Chapter 62: I was hit with the Egg and Lean Meat Congee
Actually, Ye Li doesn't care much about whether it's good or not.
It would be best to pass; if not, I'll take the exam again.
He said he would support Jiang Ji until he was thirty, but that's a lie; he's willing to support him until he's sixty.
Once the tofu puff workshop opens, he may not be financially independent, but he will definitely be able to continue his studies without worry.
When the time comes, if you have the money and free time, you can study whenever you want.
Therefore, he didn't take this imperial examination very seriously.
It would be fine if Jiang Jiren came back.
But where is this person right now?
He glanced at the moon overhead in frustration, then quickened his pace as if to vent his anger.
He really, really, really wants to go out with Jiang Ji next time!
Nothing happened that night. The next day, at cockcrow, Jiang Dahe promptly brought Jiang Liu to work.
Ye Li was worried about Bao Beiyuan, and as soon as she opened the courtyard gate, she immediately asked, "Second Uncle, how is Bao Beiyuan?"
Jiang Dahe and Jiang Liu entered the courtyard. Jiang Dahe sighed first: "I went to check on him at midnight. He was delirious with fever and was crying and calling for his father."
Recalling that scene, Jiang Dahe felt a pang of sadness. Brother Bao left too soon, leaving behind such a good son to be bullied by his own older brother.
"So I brewed some more medicine for him and applied a damp cloth to his skin. He didn't fall asleep until Xiao Liu and I arrived."
"However, the temperature seems to have dropped a bit."
Hearing this made Ye Li's heart ache. After all, Bao Beiyuan was only sixteen years old. In his previous life, he would have been a high school freshman.
The carefree young master suddenly lost his father and home, but the immense pain remained unexpressed and bottled up inside.
After holding on for half a year, I finally couldn't take it anymore when a cold hit.
Poor little thing.
He sighed and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle. I'll go with you to see him later."
"No need, no need. He finally managed to fall asleep. Besides, your second aunt and I are here. I'll apply it to him again when we get back."
Jiang Dahe shook his head.
Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll cook some porridge and send it over."
Jiang Dahe didn't refuse this time and agreed.
His nephew-in-law's cooking skills are much better than his wife's.
He didn't linger and hurriedly returned home.
While Ye Li and Jiang Dahe were talking, Jiang Liu had already lifted the dust-proof cloth off the stone mill and brought out the soaked beans from the kitchen.
After autumn arrives, the temperature drops considerably in the mornings and evenings, but grinding grain is hard work, so the millstone remains under the shed.
Ye Li spoke a few words to her, and then went into the kitchen to soak the rice.
After soaking the chicken, he picked up the oil lamp and went to the backyard to catch a chicken.
He plans to make preserved egg and lean pork congee.
But there was no meat at home, and the town gates were closed, so he had to go to the backyard to catch his own rooster.
He caught the chicken and took it to the front yard, where he brought out a small stove to boil water and pluck its feathers.
After a flurry of activity, as dawn broke, the egg and lean pork congee was finally ready.
He put all lean meat into this pot of porridge, such as chicken legs and chicken breasts. He cut off all the chicken skin and only left the lean meat inside.
Therefore, this porridge is low in oil, has a fresh taste, is light and not greasy, and is also rich in nutrients, making it very suitable for patients.
It was hot before, so it wasn't suitable to drink hot porridge. Today was the first time he made preserved egg and lean pork porridge.
With a large family, he cooked a full pot in a small iron pot.
He scooped out half of it into a ceramic jar, carried it in a basket on his back, and went to Jiang Dahe's house.
Jiang Dahe and his family are having breakfast.
Now that conditions are better, Liang Erxiang has become more generous. In addition to pickled vegetables, there is also a plate of scrambled eggs on the table.
Ye Li put down the earthenware pot and let them try the preserved egg and lean meat porridge. He then followed Jiang Dahe to the east room where Bao Beiyuan was.
Bao Beiyuan was still asleep. Jiang Dahe had been applying cold compresses to his forehead and neck, and with the medicine he had taken, his body temperature had finally dropped a bit.
Ye Li wanted to touch his forehead, but before she could even get her hand halfway there, Jiang Dahe shouted, "Hey, hey, don't touch it! It won't sound good if word gets out!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Li secretly rolled her eyes.
But obediently, he withdrew his hand.
Jiang Dahe touched it and said, "It's still a little hot. I'll call him to take the medicine when it's ready. You don't need to worry about it."
Ye Li could only say, "Thank you, Second Uncle. Jiang Ji isn't home, so thank you and Second Aunt for your trouble."
"Hey, this is nothing, it's just a piece of cake."
Jiang Dahe waved his hand dismissively: "Come on, let's go back to the kitchen and try the porridge you made."
This porridge is crucial to the sales of winter preserved eggs, so he takes it very seriously.
In the kitchen, Liang Erxiang and Jiang Yu were already drinking. As soon as Ye Li came in, Jiang Yu said first, "Brother Li, your savory porridge is so delicious. And the preserved eggs in it taste completely different from the cold ones, but they're both good!"
Liang Erxiang nodded hurriedly: "Yes, I didn't expect the salted rice porridge to be so delicious. The shredded chicken inside is also very tasty."
Beiyang County's staple food is wheat-based.
I rarely have rice porridge, so I either put nothing in it or just sugar in it.
This was the first time Liang Erxiang had ever tasted savory porridge in her half-life, and the unique flavor of the preserved egg truly delighted her.
Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down completely.
With this flavor, why would I be worried about spoiled eggs going unsold?
She wasn't afraid at all!
Seeing that Jiang Yu and Liang Erxiang were full of praise, Jiang Dahe quickly picked up his bowl of porridge and started drinking.
The moment the porridge entered his mouth, the salty, fragrant, and savory flavors filled his mouth, and the delicious sensation rushed straight to his brain. He nodded in approval even before swallowing.
Delicious!
It tastes amazing!
He stared wide-eyed at Ye Li; it tasted amazing!
Ye Li was amused by his appearance: "Second Uncle, don't choke, just swallow it first."
These words made Liang Erxiang and Jiang Yu laugh.
Liang Erxiang said, "Li Ge'er, it seems your second uncle really likes this savory porridge. Teach me how to make it, and I'll make it for him when I have time."
"Okay, I'll do it again tonight."
Ye Li should answer.
But Jiang Dahe swallowed the porridge in his mouth and muttered, "How can we eat like this? How much money will it cost for one meal?"
Rice, preserved eggs, lean meat—none of these are cheap!
Ye Li said helplessly, "Second Uncle, Xiao Liu and Yu Ge'er can earn money. You always say you're raising them for nothing. Before they get married, you should eat and drink something, so that they don't end up benefiting outsiders."
Jiang Yu nodded: "Dad, my sister and I will buy meat often from now on. Our family can afford it now."
Jiang Dahe was pleased to hear this.
Both children are very filial; apart from not being sons, they are truly flawless.
But he still muttered under his breath, "I just bought a mule cart, so I'll have to be careful with the money."
Jiang Yu smiled and said, "Mother is going to learn how to make porridge with Brother Li today. We don't have any meat at home, so I'll go to town to buy some later."
Upon hearing this, Ye Li immediately said, "I'll pay for it. You buy more. Bao Beiyuan probably needs to recuperate for a few days, how can I let you spend the money?"
"It's okay, Brother Li, you always bring over delicious food, now it's my turn to buy some."
Jiang Yu shook her head.
“That’s not the same. You have no relation to Bao Beiyuan. If you insist on paying, then I’ll just have to go into town and buy it myself.”
In his eyes, fourteen-year-old Jiang Yu was still a child.
Bao Beiyuan was Jiang Ji's classmate, and he already felt bad about troubling Jiang Dahe's family to take care of him, so how could he let Jiang Yu pay for it as well?
Ye Li's tone was firm. Jiang Dahe thought for a moment and said, "Yu-ge, use your brother Li's money. I'll go buy it and also go to the private school to inquire why there's still no news about Xiao Ji."
Mentioning Jiang Ji, Ye Li was naturally concerned and hurriedly said, "Second Uncle, then I'll trouble you. Please buy a few more pounds of meat, and if you can find any roosters for sale, please buy one for me as well."
We killed a rooster today, so we have to make up for it.
Jiang Dahe agreed and then urged Ye Li to go home.
It was already broad daylight, and Jiangmai and Jiangya needed to get up.
Ye Li agreed, and said he would come to check on Bao Beiyuan after he finished making the tofu.
Back home, Jiangmai and Jiangya were filtering soybean residue.
Jiang Liu is almost finished grinding the beans.
While he was cooking porridge, he also made breakfast. He stir-fried the leftover chicken skin, wings, head, and innards with radish, and they're still warm in the pot.
However, he had to wait for Jiang Liu to finish grinding the beans before they could eat together. So, he started filtering the bean dregs and waited until Jiang Liu finished grinding the beans before setting out the meal.
Congee with preserved egg and lean pork.
Cornbread, pickled vegetables, and stir-fried chicken with radish.
This breakfast can be described as lavish.
The preserved egg and lean pork congee received unanimous praise from Jiang Liu, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya. Ye Li, who hadn't had it in a long time, felt that the congee in front of her was even more delicious than she remembered.
The shredded chicken was marinated just right, neither fishy nor dry.
The porridge was also well-seasoned, with a perfect balance of saltiness and savory flavor, fragrant but not greasy.
As for the main character turning into an egg, that is naturally an unparalleled delicacy.
The four of them were still somewhat unsatisfied after finishing the remaining half pot of porridge.
Jiang Ya held the spoon in her small hands and looked at Ye Li expectantly: "Brother Li, when can we have this porridge again?"
Ye Li laughed upon hearing this: "We'll drink tonight, and Second Uncle will go into town to buy meat later."
"Great!" Jiang Ya cheered and wiggled her little body happily.
Jiangmai was also happy.
He used a spoon to scrape the bottom of the bowl clean before picking up his chopsticks to eat the stir-fried chicken.
After finishing breakfast, Jiang Liu got up and left.
Jiangmai and Jiangya went to feed the chickens and pigs.
After Ye Li finished making the tofu, she took the two of them to Jiang Dahe's house to see Bao Beiyuan.
The three entered the room and saw Jiang Liu carrying a basin of water into the east room.
Jiang Yu was sitting at the kitchen door doing needlework.
As soon as Jiang Yu saw them, he immediately stood up and said, "Brother Li, go and take a look. Bao Beiyuan has a fever again."
It's burning again?
One sentence made Ye Li very worried, and she hurriedly walked towards the east side room.
Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya's little faces also showed concern, and they followed with small steps.
Inside the room, Liang Erxiang sat beside the kang (a heated brick bed), applying a damp cloth to Bao Beiyuan's face.
Jiang Liu stood by the kang (a heated brick bed).
Bao Beiyuan, lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), still had chapped lips, an unnatural flush on his cheeks, and a furrowed brow.
He opened his eyes when he heard Liang Erxiang and Jiang Liu calling Ye Li.
He was not asleep.
When he saw Ye Li and the two little ones, he propped himself up on his arms, trying to sit up.
Ye Li hurriedly said, "You should lie down and not get up."
Bao Beiyuan smiled weakly: "I've been lying down for too long, I want to sit for a while."
That makes sense; lying down all the time isn't comfortable. So Liang Erxiang picked up a pillow and had him sit against the wall.
He shifted to a more comfortable position, sat up straight, and smiled as he thanked Ye Li, "The porridge this morning was delicious, thank you, Brother Li."
"Then I'll make another pot tonight." Ye Li looked at his haggard smiling face, sat down on the edge of the kang, and asked, "Did you dream about Bob last night when you were half asleep?"
Upon hearing this, Bao Beiyuan's smile froze, and his nose stung with tears.
He lowered his head and gave a soft "hmm".
"Then I'll say something you're probably tired of hearing: Bob definitely wouldn't want to see you like this. He loves you so much, how much pain would he feel seeing you punish yourself like this?"
These words brought tears welling up in Bao Beiyuan's eyes again.
He clutched the blanket tightly, weeping silently.
Liang Erxiang felt a pang of pity and said, "Li Ge'er, let's talk about it after he recovers."
"Second Aunt, this is a mental illness. If we don't help him resolve it, he will continue to ruin himself in the future."
Ye Li didn't want to hurt Bao Beiyuan's feelings.
But what happened today really worries him.
Bao Beiyuan lives alone. He was lucky this time that he was detained. What if he's unlucky next time?
“This…” Liang Erxiang hesitated.
Jiang Liu whispered, "Mother, listen to Brother Li."
Li Ge is just as intelligent and capable as Ji Ge, and he's even better at persuading people than the mother and daughter.
Liang Erxiang shut her mouth.
Ye Li had no confidence that she could help Bao Beiyuan get out of his rut; only time could heal this knot in his heart.
He could only try different approaches.
So he asked, "Xiao Yuan, what were Bob's last words to you?"
Bao Beiyuan sniffed, wiped away his tears with his sleeve, and choked out, "Let me and my elder brother keep the noodle shop going, and let my elder brother help me get married."
Ye Li pursed her lips.
Even on his deathbed, the old man still dreamed of being able to be kind and respectful to his brothers.
well.
He said softly, "You can't make the decision about the noodle shop. But you can decide about your marriage."
"After the mourning period, you can find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for you."
“Once you’re married, you’ll have a new family, and Bob will definitely be at ease.”
"You have to make sure he can rest in peace in the afterlife, right?"
Close your eyes.
These three words instantly transported Bao Beiyuan back to that heart-wrenching night.
His father died with his eyes wide open in disbelief!
His father held his hand tightly before he died, and his eyes remained wide open even after he stopped breathing.
It's his fault.
It's his fault...
He cried loudly, his whole body trembling, his voice hoarse, but his physical strength couldn't withstand such intense emotional fluctuations, and soon his vision went black.
He hated himself even more in his heart, and his body was so weak that he could not even cry at his father's grave.
He was the one who was banging his head that day!
But then he thought, if a parent were to bury their child, his father would not be able to bear such pain.
My heart feels like it's being boiled in a pan of oil, and I can't find peace day or night.
How could his father suffer such a terrible torment?
It would indeed be better for him to live.
...
With a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind, he gradually stopped crying.
That's how it is.
He really needs to get his father to close his eyes...
He steadied himself, leaning against the wall. His eyes were so wet that his vision was blurry. Just as he was about to raise his sleeve again, a brown linen handkerchief appeared before him.
Liang Erxiang said, "Let's wipe it."
He took it: "Thank you, Second Aunt."
He hastily wiped his eyes and face with a handkerchief, and of course, his snot, before looking at Ye Li with his red and swollen eyes: "Brother Li, I will seriously consider what you said."
"Really?" Ye Li was somewhat skeptical.
"Of course it's true. You... please, keep an eye out for me." He said with some difficulty.
Once he said that, he couldn't take it back.
Upon hearing this, Ye Li believed him somewhat: "Okay, I'll keep a close eye on it."
There's no rush.
The so-called three-year mourning period is not actually three years. In the Great Xia Dynasty, the actual duration of three years was twenty-five months.
Moreover, this rule varies from person to person.
Ordinary people at the bottom of society are struggling to make ends meet, and no one cares whether they are truly observing three years of mourning for their elders.
The law does not enforce it, and others should not criticize it.
But Bao Beiyuan felt guilty and would definitely stay for the full three years.
It's only been half a year, there's still plenty of time, he can take his time searching.
After crying for so long, Bao Beiyuan felt exhausted once his emotions had calmed down.
Ye Li then advised him to rest.
He didn't try to be brave and lay down again.
So Liang Erxiang stayed to watch over him, while Ye Li led the two little ones and Jiang Liu out of the house.
Ye Li looked at the handkerchief in Jiang Liu's hand, which was stained with tears and snot, and said, "Throw it away. I'll give you some fabric, and you can sew a new one."
Jiang Liu shook her head: "It's okay, it can be washed and used as a rag."
How could we just throw it away?
That's such a waste.
Ye Li: "..."
Too.
He greeted Jiang Yu, and then took Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya home.
It was still early before noon, and the two little ones went out with their baskets as soon as they got home.
It's not late autumn yet, and the grass by the roadside is still green, so the two of them still have to go cut the grass.
Ye Li swept the yard, washed and wiped it clean, and then stood in the yard for a while in a daze.
Coming to his senses, he looked around and finally his gaze fell on the jujube tree by the door.
The dates are ripe, hanging red all over the branches, a very pleasing sight.
He carried a small basket on his back and quickly climbed up the tree.
He picked a basket of dates, intending to let Ye Liang take some with him.
After climbing down from the tree, he washed a few dates and sat under the shed, slowly munching on them.
Jujubes are crisp and sweet, making them a rare and delicious fruit.
For the villagers, this is also a considerable fortune.
In a few days, Jiang Fuzheng will organize people to go up the hill to pick jujubes. There will be someone to collect them, and the profits will be divided equally among the villagers.
Generally speaking, each household can earn more than a hundred thousand taels of silver per year by growing dates.
This is no small amount of money.
Every year at this time, the villagers, young and old, all work together to pick dates, making it as lively as the New Year. If Jiang Ji doesn't come back soon, he'll miss out on this festive occasion.
Thinking of this person, he stared blankly at the empty bowl on the dining table.
After a long while, he let out a long sigh.
He felt a tightness in his chest, rubbed it a few times, then stood up to put the bowl back in the kitchen.
Just then, the sound of a gong came from not far away.
He looked toward the source of the sound. Why was Jiang Mantang banging a gong?
He quickly put the bowl back in the kitchen and planned to go out and take a look to relieve the emptiness in his heart.
The sound of the gong grew closer, accompanied by voices, and it wasn't just Jiang Mantang speaking.
He was even more puzzled and walked towards the courtyard gate.
Before he even reached the door, he heard Aunt Lü's voice calling from afar: "Li-ge'er, Li-ge'er! You passed! You passed!"
Did you win?
As soon as those two words entered his ears, more voices rang out, some familiar and some not so familiar, calling out to him and saying, "He won! He won!" Along with them came the sound of slightly chaotic footsteps.
Many people were running towards his house!
The word "zhong" (meaning "to hit") was heard and then entered into the brain, allowing the author to analyze the current situation.
Jiang Jizhong is in trouble.
His good husband passed the provincial examination on his first try and became a scholar.
Years of hard work have finally paid off!
Ye Li also became a scholar's husband!
He hurriedly ran out of his house and saw that, besides the villagers running towards him, two yamen runners were slowly approaching on horseback on the path in front of the door.
One of the yamen runners was banging a gong.
Another constable was holding a scroll-like object, which should be the legendary notice.
There was no one behind the constable.
Jiang Ji did not return.
Because of the distance, official letters arrived faster than the candidates could walk, so it was normal for good news to arrive home first.
However, with the main event absent, the joy is somewhat diminished.
However, thinking that Jiang Ji had already been happy, he couldn't help but smile as well.
It's nothing, we can celebrate again when Jiang Ji comes back.
He jogged back to the yard.
He took the lucky money!
By the time Ye Li came out carrying a string of coins, the villagers who had rushed ahead had already entered the courtyard.
Two constables arrived at the gate and dismounted.
Each word of congratulations brought a smile to Ye Li's face.
Two constables stepped forward and, upon seeing the money in Ye Li's hand, their smiles deepened. They handed the notice to Ye Li while repeatedly offering their congratulations.
Ye Li took the notice in one hand and handed over the heavy string of copper coins in the other: "Thank you for making this trip, sir. Take this money and have some drinks."
The two constables accepted the money with smiles.
Just then, Jiang Fu, having received the news, rushed over from his home.
With Jiang Fuzheng's arrival, Ye Li had a pillar of support, even though he wasn't good at socializing!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
