Chapter 217 Encountered
We took a horse-drawn carriage to the West Market, which was the most prosperous commercial area in the capital. There were restaurants, embroidery shops, gold and silver shops, pastry shops, etc. on the front street, and pawnshops, wine shops, small restaurants, and various stalls on the back street, selling all kinds of handicrafts.
Su Ruojin likes to shop in small shops and stores, not only because the prices are affordable, but also because she can find special products. Just now, she found Yunnan and Guizhou batik cloth, but the price was not cheap either.
The shopkeeper looked at the connoisseur with a nervous look, fearing that she would not buy it. "Young lady, this cloth was shipped from three thousand miles south. The cloth itself is not worth much, but the shipping cost is expensive."
Su Ruojin reached out and touched the cloth, then pulled a section to look at it. It looked like the cloth had been in the shop for some time. "Was it from last year, or the year before?"
The shopkeeper found out that the young lady knew how to judge the goods, so he had to tell her the truth: "A relative of mine went to the south to do business. He saw some new and unique fabrics, so he brought some back to try to sell. If they sold well, he would go to the south to do business again and bring back more. But he didn't expect that no one liked them."
Ye Huaizhen didn't like it either. Not only did it feel rough, but the entire piece of cloth was blank and blue. Even the old woman probably wouldn't like it. She couldn't help but frown and wanted to remind the young master what he could do with it after buying it.
Su Ruojin, however, bargained with the shopkeeper with a smile, and finally bought five feet for two taels of silver.
After leaving the store, Ye Huaizhen couldn't help but ask, "Who is it for?" For Mother Dong or Mother Ji? These two people are the only ones in the Su family who can wear it, right?
Su Ruojin smiled and said, "It's not for making clothes."
"As a tablecloth?"
Su Ruojin smiled and shook her head, "No."
"Sachet?"
"Uh..." Obviously Su Ruojin hadn't thought of this. She smiled and said, "Aunt Ye did remind me. The leftovers from making bags can be used to make sachets and handkerchiefs. They will definitely look nice."
At that time, when people traveled, they would tie a piece of cloth into a knot to make a bag, but in the Su family, whether it was the handbags that Su Dalang and other young men used to go to school or the bags they carried on their backs, they were all convenient and practical.
So that's how it is. Ye Huaizhen still couldn't figure out what kind of bag could be made from this blue flowered cloth.
Su Ruojin smiled and thought, "Once I finish making the cloth bag, you will know whether it looks good or not and whether it is practical." The two continued shopping. Su Ruojin bought the most breathable and thin linen, but of course she also bought silk, brocade, and gauze.
There is an old saying that goes "respect the clothes first and then respect the person". In the past, as a family lived in seclusion, it was sufficient to wear comfortable, generous and decent clothes. Now, my father is the magistrate of a county. When he is not on duty, he has to deal with different people, so there are bound to be people coming and going in our house. The clothes he wears are also a reflection of his status and temperament, and he cannot be careless.
After buying clothes and shoes, she bought jewelry and other things. She kept shopping until lunch time and the carriage was almost full.
Su Ruojin was very satisfied and happy: "Let's find a place to eat."
Ye Huaizhen nodded casually.
Su Ruojin looked around and found that she was at the intersection of the front and back streets. If she walked forward, she would reach the front street, which was full of upscale restaurants. If she walked back, she would reach the back street, which was not as upscale as the front street, but had its own characteristics.
Su Ruojin would of course choose a restaurant with special features, "Then let's go eat Xiji's signature dish - Yang Fang Cang Yu?"
Hearing the name of the restaurant, Ye Huaizhen seemed to remember that when her family was still wealthy, her father brought the whole family to eat here. In her memory, that was one of the few times they had eaten out. Looking back on it now, it seemed like a lifetime ago.
Su Ruojin did not notice the change in Ye Huaizhen's mood. Seeing Yang Fangcangyu, she couldn't help but sigh. She didn't expect that the Dayin Dynasty also had this dish. This is the number one dish in Chinese classical cuisine with a history of three or four thousand years. In modern times, this dish is still popular in restaurants in some places.
Yang Fang Cang Yu, also known as a set dish or two-set dish, is made by placing the fish in large pieces of mutton, adding seasonings and cooking them together by steaming or stewing. It tastes so delicious that the Chinese character "鲜" (fresh) comes from this dish. Fish and mutton are combined into one, which is called "鲜".
The inventor of this dish is unknown, but it is related to "Peng Zu". According to legend, Peng Zu's son caught a fish one day and took it home for his mother to cook. At that time, his mother was stewing mutton, so she cut up the mutton in the pot and put the fish in. Peng Zu went home to eat the mutton and found it unusually delicious, very different from the usual ones. He asked what was going on and learned how his wife cooked it. He then did the same and it was indeed delicious and extraordinary.
This is the legend of Yang Fang hiding the fish.
Several people entered the store, Mangzhong went to play pawn, and the waiter led them to the second floor and into a private room that had just been vacated.
"Please take a seat. Your dishes will have to wait a while. I will serve you tea first. You can take a rest."
The restaurant is located in the back street. It is not big, with a lobby downstairs. Business is good and the seats are full. The upstairs is smaller than the downstairs, with about five private rooms. When they arrived, a customer just left, so they came in.
It was hot at noon and there was ice in the room, so it was quite cool.
Su Ruojin didn't feel hot anymore after drinking half a cup of tea. She sat down to take a breath and wait for the food to be served.
After a while, the waiter came up with the shopkeeper and said apologetically, "Excuse me, young lady. Could you please move to the lobby downstairs? Don't worry, all the dishes you eat at noon today are free of charge."
Is this the powerful one coming?
Su Ruojin didn't care, it was just that the weather was hot and she had just cooled down and didn't want to move.
"There's no other place, why must you take this one?"
The shopkeeper said, "Yes, young lady, I'm really sorry..." He looked like he was saying, "I can't afford to offend you and please be merciful."
Ye Huaizhen had been watching the young lady silently. When she saw her stand up, she also stood up.
The shopkeeper thanked the young lady for giving him the private room, and kept thanking her all the way. He also asked the waiter to bring him fruit drinks and delicious dishes.
It is indeed a decades-old shop. Although it has been changed to a private room, Su Ruojin thinks this attitude is good. She smiled and stopped him, "There are only a few of us. There is no need to waste money."
As he said this, he walked to the end of the corridor and prepared to go down the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, two maids who were leading the way ran up hurriedly and said, "County Princess, go upstairs, get out of the way quickly." As they said that, they pushed Su Ruojin, the shopkeeper and others to the side.
Su Ruojin: ...
The shopkeeper stepped forward with a flattering smile on his face, "I respectfully welcome the Princess of Leping County."
Princess Leping? After living in the capital for so many years, Su Ruojin would only take the trouble to find out about business and people and things related to Su Yanli. She knew nothing about the princesses and princesses of such wealthy families.
For a moment, except for the sound of Lady Leping going up the stairs, the entire staircase and corridor were so quiet that people dared not breathe.
It seemed like a long time, but also like just a few steps.
The Lady of Leping County went up to the second floor. The shopkeeper stepped forward again to salute and extended his hand to invite her. "Lady of Leping County, please come this way—"
The Princess of Leping County paused and looked at Su Ruojin, "Is this the private room you gave me?"
The shopkeeper didn't expect Le Ping to ask, so he nodded and said, "My Lord, yes."
The Lady of Leping County smiled gently, "Thank you for letting me have my room. If you don't mind, I'd like to invite you to have dinner with me."
Pretty polite? Su Ruojin was just thinking about being hypocritical, but then someone invited her to dinner. She was obviously stunned. She didn't know her, why did they invite her to dinner? If it were her, she would never invite someone she didn't know to dinner.
Of course, she wouldn't steal someone else's private room.
What is this then? Being both a leader and a villain?
She smiled and refused, "Thank you for your kindness, I won't disturb you while you are having your meal."
The Princess of Leping County looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old. She was dressed in a light white palace dress with a wide skirt winding behind her. She looked elegant and luxurious. Her jet-black hair was tied into a tassel bun, and a few plump and round pearls were casually dotted in her hair. She looked fresh but not dull, and had a more ethereal temperament.
Su Ruojin looked at others, and others were also looking at her.
When she went out, she still wore a simple linen shirt, without any ornaments on her body, not even earrings, but it couldn't hide her beautiful face.
For some reason, Su Ruojin felt that this person knew her or had heard of her.
But she was just the daughter of a minor official in the capital. Apart from occasionally visiting the Fan Mansion and the Prince of Jin's Mansion, she had no dealings with other high-ranking families, so she definitely didn't know this person.
Mao Ya figured out who this person was before Su Ruojin. Could this be the rumored niece of the Queen?
Seeing that the young lady in front of him was not humble, Le Ping smiled slightly and said, "It's very noisy downstairs, young lady, do you really not want to eat with us?"
Originally, she felt that she knew her, but now she had a feeling that this woman seemed to be coming for her. Why was she coming for her? What else could she say? It was that Zhao Lan who looked like a banished immortal.
She remembered that when the news spread in the capital that the Prince of Jin's Mansion was going to form an alliance with the Wu Bo Mansion, she ran into Miss Luo in the jewelry store. Now it was popular in the capital...
Mao Ya whispered into the young lady's ear, "It is rumored that the Princess of Jin loves the Queen's niece."
Ye Huaizhen leaned close to the young lady's right ear and said, "The queen is the eldest daughter of the Fanyang Lu family, and the Dali Temple Minister Lu Youbai is her younger brother."
It is indeed a powerful family.
All right, since Miss Lu wants to treat her, then she can just eat and drink for free. It would be a waste if she doesn’t eat.
"Then why not obey your orders?"
The two servants spoke in low voices. Although Lady Leping County—Lu Lingxuan—did not hear anything, she looked like she knew who she was.
That's good!
So she walked into the private room. It had been tidied up and tea had been served again.
Just now, Ye Huaizhen and Mao Ya were able to sit down, but now they are standing next to Su Ruojin, pouring tea and water for her.
The daughters of wealthy families are naturally impeccable in their sitting etiquette and have a certain elegance.
Su Ruojin drank her tea slowly and leisurely. She didn't say anything until the other party spoke. After all, she wasn't the one who invited him.
Sure enough, just before the dishes were served, Leping County Lady Lu Lingxuan spoke up, "I feel like I've known this young lady for a long time today. I wonder what her name is, so we can make friends."
Su Ruojin put down the teacup, stood up and saluted, "My name is Su Ruojin."
"Su?" Leping County Lady Lu Lingxuan seemed to be thinking, "I wonder if Prince Zhao's teacher, Dr. Su..."
Su Ruojin knew that the other party deliberately asked her to take over the conversation, so she did not pretend to be confused and replied directly: "It is my father."
"It turns out to be Madam Su Er. No wonder I feel so close to her."
Su Ruojin was really impressed by his ability to tell lies with open eyes. He was only fifteen or sixteen years old.
Su Ruojin felt like she was getting goosebumps and sat down with a fake smile.
Lu Lingxuan kept looking at the young lady opposite with a smile, gentle and dignified, with the demeanor of a legitimate mother in charge.
Su Ruojin felt that she could hardly fake a smile. On the one hand, she thought that Zhao Lan was such a popular girl, as there were always people blocking her way to show off. On the other hand, could it be that this county lady was so gentle and generous that she wanted to call her a sister?
As expected, Lu Lingxuan said in the next sentence: "Sister Su, I heard that you are thirteen this year, right?"
Su Ruojin didn't want to reply at all. She had the urge to get up and leave, so she grinned and nodded.
"Has your family arranged a marriage for you?"
“No.”
Lu Lingxuan continued, "I heard from my uncle that he had a barbecue with your family. My aunt blamed my uncle for not telling you until now. She said she wanted to invite you to her home. I wonder if Sister Su is free to come to my home?"
And then to act as a matchmaker for her? For some reason, Su Ruojin breathed a sigh of relief. She thought Miss Lu wanted to share a husband with her. Fortunately, she didn't. If that happened, she would probably vomit out everything she ate the day before yesterday.
Even so, she couldn't sit still. Whatever you want to do with Prince Jin's Mansion, how you like Zhao Lan, that's your business. There's no point in bringing her into the picture.
Su Ruojin stood up to express her gratitude and said goodbye, "Thank you very much, Mr. Lu Siqing and his wife. I have something else to do, so I will not disturb the county lady's meal. Goodbye!" After saying that, she bowed again and turned to leave.
The maids and servants thought she was rude and wanted to stop her, but Lu Lingxuan stopped them with a look.
Su Ruojin and his group quickly disappeared from her sight.
The eldest maid looked contemptuous, "County Lady, the daughter of a minor official, even if she has a relationship with the young prince as a senior and junior brother, look at her petty attitude. Even if you agree to the young prince taking her in, the Princess of Jin will probably not tolerate her."
Lu Lingxuan didn't think so: "I heard from my uncle that after Prince Zhao became a student of Dr. Su, he changed a lot and respected Dr. Su very much. The princess may not disagree."
The eldest girl was not convinced, "County Lady, they are childhood sweethearts, so you will be ignored by the young prince."
Lu Lingxuan chuckled: "Marrying up is like swallowing a needle, marrying down is easy to lose your life. For the daughters of these minor officials in the capital, the rich and powerful families are not what they imagined."
That's a place where people are eaten.
Su Ruojin didn't know what Lu Lingxuan was thinking, and she didn't want to know.
I wanted to try the mutton fish, but I ended up drinking a bellyful of tea. I sighed and laughed, "Let's go eat mutton noodles."
No one will disturb me now!
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion on the street. A young girl of about twelve or thirteen was running forward in a dishevel. Several men behind her were about to catch up with her. She pushed her way into the crowd, weaving here and there, and finally got behind Su Ruojin.
Su Ruojin: ...
"Get out here, you little bitch, quickly, or I'll tear you apart."
The young lady dodged while quietly moving backwards, then pushed Su Ruojin and turned around and ran away barefoot.
Mao Ya reached out and supported her little master, and glanced at the chaotic crowd. For some reason, her heart was beating wildly.
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