After the first snowfall, the whole world was covered in a layer of pure white snow, as if veiled in mystery. The earth became quiet and peaceful, as if everything had stood still at that moment.
The streets, trees, and buildings were all covered in snow, as if they had been completely renovated. The snow on the streets was like a white velvet carpet, soft and serene. The snow on the trees made them look even more upright and pure. The snow on the buildings was like a white decoration, giving them a more layered appearance.
Li Xi and the others were having a great time playing in the snow, building snowmen, and laughing and joking for half an hour before they got too cold. They quickly went to the shop, where Tian Tian had already lit several pots of charcoal and placed them inside. The fire dried them off from the chill.
Looking at the living room filled with items, the group was full of energy. Meng Zhelan was still busy at the clinic today; it was opening day, and she would be there to oversee the business. Meng Zhelan provided the money for the noodle shop, while the others provided the labor. She would be in charge of the accounting at the end of the month, and everything was arranged perfectly. The clinic wasn't far, and the snow on the road wasn't thick, so she was used to walking.
When she arrived at the clinic, Doctor Liu was already seeing patients. There were also three or four people in the pharmacy. Doctor Liu nodded to Meng Zhelan as she entered and continued taking her pulse without delay. When she reached the counter, Huang Bao, who was actually just a pharmacy apprentice and responsible for reading prescriptions and dispensing medicine, frowned as he looked at the prescription written by Doctor Liu. He held a steelyard in one hand and placed the medicinal herbs on the steelyard with the other to weigh them.
Huang Bao was focused on holding the medicine, and didn't even notice Meng Zhelan walking up to him. As his gaze moved, he noticed that although he was young, he was quite capable, and Doctor Tian wanted to mentor him.
Meng Zhelan went to look at the small porcelain bottle on the counter. Doctor Liu had seen it before and also thought these pills were excellent, more effective than ordinary prescriptions. The price was a bit higher than herbal medicine, mainly for traveling merchants and wandering knights who couldn't easily prepare medicine. Most of the patients were ordinary people, so the price wasn't high.
Not long after, Dr. Liu finished his consultation, and the patient sat there waiting to get their medicine. Three prescriptions were on the counter. Meng Zhelan picked one up and glanced at it. Dr. Liu's prescriptions were standard and without any problems. Dr. Liu didn't mind looking at his prescriptions; they had discussed pharmacology before, and Meng Zhelan's medical skills were superior to hers, so he hoped she could offer some guidance. Meng Zhelan nodded frequently, seemingly satisfied. "Dr. Liu," she said, "if I may be so bold, but please don't mind, adding a herb like houttuynia cordata to this prescription would make it even more effective."
"Indeed, sir. Your insight is remarkable. I look forward to your guidance in the future," Doctor Liu said admiringly. "Doctor Liu, you flatter me. Let's discuss this together; there's always something to learn from everyone."
Huang Bao had already finished dispensing the medicine and seen the guests off. Meng Zhelan asked him a few questions about basic pharmacology, which he answered correctly. "Brother Bao, I'll give you a pharmacology book later. You can take a look when you have time. If you have any questions, you can ask me." Brother Bao understood that Meng Zhelan wanted to mentor him. "Thank you, Master," Brother Bao said gratefully.
"Dr. Liu, thank you for seeing patients in the clinic. It snowed last night, and I'm afraid many people have caught a cold today. I've written a prescription for you to boil a pot of warming soup at the door every day and give it to them for free. Just one pot is enough, and it doesn't use many herbs. Thank you for your help, Bao-ge'er."
"The owner is kind and benevolent," the two men said, bowing respectfully, admiring Meng Zhelan's magnanimity. Offering her medicine served two purposes: it dispelled the cold and it earned her goodwill—a win-win situation. Ren'an Hall was an established clinic here; although Doctor Tian had returned to his hometown, Doctor Liu was still there. Therefore, the opening today went smoothly, requiring little effort from her. Opening a new clinic would be truly beyond her capabilities.
"Dr. Liu, I'd like to trouble you to find another apprentice doctor to help you out. I haven't been in the capital for long and I'm not very familiar with these things yet. I'll have to trouble you two to keep an eye on things in the future. From now on, the apprentice doctor will receive 800 cash a month, Bao Ge'er will receive 1,500 cash, and Dr. Liu will receive one tael more than before." Meng Zhelan couldn't come to the clinic every day, and she didn't know where her father was either; there hadn't been any clues left behind.
Meng Zhelan waited until noon, and seeing that Doctor Liu was handling things well, she went home. She also needed to take care of the noodle stall, as taking care of things in the capital was quite expensive.
Back at the shop, Xi'er and the others had already put away the goods they bought yesterday. Seeing Meng Zhelan return, Li Xi exclaimed, "Lan'er, you're back! Ling'er made so much delicious food! She's a genius! I only said a few words to her, and she knew how to make it!" Li Xi was now completely in awe of Ling'er. She had been craving sauerkraut fish for a long time, and today she could finally enjoy a hearty meal.
Li Xi picked about half a pound of chili peppers in the greenhouse. She washed and dried the chili peppers, ginger, garlic, salt, white wine, and crushed rock sugar. Then she mixed the chili peppers, young ginger, and minced garlic together, and finally added salt and crushed rock sugar and mixed well. She packed the mixed chili peppers into a ceramic jar, pressed them down with a spoon, poured in the white wine, screwed on the cap, and waited a month before eating them.
When Ling'er made the pickled fish, she added chili peppers, making it fragrant, spicy, and delicious with a smooth texture. Everyone was captivated by the dish, and after finishing the three-pound grass carp, they were still craving more. Ling'er's specialty rice noodles were even more delicious with the variety of side dishes, and they drank every last drop of the broth. Meng Zhelan, who usually eats a little and focuses on health, also ate to her heart's content today.
The improved version of braised pork intestine noodles is also a must-try. Finely chop chili peppers and garlic, sauté them in hot oil until fragrant, then add store-bought braised pork intestines and stir-fry until cooked. Pour the blanched noodles into a rich broth, scoop a spoonful of pork intestines on top, and sprinkle with chopped green onions and cilantro. The aroma is irresistible.
Just as they were about to start eating, a rhythmic knocking on the door interrupted them. Li Xi got up and opened the door, exclaiming in surprise, "Young Master Shen, welcome, welcome! We were just about to have lunch, would you like some?" She hadn't seen Shen Xu for several days and thought he was uncomfortable being with them and had gone back to his own circle. "My father has been sending me on errands these past few days, so I haven't been able to come and have a drink with Brother Li for quite some time."
A few days ago, he got drunk and fell into Li Xi's arms. These past few days, he's been doubting himself, feeling different emotions towards her. He's sure his sexual orientation is normal, but why did his heart race that night? Staying home isn't a solution, so he decided to spend more time with Li Xi. He must have had those thoughts because he was drunk that night.
"Oh, come in quickly then. Sister Ling made a lot of delicious food, I guarantee you've never tried it before," Li Xi said, pulling him in by his sleeve. The stove inside was burning brightly, and the flames seemed to dance on his face. Whether it was from the heat or the firelight, his cheeks were flushed.
Li Xi was completely unaware of his thoughts at that moment. Shen Xu tasted the braised pork intestine noodles, and every bite was a wonderful experience. The pork intestines were soft yet chewy, with a rich and mellow flavor. In particular, the aroma of the braising sauce blended perfectly with the intestines, leaving a lingering aftertaste. The noodles absorbed the essence of the intestines and braising sauce, becoming even more flavorful and delicious. The entire broth was rich and thick, savory and delicious, greatly stimulating the appetite.
Furthermore, the cabbage hearts and cilantro in the braised pork intestine noodles add a refreshing taste and color, making the dish even more vibrant and appealing. It not only satisfies the taste buds but also uplifts the mood. However, there's a pungent smell that almost made his eyes and nose water, prompting him to quickly wipe it away with a handkerchief.
"Brother Li, what is this that makes my tongue numb and my nose run? I've never eaten it before," Shen Xu asked, puzzled.
"I call this chili pepper. It's my secret recipe. How does it taste?" Li Xi's curiosity kicked in.
"After eating this chili pepper, my tongue was completely numb, and the choking sensation went straight to the top of my head. Now I can feel the heat flowing through my body, I'm sweating slightly, and I feel completely comfortable. Brother Li, this is a great discovery!" Shen Xu said with a satisfied expression.
"That's right, you're the first customer to taste this chili! Come, come, these are also seasoned with chili," Li Xi said proudly. She never imagined she, Li Xi, would ever make a fortune, and she was filled with energy. "I'll go ask about chili cultivation methods tomorrow."
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