So she coughed twice to cover it up, and Fu Qiuning took the box. Before she could open it and take a closer look, a long-lost sweet smell of cream hit her nostrils, almost making her shed tears.
Long-standing memories resurfaced. Fu Qiuning blinked her eyes hard before swallowing her tears. She took a deep breath. She reached out and picked up a brioche, slowly put it into her mouth, and chewed it carefully.
After all, this is ancient times. Although it is a cream snack, the taste is somewhat different from modern ones. Fu Qiuning remembered that she had seen the ancient method of making butter in a novel. At that time, there was no industrial revolution in the West, and it was not even certain whether the West in this fictional era was the West she knew, so this butter Such things must be made using ancient methods, and there is no way there is a specially made machine.
"What do you think, grandma? But isn't it more unique than our dim sum?" Seeing Fu Qiuning chewing slowly, with a look of emotion on his face, Huo felt a little smug in her heart, so she asked briskly.
Fu Qiuning came back to her senses. Now her mood had completely calmed down. So she put down the snack box, nodded and smiled: "No, it tastes really good. But I don't know where to invite this Western master. Why don't you invite me too?" Wouldn’t it be nice to come to our house and specialize in making these Western snacks?”
Huo laughed and said: "Grandma is joking, where are there so many foreigners? It has only been more than ten years since Daning opened its treaty port. I heard that the ocean is bigger than the two Daning countries. Once a big war breaks out, No matter how strong the ship is, it cannot escape the wind and waves. Therefore, there are not many people coming and going. In the past two years, it has become stronger than before. But who wants to wander in a foreign country? The foreigner in our family, He is not a cook, but an acquaintance of my father. The two of them were very good friends, so he came to our house. We entertained him as a distinguished guest on weekdays. On New Year's Day, I just asked him to show his skills. Otherwise, where would a foreign cook be? Is it so easy to find?”
Fu Qiuning heard that she initially said that she had invited a foreign dim sum chef, but now she suddenly became a distinguished guest again. She knew in her heart that either Huo wanted to show off and let her know that they had a foreign pastry chef in their family. Or maybe after hearing what she said, she was afraid that Jin Fengju and other dignitaries from the capital would go to her house to ask for the foreigner, so she changed her tune.
She didn't take it seriously either, but Huo didn't seem to notice her indifference and just kept looking for topics to chat about. Suddenly I heard the sound of footsteps outside, and then the little maid's voice said: "The young master and the ladies are back." After saying that, the door curtain was raised, and a few small figures got in.
Jin Zangfeng, Jin Zangjiao, Jin Zhenyi and others did not expect Huo to be here, and could not help but be stunned for a moment. After that, Jin Zangfeng and Jin Zangjiao bowed politely and called themselves aunt. Jin Xiunan also hurriedly followed the instructions, only Jin Zhenyi snorted with his nostrils turned upward, and before he could say anything strange, he heard Fu Qiuning cough lightly, and slowly moved the tea cup and said: "Is it so late? I think the young Marquis will be back soon."
What Jin Zhenyi was most afraid of was his father. When he heard this, even though he was unhappy and gritted his teeth, he had to lower his head and mumbled with great reluctance. No one could hear what he said clearly. They only knew that it was probably to Huo Huo. My aunt wishes you well.
Huo raised her eyebrows in surprise, and couldn't help but look at Fu Qiuning, but saw that she was just holding the tea cup quietly. She felt a sudden shiver in her heart, but she didn't show any signs of it on her face. She quickly stood up and said with a smile: "Indeed , it’s getting late, I’m afraid our Xiuru is out of school, and I have to go back now, otherwise she won’t be able to find me, and she might be very anxious.”
Jin Zhenyi snorted and said: "Don't worry, the fourth sister just turned into a tail and followed the second sister. Maybe she is in Qingwan Pavilion now." He originally wanted to ridicule Jin Xiu for being snobbish, but he said Only then did he remember that his words seemed to reassure Aunt Huo that there was no need to rush back, so she felt even more awkward.
Aunt Huo's face was a bit embarrassed. Fu Qiuning glanced at Jin Zhenyi and said softly: "Who provoked you? You said in such an angry tone. It's rare for Auntie to come and sit here. Is this the attitude of a junior? Not yet." Hurry back to the study and prepare your homework, and be careful when your father comes back to ask you."
When Jin Zhenyi heard that his father came back and wanted to ask for a book, he pursed his lips even more and said nothing. Seeing his brother and sister all going to the study, he followed behind. Aunt Huo also stood up and said with a smile: "It's really late. I'm going back now. I'll come over to see grandma when I have time. There's no need to send her away. If my family is so polite, I'm afraid they won't be able to be polite in the future." "As he said this, he walked out of the door. Although he said there was no need to send him off, Fu Qiuning only came back after showing off.
But Jin Ming came in from the courtyard gate with two boys, saluted Fu Qiuning, and then said with a smile: "After attending the banquet at noon today, I was dragged by a few friends to the hunting ground in the western suburbs. Although it was only for one afternoon, I have brought some things back, and I am at the ancestor's place right now. I asked my servant to bring some game over first, and let grandma pack it and cook it first. He will come over for dinner later."
Fu Qiuning ordered Yu Niang to collect the game, but it was deer legs, roe deer meat, etc. The hunting ground in the western suburbs was a medium-sized forest with all kinds of animals. For example, these roe deer were mostly found in the grassland, but because of the smell of meat, It was delicious, so someone caught a lot of them and raised them in this hunting ground. Because this hunting ground is not royal, there are no large ferocious beasts, and the vegetation is abundant, so the breeding is quite good. People like Jin Fengju, who are both civil and military, usually I rarely have time to hunt, but when I do, I'm sure to get a lot of results.
At that moment, Jin Zhenyi, Jin Zangfeng and others all ran out. Seeing the fresh meat, Jin Zhenyi said to Jin Ming: "Dad went hunting, why didn't you take me with you? I'm old now, so I should experience these things about riding horses and hunting." .”
Jin Ming didn't dare to reply, so he had to look at Fu Qiuning for help, but saw her smiling and shaking her head: "How old are you? Your brother hasn't learned to ride a horse yet. You just want to go hunting with your father, what can you do? So If you are a small person, even a rabbit could swallow you in one bite."
Jin Zhenyi was very dissatisfied. Although he was no older than Jin Zangfeng, he had grown up very quickly because of his good nutrition since he was a child. He was now half a head lower than Jin Zangfeng. Therefore, when he heard what Fu Qiuning said, he was outraged. He frowned and said, "Why can't you do anything? I can help pick up the prey. Dad shot the rabbit and pheasant to death, so I went to pick it up."
The childish words made Fu Qiuning laugh. He stretched out his hand and flicked Jin Zhenyi's forehead, and spat: "Are you going to pick up rabbits and pheasants? You can't run as fast as a hunting dog. The rabbits here are still there." I don’t know how many pheasants and roe deer your father shot without picking them up.”
Jin Zhenyi looked at Fu Qiuning angrily, feeling unconvinced and speechless. Indeed, let alone himself, even his own father didn't know if he could outrun a hunting dog. Because here Jin Ming led the boy to the kitchen. He saw Fu Qiuning enter the room with a smile, and took out several new clothes for them to see. They were all made of thin summer materials. Qiu Ning had embroidered some lace by herself, and each of them Then he said to them: "Brother Yi and Miss San may have new summer clothes. How could your mother not prepare them? But they are your own. Whenever you come to my place, I will go there for you." I have allocated money here, and you should be the ones to wear these clothes. Come on, put them all on and let me see if they fit you."
Several people tried on the clothes and found that they fit perfectly. Fu Qiuning gave the clothes to them and ordered everyone to go back and put them away. When Jin Zangfeng and others had gone out, Jin Zhenyi did not move. He only asked Fu Qiuning with red eyes: "You I just mentioned my mother, tell me, she... can she come back?"
Fu Qiuning smiled and said: "Miss your mother? I don't know if she can come back. You have to ask your father about this. But if you study hard and practice martial arts, you will be successful in the future and you will have the confidence to speak in front of your father. At that time, are you still afraid that you won’t be able to take your mother back?”
Jin Zhenyi turned his head and said bitterly: "Don't use your words to deal with me. My mother went to the village in the countryside. The place is poor and remote. Who knows how many years she can survive? I am not yet seven years old. If my mother waits for me ,Wait for me..." When he said this, he clenched his fists and almost burst into tears.
Fu Qiuning thought of the days he spent in Zhuangzi in his body's memory, and couldn't help but sigh. He sat in the chair and said: "It is indeed not easy to live in Zhuangzi. Those servants are better than those in this mansion. , but what can you do? Even if you end up there, you still have to keep your spirits up. Your mother is better than me, and her life will never be more difficult than mine."
"Have you ever stayed at Zhuangzi?" Jin Zhenyi was a child after all, and her mind couldn't turn around for a moment, thinking when did she ever go to Zhuangzi? Haven't you always lived in Wanfengxuan? That's why I was able to seduce my father. Just as he was thinking about it, he heard Fu Qiuning smile and say: "Before I married into your house, I stayed in Zhuangzi for many years. The life there was indeed difficult."
Only then did Jin Zhenyi understand, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy in his heart. He thought that this woman had also had the same experience as his mother, so he hurriedly asked: "What is Zhuangzi like? Why is my mother being so angry there? What to do? No, I have to see my mother, and I can’t let her be bullied."