Chapter 28 Another big order "This is the dim sum place that Chang Ce praised...
Zhan Wenxing had intended to wait for Wei Jinyun to leave before calling her, so he simply stood outside the shop. Unexpectedly, he was caught red-handed when he peeked in because of the sweet aroma emanating from the yard.
"Good morning, Miss Wei."
Zhan Wenxing stood up straight and smiled as if embarrassed.
He was wearing a red suit today, with his hair neatly tied into a high ponytail with a headband, which was very different from his elegant blue shirt with tucked-in sleeves yesterday.
Zhan Wenxing thought that he couldn't just walk into someone else's shop, so he stood motionless at the door and waited until Wei Jinyun walked up to him.
"Adjutant Zhan."
Wei Jinyun saluted him and asked, "What's the matter?"
"It's not a big deal. We caught the thief last night. Today, I need to question Madam Zhao and get her signature. Then, I need to confirm everything with the people who were present last night."
Zhan Wenxing clutched the oil-paper bag in his hand and coughed lightly. "...After all, she was caught in her shop, so there was a connection in the past. But that was all in the past. I asked the brothers in the government office today, and I think her divorce documents will be approved today. That... there's another thing."
He paused, his eyes drifting to the lotus flowers by the river, then quickly retracted them. Finally, he extended his hand and handed it to me. "Knowing I was coming, Lord Lu asked me to give it to you."
He asked all the questions in a row, and the last one he asked was her shop.
"This is?"
"Routine commendation."
After Zhan Wenxing finished speaking, he looked at the rising sun in the east.
He didn't know when this custom was established, but Lord Lu heard him say casually in the morning, "Miss Wei asked me to thank you last night, saying that we, sir, are the pride of the people."
The oil-paper bag appeared in his hands just like that... Just like when he went home and asked his brother, is there such a custom in the Song Dynasty, or is it unique to our Pingjiang Prefecture?
His brother said nothing and just kept asking him to eat the braised duck.
"Thanks."
Wei Jinyun collected the oil-paper bag and took two bags of her own from the yard. "I made some new products today. Can Adjutant Zhan please give them to Lord Lu to try on my behalf?"
"Two more bags?"
The oil-paper bag in his hand was still warm. He lifted it and saw that there were about five round snacks in a serving.
Wei Jinyun hummed, "I saw Lord Lu give you the shrimp crackers yesterday, and I think he would do the same with the egg yolk pastry."
"yes."
Zhan Wenxing nodded gratefully, "Whenever Lord Lu buys snacks during his shift, he will share them with the brothers."
"Lord Lu, do you like to buy snacks?" Wei Jinyun couldn't help but smile.
"yes!"
Zhan Wenxing clutched the oil-paper bag in his hand and quickly replied, "Especially during military training, we always have to chew some sweet fruit honey fried... I won't say any more to Miss Wei. The master is still waiting for me. I'll leave first."
He chatted for a while, then quickly mounted his horse and left, his sword slung over his shoulder.
"elder sister."
Wei Fuqiu leaned against the doorway, holding Yuanbao in her arms, and said calmly, "The gift is small, but the sentiment is great."
"nature."
Wei Jinyun opened the oil-paper bag in his hand. "Why else would you say 'the light of the people'? This is too much about the people...it's actually glutinous rice balls. It turns out Lord Lu also likes to eat this."
Inside the oil-paper bag were five round, plump, and cute glutinous rice balls, each made from kneaded white rice and covered in a layer of shiny glutinous rice.
Her grandfather loved eating glutinous rice balls; he'd been eating them since he was a kid. But now that he was older, he had to hide from his grandmother. The easiest way to eat them was to use the excuse of "taking my daughter out for steamed buns" and grab a couple on the spot.
She had been to the Changmen market and hadn't found any trace of Ci Mao Tuan. She thought that the stall was set up at the Changmen Wharf, which was a little outside and closer to where Lu Lan was on duty.
Wei Jinyun thought about the scene where his grandfather bought a few steamed buns from the stall and then took a detour to eat glutinous rice balls, and took a light bite.
It tastes pretty much the same.
The outside is extremely soft and glutinous, sticky and chewy, and the inside is filled with a mixture of fresh meat, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots with just the right amount of fat and lean meat. It is tender, juicy, and full of meaty aroma.
"Sister has had breakfast and her appetite is still as good as ever."
Wei Fuqiu scratched Yuanbao's chin and muttered casually, "That cat demon in the tree, could it be the light of the people?"
Wei Jinyun choked, "Sister Qi is so smart."
"Sister is the smartest one. But she only uses her smart head to make money... Don't you think so, Master Yuanbao?"
Yuanbao rubbed his chin and head in Wei Fuqiu's palm again and again, looked at Wei Jinyun with his turquoise eyes, and responded with a few gurgling sounds.
Wei Jinyun stared at his sister while biting a glutinous rice ball. "My good sister, why are you so hesitant to speak today?"
"Sister, this basket of rice noodles is ready!"
"Here I come." Wei Jinyun held her "routine reward" and ran to the yard to knead rice flour.
Wei Fuqiu was still leaning against the doorway, muttering to herself, "Yuanbao, we have one more person to investigate... We already know of Brother Renbai, the confused and dazed man, Brother Wu, and now there's also the Light of the People."
When Zhang Renbai was seeing his guests off, he happened to hear Wei Fuqiu muttering.
He stood there for a while, looking at her back as she stepped into the yard. What was this "Brother Renbai is in a daze and becomes the Egg Pancake Hero and shines"?
Lu Lan was not very busy today. He sat in front of the Xiangyinzi stall in Changmen and ordered a bowl of raw pickled papaya. He saw Zhan Wenxing humming a tune and coming over.
"Sir, this is given to you by Miss Wei."
Zhan Wenxing sat down on the chair with his arms and legs spread wide open. "She asked me to say 'thank you' to you."
"Here, mine?"
Lu Lan took the oil-paper bag and felt a little flattered.
She gave him snacks again.
She gave him snacks, treats he had never seen before.
An idea suddenly occurred to him: he should go to the government office to ask when the reward money would be approved.
So when giving her the tip, what snacks would be best for him to buy her?
"Sir, don't worry about indigestion. You just ate some glutinous rice balls. Please take a break before eating. Put it down!"
Jing Liulang put down the papaya juice and wanted to snatch the oil paper bag from Lord Lu's hand.
*
By July, the rainy season is over, and we finally don't have to feel the sticky, stuffy and humid weather. When it rains, it's like a slow cooker, and when the sun finally comes out, it's like a high-heat cooker that simmers everything.
The cicadas climbed up the locust tree inside the shop and chirped loudly, signaling that Pingjiang Prefecture was about to usher in the Lesser Heat.
Yuanbao was not very energetic when he was picked up, but with the love of his two younger sisters, he is now stretching out his claws to fight with the June Yellow in the wooden basin.
June yellow crabs are small, about 2 taels, and are in the process of molting before becoming mature crabs. Around the summer solstice, this is the fifth time they molt, heralding their transition to adulthood.
Unfortunately, while he was trying hard to take off his clothes, he was caught by the gluttons in Pingjiang Prefecture.
Although it is small and exquisite, it has a thin shell and tender meat, and tastes very delicious.
Wei Jinyun squatted in front of the stall, opened the tail of each June yellow fish and looked at it. Under the vendors' angry gazes, he picked out the plump and yellow ones.
Wei Jinyun used a horsehair brush to take care of them. Although the crabs were small, their claws were still sharp. She pinched the shell lightly and snatched the last prey from Yuanbao's claws.
Wei Fuling and Wei Fuqiu sat beside her, shelling edamame beans obediently. The beans in the flat basket were plump and round. Wei Fuling peeled and tossed them in delicately, but a few were disobedient and jumped out of the basket, flying to who knows where in the yard.
June yellow crabs are most delicious when used to make noodle-drag crabs. If you want to steam them to make hand-wash crabs and savor their meat, you have to wait until the autumn wind blows and find those that have successfully shed their shells.
She cut the juniper in half and coated the cut edge with flour. The iron pot on the stove was smoking, and when the oil started to fry, she threw the floured juniper in.
With a sizzling sound, the crab shells gradually took on an orange-red hue, and the ginger slices in the pot also exuded a spicy aroma. She swirled the spatula to mix it evenly, and after simmering it for a while, she sprinkled in the edamame her sisters had peeled and added half a bowl of water.
Soon, the fresh aroma filled the entire courtyard. Wei Jinyun watched as the broth was almost dried up, the translucent crab meat gradually turning white, and the cracks in the crab shell were oozing out some beautiful orange-yellow crab paste.
Before serving, you naturally need to use the remaining flour to make a bowl of flour water to thicken the soup soaked in crab paste and crab roe.
Served in a large bowl, the June yellow crabs lay in the thick soup. When they were gently broken, the semi-liquid crab paste flowed down the shell, mixed with the fragrance of edamame, making the Yuanbao, who was fighting for the trophy, meow non-stop.
Wei Jinyun naturally took the opportunity to roast the crabs and grilled one for it without any seasoning. When her sisters went to serve rice to her and her grandmother, Yuanbao took the delicious little crab belly in his mouth and went to a corner of the yard to savor it.
The shell of the crab is fried until crispy and golden. When you break it gently, you will find the batter wrapped around it is soft, smooth and a little chewy, and absorbs enough soup.
When you bite it, you first get the aroma of flour, and then the June yellow meat is sweet and tender, hidden in the shell, mixed with semi-liquid and sandy crab roe and crab paste, which goes straight through the tip of your tongue.
The edamame at the bottom of the bowl has absorbed the crab soup, and is plump and filled with the freshness of June yellow. It is more mellow and fragrant than eating edamame alone.
The soup is the color of a thick red sauce, with just the right amount of saltiness and sweetness. It should not be wasted and is perfect for mixing with rice.
Crab is something that takes a long time to eat. The four generations of grandparents and grandchildren ended up with their hands full of it. They washed them with soapberry fruits many times, but there was still a faint crab flavor left.
When the time came, Wei Jinyun's sisters took turns touching Yuanbao's head while he was sleeping, and then pushed the cart out.
As the weather gets hotter, there seem to be more street vendors.
Under the shade of the trees at the arched bridge over the Linton River, a cart was piled high with half-cut watermelons, their skins emerald and their flesh red. An elderly vendor, his coarse cotton jacket unbuttoned, called out, "Sweet-fleshed watermelons, juicy and crispy, two cents a piece!"
When a woman stopped, he picked up the knife and cut off another piece, then handed it to her, "Lady, try it. If it's not sweet, you don't have to pay."
Peddlers carrying loads of fruits on their shoulders walked through the streets and alleys. There were bamboo baskets on both ends of the loads. One end was filled with fresh fruits, such as green plums and bayberries, covered with a wet cloth, and the other end was filled with some small items, such as small bamboo fans and strings woven with colorful ropes. I guess they were made by the skillful wives at home.
He didn't need to shout loudly, he just shook the copper bell in his hand. After the "ding-ling-ling" sound came, children took out the silver and money from their homes and ran out to buy fruit.
When the three sisters arrived at the gate of the government school, Lao Guo, who was selling fragrant drinks across the street, had already set up his tent. Under the tent were several large vats, with the mouths of the vats covered with wet cloths.
He fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan and called out slowly, "Selling fragrant drinks. Licorice, mint, lychee paste. Two cents a bowl. Refreshing!"
He has tables and chairs there, and it's cool. It's hot in the afternoon, so business is naturally the best.
Wei Jinyun parked the cart and placed the remaining egg yolk pastries on the counter. He had originally planned to keep twenty for tasting, but after wrapping them for Lu Lan before cutting them into small pieces, only ten remained.
If the tasting is finished before the school is over, she can just make it again tomorrow. It won’t matter if she waits a day or two.
After all, Lord Lu will personally deliver her the reward money. If Lord Lu enjoys his meal, the reward money might arrive soon. She is eagerly waiting for it.
"Miss Wei."
Madam Qian moved to her side as if to inquire about something in the past. Under the expectant gazes of the vendors nearby, she cleared her throat and asked, "Did Lord Lu bring you snacks yesterday? Are you familiar with Lord Lu?"
When Lu Lan stood there, everyone deliberately moved back quite a bit. They respected Lord Lu in their hearts, and if he were to appear before them, they wouldn't dare to breathe.
I couldn't hear a word they said.
Although they didn't know why Lord Lu would send snacks like fried stinky tofu to every girl, they saw how happy Miss Wei was, which made them several times happier than hearing that a customer had bought a few more cakes.
Old Guo, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, came over to chat. "I noticed that when Lord Lu turned and mounted his horse, his stride was slower than usual. Normally, he wouldn't pass by the gate of the prefectural school at this time of day."
"He came to give me a reward snack."
Wei Jinyun took a sip of tea and said, "A few days ago, I happened to help catch a thief. He was... a very kind man."
Madam Qian uttered an "Ah!", her mind buzzing for a moment. "Master Lu is known for his seriousness. Last time, I saw a kid running down the street, and he bumped into him and shouted 'Slow down!' The kid frightened and stopped dead in his tracks. But how come when he comes to Madam Wei, he becomes the friendly guy offering snacks?"
Everyone looked at each other, recalling that Lord Lu's expression did seem much gentler and softer yesterday.
"This is the light of the people." Wei Fuqiu was sitting on a bench reading a book. She raised her head and replied suddenly.
"Yes, the light of the people." Wei Fuling was reciting a poem and muttered it incoherently.
"Indeed, the light of the people."
Wei Jinyun nodded solemnly. "I've only known Lord Lu for two days...but Lord Lu is indeed a very good person. Everyone should remember that he is the pride of the people."
After hearing this, everyone dispersed, and Mrs. Qian returned to her stall to hang her paste. Her son couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, so he got up and filled all the water tanks in the yard, and asked her to inquire about it.
We've only known each other for two days.
But everyone remember, in the future you can call Lord Lu the light of the people.
"Aunt, please walk faster. You didn't want to ride a horse, Aunt, please go faster."
Although the egg yolk pastry was only a small piece for sampling, it was still popular. Two customers even asked Wei Jinyun to reserve a few for them tomorrow.
She would put on the market new seasonal products every few days, and when she had saved up thirty strings of cash, she would go and inquire around in various shops and hire a craftsman to build a new shop.
Xu waited until the autumn wind started and it was time to open her shop.
Wei Jinyun sold cakes for a while and taught her sisters to recite a few lines of poetry. She could hear his voice before she saw him.
When she looked up, she saw Lu Lingxiang pulling a man who looked to be in his fifties towards her.
He was dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt. Although Lu Lingxiang was holding his arm, his back was as straight as a pine tree, and his steps were steady and solid. His hair had some graying, but it was combed into a bun meticulously. His eyes were clear, and he had an indescribable uprightness.
Lu Heng leaned in front of his granddaughter and whispered, "Is this the dim sum place that Chang Ce praised?"
"Yes, it's not too late to try it first, Uncle."
Lu Lingxiang muttered to herself, and quickly carried Lu Heng to Wei Jinyun.
"Miss Wei, this is my grandfather. My second brother has inherited his love for snacks, so I brought him here to try some."
"Try something new?"
Wei Jinyun handed over the plate.
"Of course, of course. Grandpa, please try it." Although Lu Lingxiang said this, she had already picked up a piece of meat with a stick and stuffed it into Lu Heng's mouth.
Lu Heng was already used to Lu Lingxiang's behavior. Before the stick arrived, he had already opened his mouth and acted accordingly. This was the instant reaction he had practiced when he was with his granddaughter.
The fragrance of the crispy crust spread in his mouth, followed by the sweetness of the red bean paste. Finally, the tip of his tongue touched the melted egg yolk, which was a mixture of salty and sweet, but not greasy at all.
"The craftsmanship is indeed skillful."
He nodded with satisfaction, his voice steady, "Red bean paste and salted egg? That's a novel combination."
Wei Jinyun handed over the freshly brewed tortoise-flower tea and said, "I thought it would be too sweet and bland in the summer, so I added some salty flavor to enhance the taste. If you don't mind, try a couple more."
Lu Heng naturally wasn't polite and tasted five or six pieces on the spot.
"Aunt, could you please leave some for the other guests?"
Lu Lingxiang pulled him aside helplessly, "Tell me what's going on, and give me a definite answer, Uncle."
"Then buy two other ones for Aong."
Lu Heng leaned against the camphor tree, holding a cup of Dai Dai flower tea. "I want to try the jasmine cake that Chang Ce ate seven or eight pieces of, and I also want to try the vegetarian hangover ice you mentioned you had at Mr. Lu's tea party... Actually, it's not a problem to buy a few pieces of each."
"Forget about fainting from greed, old man. Aren't you afraid of choking?"
"Xiangxiang buys it for Aweng. Aweng, can you also ask Changce's adjutant to come along this time?"
Lu Heng stared at his granddaughter's reaction with a smile.
As expected, the tips of his ears began to turn crimson.
"Oh." Lu Lingxiang used her hands as a fan to fan her face which suddenly felt hot and responded. At this moment, the bell of the provincial school rang not far away. When she turned around, she saw the students of the provincial school running fast.
Are they all planning to abandon their civil service and join the military to defend Pingjiang Prefecture? They're running so fast.
"Today is me."
Wu Sheng calmly smoothed his flowing hair and said, "Everyone needs to practice more."
"You always run so fast and don't buy anything, so you just take up space, right?"
Tang Yin held the fan in his hand. He looked down and saw the few pieces of egg yolk pastry on Wei Jinyun's table. His eyes lit up, "New product?"
As Wei Jinyun nodded, he and the people behind him had already shared the food.
"Are you kidding me, Tang Yin?"
The student at the end of the line shouted, "I gave you a copy of the test questions today, and you turned your face so cruelly!"
"Did you copy the questions for him?"
The student heard the voice behind him, and a cold sweat suddenly broke out on his back. He turned around and said with a wry smile, "Master, you must have heard it wrong. You must have heard it wrong."
"Tang Yin."
"Here, Master!"
Tang Yin stood straight, "Master, you seem to be in better spirits after school. I won't write a poem for you today, but would you mind writing a lyric?"
"You like copying so much."
Master Lu smiled as he straightened Tang Yin's clothes and said, "Go back and copy the Shangshu today. Go ahead."
"Yes, Master." Tang Yin reached out and stroked the egg yolk pastry crumbs on his clothes, and his brows furrowed in frown.
"why are you laughing."
Master Lu turned around and patted the student whose shoulders were shaking with laughter. "You borrowed it to copy. I think you can do it quickly and well. Why don't you do it twice more? I'll get you two copies later."
"Yes, Master." He took a horse stance on the spot to steady his body that was about to fall.
Under the shade of the camphor tree, Lu Heng saw this scene.
"Isn't this Mr. Lu?"
Lu Heng crossed his arms and walked up to Master Lu with a smile, "Master Lu is really still strong despite his age."
"Oh, how can I compare to Mr. Lu? Look at how much stronger Mr. Lu has become."
Master Lu stroked his beard and looked up, saying, "I can't believe Mr. Lu is already in his seventies. Why don't you stay home and tinker with your old gun instead of coming here to enjoy some snacks?"
"I'm fifty-two."
Lu Heng's heart skipped a beat. "It's better than some people who study their whole lives but still can't speak properly when they get old. No matter how old my gun is, it's more useful than those sour articles on my desk."
"Oh, maybe I remembered it wrong. I'm so sorry. Look at my memory... When the Western Xia invaded, who was the one who submitted the memorial to the court? If it weren't for me, your gun would have rusted into scrap metal long ago."
"I'm just being self-righteous. After all, I used to be unable to get up from court, and I ran so fast that I even wore the wrong shoes. As we age, our memories naturally deteriorate... When the Yellow River burst its banks, and the victims poured into Bianliang, who said that natural disasters are unpredictable and we should just wait and see? If I hadn't led my personal soldiers to reinforce the dike, those rare books in your study would have been snatched away long ago."
Master Lu chuckled and glanced at the dagger at Lu Heng's waist. "Look at you. You've been retired for years, and you're still carrying this crap around with you. Are you hoping the emperor will call you back to the barracks? I see you're just uncomfortable away from the battlefield."
"It's better than you."
Lu Heng touched the dagger at his waist and said, "The memorial to the emperor is still saying that the classics should be restored. The emperor kept it in his palace and did not publish it. But you turned around and copied the memorial multiple times and distributed it to your colleagues."
Master Lu blushed slightly, his fingers trembling. "I was thinking about this for the students of the world! What do you, a mere warrior, know?"
"I don't understand."
Lu Heng suddenly smiled, as if he had the upper hand. "But I know that when you were besieged by the Liao, I led the light cavalry in to rescue you. At that time, you hugged your Shangshu and cried, saying that you would never leave the book again in your life and that dying with it would be worth it. Why, now you find me, a warrior, an eyesore?"
After these words were spoken, Master Lu snorted for a long while, "It's an old story, why bring it up?"
He lowered his voice and said, "Come to think of it, did your Chang Ce come to Miss Wei's place to buy some snacks yesterday?"
Lu Heng raised his eyebrows, "Why, you are also craving this snack."
"I want to buy out the government school, why would I propose a long-term strategy?"
Master Lu rambled on, "I mean, she's a good cook, don't worry. You're planning a boat banquet in Zhenze the day after tomorrow, and I've already got the invitation you sent me. If you ask her to prepare snacks for the banquet, I'd be happy to go. That way, you won't accuse me of being too buried in books to care about worldly matters."
Lu Heng laughed out loud, "Okay, then I'll show you that even a warrior like me can taste good tea and bad tea."
Wei Jinyun was leaning over to listen to gossip when she heard Lu Heng approach her, holding a teacup. "Miss Wei, would you like to have a boat party?"
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Jinyun: [flattering] Hello, Lord Lu, Lord Lu is wonderful, and the reward Lord Lu gives is very generous.
Lord Lu: [Poor] Oh, she gave me some snacks to eat.
(In fact, from Jinyun's perspective, she had only seen him twice. Lord Lu looked at her this and that, and even saw her go down to the river and climb trees [cat head]. What he was thinking was completely different.
Cimaotuan is delicious, Liuyuehuang is excellent, and crab noodles are delicious. Eat egg yolk pastry if you want, after all, people have two stomachs: one for dinner and one for dessert.
Ladies, I want two bottles of iced nutrient solution to refresh myself [starry eyes]
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