Chapter 87087 Holding the Gold Cake
Chapter 87
Qi Jingyan turned his head this time, and the two of them said in unison, "Su Shang."
"Yes, that's him." Meng Yuning nodded excitedly. "When we met Su Shang last time, didn't Ah Yang tell us that Su Shang has many sinister methods and is likely to use people to refine medicine?"
Qi Jingyan agreed: "A Ning is right."
Meng Yuning asked again: "When will Ayang be able to come back?"
Qi Jingyan replied, "Once things in the mountains are settled, he will come back with Mu Jiu."
Meng Yuning nodded: "Okay, then when he comes back, we'll ask him carefully, maybe we can get some clues."
---
That morning, after the three of them had finished breakfast, Qi Jingyan took a stroll in the yard as usual to practice walking. After persisting for a while, he could now walk steadily on his own, no longer needing help.
Meng Yuning and Yi'er were still by his side, one on each side, encouraging him from time to time.
After walking five laps in the yard with Qi Jingyan, Meng Yuning felt that the sun was a little too hot, so she took Yi'er's hand and walked into the pavilion to rest.
Meng Jin, who was on duty in the courtyard, came over carrying a bamboo basket of tangerine peels and said, "Young lady, these are the heart-shaped tangerine peels that the guards bought at the market this morning. They're unique to Canghai County and have a sweet and sour taste. They've been washed, so you can try them."
Meng Jin placed the bamboo basket on the stone table and went back to do other things.
Yi'er stood on tiptoe, looked into the basket curiously, and asked, "A Ning, is this yellow peel delicious?"
Meng Yuning smiled and carried Yi'er to a chair. She picked up a tangerine peel, peeled it, and passed it to Yi'er: "Yi'er, try it yourself?"
Yi'er ate one, his eyes curved into crescents, and he nodded repeatedly: "Delicious!"
As he spoke, he also reached out and took a yellow peel, peeled it with his two little hands a little clumsily, and handed it to Meng Yuning's mouth: "A Ning, have some too."
Meng Yuning shook her head and said gently, "A Ning doesn't eat yellow peel, Yi'er can eat it by himself."
"Why isn't Aning eating?" Before Yi'er could speak, Qi Jingyan, who had just returned from a walk, asked first. He walked slowly into the pavilion, sat down on the chair next to Meng Yuning, and looked at her with a hint of curiosity.
Yi'er also tilted his little head and blinked his eyes, waiting for Aning's answer.
Meng Yuning paused for a moment, then smiled and said softly, "It's just that I don't have much of an appetite right now. I don't really feel like eating."
After hearing what she said, Yi'er nodded obediently: "Then wait until An Ning wants to eat~"
After saying that, he raised his head again and asked seriously, "A Ning, will this yellow peel also cause internal heat? How much can Yi'er eat?"
When eating longan and lychees before, Meng Yuning always didn't let Yi'er eat too much, fearing that he would get angry. Unexpectedly, the little guy actually asked about it this time. Meng Yuning couldn't help laughing.
She picked up a small bunch of about ten kumquats and placed them on the fruit plate in front of Yier, explaining, "Kumquats are different. They can help digestion and strengthen the spleen and stomach. Yier just had breakfast, so these are perfect for you."
Yier nodded obediently, slowly peeled the yellow skin, and began to eat it in small bites.
Meng Yuning pushed the small bamboo basket in front of Qi Jingyan and said softly, "Your Highness, please try a few too."
"Okay." Qi Jingyan's lips curled slightly, and he picked up the yellow peel and ate it slowly as he was told, but his eyes kept looking at Aning.
She was seen holding her chin with both hands, quietly watching Yi'er eat. Although her eyes were fixed on Yi'er's face, her expression was a little dazed, as if her mind had already drifted away.
But seeing that she was obviously unwilling to talk more, Qi Jingyan did not ask any more questions. After eating a few yellow peels, he wiped his hands with the wet towel prepared on the table.
After Yi'er finished eating, he sat in the wheelchair, called Mu Yun to come and push him, and took Yi'er to Qingke Hall.
As usual, Meng Yuning sent the two brothers to the door of Yan Fuju, then turned back to the courtyard and sat down alone in the pavilion, feeling depressed.
Seeing her sitting there quietly in a daze, Mu Ying and Mu Li looked at each other, thinking that she was thinking about something important and did not dare to disturb her easily.
But seeing that she had been sitting motionless for a long time, Mu Ying finally suggested softly: "Miss, since there is nothing important today, why don't you go out of the house and relax?"
Mu Li also agreed: "Yes, girl, some of the vegetables I planted on the wasteland a few days ago have already sprouted."
Meng Yuning came back to her senses, smiled and said, "After the little prince finishes practicing calligraphy this afternoon, let's go together."
The two of them responded in unison.
Meng Yuning thought for a moment, then called Meng Jin and Meng Yu over and instructed them, "Go to the kitchen and see what dishes are prepared for today. Bring over the portions from Yan Fuju and Doctor Tang. I'll prepare lunch."
Mu Shan and his friends' cooking skills have improved recently, and because of the hot weather, she hasn't cooked for quite a while.
She was in a bad mood today, so she wanted to cook a few dishes by herself to change her mood.
The two of them responded and hurried to the back kitchen. Soon, they each came back with a basket of vegetables. When they came closer, they reported, "Miss, the kitchen prepared two ribs, a piece of beef, two pieces of tofu, and a cabbage for Yan Fuju today."
Looking at the yellow peel that was still quite a bit left, she thought for a moment and decided on today's menu: "Let's make yellow peel pork rib soup, braised beef, stuffed tofu, and shredded cabbage."
Meng Jin glanced at the sky and asked curiously, "Girl, it's still early. Do you want to do it now?"
Meng Yuning nodded: "Yes, do it now."
So they went to the small kitchen together. Meng Yuning tied an apron, rolled up her sleeves, and helped Meng Jin and Meng Zhu prepare the ingredients.
When Mu Ying saw ribs and beef, she rolled up her sleeves and prepared to use the knife.
"Let me do it." Meng Yuning stopped her, took the kitchen knife and started cutting the beef. After that, whenever she needed to use a knife, she would not let anyone else interfere. She would stand in front of the chopping board, swing the kitchen knife, and either cut or chop.
For a moment, the whole yard was filled with the sounds of "dong dong dong" and "dang dang dang".
Seeing Meng Yuning's stern face and her strikes heavier than usual, Mu Ying and Mu Li exchanged a puzzled look. Was the girl in a bad mood?
Meng Yuning quickly cut all the ingredients needed. Thinking that stewing beef would take a long time, Meng Yuning took the cut beef, washed it, put it into cold water with onions, ginger and garlic, blanched it for a while, and then took it out and drained it.
Ask Meng Jin to heat up another pot, add oil, add two spoons of sugar, and stir-fry until the sugar turns brown.
She then placed the beef cubes in the pot and stir-fried them until the surface was slightly charred. She added the prepared seasonings, including onions, ginger, garlic, bay leaves, and cooking wine, salt, and soy sauce, and stir-fried them evenly. She then told Mu Ying to scoop two ladles of boiling water from another pot and add them to the pot, then covered it. "Bring it to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for an hour."
Meng Jin agreed, took a small stool and sat in front of the stove to watch the fire.
Meng Yuning took another porcelain basin, put the chopped ribs in it, added some flour and salt, then poured in clean water, mixed and washed it, washed out the impurities inside, fished it out, and rinsed it with clean water.
Then she put the ribs in a pot of cold water and blanched them. She then placed them in a clay pot she had bought at the market specifically for making soup. She then added the peeled and cleaned kumquats, a few slices of ginger, and water. She covered the pot and placed it on the stove. "Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for half an hour."
Meng Zhuying, who was lighting the fire, was watching over the stove carefully.
The two big dishes were stewing in the pot. Meng Yuning took two pieces of white tofu, cut them into rectangular pieces, hollowed out the middle piece with a spoon, and then added the minced meat that was chopped from the ribs to the seasoning and mixed it evenly, and put the minced meat into the hollow.
After everything is added, put the tofu meat-filled side down into the oil pan and fry it first. Fry the tofu piece by piece until both sides are golden brown. Add soy sauce, salt, pepper, and water. Cover the pot and simmer for about a cup of tea. It is done.
She scooped out the tofu, placed it on two plates, and put each into two food boxes. "Once all the dishes are ready, send them to Doctor Tang. Luckily, it's hot out now, so it won't get much colder if left out for a while."
Mu Li should be.
In fact, it is still a bit early to stir-fry the vegetables, but Meng Yuning was already sweating all over and didn't want to wait any longer, so she just tore the cabbage and stir-fried it in the pan.
After all the dishes were ready, she asked Meng Jin and Meng Zhu to tend the stove, and asked Mu Ying and Mu Li to help fetch water to the bathroom. She simply wiped herself, changed into clean clothes, and finally, feeling refreshed, she returned to the west wing to rest on the couch.
---
By the time all the dishes were ready, it was already noon. Meng Yuning was afraid that Qi Jingyan would be too busy to come back for dinner, so she asked Mu Ying to go and invite Qi Jingyan back.
Not long after, Mu Yun came back pushing Qi Jingyan.
Yi'er ran happily in front with his short legs. Before he even entered the door, he excitedly shouted, "An Ning, are there any delicious foods today?"
Meng Yuning smiled as she walked out the door and picked up the little guy: "Yes, today's lunch was made by Ning herself."
Yi'er hugged An Ning's neck and put his cheek against hers affectionately: "Then Yi'er should eat more, eat it all!"
Meng Yuning agreed with a smile, and nodded to Qi Jingyan, who stood up from his wheelchair after entering. She carried Yi'er to the bathroom to wash his hands, changed him into light home clothes, and then took him to sit at the table.
Qi Jingyan also slowly walked to the bathroom to wash his hands. After coming back, he naturally sat down next to Meng Yuning.
Meng Yuning first served each of them half a bowl of yellow-skinned pork rib soup, "Try it quickly, this soup is delicious. It's been sitting there for a while, so it's not hot anymore."
Yi'er picked up the bowl obediently, scooped a mouthful of soup with a spoon and drank it, and said in surprise: "A Ning, the soup is sweet."
Meng Yuning touched his head: "If Yi'er likes it, drink more."
Then he looked at Qi Jingyan and said, "Your Highness, try it too."
Qi Jingyan glanced at the bowl of rice in front of An Ning, said nothing, picked up the bowl and drank a sip of soup.
The soup, mixed with the aroma of meat, was sweet and sour, and it was appetizing and refreshing. Qi Jingyan nodded repeatedly: "This soup is good. A few sips will work up your appetite. Ah Ning should try it too."
Meng Yuning pointed to her bowl and said, "I'll eat first."
Qi Jingyan nodded slightly and said nothing more.
Seeing that the two of them were concentrating on drinking the soup, Meng Yuning picked up a piece of beef for herself.
The beef, which has been stewed for a full hour, is bright red in color, tender and tasty, with a rich broth. It is simply amazing when eaten with a mouthful of rice.
After Meng Yuning finished a large piece of beef with rice, she urged the two children, one large and one small, on her left and right to try some of the beef. The two did as she asked and couldn't stop eating, eating several pieces in a row.
It has been many days since I last had Meng Yuning's cooking. Yi'er shook his head and said, "The dishes cooked by Meng Yuning are still the best."
Meng Yuning looked at the little kid eating with an intoxicated look on his face and said with a smile, "Then An Ning will make it tomorrow too."
Qi Jingyan glanced at Yi'er, then looked at Meng Yuning: "The weather is too hot, just cook once in a while, don't stay in the kitchen all day."
Yi'er also said repeatedly: "A Ning, wait until the weather gets colder before doing it."
Meng Yuning didn't know whether she would be in the mood to cook tomorrow, so she didn't insist and said okay with a smile.
Then the three of them tried the stuffed tofu and hand-shredded cabbage. Yi'er said they were delicious as usual. Qi Jingyan didn't say anything, but the best compliment he gave was that he ate half a bowl more than usual.
Seeing that there was almost nothing left of the four dishes, Meng Yuning was in a good mood.
After Qi Jingyan finished his lunch and drank a cup of tea, he went back to the Qingke Hall to take care of some business. Meng Yuning took Yi'er to the west wing for a nap.
In the afternoon, after she finished practicing calligraphy with Yi'er, she called Mu Ying and a large group of people to go out, took a walk in the wasteland, and strolled along the lotus pond to enjoy the scenery. They did not return home until the sun set and the sky was filled with rosy clouds.
In the evening, Qi Jingyan did not go out again. After Meng Yuning and Yi'er finished washing up, he also went to the bathroom to freshen up and then went straight to bed.
One of them hummed a tune softly, while the other fanned him slowly, and soon they coaxed Yi'er to sleep. They chatted in low voices for a while, and then went to bed.
Late at night, Qi Jingyan was awakened by a faint whimpering sound.
He looked sideways and saw Yi'er snuggled up to Meng Yuning and sleeping soundly, while Aning, who was holding Yi'er, had a frown on her face and was sobbing softly, as if she was saying something in her dream.
Qi Jingyan was stunned. Aning often talked in her sleep, but her dreams usually contained cheerful and lively phrases like "family," "support," "three clicks," and "lucky little hands."
But tonight, why was she crying in her dream?
He called softly, "A Ning?"
Meng Yuning did not respond, but continued to whisper vaguely.
Qi Jingyan propped himself up and leaned in to listen carefully. Only then did he hear clearly that she had been repeating two sentences:
"Grandma, Aning knows she's wrong..."
"Woo woo~, Aning won't eat yellow skin anymore. Grandma, can you come back?"
Qi Jingyan frowned slightly.
Ah Ning had always loved fruit, whether it was lychees, longans, or other melons and fruits, she could often eat the equivalent of several people by herself, but she would never touch yellow peels. He had always thought there must be a reason for this, but he hadn't expected it to be related to the "grandmother" she mentioned.
Who was that person to her? Why did An Ning refuse to eat yellow skin anymore because of her?
But he didn't have time to think about it. Seeing the girl in front of him with tears streaming down her face and sobbing softly, his heart tightened. He quickly reached out to wipe away her tears, gently stroked her head, and softly comforted her: "A Ning, don't cry, I'm here."
Perhaps it was his comfort that worked, or perhaps Aning's nightmare was gradually passing, but she slowly stopped sobbing and her tears stopped rolling down.
Qi Jingyan stroked her hair again and then lay down again, but he still looked sideways at the girl with a slightly frown, and could not fall asleep for a long time.
The next morning, Qi Jingyan was practicing swordplay with Yi'er in the courtyard when a girl in a green dress came out of the house, waving at them with a smile on her face. Her tone was very cheerful: "Good morning, Your Highness! Good morning, Yi'er!"
Seeing that she had regained her usual happiness, Qi Jingyan smiled and nodded, suppressing the idea of having a talk with her.
---
The days passed peacefully, and in the blink of an eye, another half month had passed.
Su Yang and Mu Jiu finally came back, and they brought back a gold cake weighing five pounds.
In the evening, Qi Jingyan brought the gold cake back to Yanfu Residence and gave it to Meng Yuning: "A Ning, this is for you."
Meng Yuning held the golden cake that was bigger than her face, and couldn't let it go. She smiled so hard that her mouth couldn't close.
She wanted to scream loudly, but because Yi'er was already asleep, she could only lower her voice and ask excitedly: "Your Highness, are you kidding? Is this really for me?"
Seeing her eyes glowing green, Qi Jingyan couldn't help but laugh: "Thanks to An Ning's advice, we were able to find the gold mine. This first gold cake is naturally for you."
Meng Yuning hugged the gold cake and rolled happily on the bed twice, cheering in a low voice: "Ahhh~ I'm rich!"
Qi Jingyan was amused by her expression and couldn't help but rub her head with his hand: "It's just a piece of gold, why are you so happy?"
Meng Yuning glared at him: "That's because I'm poor and haven't seen the world."
In fact, she was not only happy because she got the gold, but also because this piece of gold meant that Qi Jingyan would no longer have to worry about money, and everyone would no longer have to be frugal even when eating.
Furthermore, he could repay the money he had borrowed from her. She had been planning to start a business for a while, but had been unable to do anything because she had no capital. Now that she had money, she could finally start.
Qi Jingyan originally thought that Meng Yuning would be eager to inquire about Su Shang and the witch doctor when she heard that Su Yang had returned, but he didn't expect that the girl was just hugging the gold cake and laughing foolishly, completely forgetting about this matter.
He was a little amused and said, "A Ning, I asked A Yang about the millet merchants and witch doctors."
Meng Yuning finally remembered and sat up, holding the gold cake. "What did Ah Yang say?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
