Chapter 96, Inn No. 96: Frozen Tofu, Watching Nuo Opera...
Just as Fu Wang had predicted, the Laba Festival was no different. Those who were supposed to go out still went out, and those who were supposed to do business took advantage of the holiday to make more money and have a good New Year.
Yunyin still cooked two pots of Laba porridge, using various beans to make two large pots. One pot was sent to Ciyun Temple, and the other was kept for the people at their inn. Yunyin used to drink Laba porridge every year, and she wasn't used to not drinking it this year. Anyway, it wasn't a big deal, and apart from Fu Wang, no one else objected to drinking porridge.
This was the first time Yunyin had ever seen Fu Wang dislike anything. He used to love everything she made, but she never expected him to dislike porridge. The thought of Fu Wang's tall figure sitting on a small stool, reluctantly drinking porridge made her want to laugh.
Fu Wang finished a bowl of porridge with difficulty. Seeing Yunyin secretly laughing for some reason, he put down the bowl and asked, "What's making you so happy?"
Yunyin composed herself and handed him the bowl. "I just thought the Laba porridge at Ciyun Temple was especially delicious. I really liked it, so I smiled. What's wrong?"
Although Yunyin's expression was very serious and her eyes were very sincere, Fu Wang felt that she wasn't laughing at this just now. He didn't realize something was wrong for a moment, so he shook his head and said, "If you like it, drink more. Master Huixuan gave us a lot."
He paused for a moment and then said, "We're not going to be eating porridge all day, are we?"
Yunyin suppressed the urge to smile and coughed lightly, saying, "Of course not. You get hungry easily from porridge. Let's have lunch. What would you like to eat?"
Fu Wang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Do whatever you want, as long as you don't drink porridge, everything is fine."
"Alright, let's continue with clay pot dishes today. There are still many clay pot dishes to eat."
After breakfast, Zhang Lin went to the food stall in front to sell breakfast. Yunyin and Feng Hai and the others prepared the ingredients for lunch. In addition to chicken stew and tofu stew, Yunyin also prepared fish stew and casserole pork ribs. In addition to tofu stew, there were also radish stew and mushroom stew.
There are many different kinds of food to choose from, and she also prepares mixed hot pot, where customers can choose their favorite ingredients and she makes it into a mixed hot pot, which is also very delicious.
The price of the clay pot dishes is a bit higher for meat dishes, but for vegetarian dishes, you can get a big pot for just twenty coins. As soon as it was launched, it became very popular with diners. Even those who particularly like stir-fries are willing to order a clay pot dish to eat with rice.
"Miss Yun, you really should have launched this casserole dish sooner. I almost missed out on such a delicious dish." A customer who has always liked Yunyin's cooking picked up a piece of tofu with his chopsticks, then ate a bite of fish, and nodded in satisfaction. "It's just as good as stir-fry. I used to think that casserole dishes were the same as stews in other restaurants. I even thought that it was a sign that your skills had declined since you started making stews. I didn't expect that I was so ignorant."
Another table of diners chimed in, "Yes, yes, I love Yun Niangzi's cooking. It's because many of her dishes are unique to her that other restaurants don't have them. When I first saw the clay pot dish today, I thought it was just stew and almost didn't order it."
"If it weren't for the fact that one of my friends was eating it so deliciously earlier, and I was tempted by his food, I probably would have missed out on this delicious food today."
The two of them praised Yunyin's cooking, and Yunyin didn't even have a chance to interject. She could only shrug and let them have their say. After they finished, she continued to recommend, "Actually, the chicken hot pot and mushroom hot pot are also very delicious. You can come and try them tomorrow. I will often introduce new casserole dishes in the future, so come and eat them more often when you have time."
The two diners said in unison, "Of course, we haven't been going to any other restaurants lately, we've just come to Yun Niangzi's restaurant to eat new dishes."
Thanks to Yunyin's clay pot dishes, the inn has been transformed from its usual quiet atmosphere into a vibrant summer hot spot. Many people have recommended it to each other, all wanting to try Yunyin's clay pot dishes, which are different from those in other restaurants.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, Yunyin's shop is even more bustling. To cater to those who love clay pot dishes, Yunyin even bought a lot of mutton from Luoman and made a mutton hot pot.
Tender lamb paired with juicy radish, the lamb stewed until soft and the radish infused with flavor. Whether braised or cumin-flavored, this lamb stew has become increasingly popular.
There are many people in Dazhao who like to eat mutton, and there are many kinds of mutton dishes. Luo Man's mutton is very well made. Yun Yin usually stir-fries or roasts mutton, and rarely stews it for sale. This is the first time she has made it.
Even Luo Man, who lives far away in Pingxi Town, heard about it and made a special trip to Yunyin to eat there. Luo Man put down her chopsticks and praised, "Your mutton skills are not bad either. It's a pity that I couldn't hire you to cook for us back then, otherwise I don't know how popular my shop would be."
Yunyin handed her a glass of water and smiled, "Sister Aman has already hired a new chef. After training her for a while, she'll be ready."
Luo Man sighed, "How can they compare to you?" Looking at the little tune played by Yin Shuang on the stage, and the fact that there were not only scholars and literati who came here specifically, she shook her head, "Sister, this shop of yours will probably become the only one of its kind in our county in the future."
After a brief reunion with Luo Man, the two went back to their own business. Because they were using more and more tofu recently, Yunyin had to order a lot more from Aunt Fang. In addition to soft tofu, she also ordered some firm tofu. Firm tofu can be frozen quickly and then frozen tofu. Frozen tofu is not only suitable for casserole dishes, but also for hot pot.
It's cold outside and hot pot is a good choice, but Yunyin didn't serve it in the restaurant. The main reason she didn't sell hot pot was because there wasn't enough mutton fat and the spices were too expensive. However, it wasn't a problem for them to eat it occasionally.
Tonight they ate hot pot, one spicy pot and one clear mushroom pot. Yunyin and the others who liked spicy food sat together, while the others who couldn't handle spicy food sat together on the other side.
After a busy day, everyone relaxed and prepared to enjoy a meal. Just as they were about to start eating, there was a knock on the door. Yunyin looked over and saw Cui Jing walking in, covered in cold wind, with a servant carrying a package behind him.
"Why is Magistrate Cui coming so late?" Yunyin invited Cui Jing to sit down, served them hot soup, and moved the stove closer to him so he would feel more comfortable.
After drinking hot soup and warming himself by the stove, Cui Jing finally recovered. He exhaled a puff of white breath and said, "I wasn't on a rural inspection tour, so I didn't pay attention to the time. It was already late when I got back. Since Dazhu Village isn't far from here, I decided to stay here for the night."
Yunyin: "Okay, I have a room here. By the way, have you eaten?"
Cui Jing felt warm all over, and then he smelled the pungent aroma in the air. He took a deep breath and said, "You guys are having hot pot tonight? The food is good. But why does this smell so strong?" He rubbed his nose to try to make it feel better, but the pungent aroma still lingered.
Yunyin glanced at the boiling broth in the pot, where the meatballs were already floating. She quickly invited Cui Jing, "Then let's eat together. We haven't eaten yet. Would you like the spicy broth or the clear broth?"
Cui Jing sat down with Yun Yin, glanced at the spicy hot pot on the table, and nodded, "I'll eat this. I've never had spicy hot pot before. What's it made of? Cornelian cherry? Although it smells pungent, it's also very fragrant." His servant, however, couldn't eat spicy food and sat with the others at the table with the clear broth hot pot.
Yunyin shook her head and said, "It's not dogwood. It's a seed that I asked Fu Wang to find. It's a kind of chili pepper. It's spicy and makes a great condiment." She got Cui Jing a new bowl and chopsticks and reminded him, "But this chili pepper is extremely spicy. Magistrate Cui, you must be careful not to get burned by the spiciness."
Cui Jing was surprised to find so many unusual things at Yunyin. He asked Fu Wang curiously, "Young Master Fu, are you specifically looking for these rare and strange seeds? Aren't you a镖师 (bodyguard/escort)?"
Fu Wang poured him a glass of wine. "We're just helping A Yin find some things. Our main job is still transporting goods, carrying things, and delivering messages."
Cui Jing took a sip of wine, looked at Fu Wang and then at Yun Yin, raised an eyebrow and said, "I see." He finished his wine in one gulp, looked down at the amber-colored wine, and asked curiously, "What kind of wine is this? Why is it different from what I usually drink?"
“It’s plum wine.” Yunyin toasted Cui Jing, and after drinking it, she continued, “The soil and water in Long’an County are very suitable for growing fruit. I found a wild plum tree in the mountains. Although it tastes very sour, it’s perfect for making wine. Even the dried plums and preserved plums made from it are delicious.”
She asked Cui Jing, "Is this wine delicious?"
Cui Jing nodded in praise, saying, "It has an amber color, a fruity aroma, a hint of bitterness, and a sweet aftertaste. It is indeed more refreshing than rice wine, more mellow than yellow wine, and more flavorful than baijiu."
Yunyin smiled and said, "If you like it, I'll send you a jar later. I've brewed quite a few."
Upon hearing this, Cui Jing bowed and said, "Then thank you very much."
After discussing the wine, Yunyin noticed that the mutton she had just put in the pot was cooked. She called to Cui Jing and Fu Wang, "Hurry up and eat. It's done. The tofu inside is especially delicious. Eat more. The mutton is cooked too. If you cook it any longer, it will become tough."
Cui Jing had never eaten Yun Yin's hot pot before, but Fu Wang had. He knew that what she said about how delicious it was wasn't just empty talk. He quickly picked up a piece of tofu with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Sure enough, it was very flavorful.
Fu Wang was prepared, which was fine, but Cui Jing, although he knew it was a spicy hot pot, didn't know exactly how spicy it was. He took a bite of tofu, which soaked up the broth, and swallowed it. The pungent spiciness instantly flowed down his throat, and he turned his head and couldn't stop coughing, startling Yun Yin and the others who were enjoying their meal.
Cui Jing's servant jumped up from the table next to him and rushed towards him: "My lord, are you alright?"
Cui Jing waved his hand, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Having previous experience, Fu Wang quickly brought him some tea and told him to drink it, saying, "Quickly moisten your throat; you must have choked on the soup."
Cui Jing drank several mouthfuls of water, finally suppressing the spiciness in his throat. He said hoarsely, "Thank you. You guys continue eating, don't worry about me."
Fu Wang stepped forward and patted him on the back to make him feel better. "Are you really okay? It's really uncomfortable to be choked by chili peppers." He had been choked by chili peppers before and it took him a while to recover.
Cui Jing: "It's nothing. I just didn't expect there to be so much broth in the tofu. I choked for a moment. You guys eat, I need to calm down."
Yunyin sat up straight and looked at Cui Jing with concern, "You can't handle spicy food, so why don't you sit at the same table as them? I should remind you, the frozen tofu has absorbed a lot of broth, so be extra careful when eating it."
Cui Jing saw that Zheng Guilan and the children were all looking at him, so he shook his head and said, "It's okay, I just didn't notice. The spicy hot pot still tastes really good." Although he only tasted a little bit before being choked by the broth, he still knew that it tasted really good.
He tidied himself up, sat back down at the table, and looked at the many holes in the tofu in his bowl. He asked curiously, "How come this tofu absorbs the broth so well? The tofu I've eaten before wasn't like this."
Yunyin glanced at the large plate of frozen tofu on the shelf beside the table and explained, "It was frozen on the outside, so the tofu has some gaps, which makes it more flavorful when cooked."
Cui Jing looked at the tofu in the bowl and couldn't help but praise, "A very clever idea, and it tastes delicious too."
Yunyin echoed him, "It is indeed a very good idea. Although I don't know who discovered this way of eating, I am still very grateful to him for giving us such good food."
Cui Jing asked curiously, "Didn't you discover this, Lady Yun?"
Yunyin shook her head and said, "No, I only learned it after seeing others do it. As for who did it first, I don't know."
Cui Jing looked away and smiled, "Then thank you for making such delicious food, letting everyone know that tofu can be eaten this way." He picked up his chopsticks and continued eating the tofu, then picked up a piece of mutton and ate it in one bite, "This chili pepper is really good stuff, it makes me feel warm all over after eating it."
Yunyin: "Lamb soup itself has a warming effect. Chili peppers just have a stimulating effect, which tricks your body into thinking that you are in a high-temperature state, so you feel warm and sweaty after eating it."
"Chili peppers are mostly used as a condiment to add different flavors. Of course, you can use them as a warming seasoning, but you can't eat too much of them, as they can cause internal heat."
Cui Jing was surprised that Yun Yin knew so much. "How does Lady Yun know so much?"
Yunyin smiled sheepishly and said, "I was interested, so I learned more about it. Besides, it's only natural for a chef to know about ingredients."
"Magistrate Cui, please continue eating first. We can talk again after you finish." Yunyin looked at the many dishes Fu Wang had put in her bowl and decided to eat first instead of continuing the conversation with Cui Jing.
Cui Jing enjoyed a very pleasant dinner. Although his lips became red and swollen, it couldn't dampen his good mood. He smiled and said, "This is the most satisfying meal I've had in a while."
Yunyin brought over a tea stove and fruit, and Fuwang also brought over a brazier. The three of them sat around the brazier, drinking tea and chatting.
"Magistrate Cui, have you been traveling to the countryside all this time?"
Cui Jing took the tea Yunyin handed him, took a sip to soothe the spiciness in his mouth, and nodded, saying, "Yes, we just finished inspecting Dazhu Village today." He glanced at the few little girls being led back to their rooms by Zheng Guilan and pursed his lips, saying, "Those girls must be from Dazhu Village."
Looking at the girls who were about to disappear, Yunyin whispered, "Yes, they were all victims of that snow disaster."
Cui Jing: "I only realized how widespread this snow disaster was after I came to Long'an County. In addition to Dazhu Village, many other villages were also affected. Many people were forced to sell their children. Even though I gave them relief food, it couldn't alleviate their situation. It could only provide emergency relief. Many families didn't have enough land and had to sell their children."
He gritted his teeth and said, "We still need to develop in multiple ways. Cotton is only useful in winter, so we need to think of other ways."
Upon hearing Cui Jing's words, Yun Yin thought of the fruit in Letao Village and asked, "If Magistrate Cui has connections, he could look into the fruit-growing areas near Long'an County. Many villages there grow fruit."
Upon hearing this, Cui Jing looked at Yun Yin, clapped his hands, and laughed, "You and I are thinking the same thing. I also discovered that they grow a lot of fruit when I went to the countryside. If it can be scaled up, it might be able to help the villagers make money."
“However, transporting fruit is a troublesome matter, and I need to think about it carefully.” Cui Jing looked at the valley of Yunyin, pondered for a moment, and did not voice his thoughts. He turned to look at the two people who were chatting and laughing, raised his eyebrows and asked, “In a few days, on the Laba Festival, would you like to come to the county to participate in the activities? I plan to hold a Nuo opera to get rid of the old year and welcome the new, so that everyone can have a happy New Year.”
"Nuoxi?" Yunyin asked curiously, "What kind of activity is that?"
Cui Jing explained, “It’s a kind of exorcism ritual. Every year in the twelfth lunar month, the palace holds a grand Nuo ceremony, where people dress up as Fangxiangshi and the twelve divine beasts, leading musicians and other performers to exorcise ghosts and ward off plagues. However, it’s not as grand in the common people’s homes, and the scale is smaller, but it’s still very lively. Would you like to come and take a look?”
Yunyin and Fu Wang exchanged a glance and accepted his invitation, "Sure, we'll go. It's almost the New Year, so we can go and buy some New Year's goods."
The Laba Festival was fast approaching, and Yunyin could clearly feel the festive atmosphere growing stronger. Many people on the official road were carrying large and small bags to the city to buy New Year's goods.
Yunyin also gave the people in the inn a holiday, letting them go to the city to play and see what the county magistrate was going to do.
However, not everyone was willing to go. The girls who had just settled down did not want to leave their peaceful place to join in the fun, even though the fun was very attractive to children. Yunyin did not force them. In addition, Ma Hao and Feng Hai were not interested in these activities, so they stayed at the inn.
As for Yinshuang, after Yunyin asked her, she didn't want to go either. She had seen the grand exorcism ceremony held in the palace in Chang'an and wasn't interested in folk activities. Yunyin thought that Yinshuang was tired during this period and told her to rest at home.
Zheng Guilan and Zhang Lin left with Fang He. Yunyin didn't need to worry about them. She exchanged a glance with Fu Wang and smiled, "Then it's just the two of us left."
Fu Wang smiled and said, "It's better if it's just the two of us. Let's go, I'll go get the carriage. We still need to buy New Year's goods later."
Yunyin took the money, plopped down on the bicycle, and the two of them swayed and headed towards the county town.
The county was indeed bustling with activity. Cui Jing not only held a Nuo opera performance, but also lifted the curfew that had been in place for some time and even waived the entrance fee. For a while, the county town was teeming with people, even more lively than before the snow disaster. Yunyin and the others parked their carriage and moved with the crowd. She couldn't help but say, "I haven't seen so many people in a long time."
Needless to say, there were far fewer people after the snow disaster, and the county town was quite deserted. But even before the snow disaster, she had never seen so many people come to the town. It was as if people from the nearby villages had gathered in the county town, and they were all in good order. The vendors' stalls were also well-organized, and there were many more vendors than usual.
After inquiring, Yunyin learned that Magistrate Cui had renovated the area where the stalls used to be and no longer charged the villagers for setting up stalls. As a result, many people came to set up stalls, and even those who were just selling pickled vegetables and sauerkraut had brought a lot more food to the county.
"Won't other merchants have objections to Cui Jing doing this?" Yun Yin knew that the previous vendors were charged a fee, which didn't have much impact on the shops. If the magistrate didn't charge a fee, wouldn't many people be willing to set up stalls in the county town?
For example, Aunt Fang's tofu sells very well in the town. If she took it to the county town to sell, the business would be even better. However, the county town entrance fee is high, not to mention the stall fee. If the county magistrate really didn't charge the stall fee, she might have to send people to the city to sell more money. Who wouldn't want to do that? Besides, there are many rich people in the county town, and many people eat tofu there.
Fu Wang told her the information he had just found out: "Not everyone can set up a stall. Only farmers can do it, and they are required to sell agricultural products. As for others, Magistrate Cui has also designated a separate area where they can sell their goods. Although there is a stall fee, it is less than before. I heard that there is a wide variety of goods there. You can go and take a look later."
"I also saw that the county arranged for people to build sheds in the alleys near East Street. They should be for people to set up stalls later. It seems that people can sell food, porcelain, and some small trinkets there. The rent is also cheaper than that of shops."
"As for the shops, you don't need to worry about them. Not everyone is willing to buy things from street vendors. There aren't many rich people in the county, but there are also quite a few. They can't even keep up with the business of those vendors."
Yunyin shrugged. She didn't understand these things either, and said with a smile, "Never mind, these things have nothing to do with us. But it's convenient for city people. I wish my place could be this lively."
Unfortunately, now that the county allows free stalls, her fledgling market will likely disappear in an instant. Fortunately, many people still come to her shop to eat, and wealthy ladies also buy pastries from her. She has earned enough money. As for other things, she has no other options for the time being and can only deal with them later.
Yunyin pulled Fu Wang forward, saying, "Let's go see the Nuo opera first, and then we'll go buy New Year's goods. There are still many things we need to buy today."
Fu Wang looked down and saw her tugging at his sleeve. He smiled, took her hand, and said, "There will be a lot of people later, so don't let go, or we'll easily get separated."
Yunyin felt the warmth and wanted to let go, but upon hearing his words and seeing that there were indeed more and more people around, she quietly tightened her grip and softly hummed in agreement. She didn't let go until the Nuo opera was over.
There were many people watching the Nuo opera. Yunyin and Fuwang squeezed into a crowd, wearing masks and holding sticks, brooms and other items. A group of people in costumes walked over from a distance. They played roles such as Fangxiangshi, the twelve divine beasts, and plague demons, and there were also musicians responsible for playing gongs and drums.
They come from afar, beating drums and shouting as they go, going from house to house to bring good fortune. The homeowners will give them some food or copper coins as a reward. Of course, they will not miss the passersby on the road, and will surround the crowd to bring good fortune.
Yunyin and Fuwang were also surrounded and blessed for quite a while. She and Fuwang smiled at each other and gave each other some copper coins as a reward. Many people followed the group forward. Yunyin shook her head and said, "This is also my first time watching Nuo opera. I didn't know it was like this."
Fu Wang had seen it many times. Many folk Nuo operas were actually organized spontaneously by the people, and the government also supported such activities. This was because the palace would hold a grand Nuo ceremony every year, and the people would follow suit. Many people in the countryside would also organize such activities, and there were many during the twelfth lunar month every year.
Yunyin had never seen or even heard of such an event before, and she was quite curious about it. Seeing her interest, Fu Wang smiled and said, "How about I go with you to the front to take a look? They will walk all the way to the river outside the city and send all the plague and evil spirits to the river so that the river water can carry away these filth. It will be a long time before they leave."
Yunyin looked at the crowd that had already walked far ahead, shook her head and said, "Forget it, I'd better go buy New Year's goods. There are so many things to buy today, if I don't go early, I won't be able to finish."
Fu Wang asked curiously, "What do you want to buy? Isn't it enough to just buy some pastries and gifts for the New Year?"
Yunyin: "I want to make some desserts myself, so I need to buy a lot of things, such as sesame seeds and sugar. Have you ever eaten sesame candy?"
Fu Wang recalled for a moment: "I have eaten a kind of sesame candy before, but I don't know if it's the kind of sesame candy you're talking about."
Yunyin smiled and said, "It should be similar to what you ate. It's a pastry made with sesame seeds and sugar. It's very fragrant and is a common pastry in our family during the New Year. I'll make some for you to try later."
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