Du Ke has two sons and two daughters. The eldest son is living in a remote place, and the youngest son is a concubine who has just started a family. The two daughters are also one legitimate daughter and one concubine daughter, and both are married. The Du family is also a rare quiet family in the capital, with a very good family tradition. However, after all, they are not at home, and they have not met the harmonious atmosphere of the Qin family.
Du Ke listened to their conversation for a while and then thought of the topic of becoming a disciple.
Grandpa Qin took this opportunity to ask, "Sir, I have been so kind to you and accepted you as my disciple. What do you think about arranging the four bows ceremony for tomorrow morning?" The four bows ceremony is the highest etiquette in Qi State, which is only used to pay homage to heaven and earth, the king, parents, and teachers.
Generally speaking, the four-bow ceremony is more commonly used by scholars, such as students paying homage to their teachers. Scholars used the four-bow ceremony to pay homage to Confucius, so students used the same ceremony to pay homage to their teachers. Grandpa Qin mentioned the four-bow ceremony here mainly to show his respect for Du Ke and his importance of this matter.
Du Ke heard this and said, "No problem." Although he was in the Ministry of War, he was also a civil official and agreed with the four-bow ceremony.
While they were talking about the four prostrations, Yang Haiyan arrived.
As soon as they saw Yang Haiyan coming, Grandma Qin and Mother Qin immediately said enthusiastically, "Yanyan is here." In fact, they were not enthusiastic, but felt relieved and relieved, because even if Lord Du was polite, they were not used to it.
Yang Haiyan smiled and said, "Grandma, Mother." Then she greeted Du Ke, Grandpa Qin, and Father Qin, and finally looked at Qin Fang: "Husband, dinner is ready. Why don't we start eating early? After dinner, we can ask the teacher and Lord Shen to rest early?"
Qin Fang nodded and looked at Du Ke: "Teacher, why don't we have dinner first? You haven't rested in the afternoon, so you should rest early in the evening." When he went to the teacher's yard just now, the servants told him that the teacher had not rested in the afternoon, so he knew about it.
Du Ke was indeed tired. He had been thinking about things all afternoon. Now he was chatting with the old man of the Qin family for a while. He wanted to rest early. After the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow morning, he wanted to go to the Beast Mountain Trail. To borrow the words of modern people, Du Ke is a workaholic and a civil servant.
Dinner was a homely meal, and every dish was a home-cooked snack prepared by Yang Haiyan, which was different from the dishes prepared by Kun Zhang in the past.
For example, cold dishes include cold shredded potatoes, smashed cucumbers, grilled vegetables, and pickled radishes; hot dishes include braised fish, sweet and sour spare ribs, egg and tofu soup, fried bacon with broccoli, pepper and salt potato cakes, shredded chicken breast, scrambled eggs with cucumber, and shrimp egg custard.
Although it was a family dinner today, men and women still sat at separate tables, separated by a screen.
Du Ke, Grandpa Qin, Father Qin, Shen Lixian, Qin Fang, and Qin Shouye were at the same table.
Grandma Qin, Mother Qin, Yang Haiyan, Qin Shoucheng, and Niu Dan were sitting at the same table.
Qin Siya and San Ya did not come out to meet the guests. One of them was thirteen years old, and the other was ten years old. They had reached the age where boys and girls were eight years old and should sit at different tables, so they were not allowed to come out. They ate in their own yard.
Although it is a common meal in the home, Yang Haiyan pays attention to the color, fragrance and taste when cooking. At least the presentation of the dishes is very beautiful, so people's appetite is greatly increased when they see them.
In addition to the dishes, Yang Haiyan also prepared fermented rice wine. The fermented rice wine was cooked, then chilled in ice, not cold, with a little bit of coolness, and tasted very good. Qin Fang also liked this fermented rice wine. In the past, when he had dinner, even if there were no guests, he would drink a bowl. Now that he saw his wife prepared it, he proudly introduced it to Du Ke and Shen Lixian: "Teacher, Mr. Shen, come and try what my wife made myself, it's very delicious." As he spoke, he poured a bowl for Du Ke and Shen Lixian.
As soon as the fermented rice was poured out, a smell of wine came out. Shen Lixian asked, "Is this wine?" Speaking of which, Qiguo did not have fermented rice. Some ordinary people did make it at home, but it was very expensive. Because fermented rice was made of glutinous rice, which was more expensive than rice, how could ordinary people afford to make it at home? "It smells good, is it made of rice?" Only a young master from aristocratic family would ask such a question.
Qin Fang said, "There are many kinds of wine. Most people drink rice wine, which is brewed from grains. Even the wine bought outside is generally made from rice wine brewed from grains. Some noble ones are brewed from fruits. For ordinary people like us..." Qin Fang thought, he is no longer an ordinary person, "the wine that ordinary people drink is brewed from glutinous rice at home, but it is also very cheap, because people are reluctant to spend money." So for ordinary people, unless they encounter special days, they will go to buy wine, or when important guests come to their home, they will be willing to treat people to wine. "However, this kind of wine is different from the wine made by my wife. The wine sounds like wine, but it is not actually wine. It has a very light alcohol content and is slightly sweet, which is more popular with women. My wife said that it is similar to sugar water. Lord Shen may wish to try it."
Shen Lixian wanted to try it as soon as he smelled it, and after Qin Fang introduced it, he took a small sip to taste it. The reason why he took a small sip was because he was afraid that it would be too strong. As Qin Fang said, it was really slightly sweet and refreshing. He felt that he could drink a whole bowl in one breath.
Seeing Shen Lixian like this, Du Ke was naturally not polite. He took a bite and it tasted great. To win a man's heart, you can start by winning his stomach. Du Ke felt that Qin Fang was really lucky. He had a good life and good luck, so he married such a thoughtful wife. Qin Fang's wife was still very good at living.
The way of living that Du Ke described was not the kind of living that is frugal, but the kind of living that knows how to live. "This fermented rice tastes good, but is it difficult to make?"
Qin Fang said: "This... I don't know either, I'll ask my wife."
There was only a screen between the two tables, so Yang Haiyan naturally heard Du Ke's question. She said, "Teacher, making fermented glutinous rice is not difficult. Moreover, drinking a few sips of fermented glutinous rice every day is good for the body and can activate blood circulation. Bleeding, hooking and red dates can also replenish qi and blood. Not only that, it also has certain medicinal value for women." She thought for a while and said, "Teacher, if there are elderly people in your family, they can also eat it. My grandparents, father and mother are also eating it at home."
Du Ke is a filial man, and the reason why he asked this question is that he thought of his old father. Mr. Du likes sweets and wine, but he was irritated by Du Ke two years ago and fell seriously ill. He can no longer eat sweets or drink wine. Now Du Ke drinks this fermented rice wine, just to know if his old father can drink it. However, when he heard that it is also good for women, Du Ke became more interested. He would not doubt Yang Haiyan's words. In fact, he has a good impression of Yang Haiyan. This good impression is simply the recognition of Yang Haiyan's ability. He thinks that an outstanding girl like Yang Haiyan, since she has mentioned the benefits of fermented rice wine, naturally she will not just talk nonsense.
However, in front of everyone, Du Ke did not say much: "I see."
The dinner was a great success for both the guests and the hosts.
After the meal, Qin Fang asked Qin Shouye to escort Shen Lixian back to the courtyard instead of him, and personally escorted Du Ke back to the courtyard. Generally speaking, it is common for a younger brother to receive distinguished guests instead of his older brother. After all, Qin's father and mother are of a slightly higher generation, so it is not appropriate for them to escort Shen Lixian, so Qin Shouye is the most suitable.
And Du Ke was Qin Fang's teacher, so naturally it was Qin Fang who sent him.
When they arrived at the courtyard, Qin Fang said, "Teacher, I asked my wife to make some fermented rice wine, and then I'll write a letter and send it to your wife. What do you think?"
Du Ke nodded: "Well, it's great that your wife is so thoughtful." Since they are his disciples, Du Ke will never be polite to his own people.
Qin Fang was actually happy about Du Ke's impoliteness. If the teacher was polite to him, he would be unhappy. "Then the teacher, please take a rest. The student is going back."
Du Ke: "I won't keep you here. I'm really tired today."
Qin Fang returned to his yard and saw Yang Haiyan standing against the wall. He walked over with a smile and stood shoulder to shoulder with her: "My wife, you have worked hard today."
Yang Haiyan laughed at his serious tone: "Then how are you going to compensate me, my husband?"
When Qin Fang heard this, he looked at her with suspicion, as if Yang Haiyan had said something vicious.
Yang Haiyan couldn't help laughing out loud.
Qin Fang also smiled: "I just told the teacher that I will send some fermented rice wine to the teacher's wife in the capital."
Yang Haiyan said, "Okay." This was exactly what she meant when she said during dinner. "I'll write down the recipe and some things to pay attention to. If the elderly in your family eat it, please ask the doctor to check their health. Generally, there will be no problem, but just in case, it's better to be cautious."
Qin Fang said: "My wife is still very careful."
When Yang Haiyan heard him calling her his wife, she wanted to laugh: "Why not wait until August to send it? By then, the watermelons will be ripe, and we can also send some cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes. It only takes three days to ride from Yunxiang County to the capital. By then, we can prepare ice and freeze the things in it, so they won't go bad." In fact, as for watermelons, they won't go bad without ice. But in hot weather, cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes are not easy to store and will rot.
Qin Fang thought: "Why not prepare more and send some to the emperor as well."
Yang Haiyan: “…” Is this person addicted to giving gifts
Qin Fang smiled mysteriously: "Your Majesty must have never eaten watermelon. I am an honest subject. If I eat something good, I must offer it to your Majesty. Besides, Lord Shen has eaten it today. It would not be appropriate if I don't send some to your Majesty."
Yang Haiyan understood what Qin Fang meant. In modern terms, he wanted to go for a simple and honest character.
the next day
The people in the General's Mansion got up very early today, because Qin Fang was going to formally become Du Ke's apprentice. Even Shen Lixian got up early, and as the only visitor, he served as a witness.
After Qin Fang got up early in the morning, he took a bath and cleansed himself from head to toe. The Four Bows is the most important and highest etiquette, and the person performing the ceremony needs to cleanse himself to show his importance to the Four Bows.