Jiang Kangning's appearance suddenly changed the atmosphere in the new house. The originally noisy front yard was much quieter, and the villagers who were dissatisfied because they could not visit the whole house did not dare to express their dissatisfaction at all. Shao Yun'an didn't expect Jiang Kangning to come today, and everyone in the main hall was surprised to see Jiang Kangning. Mr. Cen's eyes stayed on Mr. An for a few more breaths. After the two masters Guan and Chen finished their salutes, they expressed their desire to go out and have a look. Taking it out with others, shopkeeper Xu also paid special attention to Mr. Xia'an.
Mrs. Cen also found an excuse to see Nizi and left. Shao Yun'an took everyone to another side hall first, served refreshments, and then asked Guo Ziyu to come over and greet them. Guo Ziyu is a scholar, and he is most suitable for this occasion. Then Shao Yunan brought Mrs. Cen to Nizi's boudoir and asked Nizi to greet Mrs. Cen. Mrs. Cen brought her personal maid, and Shao Yun'an called Tang Genshu to wait on her. If Mrs. Cen wanted anything, she could tell Tang Genshu.
After settling these distinguished guests, Li Zheng, the patriarch and other elders, Shao Yun'an hurried to the front yard to find Wang Shuping and Zhao Yuande, and asked them to help Guo Ziyu. The current situation is that he and Wang Shijing have to entertain Jiang Kangning and the three of them, but they must not neglect the two masters Guan and Chen, the shopkeepers, Li Zheng, the patriarch, Wang Shuping, Zhao Yuande and Guo Ziyu. problem. Aunt Wang and Zhao He in the front yard are enough to say hello. Shao Yunan ran non-stop to the big kitchen again, Guo Zimu had already started cooking, he rolled up his sleeves, put on his apron, and asked Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou who were helping in the kitchen to light another stove.
Shao Yun'an was not worried that Wang Shijing would not be able to hold on alone in the main hall. No matter what Wang Shijing said, he also went out for a few years, fought a war under a general, and served as a centurion. Wang Shijing's reticence to the outside world does not mean that he is dull. What's more, there is Jiang Kangning, the eldest brother, and Mr. Cen, so it is absolutely no problem to entertain Mr. Hao'an. As for Jiang Kangchen, even though it was the first time they met, he was considered one of his own, so Shao Yun'an was not worried.
Sure enough, as Shao Yunan expected, there was no silence in the back hall when he left. Without outsiders present, Jiang Kangning directly asked Wang Shijing to bring out "good tea" and "good wine". Wang Shijing went to the cellar to bring a small barrel of goat's milk wine and special tea. In front of several people, Wang Shijing showed his skills in making tea. The water he used was mountain spring water added with spiritual spring water, which was very sweet. Naturally, the first cup of tea was served in front of Mr. An. Mr. An took the tea bowl, smelled it intoxicatedly, took a sip, and said: "Our (read: Miscellaneous) family is blessed by Mr. Kang this time. .Our family only drank a cup of this Longjing tea that was rewarded by the Empress Qiansui in the palace."
When Mr. An opened his mouth, Wang Shijing knew the identity of the other party, but Elder Cen's eyes slipped away. Wang Shijing said: "This tea can be liked by the Emperor and Empress Qiantui, and Mr. An, it is the blessing of the grassroots and my wife."
To be rewarded with a cup of Longjing tea by the Queen, Mr. An is either someone close to the Emperor or someone close to the Queen. Wang Shijing suddenly thought about it, and the plan of Shao Yun'an and Jiang Kangning should have been achieved.
Elder Cen took over the conversation: "Ange'er and Shi Jing are excellent at making tea, and their wine making skills are unique in the world. Master An should take this opportunity to drink a few more cups today. The reason why I came here is for the wine of the two of them, otherwise I won’t be able to drink until June next year at least.”
Mr. An immediately said: "Our family can't treat Mr. Cen as 'my lord'. Although Mr. Cen is not in the court, the emperor and the emperor's teacher often mention Mr. Cen."
Elder Cen bowed to the throne of the emperor: "I am grateful for the emperor and the emperor's teacher. I have already left the official position, and Eunuch An deserves to say 'my lord'."
Elder Cen deliberately called Shao Yun'an "Brother Ang" in order to raise Shao Yun'an's status in front of Mr. An. On this occasion, Cen Lao's respect for Shao Yun'an undoubtedly added a bit of leverage to Shao Yun'an in the future, which can be regarded as a great deal of affection.
After being polite to each other, Jiang Kangning and Elder Cen chatted with the Eunuch An who came from the palace. Wang Shijing didn't need to talk much at this time, unless someone asked him something. Jiang Kangchen didn't say much, drinking tea quietly. Several people chatted for more than half an hour while drinking, Shao Yun'an walked in and said that it was time to sit. The four of them followed Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan to the restaurant. There was only one round table in the restaurant, and five small dishes were already placed on the round table.
Wang Shijing first poured wine for several people. Everyone who came to the new house today had wine, but only the guests at this table could drink goat milk wine. Soon, Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou brought up pots and plates of dishes. The tableware for serving the dishes was carefully selected by Shao Yunan at the porcelain shop. It is extremely delicate, at least it will not lose its etiquette on this occasion today.
After Aunt Zhao expressed a little nervously that all the dishes were ready and left, Wang Shijing said, "Master An, Brother Kang Chen, these dishes are all made by my wife, I don't know if they suit my taste."
Jiang Kangning said with a smile: "Yun'an's craftsmanship is not much better than that of Yizhangxuan's chef. Mr. An, please."
Eunuch An picked up the chopsticks, looked around the dishes, and said, "Our family has never seen such dishes in the palace, so we are impolite."
Eunuch An put down the first chopsticks, and Jiang Kangning motioned to Cen Lao to move his chopsticks. After Cen Lao moved his chopsticks, Jiang Kangning and Jiang Kangchen put down their chopsticks. Wang Shijing and Shao Yun'an didn't move their chopsticks. Shao Yun'an introduced each dish one by one, and told Mr. Cen that his wife had already delivered a copy.
Shao Yun'an put a lot of thought into this dish. Boiled pork slices, mapo tofu, pickled fish, dry pot lamb, red oil chicken, fried pork slices with spicy cabbage, brine platter, fried eggplant box, pork ribs soup, dry pot stewed mushrooms, sweet and sour pork balls, cold noodles, cold salad Three shreds, cold potato shreds, cold leeks, pumpkin pie with goat's milk jam. Shao Yun'an used limited ingredients to cook eleven hot dishes and five cold dishes, which can be said to have done his best.
Master An was full of praise for his food, Jiang Kangchen was full of praise for his food, and Mr. Cen said that he would come here often to eat the dishes made by Shao Yun'an. Good tea, good wine, good food, this meal will definitely satisfy you all. Six people, sixteen dishes, and in the end there was nothing left. Finally, Shao Yun'an served another dessert for everyone—the pudding with sweet-scented osmanthus goat's milk and hawthorn sauce. It's cold outside, put the pudding outside for a while and it will cool down, but it won't be too cold.
Eunuch An finished his last mouthful of pudding, wiped his mouth reservedly, and said, "Brother Shao, your skills are more than enough to open a restaurant in the capital. To be honest, our family hasn't eaten these dishes in the palace for more than forty years. Especially after eating this so-called dessert at the end, our family feels that this meal is complete."
"Indeed." Elder Cen nodded, "After eating this meal, I suddenly feel that I haven't eaten any good food in my life."
Jiang Kangchen wiped his mouth, and said: "Yun'an's tea and wine making skills are excellent, and the cooking skills are also excellent. If you open a restaurant in the capital, I don't think you can earn less than tea and wine. .”
Shao Yun'an just laughed and didn't know how to start a conversation. He is best at Western food. If the ingredients are sufficient, I don't know if these ancient people can accept Western food. But he didn't want to go to the capital, where the water was very deep, so he didn't want to ask for trouble. Jiang Kangning said enviously: "Ishii is really blessed. With Yun'an's ability, I don't know how many people will rob him in the future. You have to keep Yun'an in prison."
Wang Shijing immediately held Shao Yun'an's hand: "Yun'an is my wife, no one can take her away."
"Hahaha… "
Even Mr. An laughed. After laughing, Eunuch An said seriously: "Our family is not polite. Brother Shao's craftsmanship can indeed open a restaurant in the capital. If Brother Shao doesn't want to go to the capital, you can hand over the recipe to Mr. Jiang, and Mr. Jiang will come forward."
Jiang Kangning also became serious: "Yun'an, why don't we discuss it carefully. Since we want to earn money, why not earn more?"
Shao Yun'an glanced at Wang Shijing, as if he wanted to listen to him. Wang Shijing knew that his wife was looking good for him, so he nodded. Shao Yun'an said casually: "Master An, Brother Jiang, and Elder Cen, why don't we go to the main hall to discuss in detail, and I'll make golden silk imperial chrysanthemum for you."
"good."
A group of people moved to the main hall again, Wang Shijing let Shao Yun'an go first, and he asked someone to clean up. Shao Yunan took the golden silk chrysanthemum for everyone to soak, and Wang Shijing took the opportunity to go to the side hall to see the two masters and the shopkeepers, and went to Mrs. Cen's to see if there was any bad reception.
Sitting down again, the topic is no longer polite. Shao Yun'an's suggestion to Jiang Kangning was to bring Weng Lao and the emperor in, at least let Weng Lao and the emperor be their backers, so that the first business would be easy to do. Otherwise, without a big backer, their business will definitely be taken away by merchants with strong backgrounds, but they will definitely become very passive. Unexpectedly, Jiang Kangning not only persuaded Weng Lao and the emperor, the two great gods, but the emperor even handed over the matter to the queen, and Eunuch An is the personal manager of the queen, and Jiang Kangchen is the direct contact. The sale of tea and wine in Beijing and the follow-up tea exchange meeting planned by Jiang Kangning, etc.
Before Eunuch An came, the Empress told him that he would do his best to assist Jiang Kangchen, Jiang Kangning and Shao Yun'an in the business of tea and wine. Jiang Kangchen is directly responsible to the queen. In this matter, the emperor does not intend to let the Ministry of Households intervene for the time being, as soon as the Ministry of Households intervenes, it will be a bad dish. Wait until the business of tea and wine reaches the expectations in Jiang Kangning's memorial, and then let the household department intervene. At that time, the important officials of the household department will also be replaced by people trusted by the emperor. Of course, these Eunuch An would not tell Shao Yun'an.
Originally, Eunuch An just brought all the tea and brewed wine made by Shao Yunan back to the capital, and confirmed the quantity and plan for next year. But after eating the dishes made by Shao Yun'an, he really felt that Shao Yun'an's craftsmanship could open a restaurant in the capital. The most indispensable thing in the capital is rich people. The emperor is poor, and as the father-in-law next to the queen, he is naturally anxious for the emperor and the queen. If Shao Yun'an is a lazy person, then Eunuch An is definitely a person who is willing to do everything possible to make money for the emperor and the queen.
Instead of opening a restaurant, Eunuch An also set his sights on chrysanthemum tea and jam, which are still rare items in the capital. Those in the palace were paid tribute by Marquis Hengyuan. A group of people discussed behind closed doors, and Eunuch An did not avoid Elder Cen. By the time the villagers who had come to eat the water mat in the front yard left, the shopkeepers in the side hall had already left, and the discussion in the main hall was still going on.
It wasn't until everyone felt hungry that they realized that it was so late. Shao Yun'an immediately said that he was going to cook, and Jiang Kangning would go back to the county government at night. Originally, Eunuch An, Jiang Kangchen and others were going to live in the county, but Shao Yunan and Wang Shijing's family built a new house, and the new house was big enough, so they decided to live here, and it was convenient for them to discuss matters with Shao Yunan.
Shao Yun'an didn't cook so many dishes for dinner. In the afternoon, he asked Guo Zimu to cook chicken soup, and he had chicken noodle soup for dinner. Wang Shijing kneaded the noodles himself, cut them into thin slices, poured chicken broth on them, added a little bean sprouts, and matched them with three small dishes. Everyone was satisfied. During the period, Eunuch An asked: "How do Brother Shao store these vegetables at home?" The leeks and eggplants eaten at noon are all fresh.
Shao Yun'an didn't hide anything, and said: "Brother Jing built me a greenhouse to grow vegetables for me. I planted them in the greenhouse before moving, and I didn't expect it to grow very well. The greenhouse is next to the kitchen, where cooking, The hot air for heating water is supplied to the heating room, and the other side of the heating room is the servant's room. The heat from the heating kang in the servant's room can also be supplied to the heating room at night, so that the firewood used for heating the room will not be too much. I don't plan to sell these vegetables. It’s perfectly fine to eat at home.”
Eunuch An was taken aback for a moment, and then said clearly: "The winter vegetables in the palace are grown by the hot spring pool. You are very smart. Brother Shao really has a lot of ideas as Mr. Jiang said."
"The main reason is that I like to eat. If you like to eat, you have to find a way." Shao Yun'an pretended to be embarrassed and said.
"Hehe." Eunuch An smiled, "Our family also likes to eat, but there is no brother Shao in the palace who is so good at cooking."
Shao Yun'an quickly flattered: "When the restaurants in the capital open, Eunuch An will have a place to eat. If it's not convenient, I will give Eunuch An some simple recipes, and Eunuch An can cook and eat in the palace."
"Then our family will not be polite."
After dinner, Jiang Kangning and Mr. Cen left first. Before leaving, Jiang Kangning pulled Wang Shijing over and whispered something to him, and Wang Shijing nodded. Elder Cen asked Shao Yunan not to send the child there for the next few days, but to wait until the work was done, and Nizi did the same. What Cen Lao meant was that Wang Qing and Nizi would not have to go there when they were in Xiaonian, and they would send Wang Qing to the academy directly on the first day of February.
After sending Jiang Kangning, Elder Cen, and Mrs. Cen away, Shao Yun'an and Wang Shijing quickly arranged for Eunuch An and Jiang Kangchen's residence. Eunuch An is a distinguished guest, Shao Yun'an and Wang Shijing donated their master bedroom, but Eunuch An didn't want it, and just said that it would be fine to arrange a guest room for him. In the end, Wang Shijing arranged Mr. An into Wang Qing's house. Wang Qing still lived with Nizi for the time being. Two brothers Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu lived with Mr. An in Wang Qing's yard. There are not too many people, so Guo Ziyu and Guo Zimu are waiting on the sidelines. Jiang Kangchen didn't bring any entourage either, Mrs. Cen left her own maid for Jiang Kangchen's use before leaving. Tomorrow, Elder Cen will send servants and maids to help. Regarding this, Shao Yun'an said that he had to buy a few maidservants, so that no one would be able to use him when there were distinguished guests at home in the future.
After all the arrangements were finally made, Shao Yun'an went back to his room, lay down on the bed, didn't move, he was exhausted. Wang Shijing came and sat beside him, rubbed his waist, and asked in a low voice, "Do you want to go to the space for a while?"
Shao Yunan hesitated: "There are outsiders. The people brought by Eunuch An may know martial arts."
"They live in the east wing, so they won't notice. I'll guard you outside."
Shao Yun'an immediately moved his heart: "Okay, I'll go wash up, and then I'll change you." After finishing speaking, the other person disappeared. Wang Shijing made the bed.
Shao Yun'an didn't soak for too long, he took a shower, especially his hair, and he came out after a quick blow-drying, with a can of tea in his arms. There are no kangs in the bedrooms, and they are all big solid wood beds. Floor heating and wall heating are used for heating. There are two boiler rooms dedicated to heating the east and west wing rooms and the main room. Of course, there is no boiler in the boiler room, but the principle is the same. Next to the boiler room is the public bathroom, where the servants of the family will take a bath in the future. After the new house was built, Wang Shijing also asked Uncle Zhou, Aunt Zhou and Zhou Tianbao to come and help every day. They were regarded as part-time workers in the family, and they could also take a bath here. On this point, Wang Shijing and Shao Yun'an will definitely not be stingy.
As soon as Shao Yunan came out, he said: "I took out a can of Longjing tea that I kept before and drank it. The tea leaves in the tea room stopped moving and I sold it for money. The taste of this can of Longjing tea is similar to our third-class tea. I will gradually drink it in the future. Take out the tea in the space and drink it. Most of the tea in the space is platform tea, which is not as good as the ancient tree tea here."
"You can be the master."
"Go take a shower. I'll wipe your eyes after washing."
"good."
Shao Yunan sent Wang Shijing into the space, and told him not to wash the dirty clothes, but to rest quickly after washing. Both of their clothes were washed by Wang Shijing, including underwear. Underwear cannot be seen by others, so Wang Shijing always washes it in the space.
The room was very warm, and Shao Yunan walked around the room wearing modern-style cotton slippers specially made by Aunt Zhou. He hasn't even looked at the new house carefully yet. Guessing that the time was almost up, Shao Yunan went into the space and took Wang Shijing out, took a bottle of spiritual milk, mixed it with spiritual spring water, and wiped Wang Shijing's eyes and scratches. Shao Yun'an was afraid that the stimulation would be too great, so he didn't dare to use the spiritual milk directly on Wang Shijing, and he was also afraid that after using the spiritual milk directly, Wang Shijing's body would have too obvious changes that would attract suspicion. He wiped it, anyway, his eyes are getting better and better, and they are more and more responsive to light. He believes that his eyes will be better with his wife. As for the scars on his body, he himself doesn't care about them, and his wife has never disliked them, but since soaking in Lingquan water, the scars on his body have indeed become lighter.
Going to bed, covered with a silk quilt, Shao Yunan moaned comfortably: "Moving is really tiring."
"Go to sleep."
Hugging Shao Yun'an, Wang Shijing kissed his forehead, Shao Yun'an rubbed against Wang Shijing's arms, and muttered: "What did brother say to you when he left?"
"He said that rumors should have started to spread in the capital, and we need to be prepared."
"Oh. Sleep, good night."
"Well, go to sleep."
To kiss again, Wang Shijing reached into Shao Yunan's vest to caress his delicate body. After a while, Wang Shijing didn't move, leaving only the sound of light breathing in the bedroom.