Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Sending birthday gifts.
Ji Xu wanted to sell steamed buns stuffed with meat in Shengchangli, but she had not forgotten the unfriendly looks that lingered on her when she visited the market in Shengchangli on the day of paying taxes. If she went in rashly, she would be in big trouble.
She knew nothing about Shengchangli. If there was anyone in Benguli who knew the inside story of Shengchangli, it would undoubtedly be Mrs. Bao, who was the girl from Shengchangli who married into the Feng family.
Speaking of Mrs. Bao, ever since she had eaten the stir-fried large intestine with pickled vegetables made by Ji Xu, the taste had been lingering in her mind and made her intoxicated and fascinated.
But Aunt Xu's wrist was getting better, and she could cook. Besides, the Feng family would not ask Ji Xu to cook in the kitchen every day, which would have cost a lot of money. Supporting the third son Feng Yun to study was a big expense every year, so they would try to save on other things.
Therefore, Bao was just thinking about it in his heart.
Coincidentally, the day after tomorrow is her grandfather's birthday, and she is at a loss as to what to give him as a birthday gift.
Her husband, Feng Er, whispered in her ear, "Since you think Xunu's cooking is so skillful, why don't we invite her to our uncle's birthday banquet and have her cook a meal? That would show our filial piety, and you'd get to enjoy the feast, too."
"No, you don't know my grandfather, his reputation is more important than anything else. If he saw something as cheap as large intestines on the 50th birthday menu, he would probably file a lawsuit and accuse you of being unfilial.
Naturally, my sisters and brothers would laugh at you and me for being unpresentable."
This is what Mrs. Bao is worried about. Only a birthday gift that is both prestigious and pleasing can reflect her "filial piety".
"Then I'll ask mother for some money tomorrow, and we'll buy some good cloth to send over. I heard the cloth shop has some Jiming cloth from Yuzhang, which is very fashionable and is loved by the elderly gentry."
"Why spend this money on him? It would be better to use it privately to support my mother. She can also do less embroidery. She has to do it all day long, which makes her eyes tired."
Mr. Bao had not only one wife but also two concubines, giving birth to eight children. Some of them married off, causing daily quarrels and chaos. Bao's mother, one of the concubines, gave birth to Bao and her four brothers. Because of her gentle nature, she suffered a lot of hardship, but Mr. Bao was only concerned with his own happiness and didn't care about these things.
As the sixth daughter, Bao Shi disliked Mr. Bao very much. However, filial piety is very important nowadays. People who are unfilial will be criticized, or even sent to the government for trial, and some will be imprisoned and forced to do hard labor.
She also had to look respectful. Take the birthday gift for example. It couldn't be too perfunctory or shabby. If she really had to spend hundreds of dollars on some chicken-crowing cloth, her heart would ache.
"Leave this matter to me. I will make sure that Madam Bao's birthday gift is both pleasing and practical."
Ji Xu said to Bao who came to visit him.
Originally, Bao was thinking that since Ji Xu had lived in Chang'an, could she make some rare food for her as a birthday gift? The cost should not exceed the thirty coins she gave.
"It just requires some mulberries and dates from the hill behind the Feng family, and celery from the fields," said Ji Xu.
"These are of course available. I'll pick them and send them to you right away."
Feng Er, who was standing by, saw that she responded readily and felt that she had a plan in mind, so he cooperated very well.
There were plenty of mulberries on the back hill, so Feng Er went to pick a basket of mulberries, dates, and a handful of tender celery. The mulberries were deep red, plump, and fresh; the dates were ripe and bright red; and the celery was still covered with dew, showing that it had been carefully cared for.
"If this birthday gift is good, Madam Bao, please don't forget what you promised me." Ji Xu said.
She originally wanted to find out what was going on in Shengchangli, and thought of making some stir-fried pickled vegetables and large intestines to make friends with Mrs. Bao. But Feng Xingba said that the broth from the stir-fried pickled vegetables and large intestines was eaten up by Mrs. Bao with rice.
Coincidentally, Bao came to the house first and told him about this matter, and Ji Xu then put forward his own request.
Bao said, "Don't worry, I will do what you ask."
That day, the Bao couple took the family's big donkey cart to go to their mother's home in Shengchangli.
It was a house facing south, with two entrances and one courtyard, a hip roof and small square window lattices lined up below.
The only ancestral home of the Bao family that looks wealthy and respectable is this one. Inside, Master Bao likes to gamble with others, and all he has left from his losses is some land for his food and clothing.
However, his birthday banquet was still to be grand and splendid, with many ox carts parked at the door. Mr. Bao was exchanging greetings with the guests, laughing happily, with the fat on his round face squeezed together.
The mound-shaped scarf on his head was a birthday gift from his second son-in-law. Seeing that the silk material was good, Mr. Bao changed it and wore it. He was praised by the guests and enjoyed it very much.
However, when Mr. Bao looked at the Zen robe, which was made of old fine cloth and looked out of place, he felt a little uncomfortable. He thought that it would be nice to receive a Zen robe made of good material as a birthday gift, preferably one made of chicken-crow cloth, which was in fashion at the time.
"Yu'er, here I come."
I saw Bao and Feng Er driving a donkey cart. The big black donkey was followed by a cart, unlike his second son-in-law, who drove a covered cart pulled by oxen, which was very dignified.
The Feng family was indeed a family of slaves, not worthy of being in public. After all, it was he who agreed to the marriage with the Feng family, and in order for the betrothal gift to pay off his debts, Mr. Bao had no choice but to greet them indifferently.
His eyes were fixed on the birthday gift in Bao's hand that came down from the donkey cart. He kept thinking, "Cock-crowing cloth, cock-crowing cloth..."
When I got closer, I saw that it was a square food box woven with willow twigs. Even a lacquered wooden box was too expensive. Judging from its small size, it was obviously not filled with cloth.
Master Bao lost interest, waved his hand, and asked the only servant left to sell to take it in without even looking at it.
"Live a thousand years, Aung, and may your happiness be endless."
"May you live as long as a turtle or a crane, may your uncle live forever."
While Mrs. Bao and Feng Er were still saying some auspicious words about celebrating the birthday, Mr. Bao waved his hand and urged them to go in, ready to welcome his last and third son-in-law, who looked like an ox cart from a distance.
Bao led Feng Er to the courtyard, headed east, and went straight to the east kitchen to look for her mother Wen.
As she expected, Wen rolled up her sleeves, washed vegetables, cut meat, lit a fire and cooked, and was busy in the east kitchen, sweating profusely, without even a helper.
Mr. Bao's wife was proud of her high status, so she naturally ordered the concubine to do the work; the other concubine was Mr. Bao's favorite, so she would not come; as for the male members of the family, they would not even go near the kitchen. Only her mother, Wen, took care of the three meals a day, and when she had free time, she would do needlework to earn money.
"Those lazy guys are acting like they're the boss, leaving my mother to work all by herself."
Bao complained, tied on her knee pads, and helped cut vegetables, using the knife very skillfully.
After a while, he paid attention to the soup in the pot, stirred it, and added some salt if he felt it was too bland.
But Feng Er was stunned. Is this still his wife who didn't know the difference between grains, hurt her hands when cutting vegetables, and ate salty food when cooking at home?
Wen wiped the sweat off her face and coaxed her daughter to speak softly.
At the same time, he said to Feng Er in a flattering tone, "Son-in-law, go outside and drink with the gentlemen in the hall. The smoke and fire in the east kitchen are so strong that you will be spoiled."
"What are you afraid of? Aren't my mother and I afraid of being pickled? Go, help me wash this bunch of green onions." Bao Yu said.
Feng Er took it in a daze and scooped water to wash. Although he was not good at cooking, his father-in-law passed away early, and he often helped his widowed mother Xu, so he still knew how to do these chores.
Wen was startled and said hurriedly, "No, if my brothers-in-law saw this, they would laugh at my son-in-law."
"Aunt, even if I don't do these, just because my surname is Feng, I will be made fun of by them if I go over there. It's better for me to stay here and help you." Feng Er said, and started to busy himself in the east kitchen.
Not long after, Master Bao asked the servants to come and prepare the dishes. Fortunately, Bao Yu and his wife helped, and pork and rice soup, carp sashimi, stewed quail... were brought to the table.
Mr. Bao was very particular and insisted on having separate tables and meals. Half of the tables and plates in his house were borrowed from relatives. He sat at the seat of honor, raised his cup, and invited his guests and sons-in-law to drink.
Feng Er and Bao Yu and his wife sat in the corner at the bottom, feeling neglected.
Feng Er was naturally unhappy, but Bao Yu didn't care. She was busy eating the food and wine, and even offered some to Feng Er, saying, "We'll talk in a while."
Feng Er was just wondering when he heard Bao Da asking across from him, "What birthday gift did your sixth sister and brother-in-law prepare for Grandpa?"
Bao Da is the son of Mr. Bao's wife. He relies on his status and position to make things difficult for Bao Yu.
Bao Yu had just finished eating and drinking, and she smiled and said, "As a daughter, I have prepared a nice gift to show my filial piety to my grandfather on his birthday."
Hearing this, the children and sons-in-law of the other two families all fanned the flames, saying, "Grandfather, please teach us some more knowledge."
"Yes, Uncle, please take it out and show it to us."
Other guests were also cheering.
"Mr. Bao, such a blessing! Why don't you present it to us so we can have a look?"
Mr. Bao was actually unwilling to do so. He had seen the wicker food box and found it shabby inside and out. Wouldn't it be an embarrassment to him to present something like this?
But everyone below was in high spirits, and he didn't want to offend the guests. At the same time, he was secretly thinking, could it really be a cockcrow cloth?
So he waved his hand and asked his servant to bring up the birthday gift. When they saw the shabby food box, everyone in the room looked at him with anticipation.
Mr. Bao frowned and opened the food box.
"You're such a good fellow, Bao Yu! You just picked a few peaches and you dare to call them a gift?"
When Bao Da saw that the box contained peaches, ordinary fruits, he started to ask Bao Yu for an explanation.
"Is this your filial piety?"
"This is a longevity peach, a pastry."
"Pasta?"
Mr. Bao picked up a peach and squeezed it, and it was surprisingly soft!
This longevity peach was made by Ji Xu. The dough was kneaded with yeast and then molded into a peach shape. The color of the flesh was a mixture of deep red mulberry juice and yellow gardenia water, giving it a fresh pink color.
As for the green leaves, they were naturally made of celery juice. They looked so lifelike and realistic that people actually thought they were peaches picked from branches when they first saw them.
"Legend has it that on Taodu Mountain, where the two gods Shentu and Yulei reside, there is a peach tree stretching for three thousand miles. I am sending you peach fruit in the hope that you will receive the protection of these two gods and be blessed throughout your life. Ancient books also say that consuming jade peaches grants immortality, so I have brought you a willow basket filled with peach fruit in the hope that you will live a long and prosperous life!"
Bao Yu continued, exchanged a glance with Feng Er, and quietly asked, "Did I recite everything as Xu Nu instructed?"
Feng Er just scratched his head and said embarrassedly that he had not memorized the flowery words at all.
However, the noise in the hall was enough to explain everything.
"well!"
This good intention really made the guests applaud and praise the gift for its ingenuity, which showed the sincerity of the intention.
Mr. Bao felt elated. He broke open a longevity peach and chewed it. It tasted like wheat and was indeed made of wheat flour, with date paste stuffing inside.
He found the food delicious, but he couldn't enjoy it alone, so he asked his servants to share it with everyone else.
"Mr. Bao is blessed to have such a filial daughter. He is truly blessed."
"There's actually such a soft noodle! I'm half a century old, and this is the first time I've tasted it!"
The guests had never heard of longevity peaches made of flour before. When they tasted them, they were so surprised by the soft outside and sweet filling that they applauded and praised the peaches continuously.
"Don't break it!" There was even a child who was reluctant to take a bite of the peach. It was so realistic that he wanted to play with it for a while.
As for Bao Da's brothers and sisters who were waiting to scold Bao Yu, their faces were as black as stove ash.
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The author has something to say: Uncles and aunts: father-in-law and mother-in-law.
"Er Ya" says: "The wife's father is her maternal uncle, and the wife's mother is her maternal aunt."
Still on the top of the V list, I need to control the word count, and then try my best to meet the needs of the treasures for more updates [hug]
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