Chapter 63 (Soy Sauce Rice)

It takes only a meal to finish.

When Yan Qiushu returned to the yard again, she saw Zhou Zhaoqin packing his bags and about to leave.

She just froze there.

Prince Shun presented the gift very naturally and thanked Yan Qiushu: "Thank you very much for taking care of me these days, Miss Shu. Ah Qin has been bothering me for many days, and it's time for him to leave."

Yan Qiushu looked at the little boy standing next to him, who was only as tall as her waist. The small boy had handsome facial features despite his tenderness. His eyes, nose and mouth were all red, especially his eyes, which looked as if they had been washed with water. It was obvious that he had been crying.

He looked at Yan Qiushu reluctantly, but showed no resistance, and said in a voice that was so well-behaved that it made people feel distressed: "Sister Shu, thank you for taking care of me during this period."

After saying this, he tried hard to put on a smile.

Madam Xiao softened her heart again, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, where is the Second Emperor's grandson going this time?"

Although the fifth prince in her memory was not too bad, who knew how much he would change over the years? Power can always turn a normal person into a vicious monster.

Prince Shun smiled and said gently, "Go to the Shen family. I heard that Mr. Shen Qingxuan wants to recruit disciples. It's better to send this child to work hard than to stay in Kyoto."

Mrs. Xiao felt relieved and smiled: "This is a good place."

Yan Qiushu also smiled, looked at Zhou Zhaoqin, and said softly: "Well, Your Highness, please take good care of yourself over there in the future."

“Okay!” Zhou Zhaoqin nodded vigorously, his big eyes still blinking as he stared at the person in front of him. Finally, he clenched his lips, rushed over to hug him, and burst into tears: “Wuwuwu…”

He doesn't want to leave!

This is the only place that feels like home to him since his mother passed away. Even though his mother is gone, it is still warm here, unlike other places that are so cold that they make him shiver.

Yan Qiushu squatted down and held the child in her arms. Her mouth twitched and she felt like crying.

Although she didn't like the child at first, after spending these days together, she still liked him very much.

The main thing is that this child is well-behaved and quiet. He doesn't make noise or quarrels, doesn't fight, and even rarely laughs out loud. In stark contrast to the previous initial impression, he is very pitiful.

However, he was only a little lively for a few days and then he was about to leave.

No matter how reluctant you are, you have to leave.

The two hugged each other for a while, and with a light cough from Prince Shun, Zhou Zhaoqin immediately withdrew from her arms, politely said goodbye to Madam Xiao and Yan Qiushu, and left with his short legs, following Prince Shun.

Until he walked out of the hospital and disappeared from Yan Qiushu's sight.

The three children, Dongdong, Wan'er and Xiao Pingsong, did not come until the next night.

It was also at this time that they discovered that Zhou Zhaoqin had left.

He left so suddenly that Dong Dong muttered unhappily, "Why did you leave without telling me?"

Wan'er was also very disappointed: "Yes, it was too fast."

After all, they had lived together for so long and had become friends, with feelings for each other, yet he suddenly left without us ever seeing each other.

Yan Qiushu's sadness had long passed. Seeing the three of them like this, she comforted them, "It's okay. We won't see each other again in the future. Shen Jiaping is over there. Maybe he and Ping will become good friends in a few days."

Dong Dong frowned and thought for a while, then said, "Impossible."

"Ah?" Yan Qiushu wondered.

Dong Dong covered his mouth and laughed: "Brother Ping Yu doesn't like people who are too stupid. He can't even compare to me, so he will definitely not be liked by Brother Ping Yu."

Yan Qiushu: “…”

That makes sense.

But in many cases, she is not even as good as Dongdong, such as in calligraphy and painting.

Yan Qiushu coughed guiltily and changed the subject: "Hey, speaking of which, you are going to school soon. Dongdong is going to a new class. Does he have to change his classmates as well?"

Dongdong became depressed when he mentioned this, and nodded reluctantly: "Hmm..."

Yan Qiushu smiled and said, "Then let's make some back-to-school gifts. You can give them to your classmates so that you can build a good relationship right from the start and get along well in the next two years."

"Sure!" Dongdong lost his composure when this was mentioned and nodded happily.

Although it is a back-to-school gift, as long as it is made by Sister Shu, he can be the first to eat it.

Xiao Pingsong coughed lightly and said, "Aunt Yan, I have to go back to school too."

Wan'er tangled her fingers together and said with her face tilted upward: "Wan'er didn't go to school..."

Yan Qiushu pinched her little face and said, "Wan'er must have some too, and she has the most. When the time comes, you can give it to whoever you like, okay?"

Wan'er was immediately happy: "Okay!"

However, Dongdong Food Merchant was online and confirmed that there were back-to-school gifts. He also said, "So what are we going to eat tonight? I'm so hungry~"

Yan Qiushu thought for two seconds and said decisively: "Since we have to prepare your back-to-school gifts tonight, let's just have a simple meal tonight!"

"What to eat?"

“Soy sauce rice!”

However, although Yan Qiushu said it should be simple, it is actually not that simple.

Soy sauce rice, the name sounds like it only has soy sauce in it, but in fact, it is more than just soy sauce, otherwise the taste would be bland and boring, and she herself doesn't like it.

Of course, this level is far from that of making Liangpi, because Liangpi has to be made by pouring batter into boiling water over and over again. If you want to feed so many people, you have to do it several times.

Yan Qiushu chose to send this to the kitchen to have someone cook it, and they ate bibimbap.

There was a lot of leftovers, so I took the fresh mushrooms sent from the kitchen, washed and chopped them, chopped the pork belly, and also chopped the green onions, ginger and garlic.

Add oil to a hot pan. After a while, add onion, ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant. Then add chopped mushrooms and pork belly and stir-fry. When the fat is fried out, add soy sauce, salt, pepper, Sichuan pepper powder and other seasonings, as well as half a bowl of water and a little starch.

After the fire is high, you can see that the sauce-colored soup in the pot is very thick. At this time, you can add the prepared rice and stir it directly in the pot.

But in the blink of an eye, the off-white color turned into a sauce brown color, and the aroma of the sauce wafted out undisguisedly, falling into the noses of several people busy in the kitchen.

Madam Xu narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Young lady, you really know how to cook. This white rice smells so good when it's in your hands."

Yan Qiushu said as she stirred, "It's not that I can do it, but I have the conditions. You can put as much oil, sugar and meat as you want. If there is less, how can we make it?"

Aunt Xu shook her head and looked at the pot with anticipation through her wrinkled eyes. It smelled so good!

Dongdong was also very excited and kept standing on tiptoe to check.

But unfortunately, I’m not tall enough and can’t see anything.

He was so anxious that he wanted Xiao Pingsong to hug him, but Xiao Pingsong didn't want to hug him either. His brother was too fat. He was tired. Couldn't he eat soon?

Dongdong pouted angrily.

At this moment, a gentle voice sounded in the yard: "What are you doing? Why are you so mad?"

Dong Dong turned around and saw Xie Qingyun and Xiao Huaiqi who were sitting in a wheelchair approaching slowly. It was Xiao Huaiqi who was talking. Dong Dong immediately got rid of his impatience. His chubby face was serious and looked very calm: "It just smells too good. I want to see what Sister Shu did?"

Xiao Huaiqi raised his eyebrows slightly and showed a helpless smile: "If I'm not going to beat you up, why are you so afraid of me?"

Dongdong stuck out his tongue and called out obediently, "Uncle, Auntie!"

Xiao Pingsong and Wan'er also quickly followed and called for help.

Yan Qiushu in the kitchen naturally heard it too. She stopped what she was doing and came out to see the two of them. She asked in surprise, "Young Master and Young Madam? What's the matter?"

Although Xie Qingyun is not as homely as Xiao Huaiyu, the third daughter of the Xiao family, Xiao Huaiqi rarely appears. Now that the two of them appear together, something must be going on.

Xiao Huaiqi nodded and said with a smile: "The food court is already ready. We'll choose an auspicious day to open it. Come over and tell Ah Shu what else needs to be prepared."

"Wow!" Yan Qiushu exclaimed!

Such high efficiency? Is it so easy to open a food court?

Of course not, but this is the Xiao family, so some things are easier.

Dongdong, Wan'er, and Xiao Pingsong all opened their mouths wide: "Wow! Food Street!"

I'm looking forward to it just by hearing the name!

Yan Qiushu was excited, but the stove was different from the gas stove, and she couldn't just turn it off. There was still fire in the stove, so she had to say, "Why don't you stay for dinner? I've cooked a lot, but it's simple. We can discuss while we eat."

"Okay." Xie Qingyun agreed readily.

Xiao Huaiqi also nodded: "Thank you for your help."

"It's no trouble, no trouble." Yan Qiushu said with a smile, and went back to the kitchen to continue doing the final finishing touches.

Even after the rice was served, she didn't stop, but took out a few eggs and started making fried eggs.

Otherwise it would be too monotonous.

Everything is ready. Each person gets a portion of rice with soy sauce and a fried egg, which is nutritious and filling.

The job was done, and Shui Yu and Nanny Xu took it to the dining table together.

Six people, three adults and three children were waiting around the dining table. Each person had a portion of rice from Yan Qiushu's big bowl. The portion was not small, except for Wan'er's.

"It's time to eat! Try it and see how it tastes. If you're not used to it, you can make something else." Yan Qiushu said.

As soon as these words were spoken, several people picked up their chopsticks.

The three children adapted very well and put the food into their mouths in big bites and ate it happily. However, Xie Qingyun and Xiao Huaiqi were still a little stunned.

They came from aristocratic families, and although they often led troops into battle, in most cases their food was still very plentiful. Even when they went as guests and the host said the food was a little simple, that was only relative to their daily meals.

This time, it was the first time for the two of them to have a meal without any vegetables, only staple food.

Both of them were a little dumbfounded, but not angry, just a little surprised. They both tacitly thought that there would be other dishes coming up, but they were really overthinking.

Xiao Huaiqi smiled and shook his head, then picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

A big round golden fried egg is placed on the rice. If you want to eat the rice underneath, you can only eat the fried egg with the first bite. This is the case for everyone.

Fried eggs also require skill and timing. Xiao Huaiqi could taste the flavor in just a moment.

The whole thing is not greasy and has a crispy texture, especially the crispness of the edges. When it comes to crispy outside and tender inside, there are probably few things that can compare to fried eggs. The thin outer shell is filled with white egg yolk, which has no taste by itself, but when it is stained with a few grains of soy sauce or rice, the light salty taste comes out.

After that big bite, a piece of the fried egg was missing, revealing the sauce-colored rice underneath. At this time, you can change to a spoon. The jade-white spoon scoops up the rice. The white and sauce-brown colors complement each other, making the rice look even more delicious.

When he took a bite, Xiao Huaiqi discovered that it was not just rice, but also soft mushroom cubes and a little minced meat. With this combination, every bite really did not need any side dishes.

There is a big difference in the taste of bibimbap and fried rice. The latter is mainly made of loose rice grains, with many ingredients added to increase the appetite, while the former has a softer texture, and you can taste a little soup while chewing, and it is neither dry nor astringent.

A mouthful of rice, then a bite of fried egg, and before you know it, the bowl is empty.

Xiao Huaiqi was the first to finish his meal. Yan Qiushu still had half of her meal in her bowl. Glancing at the man opposite her, she stopped eating and asked, "Can I have another bowl for you?"

"No, this is already eight-tenths full, that's enough." Xiao Huaiqi shook his head.

Upon seeing this, Yan Qiushu said no more and continued to eat her meal.

Hmm!

The fried egg was delicious too, should have had one more.

There is not enough minced meat. Give more next time. Also...

After finishing her meal slowly, Yan Qiushu was already a little tired. She looked up and saw that everyone was looking at her. She smiled sheepishly and said, "I'm a little slow in eating. Sorry for the embarrassment."

Xie Qingyun smiled and said, "Seeing Ah Shu eating, I ate a little more."

Xiao Huaiqi also nodded, his eyes full of smiles. At least he felt very relaxed eating at her place, without feeling like he was dealing with outsiders at all.

Yan Qiushu's cheeks turned slightly red. She coughed lightly, served tea to a few people, and then began to ask about the details of the food court.

The point is, how did you get it done so quickly?!

Xiao Huaiqi said: "We can transfer some shops with good food but bad location here, and add the few we have prepared, and that will be enough. When we make money in the future, we can add more shops in the same way."

That's right!

When the flow of people increases completely, there will be no shortage of money. She nodded: "Then..."

Here we are excitedly discussing the food court.

The other side is angry.

The elegant lady threw the valuable vase directly to the ground, her voice full of anger: "How dare you! Who allowed you to send the child away privately?!"

When the imperial concubine got angry, all the palace residents were trembling with fear, fearing that if the empress was unhappy, she would drag everyone in the palace out and beat them.

There was only one young man, standing steadily in the hall, looking directly at the woman in front of him, his beautiful lips tightly pursed, his peach blossom eyes full of stubbornness. Facing his mother's anger, he only said word by word: "This is my own idea. As an uncle, it is my duty to find a suitable way out for my nephew."

"As an uncle?" The noble concubine laughed angrily, and her beautiful eyes said gloomily: "So it's my fault that your brothers killed each other?"

"I dare not." Prince Shun lowered his eyebrows and eyes.

Concubine Lu walked quickly up to him and wanted to hit him.

But after she stared at that pretty face for a few seconds, she fell down in hatred. But halfway through, she reached out and pinched his arm fiercely, twisting it hard, and said in a cold voice: "Do you think you have found a backer now that Zhou Zelang is out? Let me tell you, he was poisoned by more than just me. Your third brother and sixth brother also took action. You two are really brothers, aren't you?"

Prince Shun groaned and endured it silently. His fair cheeks turned slightly red and veins on his forehead began to pop out.

Concubine Lu then let go and said in a hateful voice: "Remember, you can't rely on Prince Chang. He is dead. Even if he is not dead now, he will die in the future!"

Prince Shun closed his eyes and avoided looking at the woman with a ferocious face in front of him.

She was possessed.

For the throne.

For the sake of rights.

Concubine Lu hated his expression very much. She pushed him away with disgust and returned to the couch with narrowed eyes: "You hate me? Are you hating your mother who went through so much hardship to give birth to you?! Lu Zejin, how dare you treat me like this?! Do you know how much I have suffered to protect you? How many people have bullied me? If it weren't for me, you would have been a pile of mud! What qualifications do you have to hate me?!"

Prince Shun opened his eyes helplessly. The sixteen-year-old boy's eyes were full of complexity. He finally sighed and said, "No, my son did not."

Anyone can dislike the woman in front of him, except him.

In order to protect him, Concubine Lu suffered a lot. Although Concubine Lu was a favored concubine at that time, the Empress Dowager disliked her because she was the only favored concubine. The other concubines also disliked her. The court officials even thought she was a witch.

One can imagine how many plots she had to go through to give birth to this son safely and raise him to this state.

But that's how it was. She hated the empress dowager, the other concubines in the harem, and the emperor, so she would not allow other princes to be born, would not allow anyone to be higher than her, and the court officials would not allow her to be the queen. So no one was allowed to be the empress!

It is also her wish to let King Shun ascend the throne now.

This way, all those who dislike and hate her will kneel at her feet and call her Queen Mother!