Shen Qingyu rolled up her sleeves and went into the Qian family's kitchen.
The ingredients here are really well-prepared!
In late spring, there are wild onions and toon sprouts in the kitchen.
Shen Qingyu bought various braising spices directly from the space mall, put them in a fine cotton bag, put them in a pot, and started making braising liquid.
Next, the pork hock is blanched, then cooked in braising liquid with cooking wine and soy sauce.
I made a cold toon sprout salad with sesame oil, a wild scallion omelet, and a chicken and potato stew...
When a table full of delicious-looking dishes was served, the Qian family was quite amazed.
Shen Qingyu extended her hand in a gesture of invitation: "Would the three of you like to try some?"
Several concubines stood in a row, all swallowing their saliva.
After Mr. and Mrs. Qian took their seats, Qian Wanliang's eyes were fixed on the braised pork hock bowl.
They had never eaten braised pork hock before.
Qian Wanliang was the first to pick up a piece of braised pork hock and put it into Madam Qian's bowl: "Mother, you should try it!"
Mrs. Qian took a bite and was quite surprised: the pork hock was braised until it was just falling off the bone, with a wonderfully fragrant aroma, yet it wasn't mushy enough. With each bite, the protein was still chewy and bouncy on the tongue...
Mr. Qian also took a bite and nodded: "This pork hock does indeed have a unique aroma."
Shen Qingyu pointed to the braised egg in the pork hock: "This is also very flavorful, why don't you try it?"
The three of them picked up another braised egg, and Qian Wanliang nodded vigorously after just one bite: "Delicious! Delicious! Thank you, Sister Chen!"
It was so delicious that "Little Lady" turned into "Sister Chen," making my trip to cook for her worthwhile.
Seeing the expressions on the faces of the family of three, Shen Qingyu smiled: "Is the matter of beating the chubby young master considered settled?"
The meal was almost finished; Mr. and Mrs. Qian put down their chopsticks, leaving only Qian Wanliang still struggling to finish.
Madam Qian gestured to invite Shen Qingyu to the front hall for tea. Knowing that the two had something to say to her, Shen Qingyu followed them to the front hall.
After the guests and host were seated, Mr. Qian spoke first: "Although you say you are just an ordinary villager from Hengshui Town, I heard from Old He that your husband's actions are not like those of an ordinary villager..."
Ordinary villagers wouldn't have such a fine horse for transportation, much less give their wives two hundred taels of silver so readily.
Shen Qingyu leaned forward slightly, adopting a listening posture, appearing very sincere.
"My man's situation is like this..."
After explaining why Xiao Yunqi had returned twice in seven years, Shen Qingyu confessed, "I don't know what kind of business he's doing outside, nor do I know why he suddenly became so generous to me..."
Everyone in the village knows about this; if someone were willing, they could find out in no time.
Mr. Qian lowered his eyes and searched his mind for "famous people with black foreheads". After thinking for a while, he suddenly remembered a person he had only heard of but never seen. Judging by the age, he seemed to be about the same.
Startled, Mr. Qian straightened his posture.
"If that's the case, then let's leave the matter of your husband beating my son behind."
"My son has been longing to learn about your cooking skills. I wonder if you'd like to sell some food? Or perhaps you'd be willing to come work as a cook in my household? I can offer you five taels a month for your wages. If you think that's too little, we can discuss it further."
Shen Qingyu was taken aback, never expecting that Master Qian would spoil his son to such an extent!
Is she willing to spend five taels of silver a month to have herself cook just because her son likes the food she makes?
but……
"I'm sorry, I don't have any plans to be a cook for anyone right now. I have three children at home, and I can't leave them. As for selling food..."
Shen Qingyu laughed: "I am willing to do it, but you are in the prefectural city, and it's not easy for me to sell here. It takes three hours round trip..."
Mr. Qian nodded.
As a businessman, he naturally knew that the time cost was too high. Unless Shen Qingyu lived in the prefectural city, she would not come to the prefectural city to do it.
"However, I've been sprouting bean sprouts in the village recently. If Mr. Qian needs any, I can have my husband bring some bean sprouts over. We can also bring some braised dishes along with them."
Should I ask that gentleman to deliver bean sprouts?
Master Qian began to doubt his judgment, but he had no time to confirm it, so he could only nod: "Bean sprouts are quite rare this season. If you send them to the prefectural city, you can send some to my residence."
The deal was struck and the past issues were resolved. Shen Qingyu smiled broadly and said, "That's wonderful. My husband is waiting for me at the city gate. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Madam Qian, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Madam Chen, may I take a look at the silver hairpin in your hair?"
Shen Qingyu had noticed that Madam Qian was looking at her, but she didn't expect that she was looking at her silver hairpin.
He pulled out the magnolia-shaped silver hairpin and presented it to Madam Qian, saying, "What's wrong with this? Please take a look, Madam."
Madam Qian took the magnolia-shaped silver hairpin and examined it closely, her hands trembling slightly.
She grasped the hairpin head, twisted it forcefully, and the seemingly one-piece magnolia hairpin actually split into two pieces, and inside... it was hollow!
Madam Qian was very excited. She picked up the broken hairpin and forcefully poured it out, revealing a roll of paper.
"Master...this..." Madam Qian stammered, trying to unroll the paper as she spoke.
But her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't open it no matter how many times she tried.
Master Qian took it and opened it. Inside, there was a two-hundred-tael silver note and a small note with a line of text written on it.
Shen Qingyu was dumbfounded.
Holy crap!
No wonder this thing is worth two hundred taels of silver; it turns out there are silver notes inside!
Upon seeing the silver note and the inscription clearly, Madam Qian became even more excited. She grabbed Shen Qingyu's hand, her eyes filled with tears, and asked, "Child, where did you get this silver hairpin?"
Shen Qingyu felt her hands were about to turn blue from being pinched: "I bought this from a jewelry shop in Hengshui Town."
Hengshui Town...
Madam Qian let go of his hand, turned around and grasped Master Qian's hand, her voice choked with emotion: "Master..."
Master Qian was much more rational and explained, "Madam Chen, this silver hairpin was originally a family heirloom of my wife..."
Then Shen Qingyu heard the story of the missing young lady from the richest family in the prefecture.
It turns out that when Madam Qian gave birth to a daughter years ago, Mr. Qian fell ill and lost his ability to have children.
Since daughters are not considered heirs, Madam Qian did not want her family line to end, so she discussed with her poor cousin's family, who had four sons, and adopted one of their sons.
Who knew that just a few months after her son was adopted, her daughter suddenly disappeared!
This silver hairpin was something my daughter had mischievously put in her purse when she got lost.
“She was only two years old then… Waaah…” Madam Qian cried as she collapsed into Master Qian’s arms.
Master Qian called his maid in to serve Madam Qian to the backyard, and with a stern face, he inquired about the specifics of the jewelry shop.
Shen Qingyu told the truth.
The town's economy was not as developed as the prefectural city's, and there were no large pawnshops. Jewelry shops would also accept some jewelry sold by other people.
This silver hairpin was most likely put up for sale by the family that was raising the daughter of the Qian family!
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