Chapter 32: I finally hooked the Marquis over
Cheng Danmei and Lianxiang came together and brought some snacks to go with the wine, especially the spicy peanuts, which were bought from a big restaurant outside and were in short supply.
Yunqiao really likes to eat it.
The taste is a bit like the modern drunkard peanuts.
Crispy and delicious, you will never get tired of eating it.
In addition, Sun Sisi also came, carrying small cakes made according to Yun Qiao's requirements.
"Sister Qiao, take a look at the pancakes I made. Are they okay? Like you said, not too big, not too small either. Palm-sized is perfect."
Yun Qiao took a look and said, "Sister Sun's cooking will definitely be good."
"I've prepared all the meat. There's quite a bit of meat today, and there are also vegetables. Last time, someone said that roasted eggplants weren't enough. Today, I'm going to roast three. I'll also have roasted leeks, which everyone likes. I have everything."
Sun Sisi and Lianxiang came forward and looked at it again and again.
"Sister Qiao, these meats are not common. This meat is bright red. It doesn't look like chicken, duck, or pork. It looks a bit like beef."
Sun Sisi lowered her voice and didn't dare to speak loudly. After all, eating beef was banned in this country.
Of course, it is still aimed at ordinary people. The powerful and wealthy can still eat it, but it is not so obvious.
Yun Qiao chuckled, "This isn't beef. I won't tell you what kind of meat it is. If you like it, eat more. If not, try something else."
Cheng Danmei looked at Yun Qiao and said, "You have quite a few ideas. They don't look like they were bought from outside."
Yun Qiao: "Sister Mei is smart. There is nothing in our Xiaoxiang Garden that can hide from Sister Mei."
"Okay, don't ask any more questions, just sit down and eat as much as you can."
"Sister Qiao has taken so much trouble today. We must not let her down."
As Cheng Danmei spoke, she only saw Fang Jia wandering around the ingredients, crunching the cucumber in her mouth, but there was no sign of Zhang Yuqing, who was usually cold-tempered.
"Sister Zhang didn't come?" Cheng Danmei asked.
Yun Qiao also looked around and realized that she had not invited Zhang Yuqing yet.
She thought Zhang Yuqing would come with Fang Jia. There were several times before when everyone gathered together to eat melon seeds and chat, and Zhang Yuqing always came with Fang Jia.
Fang Jia saw Yun Qiao looking at her, so she said, "Don't stare at me. I came here in a hurry today and didn't go to her place."
"Ever since I had a falling out with her last time, we haven't talked much."
Cheng Danmei looked up, acting like a big sister. "We in Xiaoxiang Garden are all pitiful sisters who share the same suffering. Sister Qiao, Sister Fang Jia, and Sister Zhang all came here together. There are some conflicts, but they can be resolved."
"Chun'er, go to the west room and invite Zhang's sister over."
Chun'er is Cheng Danmei's maid and also Cheng Danmei's confidante.
Cheng Danmei personally sent someone to invite her, so Zhang Yuqing didn't dare to refuse. He came with Chun'er, but he didn't want to come empty-handed, so he brought a box of cakes and fresh peaches sent by her mother's family.
Yun Qiao was busy barbecuing and didn't say anything when she saw Zhang Yuqing.
Fang Jia was hanging around Yun Qiao and didn't talk to Zhang Yuqing. Lianxiang and Sun Sisi were also busy. They greeted Zhang Yuqing with a smile and went on with their work.
Only Cheng Danmei occasionally helped to skewer the dishes or place the plates.
In fact, everyone is busy because they enjoy it and do it for fun.
Only Zhang Yuqing sat on the stool, upright, well-behaved, and spotless.
The barbecue is almost done. Some are grilled directly and cut with scissors and placed on the plate, while others are grilled on mahogany skewers.
After grilling some meat, Yun Qiao took the barbecue to where everyone was sitting.
The drinks are ready.
Cheng Danmei looked at Yun Qiao coming over, pulled her close and said something.
"Sister Zhang said she couldn't help much, so she wanted to play the zither to entertain us. Is that okay with Sister Qiao?"
She didn't dare to say whether it was good or not.
But she didn't believe that Zhang Yuqing had no other purpose.
Yun Qiao took a bite of the barbecued meat. It was worthy of being the meat from the Marquis’ Mansion. Even the scraps were of high quality. After being roasted, it sizzled and gave off a fragrant aroma, filling her mouth with the aroma of meat.
She was eating so deliciously that she had no time to talk and just nodded.
After swallowing it, he said, "I'll listen to Sister Mei. Originally, Sister Mei was in charge of today's barbecue."
"Well, let's let Sister Zhang play a piece. I want to hear it for real today."
This statement is full of innuendo.
It alludes to the fact that Zhang Yuqing played the piano late at night, making everyone unable to sleep.
Now she is actually playing the piano in front of everyone.
Zhang Yuqing's maid brought the zither over and placed it in place. Zhang Yuqing, dressed in white, sat in front of the zither, adjusted it, and began to play it.
The sound of the piano was gentle and pleasant. The woman in the moonlight was dressed in white, her sleeves fluttering in the evening breeze, and she looked quite charming.
Yunqiao is quite enjoying it.
While eating barbecue and drinking wine, there is a beautiful woman playing music in front of you.
But the good times didn’t last long…
After playing the piano for several months, Zhang Yuqing finally managed to seduce the Marquis.
When everyone was happily eating barbecue and drinking wine, they suddenly heard someone shouting, "The Marquis is here!"
This cry is like crying wolf...
Except for Yun Qiao and Fang Jia who were instantly worried, the rest of the people had different thoughts.
Lianxiang and Sun Sisi expressed indifference. They just paused for a moment and quietly ate two more bites of the barbecue, as if they were worried that they would not be able to eat it later.
Cheng Danmei became more dignified than before, with a haughty attitude, as if she was disdainful, yet also looking forward to the arrival of the Marquis.
Zhang Yuqing's face remained expressionless, and her hands paused while playing the piano. After Marquis Chen Jingyan appeared, her eyes looked at Chen Jingyan from time to time, and the music she played became intermittent, without the previous fluency...
"This Xiaoxiang Garden is lively and harmonious."
"I have met the Marquis."
Cheng Danmei stood up and bowed slightly.
Sun Sisi and Lianxiang, along with Cheng Danmei, respectfully yet distantly called out, "My Lord, how are you?"
Yun Qiao and Fang Jia were standing further back, both thinking, "Don't see me, don't want to see me..."
Chen Jingyan's eyes passed over Yun Qiao and turned to look at Zhang Yuqing, who was dressed in white.
Just now he thought it was Yun Qiao playing the piano.
No, he came to find Yun Qiao at first. As soon as he arrived outside the gate of Xiaoxiang Garden, he smelled the aroma of barbecue and the sound of playing the piano. Barbecue and playing the piano were quite artistic.
He then entered Xiaoxiang Garden.
Unexpectedly, the concubines in his backyard were quite harmonious.
"This piano playing was good at first, but now it's just so-so."
"Yun, bring the barbecue in front of you so I can have a taste."
This is a turning point.
Just when Zhang Yuqing thought that she was about to talk to the Marquis.
But I heard Chen Jingyan's words turned to Yun Qiao.
Yun Qiao, who had thought herself invisible, suddenly heard the Marquis calling her, just like a teacher calling on someone to answer a question in school. She prayed in her heart that it wouldn't be my time.
But she was the one who was calling...
Who can understand the surprise of the sisters?
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