The next morning, when Hua Zhi had breakfast and went to the front yard, the peaches had piled up into a small hill. More people were coming in with baskets, and the peaches were dumped on the ground one by one.
A faint fruity fragrance floats in the air, giving a feeling of harvest even before the golden autumn season, which makes people feel better.
"Miss, please try it." Fu Dong held the small plate. The yellow flesh had been peeled and looked very juicy. He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, and the sweetness filled his heart.
"Pick out some good ones and send them back. Send more."
"yes."
Hua Zhi looked at the courtyard that she had transformed based on her drawings. The detailed work had to be done inside the house, but the initial preparations had to be completed outside. Worried about the changeable weather, she had someone build a shed. As the water consumption was large, she was afraid of water accumulation, so she added a drainage outlet in the patio.
Twenty maids were all wearing tops and trousers with their sleeves and trouser legs tightened. Some of them were busy in the courtyard, some were fetching water, some were washing, and some were carrying baskets. They all had smiles on their faces. The sunlight fell on them and in the water, reflecting a dazzling light, making them look full of vitality.
Hua Zhi likes quietness, but she also likes to watch such excitement. She watched quietly for a while before whispering, "You can't peel the peaches the way you did before. It's too slow. Have someone boil some hot water, put the peaches in and boil them for a while, then you can peel them. Be sure to pay attention to hygiene, just like you cook for your master in the mansion. If you are criticized for this, I will not let you off easily."
"Yes, I will keep a close eye on it."
Liu Qi was overwhelmed and Hua Zhi had no choice but to send Bao Xia to take charge. There were not many people she could trust and this was the Hua family's first business, so there could not be any mistakes.
"Have you dealt with the porcelain jars?"
"Yes, washed and cooked as you ordered."
"Use the proportion of rock sugar that I mentioned. Don't be reluctant to add it. It's easy to make and you can't go wrong as long as you're not careless." If she hadn't been short on time, she would have liked to custom-make a batch of beautiful blue and white canning bottles that would look high-end. Now she could only make do with this ordinary white-bottomed purple-flowered porcelain jar. Of course, she still prepared a batch of better jars, and the prices would naturally be much different.
After making some detailed arrangements, Liu Juan was heard outside reporting, "Miss, Miss Shaoyao is here."
Ever since signing the death contract, Liu Juan has been called Miss Hua Zhi. To her, calling someone "young lady" is different from calling her "Miss". Only her own people can call her "Miss".
This is indeed the case. Hua Zhi herself couldn't remember when the people who served her started to make such a distinction. As far as she knew, it was not the same in other sisters' rooms.
"Hua Zhi, are you planning to do peach business?" Shaoyao came in throwing a peach. She still wore a veil when there were outsiders around.
"It's a new way to eat it. It's not just peaches. I also sent people to the Jiangnan area to buy tangerines. You like sweet things, so you should like it."
Shaoyao's eyes lit up, not because of the food... It was also for the food, because Hua Zhi's food was so delicious, but more because she remembered that she loved sweet food.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Everything is ready. I'll find you when I need you."
Shaoyao pulled up her veil to reveal her smiling face, "Remember to look for me. I'm very capable."
"Okay, I'll remember." Hua Zhi smiled, her eyes gentle. Shaoyao was the simplest and most straightforward person she had ever met in her two lifetimes. Although she was well protected, she had a face full of scars. She didn't know how strong a heart it took to face a ruined appearance and still maintain an innocent heart. If it were her, she thought she couldn't do it.
More and more peaches were sent back. After estimating the quantity that could be finished today, Baoxia had them carried directly to the cellar.
Hua Zhi washed her hands and went through all the steps herself, from peeling the skin to putting the skin into the porcelain jar and sealing it with wax. She explained as she did it, and the maids and servants who were in charge of these tasks listened very carefully.
Hua Zhi watched them work and corrected them when they made mistakes. She didn't return to the backyard until they had made a can of peaches one by one, only then was she satisfied.
Shaoyao followed her all the time, biting a peeled peach and asking, "Isn't it said that young ladies never touch water? How did you do this? This is the first time I've seen peaches cooked and eaten."
"Are many of the things you eat here available outside?"
Shaoyao thought about it and shook her head. Indeed, there wasn't any. That's right, adding this one wasn't surprising. Shaoyao figured it out instantly and continued to eat the peach happily with a sweet taste in her mouth.
"Save some space for yourself. Fudong will make sweet and sour pork for lunch."
Shaoyao couldn't swallow the meat peach or spit it out. She had eaten sweet and sour pork once and it was so delicious!
After chewing it randomly and swallowing it, Shaoyao didn't put the food in her hand into her mouth. She approached Huazhi and asked, "What other dishes do you have? Can you make braised pork elbow?"
"There's nothing for lunch. You can order some food from Fudong and ask her to make it in the evening."
"In the evening." Shaoyao was a little disappointed. "I have to go back in the afternoon. I have something to do."
"Then I'll ask her to do it tomorrow at noon?"
Shaoyao pursed her lips and said, "I can't come over these few days."
Hua Zhi didn't ask too much. After all, a team with such strong military power must have a strong background. She smiled and said, "Come back after you're done. Fu Dong won't run away."
The two of them entered the house. Hua Zhi did not leave anyone to serve them in the house. Shaoyao took off the veil hat. Because she had worn it for so long, sweat appeared on her forehead.
Hua Zhi handed her a handkerchief and said, "I will probably stay here for another half a month or so. You will be done with your work in half a month."
"It won't take that long unless someone is seriously injured."
"If I go back to the city, can you find me?"
"Yes." Shaoyao nodded firmly, not daring to say that the situation of the Hua family had already been reported to the prince.
"That's it. Go in through the back door and I'll tell them."
Shaoyao immediately smiled. After getting used to it, the scars on her face didn't look so ugly anymore.
The two of them got along very comfortably, even though most of the time one was busy while the other was enjoying herself. Occasionally, Shaoyao would look at a medical book or tinker with medicinal herbs. Perhaps it was because Hua Zhi couldn't live without medicine or because of her herbs, but the smell of medicine in the room became stronger and stronger, so that the maids who came in and out were all smelling of medicine.
When Shaoyao left, Huazhi handed her a cloth bag, which felt quite heavy in her hand. "Use it to chew when you're bored."
Shaoyao sniffed a few times at the smell of fennel, took out one and looked at it, "What is this? Meat?"
"Jerky, you can eat it when you're hungry." Although it was made as thin as possible, it still tasted far worse than beef jerky. Hua Zhi didn't like it very much, but the maids below liked it very much. "It would taste better if it was made with beef, but it's a pity that beef is hard to buy."
PS: I originally thought that I only needed to concentrate on writing this book in the first half of the year, but I just received a call. A drama that was approved last year has been approved, and a new drama is about to sign a contract. And then, the boss also said that a science fiction drama had just been negotiated today, and your Kong Kong was almost pulled into the third crew. I will die if I write three scripts at the same time. It is already very difficult to write two scripts and then write a novel. I just hope that the two dramas will not be started at the same time. Only the monthly ticket can comfort me, you know, girls!