, "It seems that the Western Regions are indeed a good place; there are many good things there."
Yunyin laughed and said, "With trade routes, many countries can sell their goods through those routes. Spinach also came from there."
Cui Jing: "Yes, this trade route has supported quite a few people."
He stopped talking about the Western Regions and returned to the event that Yunyin was going to organize. "I've chosen a good place for you, right in the open space in front of the county school. The students from the county school can also help you on that day."
Yunyin: "That's great, it would be wonderful to have their help."
The event was quickly held in the county. Thanks to the county magistrate's publicity, many people learned about the event and heard that if they were selected as tasters, they could sample the food made at the event for free.
Many people took the time to travel to the county town for this free spot, and the people in the county knew about the event and participated actively.
The students at the county school were overjoyed when they learned that Yunyin was among those participating in the event.
"You have no idea how much I love Yun Niangzi's mushroom sauce. Before, there were only two flavors of mushroom sauce, but ever since Yun Niangzi added chili peppers, there are so many more flavors now, like spicy, numbing spicy, and fermented black bean..."
Another student chimed in, "Yes, yes, this mushroom sauce saved me for the entire school year. Without it, I'm afraid I would have starved to a lot thinner."
"I wonder what dishes Lady Yun will cook this time. I heard there are some fresh dishes, but I've been too busy lately to go to Lady Yun's place to taste them. I must try them this time."
One of the students boasted, "Hehe, I've eaten it. My mother especially loves the pastries made by Lady Yun. I took the opportunity to visit her and ate Lady Yun's new dishes."
"You, Meng Shao, you actually went secretly without telling us."
Several students were playfully fighting with each other, waiting for the county's arrangements.
The event began quickly. The stove that the magistrate had prepared was already lit. Yunyin checked the size of the fire, thought it was about right, and nodded to the two people beside her.
This time, Yunyin only brought Fang He and Fu Wang with her; Feng Hai and Zhang Lin stayed home to look after the shop. Fang He was already able to handle some simple ingredients, while Fu Wang helped by tending the fire, chopping vegetables, and doing other odd jobs.
As for the chefs who came to Manxiangju, it was Gao Liang and his assistant. This was the first time Yunyin had seen him demonstrate his culinary skills. Looking at his skillful movements, Yunyin knew that Manager Gao probably wanted to let Gao Liang show his face.
Meanwhile, the head chef from Luo's restaurant arrived. He met Yunyin's gaze and nodded to her as a greeting.
Yunyin returned his smile and turned her gaze away to prepare the dishes she was going to make.
She took a lively grass carp out of the basin, and with just a gentle tap with the back of her knife, the fish instantly stopped moving.
With two swift strokes, Yunyin wielded her knife, and the fish's scales instantly fell to the ground.
Large scales are easy to handle, but the scales on the tail and head need to be carefully cleaned little by little.
After cleaning the fish scales, Yunyin removed the gills, cut open the fish's belly, and took out the internal organs.
After cleaning the fish, Yunyin switched to a narrow knife, sliced the fish meat off the back, and then sliced it into pieces.
There were many people at today's event, and many people wanted to try the food, so one fish was not enough. After Yunyin finished preparing one fish, she said to Fu Wang, "The rest of the fish are yours."
Fu Wang: "No problem."
Fang He, who was standing nearby, took the cleaned cabbage and bean sprouts and handed them to Yunyin, saying, "Master, I've also washed the vegetables."
Yunyin nodded and accepted it. The preparations were complete, and the main course was about to begin.
The essence of boiled fish fillets lies in the word "boil," but because a lot of chili powder is needed, freshly cooked chilies are the most fragrant, so Yunyin always stir-fries some dried chilies in advance for later use.
As soon as the chili peppers hit the pan, the pungent smell hit the crowd, and onlookers nearby covered their noses and took a few steps back. "My God, what is this? It's so pungent!"
Many of these people were encountering chili peppers for the first time and naturally did not know their power. However, a few who had eaten at Yunyin's place said, "This is the chili pepper that Lady Yun makes! This is the first time I've seen Lady Yun cook. She's really amazing."
Other onlookers said, "This is chili pepper? Is it really as delicious as you say? The smell is too strong!"
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. People who haven't tried it can't experience that feeling. You should try it this time. It will definitely make you rediscover the beauty of food. How can there be a food like chili peppers that strikes at the very soul? I'm afraid I can't live without chili peppers for the rest of my life."
"I really hope that Lady Yun can make more dishes with chili peppers. I've eaten all the ones she makes nowadays so many times. I must try this boiled fish fillet today."
Those nearby, seeing the group behaving strangely, unconsciously moved to the side, not wanting to be influenced by them.
Meanwhile, Yunyin on the stage had already taken out the stir-fried chili peppers and handed them to Fang He, who was standing by, saying, "Grind them into powder, but not too finely."
Fang He said earnestly, "Don't worry, Master, I know everything."
After frying the chili peppers, Yunyin didn't immediately fry the other ingredients; instead, she fried some Sichuan peppercorns as well.
The key to making boiled fish fillets is to make them both spicy and numbing, so that they have a richer flavor. After handing over the stir-fried peppercorns to Fang He, she started to stir-fry the base ingredients.
After the oil in the pot is hot, Yunyin adds ginger and garlic and stir-fries them until fragrant. Then she adds fermented bean paste and continues to stir-fry until the oil turns red. If you have hot pot base, you can add a little bit. However, Yunyin uses mutton fat for her hot pot base, so she didn't add any. It's the same as adding seasonings and stir-frying the base separately.
As soon as the base ingredients were stir-fried, the aroma instantly filled the air, spreading everywhere as if carried by the wind, and everyone in the audience could smell this enticing fragrance.
Even those who were originally watching Manxiangju make roast duck were drawn in by the aroma, their eyes unconsciously falling on the dish in Yunyin's hands.
Just as she was about to dodge the person, she caught a whiff of the aroma in the air and couldn't help but move closer to the person who had been there and ask, "This smells so good! How can Yun Niangzi's dishes smell so good? Just smelling this aroma makes me want to eat it already."
The man snorted coldly. Don't think he didn't see the man's dodging action. However, after the man apologized, he still said, "You don't understand. This isn't even the most delicious thing that Lady Yun makes."
"The hot pot made in winter is the most fragrant. I don't know what it's made of, but the soup is really fragrant, spicy and numbing. Add a few slices of mutton, tsk tsk~ I still can't forget that taste."
The man's mouth watered at his words. Watching Yunyin cook the soup and then put the marinated fish in to cook, he swallowed hard.
Yunyin was unaware of the murmurs from the audience. Her attention was focused on the fish in the pot. Seeing that the fish and vegetables were cooked, she took out a bowl and began to portion out the fish.
After filling the fish bowls, Yunyin added a little of the crushed Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers to each bowl, then heated oil in a pan and poured a spoonful into each bowl.
Hot oil is poured over Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, sparking and intensifying their aroma. Yunyin then garnishes the dish with cilantro.
Of course, some people don't eat cilantro, so Yunyin left a few portions but didn't serve them, instead having people take these dishes down to the audience.
Besides these people, there were other people sitting in the main seats at this event. Yunyin only glanced at them and saw Magistrate Cui and Huo Yu. As for the person next to Magistrate Cui, Yunyin did not recognize him, but Fu Wang did.
"The person next to Magistrate Cui is the magistrate of Beijiang County. We invited him this time to promote our chili peppers to him. As for the rest of the people, they are merchants from Long'an County and some passing merchants."
Yunyin looked at Fu Wang: "You know quite a lot."
Fu Wang: "The county is holding an event, and Zhou Chang is in charge of security. Not to mention that the county officials are also going to participate, so he needs to know the details even more." He coughed and said softly, "I asked him about the situation."
Yunyin looked at Zhou Chang, who was standing below the stage maintaining order, and said, "He really has a lot of work to do."
Fu Wang waved his hand and said, "It's alright. You can make some food later and I'll bring it to him."
Yunyin: "Okay, I'll make more then." She looked at Fang He, who had already prepared the meat and chili peppers, and then stopped talking, saying, "I should go make the next dish."
The people below the stage eagerly awaited the arrival of the person carrying the fish and meat. They wanted to hurry forward, but a row of yamen runners and hangers-on stood in front of them, each carrying a large knife, so they dared not go too far.
They waited anxiously for someone to deliver the fish and meat, fearing that there wouldn't be any left when it was their turn. Fortunately, the number of tasters was fixed, and Yunyin made extra portions, so there were still a few left over in the end.
After receiving the boiled fish fillets, the people in the audience couldn't wait to eat them. Each bowl contained only a few slices of fish, some cabbage, some bean sprouts, and a little broth. The portion was small, but it satisfied them, since it was free. However, after taking their first bite, all their satisfaction was completely forgotten.
This is not enough to satisfy them!
The portion was far too small; they only managed a few bites before it was gone. Before they could even react, the food in their bowls was completely gone.
After finishing their own dishes, they looked at the other people's bowls and found them just as clean as their own. So they turned their attention back to the hands of the helpers who had served the food.
The idler was being stared at by so many people that his hand holding the tray trembled slightly. Everywhere he went, those eyes followed him. He was almost scared to death by these people, fearing that they would rush over regardless of the guards blocking his way.
In the tense atmosphere, someone finally couldn't help but ask, "Hey buddy, could we have a few of these left?"
Once someone spoke up, the rest of the people followed suit, all asking if they could have the remaining dishes.
The idler gripped the tray tightly and shook his head, saying, "No, these are for the county constable and the other brothers."
Lady Yun had specifically instructed him that there was extra food. She had set aside a portion for the county magistrate, and the rest was to be distributed among those who had helped. He couldn't let these people take the food away.
If his brothers found out it was his fault for not keeping the items, would he even want to live? The thought of their creepy faces instantly sobered him up.
"That's all. If you want more, you'll have to wait for the next dishes. There's also roast duck from Manxiangju and mutton from Luo's Restaurant. Lady Yun is also making new dishes. If you really want to eat, you can wait for her new dishes." After he finished speaking, he picked up the tray and walked away quickly.
The remaining people looked at each other and sighed, "What a pity."
"Sigh, why didn't I think of going to Lady Yun's shop for a meal before? I've missed out on so many good things."
Others chimed in, "Yeah, I also thought it was too far and the place was desolate. I wondered what good food could be found in such a place, and I never even considered going. Even though my friends invited me repeatedly and said there was some really nice music, I still didn't think of going. I really shouldn't have."
A few people here were regretting not going to Yunyin's place for dinner sooner, while another group was already engrossed in the boiled fish slices they had just tasted. Compared to the last time they had it, the fish slices this time did not lose their flavor despite the larger quantity. The fish was still as tender and smooth as ever, and the soup was still as spicy as ever.
"It really tastes just like this, spicy and numbing. I want to eat more after I finish eating. I was really right to come to this event. I didn't expect the first dish to be the boiled fish fillets that I've been longing for."
"Yes, yes, it was worth getting up early to get a number. I heard that only fifty people can come for a tasting each day."
The audience below was eating enthusiastically, and the discussions were endless. Listening to their praise and amazement, Yunyin's hands moved even more nimbly. Amidst the leaping flames, she quickly tossed and stirred the chili peppers and shredded meat in the wok, then poured in the thickening water, stir-fried it over high heat for a few seconds, and quickly took it out of the wok.
Three generous portions of shredded pork with green peppers were served to Cui Jing and the others. He had already tasted them before, and this time he mainly came to recommend these peppers.
He pointed to the dishes on the table and said to the magistrate of Jiangbei County, "Brother Zhu, try the green pepper and shredded pork made by Lady Yun. It's spicy and flavorful, and it's also good for warming up in winter. It's perfect for people in Jiannan Road."
Zhu Zhuo had already tried the boiled fish fillets before, and they tasted really good, so he knew this stir-fried pork with green peppers would be just as good. Chili peppers are indeed a good thing, but he couldn't just go along with Cui Jing's suggestion; he should try to get some other things from him instead.
He didn't respond to that question, but instead asked about cotton, "I heard that your county grows a lot of it, I wonder if you have any extra seeds left."
Cui Jing knew that if he wanted Beijiang County to help sell more chili peppers, he would naturally have to offer some benefits. He smiled and said, "Cotton seeds are easy to discuss. We'll talk about it again after the cotton harvest this year. As for these chili peppers..."
Magistrate Cui and Magistrate Zhu reached an agreement and sold a lot of chili peppers. Yunyin also made several dishes with chili peppers and tomatoes, which successfully increased the popularity of her store.
Manxiangju also achieved its goal, letting more people know about their new signboard and allowing Gao Liang to get to know more people. As for Luo Family Restaurant, needless to say, many people from Mianzhou also learned that there was a Luo Family Restaurant in Mianzhou and planned to visit it when they returned to Mianzhou in the future.
People in Long'an County also enjoyed a lot of delicious food for free. Although the amount was not large each day, quite a few people still managed to eat there over three consecutive days.
The food event was a complete success. Yunyin rubbed her waist and arms, as she had been tossing the wok for three days in a row, and her arms were a little tired.
Fu Wang pulled her over and rubbed her hands. "Are you tired?" His movements were gentle yet firm, instantly making her feel much better.
"It's alright, it's just that I haven't rested for three days. After this is over, I need to get some proper rest."
Fu Wang: "You all should get some rest."
Yunyin looked at Fang He, "Ahe, are you alright? Can you hold on?"
Fang He raised her thin arm and said excitedly, "Master, I'm fine. I don't need to toss the wok. I'm just helping to chop the vegetables. It's not tiring at all." She was just happy that her knife skills had improved after this experience, and she could learn more about cooking skills in the future.
Seeing that she was indeed alright, Yunyin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Okay, let's go home then."
The three of them returned to Yunlai Inn with their belongings. The inn hadn't changed much since Yunyin left three days ago. Perhaps it was because Feng Hai's cooking skills had improved so much that guests no longer asked them if they had changed chefs.
Feng Hai and Zhang Lin took good care of the shop, and Yunyin also planned to gradually implement her plan.
Fang He returned to rest for a few days and suddenly began to absorb a lot of knowledge. She learned everything Yun Yin knew, from seasoning to cooking time and temperature. Yun Yin started to teach her little by little. Fang He was initially delighted, but later became at a loss. Yun Yin noticed this and said to her, "I just want to hand you over as soon as possible. Then I will entrust the shop to you and Feng Hai. I plan to go out and take a look."
Fang He relaxed when she heard that Yun Yin wasn't not coming back. "Master, where are you planning to go?"
Yunyin: "I'll just look around. I'll go wherever there's good food."
From then on, Fang He studied even harder, hoping to put Yun Yin's mind at ease.
Time flies, and it's Mid-Autumn Festival again. Thanks to the previous food event, Yunyin's store has been doing very well. People who know that she will be making new mooncakes this year have placed their orders with her well in advance. They also bought a lot of crabs from her after hearing that she also raises them.
Yunyin's farmed crabs had already sold quite a few before they were even cooked. She happily collected the money and packed them up for the customers. At this moment, Lu Xuan, who had been away for a long time, finally returned.
Yunyin looked at Lu Xuan, who was still looking radiant, and said, "You're finally back. Is Chang'an that fun? You didn't even come back. I thought you weren't planning to come back this year."
Lu Xuan greeted Fu Wang first, then grabbed him and reminisced for a while. When he heard Yun Yin's words, he replied, "It's because there were several large-scale song and dance events held in Chang'an this year, and the people I brought also had to participate in these events, so we stayed a little longer."
Yunyin: "Alright, it's good that you're back. I have something to discuss with you."
Lu Xuan was still looking around, but he didn't see Yin Shuang. He turned his gaze back and asked Yun Yin, "What's wrong?"
Yunyin handed the ten taels of gold she had been keeping to Lu Xuan, saying, "Here's the money back. Lady Yinshuang plans to stay with me, and I'd like to ask you for a favor. How about you let Yinshuang stay with me?"
Lu Xuan did not take the gold ingot, but quietly looked at Yun Yin and asked, "Where is Yin Shuang? I haven't seen her."
Yunyin glanced at Doctor Zhang's shop in front and said, "Yinshuang is helping Doctor Zhang process the medicinal herbs up ahead. She'll be back in a little while."
As the two were talking, Yinshuang came in from the courtyard, bowed to Lu Xuan and said, "My lord, it's been a long time."
Lu Xuan looked at her, dressed in simple linen clothes, with a faint scent of medicine on her body, no longer as charming as before. He stammered for a long time before finally managing to say, "Yin Shuang, what happened to you?"
Yunyin looked at Yinshuang's current appearance, touched her nose, and avoided Lu Xuan's gaze.
Since Hu Xiao's incident, Yin Shuang seems to have figured something out. Except when she goes on stage and wears gorgeous clothes, she wears linen clothes like the others. Not only has she changed her clothes, but her interests have also changed. She used to like growing flowers and painting, but after helping Doctor Zhang process medicinal herbs once, she has also come to like the feeling of sorting medicinal herbs. Now she goes to see Doctor Zhang whenever she has free time.
Doctor Zhang also quite liked Yinshuang's intelligence. If Yunyin hadn't been so busy, he would have dragged her along too, as it would always be good to learn more about medicinal herbs.
Yunyin saw that Yinshuang seemed quite happy following Doctor Zhang around every day, even happier than when she played music, so she just let her be.
Since the incidents involving Duan Yi and Hu Xiao, Yunyin has increased patrols in the vicinity, a martial arts school has been built in front, and Fu Wang has also built a branch of a security escort agency next to it. The wounded soldiers have also moved in. With them watching over things, and Zhang Lin by the side, nothing like what happened before has happened again.
Yunyin looked at Lu Xuan shyly, and was about to speak when Yinshuang spoke first: "It was my own decision, Lu Langjun. I am very grateful to you for saving me from my suffering, but this is the future I have chosen for myself."
During her short time at Yunyin, she was very happy. She felt needed and respected, and she was able to help others. She rediscovered the meaning of life and didn't want to go back to her old life.
Yinshuang took out a purse from her sleeve and said, "Young Master Lu, I'll return this money to you first. I know this can't make up for the help you gave me back then, but I'll repay you slowly in the future."
Lu Xuan looked into Yin Shuang's eyes, which were filled with starlight and hope for the future, but unfortunately, that future did not include him.
He glanced at Yinshuang, then at Yunyin squatting not far away, wondering if they had planned it all along, each rushing to return the money.
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