Yi Ning did not avoid her and called out "Sister Xuan Rong" with a smile.
Mrs. Yang was the daughter of a chieftain in Shu, and she wasn't subject to the strictures of a young lady from Beijing. As the two began to talk, Mrs. Yang discovered that Mrs. Luo San was also talkative and generous. They hit it off, and Mrs. Yang took her hand, beaming with joy, saying, "Sister Yining, come visit me someday. My cooking is the best, and you won't get the same flavor anywhere else."
Mrs. Yang loves to eat, and the kitchen is the biggest expense in their household. She's come up with many new ways to prepare meals. Luo Yining loves to eat, but she's also lazy and will eat whatever she's given. Meeting someone like Mrs. Yang is a perfect match, and hearing her describe the food at her home makes her yearn for it. They agreed to visit her when they have time.
The osmanthus cakes made from the harvested osmanthus flowers were served. Freshly picked, the flowers were sweet and fragrant, with an excellent taste. However, the osmanthus honey was still astringent and needed to be left for a few days before consumption. Madam Xu had the maids pack the honey into small ceramic jars and give one to each of the ladies in the room to take home.
It was almost noon, and Madam Xu led everyone to the banquet hall in the front yard for dinner. The hall was divided into an inner and outer area, separated by a marble screen. However, those inside could see outside through the gaps in the screen.
Luo Yining discussed with Mrs. Yang how to remove the astringency of osmanthus flowers: "Blanching them is fine, but the fragrance won't last as long."
She learned a wide variety of things, from needlework to cooking. Life for a woman in the inner chambers was often dull and impoverished, so besides playing mahjong and watching operas, she devoted herself to studying these delicate arts.
Mrs. Yang shook her head and said, "It won't work if the aroma is taken away. It's best to marinate it with a little salt."
Yi Ning laughed when he heard this: "I've never seen anything marinated with salt. Wouldn't it taste like salty osmanthus honey?"
Just as he was saying this, he heard a sudden commotion outside. Someone had come in. Yi Ning looked through the screen and her mouth twitched. Why was it Xie Yun...
Enemies often meet in a narrow road, and she runs into Xie Yun wherever she goes.
And nothing good ever happens when you encounter it.
Yining felt that he had to learn to calculate the almanac when he went out in the future.
Xie Yun was accompanied by an elderly man with a white beard. The man wore the uniform of a second-rank official and had an aloof demeanor. He must be Lord Xie. Xu Wei and Grand Secretary Gu were also present at the banquet hall. They had been friends for many years, so they exchanged pleasantries.
Elder Xie introduced Xie Yun to the others: "My granddaughter Yun'er, I brought her out to see the world."
Xie Yun smiled sweetly, calling out "Grandpa Xu" and "Grandpa Gu." Her hair was styled in a woman's bun, and her neck was long and beautiful. Elder Xie had always treated Xie Yun like a boy, often bringing her to meet dignitaries. Although she was married, Cheng Lang didn't care; she was allowed to hang out with Elder Xie.
Today I followed my grandfather to meet the world-famous Grand Secretary Gu.
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