Three days later, early morning.
Ye Jiayao, dressed in gray homespun clothes, looked like a handsome farm boy among the crowd waiting to enter the city.
She bought this shabby gray dress from a farmer's house for a hundred coppers. It was a bit expensive, but it was safe and convenient to wear when going out.
She has never been to Jinan Mansion, but she has admired his name for a long time, just because of Aunt Qiong Yao's classic line... Your Majesty, do you still remember Xia Yuhe by the Daming Lake
If nothing unexpected happened, she had planned to come to Jinan this summer. Now she was standing outside Jinan City, but it was an ancient city in another time and space. She didn't know if there was Daming Lake here.
When Mao hour arrived, the city gate slowly opened and crowds of people poured into the city.
Ancient people got up very early because there were no entertainment activities in the evening and they went to bed early.
At this point, there are already many shops on the street preparing to open for business. The breakfast stalls are the busiest, selling soup dumplings, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, flatbreads, and chewy ramen... The aroma is overflowing, and shouts come one after another.
Ye Jiayao spent four coppers on two big meat buns, and another copper on a bowl of soup. After eating to her full stomach, she began to inquire about the location of the Wei family in Jinan Prefecture.
It took almost no effort to find the Wei Mansion, but she couldn't inquire rashly to avoid making people suspicious, so she wandered around the back door, looking for suitable opportunities.
Not long after, Ye Jiayao saw an aunt coming out of the back door carrying a vegetable basket. It seemed that she was going to the market to buy vegetables.
Large families usually purchase ingredients on a designated basis, and someone will deliver food to their door every day. But sometimes the owner will specify what to eat, and then they have to buy it at short notice.
Ye Jiayao followed from a distance to see if she could find an opportunity to get close to her.
When the aunt arrived at the market, she went straight to a parallel import stall without asking about the price. She weighed three kilograms of river shrimps, two crabs, and bought two sea bass, and then went to the edge of the market. In a delicatessen shop, when I came out, the basket was already full, and it was very difficult to carry it.
Ye Jiayao deliberately wandered to her side, and then pretended to accidentally nudge her.
"You are seeking death. Are there any people with eyes? You don't even look at me when you walk." The aunt stared and cursed.
Ye Jiayao quickly bowed and apologized with a shy smile.
"Sister, I'm so sorry. I was just looking for someone and didn't pay attention. I'll apologize to you. Sister, you are generous and magnanimous. You will be 18 this year or 18 next year."
This was the first time that the aunt heard such a fresh apology, and she found it interesting. Looking at the boy's delicate features, he was very handsome, and she couldn't help but lose most of her anger.
Men are always not tolerant towards beautiful women, and the same is true for women towards handsome guys.
"You little brother are too reckless. If you damage my food, what will you do to keep me company?" the aunt said in a gentle tone.
Ye Jiayao bowed repeatedly: "Sister, what I said is that the boy was rude. Sister, did I hurt you?"
The aunt smoothed the hem of her skirt: "Forget it, be careful in the future."
"Yes Yes Yes… "
The aunt turned around and left. Ye Jiayao hesitated for a moment and chased after her: "Sister, I see your basket is quite heavy. How about I help you carry it as an apology?"
The aunt had lost her anger and waved her hand: "No, no, no."
"It's okay, sister. I was originally looking for my friend from the same village, but I couldn't find him. He must have gone back. I'll help you carry the basket home before returning to the village." Ye Jiayao couldn't help but snatch the basket from her hand.
"Sister, where do you live?" Ye Jiayao asked with a smile.
Seeing that she was so enthusiastic, the aunt let her go. It was still a long way back, and she forgot to bring something with her when she went out today. If she had to carry it all the way back, her hand would be broken. Someone is willing to help her and she will be happy and relaxed.
"Wei Mansion." The aunt said.
Ye Jiayao was surprised: "Is it from Magistrate Wei's house?"
"Yes, it's from Magistrate Wei's house."
Ye Jiayao immediately showed an admiring and flattering look: "Oh, I bumped into a noble person today. Sister, I just said that your style and mind are different at first glance. It turns out that you are from the prefect's house. , Sister, you are so amazing, people from rich families are different."
The aunt laughed and said: "You are so glib and talkative, why am I different from others?"
Ye Jiayao said seriously: "Of course it's different, eldest sister, you just need to stand in the crowd, you don't have to say anything or do anything, your aura will immediately show."
The aunt was made happy by her, and the two of them chatted and laughed all the way, and before they knew it, they arrived at the Wei Mansion.
Ye Jiayao returned the vegetable basket to her aunt: "Sister, I will send you here."
Seeing that she was sweating profusely from exhaustion, the aunt said, "Why don't you come in and have a drink of water?"
Ye Jiayao smiled naively: "I'm a little thirsty, but... I've never been in such a big house, and I don't dare to go in."
The aunt laughed and said, "What's the matter? Come in and drink some water before leaving."
"Oh!" Ye Jiayao responded cheerfully and grabbed the basket again: "I'll carry it."
Ye Jiayao's guess was correct. This aunt worked in the kitchen. Otherwise, she would be so shiny. She probably ate a lot of good things.
"Hey, Sister Gui, where did you get such a handsome young man?" A group of aunts working in the kitchen came up to tease Ye Jiayao when they saw her.
Sister-in-law Gui said with a smile: "She was kidnapped from the market. She accidentally bumped into me and insisted on bringing me the vegetables as an apology."
Ye Jiayao put down the basket with a smile and said, "Hello sisters, I'm here to ask for a glass of water."
Sister-in-law Gui said, "Just wait, I'll get you some water."
Ye Jiayao looked around with an expression like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world before, and said, "My dear, rich families are different. Even the kitchen is bigger than mine."
"Hey, little brother, where are you from? Your accent doesn't sound like a local one." an aunt asked.
"Oh, our family is originally from Yangzhou. We came to Shandong to do some small business in the early years, but unfortunately we lost money. No, we plan to go back to Yangzhou after a while." Ye Jiayao mentioned Yangzhou deliberately.
"Oh, what a coincidence, our eldest mistress is also from Yangzhou." Sister Gui brought over a bowl of tea.
Ye Jiayao was surprised: "Really? Where is your eldest mistress from Yangzhou? How many years have you been in Jinan?"
Sister-in-law Gui said, "It's been several years. I just got married last month."
"He is the daughter of Mr. Tongzhi from Yangzhou City. He is a perfect match for my young master. It's a pity that he has such a bad temper..." Halfway through, another aunt made a helpless expression and did not continue.
Ye Jiayao was secretly shocked. How could it be possible that she got married last month? Could it be that the Wei family just found someone to take over
Just as he was talking, someone came in. His clear voice was a bit arrogant: "Sister-in-law Gui, can you buy the river shrimps and crabs that the eldest mistress wants?"
Ye Jiayao turned her head when she heard the sound and almost spit out the water. Damn, isn't this the girl Taohong next to her second sister Ye Jinrong
Sister-in-law Gui hurriedly stepped forward and replied: "I bought it. It's fresh and lively."
"Okay, let's make cooked shrimps and crab roe buns for snacks this afternoon. We have to be very careful." After Taohong explained, she turned around and left without even glancing at Ye Jiayao.
Damn it, this bitch still looks like a bitch who takes advantage of others.
Sister-in-law Gui waited for Taohong to go out, took a sip at the door, and muttered something. She seemed to dislike Taohong very much.
"Sister, who is this person? He is so impressive." Ye Jiayao asked.
Sister-in-law Gui rolled her eyes and said angrily: "Who else could it be? The eldest girl next to the eldest young lady."
"It turns out she's a girl. I thought she was a serious master." Ye Jiayao chuckled.
But her heart was turbulent and she couldn't calm down. Taohong was Jin Rong's most proud personal maid. Taohong appeared here. Cooked shrimps were Jin Rong's favorite dish. There is no doubt that the big man in this house now The young mistress is Ye Jinrong, but shouldn’t Jinrong be in Yangzhou at the moment? Even if Dad asked Jin Rong to come to the rescue, it wouldn't be possible so quickly.
Having entered last month... there was only one possibility: Jin Rong followed her. The second boss said that she was framed by her own family, and Jin Rong secretly followed her with the intention of replacing her.
"Hey, which one of you knows how to cook shrimps?" Sister Gui asked everyone.
Someone curled their lips and said, "We have never learned how to cook Huaiyang cuisine. Who knows how to cook it?"
Another person said: "We have made that crab roe bun several times, but every time we are disgusted. She doesn't understand what it means to do as the Romans do. She has such a tricky mouth and such a delicate stomach. Why doesn't she marry a cook? She is just tormenting us."
"Hey, what can we do? This young master is the meat of his heart and the treasure he holds in his hand. We are servants, and servants can only obey orders and be scolded."
"It's really troublesome. Fortunately, they are going to Jinling next month..." Sister-in-law Gui said sadly.
Going to Jinling next month? Ye Jiayao thought that maybe Wei Liujiang was going to take part in the examination and would accompany Jin Rong back home. Then she has to go to Jinling. Although she has not yet thought about how to seek justice, this matter cannot be dismissed so easily. We will see.
Ye Jiayao said weakly: "How about you? Let me try it? My father used to help cook in a restaurant. I used to hang out in restaurants when I was a child. I am familiar with shrimp grabbing. I have never done it, but I have seen how to make it."
Sister-in-law Gui's eyes lit up, then dimmed again, and she said gloomily: "We know the method, but we just can't make the taste that the young mistress wants. You haven't done it before, so I guess you can't either."
Ye Jiayao smiled and said: "Don't forget, I am also from Yangzhou, and I am most familiar with the taste of Yangzhou people. Don't worry, I will make it to satisfy the young lady."
Today, thanks to Sister Gui for bringing her in, I would like to return the favor to Sister Gui.
"Why don't we let him try? Anyway, we won't fail once or twice." An aunt suggested.
Ye Jiayao rolled up her sleeves and started to work. First, she washed the river shrimps and blanched them in boiling water for about two or three minutes, then peeled them off and put them on a plate. The plating is exquisite and arranged in a neat and beautiful shape. Huaiyang cuisine is exquisite, and the color, flavor and shape are indispensable.
Arranging the peeled shrimps neatly in circles, Ye Jiayao began to adjust the marinade. Pour sesame oil into the pot. Wait for the aroma of the oil to rise, then add soy sauce, sugar and water chestnut powder to prepare. The soy sauce should not be too little. If it is less, the color will not be bright enough. If it is too much, the color will not be bright enough. It doesn't work even if it's burnt, the blackness will affect the appearance, so it's very important to handle the weight. But for Ye Jiayao, it was no problem at all, she had it at her fingertips.
"Boy, you don't look like a novice." Sister-in-law Gui looked on and secretly marveled that this boy's skills were better than hers.
Ye Jiayao said casually: "I cook at home on weekdays. I can't help it, my mother is not in good health."
While talking, the marinade was prepared, and Ye Jiayao poured it evenly on the spread shrimps with a spoon, making a sizzling sound, and a plate of fresh, tender and cooked shrimps was completed.
Ye Jiayao cooked some Huaiyang dishes by the way, steamed sea bass, boiled dried shredded silk, Mapo tofu...
Damn it, Jin Rong is occupying the magpie's nest, and she has to cook food for her, hoping that she will suffer from vomiting, diarrhea and indigestion after eating it. Ye Jiayao curses while cooking.
(End of chapter)