Chapter 92, Inn No. 92: Exchanging Gifts, Various Cured Meat Dishes...
Fu Wang was holding the plate in both hands, so he called to Yun Yin, "Give me one, I want to try it too."
Yunyin glanced at his two hands, which were occupied, smiled helplessly, and asked him, "Do you want meatballs or tofu balls?"
Seeing that Yunyin wasn't angry, Fu Wang raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Can I have one of each?"
Yunyin skewered a meatball on a bamboo stick and handed it to him, telling him to eat it first. After he finished eating, she withdrew her hand and said, "If you want more, take some yourself. I have something to do."
Seeing that she really didn't intend to feed him anymore, Fu Wang shrugged, savored the meatball in his mouth, and happily carried the two plates of meatballs back to the main hall.
The others had been eagerly anticipating the food. Before Fu Wang could even put it down, several of them rushed forward, grabbing their hands before even taking chopsticks. Zhang Lin remembered Zheng Guilan and Fang He, so he took a few and handed them to them. Seeing that the remaining girls were hesitant to come forward, he called out to them, "Come here quickly."
Fang Tang glanced at them, then pulled Fang Ju over to join them. She took the meatballs from Zhang Lincheng and the others, and before she even took a bite, she could smell the aroma of meat mixed with oil—a flavor she had never tasted before.
Fangtang is the eldest child in their family, with many younger brothers and sisters. Even though she is only twelve years old, she has been helping with chores for the family for many years. Normally, a child this age would not be sold by the family, but she is the most honest, and her younger siblings are sweet-talking, and her parents love them very much and are reluctant to sell them.
But the family was really struggling to make ends meet, so she became the one to be sacrificed. She carefully bit into the meatball in her mouth, tears streaming down her face. When no one was looking, she quickly wiped them away. She thought she must listen to Lady Yun and help her with the work, so that Lady Yun wouldn't have wasted her buying a group of people who had no skills.
The other children didn't think as much as Fang Tang. When the adults distributed the meatballs to them, they thanked them and fed them the meatballs. Whether they were meatballs or tofu meatballs, they had never seen or even heard of them before, but now they were eating them. They were just glad that they had come to Yun Niangzi's place.
They didn't know what selling to Lady Yun meant; they only knew that they would no longer have to suffer from hunger and cold. They were all very happy, their previous sorrows gone, and they happily shared the delicious food with everyone.
Seeing that everyone else was eating, Fu Wang realized he couldn't even squeeze in. After thinking for a moment, he went back to the kitchen to find Yun Yin. At that moment, Yun Yin and Feng Hai were eating meatballs. When she saw him come in, Yun Yin asked, "Why didn't you eat outside?"
Fu Wang took the bowl she handed him, picked up a meatball with a bamboo skewer and ate it in one bite. "There are too many people outside, not enough for them to share. I came to find you instead."
Yunyin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you like it that much?" Although she liked it very much too, when she was little, her favorite time was when her grandma fried meatballs. She could eat a lot of the fried meatballs, but her grandma wouldn't let her eat too many. Later, when she grew up, she was all alone, and she rarely made these kinds of foods on weekdays. She would only make a little bit during the New Year, but there was no one to eat with her anymore.
Looking at Fu Wang and listening to the laughter outside, her expression softened. She smiled and said, "There's still a lot more. If everyone likes it, I can make more."
Since a pot of oil has already been poured out, we can take this opportunity to fry more things. Besides meatballs, we can also fry ribs. With her newly made chili oil, they will be crispy, fragrant, salty, and spicy, making them a good snack.
Of course, fried chicken is also a must. Chicken legs, chicken strips, and chicken wings can all be fried. Fresh small fish can also be marinated and fried, and the taste is just as good as fried meatballs.
Yunyin raised an eyebrow and said, "Since everyone likes it, I'll prepare more things to fry together. Anyway, it's the winter solstice today, and not many people will be coming. Let's just fry everything we need to fry today and have a big meal tonight."
Fu Wang: "Sure, I'll help you."
Feng Hai, who had finished eating the meatballs, wiped the oil off his hands and nodded, saying, "I'll help Lady Yun chop the vegetables."
Yunyin called over the people who had already finished eating outside, and everyone busied themselves with the task. Some were killing chickens and fish, some were washing taro, and others were kneading dough—it was quite a lively scene. She also made everything she wanted to fry and everything that could be fried. The aroma of fried food lingered in the air near the inn, unable to dissipate. Even the fish in the stream seemed to smell the aroma and kept swimming upwards, but unfortunately, they were blocked by a layer of ice.
Lunch was quite plentiful. Yunyin fried a lot of chicken and ribs, along with her homemade chili sauce. Everyone in the inn ate until their stomachs were bulging. Of course, she also made a sweet and sour dish that the children loved. Freshly fried taro strips dipped in the sauce were so delicious that everyone couldn't stop eating them.
Fu Wang watched as everyone ate heartily, "After the winter solstice, do you want to fry some of these and sell them? I think everyone really likes them."
Yunyin nodded, "I do have that plan. Although fried food will become soggy when it gets cold, it can be crispy again after being fried once. With salt and pepper and my chili sauce, it will surely be very popular."
"Of course, if you don't like salty and spicy flavors, there are also sweet and sour sauces to choose from. I want to make a good profit before the New Year."
Fu Wang: "Hmm, I think you'll definitely make a fortune." He looked at the group of people who were still eating excitedly and said to Yun Yin, "Yin, let's talk somewhere else."
Yunyin had eaten her fill and was looking to digest, so she led Fu Wang to a private room. The two of them moved the tea stove over, lit a fire, brewed tea, and sat down to chat.
Bright red oranges were roasting on the stove, and persimmons, symbolizing good fortune, were placed beside them. Yunyin hesitated for a moment, then took something out of her bosom and handed it to Fu Wang. "This is a gift for you. I wish you peace and good luck every year."
Fu Wang paused in his movements, took the wooden bracelet, and stroked it several times. The beads were round and smooth, clearly having been carefully polished, and the wood was of the finest quality, all of which spoke of the care put into it.
He stroked it several times, then reluctantly stopped. "Did you make this yourself?"
Yunyin touched her face, embarrassed, and said, "I made them. I don't have much experience, and it took me a long time to make these eighteen."
The eighteen beads symbolize wealth and good fortune, and also wish for good health. Yunyin hopes that Fuwang will have good fortune and health throughout his life, so she specially made this bracelet for him.
"It wasn't done very well, I hope you don't mind."
Before she could finish speaking, Fu Wang interrupted her, putting on the beads and saying solemnly, "I like it very much, thank you."
"I also have a gift for you. Although it's not as expensive as the one you gave me, it's still a token of my appreciation."
Fu Wang took out a piece of silk from his sleeve and handed it to Yun Yin, saying, "These are some recipes I collected from the Western Regions. There are no fancy dishes, just common home-cooked meals made by ordinary people. I hope you won't find them offensive."
Yunyin took the thin silk cloth and looked at the various snacks written on it, as well as the recipes she had never heard of. She shook her head and said, "How could I dislike it? This gift is very valuable."
"You must have put in a lot of effort to collect these. To collect so many during your arduous escort mission, I should thank you."
She looked at the silk cloth that represented her feelings, carefully folded it, and put it in her bosom. "Fu Wang, thank you. I'm really happy to have met you."
Fu Wang saw seriousness in Yun Yin's eyes, which surprised him, but he was also very happy. He smiled and said, "It is my good fortune to know you."
After exchanging gifts, Fu Wang wanted to ask Yun Yin for her reply, but when he touched the string of beads she had personally polished, everything was self-evident. She hadn't given a definite answer, perhaps she was still a little hesitant, but Fu Wang had indeed received her sentiments.
He would try his best to make her feel secure and reassure her so that she could agree to his proposal. He still had a lot to learn, and he hadn't prepared the betrothal gifts yet, so he wasn't in a hurry. He relaxed and chatted with Yunyin, enjoying this rare sweet atmosphere.
Besides Yunyin and Fuwang exchanging gifts, Yunyin also prepared gifts for the other people in the inn, giving each person a red envelope containing a string of coins, so that they could have a pleasant winter solstice.
As for the children, she also prepared gifts for them, a red hair tie for each of them. The red hair ties made them look even more festive, and the atmosphere in the inn became even more harmonious because of the gifts.
On the Winter Solstice, besides the big lunch, the dinner was also very sumptuous. Yunyin and Feng Hai prepared a large table of delicious food, and she also brought out freshly made plum wine, which everyone enjoyed to the fullest.
Taking advantage of the pleasant atmosphere, Yinshuang played a tune for everyone. Listening to the music and drinking wine, the inn became quite lively.
Aside from the night watchmen and children, everyone else drank quite a bit. Even Fu Wang, who was a heavy drinker, was slightly tipsy. In the end, Cheng Yong, who hadn't drunk much, took him back to his room.
Yunyin couldn't take it anymore and was sent back to her room by Zheng Guilan. The remaining few who weren't drunk stayed behind to tidy up the room and chatted around the stove for a long time before finally falling asleep.
The next morning, when Yunyin woke up, she was still a little confused. It took her a while to realize what had happened. Before she could leave the house, Fu Wang, who had gotten up early, heard the noise and knocked on the door, saying, "Yunyin, I've made you some hot water. Get ready."
Yunyin casually tied her hair up, leaving it a little messy, and opened the door to take the hot water he brought. Seeing his energetic appearance, she leaned against the door and said, "How come you look so energetic? I remember you were drunk yesterday too."
"I'm not that drunk. I feel quite sober." Fu Wang looked at her fluffy hair, with a strand that was slightly upturned. He smiled slightly, wanting to smooth it down for her, but after looking into her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it. "I'm just slightly tipsy. Plum wine doesn't make you drunk."
Yunyin didn't believe him at all. Although she got drunk quickly yesterday, she clearly remembered that Fu Wang was also drunk. Seeing that he didn't want to admit it, she thought it wasn't a big deal and let him be.
She didn't know that Fu Wang wasn't actually drunk. He had just drunk a little more because he was happy. Thinking of Yun Yin's feelings, he was moved by the hidden emotions and unconsciously became immersed in them, making him appear as if he were drunk.
Fu Wang didn't tell her. He savored this joy alone. Even after a night, he was still very excited. If he wasn't afraid of scaring Yun Yin, he would have told her about his hidden joy long ago.
Seeing Fu Wang standing at the door in a daze, Yunyin shook her head, carried the wooden bucket into the room to wash up, and quickly changed her clothes and tidied herself up. She then took Fang He and the other little ones to the field to stretch their muscles and bones, and she also woke up during her morning exercise.
Fu Wang naturally followed Yun Yin wherever she went. The two stood together, and he watched Yun Yin instructing the group of children, occasionally helping to instruct them as well. Together, they resembled a harmonious and beautiful mural.
Everyone else had their own things to do. Zheng Guilan helped Zhang Lin pack his things, and after he went to work at the food stall in front, she cleaned the entire lobby and swept the courtyard until it was spotless.
Ma Hao went to feed the horses, and also to take Hei Dou back to the doghouse. Hei Dou, who had worked hard to keep watch all night, had also had a hearty winter solstice yesterday. Seeing that Hei Dou's belly was round and bulging, he couldn't help but touch it and said, "Hei Dou, you've gotten fatter again."
The fierce Ma Hao showed some kindness in front of Hei Dou, speaking softly to it as if afraid of frightening it. Hei Dou seemed to understand what Ma Hao was saying to it, and whimpered twice before leading him back to its own room.
After the winter solstice, the inn returned to normal, and the number of pedestrians on the road gradually increased. Although there were no long-distance merchants, there were still many merchants traveling between the two counties. Many people resumed their previous lives, and would occasionally go to Yunyin's inn for a treat.
The students in the county were still on holiday. Just two days later, Song Shi rode his tall horse to Yunyin Inn. He saw that the flowers on the mural had been finished by Yinshuang. He took out a string of coins from his pocket and handed them to her, saying, "Yinshuang, thank you for helping me. Please take this money."
These days, Yinshuang, who had been enjoying a lot of leisure, was infected by the liveliness of the inn. Her face was full of joy. She had been having such a relaxed and pleasant time that she almost forgot that she was short of money.
Looking at the copper coins Song Shi handed her, she really wanted them, but still shook her head and said, "I told you before that this is my apology. Young Master Song, you don't need to give me a thank-you gift. I would feel guilty."
Staying at Yunlai Inn was her own insistence, and she had even said something wrong that upset everyone. Yinshuang refused the money Song Shi offered, saying, "Young Master Song, you should go ahead and do your work. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now."
Yinshuang ignored Song Shi's calls, returned to her room and looked at the seven-stringed zither she had used for a long time. She bit her lip and got up to find Yunyin.
At this moment, Yunyin had just finished her training. Seeing the graceful Yinshuang walking towards her, she said to Fu Wang, "You take them to find Zheng Guilan first. I want to have a word with Lady Yinshuang."
Fu Wang glanced at Yin Shuang, nodded to Yun Yin, and led the group of children toward the inn.
"Does Lady Yinshuang need something from me?"
Yinshuang: "Miss Yun, could you tell me more about the stage performance you mentioned before?"
Yunyin was surprised that it was Yinshuang who took the initiative to come to her. She had planned to wait until the mural was finished, set up some screens around the platform to create a relatively private space, and then talk to Yinshuang about this matter. Although she had said before that she would pay her, she had not discussed it in detail with her.
Since Yinshuang had approached her, she would naturally seize the opportunity. Lu Xuan had only given her money to help take care of Yinshuang, but he hadn't said that Yinshuang couldn't perform on stage. In any case, she would pay Yinshuang.
"It's like this, I wonder if Lady Yinshuang could spare two hours each day to perform on stage, one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, the time is up to you." Yunyin recalled the information she had inquired about before and quoted a price she could afford, "How about 200 coins per hour?"
Yunyin knew that this price was indeed a bit low for Yinshuang, but she couldn't afford to pay more. However, she had other rewards; the money from the customers' tips all belonged to Yinshuang, and she wouldn't accept this money.
Yunyin knew that Xie Yan and Chen Rong were very generous. They would give a lot of tips for listening to songs and watching dances. Yinshuang's performance had been praised by the two of them, so they would probably come to support her often in the future.
However, according to Song Shi, they will be taking the imperial examination next year and may not be able to come. But Wang Yu and the others are still there. They are people who love excitement and should not be stingy with money.
Yinshuang had always wanted to stay here, and after everyone's joyful time together during the Winter Solstice, she wanted to stay even longer. Since Lady Yun was willing to give her money and let her receive tips, she had no objections. She hoped to gain Yunyin's approval so that she could stay here indefinitely.
Yunyin was in a great mood after making the agreement with Yinshuang. She hummed a cheerful tune as she walked toward the inn. Fu Wang saw that she was all smiles and knew that she had done what she wanted to do. "It seems that your place will definitely become a great place to attract literati in the future. Lady Yinshuang's zither skills are superb."
Yunyin already knew about Yinshuang's zither skills. Xie Yan and Shen Rong had praised her many times. If it hadn't snowed before and then followed by the winter solstice, they probably would have brought people to listen to Yinshuang's little tunes long ago.
Speak of the devil, and he appears. Yunyin had only thought about it for a moment when Xie Yan arrived with Song Xuan. And as fate would have it, Shen Rong and Wang Yu also arrived with gifts. Seeing the two groups of people bumping into each other again, Yunyin was really curious whether they had really conspired together.
Xie Yan and Shen Rong were fine, nodding to each other in greeting. Wang Yu, however, got quite excited, insisting that Xie Yan and the others had planned this. But because there were women present, he only said one sentence and then stopped, unlike his usual noisy self.
Xie Yan brought Song Xuan here to listen to Yin Shuang play music.
What intrigued Yunyin was that Song Shi had arrived earlier than them. She looked at the person who was already engrossed in painting in front of the mural, then looked at Xie Yan and Song Xuan and asked, "Why didn't you come with Song Shi?"
Xie Yan shook his head, unsure of what to say. Song Xuan, however, said helplessly, "Nowadays, besides caring about Madam Luo's affairs, my second brother is also focused on painting. He had a 7-day holiday for the winter solstice, and if he hadn't had to spend the winter solstice with his family, he would have come here to paint long ago."
“I’m really worried that if he continues like this, his studies will plummet. If Father finds out, he’ll probably take his anger out on Lady Yun.”
Yunyin hadn't expected Song Shi to be so obsessed with painting. He had already paid a lot of attention to this painting before, but now he was even more interested in it. She couldn't help but worry about Song Shi.
She wasn't really afraid of Song Shi's father, but she felt that as a friend, she should perhaps advise him. Yunyin remembered that Song Shi had said before that he wanted to take the imperial examination to support Lady Luo. She didn't object to Song Shi painting at the time because she thought it would give him more options, but she didn't agree with him giving up the imperial examination altogether and not even being able to try.
Yunyin didn't think there was anything wrong with pursuing painting, but for children of officials like them, the imperial examination was the right path, and the others were probably crooked paths. She was also worried that Song Shi would regret it.
Fu Wang noticed Yun Yin's worry and patted her shoulder, saying, "It's alright, I'll go talk to him. It's better for me to talk to him about these things."
Xie Yan chimed in, "Yes, Lady Yun, I will also supervise his studies and make sure he doesn't fall behind. Don't worry."
Yunyin smiled at Fu Wang, temporarily putting the matter aside, and greeted Song Xuan and Xie Yan, saying, "Since you two have come together today, you probably didn't come to eat my cooking, did you?"
Song Xuan smiled and said, "I've heard that you have a great musician here. Xie Lang praised him highly when he heard him play last time. I'd like to come and enjoy his music."
Shen Rong and Xie Yanlai had the same purpose. He had already found a seat and sat down. Yun Yin originally wanted to invite them to sit in a private room, but seeing that they had already found a seat, she didn't bother. She greeted Yin Shuang, and soon cheerful music filled the inn again.
Listening to this melody, Yunyin felt happy while cooking, and passersby couldn't help but stop and listen to the beautiful tune.
However, Wang Yu and the others preferred food. Although they also admired Lady Yinshuang's zither playing, they had long been thinking about the food that Yunyin had made before.
After listening to the song, he took advantage of the break to find Yunyin and chuckled, "Yunniangzi, are the cured meat and sausages you made ready? And I'd like to try the cured pork ribs made with large intestines too."
Yunyin took out the cured meats that had been smoked, washed, and dried earlier from the basket and said to him, "Okay, I'll make some for you in a bit."
She quickly made several different preserved meat dishes. In addition to boiling and steaming the sausages, there were also sausages stir-fried with garlic sprouts and a mixed steamed preserved meat dish.
Last time I made a mixed steamed meat dish, I only used cured pork and cured fish. This time, you can add cured sausage, along with fermented black beans, dried chili peppers, and ginger slices for a richer flavor.
Yunyin also went to the bamboo forest to cut down a few thick bamboos and made wooden bucket rice with cured meat and mushrooms.
As for the cured pork ribs made with pork intestines, they are delicious simply cooked, sliced and eaten. Yunyin also used separately smoked cured pork ribs to make a pot of lotus root soup, which has a different taste from ordinary fresh pork bone soup, and is in no way inferior to pork bone soup.
Besides being used for soup, cured pork ribs can also be stewed with potatoes, which tastes delicious. Yunyin naturally didn't have potatoes, but taro would be a good substitute. She specially selected taro of medium size and stewed a large pot of them with the cured pork ribs.
Yunyin prepared the meal and brought the dishes to the main hall. At this time, Yinshuang had finished playing and was resting. Xie Yan and Song Xuan were discussing her musical skills, and even Wang Yu was sitting quietly, shaking his head and recalling the music he had just played.
As soon as her dishes were served, a fragrant aroma filled the air, finally bringing everyone back from the music they had just heard. They quickly composed themselves, took their seats, and began to feast.
Xie Yan looked at the sumptuous lunch on the table. He was originally quite averse to pork intestines and sausages, but the aroma was irresistible, and he saw Wang Yu and Song Shi eating non-stop. Remembering what the gentleman had said earlier, he couldn't resist taking a bite.
The cured pork ribs made with pork intestines weren't as hard to swallow as he'd imagined. The intestines were tender after cooking, while the ribs inside were chewy and firm. The two complemented each other perfectly. Although they were salted, they weren't too salty because they were cooked. They were quite palatable even without rice.
What he liked best was the rice in the wooden bucket. The rice had the fragrance of bamboo, the sweetness of mushrooms, and the saltiness of cured meat. Paired with fresh green beans, it was both elegant and delicious.
"This is truly a heavenly life," Xie Yan exclaimed after finishing a bowl of rice. "Not only can we enjoy delicious food, but we can also hear heavenly music. It's truly unforgettable."
Hearing Xie Yan's praise, Yunyin couldn't help but feel happy. She smiled and said, "If you like it, Mr. Xie, you can come more often." Then she looked at Song Xuan and said, "If Jingxuan likes it, she can also come more often while she still has time."
Song Xuan shook her head and said, "I'm afraid I don't have time right now. I'll see if I can find the time later." Seeing that Xie Yan didn't object, she smiled happily and said to Yun Yin, "I'll come again another time."
Yunyin knew she was referring to getting married, and she happily replied, "That's great, you're welcome anytime."
Time flies, and Song Shi and his friends' holiday ended quickly. He rushed to finish painting the mural for Yun Yin on the last day.
When Yunyin was called over by Song Shi, she never expected him to finish the painting so quickly. Although she knew that he had been painting by candlelight every night in order to finish it as soon as possible, she had told him not to rush, but he still finished it.
She looked at the four lifelike paintings on the wall after the bamboo curtain was removed. The peach blossoms in spring were in full bloom, as if she had entered a world of flowers. But what surprised her the most was not the eye-catching peach blossoms, but the food displayed in front of the pavilion.
There was also a woman in the painting, who was cooking a delicacy. Yunyin looked at the beautiful figure. The person in the painting did not show her eyebrows and eyes, but she knew that Song Shi was painting her.
Yunyin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why did you draw me in? I remember that your original sketch didn't include me."
Song Shi touched his nose and said, "It's not my fault. Fu Wang said that since this is a dish you made, the host should also be included in the painting. However, he didn't want me to be too obvious, so he painted you in a way that was barely visible. But anyone with eyes can recognize you at a glance."
Yunyin hadn't expected Fu Wang to have such thoughts. She looked back but couldn't find him anywhere. She could only come back to her senses and continue to ask Song Shi, "What else did he say to you?"
Song Shi chuckled and said, "Nothing else, he just asked me for advice on how to draw people." He winked at Yun Yin and said, "He wants to record someone's beautiful moments."
Yunyin remained expressionless, not giving Song Shi a chance to tease her, "What benefits did Fu Wang give you that you actually taught him to paint? Are you really not planning to take the imperial examination?"
Song Shi put away his smile, pursed his lips and said, "It's nothing, just introducing someone to me." He paused for a while before saying, "I still have to take the imperial examination. I'm afraid I won't have time to come over for a while. I will do my best and leave no room for error. If I really don't pass, then I will have tried my best."
Upon hearing this, Yunyin finally felt relieved. "That's more like it. Then keep up the good work and I wish you success in the imperial examination soon."
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