Chapter 91 The 91st Inn: Giving Gifts for the Winter Solstice
The next morning, Yunyin rushed to the kitchen, not even seeing Fu Wang waving to her. The water chestnut flour, which had been sitting overnight, was finally ready. The flour and water had completely separated. She poured off the water on top, leaving only the water chestnut flour.
Yunyin used some of the flour to make water chestnut cake, and took the rest outside to dry. She looked up at the sky and saw that it should still be a sunny day. She put the basin on the rack to dry, and once the water chestnut flour was dry, it could be stored and made whenever she wanted.
The remaining water chestnut flour wasn't completely dry, but since water is needed to make water chestnut cake anyway, this didn't affect anything. Yunyin poured water into the water chestnut flour and stirred it evenly. In a separate pot, she added water and brown sugar and simmered it, then added a few spoonfuls of water chestnut syrup and simmered it together.
Seeing that the cooked paste in the pot was almost done, Yunyin poured the paste into the water chestnut paste she had prepared earlier and stirred it. She then added the freshly chopped water chestnuts and poured the mixture into a mold before steaming it.
Steam rose and billowed, swirling and drifting in the air. Soon, a fragrant aroma wafted from the pot. Yunyin smelled the aroma and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "Steamed water chestnuts are so fragrant."
The water chestnut cake hadn't been steamed for long. Yunyin had just finished cleaning the kitchen when the water chestnut cake was almost ready to come out of the steamer. She lifted the lid of the steamer, and a large cloud of white steam rushed out. For a moment, she couldn't see what was inside.
Yunyin waved away the rising steam in front of her. The flower-shaped water chestnut cake was ready. Its transparent amber color made the water chestnut flesh inside clearly visible. She took a piece and poured it out. She could feel the elasticity of the water chestnut cake, which was very chewy and bouncy.
She cut a piece of water chestnut cake into three pieces, and three flower-shaped water chestnuts appeared before her eyes. This time, Yunyin used a flower-shaped mold. If she wanted to make other shapes, she could use other molds.
She picked up a piece to taste, and found it to be very smooth. Taking a deep bite, she could taste the juicy water chestnut meat inside. The crisp water chestnut burst in her mouth, releasing its unique fragrance and sweetness.
Water chestnut cake has a very refreshing taste. If you are tired of crispy egg yolk pastries, a bite of this refreshing and palate-cleansing water chestnut cake would be very comforting.
Looking at the large bowl of water chestnut cake, Yunyin thought that Luo Man and the others might like this dessert. It was a pity that Xia Yan had already left Long'an County, otherwise she would have let her try this dessert.
I wonder if she will be able to eat this dessert in Chang'an. Since water chestnuts are now being grown on a large scale, someone might already be making this dessert.
Regardless of whether water chestnut cake is a popular dessert now, Yunyin plans to steam more to share with her friends and prepare some to sell herself. She fears that the remaining water chestnuts will not be enough, so she will need to buy some more to make water chestnut flour and store them.
Yunyin steamed a new batch of water chestnut cakes and took some to the main hall. She happened to run into Fu Wang and Cheng Yong walking side by side. She handed the cakes to the two of them and said, "Come and try my new water chestnut cakes."
Fu Wang quickly washed her hands and took the water chestnut cake she handed her. Cheng Yong, on the other hand, was less particular. He casually wiped his hands, took the cake, and popped it into his mouth. He raised his eyebrows, looked at the light taste, and then at Fu Wang's obvious enjoyment. He shook his head and said, "I still prefer yesterday's egg yolk pastry."
Seeing this, Yunyin asked Fuwang, "Do you also think that egg yolk pastry is tastier?"
Fu Wang shook his head and said, "I like them both, whether it's egg yolk pastry or water chestnut cake." He paused for a moment and continued, "Water chestnut cake has a milder flavor and isn't as sweet as egg yolk pastry. It doesn't have the same impact as egg yolk pastry, but this pastry is very refreshing. It's a good change of pace after eating too much oily food."
Cheng Yong said, "For people like us who are used to heavy oil and salt, it's still too bland."
Yunyin thought about Cheng Yong's words and realized they made a lot of sense. This kind of pastry was more suitable for students. However, she still planned to keep the sign up so that anyone who wanted to order could do so.
After finishing the water chestnut cake, Yunyin thought that she hadn't seen Luoman for a long time, so she decided to deliver the gift herself this time. She also wanted to visit Qian Si and ask him about building the courtyard.
Seeing that Yunyin was about to go out, Fu Wang quickly realized where she was going. He went to the stable, fetched a carriage, and helped her put the gift box on the carriage. "Let me take you there. Are you going to Luo Man's place first?"
Yunyin shook her head and said, "I'll go to Linjiang Village first and deliver a box to Sun Lizheng's family. Then I'll go to Sister Aman's place."
Upon hearing this, Fu Wang hummed in agreement, helped Yunyin into the carriage, then jumped on himself and whipped the horse, heading towards Linjiang Village.
After the heavy snow, the sunlight shone on the pipes. Yunyin felt the warmth of the sun, sat on the carriage shaft from inside the car, and looked up to bask in the sunlight. Fu Wang moved to the side to make her more comfortable.
"I've also prepared a copy for Zhou Chang. After we visit the Song and Xie residences, we'll go to Zhou Chang's house."
Fu Wang was surprised that Yunyin remembered to prepare a gift for Zhou Chang. He smiled and said, "Okay, let's go together." He thought of how Zhou Chang had urged him to find a wife before. He thought that if he went with Yunyin this time, he would see what Zhou Chang would say.
Fu Wang's gaze softened as he looked at Yun Yin. Even though the two didn't speak, the atmosphere was still very comfortable and pleasant. He drove the carriage forward, while Yun Yin dozed off in the warm sunlight.
The winter sun was so comforting that Yunyin almost fell asleep as the carriage swayed back and forth. She then felt an overcoat draped over her and opened her eyes to see the coat Fu Wang had put on her. She quickly said, "Why did you take off your coat? It's cold."
Fu Wang helped her pull her clothes up and said gently, "If you're sleepy, you can go to the car and sleep for a while. I'm healthy and not cold at all."
Yunyin took off her clothes and gave them to Fu Wang to wear. After shaking her head vigorously to clear her mind, she said, "I'm not sleepy either. It's just that the sun was too comfortable, so I just closed my eyes to rest for a while. You should put your clothes on quickly. Catching a cold is no joke."
A cold is not easy to treat in Dazhao, and the medical conditions there are not very good. There is only one pharmacy in the entire Long'an County, so if you get sick, you have to go to the county town to buy medicine. Most people don't have the means to see a doctor.
Yunyin's reason for providing such good food every day is to ensure everyone eats well and stays healthy, so they are less likely to get sick. Seeing Fu Wang taking off his clothes in such cold weather, she snorted and said, "When we go to Sister Aman's house later, remember to drink a bowl of mutton soup to warm up. It's so cold, don't get sick."
Although Yunyin's face was pale, Fu Wang could still hear the concern in her tone. He put on his clothes and stopped arguing. He also stopped mentioning that they took cold showers in winter. He felt Yunyin's concern and said, "I know. I won't do it again. I'll buy a bowl of mutton soup later. I'll take good care of myself."
Seeing that he listened to her advice, Yunyin nodded in satisfaction. To prevent him from causing any more trouble, she simply sat on the carriage shaft and chatted with him, discussing their future plans and asking about the places Fu Wang had previously traveled as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort).
They soon arrived at Linjiang Village while the two were chatting. Yunyin jumped off the car before Fu Wang could reach out, and Fu Wang could only withdraw his hand and help her unload the things from the car.
Linjiang Village was very quiet at this time. They hadn't seen a single person along the way. Everyone was staying at home to hibernate. Yunyin and her group parked their car in front of Sun Lizheng's house. When the people inside heard the noise, someone quickly came out.
Sun Dalang was still a little nervous when he saw Fu Wang, but when he saw Yun Yin walking over from the other side, he smiled sheepishly and said, "So it's Lady Yun. Please come in. Is there anything you need to see my father about?"
Yunyin smiled at him and introduced Fu Wang to him. The group went into the house together. When Qian Xing saw Yunyin, her eyes were full of smiles. "Miss Yun, what a rare guest! What brings you here today?"
Yunyin took out a pastry wrapped tightly in dried lotus leaves and handed it to Qian Xing, saying, "This isn't for you to celebrate the winter solstice. These are some pastries I made. Please try them."
Qian Xing smiled and accepted the two bags of pastries, inviting Yun Yin to sit down. "I have something to tell you, but it hasn't spread yet."
Yunyin looked at Qian Xing curiously, "What's wrong?"
Qian Xing chuckled and said, "I heard from my grandfather that the new county magistrate will take office ahead of schedule, and he probably won't be here until after the New Year."
This is indeed important news. "Is it because of this snow disaster?" Yunyin asked Qian Xing, then looked around and saw that only Qian Xing and her husband were in the house. She asked curiously, "Why haven't we seen Village Chief Sun?"
Qian Xing: "Grandpa went to the county town. I wonder if it's to welcome the new county magistrate." She paused for a moment and said, "You're right. It's indeed because of this snow disaster. Many villages around have been affected. It's really inconvenient without a county magistrate. The governor has applied to have the county magistrate take office as soon as possible, otherwise it's really not convenient."
Yunyin was surprised that Qian Xing knew so much. She suspected that the Song and Xie families also knew. She nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. The winter solstice is in two days. I wish you good health and a prosperous year ahead."
Qian Xing stood up and returned the greeting to Yun Yin, saying, "I also wish you a prosperous business and good health."
After delivering the gifts to Sun Lizheng's family, Yunyin and Fu Wang continued walking towards the town. The town was still the same as usual, with no changes due to the snow disaster. Luo's restaurant was still bustling with activity, and a large pot was set up at the entrance, filled with mutton bone soup. A group of people were sitting around drinking the soup and chatting, looking very content.
Yunyin led Fu Wang, carrying their things, into the lobby, which was bustling with people. Luo Man was standing at the counter, busy settling accounts and occasionally adjusting her abacus.
The shop assistant, however, was quick-witted and spotted Yunyin immediately, then went to call Luoman.
Yunyin originally wanted to wait until she was done with her work before speaking to her, but seeing this, she had no choice but to lead Fu Wang forward and say to Luo Man, "Sister Aman, I've come to wish you a Happy Winter."
She handed the items in her hand to Luo Man, which consisted of six packets of pastries: three packets each of water chestnut cake and egg yolk pastry. Upon seeing who it was, Luo Man quickly put down her abacus and called on the others to help with the accounting. She then led the two of them back to the backyard.
The winter weather was still cold. Even though the sun was high in the sky, the two of them were still red from the cold as they came out against the wind. Luo Man ordered a large bowl of mutton soup to be served and asked the two of them to sit down and rest. "You must have been cold on your way here. Have some mutton soup to warm yourselves up."
Seeing that Yunyin's face and hands were red from the cold, she disapproved, "Why go out in this cold weather? You could have sent someone over to deliver the gift. Look how red your hands are."
Yunyin warmed her hands with the steaming hot mutton soup and said shyly, "It's been a long time since I've come to see you. I took advantage of Xueting's visit to check on you and bring you some gifts."
The Winter Solstice is a time for exchanging gifts, and the government also holds a ceremony to worship Heaven. While it's not as grand as it is for ordinary people, it's still considered very important. She had to be careful, as she couldn't let someone else do the Winter Solstice worship on her behalf. It would be more polite to visit in person.
"Sister Aman, aren't you going to open it and take a look? It's some new dessert I made."
As Luo Man opened the package in her hand, she said to Yun Yin, "I was planning to have someone send you a winter greeting gift tomorrow, but I didn't expect you to come today. You can take the things back with you now."
As she spoke, she opened the package wrapped in lotus leaves. As soon as she opened it, she smelled a delicate fragrance mixed with the sweet aroma of pastries. The two aromas of pastries intertwined yet were remarkably harmonious.
“These pastries look interesting,” she said, pointing to the flower-shaped water chestnut cake. “They’re a bit like bowl-shaped rice cakes.”
Yunyin shook her head and said, "They only look somewhat similar, but the taste is completely different. You can try it. This water chestnut cake is more elastic than the bowl cake, and it is also more delicate. It has a refreshing quality that the bowl cake doesn't have."
She pointed to the water chestnut pieces in the water chestnut cake and said, "There are water chestnuts in this, which makes it crunchy and refreshing. It can be eaten cold or fried, and the two ways of eating it result in different textures. Bowl cake is different; it can only be eaten cold."
Luo Man picked up a piece, took a bite, and tasted it. It was indeed as Yun Yin had said, very refreshing. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean, sister?"
Yunyin waved her hand and said, "I never said I was going to sell it to you. Water chestnuts are a seasonal food. Even if I keep the water chestnut flour, I won't be able to put any water chestnut crumbs in the water chestnut cake I make in the future. It will also lack that crisp and refreshing texture. The taste will be completely different from what I ate today."
Seeing that Luo Man was about to say something more, she quickly interrupted her, saying, "These pastries are a winter greeting gift for you. There's also another kind of pastry, egg yolk pastry, which you can try." Yunyin finished speaking quickly, stood up, and said, "I still have to go to the county town, so I won't talk to you any longer. I see you're busy, so I won't bother you any longer. Let's get together again when we have time."
Seeing that Yunyin was about to leave, Luo Man quickly called out to her, "At least take the things I gave you with you."
Yunyin saw another maid carrying a large basket and wanted to take it from her, but Fu Wang, who hadn't spoken until now, took the basket first and nodded to Luo Man, saying, "Then, Madam Luo, we'll be going now." Thinking that Luo Tian had been home for quite some time, he added, "I'll trouble Madam Luo to tell Luo Tian to return to the inn as soon as possible after the winter solstice."
Luo Man nodded to Fu Wang to indicate that she understood, and then said to Yun Yin, "Remember to eat the things in the basket as soon as possible, they won't be fresh if left for too long. Even though it's winter now, they're still best when they're fresh."
Yunyin knew what Luo Man had given her without even looking, and she readily agreed, "I know, then Sister Aman, we'll be going now."
Luo Man watched the two figures walk away, one tall and one short, side by side. The sunlight fell on them, casting their shadows that blended and merged together in perfect harmony. She murmured to herself, "It seems that Sister Yin's good news is coming soon. I need to prepare her dowry."
Yunyin and Fuwang put the fresh mutton in the car and went to see Qian Si on the way. Fortunately, Qian Si was at home and had not taken on any other work yet. Hearing that Yunyin had new plans, he agreed to help her see how to build her new house in the spring.
The two continued towards the county town with their belongings, and happened to run into Song Shi and Xie Yan, who were on holiday and planning to have a cup of tea at a teahouse. Yunyin and Fu Wang went with them to pay their respects in winter and also to inquire about some news.
As the host, Song Xuan served Fu Wang tea, while Yun Yin chatted with Xie Yan about the new county magistrate.
Xie Yan knew a little about the new magistrate: "The new magistrate's name is Cui Jing, courtesy name Ziyu. He is a member of a collateral branch of the Cui family of Qinghe. Although he comes from a prominent family, he has great insights into people's livelihood and is also the top scorer in this year's imperial examination."
Yunyin was somewhat surprised: "Why would someone so capable be chosen to serve in Long'an County?"
Xie Yan laughed and said, "Miss Yun, only a person like this would choose to serve in a poor county like Long'an. As long as he does well, his achievements will come quickly, and he will be promoted more easily. On the contrary, people with little ability are more willing to stay in prosperous places and live a life of leisure." Of course, it also depends on whether the person has the ability. If he doesn't have the ability, he is probably similar to Du Peng. However, Xie Yan is still very optimistic about the new county magistrate.
Yunyin thought it made sense and thanked Xie Yan, saying, "Thank you for informing me, my lord."
The group chatted idly in the teahouse for quite a while. Yunyin gave the gifts she had brought to everyone, and the others reciprocated with their own gifts before parting ways.
As he was leaving, Song Shi called out to Yun Yin, "Miss Yun, I will come to your place after the winter solstice. We have a long holiday this time, so I will definitely finish painting those murals for you as soon as possible."
Yunyin's mind was no longer on the murals. She simply nodded slightly to indicate that she understood. As she walked back to the city gate with Fu Wang, Fu Wang noticed that she seemed a little dazed. He gently patted her and said, "Don't worry too much. You haven't evaded any taxes, so what are you afraid of?"
Yunyin exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the white mist condensed and dissipated before her eyes. She shook her head and said, "Now that I know what kind of person the new magistrate is, I am even more worried. Didn't I tell you before that the land I bought was a bargain? If the previous magistrate hadn't been in dire need of money, he wouldn't have sold the land so cheaply."
“Even if the county government is short of money, it will not sell land cheaply. Although the land is very barren, it is still about a hundred acres. All the land nearby belongs to me, and it will only cost ten strings of cash.” Yunyin sighed and said, “If the county magistrate hadn’t wanted to embezzle, I really wouldn’t have been able to buy this land.”
“If the new magistrate is unreasonable, I’m afraid my land might be taken back.” Yunyin sat back in the carriage and looked at Fu Wang. “From what Xie Yan said, the new magistrate is a very ambitious person. I’m worried that the land I bought will cause some trouble.”
Fu Wang shook his head and said, "I don't think so." Under Yun Yin's inquisitive gaze, he composed himself and continued, "Putting aside everything else, the commercial taxes you pay every month are more than the output of that land."
Although Yunyin's shop isn't a big one, her monthly revenue isn't bad. Besides business travelers, students from Long'an County and Beijiang County spend a lot of money at her shop every month. Even just because she can attract students from Beijiang County, the county magistrate won't cause trouble for Yunyin over this land.
After hearing Fu Wang's explanation, Yun Yin felt somewhat relieved about what would happen next. She smiled and said, "Thank you for comforting me."
Fu Wang: "What's the big deal? If there's anything you can't figure out, you can tell me, and we'll solve it together."
Yunyin stared at him for a long time, then softly hummed in agreement.
After paying respects to winter, the winter solstice arrived quickly. Yunyin was wearing the sheepskin coat that Fu Wang had given her early in the morning. She opened the door and saw that he was also wearing the clothes she had given him. The two looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Besides cleaning the inn and hanging lanterns, the main thing for the Winter Solstice is to send homemade food to relatives and friends. Although Yunyin has no relatives here, she has many friends. She has been busy with this for the past few days and finally finished sending out all the gifts before the Winter Solstice.
After delivering food to her friends, Yunyin naturally couldn't forget about the people at her inn. She planned to cook more food so everyone could have a good meal together.
On the winter solstice, there were few people on the road. Everyone was going home to reunite with their families. Unless they really couldn't go back, they might stay in the county. There were no outsiders in Yunyin's place. It was just her group of people enjoying the atmosphere of reunion on the winter solstice.
Although the group of people had only known each other for less than a year, they got along very well. Fang He led a group of children to help wrap wontons, which was everyone's lunch today. In ordinary families in Dazhao, they would cook a good meal on the winter solstice, and wontons with meat, noodles and vegetables were their main choice.
Yunyin chose wontons mainly because it was cold, and making more wontons would allow them to be stored longer. If she couldn't finish them, she could sell them at the breakfast stall. In addition to making wontons, she also cooked a big pot of mutton soup and planned to make mutton noodles later.
Besides these staple foods, fish, which Fu Wang loves, is also indispensable, as it symbolizes abundance year after year. A considerable amount of other pork dishes, as well as her favorite fried meatballs, are also prepared. These are dishes traditionally made for the New Year, but since the Winter Solstice is followed soon by the Laba Festival, these items can be prepared in advance and eaten directly during the New Year.
Yunyin started getting busy early in the morning. Some of them cleaned the house, others washed the vegetables, while she and Feng Hai prepared a big meal together. The whole inn was bustling with activity and very lively.
The meatballs were shaped into balls and placed into the hot oil to fry. A sizzling sound rang out, and small bubbles rose from the hot oil. The meatballs were not moved after being placed in the oil. After they were almost set, Yunyin gently shook them with a spoon.
The aroma of meatballs mingled with the hot oil, and in no time, a wonderful fragrance wafted from the kitchen, a blend of the fresh scent of water chestnuts and the aroma of meat. People working outside couldn't help but look into the kitchen, and even Feng Hai, who had been cooking nearby, was drawn in by the aroma and kept glancing at Yun Yin.
"This is even more delicious than lion's head meatballs." Feng Hai put down the knife in his hand, watched Yun Yin fry the meatballs, and only looked away after she scooped them out, continuing to cook his dishes.
Yunyin put another batch of meatballs into the pot, smiled and said, "Of course it's more fragrant than lion's head meatballs. How many meatballs did you fry when you made lion's head meatballs? This time I fried so many, of course it's more fragrant than that."
After frying all the meatballs, she fried them again. This made the meatballs even more golden and crispy on the outside. One bite and they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—absolutely delicious!
In addition to meatballs, Yunyin also prepared a large bowl of tofu balls. These are balls made by mixing mashed tofu with flour. Although they don't taste as fragrant as meatballs, they have the unique flavor of tofu and are just as delicious as meatballs.
Two large pots of fried meatballs were ready, and not only did the little girls outside keep swallowing their saliva, but Zhang Lin and the others were also very tempted. Yunyin also felt her appetite was whetted, and she quickly picked up a freshly fried meatball and threw it into her mouth to satisfy her craving.
Then he called Fu Wang over and handed him a plate of meatballs and a plate of tofu balls, saying, "Share them with everyone. I think they're all so hungry they can't concentrate on their work."
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