Chapter 125 Having Thoughts
This is Sheng An's first year in the Great Wei, and also the first year she has had family and a partner by her side, making it a special year for her.
After the rooster crowed three times, the lights came on in the small building, and the family of five got up.
After getting dressed, Sheng An opened the window for ventilation and could clearly feel a stuffy chill.
She looked up at the dark sky, saw no stars, but could vaguely make out a whole patch of dark clouds, and said to Xu Jinnian expectantly, "It might snow today."
Xu Jinnian walked over to look at the sky, his slender hand reaching out the window to feel the subtle changes in the airflow: "The weather changed yesterday afternoon, it's definitely possible it will snow."
Sheng An also reached out and felt around, but found nothing: "There hasn't been any rain for a while. If this snow falls today, it will be just enough to alleviate the winter drought."
When I visited Shenhu Mountain last time, the wheat and rapeseed along the way were clearly suffering from severe drought.
The couple discussed the weather for a few minutes, then went downstairs to the kitchen together.
Grandma Sheng got up earlier than the two of them and was sitting in front of the stove cooking cured meat and sausages.
The dried fish and sausages are air-dried. Boiling them before frying or stir-frying will make them less dry and reduce the salt content, making them taste better.
Seeing her grandson-in-law come in, Grandma Sheng hurriedly said, "An'an and I are enough here. Go help your father; there's a pile of paper money to fold."
Sheng An gave Xu Jinnian a push: "Go on, Dad bought a lot of yellow paper, you can help him fold it."
Xu Chenglin felt that his luck was particularly good this year. Not only had his illnesses disappeared, but his whole family had also moved into a new house. He had to burn more paper money for his ancestors so that they could bless his family with everything going smoothly in the coming year.
Xu Jinnian looked around and left only after confirming that there was no place where he was needed.
The pot was bubbling away. Sheng An lifted the lid and picked up his chopsticks to poke the cured fish, but he couldn't pierce it, so he had to put the lid back on and continue cooking.
Grandma Sheng added two pieces of firewood to the stove and chatted with her granddaughter, who was taking down the chopping board to prepare the ingredients: "When are you and Jin Nian planning to go to Jinling?"
Sheng An shook his head: "It's not confirmed yet, it should be after the seventh day of the lunar new year."
She was initially looking forward to visiting Jinling, but the thought that the culprit who killed her in her past life was in Jinling made most of her expectations disappear.
Jinling isn't too big or too small. If I were to run into that woman again, it would be too much of a hassle. I'd rather stay home, soak up the sun, and sleep in.
“After the seventh day of the new year is fine too. The Xu family doesn’t have many relatives visiting, just your aunt’s family. Go over to pay a New Year’s visit on the fourth day, and you and Jin Nian won’t have anything else to do.”
Grandma Sheng looked at her granddaughter with affection, feeling sorry for her busy work over the past few months: "You and Jin Nian should have a good time after finally getting a few days off. Don't worry about the money when you go to Jinling."
Sheng An smiled and said, "Grandma, don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who's stingy with money."
Grandma Sheng scolded, "You said you didn't care about money, but you only bought me a pair of big gold bracelets the other day, and you didn't even think to buy yourself a pair."
Sheng An said helplessly, "Grandma, you know me. I find these things cumbersome."
The old lady had been nagging for days about not buying herself a gold bracelet; her ears were practically calloused from it.
"What harm can gold bracelets do to your wrist? If you listen to me, I'll buy you a pair after the New Year. They'll look so pretty on you!"
Grandma Sheng shook her wrist, revealing two large, glittering gold bracelets: "Jin Nian is a scholar, and you are a scholar's wife, so you should wear gold and silver."
An'an is still too young and doesn't understand the saying that clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse.
Before, we didn't have the means to dress up, but now that we have enough money, we have to take care of ourselves. Otherwise, what's the point of earning so much money?
Sheng An was both amused and exasperated, and could only nod vaguely: "Alright, alright, Master Ding gave me a gold headpiece before, I'll wear it when I go out from now on."
Grandma Sheng was barely satisfied. She squinted at the fire in the stove and lovingly stroked the large gold bracelet on her wrist.
Even in her old age, she can still enjoy the blessings of her granddaughter and wear a gold bracelet that no other old lady in the village has.
If only her daughter were alive, she would be so happy to see how successful and filial An'an is.
There are only five people in the family, and none of them like to eat leftovers, so Sheng An only cooked seven dishes and one soup.
Among them, steamed sea bass, braised pork with preserved mustard greens, spicy dried shrimp, lotus root stewed with pork ribs, and crab meat lion's head meatballs were specially made in double portions. One portion was packed into a large food box and personally delivered to the neighbor's yard.
Physician Wang and Physician Hu had been waiting since early morning, eagerly anticipating what delicacies Sheng'an would send over today.
Seeing the heavy food box, the two greeted him with smiles and took it: "Thank you so much, Boss Sheng, for bringing so much delicious food so early in the morning."
They've been eating and drinking for free these past few days, and they're incredibly impressed with Sheng An's culinary skills, confidently stating that even the imperial chefs in the palace are slightly inferior.
If there's one thing that Sheng'an lacks compared to the imperial chefs, it's that they don't pay attention to plating, making their dishes look less refined.
"Today is New Year's Eve, so I've prepared a few extra dishes. Apart from the slightly spicy shrimp, Young Master Ning can try the other dishes."
Sheng An placed the dishes on the table one by one, and also brought three large bowls of rice. This was the first time in a long time that Ning Sihan had eaten a proper meal.
Unlike Ding Tianci back then, Ning Sihan's digestive and absorption functions are relatively normal. As long as she doesn't overeat meat and fish at every meal, she'll be fine.
Ning Sihan smelled the aroma of the food and, despite not being hungry, suddenly felt a surge of craving. His gaze unconsciously fell on the table: "Thank you for the reminder, Boss Sheng."
Sheng An waved his hand: "Young Master Ning, you are too kind. If you like these dishes, please send someone over and let me know. I will send another portion over at noon."
There aren't many vegetables available to eat in winter; besides radishes, cabbage, and spinach, there's only winter lotus root.
Ning Sihan has eaten quite a lot during this period, but relatively little meat.
As soon as Sheng An left, servants immediately came forward to serve Ning Sihan her meal.
As the soft, sticky, and sweet rice entered her mouth, Ning Sihan's face showed surprise. She had no idea that rice could be so delicious.
The imperial physician Wang did not miss the change in his expression, and quickly put down his chopsticks and stepped forward to ask, "Your Highness, you can even taste the rice?"
Ning Sihan nodded slightly: "This rice is very fragrant and sweet. I wonder what kind of rice it is."
When he was a child, he lived in the palace and ate rice that was famous throughout the world. But compared to the bowl of rice in front of him, it was missing something.
Physician Wang explained with a smile, "It's just ordinary rice. I wonder what method Boss Sheng used to make this rice so delicious."
Incredulity flashed in Ning Sihan's eyes, but when he thought that only Sheng An's cooking could temporarily restore his sense of smell and taste, allowing him to savor all the flavors of life, he no longer found it strange.
Wang, the imperial physician standing to the side, exclaimed, "There have been many talented and extraordinary people who have left their mark on history, but I have never seen such mysterious and unpredictable abilities as Boss Sheng before. He is truly a great blessing to the young master!"
Ning Sihan seemed to be deep in thought.
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