Xue Panzhi's gossip red mansion

There is really nothing new in the face. First, I asked some questions, and then said that the capital has completely entered the atmosphere of the New Year's Eve, and the crops on the Zhuangzi are also good. Everyone is happily preparing for the New Year. The goods sold here are the best, perhaps because Chinese people are used to seeing carved wooden fences, and glass objects are very popular, which made them earn another fortune.Jia's mansion and the second prince's mansion were the most ostentatious in the capital, and all kinds of convoys were busy.They also sent a new year gift to the Wang family, that is, Lord Wang Ziteng is now an official in Sichuan. The weather this year is not very good. There was a landslide in autumn, and Lord Wang may not be able to come back. Teng needn't hurry back.Another thing is that everyone in the world knows Song Chuan Song Master Ding You, and he should return to Jiangnan.This is the general dynamic of the capital.

"What do you think about these things?" Xue Pan intends to train Licorice to be a powerful helper in this area, and he can't let him guess everything in the future.It took a while to find a staff member, and he was not a high-ranking official, but as a person who wanted to do something, the trustworthy servants around him were the closest helpers.Just like He Shen and Liu Quan before.

Licorice didn't understand the affairs of the capital until Xue Pan explained the general content of the letter. "Licorice thinks that Wang's family will win that person's heart, or else they won't be in his eyes at all."

"What else?" Xue Pan didn't look up but just played with a sapphire slip that looked like a bookmark.

Licorice took a look at Xue Pan's expression before saying, "I'm afraid we are going to be far away from the Wang family."

Xue Pan looked at Licorice with a smile that was not a smile. This expression had a strange sense of coordination on a child who was about to turn five years old. "It's not the Jia family, it's just a pomp with the prince."

Licorice replied calmly, "The second prince's reputation outside has always been that he likes to be lively, and everyone is happy to see him. There is nothing wrong with having a lively New Year."

This sentence said that everyone in the capital knew that the second prince was unreliable, so the Jia family, who was as unreliable as them, was just like that.

"Every year at this time, shopkeepers in Sichuan have to return to Beijing to report on their duties. This year is the first year of shopkeeper Wang, and he encountered a catastrophe. He will not come at this time. Either the boss is too relieved, or the boss has already made sufficient arrangements. "The shopkeeper mentioned here is naturally Wang Ziteng, and the owner is the emperor.

"There's nothing wrong with saying that. Whether it's a promotion or a demotion, we have to take a closer look at those who are famous in the heart of the boss." Xue Pan thinks that licorice is still very valuable for cultivation, but he just hopes that he can Put your eyes wide open, what Xue Pan has to do is never an internal struggle. "Then you can figure out what to do with Madam Xu."

Aunt Xu is not a big deal, but she came from Wang's house with Mother Xue, said to be Xue Pan's nanny, but it was Aunt Qu who had left the mansion who really contributed.Unlike other children, Xue Pan has been the governor since he was a child. The things Madam Xu did in Xue's house are not bad enough to turn into a rat shit, but it is like a small thorn, always popping up from time to time. Come on.And that's not the point, the embankment of a thousand miles was destroyed by an ant's nest, this is a place that Xue Pan cannot allow, she is in Xue's house, but she doesn't know where her heart is.

"The small ones will do well." Licorice knew that this was a test, and unlike Angelica and Nepeta who must stay by Xue Pan's side, he might be sent out in the future.

"Wait until after the festival." Xue Pan specially instructed, "Don't spoil the mood of parents."

*****

It was the New Year while we were talking, and this was Xue Pan's first normal year, and everyone in the Xue family was very concerned about it.The preparations for the New Year's Eve started very early, and they have been in the process of arrangement since Laba.On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the whole Jinling was immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year.The two Xue residences, including Xue Pan's uncle's family, were also extremely festive.In addition to Xue Pan's illness being cured, Xue Pan's uncle's family added a boy named Xue Bian, who will be one year old after the new year.

"Yes, yes, a little lower on the left." Huang Qi held up one of the couplets, and was replacing the old couplet in Xue Pan's other courtyard, while Dang Gui was directing from behind.

On the other end, Xue Pan and Jingjie are also cooperating to change the new door god picture. This kind of master's hands-on work is really rare, but in Xue Pan's words, it is better to do such a thing by yourself at this time. There is an atmosphere, anyway, at home with the door closed, there are some rules that must be followed.

In modern times, such a custom may not give you room to play if you want to do it. Some things have to be done by yourself to know why you live.

As for the slightly higher cost of work, such as changing the signboards in the hall, Xue Pan, who has short arms and calves, cannot do it.

"Master, here's the freshly oiled peach talisman." Licorice and another person came from the corridor, holding the freshly oiled peach wood carving board of the door god.

Xue Pan saw the names of the two door gods "Shen Tu" and "Yu Lei" engraved on the two wooden boards, and there were reliefs of the two door gods standing with swords and glaring eyes.

"That's good, let's go!" Xue's father came from the main courtyard to see the bustle of Xue Pan's place, and saw the vivid peach wood carvings of the two door gods. "I don't know if there will be peach charms and spring couplets. Pan'er will use the ones you wrote yourself. Don't forget to bring a few more for dad."

Xue Pan was delighted that his father liked his calligraphy, knowing that Xue's father had recovered from his illness, he was in a good mood because he felt that everything would go well in the coming year.

"Father, I've already finished it, as long as you don't dislike the ugliness of your child's handwriting, I'll let Licorice send a few of them later." Xue Pan pointed to the peach charm in front of him and said to Xue's father, "At first I thought it would be so ugly. Peach charms are Spring Festival couplets, I didn’t expect to have both at home.”

As Jiefu's poem became widely known, the children would also chanted, always replacing the old talisman with the new peach. The impression that the peach talisman is the Spring Festival couplet is also recorded in Xue Pan's memory, and the first peach talisman has not been seen much. up.

"Ordinary people just use Spring Festival couplets on paper. Some use gilded paper, and some use ordinary paper. This is also the best time for those writers in Nancheng." Father Xue understands it very well. here's the thing.

Celebrating the Spring Festival is a big event, as long as the sky is not falling, this festival must be well spent.Wealth has its ostentation, and the poor has its joys.It acts as the door god, and the Spring Festival couplets to exorcise evil spirits and avoid evil are necessary.Generally speaking, there are people who can read and write well, but not many people write well. In the new year, in order to make auspicious, no one will save this money. A decent Spring Festival couplet is for the scholars who make a living by selling calligraphy and painting. for a small sum.

"It seems that people who are a little bit more particular will still hang peach boards, engraved with the names or portraits of Shentu and Yulei, two great gods who are good at subduing ghosts, just like in the legend, in case a little ghost accidentally Strolling here, the Great God can catch them all with the awn reed rope specially used for binding ghosts and ghosts." After Xue Pan's illness, Xue's father has taken care of such things, not to say how deeply he believes, but I feel that it is good to do good deeds on weekdays to accumulate blessings, but I also have a heart for these legends.

Xue Pan was also happy to hear more from Xue's father, so he let it go, "Is there anything interesting to do tomorrow?"

"It's time for you to think about playing." Father Xue saw the dust on Xue Pan's face, who was busy, and smiled and took out a handkerchief to wipe off the dust on his nose. "Tomorrow your uncle's family will come, and naturally your brother Xue Biao will also come. It was inconvenient a few days ago, and you haven't met each other. At this time, you can get closer. Don't always have a face that doesn't have much expression. He scared away, see who else is playing with you."

I usually don’t know how to make bird eggs, and I don’t need a baby to dig loaches, okay? Xue Biao is only one year old, and I guess he has just learned to walk.

Father Xue also knew his children well. If he wanted to really have fun, he might wonder if there were any ancient paintings and ornaments at Xue Pan's place. He couldn't get along with the children, but there were not many people in Xue Pan's family. "Pan'er, we are different from Jia's family. The population is not considered prosperous, except for those who are far away from the side branches of Jinling, and your uncle and I are siblings. There is nothing wrong with you and Tiao'er. of."

Xue Pan nodded kindly. He knew this, but he also had doubts. Why didn’t his father have a concubine? I heard that the same was true for his uncle’s family. There are not many, but it makes their family a bit abnormal.

☆、7、Send warmth into Tusu·下

Xue Pan is a child in the eyes of others. It is not appropriate for him to inquire about why his father did not have a room at his age. Therefore, Xue Pan also kept this matter secret, only looking for any clues in the dark. .To be honest, he didn't care about his parents' emotional life, but in such an unreasonable situation, he noticed the possible secret of Xue's residence.

After the new Spring Festival couplets, door gods, hang tags, and new peach charm boards have been put up in the two houses, and the new candles and oil lamps have been replaced, the plan for removing the old and welcoming the new is almost completed, as if It's the feeling of entering the Spring Festival, and everything is completely new.

From the gate to the inside, there are big scarlet candles lit all the way, along the Yimen Gate, to the hall, Nuan Pavilion, inner hall, other courtyards, etc., there is no place that is not decorated with lights.

On New Year's Eve, Uncle Xue brought his wife and one-year-old baby Xue Biao to the door. This was the first time Xue Pan saw this white and tender younger brother.

"Brother and sister-in-law, Happy New Year. Pan'er, I haven't seen you for a month, and I've grown a lot taller." After entering the hall, Uncle Xue saw Xue Pan with a ruddy face. After recovering from illness, he looked like a little fairy boy up.

"Happy New Year, Uncle, Happy New Year, Aunt." After Xue Pan saluted the two, he turned his attention to Xue Biao in the arms of the nurse next to him.

Xue Biao's face still has obvious baby fat, so tender that he wants to be pinched. "Hello Uncle, Hello Aunt." Xue Biao said, as if he had come down from the nurse's arms, he stretched out his arms like lotus root joints, and the red Xue Biao wrapped into a ball was like a New Year's picture doll.He walked up to Xue Pan step by step, and called softly, "Hello, brother."

It was the first time in three lives that Xue Pan had a younger brother. Although he was not his own younger brother, such a cute child still made one's hands itch, and he always wanted to pinch him.Finally, Xue Pan turned the hand that was about to reach out to the fat face to the bun-like bun on Xue scorpion's head, "Happy New Year, scorpion, I will come to play more often in the future."

"Let's play together." Xue Tada nodded with puffed cheeks.These actions made the four adults beside them laugh out loud. Such a healthy family reunion day can be regarded as coming.

"It's almost time, let's go to the ancestral hall first." Father Xue looked at the red sandalwood and white jade chiming bell in the hall, and led a group of people to the ancestral hall.From this, it can be seen that the population of Xue's family is simple, far from that of Jia's mansion, and the people from Rongguo's mansion and Ningguo's mansion would fill up the five halls.

When it came to Xue's family, there were only six of them, including Xue Biao, a child.According to the rules, Xue Biao has not yet reached the age to enter the ancestral hall to worship, and he will not be able to officially worship the ancestors together during the Spring Festival until he is three years old.

On the huanghuali wood table altar carved with auspicious cloud patterns, fresh food and ornaments carved from jade, gold and silver have been enshrined, and the table behind it is the ranking of the ancestors.Today's ancestral hall is not as dark as usual, Xue Pan can see some names on the rankings, but the ones in the distance can't be seen clearly, but Xue Pu, the Ziwei family nearby, can see it It was clear that this was the grandfather.

Several people lined up on the left, Zhao on the right, and on the right, men and women lined up in the east and west. Father Xue, who was standing at the front, offered incense and bowed down. Xue Pan and the others also knelt down together. There was a clang and ding-dong sound.It was the first time for Xue Pan to kneel down in his life, but his body carried the habit of being in court in his previous life, and he did it in one go without any mistakes.Don't think that kneeling is an easy task. Back then, Xue Pan practiced this action so that it was not only aesthetically pleasing, but natural and dignified for a long time.This is the last step for a modern person to integrate into the ancient times. The word kneeling in modern times is already an unfamiliar verb.

Kneeling and worshiping at this time is also the fact that Xue Pan has really integrated into this era. From this moment on, he is a member of the Xue family.

After waiting for the sacrifice, Uncle Xue took Aunt Xue and Xue Biao back to the mansion first, and the two mansions received the salutes from their servants respectively. After the New Year's money and purse rewards were distributed, it was time for a carnival feast.It was completely dark, and Uncle Xue's family came over again after changing their clothes. A total of six people sat around the round table. All kinds of exquisite meat and vegetable food had been served one by one. After that, the staple food was removed, and Tusu wine, acacia soup, Ruyi cake, etc. were served, and the servants also went down. The huge main hall did not feel empty, perhaps because of the auspicious atmosphere of reunion.

Everyone filled the celadon cups in front of them with Tusu wine by themselves, and the little boy Xue Biao didn't leave, there was only a small amount in the small cup, "Tad'er come first."

I saw Xue Biao ignorantly picked up the small cup with his small hands, and wanted to pour it out to drink, but there were only a few drops of wine in it, and the flow was very slow. Feeling that it was a tongue-numbing liquid, I quickly put down the cup and asked Aunt Xue for comfort, why did I have to eat that kind of spicy liquid, the world of adults is so strange.

Xue Pan saw the scrunched up expression on that little face, he smiled unconsciously, and raised his cup, "I wish my parents all the best in the new year, and my uncle and aunt will be happy and healthy, Tiaoer Grow up happily." Although it was an extremely simple toast, it was full of the most sincere blessings, and he immediately drank the glass of wine.

"Okay! Everyone will be safe and well." Aunt also drank the Tusu wine, followed by Mother Xue, Uncle Xue, and finally Father Xue's turn.After the round of Tusu wine was finished, everyone opened up to chat.

"I still remember when I drank Tusu wine for the first time, before your uncle was born." Father Xue talked about the past, which should have happened 25 or six years ago. Same, I think the taste of this wine is a bit spicy, not something good to drink."

Xue Pan felt that the order of drinking Tusu wine was very interesting. It was different from the general banquet where the elders were invited first and the younger ones drank next. The Tusu wine on New Year's Eve started with the youngest one.This habit has been recorded since the Jin Dynasty. In the "New Book of Time Mirror", Dong Xun recorded, "The younger ones get old, so congratulate them first, and the old ones lose their time, and drink it after ancient times." Because this is When celebrating a child's first year of life, they are able to thrive, so it is worth congratulating.And when the old people are one year old, they procrastinate to drink as late as possible, so there is also the meaning of wishing them a long life.

"I vaguely remember the poem you read when your grandfather was still alive. I didn't realize that the old generals will come together in the spring, and it's even more sad to join hands with the few people. I will also show my loneliness and shame, and let Tu Su be a boy." Uncle Xue remembered A scene from before when the father was still alive. "At that time, I pestered him to ask why we drink this mildly spicy wine?"

"Why?" Xue Pan wanted to hear more about the past of the Xue family from adults. This is a rare opportunity. I wonder if it is because Xue's father is the eldest son. Perhaps his grandfather was strict with him, but Xue Pan did not. I heard about my grandfather from my father, and on the other side, maybe because my uncle is the youngest son, there are still such jokes between my grandfather and him.

Father Xue also seemed to recall this memory, "I remember that time when your grandfather said that the Tusu wine was handed down at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it seems to have something to do with Hua Tuo." Profound.

"That's right. At that time, Dad said that Tusu Tusu was not only to kill ghosts, but also to revive human souls. Therefore, no matter if it is an old man or a child, he should drink a little, and it will protect him from all diseases." Uncle Xue It seemed that he remembered his father's kind face, revealing a taste of nostalgia. "He said that this Tusu wine was originally a medicinal wine, and the prescription was passed down from Hua Tuo. Ge Hong recorded it in his "Elbow Reserve Emergency Prescription". This Hua Tuo's method was verified by Emperor Wu."

Xue Pan was a little surprised that his grandfather knew a lot of things. Don't pretend that the Emperor Wu here is Emperor Wu of Han, but Emperor Wu of Cao Cao.In his previous life, Xue Pan knew that this prescription was in Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica", and he said that drinking Tusu wine from Hua Tuo's prescription on the first day of the Yuan Dynasty could avoid all evil spirits.Speaking of which, because of the disappearance of the Ming Dynasty, all the books and famous scholars in history have also disappeared in the course of history. If he has the ability in the future, such handed down works will still be compiled. It is absolutely impossible for him alone I know astronomy at the top and geography at the bottom, but when I visit mountains and rivers, I hope to wait until such talents and famous masters are unearthed.

"It seems that my father also said that year, but if you are poor and sorrowful, you will be healthy, and you will drink Tusu after getting drunk." Father Xue suddenly remembered the days when he was with his old father in the last few years, when the new dynasty had been established for a period of time, Everything gradually stabilized. At that time, the emperor entered middle age, but the old officials who followed him to open up the territory were old. Speaking of which, it was too early for Grandpa Xue to go. It was more than ten years ago in a blink of an eye.

Xue's father and uncle fell into the memory of their grandfather together, but Xue Pan could hear a difference in his short words. His grandfather and father were different from his uncle, and seemed to be scholars.The last sentence, "But let the poverty and sorrow be long and healthy, and drink Tusu after getting drunk." 'It comes from a poem by Su Shi, but it is obviously not a poem that should be used when getting together during the New Year's Eve. It comes from the mouth of the grandfather, and what meaning it carries, I am afraid that my father and uncle are not very clear.

In his previous life, Xue Pan went from novice to half-baked, and spent a lot of effort to learn these four books and five classics, poems and songs. Although he really has no ability to create, it is also for this reason that he is not interested in rare poems. All the allusions are involved, and I am afraid that one will make a fool of himself by accident.

The original poem of this sentence is "Xingge wild cry two sad, distant fire low star gradually fade away."Sick eyes and insomnia are not keeping the year old, and the hometown accent is hard to return without accompaniment.The heavy quilt feet are cold and the frost is heavy, and the newly washed head feels light and thin.Thank you Candeng for not being too much of a guest, the solitary boat promises to depend on each other overnight.When I come to the south and see Sui Yun for three times, I am afraid that I will walk the road for life.When I grow old, I am afraid of looking at the new calendar, so I return to learning the old Taofu.Fireworks have become youthful, and frost and snow are looking for sick people.But to broaden the poor and worry about the long-term health, he will drink Tusu after drunk. '

On the way of disaster relief, Su Shi spent a sad poem on New Year's Eve, all of which reveal a feeling of helplessness and loneliness when he is approaching old age.

From this to that, why did my grandfather recite this sentence.Looking at the appearance of Father Xue and uncle, it may take a few years to get an answer from them.However, Xue's family was regarded as a merchant's family, and it started when his grandfather helped the current emperor, and the title of imperial merchant was also because of the financial support at the beginning.The ancients valued Confucianism over businessmen. If the grandfather was really a scholar, how could he really be willing to be a businessman for a while, and he didn't ask his son to study hard.Xue Pan felt that the Xue family looked like the four major families of Wang, Shi, and Jia, but their status was different. There was no one who could say a word in the court hall. Here, he thought it was the Xue family who was in business. Now it seems that the relationship may not be certain.

Whether it's nostalgia or speculation, Xue Pan is ready to set off fireworks when the clock strikes.The aunt held Xue Biao in her arms for fear that he would be startled by the ear-shattering sound, so she didn't let him out of the house, so she stood by the door and watched.Xue's father, uncle, and Xue's mother all stood under the eaves of the courtyard, watching Xue Pan and Angelica light the fireworks together. This is relatively harmless and suitable for children to play.

Just when the time was about the same, crackling firecrackers sounded in my ears, and I looked up to see the fireworks blooming in the night sky, with beautiful peonies and lotus blossoms, which turned the whole Jinling into another world.

Xue Pan acted like a real child, setting off several fireworks in the yard before giving up.Then, come back obediently to watch the new year, and when the sky is dark, the sky will start to turn white, and the new year will begin.Everyone dispersed, went back to the house, and took a short rest. There are still various New Year's activities to be done later.

When Xue Pan came back to the other courtyard, he was also a little drowsy, and his small body hadn't survived the night yet.In a daze, he seemed to see Mother Xu, and felt that something was wrong with her clothes.

By the way, those hairpins on her head that are more than eighty pounds are rarely worn.

☆, 8, tofu skin buns

Nanny Xu hurriedly stepped through the door of the other courtyard, not paying attention to the surrounding situation, as if she was holding something tightly in her hand, she walked out.Seeing Licorice next to Xue Pan, he asked Xue Pan for instructions, and seeing the master nodded, he followed Madam Xu's pace and went out.

In the early morning of this new year, the sulfur smell of fireworks and firecrackers was still in the air, and there were no people on the street. Most of them went to sleep and waited until noon for activities.Licorice followed Madam Xu not far or near, and saw her shrunk her body, lowered her head, and walked quickly towards the location of Xicheng.

After a few bends and detours, Mother Xu suddenly stopped and looked back, then looked left and right, walked to a store in Linglong Building and stopped in small steps.

Licorice frowned, this place is not a good place, Xicheng is a place where good and bad people are mixed together, and this is the most of them, it is commonly known as a gambling street.Linglong Building is also a well-known gambling house. At this moment, Mother Xu gave the small cloth bag in her hand to a steward who came out of the door. Licorice saw that the steward opened the cloth bag, and there were some jewelry and broken silver inside.

Seeing Mammy Xu's expression was a little melancholy and flustered, and then a young man was dragged out from the inner hall, Licorice saw that it was Nanny Xu's nephew.Nanny Xu, her nephew and the steward didn't know what to say. The steward shook the silver in his hand, signaling his subordinates to let go of her nephew, and then the two staggered out of the gate.

"Grandpa, I made some inquiries. Her nephew came to Jinling a few months ago. There are not many people in Madam Xu's family. That nephew is the son of the old man Cao in the kitchen. The people in the back kitchen said that when they saw the nephew My son also came to the side door to ask old man Cao for money a few times, I guess he has been going to the gambling house for a while." Licorice came back and reported the matter to Xue Pan.

"I remember my mother rewarded Madam Xu with a few decent leather clothes. Last year, I saw her wear them during the Spring Festival. I went to find out which pawn shop accepted the goods. Don't alarm them, and get involved in gambling. Words are not so easy to quit, you have to watch these two days, the spare money at Madam Xu is not enough for that, the main thing is to see if she has gone to her mother." Xue Pan ordered Licorice to keep an eye on Xu Mammy, she was the source of money for their family.In the other courtyard, Xue Pan's things are managed by four servants one by one, and Xue Pan's management is also very strict.In addition, he has a lot of ancient books, which can't be exchanged for cash at Madam Xu's, but it's hard to say anything about Xue's mother's jewelry.

What a fool, Xue Pan shook his head, how could the Wang family have such a dowry mother, this matter should be reported to Father Xue.

Xue Pan knew that the management in Xue's mansion could be regarded as loose on the outside and tight on the inside, especially between Xue's father and himself. The only loose place was Xue's mother.Fortunately, Xue's mansion is actually controlled by Xue's father, including the internal affairs, which are also handled by Xue's father and the old housekeeper, Xue's mother doesn't intervene much.And Xue's mother was also happy not to intervene, this is also because a big business like Xue's father has many similarities inside and outside, and Xue's mother can't control it.

"Father, my son is here to accompany you to eat snacks." Xue Pan went to Father Xue's place when he was free in the afternoon, and it was rare that Father Xue was also free in the afternoon on the first day of the new year.

Usually when Father Xue is free, Xue Pan will always eat snacks and chat with him, unlike some people who have strict fathers and loving mothers, Xue’s family can be regarded as loving fathers and mothers, or a little spoiled. It is not an exaggeration to say that a person like Xue Pan with an adult self-sufficiency will not grow crooked.

For Xue Pan, he cherishes this kind of time very much. When he enters school, or when he is a little older, he will have less and less time to eat tea with his father after he travels around the world.

"Pan'er is here, let the kitchen make your favorite bean buns today." Father Xue asked Xue Pan to warm up his body by the stove, and after the cold air from outside dissipated, the two sat on the couch.People like the Xue family, even though they are in the south, cannot do without the laying of floor heating fire dragons. Even with the windows open, the whole house does not feel cold.

"Bean buns? The one with red bean stuffing?" Xue Pan took a sip of tea, trying to suppress the sweetness in his stomach. He wanted something more plain. The New Year's Eve feast last night was a bit greasy.

"It's because of my father that I missed it. It's a tofu skin bun, the kind sealed with egg white. It should have been drawn in your little picture book."

It turned out to be tofu skin buns, but this abbreviation cannot be shortened to bean buns.The characteristic of this kind of steamed stuffed bun is on the skin, thinking about the appearance of first-class tofu clothing, it is thin and transparent, as thin as a cicada's wing, and you can see the filling inside when you pick it up.

The production of this thing took a lot of effort, and it happened to be divided into three, six, and nine grades.

The chef needs to heat the soy milk first, cook the soy milk with a slow fire to thicken it, wait until it stops boiling and tumbling, and keep the soy milk slurry calm down, then under the cooling of natural wind, the soy milk, which is cool on the outside and hot on the inside, will freeze. Form a layer of clothing, and the condensed film is the prototype of tofu clothing.

Gently uncover with a tool, and dry carefully, it becomes the most authentic tofu coating.And the most precious of them is the first layer that is uncovered. The color is yellow and bright, and the fragrance is mellow. It is called the first-class product, and it is the skin for making tofu skin buns.

While talking, I saw the servants brought two small plates from the Lianhua Qiankou official kiln, each of which contained three tofu skin buns.Father Xue picked up the crystal clear one, which looked like a tender yellow stuffing. He bit it and nodded, "It's the stuffing with pears added. It's refreshing and not greasy at all. Pan'er also tried it." try."

Xue Pan tasted it, and took a bite of the pear. The pear juice that flowed out was light and slightly sweet. With the unique bean fragrance of tofu skin, it had a special taste.He looked at the small bag that was folded in four and then sealed with egg white. The bag just out of the steamer looked like an exquisite emerald. It was indeed a tribute from the Qing Palace.

Yes, this dish was made by Xue Pan based on his memory, and the chef tried to make it. It tasted even better than what he had eaten before.

"This thing is also fun. We call it bean curd clothing in the south here, and call it oil skin in the north of the capital." Father Xue eats a lot of things when he travels from south to north. Such delicate things are really only rich people. can only be used.

"I have eaten yuba on the road. It is the same material, but it is not the first layer of skin, but the third layer of skin after the soy milk is reheated, and the golden luster is completely lost. There is only a gray layer left, and the taste is good after drying."

"The same thing comes out at different times, and the quality is different. The importance of timing is obvious. Pan'er, do you have any thoughts about going to school? According to my father, I don't want to make you too tired, but three years old, you have to It’s better to prepare early for the imperial examination, so as not to miss the season.” Xue’s father didn’t want his son to be too tired, and at the same time didn’t want to delay his son’s future. He also thought that this master should be hired well. Easy to handle.

"My child is already five years old, and I want to follow a teacher. I want to go to school with a charter. I don't want to go to the school. At my age, I can't get in. It's better to invite a gentleman to come to my house. In this way, the time is more flexible." Xue Pan is actually not familiar with the coursework, and he has experienced all the twists and turns of the scientific examination, from candidates to examiners.

It's just that he still needs a gentleman, firstly, he can explain what he has learned, and secondly, he can also know the current situation of the dynasty. This is a high requirement for a gentleman.It can't be someone who is obsessed with studying, can't be someone who doesn't understand the changes in the court, and can't belittle children, but he doesn't know any scholars yet.

Father Xue also thought about this problem. He doesn't need a husband to teach a son who doesn't understand business, and he also knows that his son's foundation is not bad.Don't look at him not studying, but under the influence of Xue Pan's grandfather, he doesn't have the idea that businessmen of this era have lost their minds about scholars.He didn't know how to settle down, so he coincided with Xue Pan and wanted to find a famous official in the world, but the Xue family really couldn't get in touch with such a person.

"For my father, I put the family relationship aside. It's just your mother's brother. Your uncle can still find a good one, but last year he was transferred to Sichuan. The mountains are high and the water is far away, so it's not easy to contact."

When Xue Pan heard his father mention Wang Ziteng, he was not too happy to have too close a relationship with the Wang family, so he said that the matter with Madam Xu was not over yet. "Father, it's better not to bother uncle. There was a disaster early a year ago, and I didn't even return to Beijing for the Spring Festival. I guess I'm still busy now. There is one more thing that I discovered by accident. I just wanted to tell my father about it. Aunt Xu There seems to be a little difficulty there."

Xue Pan told Father Xue about the licorice investigation, but he didn't add any personal preferences. How could Madam Xu hide things from Father Xue about things she didn't like about her.

Sure enough, after Father Xue heard this, his face changed slightly. This Mammy Xu really came from the Wang family and came here with Mother Xue, and she has never been very good at doing things.Later, Xue Pan was born and got a strange disease again. It's not that Xue's father has heard some gossip, but he didn't expect that she didn't restrain herself at all, and became even more muddled.It was originally because she was not smart but would not cause trouble. It seems that she can't do it now, and she can't let a mouse poop ruin a pot of porridge.

"Don't worry about your mother. She is not very close to the two people from the Wang family. You have to be more careful these few days and don't let her go out with anything. It seems that she is not measured. She actually went secretly on the first day of the new year." There are no rules at all for doing such a thing." Xue's father was a little angry, there are many taboo things during the New Year's Eve, being chased for debts, going in and out without the owner's consent, and going to the gambling house on the first day of the new year Xicheng repays the money, which is not a good sign for the prosperous business of Father Xue.Although he doesn't take special care of these taboos, he doesn't like letting his servants touch them at will.

It seems that Wang's family is still a bit unreliable, Father Xue suddenly thought of someone who was close to them, but the relationship was a bit hard to say. "Speaking of your studies, there is someone who is very suitable. It is Lin Hai, the husband of Jia Min, the younger sister of your uncle Jia Zheng. The Lin family is a scholarly family, and it has been a family of generations. Now he is the doctor of Lantai Temple. , also serves as the magistrate of Suzhou, and is very close to us, he must know many famous officials."

It’s just that the relationship between Madam Wang and Jia Min is a bit delicate, Father Xue thought in his heart, but Pan’er’s studies are more important, the capital city is far away from here, unlike Jinling to Suzhou, which takes an overnight boat, they should also get close Get close to the Lin family.

Xue Pan also knew from Father Xue's expression that there must be something inconvenient. Since ancient times, the relationship between aunts and sisters-in-law is not easy to get along with. In his previous life, he had seen these inexplicable disputes in the back house in the big family. .To waste all his time on that, Xue Pan felt that he was wasting his life. Fortunately, he is a man, and there is still a possibility of leaving one side of the land and going out. If he became an ancient woman at that time, he might not be driven crazy Yes, it is the green light for a lifetime.

"Father, we are close to the Lin family, mother..." Xue Pan was not worried about Wang