Chapter 79 (Catching Bugs) I have to go and teach you when I have time...

When the old man went to Jiang's Antique Soup, Jiang Yanyi happened to get the news that the young master of the noodle shop was willing to meet with her to discuss the transfer of the noodle shop, so she took Yang Xiu out.

Chu Yangui learned that his sister was out to discuss business, and was afraid that no one would look after the account, so he asked Chu Zhong to move him to the counter in the front store, and Chu Zhong took over as a waiter in the hall in place of Yang Xiu.

The old man's ox cart came out of Feng Mansion and stopped at the door of the store. He sat on the ox cart, with his hands in his sleeves, and shouted inside: "Is the boss here? The wine you ordered is here!"

Chu Yangui looked out and found that the driver was an old man with white hair and beard. He didn't know that Jiang Yanyi bought wine, so he said: "Sister has gone out for something, old man, please come into the store and sit down and warm yourself by the fire."

He turned around and told Chu Zhong to move all the wine jars on the ox cart to the yard, intending to settle the wine payment after Jiang Yanyi came back to check the goods.

After winter, a bamboo curtain was hung at the door of Jiang Yanyi's store to block the wind. After lifting the bamboo curtain and going in, there were charcoal basins burning under each table inside, and the air was also warm.

It was still early, and there were not many customers in the store. After the old man entered the store, he felt the warmth on his face and sighed comfortably.

He was in tattered clothes, but the waiter in the store did not show any contempt. Instead, he handed him hot tea and invited him to warm up by the big fire in the kitchen. The old man had a good impression of this store.

He scanned the layout of the store, and when he saw Feng Shuo's poem, he couldn't help shaking his head and laughing. His eyes stayed on the young man sitting at the counter for a few more seconds, but when he saw the book in his hand, his expression suddenly became quiet again. What

Chu Yangui held in his hand was "Six Secret Teachings·Mu Zi's Notes".

In the early years, Wu Hou's son Mu Xuanqing made great achievements in military strategy, and his annotations to "Six Strategies" were also sought after by many strategists. After the Mu family was raided, all the major bookstores burned all the contemporary classics written by Mu Xuanqing for fear of being burned. Even if there were a few left, they had to hide them secretly. He had been in seclusion for many years, and this was the first time he saw someone studying the books left by an old friend.

The old man asked casually, "What book are you reading, young man?"

Chu Yan returned and saw that although the old man was old, his eyes were bright and his demeanor seemed extraordinary. He couldn't help but doubt the old man's identity.

Next to him was a bamboo basket filled with various poetry collections and contemporary essays, which could well conceal the banned books in his hand. Chu Yangui did not show any panic, but only said, "Some idle books to kill time."

His leg doctor said that he had no hope of standing up in the future, and his official career was over. Chu Yangui thought that if he wanted to stand out, he could only become someone else's staff, and the "Six Strategies" annotated by Mu Xuanqing in those days was regarded as a criterion by all strategists.

Chu Yangui was spoiled by Madam Jiang in the past, and Shangshu Jiang rarely asked about his studies. He fought with a group of dandies in the academy, and the amount of knowledge in his stomach was pitiful. Writing an article was almost a death sentence for him, and most of the time he asked the book boy at home to write for him.

Now it was impossible for him to become a talent in one step. It was very difficult for him to read this collection of military notes, but he still forced himself to read it every day. If there was something he didn't understand, he would ask the old scholar, and the old scholar could give him a literal explanation. Chu Zhong, Yang Xiu, Bing Shao and others had been in the army, and they could describe some things that he and the old scholar didn't know very vividly.

In this way, although this collection of military notes was boring, he could understand it slowly.

The old man saw that Chu Yangui had a calm face, and he had some admiration for him in his heart. Although he was no longer working for others and was hiding in a corner selling wine, he still knew a lot of news outside.

The Chu family left Beijing, and the emperor was furious. Now the Chu family settled in Xizhou. The owner of this antique soup is a young girl named Jiang. The boy looks like that girl, and the old man guessed Chu Yangui's identity almost instantly.

He asked: "In the battle of Huaixi, Huai'an Hou fled on the battlefield. In order to buy time for the people of Huaixi to evacuate, the prince of Wu Hou tied a broom to the tail of the livestock, and led two thousand personal soldiers to drive the livestock to meet the enemy. The enemy looked like an elite force from a distance, and then there was dust all over the sky, and it seemed that there were tens of thousands of troops. In the end, they retreated without fighting. Is this a brilliant plan?"

This was a famous battle when Mu Xuan was young, and many military strategists used this plan as an allusion.

Although Chu Yangui was uneducated before, the capital is such a small place, how could he not have heard of the glorious military exploits of the young hero, the Prince of Wuhou.

When Mu Xuanqing was annotating this book of military strategy, he also cited many examples of wars in the current dynasty or the previous dynasty in some places, and the battle the old man talked about was also among them.

Chu Yangui didn't know why the old man suddenly asked these questions, but looking at the old man's pair of pale but sharp eyes, he somehow said his truest thoughts: "It is indeed exquisite, but I think it is a bit risky. If the enemy is a warmongering one, this battle will definitely be lost."

The old man slowly tempted him: "Then what do you think should be done in the battle situation at that time?"

Chu Yangui couldn't move his eyes away, as if he was influenced by the old man. The old man's eyes captured my heart and soul, "Block the main road of Huaixi River, lure the enemy to cross the river, and then dredge the stream to release the flood."

The old man's eyes became sharp and severe: "The enemy army was drowned in the flood, and all the good fields and houses in Huaixi River could be spared?"

Even though he knew that the old man's accusation came out of nowhere, Chu Yangui was still inexplicably shocked, as if a thunder exploded in his ears, shaking him to pieces.

Chu Yangui met the old man's eyes, his eyes were alert and stubborn. After

Chu Zhong moved the wine vat, he saw an old man and a young man at the counter, with subtle expressions.

He stepped forward and said, "Old man, let's go inside and warm ourselves by the fire."

The old man's dignified demeanor disappeared without a trace in an instant, and he seemed to have turned back into the kind and greedy wine seller.

He turned to Chu Zhong and said, "Cook me a mutton pot. I want to eat something warm after warming myself by the fire."

The old man went to the backyard, and Chu Yangui's hand on the counter trembled slightly twice, and he secretly put the military book under the counter.

After he gave the answer, the old man's eyes made him inexplicably afraid, several times more than when he was caught by the teacher for skipping school.

He couldn't help but wonder, is this really just an ordinary wine seller?

Before Chu Yangui could think about it, Chi Qing also came into the store. Chu Yangui didn't recognize him, but Chu Zhong did.

Chu Yangui saw that Chu Zhong was quite respectful to Chi Qing. When Chu Zhong came to the counter, he asked in a low voice, "Who is the young man who just came into the store?"

Chu Zhong lowered his voice and whispered, "He is the military advisor under the command of the King of Liaoning."

The favorite of the King of Liaoning, that is, the person that the dignitaries in the whole Xizhou have to rush to curry favor with.

Chu Yangui nodded calmly and picked up a collection of poems from the book basket beside him to read.

In a moment, the old man came from the yard and sat at the same table with Chi Qing to eat mutton hotpot, and also ordered a portion of each of the signature dishes of Chef Yao in the store.

Chu Yangui sat at the counter, his face calm, but his heart was already filled with fear. Was this old man acquainted with Chi Qing?

Although there had been rumors that the emperor and the King of Liaoning were at odds, the King of Liaoning had not made any move yet. He had read the banned book, and if these two people made trouble, what would happen and cause trouble for his sister?

Chu Yangui felt a little regretful for a moment. How could he have known that the old man could tell what book he was reading at a glance?

While he was feeling uneasy, the old man and Chi Qing were enjoying a mutton soup pot.

The old man asked Chi Qing: "What do you think of the young man at the door?"

Chi Qing picked up a piece of mutton and put it into his mouth: "He is quite handsome, but not as good as me."

The old man said: "In the Battle of Huaixi, he said that we should use the water of Huaixi to attack the enemy."

Chi Qing paused and looked back at Chu Yangui. Chu Yangui was also looking here. The two of them met eyes and quickly looked away.

Chi Qing used chopsticks to pick up the fish soup in the plate and said nonchalantly: "He is very fierce."

Anyone who uses troops has an unwritten rule that as long as a softer means can be used to solve the problem, they will not go to extremes.

In previous dynasties, there have been wars of massacres, but they have always been condemned by later generations, so in the current military strategy, the words "benevolence and martial arts" are emphasized.

In the battle of Huaixi, Mu Xuanqing and Huai'an Hou suppressed the rebels together. In order to win the hearts of the people when the rebels attacked the city, they still carried the banner of not touching a single brick or tile of the people in the city after conquering the city. If the officers and soldiers defending the city blocked the offensive and harmed the interests of the people, they would naturally lose the hearts of the people.

Chu Yangui's method was good and could defeat the enemy, but the people would complain. Even if they won, they would leave a lot of mess behind.

Feng Shuo was too fierce and used a lot of extreme means in the war, which earned him a reputation for cruelty.

The old man looked at Chi Qing, with a hint of sadness in his eyes: "When your brother passed away, you were only as old as him."

Chi Qing picked up the soup cup to drink the soup. Perhaps because it was too hot, he grinned, as if he was laughing, but his eyes were slightly red: "If my brother had a more ruthless heart, it wouldn't have ended like that."

Wu Hou's son Mu Xuanqing was born with a bright and beautiful life. He was the ideal husband that many Kyoto girls dreamed of marrying. He was so charming and unique that there was no other in the world.

In the last battle of his life, he was deceived by others because he was too kind and gentlemanly, and almost let Feng Shuo die there.

After hearing what the old man said, Chi Qing roughly guessed what Feng Shuo had told the old man. He said, "Old man, if you want to accept a disciple, just accept him. Why are you arguing with me? Can I make things difficult for him behind his back?"

The old man said, "I heard that he hasn't even finished reading the Four Books. Naturally, the early stage must be handed over to you."

Chi Qing choked on a mouthful of meat in his throat and almost choked to death. He glared at him and said, "You should handle the job you accepted yourself. Don't try to push it to me."

As he picked up the cup and poured tea into his mouth, the old man said faintly, "The girl from the Xie family has written to me again."

"Puff——"

Chi Qing spat out most of the water, but he was still scolded. He wiped his face with a handkerchief: "Isn't it enough for me to teach you? Don't write back to the capital."

Chu Yangui didn't know what they were talking about. He just saw them looking at him from time to time, and he felt a little uneasy.

If... they really want to embarrass my sister, Bing Shao and Chu Zhong are in the store. They are both good at kung fu and can take them down, but how to deal with the aftermath is beyond Chu Yangui's ability, and he can't think of it for a while.

When Jiang Yanyi came back, Chi Qing and the others hadn't left yet.

When she entered the store and saw Chu Yangui at the counter with a gloomy expression, she immediately asked: "Didn't I tell you to rest in your room? Why did you come to the store?"

Chu Yangui didn't say that he wanted to help her with the accounts. He smiled and said, "I was bored in the room, so I came out to get some fresh air. An old man who delivers wine came to the store and was having dinner with an acquaintance. Sister is back. Did the business negotiations go well?"

Jiang Yanyi glanced at the account book on the counter and saw that it was obviously calculated. She knew that Chu Yangui came here to help her.

They were siblings, and she knew Chu Yangui said that because he was afraid that she would not let him work hard, so she replied, "It's going well, and we can start work soon."

The owner of the noodle shop owed a lot of debts, and the gambling house had lowered the price of the noodle shop to a very low level, and wanted to use the noodle shop to pay off the debts. So when Jiang Yanyi wanted to buy the noodle shop, the young owner was almost furious, but he did not argue with Jiang Yanyi and closed the deal with 350 taels of silver.

The experienced noodle makers in the noodle shop were all family slaves, and their indentures were given to Jiang Yanyi. Jiang Yanyi and the owner of the noodle shop went to the government to transfer the ownership, and now the land and people of the noodle shop belonged to Jiang Yanyi.

Although he spent all his savings, Jiang Yanyi was still happy in his heart. As long as instant noodles started to be produced on a large scale, he would be able to make a profit in no time.

When she came back, she remembered the duck necks she had been eating for several days, so she bought a few ducks to prepare for a celebration banquet.

Yang Xiu carried a few ducks into the backyard.

At this time, there were already more customers in the store. Jiang Yan saw the old man and Chi Qing sitting together to eat. Thinking that the old man was familiar with Feng Shuo, it was not surprising that he recognized Chi Qing.

She came forward with a teapot to add some tea to them, and greeted them with a smile: "Military Advisor Chi, old sir."

Chi Qing nodded in greeting, and the old man smiled and replied to Jiang Yanyi: "Your shop is well decorated and the pots are well made."

Jiang Yanyi said: "You are kind, I didn't know you sent wine today, I kept you waiting for a long time."

The old man waved his hand: "It's okay, it's okay, we are eating now."

Jiang Yanyi said: "Then you eat first, and after you finish eating, we will count the wine and settle the bill."

The old man nodded and said yes.

Jiang Yanyi went into the back kitchen, and Chi Qing glanced at Chu Yangui at the counter, and asked the old man with a smile: "Guess what the little bastard at the door was thinking with a gloomy face before?"

The old man ate meat without saying anything.

Chi Qing said: "He is probably thinking about how to let the two martial artists in the store tie you and me up."

The old man coughed twice: "Isn't this quite ambitious? You should train him first."

This time, Chi Qing was silent while drinking the soup.

The old man obviously planned to teach Chu Yangui himself at first, but changed his mind after asking that question.

Chi Qing was called a smiling tiger in the army. Except for his white face, he was black from heart to intestines. Although Chu Yangui was still young, he had a ruthless spirit in his bones. It was hard to say what would happen if these two people met in the future.

The old man naturally didn't want his disciples to kill each other, so he asked Chi Qing to teach Chu Yangui in the early stage to temper each other. No matter what situation the two of them were in in the future, they would have the friendship of brothers and sisters, so that they would not fight each other and die or get injured.

Jiang Yanyi rubbed her hands and stewed sour radish duck soup in the kitchen. In this weather, it was suitable to drink some sour and warm soup, which was nourishing and appetizing.

She chopped the washed duck into pieces, boiled water in a pot, added cooking wine and ginger slices, blanched the duck meat to remove the fishy smell, picked it up and washed off the blood foam, and put it in a sand pot with high soup to stew.

Cut the sour radish into pieces and put them into the casserole. Add the green onion, ginger, cinnamon and star anise. Slow cook for an hour and you will have a clear duck soup.

She kept the chopped duck neck and planned to make brined duck neck with the bought duck neck.

There is no way to sell duck neck alone, but duck neck has little meat and many bones, and neither the rich nor the poor like it. Jiang Yanyi is willing to sell duck neck to others for money, and everyone is happy. Anyone who buys a duck will kill the duck at the butcher and cut off the duck neck and sell it to Jiang Yanyi.

Yang Xiu couldn't quite understand Jiang Yanyi's approach, and once thought that Jiang Yanyi was so happy about this that he was stupid.

The advantage of moving to a larger courtyard is that when Jiang Yanyi wants to cook something delicious, she no longer has to compete with Chef Yao for the kitchen.

The kitchen in the west courtyard is more than twice as big as her original small kitchen.

Jiang Yanyi put the processed duck neck in a pot with cold water and boiled it. After the blood foam in the duck bones is fully cooked out, pull up the duck neck and drain the water.

Drain the water in the pot and add oil. When the oil temperature rises, add bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise, pepper, dogwood and other spices in the oil pot and stir-fry until fragrant. Then add the duck neck and stir-fry until it is tasty. If you want a good color, you can add some soy sauce. In order to enhance the flavor, Jiang Yanyi also added a small spoonful of sugar.

After stir-frying evenly, pour in boiling water that covers the duck neck. Dark brown bubbles are bubbling in the pot.

Jiang Yanyi covered the pot, boiled it over high heat for a while, then simmered it over low heat until the sauce was absorbed. When the sauce was almost dry, he turned off the heat and opened the lid to let the rich aroma hit his nose. The duck neck was reddish brown after blanching, and the meat on the surface had fallen off partly because of the stir-frying, which was very tempting.

Jiang Yanyi found a few plates to pack the duck necks, and took them to the small kitchen outside to share with Chef Yao and Aunt Guo, and also brought a separate plate to Chu Yangui.

Because there were not many duck necks and the quantity was limited, everyone was still not satisfied.

When the old man entered the yard to check the amount of wine and drinks with Jiang Yanyi, Jiang Yanyi invited him to gnaw on the duck necks together, and Chi Qing followed in as if he had eyes on the back of his head.

He never had any principles when it came to eating.

After the old man asked Jiang Yanyi how to cook duck neck, he thought for a moment and asked, "Can chicken neck be cooked like this?"

Jiang Yanyi thought of the dozen chickens in the old man's yard and suddenly became worried about them. She smiled awkwardly but politely, "This... probably not allowed."

After paying for the wine, Jiang Yanyi thought of the old man coming all the way to bring her wine, and gave him a large bowl of sour radish duck soup.

The old man held the soup bowl, his heart wavered for a moment, and when he went out, he muttered to Chi Qing: "Xiao Chi, if you are too embarrassed, I won't blame you, I will teach you myself..."

"It's not embarrassed, where is it embarrassed." Chi Qing walked out of the store while gnawing on the duck neck, looking quite annoyed.

He clearly felt that there was still meat on the bone, but he just couldn't bite it off, and he couldn't bear to spit it out, it was too annoying!

When Chi Qing returned to Feng Mansion to report, the food box on Feng Shuo's table had not been put away yet, and Chi Qing saw the uneaten dumplings inside at a glance.

He said gloatingly: "I told you there are carrots in it, but you didn't believe me. Give me the rest for a midnight snack!"

He stretched out his hand to take the lunch box, but couldn't move it. He looked carefully and saw Feng Shuo with one hand on the top of the lunch box. He said sinisterly: "Can't I keep it for a midnight snack?"

Chi Qing pouted and deliberately boasted: "I went to her shop and not only had mutton soup, I also had duck neck."

Feng Shuo: "...Oh."

Chi Qing continued: "The old man said that the kid from the Jiang family hasn't finished learning the Four Books and Five Classics yet, so he asked me to teach him for a while. You can How about we arrange it, should I live directly in the palace, or in the west wing of her house?"

Feng Shuo's eyebrows were wrinkled so much that they could pinch a fly to death: "Live in the palace."

This was already expected by Chi Qing, he didn't know why he deserved a beating and said: "By the way, the palace doesn't have to prepare three meals a day for me, I think Jiang Ji can provide meals."

Feng Shuo took out a stack of memorials from the table: "...I suddenly remembered that you must be very busy recently, you can take care of these, if you can't spare the time to teach people, don't force yourself, I will teach them when I am free."

Chi Qing:!!!

Then there will be no hope for me to eat and drink there in the future!

He changed his words in an instant: "The food in the palace is so delicious, I like to eat the food made by the chef of the palace."

Feng Shuo glanced at him dimly, Chi Qing quickly smiled to please Feng Shuo and then put the memorials back to their original place.