Seeing Wen Ye's slightly smug look, the eldest aunt couldn't help but turn her head to glance at her daughter-in-law.
Yao: “…”
Can she choose to understand nothing?
My mother is too difficult.
My cousin's wife, how can she compare to me?
The eldest aunt was the first person who was completely on the same wavelength as Wen Ye since he came here, and it was very relaxing and pleasant to chat with her.
In a blink of an eye, it was lunch time.
Wen Ye joked, "I asked the little chef to learn a few Lingcheng dishes, but they were just last-minute tricks. If they don't taste good, don't tell anyone."
The eldest aunt didn't mind at all. Instead, she said happily: "I'm tired of Lingcheng cuisine anyway. I haven't tasted authentic Shengjing cuisine for a long time."
Yao also said with anticipation, "I've often heard my mother talk about it before, and now I can finally taste it."
Yao was not a native of Lingcheng. Although she had come to Shengjing with her father when she was very young, she could no longer remember the taste of the food she had tasted as a child.
After her father graduated from high school, her mother and her brothers and sisters all followed him to study abroad.
I wasn't in Lingcheng at first, I just stayed in Lingcheng the longest.
As they were talking, the maids brought the dishes one after another.
However, the food that was finally served was packed in oil paper bags, and there were two or three empty porcelain plates stacked on the tray.
Xu Yuxuan sat obediently on the stool. His little hands were on the dining table, and when he saw the oil paper bag on the table, his eyes sparkled.
The eldest aunt and Yao were both puzzled. The former asked, "Mrs. Ye, what are these?"
Wen Ye briefly explained what happened a few days ago, and finally touched the back of Xu Yuxuan's round head and said, "Maybe the novelty hasn't worn off yet. There's nothing I can do. I can only continue to satisfy him."
The eldest aunt laughed so hard after hearing this and said, "Why didn't I think of this? Cousin Zi Tan was also a picky eater when he was little!"
His father had just passed away at that time. As the eldest sister-in-law of the Shen family, she had a bunch of younger brothers and sisters to take care of, so she inevitably neglected her son a little.
The maids who looked after their son were timid and gave the young master whatever he wanted. Within a year, he developed bad habits of being picky and rude.
After she found out, she took great pains to bring her son back to the right path.
Yao pricked up her ears to listen, and the face of her husband appeared in her mind. She really couldn't imagine what a picky eater looked like.
After the eldest aunt laughed enough, she suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Is the fried fish wrapped in noodles you mentioned delicious?"
Wen Ye paused for a moment and replied, "It's delicious. It's sprinkled with a pinch of ground chili powder. It's fragrant and spicy."
The eldest aunt looked at the table full of delicacies with a look of regret on her face: "I really want to try it."
When Yao heard this, she immediately said, "That's easy. I'll have someone go get some small fish, coat them in batter and fry them in a plate so that mother can satisfy her craving."
Yao thought this was a very good idea, but after she finished speaking, she received two very similar gazes.
The eldest aunt looked at her daughter-in-law Yao, with a look of "you don't understand" written all over her face, and then she sighed: "Mother understands your good intentions, but in the cold winter, don't send people to the lake to catch small fish."
Yao didn't quite understand, "Didn't mother want to try it?"
She looked at Wen Ye with a pleading look.
Wen Ye smiled and said nothing.
The reason is actually very simple. Fried fish in breadcrumbs is not a complicated dish and the taste is exactly the same that can be made at home.
The eldest aunt is just like her. It’s not that she likes it very much, but she just likes the outside of it.
The taste of food made at home and sold at street stalls is different.
Wen Ye said, "Taozhi bought the fried fish from a small stall. He has to go home for the New Year. He will set up a stall again after the New Year. I asked Taozhi to buy a pack for my aunt."
The eldest aunt immediately responded: "Then it's settled."
The eldest aunt planned to take Yao to Shengjing to stay until the spring and then return to Lingcheng. Her son had been the county magistrate for five or six years. Based on the achievements he had accumulated over the years, he estimated that he would be able to be promoted in one or two years.
The eldest aunt chose to return to Beijing this year, and she also wanted to make some arrangements for her son in advance.
Even if he couldn't return to Beijing, he could at least be promoted to an official in a provincial capital closer to Shengjing.
There are still more than two months to the beginning of spring, and I can always have a bite of fried fish wrapped in noodles.
The eldest aunt and Yao stayed in the west courtyard until almost twilight hour, then left reluctantly.
Before leaving, the eldest aunt said to Wen Ye: "If I had known that you were so compatible with my temper, I would have come here at noon."
Wen Ye said, "If Aunt wants to come to the West Courtyard again in the future, please send someone to let me know in advance. I will welcome you anytime."
Then he smiled and sent the two of them out of the west courtyard.
To Wen Ye, the eldest aunt is no longer just an "aunt". It is rare to find friends who get along well with her, especially here.
Wen Ye cherishes it very much.
In the evening, after Wen Ye had dinner alone and was drinking tea, Xu Yuejia returned to the west courtyard.
It was New Year's Eve in two days. Wen Ye saw him coming back in his official uniform and asked curiously, "Do you really have official business today?"
I thought it was just an excuse he made up.
Before Xu Yuejia entered the inner room, she briefly explained: "I went into the palace."
When he changed out of his official uniform and came out, Wen Ye had already had someone serve fresh, hot food.
Rarely considerate.
Xu Yuejia glanced at her strangely.
Wen Ye: "What's that look in your eyes, sir?"
Xu Yuejia had indeed not eaten yet. He sat over and asked, "Are you in a good mood?"
Wen Ye raised an eyebrow: "Why do you think so?"
Xu Yuejia didn't say anything, just silently glanced at the food on the table.
Wen Ye followed his line of sight and after realizing what he meant, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "Enjoy it, my dear. I'm just in a good mood today."
Xu Yuejia was not afraid that she might have any plans. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
It was still early, so Wen Ye did not leave the table. He just drank tea and watched Xu Yuejia eat. It must be said that good-looking people are pleasing to the eye even when they eat.
After Xu Yuejia finished drinking half of her drink, she looked back at her and asked, "Are you getting along well with your aunt?"
Wen Ye was surprised and asked, "Did the young master bribe one of my maids?"
After she finished speaking, she seemed to take a serious look at Yunzhi and Taozhi who were waiting on the side.
Taozhi quickly expressed her loyalty, "I won't do that. I will always belong to the Madam!"
Because Xu Yuejia was still there, Yunzhi was not as courageous as Taozhi, but when Wen Ye looked over, she acted very loyal.
Wen Ye smiled and said, "I just said it casually, look how scared you two are."
Then his gaze slowly returned to Xu Yuejia and stayed there for a long time.
Xu Yuejia's eyes were calm and she said calmly, "I just happen to have a certain understanding of your and my aunt's personalities."
Wen Ye pretended to understand and said, "No wonder my husband is so tolerant of me."
I originally thought that he was just born with a tolerance for endurance.
Xu Yuejia: "......"
Thick-skinned, yet self-aware.
Time passed quickly, and it was the 30th day of the 11th lunar month in a blink of an eye. This year was the first year that Wen Ye spent in the Duke's Mansion after leaving the Wen family where he had lived for 20 years.
The people around you have changed, and the feelings are different after all.
The New Year's Eve dinner will be held in the main courtyard. Wen Ye came to the main courtyard early in the morning. It is very lively here today.
Brothers Xu Jingrong and Xu Jinglin were playing with Xu Yuxuan on the kang in the warm room.
Xu Jinglin and Xu Yuxuan were both relatively small in stature, so they just stood on the heated kang and ran back and forth.
Xu Jingrong was more frustrated. He looked like Duke Xu, tall and big, at least half a head taller than other boys of the same age.
But Xu Jinglin insisted on playing the game of "Eagle Catching Chicken". He was the chicken, Xu Yuxuan was the hen, and Xu Jingrong was the big eagle.
The three boys were laughing and joking on the warm kang.
It was very tiring to pretend that no one could be caught. Xu Jingrong knelt on the kang, moving left and right, coaxing his two younger brothers to play.
Lu talked to them several times, but no one listened. Then she thought that today was New Year's Day and it was different from usual days, so she just let them have fun and didn't bother them anymore.
Only the maids and nurses were allowed to surround the kang and watch over him carefully.
Not long after Wen Ye came in, Xu Jingrong lay down on the kang and gave up, "No more playing! And Xu Jinglin! Stop pulling my pants!"
Xu Jingrong grabbed the waist of his pants with both hands and shouted his full name in anxiety.
When Wen Ye saw this scene, she curled her lips and thought in her heart, it's incredible, she has experienced the hardship of raising a child at such a young age.
At this time, Lu also shouted to the kang, asking them to come over and greet Wen Ye.
Before the three boys came over to pay their respects, Wen Ye also bowed to the eldest aunt who had already arrived at the main courtyard.
Since no one from the Shen family was in Shengjing, the eldest aunt and her mother-in-law stayed in the Duke's Mansion to celebrate the New Year together.
After asking how she was, Xu Jingrong asked, "Second Auntie, you've made delicious food recently, why didn't you come to the East Courtyard to call me?"
"Where did you hear that rumor?" Wen Ye asked. It was just that recently, her small kitchen in the west courtyard had been making delicious food every day.
Xu Jingrong raised his chin towards the heated kang and said, "Brother Xuan told me that he had some fried fish in Second Aunt's West Courtyard."
Wen Ye met the gazes of the people present and explained calmly, "It is made by kneading white flour mixed with cornmeal into the shape of small fish and steaming it in a steamer."
The first time, she was able to fool them with some home cooking, but the second time, it didn't work, so Wen Ye asked the kitchen to make a small plate of fish-shaped steamed buns while they were steaming them.
The eldest aunt's smile was more restrained: "You really have a lot of tricks coming out one after another."
Yao also covered her mouth and smiled.
Mrs. Lu looked helpless. After hearing what she heard, she also accepted the advice of Mrs. Wen.
Xu Jingrong didn't give up and said, "Then there's also spicy rice cake."
"That's just a thick omelette made by the cook with egg whites, cut into strips and dipped in some jam."
Anyway, Xu Yuxuan didn't know what spicy food was, so Wen Ye said, "If you want to eat it, let the kitchen make some for you today."
Xu Jingrong said with an expression that was difficult to describe: "No, my nephew suddenly doesn't want to eat."
Xuan Di is so pitiful, he is played around by his second aunt.
Wen Ye was not ready to let him go, and asked with a smile: "Have you completed all the homework assigned by the teacher?"
What are children most afraid of during the Chinese New Year?
Of course, I’m afraid that my elders will ask about my homework.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Xu Jingrong's face froze instantly, and she said, "Second Auntie, you..."
He had been writing furiously for these days, but had only completed half of it.
My plan to have one last crazy time before the beginning of spring after the Chinese New Year has failed.
Xu Jingrong looked completely depressed.
Wen Ye, however, had a gentle expression and looked at him with kind eyes.
Lu saw this and said, "Your second aunt is concerned about you, so please behave properly."
Xu Jingrong felt that his mother didn't seem to understand his second aunt very well.
How could Second Aunt care about him? She was clearly deliberately hurting his feelings.
After His Majesty ascended the throne, he cancelled the palace banquet on New Year's Eve every year, saying that the day of family happiness should be spent with family.
There was no need to enter the palace to attend the palace banquet, so the New Year’s Eve dinner at the Duke’s Mansion was already on the table.
The whole family just sat around the table, and the New Year's Eve dinner was very sumptuous, with everything Wen Ye had never heard of, and things he had heard of but had never eaten.
Lu's caters to everyone's taste.
Tonight, Wen Ye also drank a few glasses of wine, such as peach blossom wine, which was brewed by Lu himself. There were only five small jars in total, and two jars were taken out today.
Wen Ye took a sip of wine and a bite of food, and before he knew it, he was full.
Although I can no longer celebrate New Year's Eve with my aunt and younger sister, it seems pretty good to see Xu Jinglin scooping meatballs from his elder brother's bowl.
Wen Ye poured another cup, and noticing someone's gaze falling on him, he turned around and saw that it was Xu Yuejia, so he filled his glass as well and said, "My dear, why don't we drink together?"
Xu Yuejia usually doesn't drink alcohol, but sometimes makes an exception during festivals.
So far tonight, he has only had one drink.
After a pause, Xu Yuejia raised her glass and clinked it with Wen Ye's.
Wen Ye looked at his slightly raised lips and said with a smile: "Happy New Year's Eve, my dear."
If nothing unexpected happens, she will be tied to Xu Yuejia for the rest of her life.
Xu Yuxuan, who was sitting between the two of them, looked left and right, and tried hard to raise his small cup of water, trying to touch it with the two of them.
She said in a baby voice: "I want one too!"
Wen Ye lowered his eyes, looked at Xu Yuxuan with a circle of water stains on his lips, and laughed: "I almost forgot about you."
Then he touched his face and signaled to Xu Yuejia with his eyes.
Xu Yuejia did as he was told.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone did not leave but stayed in the main courtyard to celebrate the coming of the new year. When it was midnight, they were served dumplings.
During this period, the eldest aunt gave New Year's money to several children. The money was in festive red purses filled with golden peanuts, while Yao's was filled with silver melon seeds.
Then it was Mrs. Lu and Duke Xu. Duke Xu’s offer was simple, he just put a silver note in each of their purses.
The one that Mrs. Lu gave was similar to the one given by the eldest aunt, except that the style was different, it was made of golden pine nuts.
But when it came to Xu Yuxuan, they turned into little golden pigs.
Xu Yuxuan opened his purse and saw a lot of golden piglets. He immediately turned around and ran to Wen Ye, holding the purse in front of her and said, "Mother, here!"
Everyone's eyes turned to her instantly.
Wen Ye: “…”
This is very embarrassing.
Fortunately, Wen Ye was calm enough.
She touched Xu Yuxuan's head and said, "Mother has received Xuan'er's filial piety, but mother doesn't want these little golden pigs."
Although Xu Yuxuan was puzzled, she still said affirmatively: "Mother, I like it."
Wen Ye: "...Actually, mother has prepared a New Year gift for Xuan'er. Would you like to see it?"
I had originally planned to wait until his fifth birthday to take it out, if Xu Yuxuan hadn't happened just now.
The word "gift" temporarily attracted Xu Yuxuan's attention, and he nodded: "I want to see it!"
Wen Ye asked Taozhi to go back and get it.
After a while, Taozhi came back with a tray with a golden "pig" on it.
The eldest aunt was curious: "What is this?"
Others were equally puzzled.
Wen Ye explained: "This is the 'Golden Pig Money Bank' that I specially ordered the craftsmen to make for Xuan'er."
The eldest aunt understood: "It's very interesting to watch."
Lu also said, "Thank you for your trouble."
Wen Ye smiled slightly, glanced at Xu Yuejia beside her and said, "Xuan'er calls me mother, it's her right."
Anyway, she didn't spend any of her money, so the wool comes from the father of the sheep.
Xu Yuxuan understood. He looked at the golden pig that was bigger than his head, pointed at himself with his little finger, and said excitedly, "Give it to me?"
Wen Ye affirmed: "Of course."
She pointed to the hole for the little golden pig on the pig's back and said, "Try to put the little golden pig in your purse through here."
After saying this, she raised her piggy bank with both hands and shook it. A few coins had already been put in it.
Following Wen Ye's instructions, Xu Yuxuan put the little golden pigs into the hole one by one.
Every time he successfully put one in, he would call out "Mom".
Finally, Wen Ye asked him, "Do you like it?"
She originally planned to make a copper coin hole, but then she thought it would be a waste to use a gold piggy bank to hold copper coins.
So I changed the drawing.
Xu Yuxuan repeatedly touched the big golden pig, his head felt heavy, and he said happily: "I like it!"
He had never seen such a big pig.
It's just that the big golden pig filled with many small golden pigs is a bit heavy.
Xu Yuxuan wanted to hug him, so she took a deep breath and her little face turned red.
After finally picking him up, his little feet kept shaking and he almost fell backwards and fell on his butt.
Fortunately, Xu Yuejia caught it in the end.
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