Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 458 I'll trouble you with the meals these days

All that is needed to be prepared in terms of food is some rice cakes and sweet biscuits made according to traditional customs.

In addition, there are dumplings, steamed fish, stewed chicken and roast duck on New Year’s Eve.

Li specially bought some cloth and worked with Jiang and Zheng Sanniang for several days to buy a new set of thick cotton clothes for Doctor Sun from head to toe.

This made Doctor Sun's eyes red, and he said he didn't know how to repay her.

Shen Yu took Yutao and the others to buy some red paper, and under the guidance of Zheng Sanniang, they cut a variety of window decorations.

Some are square, some are round, some are joyful, and some are blooming with prosperity, they look very beautiful.

Shen Yu asked Yucheng and Dundun to write many Chinese characters for "Fu" and prepare to paste them on the doors.

Yucheng and Dundun even went to ask Mr. Yang for advice, and after coming back they wrote a couplet with great strokes of their pen.

Business is booming all over the world.

The wealth is flowing in to the three rivers.

Although the Li family members were not well-educated, they knew that "prospering business" and "flourishing wealth" were all good words.

Li happily took out her purse and asked Yucheng and the others to buy some large sheets of red paper.

He asked them to write another one in large characters and post it on the door of the inn on New Year's Eve.

Although Shen Yu felt that his family ran a restaurant, the words on the couplet didn't sound right.

But she couldn't think of any suitable couplets, so she just happily helped cut the paper and grind the ink.

For a moment, the courtyard was bustling with activity. Everyone had a smile on their face and was busy coming in and out.

Shen Yu took a few children and Xiao Zhuzi with him, and they worked and played at the same time, with laughter all the time.

Even Xiaobai, who was tied nearby, would join in the fun from time to time and roar a few times, scaring the little sparrows basking in the sun on the tree so that they fluttered away in panic.

On the evening of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, someone from the county government came to say, "The prefect has finished touring the surrounding counties and will come to Anping County tomorrow."

"Then we will stay until the third day of the New Year before leaving."

Shen Yu asked hurriedly: "When will Lord Yang come tomorrow? Should I go over to cook tomorrow?"

"Let's wait for the county magistrate's order before we do it."

The servant sent to deliver the message said, "The county magistrate said that the prefect will come to the city tomorrow morning."

"Early tomorrow morning, the county government will send a car to pick you up. At noon, you will cook for the governor."

Shen Yu agreed, and the servant bowed and left.

After the visitor left, Li discussed with Shen Yu, "Last time when the prefect came over, you went over to cook and Qixi helped you."

"But now Qixi has followed Master Lu back to the capital. Let Sister Jiang go with you tomorrow. You can't handle it all by yourself."

Jiang and Zheng Sanniang also said, "Yes, although we only need to prepare meals for the two adults, no one else needs to worry about it."

"But in winter, food gets cold quickly, so it would be faster if two people cook together."

Shen Yu thought about it and it made sense, so he nodded and said, "Then Aunt Jiang, come with me tomorrow."

"Although the small kitchen at the back of the county government office is large, the stove is not as good as the one in our restaurant. It still uses firewood, which is very inconvenient."

Li suggested, "The county government will send a carriage tomorrow morning. Why not bring some coal with you? Then you don't have to worry about the stove when you cook."

Speaking of this, Shen Yu couldn't help but regret, "How could I have forgotten that the small kitchen was burning firewood? I should have asked the county government to order some coal when I ordered the ingredients."

In the evening, Shen Yu and Jiang packed up the knives they usually used, as well as the small stove and pots that might be used.

I also packed a sack of coal and planned to take it with me when the time comes.

The next morning, just after daybreak, Shen Yu and Jiang had already finished their breakfast and were waiting for the county government to pick them up.

Sure enough, before noon, the county government sent a carriage over.

The servant and the coachman who came to pick them up worked together to load the prepared things onto the carriage. They quickly let Shen Yu and the other person get on the carriage, drove back to the county government office, and waited for the prefect to come in.

Shen Yu and Jiang had just finished cleaning the small kitchen in the back hall and lit the stove.

As the bones for the broth were being boiled, the county magistrate's servant came over and said, "Miss Shen, the prefect is already in the back hall. The county magistrate wants you to come over."

Shen Yu hurriedly took off her apron, straightened her clothes, and followed the visitor to the county magistrate's study in the back hall.

When I entered the room, I saw the governor dressed in plain, homely clothes, and he seemed to have washed and dressed.

At this moment, he was holding a cup of hot tea, sitting there comfortably, sipping it slowly, with a relaxed look on his face as if he was back home.

Shen Yu hurried over and knelt down to make a greeting: "My daughter greets the governor and the county magistrate."

"Hail, my Lords."

Yang Chi was very happy to see Shen Yu. He put down the teacup in his hand and said, "Ms. Shen, please sit down. I haven't seen you for a long time. I have to trouble you again today."

Shen Yu thanked him and then sat down on the round stool next to him.

Yang Chi smiled gently and said, "I didn't expect your county magistrate would keep you here to cook. Did it delay your return home for the New Year?"

Shen Yu quickly answered truthfully: "To answer your question, my family members all stayed in Anping County this year and did not go back."

"My uncle came to see us a few days ago."

"We celebrate the New Year here the same way, and it's more lively and fun than in the countryside."

Yang Chi nodded, and then said: "Oh, your family is here, I feel relieved."

"I will stay here until the third day of the Chinese New Year. I will trouble you with my meals for the next few days."

"You don't need to make any special dishes. The meat skewers we ate last time tasted good. You can fry some for me every day."

"For the rest, just pick out what you are good at and what is fresh and make it."

"I am eating at the expense of your county magistrate, so there is no need to save money for him."

Shen Yu was originally a little nervous sitting in front of the two adults, but after hearing what Yang Chi said, he couldn't help but pursed his lips and smiled.

Lu Zheng, who was standing next to him, pretended not to hear and started ordering dishes like a host: "Miss Shen, the dishes on the menu you prepared look quite fresh, and I've never heard of that name before."

"But don't do it today. Lord Yang has been enjoying a feast every day in the surrounding counties these days, and he hasn't had any good food."

"You see, you're a little skinny from hunger, so you just want to eat some home-cooked food."

"Lord Yang loves to eat your meat skewers, so fry some for him at noon today."

"Especially the pork belly skewers, I think they are delicious too. Fry them more."

"Also, there's your family's yuanyang hotpot, which has become famous throughout the county. Prepare a table for him. I guarantee he has never seen or tasted it before."

"Well, we will have lunch alone today. The dishes don't need to be too much, but they should be varied."