Zhou Xiaoxiao, dressed in men's clothes, dragged Yu Xingzhi for a day's walk, and now she found a small noodle restaurant in the alley.
The face of this noodle shop is not big, but it is kept clean and tidy. It sells dumpling noodles and barrel oven scones. There is a shed outside the door, and three or five square tables are placed.
There is a hole dug in the wall of the noodle shop, with a thick wooden pole built in, and a noodle table under it. The wooden pole is pressed on a huge noodle cake. A young woman is sitting on one end of the wooden pole, jumping step by step, pressing the piece repeatedly. noodle. This is "jumping noodles". When eating, it is sliced very thinly, and then it is poured out of the pot, and then poured with soup made from big bones, sprinkled with mutton, chopped green onion, and lard. It tastes fragrant, smooth and delicious. ①
A large wooden barrel was placed outside, a layer of mud was pasted in the barrel, and a charcoal fire was burning at the bottom of the furnace. Put the kneaded dough into the bucket. When the layers of puff pastry are bulging, the surface is burnt and fragrant, and the dough is gradually golden brown, use an iron hook to tick it out. When you eat it, you only feel salty, fragrant and crispy, and it is memorable.
Although the location of this shop is remote, there are so many customers that Zhou Xiaoxiao and Yu Xingzhi had to share a table with several people.
Zhou Xiaoxiao looked in with chopsticks, "Xingzhi, this is the best noodle restaurant in Fengxiang, you must try it."
Yu Xingzhi's eyes only stared at Zhou Xiaoxiao. In his eyes, no matter what Zhou Xiaoxiao does, it seems to radiate light and warmth, diluting the darkness and anxiety that he has accumulated in his heart these days.
Not long after, the boss brought out steaming noodles and a plate of fragrant scones. He put it on the two of them numbly and greeted them warmly.
The owner of the noodle shop is a man with a pockmarked face and five short stature, known as Sun Mazi. Because of his quick hands and feet, diligent work and good skill in making noodles, he married a young and beautiful daughter-in-law.
Now the store is managed by the husband and wife inside and out.
As soon as Sun Mazi was busy making dough, he shouted in the room, "Eldest sister, come back with some noodles to make the cake."
Hearing "Hey." from the inside, the young woman got down from the pole, held a plate of kneaded dough, and lifted the curtain to come out.
I saw her face was low, her demeanor was gentle, and her pair of red crispy hands skillfully divided the white dough, adding a bit of feminine charm. That Sun Mazi took over the good dough with a smile, sprinkled it with sesame and minced green onion, and stuck it to the inner wall of the stove. The couple handed over one after another, very tacit understanding.
Zhou Xiaoxiao sucked the noodles: "Is it delicious?"
Yu Xingzhi and her ate noodles next to each other: "The world is the most beautiful."
"Eating with you, there is nothing in the world that is not beautiful." Yu Xingzhi looked at the busy young couple with envy, "Looking at the two of them, although they are small families, they are deeply in love and help each other. Yes, it is very exciting.”
Zhou Xiaoxiao leaned over his head and said, "Every family has their own troubles. These two look beautiful on the surface, but in reality, this Sun Mazi is a domestic abuser who beats his wife day and night for pleasure. And his wife likes to steal men. You don't know anything about your neighbors, you just hide it from Sun Mazi. Unlike you and me, who are separated by thousands of miles, but have the same mind, far better than someone who looks good and separates. Why do you want to envy others?"
Yu Xingzhi's eyelashes drooped: "Jiaci disagrees with you and me. Xiaoxiao, can you wait for me for a while? It may be a little long, maybe a year... Maybe two years. But I will do my best, swear Not your fault."
Zhou Xiaoxiao stared at him and replied seriously: "Yes, I'll be waiting for you. Fate can't be forced, we just do our best, and you don't have to suffer too much."
Yu Xingzhi couldn't help but stretched out a hand from under the table and held Zhou Xiaoxiao's hand. Zhou Xiaoxiao bit her lip and snickered.
"In the public, it is simply shameless."
Zhou Xiaoxiao heard a voice that killed the scenery.
Looking up, it turned out to be Cheng Shizhao and Cheng Shiqi, two out of place guys.
Zhou Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes and thought to herself: What qualifications do you have to speak of me as a beast who is trying to seize a brother's woman.
However, considering Cheng Shizhao's inconvenient status and the already bad relationship between the two, he didn't say it.
"Wulang told me to wait and find it, but I never thought that Wulang of the Yu family, known as the double walls of Kyoto, would be looking for food in these streets and alleys." The ninth prince Cheng Shiqi squeezed a seat beside Yu Xingzhi, watching the just-coming out The pancake said, "This village snack smells very good. It seems to be a bit interesting."
Zhou Xiaoxiao said with a smile: "The foragers are not contemptible. It turns out that the temple... Jiuye is also a fellow person. Would you like to try it?"
Cheng Shiqi nodded: "Then I'll have a taste."
Cheng Shizhao and a few bodyguards stood aside with black lines all over their faces.
Zhou Xiaoxiao took out a dozen small coins and clasped his fists at the diners at the same table: "The villain has a few brothers here, and I want to have a small gathering together. I also hope that a few elder brothers will move the honorary car. I'm bothering you, here's a little thought. , the right to make amends."
Seeing that her character was dashing, her words were polite, and she had more than a dozen coins to take, they all gave up their positions.
Zhou Xiaoxiao made a gesture of invitation. Cheng Shiqi happily took the chopsticks and moved them to sit opposite the square table. Cheng Shizhao sat down reluctantly. Several guards did not dare to take their seats, and only stood sideways behind them.
Zhou Xiaoxiao shouted to Sun Mazi: "The shopkeeper, let's have two more bowls of noodles and a pot of oven cakes. If you are old, you need to add dried plums and dried vegetables."
Sun Mazi responded loudly, "I know."
After a while, the steaming hot food will be served up.
Cheng Shiqi ate a chopstick, her eyes lit up, and said, "Fragrant and smooth, it's really delicious. There are such authentic delicacies hidden in such poor streets and alleys. Sixth brother, you can try it too."
Cheng Shizhao's face was dark and he didn't say a word.
Yu Xingzhi also had a worried expression and remained silent.
Only Cheng Shiqi devoured the noodles.
Zhou Xiaoxiao knew of the three of them, one couldn't step down, one had resentment in his heart, and the other just wanted to be with the mud.
Although she hated Cheng Shizhao in her heart, she knew that Yu Xingzhi's current situation was very difficult, and she didn't want him to be embarrassed because of his own enemies.
What's more, the one who beat up was himself, and the one who was beaten was the other party.
So she decided to turn the matter over, anyway, she didn't need to interact with such perverted people in the future.
"That day." Zhou Xiaoxiao said.
All three on the table turned to look at her.
Zhou Xiaoxiao straightened her clothes and said solemnly: "I had a dispute with the sixth master over some trivial matters. I lost control and acted rebelliously. Fortunately, the sixth master is generous and doesn't care about the villain."
She stood up, saluted slowly, and took a deep look at Cheng Shizhao.
It's almost done. I've handed you a ladder. Let's hurry down the slope and get off the donkey.
When Cheng Shizhao heard her mention the scandal that day, he sat on pins and needles. After hearing that she had uncovered it, a big stone fell in her heart and she thought, "You know what's interesting."
Taking a look at Yu Xingzhi, he said in his heart: Zigui, Zigui, if it wasn't for you, why would this king have to suffer from the arrogance of these village shrews. You do not know what to do with such a foolish fellow.
Unexpectedly, Yu Xingzhi didn't look at him at all, but held Zhou Xiaoxiao and said, "Xiaoxiao, you don't have to apologize. I know you are not an unreasonable person. It must be my cousin who did something excessive first."
Zhou Xiaoxiao smiled, she never hesitated to express her love for others in her heart.
She leaned over her head and said in a voice that seemed to be quiet, but in fact the four of them could just hear: "Anyway, I hit someone, and it's my fault. You help me talk to my cousin and ask him to forgive me. One, don't take my head."
Cheng Shizhao's face turned red and he became angry.
Cheng Shiqi hurriedly rounded up the field: "It's alright, it's alright, sixth brother, don't bother with women if you're a dignified man. It's going to be troublesome, you must not look good."
Then he said to Zhou Xiaoxiao: "Miss Zhou, since you said you want to apologize, why are you so stingy, you asked me to wait for the noodles and cakes? What other delicious delicacies are there in Fengxiang City? ."
Zhou Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes, I said the apology was just a pretense, do you think I really apologized to you two scumbags
"Okay, this top-notch delicacy in Fengxiang City is one thing, but the two of you may not dare to eat it." Zhou Xiaoxiao lightly tapped the bowl with chopsticks.
"What is it?" Cheng Shiqi dared to be curious.
"Blowfish."
"I have heard of it. It is said that the taste is extremely delicious, and it is the most extraordinary in the world. It is a pity that I have never seen it in Kyoto."
Guo Suren, the guard behind Cheng Shizhao, leaned over and whispered: "Liu Ye, puffer fish is a highly poisonous thing. It was reported that two people died of poisoning from puffer fish in Jiangyin last year. It must not be eaten lightly."
Zhou Xiaoxiao clapped her hands and stood up: "There is a local saying 'eat puffer fish to the death'. It can be seen that non-old foodies dare not try it. If the sixth master does not dare to eat it, please come back. Xingzhi, Jiuye, let's go?"
Cheng Shizhao's face turned blue and then white, and he stood up with a snap: "Why don't you dare?"
The crowd moved to the Hengshui River.
At this moment, the sky will be late, and the fishing sparks on the riverbed echo the sunset, which is really beautiful.
There is an ancient bridge at the northern foot of the river. There is a small shop along the bridge hole. I picked a few maddening lanterns and set up two tables. There is a stone-carved sign outside the shop door. When you look closer, there are a few lines written on it: The shop’s ancestral craftsmanship of slaughtering puffer fish will ensure that customers and officials can eat without fear.
Whenever the shopkeeper sees someone coming, he brushes a layer of ink on the slate, pastes a cooked announcement, and extends the text on the next page to hand it over to the diners. It's like signing a bond. slaughtered puffer fish just now.
Cheng Shiqi looked interesting, and praised: "Eating puffer fish here is just like this river maple fishing fire, and the ground is full of stalks. It's a hundred times better than the royal banquet in the palace."
Zhou Xiaoxiao gave him a thumbs up: "Jiu Ye is really a gourmet."
After a while, the fresh puffer fish was brought to the table, and the store ate a chopstick in front of everyone. Fang Cai greeted him: "Guest officials take it slow."
Yu Xingzhi picked up the chopsticks: "Sure enough, the fragrance is so fragrant that it makes the index finger move. Let me taste it first to see if it is as delicious as the rumors."
Cheng Shizhao reached out his hand to stop it and said, "Xingzhi will wait. I'll try it first."
Another Guo Suren stopped him from the side, "Liu Ye, take it easy, wait for the villain to try first."
Zhou Xiaoxiao's hands and feet are fast, so she grabbed a few bites first. The ninth prince, Cheng Shiqi, couldn't bear it either, and held up the chopsticks again and again, hissing hot in his mouth.
When the rest of the people saw this, they could eat it with confidence. A group of guards also set up a table from the side.
The food is all praised, and all of them are really delicious.
Zhou Xiaoxiao thought to himself that although Cheng Shizhao was filthy and shameless, he seemed to be sincere towards Xingzhi. For the sake of knowledge, let's forget it this time. So he said to Cheng Shizhao: "Since the sixth master has eaten my puffer fish, it can be regarded as a life-and-death friendship. Let's turn over the little things we had before?"
Cheng Shizhao did not speak according to the food, and said in his heart: Although this woman is vulgar, she is sincere when she sees her.
Everyone was full, Cheng Shiqi touched her round belly and sighed, "It's a pity that I will be returning to Beijing soon. It's a pity in my life that I can't taste this delicious food again."
"Are you going back? When?" Zhou Xiaoxiao looked at Yu Xingzhi.
Yu Xingzhi said apologetically: "There are still important things in Beijing recently. In addition, my cousin came with me. It is really inappropriate to leave Beijing without permission. I need to return within a day or two."
Before he finished speaking, Yu Xingzhi's brows moved slightly, his eyes turned round, and his eyes stared at Zhou Xiaoxiao, showing extreme reluctance.
Zhou Xiaoxiao thought of Yu Xingzhi's letter for her, regardless of how long he ran down, she felt a little sour and uncomfortable, her mind moved, and she thought temporarily: "Why don't I accompany you to Beijing? I want to open a family of twelve in Kyoto. The branch of the moon cake shop, just go and step on it first and then come back."
"Xiaoxiao, is what you said true?" Yu Xingzhi was overjoyed and couldn't help but feel happy.
But he not only wanted to spend more time with his beloved, but also worried that she would be drawn into the turbulent whirlpool of Kyoto by him.
"It's okay, I'll only accompany you all the way. I'll go on the same day." Zhou Xiaoxiao knew what he was worried about. "After we arrived in Kyoto, we were busy with each other, and I guess we will meet each other flawlessly. In the future, I will wait for me to complete the planning and start in Kyoto. Branch, it's only when you and I meet that the two sides are cheap."
Cheng Shizhao sneered and said, "I said earlier that I would let you go to Beijing, and you will make troubles and fight to the death. It's so capricious, moody and angry."
Zhou Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes: "Okay, okay, my Highness, aren't all women like this? Don't bother with me."
She thought to herself, Yu Xingzhi and I broke up before, and you wanted to keep me in a house as an outhouse, of course I wouldn't. Now I know that breaking up is not his intention, we are reconciled, I naturally have to create conditions to get along with him more. If you don't eat the food of your palace, do you need to take care of it
But she only said: "Xingzhi has just recovered from his serious illness. I am not at ease. I will take care of his daily life along the way. I will save any mistakes, and His Highness blames me."
"You!" Cheng Shizhao said angrily, "It's really hard to support only women and villains."