Chapter 29 There is a huge difference between heaven and earth and the roots of the great lord that are beyond our reach!
"I've never received this before."
Lu Heng's sudden question left Wei Jinyun speechless for a moment.
She knew about boat banquets, a unique feature of Pingjiang Prefecture. Pingjiang Prefecture was home to numerous scholars and scholars, and with its abundant waterways and boats, the tradition of boat banquets has existed since the Tang Dynasty. Exquisite painted boats, known as black-sailed boats, sailed through the Zhenze Lake and the moat. While enjoying the boundless lake scenery, guests could savor delicious food, exchange poems, and listen to music.
Dishes on board are mainly seasonal and fresh, and they emphasize being "fresh, tender, clean and elegant". Desserts on board should be elegant, featuring flowers, birds, or plants, and should be sweet and delicate.
Wei Jinyun had just learned from eating melon that Xiangxiang's father-in-law was a retired general, and the guests at the banquet must also be dignitaries. If the food didn't suit his taste, wouldn't it be a big offense?
This is really a bit difficult.
"Miss Wei, what are you afraid of? Be brave enough to try."
Master Lu also walked over to Lu Heng's side and frowned at Wei Jinyun, who was serving tea to his granddaughter. "Hurry up and take it. Let Master Lu have a taste of your cooking skills."
At a banquet for warriors, I'm afraid the attendees are all warriors, so how could they possibly understand anything? She performed so well at her granddaughter's tea party, why did she seem so timid at this boat banquet?
No, then the tea party is definitely better than the boat banquet.
Before Wei Jinyun could continue, Master Lu quickly continued, "Miss Wei, I'll accept the boat banquet for you."
Wei Jinyun let out an "Ah!", and Lu Heng continued, "Oh my, what a powerful authority. Is Mr. Lu going to make the decision for someone else again? Miss Wei hasn't even spoken yet."
Wei Jinyun really wanted to speak, but she couldn't get a word in. The two of them had just been at peace, but in the blink of an eye, they were arguing again.
"The snacks you made at my Tangtang Tea Party last time were both beautiful and delicious. They're perfect for a boat banquet, let alone one for Mr. Lu..."
"What do you mean, it's my boat party."
Lu Heng bit into a piece of jasmine cake and said, "How is my boat feast any different from others? Dim sum is filling and to your taste. Are some people like me who have to analyze the rhythm of a fast food snack or recite a poem before drinking a cup of tea?"
"Oh."
Master Lu ate the mint cake with a smacking taste, "What else? Could it be that some people can swallow a jasmine cake in one gulp, but when they eat Miss Wei's new product, the crispy skin will fall all over their clothes, and they may not even know how to write the word 'elegant'."
"I don't understand elegance?"
Lu Heng's neck stiffened as he swallowed another piece of jasmine cake, brushing off the fallen pastry on his clothes. "Back when I was at the border, I used enemy helmets to make mutton soup. It was so delicious! Isn't this considered battlefield elegance?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the students watching had to pinch their thighs hard to keep silent.
"Battlefield elegance?"
Master Lu stretched the mint cake in his hand and said, "I'm afraid that Mr. Lu mistaken boldness for elegance. When I go to the boat banquet the day after tomorrow, I won't be served a big bowl of braised pork elbow, two whole garlic and two pounds of roasted knives, will I?"
The two argued for a while, then turned to look at Wei Jinyun.
"Accept, Miss Wei, accept my boat banquet."
Lu Heng took out some silver from his pocket and slapped it on Wei Jinyun's table, "It must be better than his tea party!"
“Tsk.”
Master Lu wiped his hands with a towel and glanced at the change on the table. "Mr. Lu is really stingy."
"Xiangxiang, give Aung some change."
Lu Heng turned around, swung his granddaughter's sleeves back and forth, and leaned over to her, whispering, "You know, all the money in the family is managed by your grandmother and mother... Lend me some first, and I'll pay you back next month when Grandfather gets the change."
"Aweng, didn't you save it for three months this time?"
"I spent a lot of money on tea last month. I also bought new clothes for you and Chang Ce. Xiangxiang, my dearest grandfather loves you the most."
Lu Lingxiang looked at Lu Heng helplessly, and put the silver on Wei Jinyun's table.
"elder sister."
Wei Fuqiu took the book, slowly stood up, and moved closer to Wei Jinyun. "This is about ten taels."
Wei Jinyun's eyes flashed silver.
"Why not?"
She stretched out her hand and swept the two pieces of silver coins over, her face dimpled, "Mr. Lu, just watch."
Even if she risked everything, she would make this boat exquisite and good.
"Aung is so happy eating."
The passionate debate between the two elders attracted a lot of people. Lu Lantang also appeared quietly behind Master Lu and glanced at his hand which was subconsciously reaching for the mint cake again.
Master Lu fell silent.
“Tsk.”
Lu Heng watched the fun from the side and drank another cup of tea, "My Xiangxiang is still good to me."
"Uncle, remember to pay back the interest next month."
Lu Heng fell silent.
Today's cakes sold out very quickly. Within two quarters of leaving the mansion for school, all the cakes on Wei Jinyun's table were cleared out, leaving her with not even a scrap of cake left.
When he pushed the cart back to the shop, Wu Sheng moved his feet and stood in front of Wei Jinyun.
He flicked his sleeves lightly, his eyes not looking at Wei Jinyun, but at the large camphor tree above his head. "Miss Wei, can you see how I am different today?"
Tang Yin and Zhu Zhishan sat at Lao Guo's fragrant drink stall and sprayed each other's faces with perilla water and lychee paste.
The three sisters of the Wei family stared at Wu Sheng carefully, looking from top to bottom and from bottom to top.
"Brother Wu's hair was tilted to the left yesterday, but it's tilted to the right today."
Wei Fuling had a strong ability to observe and quickly found clues in the bun.
"No, no."
"Egg pancakes...Brother Wu is wearing black cloth shoes today and blue ones yesterday."
Wei Fuqiu coughed lightly and quickly took back what she was about to say.
"No, no."
Now Wu Sheng's heart was even more excited, as he was just waiting for Miss Wei to comment on him.
"Mr. Wu."
Wei Jinyun touched his chin hard.
"Um?"
"It seems darker than yesterday."
“…”
Looking at the backs of the three sisters in the distance, Wu Sheng rolled up his sleeves, clenched his fists and observed the lines on his arms.
He had clearly chopped wood and drawn two jars of water, but why was his arm not as strong as Lord Lu's?
"That's terrible, Brother Zhu."
"I'll wipe it for you, Brother Tang."
The wind on my way back to the shop is sweet today.
Shantang Street was filled with vendors selling jasmine and tamarisk flowers, and the sweet aroma of citrus permeated their entire journey. Wei Jinyun bought some malt stir-fried candy for her sister and also brought one for Meng Ge'er.
Even today's Coptis chinensis soup is sweet.
Firstly, to make money, and secondly, because her previous tea party had already left an impression on others. If this boat banquet went well, her Yun Lai Xiang would become even more famous. A greater reputation would naturally help her business after the opening.
Wei Jinyun carried a big shad and returned to the shop chatting and laughing with her sister.
The two of them bent their heads to play with the candy, paying close attention to the road ahead, spinning the still-warm candy up and down on the bamboo skewer. Their wrists, gripping the skewer, twisted and pulled, the brown sugar threads stretched long with their movements, but they didn't even bother to eat it.
After returning to the shop, the two sisters gave the stir-fried candies to Meng Ge'er alone. Then, when they lowered their heads to play with them, they almost bumped into a woman walking towards them. Fortunately, Wei Fuqiu saw a pair of pink shoes and immediately pulled Wei Fuling up.
Wei Jinyun was about to apologize when she saw the person in front of her smile at her and said directly, "Oh, this must be Miss Wei, she looks really young and capable."
She looked about forty, with two hairpins inlaid with kingfisher feathers and pearls slanting diagonally across her double bun, making her dark hair appear even more shiny. She wore a crabapple-red silk jacket with cloud patterns embroidered around the collar and cuffs. When she walked, her skirt swept the ground, stirring up a faint whiff of incense that was dazzling to the touch.
"Who are you?"
Wei Jinyun was very familiar with this incense. Zhang Renbai loved to use agarwood to fumigate clothes.
Mrs. Xu smiled again. "I just got back today, and my husband Renbai told me that the dim sum you make is very famous in front of the prefectural school. Even his former teacher, Master Lu, praised it. I've tried it, and it's really delicious."
Xu Fenfang, as she was called, had returned to her parents' home with Zhang's father for a visit, leaving the shop to her son, Zhang Renbai. She had planned to spend the summer at her parents' home before returning, but she had a dream during the night. She dreamed that her son, Ben, had passed the imperial examination and was riding a horse through the streets when a woman suddenly appeared, stopped his horse, and called him a heartless man.
When the emperor heard about this, he stripped his son of his title of Jinshi that same day.
Xu suddenly woke up, covered in sweat, and felt worried. She immediately asked Zhang's father to prepare a carriage and rush back to the shop.
When she returned to the shop, she saw her son studying and the business was good. She finally breathed a sigh of relief and went to the backyard to wash her face, but she saw that the wall between the yard and the shop next door was very high and newly built.
That big rock...why did it go back again?
Before she could figure out the reason, she returned to the shop after washing her face and saw her son grinning foolishly while holding a piece of cake. He was so young, but the wrinkles on his face were almost smiling.
She felt something was amiss, so she inquired and tested her son. Only then did she learn that a family of four had moved into the shop next door, and that one of them, a girl named "Wei Jinyun," was seventeen years old and a skilled pastry chef.
As the son introduced her to the family, he was still smiling foolishly, saying that Miss Wei was very kind and even considered them when renovating the shop. She didn't pay for the shop and still got a solid wall for free. He was praising her to bits.
Her silly son.
Her walls.
Could it be that her dream was true?
Xu tasted a piece of the cake and it was indeed delicious. But no matter how novel the cake was, it was just a snack. How could it have caused her son to be obsessed with it all day long?
She wanted to see what kind of young lady could block her son's path to becoming a Jinshi?
"As long as Madam likes it, it's also thanks to the neighbors for not giving up."
Wei Jinyun was not wrong to guess that they were indeed Zhang Renbai's family members. Seeing the lady smiling, he felt a chill surrounding her, as if it was about to eat her.
As expected, after hearing Wei Jinyun's words, Xu immediately spoke up, "The taste is quite novel, and the style is also quite nice. Miss Wei's hands are truly skillful, able to make all these different designs with flour, sugar, and oil."
Soon, Zhang's father listened to his wife's words and walked out of the shop, followed by Zhang Renbai.
He was probably in his early forties, slightly plump, with a round face and a beard. He wore a dark green orchid brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. Through the folds of his robe as he walked, one could vaguely see the elegant brown and yellow silk lining.
He seemed to have a certain air of style about him, taking a sip of his tea. "It tastes really good. But Miss Wei, dealing with flour, sugar, and oil all day long isn't a long-term solution. Look at our Renbai, he buries himself in the sages' books, seeking fame and honor, the true path that brings glory to our family."
He also bent down to greet the two sisters, "You are also a talented sister. You should learn more needlework and learn a few words in the future. You can find a stable and honest family in the future. Going out to set up a stall all day will delay you."
"But we have already entered Su Yuxuan."
Wei Fuling held the candy in her hand and looked up, saying, "The headmaster there has taught several Jinshi scholars."
"Does this old man think that Mr. Dong is not a good person?"
Wei Fuqiu opened her arms and stretched the candy so long that it almost touched Zhang's father's face.
Father Zhang was choked by the tea and turned his head to avoid the candy that seemed to be coming towards him. It was not right to answer, nor was it right not to answer.
What is this old man?
How is he old?
"Alas, my humble craftsmanship is certainly not like reading the books of sages."
Wei Jinyun rubbed his two sisters' heads vigorously, trying hard to calm himself down and not burst out laughing. "But how is it that I'm not doing the right thing by making snacks?"
Xu was busy patting Zhang's father on the back. "That's not what I meant. It's just that, Miss Wei, I'm not saying anything bad. You're beautiful and have good skills, but you still have to plan for the future. Our Renbai, although only a student, his teacher said he's incredibly talented and has a good chance of passing the next imperial examination! A scholar-husband is a serious scholar, and his future prospects... maybe even a great husband."
She paused and looked at Wei Jinyun meaningfully.
Zhang's father took a deep breath, finally stopping his cough, and immediately continued, "Exactly. On the road to fame and fortune, one must be pure-hearted and free from desires, and one must associate with the most refined and elegant people."
These words seemed to be spoken to Zhang Renbai beside him, but his eyes were actually glancing at Wei Jinyun.
Wei Jinyun tilted his head and glanced at Zhang Renbai.
Zhang Renbai felt a little embarrassed, his face slightly red. He wanted to stop his parents but didn't dare. He could only look at the lotus flowers on the river bank and take in the scenery. He said vaguely, "Dad, Mom, snacks... Miss Wei's snacks are still delicious."
Wei Fuqiu frowned.
It turns out he is such a brother.
Wei Jinyun suddenly trembled slightly, as if she couldn't hold onto the handle of the cart. Suddenly realizing something, she sighed, "So that's how it is! Madam and Master are so thoughtful, I understand... Are you worried that my dim sum skills will disturb Young Master Zhang's noble study? Or... Are you afraid that a little dim sum girl like me, ignorant of the world, will develop inappropriate thoughts and hinder Young Master Zhang's bright future?"
Zhang's father and Mrs. Xu were so shocked by Wei Jinyun's straightforward words that they were speechless for a moment. The fake smiles on their faces froze, and Zhang Renbai turned his gaze back in disbelief.
"That's true. Young Master Zhang is a talented young man with a promising future. I have nothing but admiration for him. How could I dare to have any undue expectations? There's a world of difference between us."
Wei Jinyun was pinched by Wei Fuqiu's palm, and she almost couldn't hold it in. She took a deep breath and widened her eyes, "Madam, don't worry! Young Master Zhang is the bright moon in the sky! I'm just a firefly on earth, illuminating the few inches of land in front of my own door. I feel very lucky. Naturally, I dare not dream of clinging to the unattainable... Grand Master's roots."
"Wei, Miss Wei...I still like her very much."
Zhang Renbai hesitated to speak, but was silenced by a sharp look from Dan Xu and an even heavier cough from Zhang's father.
They thought this was a scheming woman who would be hard to associate with their son, but how come she is so sincere?
Many of the words that Xu had been holding back were choked back by Wei Jinyun's praise of her son as "the bright moon in the sky" and "the offspring of the great husband". It turned out that she was a very self-aware person.
So, she might not have known about the wall in the yard at all, but just helped them build a new wall out of kindness, which was quite good for preventing thieves.
So it means that her son must like her?
What a silly son.
"Miss Wei, that's not what we meant."
After hearing her say this, Xu Shi felt like she was the bad guy again. She wondered how the relationship between the neighbors would become so strained.
She thought for a moment and said, "Your dim sum is indeed delicious. Business has improved a lot since we came back. I thought we could increase the daily dim sum price from 30 yuan to 60 yuan. Is that okay?"
"Okay, okay."
Wei Jinyun finally couldn't help laughing, "Sign the contract?"
"Of course I signed it." Father Zhang nodded.
"Sister, should we have the shad for dinner stewed or braised in soy sauce?"
Wei Fuqiu took Wei Jinyun's hand and helped her push the cart.
"Of course, the best is the stewed tofu soup!"
Wei Fuling let out a "Hey whoosh" and pried the wheel with her hand. As she entered the shop, she waved her hand in a clear voice, "Let's go in first, Grandpa."
Father Zhang poured another cup of tea, but he drank it down his nose first, and coughed so hard that two small streams gushed out of his nose.
Zhang Renbai patted his father's back, but did not forget to look at Wei Jinyun's back.
He obviously likes Miss Wei very much.
Doesn't she like him?
Even if she said that she was worlds apart from him, he would certainly not despise her.
After he passes the imperial examination, he will discuss it with his parents, and they will definitely agree then.
When I entered my own yard, I saw Zhao Xiangping trying hard to stop Wang Qiulan from carrying a hoe and rushing out of the shop.
"Bah, what the hell!"
The three sisters came over to pat Wang Qiulan's back and pour her some tea, which allowed her to catch her breath, but she continued to curse, "My Jinyun is a fairy raised in the Jade Pool. That ugly girl from their family is so ugly that even Jinyun finds her ugly. And he calls her a great husband? He's studied for more than ten years and hasn't even earned the title of scholar. He'd be gossiped about by the neighbors. Does she think we don't know? In Bianjing City, adults can get the third place in the imperial examination at the age of seventeen. What kind of person is he? He's a stone in the toilet. He'll smother his ancestors to death!"
"Oh, my dear sister, please take a rest."
Zhao Xiangping persuaded them and laughed along, "Renbai is a good kid, but he's under the thumb of his parents, who control everything. He has to obey them, even what underwear he wears today and what style of shoes and socks he wears tomorrow... Even when Miss Wei was criticized like that just now, he didn't even say a word."
"Grandma, please calm down."
Wei Jinyun poured the money he earned today onto the table and said, "Grandma, please praise me."
“How did you earn so much?”
Wang Qiulan's eyes lit up as well, and she quickly realized, "But what kind of banquet or tea party did you accept?"
"Of course, my sister accepted the boat order for the boat banquet this time."
Wei Fuqiu held Yuanbao in her arms, scratched his chin, and whispered, "Master Yuanbao, I solemnly declare that Brother Renbai, who was confused, has lost his chance. What do you think?"
Yuanbao rolled into Wei Fuqiu's arms and meowed, not knowing whether he was nodding or attracted by the smell of shad on her body.
"Our Jinyun is capable and will definitely make a name for herself in Pingjiang Prefecture in the future. However, a boat banquet is a bit more sophisticated than a tea party. Is Jinyun confident? Have you asked the host family about their tastes?"
Wang Qiulan took the shad and said, "Grandma will cook it for you." "I've found out."
Wei Jinyun nodded.
Mr. Lu said that this was a man named Su whom he had met in Bian Jing before. He was returning to Hangzhou from Runzhou and passed through Pingjiang Prefecture, so he invited him to a banquet.
It is said that this friend loves to eat crabs and has no special dietary restrictions.
That's easy.
"I want to eat stewed tofu, Grandma."
Wei Fuling squatted next to Wei Fuqiu and started playing with the ingots.
"Okay!"
"Miss Wei is really amazing."
Zhao Xiangping wiped Meng Ge'er's mouth, whose face was covered with candy. "What do you think, Meng Ge'er?"
"Hello, Sister Wei."
No matter how hard Zhao Xiangping tried to wipe off the malt sugar on her face, she took Meng Ge'er back to her shop to wash her face.
The hilsa in early summer is delicious, as they are just caught in the river, and each one is expensive. But today is different. I have made some money, so I will enjoy it while I can.
The shad lay in the soup, the fish meat was so tender that it almost melted in the soup. The tofu cubes were as white as jade, having absorbed enough soup, with a layer of warm oily sheen, swaying gently in the soup.
Before the two younger sisters served the rice, they first scooped soup for Wei Jinyun and Wang Qiulan, one bowl each.
The shad is rich in fat, plump and sweet, and the meat is so tender that it falls apart with just a sip.
The tofu, saturated with the freshness of the fish, is soft and tender, the aroma of the bean and the fish lingering on the tongue. The broth is the essence, rich yet not greasy. As you swallow it, the umami flavor fills your throat, and you smack your lips, filled with the intertwined fragrance of fish and tofu.
A bowl of hilsa and tofu soup with braised water bamboo shoots, a plate of stir-fried snails with sauce, and two pieces of pickled ginger, the aroma will be so delicious that you will even dream about it at night.
The past two days had been no different from any other, except that when Wei Jinyun went to deliver some snacks to Zhang's Stationery, it was Xu who came to meet them. She praised the exquisiteness of the snacks and then said nothing more to her.
Wei Jinyun shopped extensively at the Changmen market, then, as Lu Lan had instructed, went to the blacksmith's shop to find some scrap iron. She then rushed to Zhouji Brick and Tile Shop to buy some stones and called the master. Xiao Zhang and Erniu argued for a long time, but ultimately sent Xiao Zhang as Wei Jinyun's representative to help the shop buy new iron and paving stones.
The number of egg yolk pastries was limited to 30 pieces per day, and they were already ordered to be bought before the students from the prefectural school were finished. The students were so angry that they wrote poems and stamped their feet, insisting on making reservations with Wei Jinyun.
On the day of the boat party, the weather changed. It was fine during the day, but in the afternoon, it started to rain heavily. Even though the three sisters had the donkey cart ready with food, and even covered themselves with blankets and held umbrellas, their clothes still got wet.
The summer rain depends entirely on the weather. It always rains a few drops from time to time, and then a bucket of rain from time to time. It's really annoying.
Wei Jinyun and her sister had just changed into dry clothes when a boatman wearing a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat arrived to invite them. The boat banquet was to be held on the Zhenze Lake, and they had to take a small boat for a while, sailing through the rippling blue waves before finally reaching the pleasure boat.
Amidst the misty rain, which beat against the withered lotus leaves, a carved pleasure boat gradually emerged.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: It’s time to make money again, work hard!
Zhenze is Taihu Lake, and the Su family boat show is an intangible cultural heritage. I strive to restore and innovate it. [猫头]
The boat banquet is also delicious, let’s eat it in the next chapter!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
