Chapter 95, The 95th Inn, Casserole
The ice rink was packed with people, and Yunyin was squeezed so tightly that Fu Wang, holding the wooden cart in one hand and Yunyin in the other, helped her squeeze through the crowd.
After passing that crowded section, the ice surface suddenly opened up. Not many people would spend money to rent wooden carts to play; most people just squeezed in at the entrance and played around casually.
Fu Wang released Yun Yin, put down the wooden cart he was holding, adjusted it, and said to her, "Come and sit down."
Yunyin looked at Fu Wang, who was holding the rope, and asked, "Are you going to pull me? Aren't you going to play?"
Fu Wang walked over and pulled Yun Yin into the wooden cart. He tidied her messy hair and said with a smile, "I'm just playing with you. You're the boss today, and my main goal is to make sure you have fun."
Yunyin blushed slightly at his words, and her hand holding the wooden cart unconsciously clenched. She looked up at Fu Wang's eyes, those deep and calm eyes burning with affection. She looked at him for a while, then tilted her head and said, "Alright then, I'll give you a chance to show off."
Upon hearing this, Fu Wang's eyebrows curved into a smile, and he patted her hair, saying, "Yes, I will."
The two had a great time playing on the ice. Yunyin felt that this was the day she smiled the most all year. Her laughter could be heard all over the ice, and people nearby who heard and saw the two also smiled knowingly.
After playing on the ice, Fu Wang took Yun Yin to eat the local delicacies of Beijiang County, and then took her back to the inn before it got too late.
When the two returned to the inn, it was in perfect order, just as it had been when Yunyin was there. Zheng Guilan said, "Some guests still asked where you went. They were relieved to hear that you had just gone out to play. They were worried that you wouldn't cook."
Yunyin's lips, which hadn't fallen all day, curled up again. "Thank you for your support."
Zheng Guilan continued, "They plan to come over tomorrow to eat your cooking. They also said that although Feng Hai has some of your skills, he still prefers your cooking, which has a unique, homely flavor that others don't have."
Yunyin glanced at Feng Hai, who was drinking water beside her, and asked, "Aren't you angry about what they said?"
Feng Hai shook his head and said, "They are telling the truth. Why should I be angry? I've been cooking in the communal kitchen for so long. I still have a lot to learn if I want to cook more refinedly. I'm already very grateful that my wife doesn't mind."
Yunyin: "No, you've helped me so much. If it weren't for you, how could I have gone out to play with peace of mind?"
The day after her birthday, those people arrived early as expected. Upon seeing Yunyin, they all greeted her, saying, "Good morning, Lady Yun. I want to eat your cooking for lunch."
Yunyin glanced at the sky. It had only been a short while since breakfast, and there was still some time before lunch. She thought for a moment and said, "I was just about to make some snacks for the ladies in the city. Would you like some?"
These guests usually only come to eat her cooking and have never really ordered desserts before. They looked at each other and nodded, saying, "Alright, we left a little early today, so let's have one."
Yunyin made more pastries, some of which she had Wu Zhuang deliver to the ladies in the city, while the rest she sold in the shop.
Just as the guests were enjoying their meal, another man, accompanied by a servant and dressed in silk clothing, entered. He looked around, chose a corner, glanced at the menu hanging behind the counter, raised an eyebrow, and called someone to take their order.
Yunyin was resting in the kitchen when she suddenly received a menu. She looked out the window into the main hall but couldn't see who ordered it. However, judging from the menu, she could tell that the person was a very discerning diner. The menu included meticulously prepared Wensi Tofu, simple boiled cabbage, and the signature steamed fish. She put away the menu, took the ingredients from the shelf, and began to prepare.
She cooked three dishes very quickly by herself, and they were ready in no time. Yunyin had just sat down to rest when Zheng Guilan returned. "Madam, that young master wants to see the manager. Young Master Fu has already gone to entertain him. Would you like to go and take a look?"
Yunyin took off her apron. "Is there a problem?"
Zheng Guilan: "No, but they were talking about something quite profound, I couldn't understand it at all."
Yunyin walked up to the man with a puzzled look on her face, just in time to hear Fu Wang say, "It's alright. We're grateful that this official road exists. Many merchants pass through here, and we can make some money too."
"What are you talking about?" Yunyin looked at the well-dressed man, then at Fu Wang. "Is there something wrong with the food I made?"
Fu Wang shook his head and said, "No, this young man is asking about something."
Yunyin turned back to look at the young, handsome yet dignified man, then glanced at the servant sitting beside him. She smiled and asked, "If it's not something confidential, we can speak freely. May I ask where this gentleman holds a position?"
The man was surprised to be recognized so quickly. He stood up and bowed, saying, "I am Cui Jing, courtesy name Ziyu. Greetings to both of you."
Yunyin was surprised to find that this man was the county magistrate of Long'an County. Just as she was about to bow, Cui Jing interrupted her, saying, "May I ask to come out and speak, my lady?"
Seeing the other guests eating, Yunyin exchanged a glance with Fu Wang, and the two followed him out of the lobby. She led the way, saying, "My lord, please come with me. What would you like to inquire about?"
The group went to a private room, where Yunyin ordered tea and snacks to be served, and gestured for Cui Jing to make himself at home.
Cui Jing took a sip of tea, raised an eyebrow and said, "This tea is quite interesting." Before Yun Yin could agree, he changed the subject, "I just arrived in Long'an County the day before yesterday and saw a Lin Family Silk Shop in the county. The cotton-padded clothes they sell are a novelty. I heard that their cotton is purchased from Linjiang Village. I went to Linjiang Village yesterday and saw that almost every household had cotton-padded clothes."
"Although some people don't have much cotton at home, they can still make one or two cotton-padded coats. I found out that this cotton was exchanged from your shop, so I came here today to inquire about the situation."
When Yunyin heard that the person had come to ask about cotton, she relaxed and smiled, "You can ask Fu Wang about this. He's the one who helped me find the cotton seeds in the Western Regions."
Fu Wang looked at Cui Jing and asked, "What does Young Master Cui want to know?"
"I want to know how much this stuff yields, and how easy it is to grow."
Fu Wang looked at Yun Yin and replied, "It's not a high-yield crop. Even in a place like the Western Regions, it's not widely grown. Most of it is grown by wealthy families."
Yunyin added, "One mu of cotton with seeds yields no more than 100 jin. The cotton seeds are quite large, so after removing them, there's not much left." After thinking for a moment, she added, "However, it's definitely not a problem for keeping warm. The cotton filling can last for a long time. If it stops keeping warm, you can take it out, fluff it up, and dry it in the sun to reuse it."
Upon hearing how useful it was, Cui Jing frowned and said, "Such an important thing, and those people in Chang'an only use it for decoration? That's such a waste."
Yunyin pursed her lips and didn't speak, but Fu Wang shook his head and said, "It's too difficult to spin this kind of cotton into cloth, and the profit is not as high as that of silk and satin, so not many people are willing to do it."
"If it's just for making cotton-padded clothes, wealthy families have furs to choose from, and cotton isn't their first choice. As for ordinary people, they won't care. Even if the army wanted to promote it, it would be fraught with difficulties; it's not such an easy thing."
Looking at Fu Wang's posture, Cui Jing raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is your husband a soldier?"
Fu Wang shook his head: "He used to be, but now he's just a镖师 (bodyguard/escort).
Cui Jing nodded repeatedly and said, "Judging from your demeanor, I guessed you were a soldier." He then looked at Yun Yin and asked, "What are your plans for the cotton seeds this year, Lady Yun?"
"I've already arranged with Linjiang Village that we'll distribute some seeds to them for trial planting next year. Does Mr. Cui have other plans in mind when he asks this?"
Cui Jing: "I can't manage other places for now, but I can still plant this kind of thing in my jurisdiction. However, since you are willing to share it with the villagers, I won't interfere. Let Linjiang Village plant it first and see how it goes next year."
He clenched his fist and clapped his hands lightly, saying, "If the crops grow well, we can distribute the seeds to other villages the year after next. I'm sure the other villages will see the results and be willing to plant cotton as well."
Seeing that he had made such a well-organized arrangement, even considering how to manage the cotton later, Yunyin couldn't help but praise him: "Long'an County is truly blessed to have a man like you who cares about the people."
Cui Jing shook his head and said, "Not at all. It's my blessing to have a kind-hearted and capable woman like my wife."
“I have seen your tax payment certificate. It’s a small shop, but you contribute a lot of taxes.”
Yunyin thought to herself, "With a 25% tax, how could it not be a lot?" Remembering her previous worries, she asked Cui Jing, "I wonder if the land deeds here are still valid?"
Cui Jing knew what she was asking, and he nodded, saying, "I dare not say anything else, but the land deed here, Madam, is valid. I have checked the information, and the land here is indeed barren. In addition, it is far from Linjiang Village and difficult to manage. There is no problem with Sun Lizheng selling this land to you."
"As for the price," Cui Jing paused before continuing, "the previous magistrate did offer a lower price, but my wife has already paid so much tax, which is worth more than this land, so she doesn't need to pay any more."
Upon hearing this, Yunyin breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "I wonder if Magistrate Cui could stamp this for me? That way, I'll have a basis for any future problems."
Cui Jing: "No problem, no problem. Come to the county sometime and I'll build you one." After finishing the cotton matter, he stood up and said, "I still have to go to inspect other townships, so I'll be going now. I'll come back to eat my wife's dishes next time."
"My wife's cooking is really delicious, no worse than what I ate in Chang'an. I'll come here often when I have time."
Yunyin smiled and said, "You are welcome to visit often, Magistrate Cui."
After seeing Cui Jing off, Yunyin looked at Fu Wang and said, "Luckily, he's easy to talk to and didn't hold a grudge. I don't have to worry about it in the future."
Fu Wang: "I told you long ago, Cui Jing is a smart man and won't hold a grudge."
Yunyin stuck out her tongue: "That's because we haven't dealt with them before. Unlike you, who often interacts with these county magistrates and is familiar with their way of doing things."
Fu Wang raised an eyebrow at Yun Yin: "Do you have a problem with me?"
Yunyin took two steps forward and chuckled, "No way, I just admire you."
Fu Wang watched her run away and smiled, "Never mind, I won't stoop to your level."
Cui Jing's arrival did not affect Yunyin, but it brought new changes to Long'an County. Those people in Dazhu Village who suffered from the snow disaster received new relief grain. Although the amount was not large, it was enough to get through the winter.
As the weather gets colder, Yunyin also introduces new dishes to the restaurant.
She made a special trip to the county to order a batch of casserole dishes and had Cui Jing stamp them.
Yunyin and Fuwang squatted together, washing the newly bought clay pots. Fuwang asked, "What dishes are you going to make? Why did you buy so many clay pots?"
Yunyin: "To make casserole dishes, of course I need to order new casserole pots. Small pots or other earthenware pots are not suitable, so I simply ordered a batch, which is more convenient."
"There are so many dishes that can be made in a clay pot. Common meats like chicken, duck, and fish can all be cooked in a clay pot, as can vegetarian dishes, such as tofu. They taste just as good as stir-fries and are even more suitable for this weather."
Fu Wang: "What's the difference between this and stew?"
"There is a difference. I stir-fry first and then stew, which makes the taste more layered. And winter is the perfect time to eat casserole. The casserole is still steaming hot when it comes out of the pot. You can mix it with rice while it's still piping hot and eat it without worrying about the food getting cold. You can also chat with your friends and have a drink."
Yunyin had noticed that the frequency of ordering stir-fried dishes had decreased significantly, especially since some people who wanted to chat would not choose stir-fried dishes. Even though she had lit many stoves in the lobby, the stir-fried dishes still cooled down very quickly. Now that she had noticed this problem, she should try to adjust it as much as possible.
She had been wanting to prepare new dishes, and a clay pot was a good choice. There are many flavors that can be made in a clay pot, and she can make her favorite chicken stew and tofu stew in a clay pot.
Fu Wang had never tried it before and might not be able to understand the taste of rice mixed with the broth from the clay pot. She carried the clay pot into the kitchen and said to Fu Wang, "You'll know once you try it in a while. I can't explain it to you now."
Fu Wang helped her carry the remaining casserole into the kitchen and replied, "Sure, I'll try it."
Yunyin prepared two stews this time: chicken stew and tofu stew. The ingredients for these two stews are easy to find and taste delicious. In addition, she also had some dried mushrooms that she had dried before, which were perfect for making chicken stew. The stewed mushrooms were tender and soft, and the rich broth made her eat several bowls of rice.
No, she couldn't keep thinking about it, or her mouth would start watering. She put the clay pot down and shooed Fu Wang, who still wanted to stay in the kitchen, out, "Oh dear, the kitchen can't hold so many people. You can wait outside for a while. I'll call you when I'm done."
Fu Wang and Feng Hai exchanged glances. Seeing that he simply shrugged and went back to the kitchen, Fu Wang realized for the first time that not knowing how to cook was really bad. He sighed and returned to the lobby. Standing where Cheng Yong used to be, he flipped through the booklets, looked at the empty lobby, and felt utterly bored.
Yunyin was already busy in the kitchen. Feng Hai asked, "Do you need my help?"
Yunyin: "No need. You prepare the ingredients for lunch first. When Zheng Guilan comes back, I'll ask her to help."
Feng Hai nodded: "Okay."
Yunyin went to get a freshly killed chicken, soaked some mushrooms, prepared seasonings such as scallions, ginger, and garlic, and quickly chopped the chicken into small pieces.
Wash the fresh chicken pieces and don't blanch them. Just stir-fry them briefly. Yunyin likes to stir-fry the chicken until both sides are golden brown and slightly charred. Of course, some people prefer the chicken to be tender and smooth, so they just stir-fry it briefly and take it off the heat. Both methods are fine. If you are making tender chicken, you naturally need it to be tender and smooth. However, if you are making chicken stew, it tastes better if it is slightly charred.
After frying the chicken, add garlic and ginger slices and stir-fry until fragrant. Then, Yunyin adds soybean paste. If you have broad bean paste, you can use it, but Yunyin hasn't found any yet. Now that she has chili peppers, she can make her own broad bean paste next year. For now, she'll use soybean paste. Zheng Guilan's soybean paste tastes really good.
Add the sauce and continue to stir-fry. Pour in the other seasonings and stir-fry evenly to ensure the chicken is fully coated with flavor. Then add the soaked mushrooms, pour into a clay pot, add water, and simmer.
Braised chicken must be simmered over low heat until all the flavors are infused into the chicken. Finally, add a little cornstarch to thicken the sauce. This chicken broth is delicious when mixed with rice.
While the chicken stew was cooking, Yunyin was making a tofu stew in a separate clay pot. The tofu stew didn't need to be stir-fried first; just add oil, put the chopped tofu into the clay pot, then add minced meat, seasonings, and water to stew. The most important thing for this dish is to add chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorn powder; the numbing and spicy flavor makes the tofu even more flavorful.
Yunyin took out the chili sauce she had made from the shelf, sprinkled some Sichuan peppercorn powder on it, and put the lid on to let it simmer slowly.
Both stoves were simmering over low heat, and soon the house was filled with a fragrant aroma. The first thing to cook was, of course, the tofu casserole, which cooks very quickly. When Yunyin opened the casserole, the first thing she smelled was the pungent aroma of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. After the heat dissipated a little, she could smell the aroma of tofu.
Yunyin took a rag and brought out the tofu casserole. Looking at the chicken casserole that wasn't cooked yet, she couldn't help but take a spoonful with a small bowl. The tofu was tender and smooth, spicy and fragrant. It would be so delicious with rice.
She asked Feng Hai, who was still chopping vegetables, "Is the rice ready?"
Feng Hai: Not yet, it's only been cooking for a short time.
Yunyin was a little anxious, but haste makes waste. She could only put the lid back on and wait for the rice to cook. By then, the chicken stew would also be ready.
She put the tofu back on the stove, letting the residual heat keep it warm so it wouldn't cool down too quickly.
After a long and anxious wait, the rice was finally cooked, and the chicken stew was ready too.
Yunyin lifted the lid of the clay pot, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. She took a deep sniff and smiled, "This is the smell."
She sprinkled some chopped green onions on the chicken stew and tofu, and seeing that the food in Feng Hai's pot was almost cooked, she called out, "Dinner's ready!"
Upon hearing her call, Fu Wang immediately dropped the booklet in his hand and ran to the kitchen. He washed his hands and wanted to help serve the dishes, but Yun Yin stopped him, saying, "They're very hot, serve them on plates."
She took a wooden plate from the shelf, wrapped the casserole dish in a rag, and placed it on the plate. After Fu Wang took it away, she carried the other one to the lobby. "Brother Feng, ask Ma Hao and the others to help you."
Feng Hai glanced at Yun Yin's retreating figure, shook his head, and directed Ma Hao and the others to serve the dishes and rice.
Yunyin and the others usually eat lunch early, but today it was indeed a little earlier than usual. Zhang Lin was still selling breakfast ahead of them, so she left some food for him and said to the rest of the group, "Let's eat first."
As soon as she finished speaking, she couldn't wait to scoop a spoonful of tofu into her bowl. The soft and tender tofu, dipped in the broth, mixed with a little rice, and put into her mouth. Yunyin squinted her eyes. This was the taste. She finished it in two bites and then scooped up a big spoonful to mix with rice.
While the others weren't as exaggerated as Yunyin, they were still eating without even looking up. Fu Wang imitated Yunyin's way of eating, and sure enough, it tasted even better than eating tofu alone. "No wonder you said it was delicious, it really is. It's just some very simple ingredients, but the flavor that comes together is just perfect."
He hissed, took a sip of water to calm himself, and said with red lips, "It's a bit spicy and a bit numb."
Fu Wang ate several mouthfuls of rice to suppress the pungent taste in his mouth, but after it subsided a bit, he scooped a spoonful of tofu into the bowl.
Seeing this, Yunyin laughed and said, "Didn't you think it was spicy and numbing? Why are you still eating? There's a chicken hot pot, but I didn't put chili in it."
She picked up a large mouthful of chicken and mushrooms. The chicken, which was fried until crispy, was stewed and very flavorful. Although the outside was golden brown, the meat inside was not dry and was still very tender. The mushrooms, after absorbing the soup, were even tastier than the chicken and went very well with rice. She even gave up talking to Fu Wang and quickly ate a bowl of rice.
After calming down, Fu Wang, with his swollen lips, said, "Although it's spicy and numbing, it's delicious." He picked up another piece of tofu and ate it, then said to Yun Yin, "But you shouldn't make it this spicy when you sell it to customers, I'm afraid they won't be able to handle it."
Yunyin nodded and said, "Of course I won't make it that spicy. I'm used to this level of spiciness, but they're not. So I'll reduce the amount of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. Once they get used to it, I'll increase the amount."
After learning that Yunyin had made all the plans, Fu Wang said, "Then it seems that tomorrow's guests are in luck, as they will be able to taste your new dishes."
Yunyin: "Have you forgotten what day it is tomorrow?"
"What day is tomorrow?" Fu Wang looked back at the group of people who were enjoying their meal, and seeing that they didn't react, he turned back to Yun Yin. "Is there any important holiday?"
Yunyin: "Tomorrow is Laba Festival, and we drink Laba porridge. Tomorrow, our shop will not sell anything else all day, just all kinds of Laba porridge. I also need to prepare various beans later."
"Laba Festival, huh?" Fu Wang wasn't interested in eating porridge. He asked, "Laba Festival is a very important festival in your family. Are there Buddhists in your family?"
Yunyin thought about the Laba Festival in the past, and it seemed that it was not very important, but her grandmother would still prepare a big pot of Laba porridge, which would be shared among relatives, friends and neighbors, and that would be considered the end of the festival.
She shook her head and said, "It's not a very important festival, but doesn't Da Zhao value this festival? Master Huixuan even said he would send me Laba porridge."
Fu Wang explained to her, "This festival is not considered very important among the common people. It is just that this day is the day of Buddha's enlightenment. Therefore, Buddhism gradually regarded this day as a special day to commemorate the distribution of porridge. As Buddhism spread, drinking Laba porridge and worshipping ancestors on this day became popular among the people."
"The officially recognized holiday is still the Laba Festival, which is the third Xu day after the winter solstice. The date is not fixed, and there are still more than ten days until the Laba Festival this year."
After hearing Fu Wang's explanation, Yunyin understood what was going on. She thought for a moment and said, "Since Master Huixuan said he would send me Laba porridge, then as a return gift, I will also send them a bowl of Laba porridge. The shop will not sell porridge anymore, so let's serve the clay pot porridge first."
Fu Wang: "Okay, cook it and give it to me. I'll take it to them tomorrow and pick some plum blossoms while I'm at it."
Yunyin rolled her eyes at him, "Don't pick all the plum blossoms off their plum trees."
Fu Wang argued, "I never pick from just one tree. I won't pick them all off. There are still so many trees left."
While Yunyin and Fu Wang were chatting, the two pots on the table were almost finished. Upon seeing this, Yunyin immediately stopped talking to him and said quickly, "Eat quickly, or they'll be gone in a bit."
Fu Wang stopped chatting and the two joined in the food-grabbing frenzy.
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