Xu Han glanced at the four people who had disappeared, shook her head helplessly, and turned to go back into her room to continue with her own business.
Lunch was prepared by Dan Niang when she returned. Xu Han had been doing her own thing in her room. When she finished, she looked up and realized it was already noon. Just as she was about to get up and go to the kitchen to cook, she smelled a faint aroma wafting from the kitchen.
Thinking that Danniang must have come back to cook, he sat down and stretched, then stood up and went to the kitchen after a while. "What's for lunch today?"
Dan Niang said, "Madam, I thought it was the Mid-Autumn Festival today, so I simply stir-fried a few dishes and cooked some mixed grain rice."
Xu Han looked at the side dishes that Dan Niang had prepared and, seeing that they were all vegetarian, asked, "Why is there no meat? Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, after all. Although we're having a big meal tonight, we can't be too stingy at noon. There's some smoked rabbit meat in the storeroom. Go and get it and cook it."
Dan Niang hesitated for a moment, then turned and went to the storeroom.
Xu Han has always been generous when it comes to food, and since she didn't pay for these meats herself, she felt no pressure at all while eating them.
After a simple lunch, everyone went back to their own work in the afternoon.
In the late afternoon, Xu Han called over Han Qi and Zhu Chuntian, asking them to come and help move all the ingredients needed for dinner in the valley that night.
In addition to the ingredients needed for today's meal, Xu Han also had them take away the food allotted to them for the month.
Xu Han brought out all sorts of grains, dark flour, cooking oil, sugar, and seasonings—anything that could be used for cooking.
Of course, each item is given in small quantities, according to a fixed amount, which is determined by the family through discussion based on the number of members.
Both seasonings and grains were distributed according to normal circumstances. It's not that they ate particularly well, but at least they were able to eat their fill.
If they want to eat better, they'll have to subsidize it themselves.
Xu Han was not a great philanthropist, nor could she allow her servants to eat delicacies every day, but she would never skimp on their basic food.
As for meat, it's too hot to keep these things for long, so Xu Han didn't give them any. She'll give them some when she hunts more game; they won't be shortchanged.
There's no need to worry about vegetables either; they're all grown in the garden. You can just go to the garden and pick whatever you want to eat. Not only are they fresh, but there are also many choices.
Once their vegetable gardens are cleared out, they will be able to grow their own vegetables, making it much more convenient to have vegetables to eat.
Looking at the huge pile of things that had been packed up, Xu Han said to Han Qi, "Go and push the cart over. There's too much stuff; we can move it all at once with the cart."
Han Qi responded, turned and left the courtyard to push the cart over to the valley. Zhu Chuntian, on the other hand, moved the things out and piled them in the courtyard so that they could be loaded onto the cart when Han Qi arrived.
There were too many things to pack in one trip, and in the end, there were some pots, pans, and other dishes that couldn't be packed. Xu Han called a few children to help carry them over.
After everyone had carried the things to the kitchen in the valley and put them away, Dan Niang returned with several girls.
"Madam, please just tell us what you need us to do."
Xu Han looked around the kitchen and said, "Chunmei, take them to wash these vegetables. Danniang, cut these meats first. Remember to cut the mutton into strips, and the rest into chunks. Also, remember to cut more lamb chops later, because there are so many of us, and it won't be enough to eat if you cut too little."
After Xu Han finished speaking, she turned to Han Qi and Zhu Chuntian and said, "You two go and get some firewood. We can start cooking soon."
After everyone responded, they all began to move about, and the once quiet valley instantly became lively.
Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and this is the first time Xu Han has celebrated the festival with so many people since she came here. So, she prepared an exceptionally lavish dinner tonight, using a variety of cooking methods, including frying, stir-frying, boiling, and deep-frying.
In the end, she made a total of twenty dishes, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Even the vegetables were prepared in various ways by Xu Han.
When everyone returned from work in the evening and saw the table full of food, their eyes welled up with tears, and they had all sorts of thoughts.
Zhu Qiang said, "I never thought I would be able to eat such a sumptuous meal in my life. Even if I die now, my life will have been worthwhile."
Hearing this, Zhou pinched Zhu Qiang's arm hard and said, "On such a festive day, why are you saying such unlucky things like death?"
Zhu Qiang realized his mistake and immediately said, "I misspoke, I said the wrong thing."
Lu Chuan smiled to indicate that he didn't mind, and then said to everyone, "Dinner will be ready soon, everyone go wash your hands and get ready to eat."
He went into the kitchen and said to Xu Han, "Did you bring wine? Where did you put it? I can't find it. I was thinking that everyone has been working hard lately, so let's have a good drink today since it's a holiday."
Upon hearing this, Xu Han slapped her forehead and said, "Oh dear! I forgot. Wait for me to go back and get it for you."
"No, no, no, you go ahead with your work. I'll call Han Qi to come back with me to get it."
Xu Han agreed, "Okay, they haven't tried sweet potato wine yet. Remember to take more, there won't be enough for us if we take too little."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Bring us some fruit wine too. We women drink fruit wine; sweet potato wine is too strong, and they're not used to it."
"Yes, I remember. Don't worry."
After Lu Chuan finished speaking, he called Han Qi and left, while Xu Han stayed behind to quickly stir-fry the vegetables that hadn't been cooked yet.
When Lu Chuan returned, Xu Han had just finished cooking all the dishes. Each of the twenty dishes was a large portion, and they were served with mixed grain rice to ensure that everyone could eat their fill.
Of course, Xu Han didn't cook all the dishes herself; she only made some of the main dishes, while Dan Niang was responsible for the rest.
After all, there's no reason for the master to cook and the servants to eat. Although Xu Han was nominally in charge of cooking today's meal, she didn't have to cook it all. Even if she wanted to, the others wouldn't agree.
No matter how much Xu Han says there's no need to worry about so many rules, the most basic hierarchy among servants must still be clear. The master-servant relationship must not be confused.
Because there were too many people and not enough seats at one table, we simply split into two tables today: one for the men and one for the women and children.
Xu Han and the rest of the family didn't sit alone; they mingled with them.
As they spent more time together, everyone realized that the host was easy to get along with, and they gradually became more relaxed. Now, they are not so reserved when eating together.
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