After Ruan Meng came out of the room, she learned about Xu Zhen's arrangements through her second brother.
With nothing much happening here and some rare free time, Ruan Meng called over A Yuan and asked her second brother and A Yuan to go out together to inquire about the prices and types of seafood for sale in Beixian County.
The Song and Fan brothers waited in front of the courtyard. Ruan Meng gave them silver and asked them to help purchase fresh ingredients and plates.
Ruan dreamt of Madam Xu Zhen, who was in poor health. He also asked her about her condition and learned that she usually had little appetite and ate mostly bland food, which she could eat but was not very nutritious.
Since Xu Zhen is so concerned, she won't neglect him.
They are the bodyguards at home, helping with tasks such as washing pots and cleaning the kitchen.
A-Yuan originally had meals ordered from all the restaurants in Beixian by the He family, but upon hearing Ruan Meng's instructions, he changed the order to only serve vegetarian dishes and staple foods.
The quiet courtyard instantly became bustling with activity.
They originally arrived at night, and Sun Chengen borrowed people overnight...
After the diagnosis and rest, it was already dark.
Song Zhifang and Fan Zizhong rushed back, their faces showing some disgust.
Ruan Meng inquired and learned that the people of Beixian were known for their fierce and unruly nature. They deliberately bullied the people because they could tell that the accents were not from the county.
The fish and shrimp they gave us weren't fresh; it was the same at every stall I visited.
Sun Chengen, who happened to be passing by, overheard this and offered to have the He family's restaurant deliver any ingredients needed in the future...
However, Ruan Meng had dealt with He Family Restaurant before. They didn't often serve seafood, but they could keep chicken, duck, and goose fresh. However, some of their ingredients were not commonly found.
This involves several detours. Cooking is a minor matter; Ruan Meng wants to observe Xu Zhen's wife's tastes over the next few days so that she can prescribe some dietary therapy recipes that his wife likes before leaving.
Ruan Meng thanked Sun Chengen and said that when A Yuan returned, she would ask him to help buy some chickens, ducks, and geese. As for fish and shrimp...
Song Shiyuan's eyes lit up. "Little sister, this is perfect! We're close to the sea here. Why don't we do what we do in the village and go beachcombing?"
"Anyway, there aren't many of us, and we can't eat that much. It shouldn't be too difficult to catch something edible for us."
Ruan Meng nodded. That would be the best outcome.
It's convenient, saves money, and guarantees freshness.
Fan Zizhong reminded her, "Last time, when my younger sister treated Miss Sun, the county magistrate caused trouble, and there was also the influence of a gang."
"Although we're not sure if we're being watched, you can't go alone. It's dangerous at night, so there's no need to go. During the day, take advantage of the crowds and don't stray too far from the villagers in Beixian."
"Call two guards. If trouble arises, we'll find a way to make a big scene!"
Song Shiyuan nodded, indicating that the matter was settled.
Although Song Shiwen and Fan Zizhong failed to buy fresh ingredients, Lao Er and A Yuan did manage to buy some.
It turned out that when they went out to investigate, they encountered a group of thugs who were bullying an old man selling fish and shrimp. After helping him escape, they saw that the old man's fish and shrimp were fresh and cheaper than in Nanxian, so they bought them all.
Ruan Meng personally instructed her third brother to make fish soup and pan-fried shrimp. With the vegetables and rice provided by the He family restaurant, they ate to their hearts' content that evening.
Xu Zhen was especially grateful to Ruan Meng.
"Today, for the first time ever, Madam drank a bowl of fish soup. We used to make it at home, and I even cooked it myself, but she always said it tasted fishy and she couldn't eat it."
"But just now, after drinking the fish soup you made, there was truly no fishy smell at all. How did you manage to do that?"
Ruan Meng explained, "Before stewing, pan-fry the fish on both sides. The aroma of the oil can mask the fishy smell. Scallions or wild vegetables can also enhance the flavor of the fish soup and mask the fishy smell."
It sounds simple, but Xu Zhen still felt that Ruan Meng had put a lot of thought into it.
Otherwise, wouldn't it be easier to just have the He family's restaurant deliver the food? Why bother doing it yourself?
Xu Zhen kept it in mind.
When Ruan Meng woke up the next day, she found the courtyard empty. Her second brother, third brother, and Song Shiyuan, along with a few guards, had gone out to go beachcombing.
She massaged and rubbed Mrs. Xu Zhen's body, and Mrs. Xu Zhen's complexion improved slightly.
Ruan Meng's massage technique was unique; after being massaged, Madam Xu Zhen fell into a deep sleep.
Upon seeing Ruan Meng, Xu Zhen's admiration for her deepened even further.
"Madam didn't sleep well last night. She's been like that lately."
"Thank you, young lady. Madam can finally get a good night's sleep!"
Ruan Meng smiled faintly, just as she heard the second brother's shouting outside the door.
"That's outrageous!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
