After a while of busy work, it will be October in a blink of an eye.
In the past few days, Xin'an County has become noisy again. There are some people on the street. The most lively place is the Mingyi Shop of the Funeral Paper Workshop. Because today is the first day of October and the day of ghosts, it is the so-called Cold Clothes Festival. up.
Autumn goes to winter, and this day symbolizes the beginning of winter. The emperor in Beijing will hold a ceremony with civil and military officials to welcome winter and give clothes and robes. After the ceremony, no matter the officials or the people, they all returned home to set up a funeral, because in the afternoon, it was time for the gate of hell to open, and the ancestors and ancestors of each family who had not yet been reincarnated were also given a holiday by the king of Hades, and they were able to return to the world for a stroll , Enjoy the offerings for money.
On this day, living people have to try on new jackets to keep out the winter cold, that is, to try on cold clothes. Ghosts also want to have fun with people, so naturally they have to add two new clothes.
Therefore, since the late ten days in the old city, the business of funeral shops has been booming. Mingyi hats made of five-color paper, yin mats and quilts, or even paper-made chariots and horses, houses and other household objects are all hot sellers. The craftsmanship is exquisite and lifelike, and those who are more particular will burn a flower on the five-color paper, and put a strand of cotton between the two layers of paper, which means that the ghosts should not be frozen, and they will remember their own good.
Although this day is the Ghost Festival, Yu Jinnian is not free. There is a saying "October 1st, oil chirping", in addition to funeral paper money, food is also essential. The Netherland is cold and barren, and it is also important to let the souls of the dead eat a fat and fat meal when they return to the world. Therefore, since yesterday, a bowl of noodle restaurants has been welcoming and sending them to the restaurant until nightfall. Fried food for guests.
So early in the morning, Yu Jinnian got up to cook fried radish noodles, meatballs and fried dumplings.
Wash the white radish, peel and shred it, then chop it into cubes, then add a small amount of minced meat and eggs as auxiliary ingredients, as well as green onion and ginger, season with a little salt, and mix well. Finally, mix the flour and stir it into a thick and suitable filling, so that it can be kneaded into a ball without being too dry, so that the fried balls will be soft and chewy.
The fried radish balls are golden and round, really cute.
Among the people who came to order food yesterday, there was a very special guest. He was a slender young man with a handsome appearance and a smiling face. He was wearing a very ill-fitting gray linen clothes, and his head was tightly wrapped with a cloth scarf of the same color. In fact, not even a strand of hair was exposed. At first glance, it looks like a beggar in tatters, but he took out a big round and shiny silver mulberry, saying that he asked Yu Jinnian to make food offerings with his mother, and he spoke with great respect Polite, very gentlemanly.
Yu Jinnian felt quite flattered, because there were many customers who came to order food these few days, and his store also spent a lot of loose money and received little money, so he couldn't find the silver mulberry at this moment, so he asked the young man to wait a moment. He quickly ran to the nearby silver shop to weigh it, and exchanged the silver for copper plates and returned.
This back and forth, although fast, actually took a lot of time, but the young man still stood in place, even the posture was the same, his legs never bent, as if an old monk had entered into meditation, seeing Yu Jinnian came back, He also nodded gently, thanking him for his hard work.
"It's not hard, it's not hard." Yu Jinnian quickly waved his hand and returned the change to him.
The young man didn't accept it, and ordered Yu Jinnian to put more sugar and ginger in whatever food he offered, and asked him to help him buy some melons and fruits, and said: "Brother, please send it to the back gate of Fengbo Temple after noon Under the banyan tree. The rest of the money can be used as your transportation expenses."
Putting sugar and ginger hard, wouldn't it become a spicy and sweet dark dish? But since it was requested by a guest, he couldn't say anything, he took money from someone and did things for him, not to mention that he gave the money very readily, and the rest was more than transportation expenses, and it was enough to buy a donkey cub, Yu Jinnian didn't Having seen such a big fool, he hurriedly nodded in agreement, and the young man bowed slightly to salute before leaving.
After Yu Jinnian fried these radish noodle meatballs, remembering what happened, he took out another small bowl of fillings, gritted his teeth and added two tablespoons of sugar against his will, and a whole head of minced ginger, and made this " Special" sweet and spicy radish stuffing came out.
He really didn't have the courage to imagine what it tasted like, so he just made it boldly. Although it was fried in response to the needs of customers, it was fried too much.
Turning around, seeing Ji Hong fetching water in the courtyard, he ran out smiling, took his arm and said, "Ah Hong!"
Ji Hong listened to the young man's call so sweetly, although he knew there was a deceit in it, but it was very useful, so he didn't expose him immediately, but stopped what he was doing, and asked patiently: "What's the matter?"
Yu Jinnian squinted his eyes: "I just made meatballs, come and try them."
The two walked into the kitchen, and Yu Jinnian put a ginger candied meatball to his mouth, asking Ji Hong to open his mouth to bite, and he became nervous, gloated, and rubbed his hands like a fly when he watched the excitement but thought it wasn't big enough While waiting, carefully observe Ji Hong's expression. I think this person just frowned when he ate the sweet custard, but this time he ate such meatballs that even he thought were dark, he must have looked a little surprised!
Unexpectedly, not only did Ji Hong not show the slightest dislike, he didn't even frown, but he swallowed it calmly, and said in satisfaction: "Yes."
"Ah?" Yu Jinnian held his face and looked at him, then touched his neck, but said in surprise, "So, eat?"
Ji Hong: "Huh?"
Seeing his innocent and natural expression, Yu Jinnian muttered, "Could it be that I'm so gifted that I can make even dark dishes into peerless delicacies?" He looked down at the plate of sweet meatballs, but still didn't have the courage to try, so he turned to ask Ji Hung: "Quickly tell me, what does it taste like?"
"Um."
Ji Hong said yes three times in a row without opening his mouth. Yu Jinnian had just realized the strangeness of it, and was about to scoff at him for lying, when suddenly an extra hand came out from his waist and hugged him tightly, and then the man bowed his head. He came and covered his mouth without refusal.
"Huh? Huh? Huh!" Yu Jinnian stared at him, his mouth tightly shut, with the air of "you have the ability to pry it open with a knife".
Ji Hong narrowed his eyes slightly, and pinched his lower back. Yu Jinnian suffered a moment of pain, and a soft gap opened between his tightly closed lips like a clam shell. (Hahahahaha this sentence is gone hahahahahahahaha I am not crazy hahahahaha I am afraid hahaha I imagine myself hahaha Buddha.) He licked along the young man's palate, and Yu Jinnian seemed unable to bear the harassment, obediently Open up, give and take.
Yu Jinnian bent his waist backwards, rubbing his hand lightly on the side of his waist. Although he didn't feel itchy, he still felt a slight numbness in his waist, from the place where Ji Hong's palm was touching. After wandering away, he bowed his waist and fried meatballs all morning, his waist was indeed a little stiff, being touched like this, to be honest, he was actually quite comfortable.
Perhaps it was due to the festival that the immortal officials in the sky suddenly became much colder today, and the kitchen became more and more steamy, blurring the figures of the two of them. Yu Jinnian was made like a cat with its belly open, so comfortable that he relaxed his vigilance, a foreign object was suddenly pushed into his mouth during the entanglement, he sensed what it was, and quickly closed his teeth, unexpectedly, he didn't bite anyone else, but beat himself hard He took a hard bite and swallowed the piece of sweet radish ball.
"..." Suddenly, a layer of water mist formed on the eyes, and the wetness accumulated in the sockets.
The boy's eyes are narrow and not long enough, and more than round enough to give people a sense of innocence, and his age is just about to break away from immaturity, but at the time when he is a little less stable, so even though his eyes are wet, they seem to be washed by rain It's too ordinary, and it doesn't feel artificial, but makes people think that he is really in pain.
Ji Hong raised his chin slightly, and said, "Open your mouth and show me."
Yu Jinnian opened his mouth, pointed to the direction of the pain, and asked vaguely if he had bitten through it.
There was indeed a small red spot on the edge of the pink and soft tongue. Ji Hong nodded pitifully. Seeing the young man's wilting, like a crab with its teeth and claws bound, he couldn't help but fan the wind again. Chai said: "It's full of bad water."
Yu Jinnian covered his mouth and said with his tongue out, "It's not lost!"
Ji Hong understood it miraculously, and nodded slightly: "Of course I didn't eat it, it was under my tongue. Is it delicious?"
Yu Jinnian bit his tongue, and immediately swallowed it when he got excited. Who knows if it tasted good, he was afraid that Ji Hong would make another excuse, so he hurriedly put away the plate of dark radish meatballs, and pushed a plate of normal-flavored balls to him. he eats. Ji Hong picked one up and watched Yu Jinnian cook while eating.
The offerings for ancestor worship and death are also divided into big and small ceremonies. The high-ranking officials and wealthy families cook pigs to sacrifice sheep, travel with horses and horses, and sweep pine tombs. Bring a fried fish, and a bowl of soba noodles can be used as a sacrifice to the grave. It all depends on the heart.
Because the mysterious guest spent a lot of money, and apart from candied ginger, he had no other strict requirements for food. On the contrary, Yu Jinnian was more attentive, and he fried a piece of fish with him, made a bowl of braised pork, vegetables, tofu, peanuts and other ordinary vegetarian dishes, and made two or three big steamed buns from his own steamer, and made a whole set. The food box was stuffed so hard that it couldn't fit.
It's just that these dishes naturally meet the requirements of customers - add more sugar and ginger, so only the color is bright and attractive, but the taste is really not guaranteed.
Although Ji Hong doesn't know how to cook, he has worked with Yu Jinnian for the past few months, so he has some experience. He frowned when he saw these candied ginger dishes, and couldn't help but said, "I can't wait to see this." Do you want Ghost Lord to check off your name in advance?"
Yu Jinnian was delighted to hear that he could even tell jokes, so he said: "It's really not my fault, it was the guest's own request." As he spoke, he told Ji Hong about the mysterious young man yesterday.
When talking about things, Yu Jinnian couldn't take time off either. He was inspired by that young man, and seeing that it was still early, he planned to make some candied ginger slices. Anyway, it was getting cold, and the candied ginger slices could be eaten as snacks at home. It can also dispel cold and warm the stomach.
Young ginger is needed to make candied ginger slices. Because the taste of tender ginger is crisp, spicy but not choking, the method is similar to winter melon candy and sugar snowballs. Cut the ginger into thin slices, and decide whether to blanch it in water according to the spicy taste. Afterwards, dry the blanched ginger slices, add sugar and marinate for half an hour, and then turn on the fire to cook.
When the ginger slices become translucent and the syrup is so concentrated that they can be pulled out, quickly turn off the heat, stir-fry and cool down. As the temperature cools, sand gradually appears on the ginger slices, and the whiteness is condensed on the tender yellow ginger. The top of the film is like frost and snow.
So the candied ginger slices are ready.
After hearing this, Ji Hong was silent for a moment, thinking: "I'm afraid there is some reason for it, that person may..."
When a gust of cold wind came in, Ji Hong was standing at the door, but now he moved in quietly. Seeing that he was so afraid of the cold, Yu Jinnian ran out to find Qing Huan before he could finish his sentence—Qing Huan had some embroidery crafts for sale in the store—he wanted to ask for a sachet bag that hadn't been sold yet.
Qing Huan was natural and generous, and told him to take whatever he wanted. Yu Jinnian picked from left to right, and chose the one with embroidered bamboo patterns on a blue silk background. Only then did I return to the kitchen, wrapped a handful of candied ginger slices in oiled paper, folded them up and stuffed them in a sachet, tied them around Ji Hong's waist, raised his head and smiled and said, "In this way, when you are cold, you can take one and eat it." !"
Ji Hong: "..."
Although it was strange to wear a candied ginger sachet with him, Ji Hong not only did not express any objection, but also tolerantly let the young man fiddle with his waist for a while, and fastened the bamboo pattern sachet firmly. At that moment, he pinched the boy's slender and fair nape.
Yu Jinnian suddenly remembered: "What did you say about that person?"
Ji Hong paused, and said: "It's nothing, you'll know if you see it when the time comes."
Yu Jinnian was very puzzled.
After noon, the two of them took the food box, bought some melons and fruits along the way according to the guest's instructions, and then went to Fengbo Temple.
As soon as they left the south of the city, they met several rich families leaving the city to sweep the tombs. Xin'an County is a county with heavy merchants, so even if the families of big merchants and big merchants just go out to the suburbs to pay homage, it is a ostentation, as if deliberately showing themselves to others How to have a strong family background.
Being caught between the two teams, Yu Jinnian thought to himself, this is justifiable, after all, you have a shabby face, so it is not so easy to attract business, let alone big business.
Anyway, he didn't quite understand the business of these country gentry and rich people, as a noodle shop boy, he just carried his food box with peace of mind and just followed the flow of people.
At this time, a young servant who didn't know whose family was in front, wondered in a low voice: "Why did I only see the second master, but not Mrs. Li?"
Another boy said: "Ms. Li is ill, right? I heard that after worshiping the ancestors today, the second master will go to the temple to burn incense and pray for his wife!"
"Why are you still sick?" The person in front said disgustedly, "Since something happened to that person, first the aunt in the third master's house hanged herself, then Mrs. Zhao's miscarriage at the third master's house, and later Mrs. Li also fell ill. Now even the master Also... I was really bewitched, and none of them escaped. At that time, I said that that person was a monster, but now it seems that it is true!"
"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" He turned back and whispered softly, " You dare to break your mouth on this matter, but don't let the masters hear it, or be careful to tear your mouth!"
The two finally stopped talking.
After listening to the whole process, Yu Jinnian raised his head to look at Ji Hong, and smiled softly, while Ji Hong frowned slightly at him, meaning to tell him to be honest and not to cause trouble.
"Got it!" Yu Jinnian secretly said, just listening.
Fengbo Temple was originally not called Fengbo Temple, but Alanruo Temple. Two masters traveled here and said that the land is rich and beautiful, so they recruited believers and opened the temple to teach scriptures. The difference, the exact difference is unknown, but there were a lot of believers at that time, so the Alanruo Temple was very popular for a time.
Later, a certain monarch of the previous dynasty admired Buddhism very much, and seeing that there were no Fan people preaching heresy, he ordered the expulsion of all Fan teachers and their disciples in the country, and Alan Ruo Temple was doomed. After I went to the temple, I don't know how many years later, a local scripture teacher came, and he also took a fancy to this place, so he repaired the dilapidated and damaged temple.
Because the temple was built on the mountain, looking from the highest point in the mountain, the green forest of Cangshan Mountain is like green waves hitting the shore when the wind passes by, so it was renamed "Fengbo Temple" and the altar was opened again. After nearly a hundred years, Fengbo Temple has regained its original scenery .
Although today is Ghost Festival, Fengbo Temple is still full of people, and faithful men and women are constantly flocking. Yu Jinnian and Yu Jinnian squeezed between the carriages and horses, and finally went up the mountain and came to the gate of the temple. In the temple, it took more than half an hour to find the handover location. When the agreed banyan tree outside the gate of the back temple was reached, the man had been waiting under the tree for a long time.
Yu Jinnian was taken aback for a moment, he was that person, but he didn't expect that he turned out to be a young monk wearing a monk's uniform, and he couldn't complain that he had to wrap his head when he came to order food yesterday.
He squinted at Ji Hong, Ji Hong seemed to have expected it a long time ago, without any surprise.
But no matter what the identity of the guest is, Yu Jinnian is just a boy who takes money to do things. He hurriedly regained consciousness, handed the food box to the man, took out a bag of candied ginger slices, and said, "Master is auspicious. I'm really sorry. Come on." I encountered a team of chariots and horses on the road, and I was delayed for a while, and I went the wrong way when I went up the mountain just now... This is homemade candied ginger, you told me to use heavy sugar and heavy ginger, I think you should also like this."
The young man accepted the food box and the candied ginger, and still said kindly: "I'm serious, I'm just a novice. Thank you boss for coming this far, and thank you for the candied ginger."
"It should be, it should be." Yu Jinnian agreed.
The young man didn't seem to want to talk to them, he saluted with one hand, then took the food box and walked down the path on the side of the back temple gate.
Watching the young master disappear, Yu Jinnian raised his head and said to Ji Hong, "Since everyone is here, why don't you also go in and burn incense sticks to pray for Er Niang?"
Ji Hong rolled up his cuffs, wiped away the fine sweat that broke out from his hurried walk, and then slowly responded with the word "um".
But as soon as the two finished speaking, the back temple door, which had been closed all the time, was suddenly knocked open from the inside, and a young woman who was described as flustered and hurried ran out. She was still holding a few pages of books tightly in her arms. Where did it come from.
As soon as she ran out, two little novice monks chased after her and shouted: "Stop, stop!"
The little girl ran and shouted: "I'm looking for Master Chengkong! I'm looking for Master Chengkong!"
The novice at the back said distressedly: "I told you, there is no master named Cheng Kong in our monastery. But even if you want to find someone, you can't sneak into our Sutra Pavilion to tear up our Lotus Sutra!"
The other novice chased after the girl, and shouted to his companion, "What did you tell her, go and recover these pages of the Lotus Sutra, or the master will scold us!"
The girl shouted: "He is from your temple, please ask Master Cheng Kong to come out! He said he would exorcise my wife!"
The three of them chased after each other, and the girl kept yelling to find a "Master Cheng Kong" who didn't exist, because she glanced back at the positions of the two young novice monks while running away, but ignored the front.
He bumped headfirst towards Yu Jinnian!