Chapter 256 Pie
"Hello, Sister Feng." Daiyu entered the room and greeted Wang Xifeng. Seeing her dejected face and drooping eyebrows, she guessed that she must have asked Granny Yuan for help, but Granny Yuan had not agreed.
"Greetings, Sister Lin! You must have just come from Uncle Lin's place. I wonder how Uncle Lin's health is? The old lady is worried about him!"
"Thank you for your concern. My father is doing well. He will go to pay his respects to the old lady as soon as he recovers," Daiyu said politely.
This was the first relative to visit her father in his illness, and there would only be more in the future. Daiyu thought that if she let Granny Yuan entertain the female relatives, it might delay her father's recovery.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Daiyu brought up what had just happened.
"Sister Feng, is it because you wanted my nanny's good stuff again but didn't get it?" Daiyu said with a playful smile.
Strangely enough, no matter who Yuan Mama was, even the Empress in the palace, she wouldn't grant every request. But when it came to her, she wouldn't give her the moon if she asked for the stars.
Alas, I must have done good deeds for ten lifetimes to have met this nanny in this life.
Daiyu was thinking inexplicably, but she still joked with Wang Xifeng:
"Next time, Sister Feng, just ask me directly, and I'll ask Granny instead. I guarantee you'll get what you want."
Wang Xifeng had an expression of being abandoned.
"I suppose it's because I'm old and past my prime that my sister doesn't like me. But seeing you, such a tender young girl, I'm naturally happy and will grant your every wish."
After saying that, she glanced at Yuan Hongqu again. If she could make Yuan Hongqu feel sorry for her and help her one more time, she wouldn't have to worry like this.
Unexpectedly, from the moment Daiyu appeared in the room, Yuan Hongqu's eyes were filled only with Daiyu.
Even after hearing Wang Xifeng's sarcastic remarks, they acted as if they hadn't heard a word.
"Did you cry again just now? I saw him this morning when Physician Yu took his pulse. His pulse has calmed down. He'll be fine after a few days of rest. You don't need to worry too much. He's at home now, so it's very convenient for you to visit him ten or eight times a day. Don't worry about anything."
When Yuan Hongqu noticed that Daiyu's eyes were slightly red, she assumed that Daiyu had cried again after seeing Lin Ruhai's situation. Yuan Hongqu became a little anxious.
"Granny, I know that illness comes like a landslide and recovers slowly. But I've never seen my father so haggard and frail, and I can't help but feel sad," Daiyu said softly.
"But Father has already spoken to me. When I see him talking to me, he's just like always. So I'm not worried anymore. I'll ask Granny to teach me how to make medicinal cuisine. I want to make Father's health as good as mine!" Daiyu raised her little fist to encourage herself.
“Sister Yuan, take me with you! I’ll come over and learn how to make medicinal cuisine with you when I have time!” Wang Xifeng suddenly interjected.
"Why are you getting involved?" Yuan Hongqu rolled her eyes at her.
“I was thinking that since I’ve been living far away from my sister this year, it seems like our sisterly bond has faded. I’ll come to visit her more often so we can get closer,” Wang Xifeng said sincerely.
Yuan Hongqu gave her a meaningful look.
Wang Xifeng felt a little guilty under her gaze; she couldn't hide her little thoughts from her sister Yuan at all.
Sure enough, she heard Yuan Hongqu say,
"If you don't make up this excuse, and you've come here quite often, then stop playing the victim. As for that matter, I really can't help you with it."
In front of Daiyu, Yuan Hongqu did not want to say too much.
"However, you two have worked so hard, and you've received a lot of praise from the higher-ups. Especially your charity auction, which has even been registered with the Empress, who says you're a breath of fresh air among the noblewomen of the capital. Your current difficulties are only temporary; things will get better in the future."
In the end, Yuan Hongqu told Wang Xifeng what she knew in order to put her mind at ease.
“Sister Feng, I often hear my grandmother say that you have a hard life, and she remembers all the good things you have done!” Daiyu realized that Sister Feng was probably having trouble managing the household and had come to Granny Yuan to complain, so she also comforted her.
After listening to their words, Wang Xifeng felt quite pleased, as if what she had done had finally been recognized by the people she cared about.
"Let Steward Lin have dinner with Second Brother Lian and Baoyu outside. We'll eat at Jiaoyun Garden today. Yesterday I went to the Duke of Li's house and got a lot of seafood from them. Granny, let's have a seafood hot pot today!"
Daiyu had almost forgotten about the seafood last night, and it was only when the kitchen staff reminded her that she remembered it.
"Seafood? Is it the same company that sent you basins of crabs and chopsticks-sized prawns last time?" Wang Xifeng said, her mouth practically watering.
She loves seafood, absolutely loves it.
Unfortunately, since she transmigrated to this northern region, she has eaten plenty of delicacies from the mountains, but seafood? Apart from seaweed, she has never even seen a single shrimp.
Coming to the Lin family's house today was definitely the right decision!
“The Liu family owns several estates by the sea. When their farmers come to pay rent, they always bring these things. These things don’t keep well, and eating too much of them is bad for your health… They’ve given them to almost every family they know.” Daiyu thought the Liu family was incredibly hospitable.
"I'll make you a squid pie today. As for the others, Daiyu wants a seafood hot pot. What about Feng'er?"
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Anything is fine." Wang Xifeng smiled. Seafood, even if it's just boiled in water and then eaten with soy sauce, is incredibly delicious.
“Alright, you two go take a walk first, and you can eat when you come back.” Yuan Hongqu nodded, then urged Daiyu and Wang Xifeng to go out for a stroll.
The weather was neither too hot nor too cold, and the yard was lush with vegetation, making it a perfect place to visit.
After the two left, Yuan Hongqu turned and went to the kitchen.
The Lin family's chefs already had experience handling seafood, and Yuan Hongqu had even taught them a lot about cooking methods.
However, seafood is scarce in the capital, but freshwater aquatic products are plentiful, which is some consolation.
When the girl came back yesterday, she brought two big baskets of seafood, and they were very excited.
The skills I learned are now finally putting to good use.
Yuan Hongqu wasn't idle either; she had to make the squid pies herself.
There was dough in the kitchen, so she prepared some oil paste, brushed it onto the rolled-out dough, rolled it up, and finally divided it into even portions.
Each small dough ball was transformed into a dumpling wrapper by Yuan Hongqu's rolling pin.
Take a fresh squid, remove the black membrane inside, rinse it clean, and cut it into small cubes.
Seafood pies are too plain with just squid, so Yuan Hongju added soaked dried scallops and fresh shrimp to the filling...
After adjusting the seasoning, I started wrapping the pies.
She made more than a dozen palm-sized pies, and then had the kitchen staff make the rest.
These dozen or so are placed in the oven, baked for 15 minutes, then simmered for a while, and the fragrant seafood pies are ready.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
