He Youyou remained expressionless: "I met an overseas merchant last month and bought it from him."
Zhao Changqing's eyes flickered slightly.
Just then, a few maids came up from the kitchen with food boxes, interrupting the conversation.
In the cold winter, the food containers used for serving dishes all have lids.
The lid was opened, and plate after plate of food was taken out.
Han Wenzheng quickly got up and placed one of the bowls of wontons in front of He Youyou.
"Mother, I made this bowl of wontons. Please try some."
"Wow, you've already learned how to make wontons so quickly?" He Youyou said with a smile, picking up a spoon.
Han Wenzheng said apologetically, "The dough and filling are prepared by the kitchen. I only learned how to wrap them. I'll ask the cook to teach me how to prepare the filling and roll out the dough next time."
He Youyou looked at the thin-skinned, generously filled wontons and said, "You really dote on me; there's so much filling in here."
He scooped one up with a spoon and put it in his mouth, praising, "It tastes good."
Han Wenzheng's face lit up with a big smile.
He Youyou, however, did not forget to greet the guests.
"Young Master Zhao, please don't be so polite. Help yourself to whatever you'd like to eat. We don't have many rules in our family."
Zhao Changqing silently took a steamed bun from the table.
He Youyou then reached out and placed a plate of pickled radishes in front of him: "In the countryside, people don't have many vegetables in winter, just radishes and cabbages. However, my cook makes excellent pickled radishes. Try them; they're pickled with sugar, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, and they're very crisp."
Before Zhao Changqing could say anything, Han Wenzheng spoke up.
"Mother, do you like this? Then I'll learn how to make this pickled radish from the cook next time."
"good."
For some reason, Zhao Changqing suddenly felt a surge of anger.
"Mencius said, 'A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen.' You are a scholar, why aren't you studying properly, and instead you're learning to cook?"
Upon hearing this, Han Wenzheng cupped his hands and said, “Uncle, although this saying comes from Mencius, Book 1, Part 1, these five characters are only half a sentence. It should actually be read in conjunction with the other half. These five characters are preceded by a sentence and followed by a half sentence, recorded in the Book of Rites, Yuzao: ‘A ruler shall not kill an ox without cause, a high official shall not kill a sheep without cause, and a scholar shall not kill a dog or a pig without cause. A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen, and shall not personally tread upon any creature with blood and breath.’ This means that a gentleman should stay away from places where animals are killed and cooked, because a gentleman cannot bear to see animals being killed. It speaks of the virtue of a gentleman, that one should not kill without cause, not that a gentleman cannot learn to cook.”
He Youyou almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.
She tried to control herself and reached out to pat Han Wenzheng's head as a sign of encouragement.
Han Wenzheng continued, "The gentlemen of ancient times did not despise cooking. Yu Jing wrote 'Record of Culinary Delicacies,' Xie Fei passed down the method of making abalone soup, Han Yue could make cherry plowshares, and Xie Feng also wrote 'Classic of Food.' There are many other delicacies, all of which were passed down by famous scholars and literati."
Zhao Changqing's face darkened with embarrassment: "The sage said, 'One should not speak while eating or sleeping.' Why are you talking so much while eating?"
Han Wenzheng shrank back.
He Youyou is extremely protective of her own children. How could she possibly stand it when she saw her child being disciplined?
(If you want to learn more about He Youyou's protective nature but don't want to wait for updates, you can read He Miaomiao's book. He Youyou will appear starting from chapter 62.)
“My son studies diligently. We only see each other during mealtimes and chat for a few minutes. How can we maintain a close mother-son relationship if we don’t talk?”
Han Wenzheng then smiled and said, "When Meng Yizi asked about filial piety, Confucius said, 'Do not disobey.' If Mother gives a command, I will naturally not dare to disobey. If Mother wants to chat with me, I will certainly tell you everything I know."
He Youyou took another bite of wonton: "The filling is important, but the cooking method is even more important. If you add some seaweed and dried shrimp while cooking, it will be even more delicious."
Jizhou is not by the sea, and things from the coast are not common. Han Wenzheng did not know what seaweed was.
"Mother, what is seaweed?"
"Seaweed is a type of algae in the sea. If I ever meet overseas merchants, I'll buy some from them and cook it into soup for you to try."
"Thank you, Mother."
On one side, the mother and son were showing affection and filial piety, while on the other side, Zhao Changqing remained silent.
He Youyou could understand.
After all, she and her deceased husband were in love, and her status as a wife of a gay man was indeed unpleasant to others.
Now that they are separated by death, it's truly pitiful.
Let them stay here a few more days if they want.
Although the person is dead, the memories remain.
After everyone finished breakfast, they got up and went home.
Zhao Changqing stood in the hall, and immediately his attendants came over and draped a sable coat over him.
"Ah Li, do you like the color of the mink coat that Young Master Zhao is wearing? If you like this style, I'll have them buy one for you."
Zhao Changqing looks absolutely stunning in that mink coat.
From behind, she appears to have a slender waist and broad back, with a tall and slender figure.
Against the backdrop of his golden crown and black hair, he exuded an air of elegance and charm.
Wow, he's as good as a male model.
Han Wenzheng waved his hand and said, "Steward Qian has already had a cotton coat made for me, so there is no need to buy such a luxurious item as a fur coat. A gentleman should be frugal in his daily life."
"While it is certainly a virtue to reject extravagance and promote frugality, spending money is also our duty to the country. If everyone were like you, the poor wouldn't spend money, and the rich wouldn't spend money either. Who would revitalize the national economy? If you don't buy fur coats, who will buy the hunters' pelts? If they can't be sold, won't the hunters lose their livelihoods? Won't the merchants lose their businesses? Won't the country lose its tax revenue? If the country has no taxes to collect, where will it get the money to support the army, defend against foreign aggression, and protect the people?"
He Youyou's words left Han Wenzheng speechless.
He read the books of the sages, but the sages had never spoken of this principle.
"...In that case, it's entirely up to Mother to decide."
"You have to make your own decisions about your own affairs. And you have to like what's yours. Even if you call me mother, I can't force you to accept things you don't like."
Han Wenzheng pondered, "Uncle Zhao's sable fur coat is very majestic and dignified. I can't pull off such an aura. I would like a lighter-colored one."
He Youyou nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. Even in front of elders, you should dare to express your own thoughts and not compromise yourself. I don't need a timid child; I want you to be brave and free."
A repressed personality cannot nurture a brave and free soul.
After hearing these words, Zhao Changqing silently walked out of the main hall.
Passing through one door, then another.
The familiar bluestone floor, the familiar flying eaves and arched roof.
Every blade of grass and every tree is familiar.
He went straight to the study.
The study contained the books he had read and the calligraphy and paintings he had treasured.
His long fingers traced across the desk, sliding from one end to the other.
Zhao Changqing stood by the window, looking at the garden outside. It was desolate except for a persimmon tree, whose branches were laden with bright red fruits.
Footsteps sounded at the door; it was Butler Qian coming in to deliver tea.
Without turning around, Zhao Changqing kept his gaze fixed on a magpie pecking at the persimmon tree and asked, "What do you think of that child?"
The steward, unsure of what he was asking or what kind of evaluation he wanted, could only bite the bullet and reply, "His talent and learning are passable; he can answer questions about the Four Books and Five Classics fluently."
Zhao Changqing did not continue with the question about Cai Xue.
"When I first came to the Han family... was I as carefree as he is?"
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