Winning the lottery
Mum's expression changed and she wiped her hands.
She is an elder in the mansion. If there is a problem with the food, the masters will come to the cook to hold her accountable. At the very least, she will be beaten with a few boards, or even sold off. If something goes wrong, she may even lose her life.
The eldest young master is the easiest to talk to. He usually rewards you with delicious food. This is the first time Su He has asked this question.
He Yingchun hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Sister Su He, I did it."
Mum said hurriedly, "Oh, yes, last time Yingchun received a reward from the young master, so this time she was also allowed to do it."
Su He smiled and said, "Nothing, the young master said it was delicious, so he made another one and asked you to bring it over as a reward."
Several people breathed a sigh of relief, and Mum pretended to pat her, "You little girl, you actually scared me."
Rose cake is easy to make, and it doesn’t take much time if you are skilled in carving the patterns. A few people can make another one in no time.
He Yingchun wiped her hands, took the lunch box, put on her cloak, and followed Su He to the front yard.
Her cloak was much simpler than Su He's. Servants with some spare money would sew some layers inside to make it thicker and more windproof.
Maybe because she was used to the cold when she was a beggar, He Yingchun felt that she was quite resistant to the wind, but her face was frozen. She asked her mother to help her sew two layers of cotton cloth on the top of her cloak, and tucked her neck in to block the wind.
Xiaozhi always laughed at her for being like a quail.
"Sister Su He, why did the young master suddenly call me over?" The servants said that Wen Jingzhao seemed to have been frozen before. He was like hibernating every winter and would not go out if he could.
Su He sighed, "It's Miss Ji, she praised the rose cake you made and wanted to meet you."
She added, "Actually, the young master saw that the dish was beautiful and praised it after eating it. Miss Ji said she wanted to learn it, so she sent you over to ask. You can tell me how to make it later and answer whatever questions you are asked."
He Yingchun nodded, "Okay."
She saw that Su He looked tired and had dark circles under her eyes. Miss Ji had been through a lot during her recent visits.
This trip of hers is not that simple.
Wen Jingzhao's courtyard was probably the largest in the mansion. There was a lake in the center and a pavilion on the lake. It was hazy in the snow and covered with rime.
There are many plum trees along the way, which complement the snow, with red and white blending together, exuding vitality.
But the road turned towards the lake. "Sister Su He, are we going to the lake?"
Su He nodded and said, "Let's go to the center of the lake."
Wow, watching the snow at the Lakeside Pavilion.
Chunchun was sick in the middle of winter and was eating rose cake in the pavilion.
Passing through Merlin, the corridor gradually became clear. The snow on the corridor was swept clean, and her cloth shoes did not get wet at all as she walked along.
Afraid that her master would have to wait for a long time, Su He walked very fast, and He Yingchun had to almost jog to catch up with her.
As they got closer, she sighed to herself, what a refined taste.
The lake was very big, with winding corridors and a hidden world inside. The pavilion was almost in the center of the lake. It was not the kind of pavilion she had imagined. It was surrounded by walls on three sides with a small window for viewing the view. One side faced the center of the lake and was blocked by a screen.
There is a large bookshelf against the wall, which is full of books. There are pens, ink, paper and inkstone on the table, but no one is interested in it at the moment.
Two people in the room were playing pitching pot.
There is a warm stove for making tea inside. It is really fun to sit by the fire, drink tea, enjoy the scenery and play games.
Wen Jingzhao looked as lazy as ever, with one hand resting behind his head, leaning on the cushion, and freeing up one hand to play tossing pot.
It was quite hot in here, so she stood there for a while and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Is this the little beggar you rescued?" Miss Ji put down the arrow, stood up and stared at He Yingchun. If she hadn't deliberately inquired about this, she wouldn't have known about this. Some young men from wealthy families would also bring some girls into the mansion from outside and keep them by their side as concubines.
She looked at him for a long time and concluded, "He's skinny and looks like a monkey."
He Yingchun rolled her eyes secretly.
Yes, you are beautiful, and your whole family is beautiful.
Miss Ji is indeed beautiful. Her yellow clothes make her skin look particularly fair, her eyes are sparkling, and the corners of her small mouth are slightly raised, just like a bright green peach smiling in the spring breeze.
Wen Jingzhao squinted at her, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. A beggar who was rescued? He rescued him? He had no impression of it.
Ji Xiaolan hurried over to prevent him from looking, "Brother Jingzhao, please give the maid to me. I also want to go back and learn how to make rose cakes, okay?"
He Yingchun felt a chill in her heart. This Miss Ji was too overbearing.
"No." Wen Jingzhao was wondering when she picked up the person, and when he heard that she wanted to take his cook away, he decisively refused.
Ji Rulan thought he was protecting He Yingchun, so she curled her lips and said reluctantly.
"Okay, then you come and teach me how to make this rose cake."
"Yes, when making rose cake, you need to prepare dried rose petals, glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and water in advance. Soak the petals in water first. The water will turn a light pink."
Hearing this, Wen Jingzhao put down the book with great interest and listened to her begin to talk.
Because of her weak Qi, He Yingchun's voice was soft. She said slowly,
"Put glutinous rice flour in a bowl, add colored water and stir well to form a uniform paste..."
"Okay, okay." Ji Rulan stopped her. Brother Jingzhao loved to eat so much. It would be bad if this little girl tried to find another way to attract his attention.
"This is a complicated process. I'll explain it later."
"The letter has been delivered, it's time for you to go back." Wen Jingzhao began to drive the guests away.
"No, no, this round of pot-throwing is still undecided. We are three to two, and I'm currently ahead. I still have seven arrows to go. Let's continue the game."
Ji Rulan held the arrow and suddenly thought of something, then said, "Brother Jingzhao, should we add some spice to our pot-tossing game?"
Wen Jingzhao was too lazy to say anything more. He pulled the jade pendant from his waist and threw it on the table.
Ji Rulan shook her head slightly, "What's the point of this?" She tapped her forehead with the arrow.
She smiled, a sly look flashing in her eyes. "Well, then my treasured five jars of peach blossom wine will belong to Brother Jingzhao."
Wen Jingzhao usually likes to have a few sips. Peach Blossom Wine is the wine of Suxiang Pavilion. Due to the precious raw materials, only more than ten jars are sold a year. Ji Rulan has five jars, which is really a treasure.
Wen Jingzhao's eyes lit up, but he didn't agree or refuse. He just said, "What if I win?"
"If you win, take her..." Ji Rulan originally wanted He Yingchun, but Wen Jingzhao had rejected her once, and she was afraid of being rejected again.
Then he said, "Let...let...let her walk from there to pick a plum blossom." Ji Rulan pointed at He Yingchun and then at the river. It was a piece of water. The water had been frozen due to the high temperature a few days ago.
"The ice has been frozen for a long time. We were skating on it last year. How about making a bet, Brother Jingzhao?" She looked as if she had heard that Jingzhao had gotten a great deal.
Grass,
He Yingchun looked at the ice surface she pointed to. It was not yet frozen. Normally, no one dared to go over there for fear that the ice would not hold up and they would fall off.
She looked at Wen Jingzhao, hoping that this playboy would understand some of the ways of the world.
Wen Jingzhao suddenly turned cold, like frost in the cold winter, and his words made people shudder.
"The ice is very thin. Do you want her to fall into the river and freeze to death?"
Ji Rulan's body stiffened, and she quickly shook her head. She knew why Wen Jingzhao said that. Aunt Nian Shuang fell into the lake in winter and caught a cold and died. She knew she had said the wrong thing.
He quickly said, "No, no, Brother Jingzhao, the prize is this jade pendant! This jade pendant is also excellent!!"
Fortunately, Wen Jingzhao didn't say much. He turned the arrow in his hand and said, "Okay, prepare five jars of peach blossom wine."
Ji Rulan clapped her hands, "Okay, then I'll start voting."
The atmosphere relaxed a little, and the two seemed to be competing happily. Although the wind was cold outside, the pavilion was bustling with activity.
Ji Rulan was wearing a long dress that dragged on the ground. Her expression was focused and excited. She threw arrows into the bronze pot. She hit the center three times in a row. The fourth arrow failed to get in and hit the mouth of the pot with a crisp sound.
He Yingchun was awakened.
Her heart sank, she felt a little relieved, but also a little scared.
The wind was howling outside, and the snow on the ground was blown up and down by the wind, swaying in the air, over and over again.
The two men were equally skilled in pitching pots. Wen Jingzhao held the last arrow in his hand. As long as he could throw it into the pot, he would win. He closed his eyes and aimed at the center of the pot.
"Hey!" Ji Rulan chuckled.
Wen Jingzhao's hand trembled slightly, and the arrow went astray. He made a click of his tongue.
Okay, it’s tied.
"Brother Jingzhao, I'm so scared, haha." Ji Rulan covered her mouth and laughed.
Wen Jingzhao frowned and was about to speak.
Ji Rulan was afraid that he would be angry, so she hurriedly said, "Send five jars of peach blossom wine over tomorrow."
She told the whole story, black and white.
Wen Jingzhao saw through Ji Rulan's little thoughts and said impatiently, "Okay, it's about time you go back."
Ji Rulan saw that he was really annoyed after being willful today, so she said, "I'll go home first and bring you some wine tomorrow."
Ji Rulan leaned over, acting like a little girl. She helped Wen Jingzhao straighten his collar, but was not embarrassed when Wen Jingzhao dodged her.
"Brother Jingzhao, please wear more clothes, don't catch a cold."
Wen Jingzhao ignored her and gave the jade pendant he had just used as a prize to He Yingchun. "The pastries are well made, this is a reward for you."
Miss Ji San stamped her feet, glared at He Yingchun fiercely, and finally left, taking away a box of rose cakes. She looked back every few steps and said that she would come to bring her some wine tomorrow.
Wen Jingzhao glanced at her and said, "Don't come over here if you keep dawdling."
No one was making a noise. Wen Jingzhao leaned on the cushion and peeled an orange slowly. The sweet and sour fragrance of the orange floated in the air, and He Yingchun moved her nose.
"You, yes, it's you." Wen Jingzhao nodded at He Yingchun.
"How old?"
He Yingchun thought to herself, could it be that he has taken a fancy to her? She lowered her head and said, "Master, I am the sixteenth servant."
"Sixteen? Why do you look so..." Wen Jingzhao's eyes stayed on her thin body.
He Yingchun is indeed short. Xiaozhi, who is a few years younger than her, is a head taller than her.
That's because she hasn't had enough food for a long time and is malnourished. She needs to wait until she recovers.
"What's your name?"
"He Yingchun."
"Yingchun? ...That's a nice name."
He Yingchun felt that she didn't have an accent, and the young master was really hard of hearing.
"Okay, Yingchun, do you know how to read?" Wen Jingzhao took a bite of the orange, and the orange juice burst in his mouth and some of it touched his lips.
"I can't read." If she spoke simplified Chinese, she could still say that she had read a lot of books, but when it came to traditional Chinese, she really couldn't read it.
Wen Jingzhao put the orange peel on the stove to roast, put his hands behind his head, closed his eyes,
"Then read the recipe, starting with the rose cake."
ha?
Su He winked at her and told her to recite as quickly as the young master asked her to.
"Yes, when making rose cake, you need to prepare dried rose petals, glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and water in advance..."
At first, He Yingchun felt strange and wondered what was wrong with the young master. Later, she found that Wen Jingzhao just closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep, as if he was treating her as an audio book.
Wen Jingzhao closed his eyes for a while, waited until there was no one around, picked up the letter on the table, and read it slowly. He clenched the letter and his expression changed.
On the way back, He Yingchun asked Su He, "Is the young master like this every day?"
Su He said, "Young Master usually likes to have people read books, often about strange stories, but this is the first time he has read a recipe."
She added, "If you can catch the young master's eye, you'll be rewarded handsomely. Just be obedient."
He Yingchun nodded in agreement, then asked, "Why does the young master dislike the lucky number Miss Ji mentioned?"
Su He looked around and whispered, "This matter is no longer a secret. The former general's wife died in a winter drowning. Don't mention this in front of the young master in the future."
He Yingchun nodded quickly. Being a servant was too difficult. She thought about how to earn more money and find a chance to find a place to stay outside.
She silently held the jade pendant in her hand, not knowing if she could use it.
Before he could earn enough money, he met Miss Ji San again.
But this time I wasn't so lucky.
"You, yes, you, why are you hiding? Why don't you show respect to my lady when you see her?"
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