Chapter 109 Honey Lemonade
Si Li was not worried about what Si Baifu would do in the Jian family. Not to mention that the Jian family's guards were on high alert, just for the sake of his reputation over the years, Si Baifu would not do anything to her. This kind of hypocritical habit of saving face was somewhat like a couple with Mrs. Si.
After making superficial efforts with the three people, Si Li returned to the main courtyard. Xiao Qi waved an invitation card in front of her. "Xiao Si, come and take a look at this."
"…The park will open on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. We hope you will join us to discuss this event. We will be waiting for you at Wuweilou tomorrow…"
"...Garden party?" Si Li's face looked a little strange after reading the envelope with the camellia pattern on it. The invitation was signed with Wu You and a few names she was not familiar with. It also considerately noted the name of the store, as if afraid that she would not go.
As a teahouse, Wuweilou actually has a greater social effect. After showing goodwill, the relationship with Wanglaiju is pretty good. I also bought some new snack gift boxes to sell in the store. If there is money, everyone can make money together. Si Li has not participated in the circle of old shops in Beijing, but she has also paid some attention. When Wuweilou's shopkeeper Wu You came to the store and acted weird before, he mentioned the garden party. However, he used the garden party to fool her at that time, but this time he wanted her to discuss the arrangements of the garden party. I don't know what Wu You is planning behind the scenes.
"I heard that the garden party is as lively as the Buddhist conference. Is Xiao Si going to go this year?" Xiao Qi had just returned to Beijing and didn't quite understand the matter. She just wanted to see how lively it was and was happy for Si Li.
"What is it? Just go and see." Si Li shrugged, "Isn't it time for you to review your lessons? Tao Tao is said to be your role model, so learn from her."
Meng Taotao smiled, "You are so nagging. The teacher is on holiday today, don't you want to see me? Mr. Di just told me about your newly prepared 'teaching material', it would be a great thing if you could promote it."
"Ah, have you seen it?" Si Li blinked and bowed to Di Leyu who had not yet left. "It's all thanks to the teacher's help. If possible in the next few days, I will go to a class?"
"nature."
After a while, they decided to go to the Qunying Academy for classes. Di Leyu said goodbye and left. Si Li sent her back. She tilted her head and didn't find Jiang Rufei and Princess Yue. Meng Taotao knew who she was looking for. She was also a little annoyed by the mess that "Jiang Shizhi" had made. She didn't speak for that person, but only explained, "The princess's gift is here. I just saw you send the Si family off. Princess Yue and his wife went to taste tea together."
The gift Jiang Rufei gave was just a thin wooden box. When it was opened, there was only a manuscript inside. The handwriting was consistent with the box of manuscripts that Jiang Shizhi had given before, so it should be the relic of Queen Yun Sheng.
Since Jiang Shizhi took off his mask, Si Li had not touched the things he sent her for a long time. When she saw the related things, her hands trembled and the manuscript fell back into the box.
But the words I just saw still remain in my mind. In this manuscript, Yun Sheng seems to be still young. He would write down his feelings or complain about his friends around him.
"...Ah Qiang is so young, but she acts like an old lady. I don't know who will be able to stand her in the future. The Xiao family has so many rules and regulations, even stricter than the royal palace. It's a pity that no one knows what a romantic person Ah Qiang is."
Si Li looked at Xiao Qi's lively appearance and had no idea what kind of "romantic" Minister Xiao was when he was young, whom she had met at Xiao's house before.
"Since the princess is not here, why don't you stay at Jian's house today and I'll cook a hotpot for you?" Si Li said this for a purpose. With the success of the scorpion hotpot, she also wanted to try her hand at hotpot. What's so strange about just having clear soup and bone soup hotpot in winter? You have to have spicy butter and tomato hotpot to be happy.
Of course, she would not tell anyone about using her friends as guinea pigs. After all, she was now a third-level chef, so how could she rely solely on the system all day long?
The rare tomatoes that the Jian family brought back by sea were planted in the greenhouse. After much difficulty, a few plants grew in the winter, but they were all killed by Si Li. The gardener reported it to the steward, and when the news reached Jian Bingde's ears, the unique sour and sweet taste of the tomato pot had already evaporated to his nose, causing Jian Qingya and Songnian, who were handling things nearby, to swallow their saliva unconsciously.
"If the young lady wants to do it, just let her do it. What a filial piety... Besides, she knows what she is doing. Didn't she keep a few for breeding?" Jian Bingde completely forgot that he had said that no one was allowed to mess around. If anyone violated the rules, he would be very fierce. With a smile on his face, he sent the steward away and turned to his daughter, "Did you have any citrons before? Send them to Ah Li. We are in for a treat today."
Thus, the gardener, who had just repositioned Si Li's status in his heart, suffered another setback.
Xiao Qi never had a chance to speak in the kitchen. Meng Taotao went to study for a while, but she did not give up her cooking skills. She helped Si Li to prepare the hot pot ingredients very skillfully. Even when the pot of cooking sauce next to her gave off a suspicious smell, she did not even raise an eyebrow.
As Si Li was cooking, she turned the tomato base of the pot into French fries ketchup. Fortunately, ketchup was excellent in enhancing flavor, so she chopped a few tomatoes, added green onions and ginger, and stir-fried them until fragrant, then added water and sauce. She used her sensitive tongue to try adding sugar, oyster sauce and pepper, and drank a spoonful of tomato soup, which almost made her eyebrows fall off!
[System: A pot of semi-finished tomato hot pot base is completed, achievement points +0. ]
With the system's approval, at least this pot of tomatoes didn't turn over. Si Li saw the yellow fruit in Jian Qingya's arms and was a little surprised, "Isn't this a lemon?"
"Citrus." Jian Qingya handed the fruit to her. "It's a bit sour and bitter, not very tasty. Before, it was placed on the boat to prevent people's teeth from bleeding when they went out to sea. No matter how bad it tasted, people had to eat it. Now that we have tomatoes, it's useless. See if you can use it."
Si Li had heard of the common septicemia on the sea, and smiled when she heard it, "Not only can it be used, but I can also make delicious food for you."
Honey lemon tea is a drink that everyone knows nowadays. However, in the era when sugar production was still ancient, only middle- and high-end consumers could afford it. Si Li originally wanted to promote it in his own store, but considering the season, he postponed it to next summer.
The Jian family, who were looking forward to Cheese Li's cooking, soon saw a table full of dishes. Unlike in the past, the dishes were full of lettuce and raw meat. Fortunately, they knew something about the business of Wanglai Ju, and guessed for a moment whether Cheese Li was going to make scorpion hotpot.
But what is that sweet and sour taste? Xiao Que gave the answer while holding a bright red pot.
The bamboo cup with lemon slices in it was a custom-made one from Wanglaiju that Xiao Que had specially asked to pick up. The sour yet sweet liquid inside made one's mouth water at the mere smell of it. Jian Bingde, who had been on the boat all year round, carefully identified it and confirmed that it was a familiar fruit, but it looked completely different in Si Li's hands.
"Uncle, want some? Drinking it before meals can also whet your appetite." Although today's hot pot is also very appetizing.
Jian Bingde, who had been tortured by the sour and bitter taste of citrus for many years, was a little scared, but he still gritted his teeth and picked up the cup with a swig. After a few gulps, he stopped in confusion and smacked his lips, "It's quite sweet?"
"Well, you don't even believe in Ah Li's cooking skills, right?" Mrs. Jian pinched his ear. Before Jian Bingde could say goodbye, Si Li tried to stop them from laughing. "This cup is from Ah Li to my uncle and aunt. Thank you for your care."
"Hey, kid, what are you talking about?" Mrs. Jian turned her head to wipe the tears from her eyes, and sat down while holding Si Li's wrist. "Come on, how do you eat this pot? We are all family, so eat first."
"Well, let's eat." Si Li raised the glass to her friend who was accompanying her and smiled.
After a good meal and a good drink, Mrs. Jian took out the honey and lemon sauce that Si Li had briefly pickled and put it on her. Before she got on the carriage, she gave her careful advice, "Citrus can regulate qi and produce body fluids. Drink more to calm your temper. Don't keep everything to yourself. Your aunt will always help you."
"OK."
The tomato pot and lemon water were a double whammy. Not only Si Li, but also Xiao Que and Xiao Qi were a little full. Xiao Qi went to race horses first, while Xiao Que was paralyzed in the carriage, rubbing his stomach and groaning. The lively time was over, and the carriage was swaying back and forth. Si Li held the sauce pot and let her mind go blank. Suddenly, she remembered the complaint that was recorded by the system note before.
...It might be happier for two people to eat hot pot.
But why, when so many people were eating hot pot together, she still felt a sense of emptiness in her heart?
When she came to her senses, Si Li had already placed a cup of honey lemonade on the chessboard that had not been used for many days. The unfinished game left by the two siblings was stained with traces of melted snowflakes and fallen leaves blown from somewhere, which looked a little bleak. She still remembered the way Jiang Rufei smiled at her with her eyes curved when she played chess, and the feeling of being noticed from time to time when she stood in the kitchen. Jiang Shizhi left too many traces in her life, so that she had the hope to move forward.
Si Li shook her head, put down the cup while Wang Ting seemed to be hesitant to speak, and turned away. "Let's make arrangements tomorrow. You can come with me to Wuwei Tower."
The glass of lemonade had been on the chessboard for the entire day. When Si Li got up and opened the window the next day, it was no longer in the courtyard. Wang Ting, who had no idea why Si Li had asked him to go to Wuwei Tower, saw her stop and said, "I didn't drink it."
"..." Si Li stared at the chessboard for a while, then put on his cloak, "I know, let's go."
Wuweilou was closed today. Only the carriages parked at the front and back doors indicated that things were going on inside the shop. Si Li saw Wu You's familiar face the moment she got off the carriage. "How are you, Mr. Shopkeeper?"
There were already several people sitting in the largest private room on the second floor of the building, some old and some young, all of whom had similar temperaments and smiles on their faces. When they saw Si Li, they all greeted him in the same way, "Boss Si, I've heard of your great name for a long time." Despite the compliments, no one stood up, and the disrespect they showed was very obvious.
Guan Zhizhen, who was standing behind Guan Zhiyu, saw Si Li come in, her eyes lit up, and she squeezed her eyes again and again at the seat next to her, trying to get Si Li to sit over, but it didn't work at all, and her brother glanced at her and said, "If you have a seizure, go outside and wait."
Except for the place next to Guan Zhiyu where the teacup and paper were clearly placed, only the main seat and the last seat were empty. The atmosphere of the Hongmen Banquet was overwhelming. Si Li raised her eyebrows, "I am new here and don't know the rules. Today is the first time I meet you all. I don't know what the rules of this garden party are, so that I can learn a thing or two from you?"
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The author has something to say:
Thank you, little cutie "Sakura" for the 30 bottles of nutrient solution, dear~ Susu will continue to work hard!
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Citron, citron/bergamot/perfume lemon. When lemon was first introduced, it was considered as citron, and then it was gradually separated. Some studies also show that lemon is Li lemon, which has existed in China for a long time and is a hybrid of citron and lime.