Chapter 445 Lin Family Reunion Dinner
Sometimes it's thin noodles simmered in chicken broth, the soup clear and the noodles delicate, sprinkled with tender green scallions; sometimes it's red date and longan porridge, thick and sweet, nourishing blood and qi; sometimes it's steamed sea bass, the fish tender, with only a little ginger and scallion added to preserve the original flavor to the greatest extent.
What Daiyu liked most was the plum blossom soup dumplings made by Yuan Hongqu herself. Fresh plum petals were washed, mixed into dough, rolled into thin sheets, and cut into plum blossom shapes. They were cooked in chicken broth, served in a celadon bowl, and were white with a hint of pink, with a fragrant aroma.
“These plum blossoms were sent by the Tenth Prince,” Yuan Hongqu said with a smile. “He said they were old plum blossoms from Xishan Temple, and they were the most fragrant.”
As Daiyu ate her soup noodles, she suddenly remembered something: "Granny, why hasn't the Tenth Prince come around lately?"
Yuan Hongqu raised an eyebrow: "What? Missing him?"
Daiyu blushed: "I was just asking casually."
Yuan Hongqu smiled and said, "He has been sent by the Emperor to inspect the canal transport. He won't be back until the New Year."
After Yuan Hongqu learned that Daiyu was unwell, the Tenth Prince, despite having just returned to the capital, immediately wanted to go to Suzhou with Yuan Hongqu. Yuan Hongqu couldn't stop him and went with him.
However, this time he also had a mission, and it wasn't just to visit Daiyu.
As the days went by, Daiyu's health improved more and more.
Looking at herself in the mirror that day, she was surprised to find that her originally sharp chin had become more rounded, and her face had regained some color.
"Granny," she tugged at Yuan Hongqu's sleeve, "have I gained weight?"
Yuan Hongqu examined her carefully and nodded in satisfaction: "That's better. You were so thin before, it was heartbreaking. Now you finally have some meat on your bones."
On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Lunar New Year, Yuan Hongqu specially cooked several authentic Beijing-style pastries.
There are flaky red bean buns with a crispy outer crust and a sweet and soft filling; there are sesame sugar cakes, which are fragrant and delicious; and there are candied hawthorns, Daiyu's favorite, with plump hawthorns coated with a crystal-clear sugar coating.
As Daiyu ate her candied hawthorn, she suddenly recalled the New Year celebrations in the capital and couldn't help but laugh, "Do you remember, Granny? That year I was greedy and ate too many candied hawthorns. I had acid reflux all night, and you scolded me for it."
Yuan Hongqu laughed: "How could I not remember? Back then, your spleen and stomach hadn't been properly regulated yet. You recklessly ate a whole string of candied hawthorns, and in the middle of the night you started to have acid reflux and vomited for half the night until you felt a little better at dawn."
As the two were chatting and laughing, Xiangtao came in carrying a food box: "Try this, it's a medicinal cake I just made."
The pastries were a vibrant green, exuding a delicate herbal fragrance. Daiyu took a bite; they were sweet with a hint of bitterness, yet left a lingering sweetness.
"This is made with poria cocos and yam, and it's excellent for strengthening the spleen and stomach," Xiangtao said. "Eat two pieces every day, and it'll definitely whet your appetite."
Sure enough, Daiyu's appetite increased greatly from then on.
Yuan Hongqu was particularly pleased with the food, having ham stewed with bamboo shoots one day, shrimp steamed with eggs the next, and angelica stewed chicken the day after...
As the year drew to a close, Daiyu felt that she was even stronger than before her illness. One day, she tried practicing a set of boxing techniques and found that her breathing was steady and she did not feel tired at all.
Lan Su watched from the side and nodded, saying, "It's finally starting to look good. It seems that my breathing technique, combined with Mr. Yuan's feeding, is indeed effective."
Yuan Hongqu said smugly, "Of course. Don't you even know who raised it?"
On New Year's Eve, the Lin residence was exceptionally lively. Qiu Hui also came, bringing homemade New Year's cakes.
The rice cakes were exquisitely made, some shaped like plum blossoms and others like carp, all dyed with edible flower and herb juices, making them both beautiful and delicious.
"Sister Qiu's cooking skills are getting better and better," Daiyu praised.
Qiu Hui smiled and said, "I learned it all from Lord Yuan. Lord Yuan has given me a lot of pointers these past few days."
Yuan Hongqu was in the kitchen supervising the preparation of the New Year's Eve dinner when she saw them arrive. She smiled and said, "You've come at the right time. Try the freshly cooked eight-treasure rice."
The Eight Treasure Rice uses carefully selected ingredients: soft and sticky glutinous rice, sweet and fragrant jujube paste, and various candied fruits, making it colorful and delicious.
Daiyu ate a small bowl and felt the sweetness reach her heart.
As night fell, the Lin residence was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Daiyu stood under the eaves, looking at the festive atmosphere throughout the courtyard, and suddenly felt that this New Year was exceptionally warm.
Yuan Hongqu draped a cloak over her shoulders: "What are you thinking about?"
Daiyu leaned on her shoulder: "It's so nice to have Granny here."
Yuan Hongqu gently stroked her hair: "Silly Yu'er, your nanny will always be here for you."
Fine snowflakes drifted down from the night sky, and the mansion was brightly lit. The aroma of the New Year's Eve dinner wafted from the kitchen, and laughter filled the air.
Daiyu suddenly realized that the greatest happiness in the world was nothing more than this.
On New Year's Eve, the Lin family mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a festive atmosphere.
As dawn broke, smoke was already rising from the kitchen, wafting out all sorts of enticing aromas.
When Daiyu got up early in the morning, she saw Yuan Hongqu directing the servants to decorate the hall.
Bright red lanterns hung high, exquisite paper-cuts were pasted on the windows, and even the stone steps under the corridor were polished to a shine.
"You've worked hard, Granny." Daiyu stepped forward and took Yuan Hongqu's arm. "These things can be done by the servants."
Yuan Hongqu smiled and said, "It's a big event during the New Year, so I can only feel at ease if I'm in charge. Go and see if the kitchen is missing anything, and I'll have someone go and buy it."
Daiyu entered the kitchen and found it bustling yet orderly. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was simmering on the stove, its rich aroma filling the air; various semi-finished products were laid out on the cutting board: golden-brown, crispy lion's head meatballs, marinated eight-treasure duck, and delicate, translucent shrimp dumplings...
"You've come at the perfect time, young lady," the cook said with a smile. "How about trying this steamed assorted preserved meats? Is it flavorful?"
Daiyu picked up a slice of cured meat. It was perfectly salty and fragrant, rich but not greasy. She nodded and praised, "Very good. It's not greasy at all."
"This is steamed together with dried bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots absorb the oil from the cured meat, so the taste and texture are quite similar to the meat."
As she spoke, the cook brought out a plate of freshly cooked spring rolls: "These are vegetarian spring rolls that Lord Yuan specially ordered to be made, using wild vegetables picked this morning."
Daiyu tried one; the outer crust was crispy and the filling was fragrant, so she couldn't help but eat another one.
As evening fell, Lin Ruhai returned from the yamen and, upon seeing the scene in the mansion, couldn't help but laugh and say, "It's so lively, it's like we've returned to the time when your mother was alive."
These words brought a pang of sadness to Daiyu's heart, but Yuan Hongqu quickly changed the subject: "Lord Lin is back just in time, he's about to put up Spring Festival couplets. Yu'er, bring me the one you wrote."
Daiyu personally brought the Spring Festival couplets. The first line read, "Auspicious snow foretells a bountiful year," and the second line read, "The spring breeze carries good wishes." The horizontal scroll read, "All things are renewed." The handwriting was elegant yet graceful, and Lin Ruhai praised it repeatedly.
After the Spring Festival couplets were pasted up, it was time to pay respects to the ancestors. Lin Ruhai led Daiyu to burn incense and kowtow in the ancestral hall, while Yuan Hongqu and Lan Su watched the ceremony from the side.
After the ancestral worship ceremony, the New Year's Eve dinner officially began.
A large round table was set up in the hall, filled with all kinds of delicacies.
In the center is a large pot of stewed abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw; around it are arranged squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, poached chicken, braised pork, steamed crab... a dazzling array of dishes, and the aroma is irresistible.
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