Chapter 99: Mrs. Zhou's Craftsmanship
"Well, you take your daughter in the carriage, and your husband sits in front of the carriage."
Pei Shaoling glanced at the man surnamed Zhou and said to Zhou Sunshi, "We are leaving the city. You can't keep up with us on foot."
Qiao Qiqi also nodded.
After all, the post station is twenty miles away from Ganliang County, and it would take more than half an hour to walk there at the fastest speed.
"yes!"
Then Madam Zhou Sun replied in a low voice, "I will help Madam get into the carriage first!"
"No, I'll do it myself."
Qiao Qiqi waved her hand and stepped onto the small stool next to the carriage.
She was still a little uncomfortable with being served, so she felt more comfortable getting in the car by herself.
Seeing that Qiao Qiqi and the others had gotten on the carriage, Zhou Sunshi took her daughter and carefully sat on the side of the carriage.
"From now on, I'll call you Sister Zhou. What's your daughter's name?"
Qiao Qiqi looked at her thin little daughter and asked softly.
"My daughter's name is Zhou Zhirou. It was given to me by my husband. If Madam wants to give me a new name, that's fine!"
Mrs. Zhou said cautiously.
"Zhirou, that's a good name. No need to change it. It's good enough."
Qiao Qiqi waved her hand. "Xiao Rou, let my younger sister follow. They are about the same age. Oh, and there's another girl named Xiao Luo who happens to be a companion as well."
"Thank you, ma'am!"
Mrs. Zhou quickly responded, "Xiao Rou will serve the young lady well."
"By the way, I also need to buy some water bags."
Qiao Qiqi suddenly remembered buying a water bag to fill with water and said to Pei Shaoling.
"They've already been bought. While you and Old Ruan were at the pharmacy, I had An Xuan buy them. Now the water bags are hanging on the horses' backs."
Pei Shaoling smiled calmly and said while touching Qiao Qiqi's hair.
"Well, that's good."
Qiao Qiqi looked at Mr. Ruan and saw that he seemed to be thinking about something, so she did not disturb him.
At this time, Qiao Qiqi took out the medical book given by Mr. Ruan.
, she began to look for the page about black datura.
According to Li Si, they used black datura pollen to temporarily calm the people in the city.
But Mr. Ruan also said that what they had been poisoned by was the black datura pollen poison.
Soon, she found the page about the black datura flower.
It says: Black Mandragora, the flower of death, highly poisonous.
Eating a small amount can make people feel temporarily refreshed, but long-term consumption can cause headaches and convulsions, making life worse than death.
I see!
Qiao Qiqi looked at the picture album of black datura flowers and clicked her tongue.
Soon, the group returned to the post station.
An Xuan took the three members of the Zhou family to settle down, while Qiao Qiqi and Pei Shaoling helped Old Ruan carry the medicine bag to Old Ruan's room.
In the room, Pei Shaoan was still sleeping.
"Mr. Ruan, how long will it take to prepare the antidote?"
Qiao Qiqi asked softly.
She remembered that Yao Lao had said before that it would take at least several months or even years.
"All the herbs are ready. They can be prepared today. He will probably wake up tomorrow."
Old Ruan sat next to Pei Shaoan again and took his pulse.
"Really? That's great!"
Qiao Qiqi's face was filled with joy. "What do you want to eat today? I'll make it!"
"Madam, please let Sister Zhou do it! From now on, the cooking will be done by the servants!"
Pei Shaoling said with a doting look.
"Okay, I'll make the arrangements then."
Qiao Qiqi smiled at him faintly and went out.
When I walked to the door of my room, I found Mrs. Zhou and Xiaorou standing at the door.
"Madam, what do you think we should do?"
Mrs. Zhou asked with a reserved look on her face.
It may be that he is not well adapted to the environment of the post station.
"Well, I'll take you to see my mother and my little sister first."
Qiao Qiqi nodded and took the mother and daughter to the room where Pei's mother was.
"Qiqi, you're back? Are you tired? Mommy will go cook right away."
Pei's mother quickly put down the half-sewn clothes in her hands and said to her.
"Mom, no need. This is Sister Zhou. From now on, cooking will be left to her."
Qiao Qiqi said with a smile, "And this Xiaorou will accompany Shu'er from now on."
"Oh, there was a girl named Xiaoluo this morning who also said she wanted to accompany Shu'er. Did you arrange that?"
Mother Pei glanced at Xiaorou and asked Qiao Qiqi softly.
"Well, he and his father are the long-term workers I signed, and we bought this sister-in-law Zhou in Ganliang County."
Qiao Qiqi said softly.
"Okay, I understand."
Mother Pei nodded gently and waved to Xiaorou, "Come here quickly, let me see."
Pei Shu'er on the side also looked at this new friend curiously.
"Mrs. Zhou, come with me!"
Qiao Qiqi took her to the makeshift kitchen she had built in one of the side rooms. "We'll stay at this inn for two more days, then leave for the north. You'll be responsible for taking care of our family's food and clothing."
Qiao Qiqi took out the rice, noodles, pork, vegetables and seasonings that she had prepared in advance, and said, "Mrs. Zhou, just watch over it. There's a well at the back."
"Well, ma'am, just wait and see!"
Mrs. Zhou responded happily.
"Well, cook it according to the amount of food for ten people. After it's done, you three can make some food for yourselves. Oh, and there are also the Gu family father and daughter. You can make food for five more people."
Qiao Qiqi nodded slightly and then walked out.
"Madam, this is the long-term labor contract that my father and I asked the official to sign."
Gu Changsheng came towards her and handed her a deed.
Qiao Qiqi took it, glanced at it, and put it into her sleeve. "I just brought back three members of the Zhou family as servants. Sister Zhou is cooking now, and I asked her to make food for you and Xiao Luo. We're leaving in two days, so take a good rest these two days!"
Gu Changsheng was still injured, so Qiao Qiqi planned to let him have a good rest.
"Ma'am, my injury is healed. I'll go see if there's anything I can do to help."
Gu Changsheng smiled at Qiao Qiqi innocently and went to the temporary kitchen.
Soon, a table full of delicious lunch was prepared by Mrs. Zhou.
The eldest wife of the Pei family, as well as Ruan Lao and An Lei, sat at the long table in the post station, looking at the dishes on the table and nodding with satisfaction.
I didn’t expect that with limited ingredients, Mrs. Zhou could make authentic Beijing cuisine.
"Mom, I want to eat those crystal shrimp dumplings. I haven't had them for a long time."
Pei Shu'er swallowed her saliva as she looked at the plate of steamed dumplings.
Qiao Qiqi also looked at Mrs. Zhou with admiration.
If I were to cook such a large table of dishes, it would take me at least half a day, but I didn't expect her to be so skillful.
So, in order to save time, she simply made one or two stews each time.
"Qiqi, you have chosen a good servant this time."
Mother Pei took a bite with a serving chopstick and praised Mrs. Zhou's cooking skills.
"Thank you for the compliment, old lady."
Mrs. Zhou bowed awkwardly and left.
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