After returning home, Xia Chunfeng went straight to his second brother's study.
Xia Chunyu was lying on the couch thinking about something. Today, the emperor summoned the ministers of the Ministry of War to discuss matters in the imperial study. The emperor intended to send troops to help Simon put down the rebellion. If nothing unexpected happens, He Lianxuan will lead the troops, and He Lianxuan means to let him go to Simon together.
Should I go or not
Before, he would have had no hesitation, but now, he seemed to be unable to let go of something.
"Second brother." Xia Chun rushed in furiously.
Xia Chunyu played with the jade ring on his thumb and glanced at him lightly: "Where have you been playing? I didn't see you at dinner."
Xia Chunfeng chuckled and said, "Xiao Jing invited me to dinner. Second brother, guess who I saw today?"
Xiaojing will definitely go to Tianshangju to treat him to dinner, and Xiaojing will definitely introduce Yaoyao to Chunfeng.
Xia Chunyu knew it well, but he asked casually: "Who is it?"
"Second brother, you also know this person. He is the chef of Tianshangju, Li Yao. I heard from Xiaojing that you admire this person very much." Xia Chunfeng said with a smile.
Xia Chunyu hummed: "So what?"
"I also think he is quite interesting." Xia Chunfeng said. He picked up the orchid beans in the dish and threw them high. He opened his mouth and caught it firmly, making a crunching sound.
Xia Chunyu raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "What's an interesting way?"
"I can't put it into words, but I think it's quite interesting and he has a good temper towards me. Xiaojing values him very much. Since he is Xiaojing's friend, he is also my friend." Xia Chunfeng said.
Xia Chunyu thought in his heart: Yaoyao is really loved by everyone! If everyone knew she was a woman, I wonder what they would think.
"Hey, second brother, Li Yao's cooking is really delicious! Why don't we invite him to cook at home during the Chinese Autumn Festival?" Xia Chunfeng suggested.
"No." Xia Chunyu denied it without even thinking.
"Why?" Xia Chunfeng asked curiously.
"It's not like we don't have a cook at home. For the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, we can just cook some food for our family gathering. Why bother to go to a lot of trouble?" Xia Chunyu said.
He couldn't object to Yaoyao wanting to work in heaven, and he couldn't object to Yaoyao accepting the Helian family's birthday banquet, but he would never let Yaoyao come to Jingan Marquis Mansion to work as a cook and let the family take the food. She is at the mercy of others.
Xia Chunfeng thought about it, but ignored the matter and said, "I met another person today, the Wei Liujiang you mentioned last night, who was said to be Mu Qinchu's cousin."
Xia Chunyu looked stern: "They also went to live in heaven?"
"Yes, and Zhao Qixuan, we all gathered at the same table to eat. However, I didn't give Wei Liujiang a good look and teased him. Hey, second brother, are you trying to bring bad luck to him? I see this too. It’s not pleasing to the eye.”
Xia Chunyu answered the question inappropriately: "They just went to eat?"
"No, Mu Qinchu claimed that he came specifically to find Li Yao."
Xia Chunyu straightened up: "What is he looking for Li Yao for?"
"I gave him ice tickets. He said it was Li Yao who asked him for help, which made Xiao Jing unhappy. But Li Yao said he was ripping him off. I laughed so hard."
Xia Chunyu breathed a sigh of relief. If Mu Qinchu dared to trouble Yaoyao, he would dismantle his bones tomorrow, no, tonight.
"Okay, the martial arts exam is about to start. It's time for you to calm down. Don't lose the face of the Marquis of Jing'an then. Be careful when dad comes back to deal with you." Xia Chunyu scolded.
Xia Chunfeng pouted and said, "Second brother, you are more verbose than mother. You guys know how to criticize me all day long."
"It's not all for your own good. Practice hard these days. After three days, I'll come to check. If you can't pass twenty moves under my hands, don't take the test." Xia Chunyu waved his hand to drive people away.
Xia Chunfeng wrinkled his nose angrily and said to himself, he is too underestimated. Let alone twenty moves, two hundred moves are no problem. I was trained hard by my father at the border.
As soon as the second brother left, Xia Chunyu's mind wandered. He really wanted to go see Yaoyao, but he couldn't go too quickly. That little girl was pulling her hard, so she had better endure it!
This night, Yu Shu was in the palace.
"Princess, I have found out that Li Yao came to Jinling recently and applied for a job at Tianshangju. He was originally a first-class assistant cook and was promoted to head chef within a few days. Now he has taken over the job of the old princess of Prince Helian's palace. Birthday banquet, Li Yao, it is said that he once saved Prince Jing and had a close friendship with Prince Jing."
A guard reported back.
Liuli frowned. No wonder Chunyu and Helianxuan both came that day. It turned out to be like this. The others would just protect him, but it would be difficult to handle if Chun Yuhe and He Lianxuan were involved.
However, if she can't do it openly, she will do it secretly. In short, she must get back this tone.
"What happened to Shangju that day?"
"The shopkeeper of Tianshangju is called Li Xudong. He used to run a small restaurant. He opened Tianshangju seven years ago and is quite famous in the Jinling catering industry. However, Tianshangju is not his property, it is also rented."
Liuli thought, "Go quickly and find out the owner of the property and Li Xudong's family situation."
"Yes! I will go and investigate right away." The guard bowed and retreated.
Liuli had a sneer in her big almond-shaped eyes. Do you want to play? Then I, the princess, will have fun with you.
Early the next morning, Ye Jiayao took Jiang away to Laifu Inn. Now that I have decided to stay at Aunt Jiang's house, there is no need to keep the guest room here. Autumn is approaching, and scholars from all over the country rushing to take the exams are pouring into Jinling. Business in Jinling's inns is booming, and every house is full. She vacates the room, and Shopkeeper Du can sublet it. Make more money for others.
"Hey, Brother Li is here." When Shopkeeper Du saw Ye Jiayao, he quickly put down his work and greeted with a smile.
"Brother, how are you doing lately?" Ye Jiayao asked with a smile.
"Okay, it couldn't be better. Look, this inn is packed with people." Shopkeeper Du laughed.
Ye Jiayao looked around and said, "Are the guest rooms not enough?"
Shopkeeper Du immediately understood Brother Li's concerns and said: "This room is not bad. By the way, Brother Li, have all your troubles been solved? Is it time to come back and live here?"
Ye Jiayao said: "I am here today just for this matter. I have found a place to live. This is an old acquaintance of mine when I was in Shandong. Their family has also come to Jinling. There is a vacant house at home, so let me live there."
Jiang Li clenched his fists and saluted Shopkeeper Du.
Shopkeeper Du smiled coquettishly and pulled Ye Jiayao aside to talk: "Brother Li, don't be polite to me. I really don't miss the rent."
Ye Jiayao said: "Brother, I'm not being polite to you. Really, Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang are very good to me, just like my relatives. They also hope that I can live there so that we can take care of each other."
"Really?" Shopkeeper Du was doubtful.
"Of course it's true. What do you want me to do? My elder brother and sister-in-law can come and sit at my place when they are free. It's very convenient."
Seeing that Ye Jiayao didn't seem to be lying, Shopkeeper Du breathed a sigh of relief and patted Ye Jiayao's shoulder: "That's good. Anyway, if you have any difficulties, just ask. Although your brother and I don't have much ability, there are still a few rooms in the house. You can come anytime. All welcome.”
Ye Jiayao felt warmer. Although her journey through time was so miserable, she met good people along the way. Everyone who met by chance treated her like a family member. Ye Jinxuan was so unlucky, but she, Ye Jiayao, was so lucky.
Ye Jiayao nodded solemnly: "I will."
She went back to her room and packed her things. There were not many things, just a small baggage. She asked Jiang Li to carry it back, and she went directly to work at Tianshangju.
She was going to start making pastries today, and Ye Jiayao couldn't help but look forward to it. Pastry was her weakest part, and she hoped to learn some skills from Zhong Xiang.
The peas were soaked last night. We don’t have a pressure cooker these days, so we can only boil them slowly. When the beans are cooked and become a paste, remove the skins of the beans with fine gauze, and then add the melted agar-agar and Powdered sugar and minced osmanthus are put into the pot, stir-fry, and then spread out. After condensation, it will turn into a light yellow color, as crystal clear as jelly pea yellow.
During the production process, Ye Jiayao kept recording the amounts of various ingredients, cooking time, heat, etc. with pen and paper.
"The pea yellow color made by adding agar-agar is more shiny." Zhong Xiang is very satisfied with the pea yellow color he made and it sells very well.
"It turns out this thing has such a use." Cui Dongpeng marveled. The agar extracted by Fei Laojin turned out to be really good.
Ye Jiayao picked up a piece and tasted it. After savoring it carefully, she said, "The agar has enough weight and just the right toughness. The soybean flour is also very delicate, but it's still too sweet."
"Really? Let me try it." Zhong Xiang also tasted a piece himself.
"It's okay, a little bit sweet." Zhong Xiang said.
"It won't work if it's slightly sweet. Next time, reduce the amount of sugar by 10%." Ye Jiayao wants just the right amount. Although it is difficult to adjust, some people like sweet and some like light, so what she wants is just right. People who like sweetness won't feel it. It’s too light, but it won’t feel too sweet if you like it light.
Zhong Xiang said: "Okay, let's make it tomorrow and reduce the powdered sugar by 10%."
"We will make walnut cake tomorrow. Remember not to use too much sugar." Ye Jiayao ordered.
Now adjust the flavor of each pastry to the most suitable one, and you will be sure to succeed the first time.
"Brother Yao..." Deng Haichuan came back, carrying a big food box in his hand.
"Haichuan, what good things have you brought back?" Cui Dongpeng said and was about to grab the food box.
"Hey... be careful, don't touch it. This is fine porcelain." Deng Haichuan quickly protected Cui Dongpeng from getting his hands on it.
"Brother Yao, these are three kinds of dishes provided by the steward of Prince Helian. Let you choose which one is suitable for you when you see it." Deng Haichuan opened the food box.
Inside were a set of glazed tableware with a longevity and boundless pattern, a set of glazed tableware with auspicious and festive patterns, and a set of glazed tableware with blooming flowers and wealth.
The three sets of tableware are all brightly colored, with glossy glazes and impressive wealth.
Ye Jiayao made several choices and solicited everyone's opinions. In the end, everyone agreed that the pattern of Longevity without Borders was the most suitable.
"Then let's take this set and ask the palace steward to prepare all the dishes and cups."
Deng Haichuan said: "Okay, I'll run again when I turn around."
"It's not good, it's not good." Xiao Lu ran in in a panic.
"What happened? Is someone making a scene? This isn't dinner time!" Deng Haichuan asked.
Xiao Lu said: "The landlord of this building is here. I just went in to serve tea and heard the landlord say that he wanted to take back the restaurant and no longer rent it."
(End of chapter)