After making an appointment with Ying Shuchang, Xu Qinyu and her fourth brother went back to the Bafang Inn first. It was already noon. She had made an appointment with Ying Shuchang for dinner. Seeing that Ying Shuchang was not in a good mental state and was very thin, she thought she had not eaten properly for a long time. So she planned to borrow the stove of the inn in the evening and make some fish porridge for Ying Shuchang. She had not eaten properly for a long time, so her stomach must be not in a good condition. Fish porridge is warm, replenishes qi and nourishes the stomach. It is perfect for her.
I know that Xu Qinyu will use the stove in the kitchen to cook porridge at night.
Chef Zhou immediately prepared the stove and ingredients.
Fish porridge is now also the signature dish of Bafang Inn, but usually more people order it in the morning.
Moreover, Chef Zhou is very clear about the fish porridge he makes. Even though he has been making it for almost three years, he still cannot make the same taste as his master's fish porridge. He has learned the method, ingredients and heat step by step from his master, and his master has also taught him personally, but he still cannot make it work even with the same steps.
However, Chef Zhou knew that the same was true for his master's other disciples. In fact, he was just like those disciples. The food he learned to cook from his master was already very delicious, and diners praised him frequently, but this was because the diners had never tasted the food cooked by his master.
It was almost time for dinner, and Xu Qinyu came to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
We had some fish for dinner.
A large black carp, the fish meat is sliced into slices as thin as cicada wings, and used to make raw fish fillet porridge. The fish head is braised, which is more delicious. Because fish fillet porridge itself is light and delicious, the taste of the fish head can be slightly stronger.
In addition to the raw fish congee and braised fish head, Xu Qinyu also stir-fried black fungus, yam slices and bean sprouts.
Ying Shuchang was too thin and did not eat nutritious food.
The yams and bean sprouts here are particularly good. The yams have never been sprayed with pesticides, so the yield is low, so they don’t look very good, but they taste pretty good.
In later generations, many food ingredients have various additives, or are given potions to make them grow quickly.
She is very strict in selecting ingredients, and the bean sprouts are also specially selected. The merchant she orders bean sprouts from grows them slowly by themselves, without any chemicals, so they grow slower and are more expensive, but she can eat them with confidence, and they taste especially sweet.
You don’t have to worry about the various ingredients here. No matter whether you bought yam or bean sprouts, just stir-fry them with some salt and no other seasonings are needed. It will taste delicious.
Bean sprouts are relatively cheap, but yam is a bit expensive.
The reason why the food of ordinary people here is unpalatable is that most of the dishes are boiled in water.
For example, cheap bean sprouts are a common dish on people's dinner tables, but they are all boiled in water. After being boiled soft, they can be eaten with a little salt and two drops of oil. It would be strange if they tasted good.
When stir-frying vegetables, you should pay more attention to the heat.
Foods like yam and bean sprouts must be served right after they are cooked, as they taste best at this time.
Xu Qinyu quickly prepared all the Mu food for dinner.
Many of the diners in the front couldn't help but sniff and said, "Strange, do you think the food at Bafang Inn smells even better today?"
"I smelled it too, and I thought it was just my imagination. It's so fragrant and tempting."
Someone asked Shopkeeper Zhou, "Shopkeeper Zhou, is the chef making something delicious in the back?"
Shopkeeper Zhou smiled and said, "No, it's just the same porridge with raw fish fillet and roasted fish head you usually eat, with two small stir-fries on the side."
"Why does it smell so good?"
Shopkeeper Zhou smiled and said, "That's because this is the food made by my son's master. My son's master's cooking skills are truly amazing, even unique. She makes the same food taste even better, bringing out all the flavors of the ingredients. You'll understand once you try it."
The diners immediately asked, "Really? Then can we buy some food?"
Shopkeeper Zhou laughed again, "I'm afraid not. This is just some evening snack she made herself. But she's planning to open a restaurant in Raozhou City. Once it opens, everyone can try it out."
The diners began to look forward to it.
While these diners were talking, Ying Shuchang came to the Bafang Inn with Aunt Zhang and Mrs. Zhao.
She could still go out on weekdays, but the old lady insisted that she take Mrs. Zhao with her, otherwise she would not let her go out. She said, "You are a beautiful girl, and I am really worried about you. You have so much family property. Mrs. Zhao is strong and most men can't beat her. I feel more at ease with her. If you don't want to take her with you, I won't let you go out."
She didn't actually answer the old lady, but just glanced at her and walked out.
Mrs. Zhao followed by herself.
Ying Shuchang walked into the inn and smelled the delicious food. She was stunned for a moment and couldn't help swallowing.
Xu Qinyu also saw her and waved to Ying Shuchang, "Madam Ying, this way."
Ying Shuchang also nodded slightly towards Xu Qinyu.
After Xu Qinyu led Madam Ying to the room upstairs, she had something to discuss with Madam Ying, so it was naturally not appropriate for her to sit in the living room downstairs.
Mrs. Zhao originally wanted to follow into the room, but Ying Shuchang gave her a cold look, so she didn't follow in and stayed outside the door with Aunt Zhang to guard.
After entering the room, Xu Qinyu led Ying Shuchang to sit at the round table. "Madam Ying, try this. It's just some ordinary evening snacks, but I made them all myself. You're too weak to take in any supplements. You need to slowly recuperate."
Pei Weixuan was not in the room. Xu Qinyu left some food for him in the kitchen. He ate in the kitchen. After all, they were talking in the room, and it was not appropriate for a man like him to stay in there.
Ying Shuchang heard what Xu Qinyu said and smiled bitterly, "What's the point of recuperating? It's better to just let it go."
Xu Qinyu frowned upon hearing this and said, "Madam Ying, what are you talking about? No matter what, you must never give up on yourself. Only by living can there be hope. Besides, in this world, many people actually have a much harder life than Madam Ying."
It's not just Madam Ying. There are millions of people in this world who are really suffering sometimes and have thought about dying, but as long as they are alive, there is hope.
Ying Shuchang was stunned. There were indeed many people in this world who lived a much harder life than her.
At least she still has the recipe left to her by her parents. As long as she is willing to give up the family business that her parents have worked hard for over the years and leave with the recipe, she can completely break away from the Ying family. But she just can't bear to do so. This is what her parents have worked hard for for more than ten years. Why should it be given away to those heartless people?
What's more, the deeds to these houses, fields and shops were all in a delicate lockbox, but the lockbox was not with her, but with the old lady.
On the first day the Ying family came to visit, the old lady led people into her house and searched it out. She said, "As a girl, it's not safe for you to keep all this property with you. Look at how many people have been interested in you and wanted to marry you. They were attracted by the property your father left you, so your grandmother will keep it for you. When you get married, I'll give you more money as a dowry."
He also asked her to hand over the key to the old lady for safekeeping.
Because this exquisite lockbox is made of iron and copper, it can only be opened with a key. If it is forced open, it can only be melted with fire, but this will also burn all the property deeds inside.
Of course the old lady was reluctant to burn all the deeds to the house, shops and land.
So she kept pestering her for the key, but she had hidden the key, and no one except her, not even Aunt Zhang, knew about it.
Ying Shuchang smiled bitterly and said, "To be honest, Madam Xu, even if I wanted to sell the land to you, it wouldn't be easy."
She told Xu Qinyu about the situation at home, and then said, "At the beginning, I did think about selling all the family property and then leaving with the recipe, but it was too late. Now, if possible, I would like to sell all the family property left by my parents and donate all the money instead of leaving it to them." It was because she was also hesitant and didn't want to sell the property left by her parents casually, but in the end it ended up like this.
Xu Qinyu actually guessed a little bit, otherwise, according to Ying Shuchang's personality, she would have sold all the family property long ago.
She thought for a moment and whispered, "Actually, I have a plan. Madam Ying, would you like to hear it?"
Ying Shuchang nodded.
…
No one knew what the two talked about inside, but when Ying Shuchang came out, her eyes were red, obviously she had been crying, but the deathly look on her face had dissipated, and her eyebrows and eyes were much gentler.
Seeing this, Nanny Zhang did not comfort Ying Shuchang. She could tell that Shuchang must have come to terms with it. She must have talked about something with the young lady inside, which gave Shuchang a way to deal with that family.
As long as my wife can think it through, it will be fine. These days, she has been really worried that my wife can't hold on and die with the whole family.
Only Mrs. Zhao snorted coldly, "Look at your eyes, they're as red as rabbits. The old lady always says that outsiders can't be trusted. Is the young lady inside looking for you for the recipe? They say that if you give the recipe to the old lady, you won't have to worry about anything in the future. You don't have to go out and show your face. It's so much better to be a lady from a noble family, so much less trouble."
Ying Shuchang ignored Mrs. Zhao and said softly, "Mammy, let's go back first."
After returning to the Ying family mansion, Mrs. Ying came over quickly and asked worriedly, "Madam, why are you back so late? Everyone is waiting for you to have dinner. I made your favorite meat soup today. Madam, go and try it."
Now the deed cannot be obtained and the recipe is still in the hands of her granddaughter. The old lady hates Ying Shuchang to death but dares not to turn against her. She can only coax her, for she is worried that she will sell the recipe to other people in a fit of anger and throw away the key to the exquisite lock box.
Ying Shuchang said, "I've eaten and I'm a little sleepy, so I'm going to sleep first."
After discussing with Madam Xu in the evening, she also tasted Madam Xu's cooking. The fish porridge was fresh, sweet and fragrant, and the fish head was also very tasty without any fishy smell. The two stir-fried dishes surprised her even more. She couldn't understand how ordinary cassava and bean sprouts could be so delicious. The bean sprouts were crisp, refreshing and a little sweet, and the cassava also maintained a crisp and tender texture, which was particularly smooth. She unknowingly developed an appetite and had the most satisfying and delicious meal in the past two years.
When Ying Shuchang returned to the house, the old lady immediately called for Mrs. Zhao and asked, "Do you know where the lady went today? Why did she come back so late?"
Mrs. Zhao told the old lady what happened to Ying Shuchang today, and said, "That young lady is staying at the Bafang Inn. She is very beautiful. She must be thinking about our young lady's recipe. But I don't know what they said in there. But when the young lady came out, her eyes were red, as if she had been crying. I don't know what happened..."
When the old lady heard this, she frowned.
…
As for Xu Qinyu, she and her fourth brother went to the yamen's office early the next morning and bought nearly a hundred acres of vacant land outside Raozhou City, next to Ying Shuchang's dozens of acres of land. She believed that Ying Shuchang could get back the deed that her parents had given her, so she dealt with other matters first.
When she came, she brought tens of thousands of taels of silver notes and her own household registration documents.
First, he spent one hundred taels of silver to transfer the household registration of Yuanbao Town to Raozhou City, so that he could buy the vacant land outside the city, and also contracted the hilltop with underground hot springs and the lake for thirty years.
The official who thought Xu Qinyu was deceiving him two days ago finally realized that what she said was actually true.
She actually wanted to open a restaurant outside the city.
It's really rare.
Xu Qinyu and Pei Weixuan quickly signed the documents and took them back to the Bafang Inn.
Xu Qinyu discussed with her fourth brother and decided to stay in Raozhou City for a few more days to see if Madam Ying could get all the deeds out.
…
And the Ying family mansion.
The next morning, Ying Shuchang got up early and didn't plan to have breakfast. She was going to go out to eat and buy some herbs and spices to go to the workshop. Unexpectedly, she was stopped by the old lady. The old lady smiled and said, "Madam, why don't you have breakfast before going out? You are working so hard for no reason. Why don't you give the recipe to me? I will let your uncle take care of the things in the workshop, and you can just be the daughter of the Ying family, tending to flowers and plants all day and doing needlework. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Ying Shuchang sneered, but didn't say anything in the end. She just wanted to go out and do her business quickly.
The old lady became anxious and started to pull people over, saying that outsiders were all liars who just wanted to trick her into giving her the prescription.
But before he could touch the corner of Ying Shuchang's clothes, she dodged it skillfully and turned around and left the yard.
Seeing the man leave the yard, the old lady stamped her feet in anger and cursed: "What an ungrateful little wolf! We are devoted to her, but she treats us like jackals and tigers. She is not afraid of being fooled by outsiders. If she does, she will have nothing left."
The old lady really didn't understand where the girl had hidden the key to the exquisite lock box. How could this girl not understand that the Ying family was her family, and outsiders were only concerned about the family property left by the second son.
She is a girl, why should she work so hard? Wouldn't it be better to find a good husband for her in the future, give her more money, and let her marry comfortably?
As for the other family properties left by the second son, this girl certainly cannot be allowed to take them away. If a girl gets married, she will be an outsider. Besides, the second son is her son, and the family properties left behind must be hers. Why should they all be given to a girl?
When the second brother had an accident, she was also very surprised. Before the body was sent back, she hurriedly found Ying Shuchang. Her words were all about how she and the eldest and third brothers would move into the house to take care of her after the funeral. She asked her to give her all the deeds and the recipe for safekeeping.
Ying Shuchang was angry. The old lady knew she was a little impatient, but it was all for her own good. She was a seventeen-year-old orphan, both her parents had passed away, and she had such a huge family business...
The old lady thought she was doing this for the good of the dead girl, but she didn't appreciate it at all. After these two years, she still hated her granddaughter in her heart.
The old lady cursed at the door with hanging flowers, and then asked Mrs. Zhao to follow quickly, for she was afraid that her granddaughter would be fooled into selling all the recipes, because that was the hen that laid golden eggs.
After everyone left, the old lady went to her granddaughter's room and searched inside and out again, trying to find the key to the exquisite lock box, but she still couldn't find it. She even searched all the clothes in her granddaughter's closet and even under the bed, but found nothing. Could it be that her granddaughter had brought it with her?
But the maid who served the granddaughter said that she did not have the key on her after washing up.
The old lady was filled with worry and resentment.
In fact, she was still a little happy when the second son died. She thought that she would never be able to enjoy the second son's happiness in this life and had given up. Unexpectedly, she heard the news that the second son and his wife had an accident. She also thought that the second son's family business would fall into her hands.
Who knew that now two years have passed and I still have nothing.
The old lady came out of Ying Shuchang's room and saw the shrine placed outside. She frowned and hurried out.
This girl really refused to listen to advice. She was unwilling to place her parents' tablets in the Ying family ancestral hall and insisted on placing them outside her room. It looked a bit creepy and she felt it was unlucky. She tried not to come here on weekdays if possible to avoid being contaminated by the bad luck and shortening her life.
After Ying Shuchang left the house, she went to the pharmacy to buy some medicinal herbs, and then went to the spice store to buy some medicinal herbs.
After shopping, she went to the workshop and made some incense herself.
She didn't go anywhere today. She just mixed incense in the workshop. After the incense was mixed, she returned to the Ying family's house in the evening.
After returning home and having dinner, Ying Shuchang handed the incense to Aunt Zhang and said, "Aunt, please light these incense in every corner of the courtyard of the house. They can ward off snakes, insects, rats and ants. There have been a lot of snakes, insects, rats and ants in the house recently."
Aunt Zhang said, "Then just choose the courtyard on your side. Why choose other courtyards?"
Ying Shuchang said, "Let's light them all, to avoid further gossip."
Only then did Aunt Zhang place the incense in the corners of each courtyard, light them all, cover the incense sticks, and look at the faint smoke rising from them, feeling a little emotional.
Her daughter is very skillful, just like her wife. The incense made by her wife is both pleasant smelling and easy to use.
This was originally a happy family, but such a disaster happened, leaving the girl alone in the world, which is very pitiful.
Nanny Zhang was bought by Mrs. Ying Er. After she became pregnant, the family needed someone to take care of it, so she went to a pawnshop and bought a maid.
Nanny Zhang had no relatives in this world, so she stayed in the Ying family, taking care of Second Madam Ying's food and clothing, waiting for Ying Shuchang to be born. She stayed with the little baby day and night, serving Madam Ying during her confinement, and raised her with her own hands. In Nanny Zhang's heart, Madam Ying was almost like her granddaughter.
When Nanny Zhang lit incense in every corner, the old lady and the people in the first and third rooms did not suspect anything, because they often brought some incense from the incense shop to use. There used to be incense for smoking away snakes, insects, rats and ants in many corners of the mansion.
The incense smell this time is a little different, it's a little lighter and mixed with a little medicinal fragrance.
When everyone in the Ying family fell asleep, they felt particularly sleepy today and it seemed easy to fall asleep. Soon, everyone in the mansion fell into a dream.
When Aunt Zhang helped Ying Shuchang light the incense, she made the excuse that she was a little tired and went back to her room to rest early.
Ying Shuchang did not go to sleep after returning to the house. She just lay on the bed with a medicinal ingredient in her mouth, which she bought in the medicine store in the morning. She put the other medicinal ingredients in the incense. The formula of this incense was given to her by Miss Xu, who said that it was prepared by her husband for calming the mind. The effect is so good that she can't be woken up even if someone shouts in her ear.
But it is simple to counteract the effects of this medicine. She just needs to take another herb. She cannot sleep. She has to wait until everyone is asleep before getting her own things.
When it was late at night and the house was quiet, she called the maid's name, but no one answered her.
There is usually a maid on night watch, and she seems to be sleeping very soundly.
Ying Shuchang then stood up with the medicinal herb still in her mouth. When she came out, she saw the little maid in the outer room sleeping soundly on the table. She went over and pushed her, but the little maid, who was usually very alert, was not awake at this moment.
Ying Shuchang also felt relieved. She went to the outer room first, where there was a shrine and inside was the tablet of her parents.
She walked over to the shrine, took the incense, lit it, and bowed in front of her parents' tablets. What she was about to do next would make her feel a little sorry for her parents' hard work over the years.
Her father treated her very well. Even when he visited the Ying family during the holidays, the gifts he brought were only to honor the old lady. He did not always meet the Ying family's requests. So the old lady often scolded her father at that time, saying that although he had become rich and divided the family property, he was an ungrateful person who was not willing to help his eldest brother and third brother at all.
If Dad knew that she was being treated like a prisoner by the Ying family, he would definitely agree with her actions.
But this is the only way for now, otherwise she is afraid that she will not be able to decide her own marriage in the future. As long as the recipe is not given out, she will find a son-in-law to make a comeback, inherit the bloodline and incense for her father, and accumulate family property on her own, but what she has to do now is to leave the Ying family.
After Ying Shuchang finished burning incense, she went to the shrine, took out her father's tablet, and turned it over. There was a wooden slot on the back, in which was the key to the exquisite lock box.
Ying Shuchang took off the key and couldn't help but sneered.
As long as the old lady was willing, or even had a trace of affection for my father, she would wipe my father's tablet to find the key, but the old lady never touched my father's tablet.
The old lady simply felt that her parents' tablets were unlucky. She thought that they died young and that she would be contaminated by the bad luck, which would also shorten her life by a few years.
Ying Shuchang felt uncomfortable, but she took a deep breath, took the key, and went to the old lady's yard.
The old lady's yard was next to hers.
When she came over, everyone inside was fast asleep, and the old lady was snoring loudly. She went over to the old lady and touched her body, and found a key. It was the key to a large box in the old lady's room, and the exquisite lock box was inside.
She found the key, but the old lady was still asleep. Ying Shuchang went to the box, opened it with the key, and rummaged around until she found the exquisite locked box that the old lady had hidden under some clothes.
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