Chapter 388 Fried Spring Rolls
The spring of the seventh year of Jingyuan was the coldest in nearly sixty years. It was not until April that the temperature slowly rose and people finally struggled out of the endless cold.
In mid-April and into February, it snowed every other day. Even though the court had been stepping up disaster relief efforts, many old, weak, sick, and poor people still died in the gloomy spring.
From March to April, the temperature rose slightly. It didn't snow, but it was cloudy and rainy, and people were so cold that they couldn't go out. Life was very difficult. If it weren't for the tens of thousands of soldiers from the capital transporting food and firewood to Bianliang City, many people would probably not have survived this spring.
It was not until one day in mid-April that the weather suddenly cleared up and the temperature suddenly rose to more than ten degrees, and the people in the north were finally relieved from the bitter cold.
Su Ruojin also came out of the house, facing the sunshine, raising her hands, squinting her eyes, ready to bask in the sun to get rid of the cold and moldy air.
When the maids saw that the weather was fine, they all brought out their quilts and hung out their winter clothes and jackets. The whole yard was bustling with people coming in and out, and it was even more lively than this New Year.
Su Ruojin did not block the maids' way. She dragged a small chair out of the house, sat in the corner of the wall that was sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, enjoying her sunbath.
It feels warm and comfortable in the sun.
The maid Biluo asked, "Madam, what are we having for lunch?"
Because of the cold disaster, even in the Prince Jin's Mansion, the food was reduced a lot. During these four months, Su Ruojin lived frugally and ate the same food with all the masters and servants in the courtyard. Sometimes they had two dishes and one soup, sometimes one dish and one soup, and even when the weather was extremely bad, they only had two meals a day. But even so, it was already very good in such a disaster year.
When she heard the question, she opened her eyes, confused as she was, not knowing what to eat. Just then, a little girl came to the gate of the courtyard and reported, "Madam, the Minister's Mansion sent a basket of young leeks."
Chinese chives?
Su Ruojin jumped up happily as if she had heard gold, "Where did it come from?"
Biluo hurried over to ask the servant who brought the gift. The servant smiled and said, "It was brought by Aunt Xianggui from the shop of Madam's family. She said that the vegetable patch in the courtyard was covered with thick wheat straw tarpaulin. The first crop grew after the temperature rose. She cut it and let Madam taste it."
In the past spring, Su Ruojin had never seen fresh green leafy vegetables. At this moment, she looked at the fresh leeks with shining eyes, "I know what to eat now."
Biluo asked happily, "What is it?"
“Fried spring rolls.”
Su Ruojin waved her hand and said, "Girls, get moving. Let's pack all these leeks and let everyone have a taste."
The maids and old women who were drying quilts and clothes were also overjoyed when they heard this. The young prince's wife was different from the other masters in the palace. During the years of disaster, they ate the same thing as she and the young prince. She was very kind to them and they were very grateful.
It is almost the beginning of summer, but it seems like today is the beginning of spring. Everyone in Prince Pingyang's courtyard is happy and preparing lunch.
Su Ruojin went to the kitchen herself and taught the cook how to steam the spring roll skins and prepare the fillings. She was busy as hell.
Su Ruojin knows two or three ways to make spring roll wrappers, but she likes to steam them because it is very convenient. The key is that you don’t have to look for a griddle or a frying pan, and of course the rolls won’t dry out.
During the disaster spring when supplies were scarce, Su Ruojin prepared simple fillings. The main ingredients were leeks, and some eggs cut into shreds. She also soaked some black fungus, dried shiitake mushrooms, and fresh pork. After all, no matter how scarce the supplies were, it was still a royal palace, so fresh pork was still available.
There were many people in the palace, so in order to fry more spring rolls, Su Ruojin also made cabbage flavor.
Prepare all the ingredients, wash and blanch them in a pot, drain the moisture, then chop the pork, put the above-mentioned side dishes into a bowl, adjust to your favorite flavor, add a little sesame oil, mix well to make the filling, spread the spring pancake skin flat on the chopping board, put in the spring roll filling, wrap it into a long flat strip, and seal it tightly with thin batter.
Pour lard into the pan, and when the oil is 60% hot, put the spring rolls into the pan and fry them over medium heat until both sides turn golden brown.
Su Ruojin tried one of each, the chive and pine needle. "They taste great, delicious."
She asked Mao Ya to pack it into five portions and said, "I will send them to the prince, princess, and the prince, etc."
Chunxiao and Qiuyue hurriedly took the two maids to pick up the six portions that Maoya had divided and went to the main courtyard with Su Ruojin.
It’s almost time for lunch, and the Prince of Jin and the Princess are both here.
Su Ruojin stepped forward and saluted, "The daughter-in-law greets father, king, and mother."
King Jin smiled and said, "No need to be polite."
The princess also nodded: "It's time for dinner, Ah Jin, come and eat with us."
Su Ruojin smiled brightly and took a plate of spring rolls with two flavors from Chunxiao. "Father, Mother, my mother's old house has grown the first batch of chives and sent them to me for tasting. I made some and brought them to you to try."
Throughout the spring, Xiaoliu's wife stayed at home and rarely went out. There was a small stove in the yard, but I heard that she kept everything simple. Food, charcoal and firewood were always arranged very well and never missed a day, which did not cause A Lan to worry.
She was a person who knew how to live. Princess Jin was pleased and a smile appeared on her face, "You are so thoughtful." She asked the maid to set the table for Su Ruojin.
Su Ruojin refused, "Father, mother, I still have to deliver spring rolls to my sisters-in-law, so I won't disturb you two while you eat."
Friendly sisters-in-law are something that every parent would like to see. The Prince of Jin and his wife were no exception and let their daughter-in-law go and do her thing.
Of course the first place Su Ruojin went to was the Prince's Courtyard. The Prince was on duty like Zhao Lan, and she met the Prince's Consort.
The Crown Prince's Consort probably knew that Su Ruojin had been to the main courtyard, so she was not surprised to see her. She smiled amiably and accepted the fried spring rolls from Su Ruojin. "Thank you, sister-in-law." She took one and took a bite. "It tastes really good."
The Crown Prince's Consort of the Prince of Jin's Mansion had eaten everything. Ordinary spring rolls were better than others in terms of tenderness and freshness, but she understood etiquette and the value of emotions, so she gave them generously. Su Ruojin smiled and said modestly, "It's just for the sake of novelty. Sister-in-law, you eat first, and I'll go to the second, third, and fifth sisters-in-law."
The second sister-in-law is the wife of the legitimate son, so it is okay for her to go, but the third and fifth sisters-in-law are the wives of illegitimate sons, so there is no need for her, the wife of the legitimate youngest son, to go in person.
The Crown Prince's wife smiled and wanted to remind her, but didn't. She asked her personal maid to personally escort Su Ruojin out of the yard.
Su Ruojin went to the courtyards of the second, third and fifth brothers respectively in order of seniority. The second and fifth sisters-in-law had indifferent attitudes, while the third sister-in-law seemed to be smiling, but the smile did not reach her eyes. She perfunctorily asked the nanny to send her out of the courtyard.
After delivering all five portions, Chunyue was a little puzzled on the way back, "Madam, logically speaking, you can let us deliver the spring rolls to each room except the prince and princess today, why do you have to deliver them in person?"
Su Ruojin: ...
Su Ruojin has been staying at home for nearly four months. Although she has to go to the main courtyard to pay respects on the first and fifteenth day of every month, she does not plan to be too close to Zhao Lan's brothers and sisters. But she cannot just say nothing. Wouldn't that give others an advantage?
Spring rolls are a perfect opportunity to interact with them while also serving as a way to stop the gossips. How great!
"Let's go back to the courtyard and eat some delicious fried spring rolls."
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