[Red Mansion] A little chef came to the Grand View Garden

Regarding Sister Feng's "pregnancy", Liu Mei remembers it very clearly - it is clearly written in the original book that it was around the turn of the new year, around the Lantern Festival, Sister Feng neglected to take care of the New Year's affairs in the Rongguo Mansion, so it was the first month of the month. It is said that the root cause of the boss's illness has also fallen.

Now, looking at the beaming mother Jia and others at the crab feast surrounding Sister Feng like stars, Liu Mei felt that everything in front of her was a little unreal.

But now that I think about it carefully, there are actually many clues to follow about Sister Feng's matter.Take today's crab feast as an example, why did Sister Feng suddenly feel unwell, so why did she ask for a doctor on the spur of the moment?It is clear that he has planned all this long ago, pinpointed the timing, and took advantage of today's opportunity to spread out his happy event and put it in front of everyone.

As for the past, Lin Xiaohong came here from time to time to ask about the hot and cold food habits of various dishes, and even asked Mother Liu to cook a small stove for Sister Feng to cook all kinds of appetizers or nourishing meals—Liu Mei recalled now that it was different from what happened today. They are going up one by one.She couldn't help nodding secretly in her heart: this time, Sister Feng can be regarded as being cautious in everything and everything.

Now that everyone in Jia's family is aware of this matter, Sister Feng's pregnancy must be settled.After another three or four months, when the New Year's Eve is the busiest time, Sister Feng's pregnancy will be six or seven months old, and she will be more secure. With Ping'er Xiaohong and others present as the director of Rongguo Mansion, she can It is still in my hand; in the third and fourth months of the new year, Sister Feng will give birth, but it is also a free time, which can just allow her to have a good life and confinement.

So no matter from which point of view, Sister Feng's pregnancy was at the right time, and nothing was left behind.

If everything goes well, and Sister Feng can get a boy in one fell swoop, then Sister Feng will not be criticized for being "childless" in the future, and even Jia Lian has no reason to secretly marry You Er, the head of the Rongguo Mansion, The days should be more harmonious!

Liu Mei felt that she should feel very excited - she never expected such a change in Sister Feng's place: the same thing, only a few months later, but the prospect was very optimistic.

But at this moment, for some reason, Liu Mei felt a little guilty in her heart, not sure whether the self-healing ability of this world of red chambers would affect Sister Feng's careful planning.

Here, in the lotus root and Champs Elysees, everyone is congratulating Sister Feng in a chaotic manner.At the other end, Zhou Rui's family came in and reported to Mrs. Wang and Sister Feng that it was Grandma Liu who had come.

Mother Jia listened to these words and asked who it was.

Mrs. Wang explained on her behalf, she told the ins and outs of the Liu family, and mentioned that the Liu family came to the city from the countryside just to bring some local products to the Jia family.When Jia Mu heard this, she was overjoyed and said, "The good news from girl Feng today is obviously the blessing brought by this old man who has accumulated ancient times." Then she invited the old relative surnamed Liu into the garden to meet each other.

Mrs. Wang and Sister Feng naturally have everything they want.

As for Liu Mei and the others, they were finally able to take a good breath.Mother Liu instructed the servants to remove the table and send the dishes and utensils back to the large and small kitchens.

"Mei'er, the gold and silver utensils should be kept by the big kitchen. You go to replace the mother, return the things, and get back the pair of cards that were given to the big kitchen earlier."

Liu Mei agreed, and saw that her mother handed it over, a total of ten sets of "eight crabs" for eating crabs, including small scissors and hammers made of sterling silver.

With these crab sets in her arms, Liu Mei walked quickly through the path of the Grand View Garden, and gradually moved away from the noisy lotus root and Xiangxie.

She went out from the corner gate of the Grand View Garden, turned a corner, passed through a hallway, and came to the entrance of the big kitchen.

"You talk about today's matter, oh..."

Before Liu Mei entered the door, she heard Lao Zheng, the cook brought by Youshi from Ningguo Mansion, complaining to the lady in charge of the big kitchen.

"... You must have pulled us in for fun, no, you guys from the small kitchen and those from outside the house have received a lot of rewards, but we didn't get any benefits."

The daughter-in-law in charge belongs to Zhang Cai's family, and Liu Mei has always taken care of her as Mrs. Zhang.Hearing the "card" of Zhang Cai's family, he laughed and said: "But you didn't lose anything, it's just that you came here to steam a few crabs. It's not like others..."

When Mrs. Zhang said this, Old Zheng Boss hurriedly "shushed" and said, "Don't tell me, he hasn't left yet!"

Liu Mei was curious: what, the cook hired by the Xue family is still in the big kitchen?

Aunt Zhang didn't hide it like Lao Zheng did, but she gave two "tsk tsk tsk" compliments and said: "Look at you, you know how to mess around when you are old. Look at the dishes made by other young people. Everything looks decent. Now that it’s done, I’m here to clean it up alone... No wonder the old lady likes to reward others, but not you lazy ones..."

Now Liu Mei is even more curious, the chef hired by the Xue family, who is good enough to run a restaurant, is actually a young man?

While talking, only the sound of footsteps was heard, and the "younger" hired by Xue's family came out and greeted Zhang Cai's family politely: "Ms. Zhang, I have finished cleaning up your place, please take a look."

"Brother Xie family, you are too polite." Zhang Cai's family had a smile on his face, "Even the cooks in our house are not as particular as you."

Liu Mei had just walked into the big kitchen at this time, and had just greeted Zhang Cai's family.

When she raised her eyes, she saw a very particular young chef.

The person in front of him, only about 20 years old, was born fair and clean, with delicate eyebrows. At this time, he was lowering his head and taking off the apron on his body, so he didn't see Liu Mei coming in.

However, Liu Mei could see clearly that the apron worn by this young man surnamed Xie was actually cut from a whole piece of high-quality buffalo leather, and it must have been used for a long time.After the other party took off the apron, Liu Mei realized that the little brother in front of him was wearing a straight blue cotton cloth with bamboo leaf pattern inside the apron.The fabric is not considered expensive, but the cut fits it perfectly, which makes this person have the bearing of a scholar.

"Xiao Chuan," Old Zheng, the cook of Ningguo Mansion, seemed to be familiar with the young man in front of him, and he called him by his first name, "Brother really envies you for being hired by an imperial merchant like Xue's family, and for being hired by such an old lady in the mansion." Praise. At such a young age, in the whole of Beijing, I can count talented cooks like you with one hand."

After hearing these compliments, Xie Xiaochuan didn't see any joy on his face. Instead, he asked Old Zheng with some doubts: "Brother Zheng..."

Liu Mei was at the side, waiting for Zhang Cai's family to call the woman in charge of the gold and silver utensils, while paying attention to what Old Zheng was talking to Xie Xiaochuan.

"I said Brother Zheng... the old lady in your house, do you really think that the crab dishes today are not bad? Why do I think there are a lot left when I serve them? Besides, although the rewards from the house are generous, But when I handed it over, I didn't name which one is better?"

Lao Zheng slapped him, and said with a smile: "This is the case in the West Mansion—the old lady didn't name them, which means that everything is good, everything is good!"

Liu Mei pursed her lips, secretly laughing at Old Zheng who was talking nonsense with his eyes open.

At the other end of the small kitchen, when the reward was received, it was clearly stated that it was for "Crab Stuffed Orange" and "Crab Shell Yellow".

After hearing this, Xie Xiaochuan frowned, and said hesitantly, "Really?"

Zhang Cai's family obviously had a good impression of Xie Xiaochuan, and immediately smiled and said: "You have probably heard of the brother in our mansion who wears jade, and the most precious is gold and jade. He said by name, Your...what kind of soup is the most suitable for him. "

Zhang Cai's family obviously wanted to say Simei Geng, but they couldn't remember exactly the name Baoyu had mentioned.

Liu Mei answered subconsciously: "Simei Soup!"

At the same time, Xie Xiaochuan replied with a smile, "It's Simei Soup."

The two spoke in unison, and as soon as the words fell, Xie Xiaochuan naturally looked sideways, turned his head, and gave Liu Mei a fixed look.

At this moment, Liu Mei has a straight face, pretending to be okay, as if she didn't say those three words just now at all.

In fact, Liu Mei was yelling in her heart——

As a person who makes a living by cooking, she can understand Xiao Chuan's confusion and unwillingness right now.

Obviously, the dish was prepared with the utmost care and effort, but it was so inexplicably overlooked.Even Jia's mother's casual reward of such a reciprocal nature made this neglect even more obvious.If Liu Mei Xie Xiaochuan, she must be depressed.

What's more, the reason for the crab feast is that Sister Bao flaunted her wealth in Jia's mansion-this pot should not be asked to be carried by Xie Xiaochuan, a cook with a gentle and even Confucian temperament.

So, under Xie Xiaochuan's gaze, Liu Mei pretended to have no sympathy and indifference.She is a very open-minded person, so she can give herself an excellent psychological hint at this time: Similarly, this pot cannot be carried by my mother and the small kitchen, can it?

Xie Xiaochuan stared at Liu Mei for a moment, sighed, lowered his head, and slowly put down the rolled up sleeves on his arms.The cyan robe on his body, after putting down the sleeves, could hardly see any oil stains. It is hard to believe that this is actually a man who has been busy in the kitchen for a long time, cooking up so many delicate crab dishes. cook.

But Liu Mei didn't care about Xie Xiaochuan, seeing the maid in charge of gold and silver wares come in, she hurriedly handed over the ten sets of crabs and eight pieces, and got the pair of cards.

I only heard Xie Xiaochuan and Lao Zheng whispering to each other, Lao Zheng didn't know what to say, but Xie Xiaochuan nodded while looking at Liu Mei, and said: "Yes, yes... your mansion is naturally a hidden dragon and crouching tiger, Xiaochuan It’s a frog in a well, superficial, superficial!”

After taking the pair of cards, Liu Mei bid farewell to Zhang Cai's family and Lao Zheng, and prepared to go back to the garden.

Before she could take a few steps, she saw Mother Liu hurriedly looking for her.When Mother Liu saw Liu Mei, she didn't speak, but first grabbed her, and then they turned back to the big kitchen together.

In the big kitchen, Xie Xiaochuan was packing the kitchen utensils he brought with him into a box, seeing Liu Mei go back and forth, looking at her with a little surprise.

When Zhang Cai's family saw Mother Liu, they were thinking of flattering them, so they also came up to meet them, but they saw Mother Liu looking at Xie Xiaochuan, and asked, "Is this Brother Xie? Your master has spoken, your bastard." You can stay in the mansion as much as you want. Come back tomorrow!"

When Xie Xiaochuan heard that he had to come tomorrow, he was a little puzzled, and repeated Liu's mother's words.

"Yes!" In the weather in September, Mother Liu still had a little sweat on her forehead.She nodded and said: "The old lady in the mansion will continue to hold banquets for relatives tomorrow, because she thinks that brother Xie is outstanding in craftsmanship, so she discussed with Aunt Xue and Miss Xue, and invited her to come to the mansion tomorrow, everyone. Guys, I wish you a taste of your craft."

Xie Xiaochuan was even more surprised when he listened.But he didn't show his face, put down the things in his hands first, thanked Mother Liu for coming to pass the message, and finally asked: "I just don't know what dishes need to be prepared in advance for the banquet tomorrow, the old lady of your house and the masters? Madam, can you tell Xiao Ke first, so Xiao Ke can go back and prepare."

But Mother Liu shook her head and said: "That's not necessary, the house has everything that should be available. If the old lady sent it, you don't need to bring in materials from outside tomorrow, so I can't let Aunt Xue spend the money."

When Xie Xiaochuan heard about it, he couldn't help but twitched his eyebrows again.

Liu Mei understood what he meant—for a cook, preparing ingredients in advance is a basic skill.Many materials need to be soaked, marinated, or even smoked and dried in advance to obtain a special flavor, which is not to say that it can be used immediately.When the time comes, the ingredients will not be in hand, which is obviously a flaw for the chef who specializes in high-quality banquets.

Liu Mei also looked at her mother's expression, wondering if she would want to make things difficult for Xie Xiaochuan because Xie Xiaochuan was his opponent before.

Unexpectedly, mother Liu turned to look at Liu Mei with her worried and depressed face, and said, "Mei'er, and you..."

"Lian Er|Grandma named you by name and recommended you. Tomorrow will host the banquet, besides this little brother from the Xie family, and you."

"Me?" Liu Mei opened her eyes wide, looking at her mother.

"Yes!" Mother Liu nodded.She didn't care about the gazes of Zhang Zheng and others, and said hastily: "The old lady has discussed with everyone, and I will do whatever materials are ordered tomorrow."

Like Xie Xiaochuan behind her, Liu Mei opened her eyes wide, looking at Mother Liu who brought the bad news.

This is... the legendary, propositional composition?

After explaining for a while, Mother Liu took Liu Mei back to the small kitchen.

Along the way, Liu Mei asked about it, and then she realized that after seeing Grandma Liu, Mother Jia and others, on a whim, kept her for a tour of the garden tomorrow.As for the "proposition composition", it was Sister Feng and Baochai who were joking and talking, and then they talked about it.After hearing this, Jia Mu felt that the idea was fresh, so she nodded in agreement.

Liu Mei could roughly guess why Sister Feng pushed her out, but Mother Jia agreed.

After all, she is just a little girl, if she loses directly, the Jia family will not lose anyone.But in case she wins, Mother Jia can use the ingredients as a reason to make up for the Xue family.

Thinking of this, Liu Mei sighed secretly - she didn't know what happened to the Xue family, but she insisted on fighting Jia Mu on this matter.

From Liu Mei's point of view, it's nothing to be ashamed of the Jia family, if Liu Mei loses completely, it's really unacceptable to her self-esteem.

As soon as Liu's mother arrived at the small kitchen, she greeted Liu Mei, "Mei'er, go and take out some of the eggplants that were sealed in the jar a few days ago. Second Grandma Lian told me to use them tomorrow. You take some out, mother first." Try it."

Liu Mei let out a "ah", first went to the next door to find a jar containing eggplants, then found a silver spoon scalded with boiling water, took a little out of the jar, and handed it to her mother.

Mother Liu tasted it, nodded and said: "Yes, the bad oil used last time is good, this is already very tasty!"

Then she found another porcelain jar with a small mouth and a big belly, washed it inside and out, filled the jar with eggplants, sealed it tightly with clean oil paper, and finally tied it firmly with cotton thread. live.

Looking at the jar, Liu Mei couldn't help sighing in her heart: This is the eggplant.

Among the dishes of the Red House, this eggplant is almost the most famous one.Those who study Honglou cuisine will study it.There is no other reason, but because Mr. Cao borrowed Sister Feng's mouth to explain the practice of this eggplant in detail.In the past, when Liu Mei read the section of Sister Feng’s eloquent talk about eggplants in the book, she almost had an illusion: Sister Feng is definitely a master at cooking, otherwise, how could she fry, simmer, collect, mix, and seal this eggplant technique? ... He spoke so clearly that no one could find any mistakes.

But in this world of Red Mansions, Liu Mei was finally able to confirm that Sister Feng was not such a person - when she could move her mouth, she probably wouldn't move her hands.

Seeing Mother Liu preparing this eggplant dish, Liu Mei suddenly had an idea—couldn’t this also be a piece of propositional composition!But when she thought about it, she didn't think so. After all, it didn't take ten days and a half months to make this eggplant.It is impossible for Sister Feng to use such a dish to test Xie Xiaochuan.

But what if, this is really Sister Feng secretly leaking questions to her?

So, Liu Mei secretly went to pull the corner of Liu Mu's clothes, and asked softly: "Mother, do you have to present this eggplant to the old lady and the others tomorrow?"

When Mother Liu saw the question, she shook her head and said, "I don't know! But I heard from Miss Ping that Lian Er|Grandma ordered this because the second master Lian is going to go out tomorrow. I heard that he is going to Ping'an Prefecture. It always takes more than ten days to make a round trip. This eggplant has always been Lian Erye’s favorite dish, so Lian Er|grandmother specially ordered that it be ready and wrapped lightly and carefully, so that it can be served to Lian Erye Take it with you."

Liu Mei suddenly realized.

It turned out that this eggplant dish was actually a dish that the fathers of the Jia family carried with them when they went out.

This "road dish", as the name suggests, is a dish that is eaten on the road. It must not only be durable and not perishable, but also easy to carry. It should not have too much soup. It is best to have a combination of meat and vegetables with a unique flavor— ——Eggplant echoes the above requirements, coupled with excellent materials and complicated processes, it has gradually become a must-have item for home and travel in Jia's family.

But Liu Mei really never thought that the eggplant dish that Sister Feng was the most proficient and deliberately ordered was prepared for Jia Lian.

The author has something to say: Jia Lian and Jia Ershe are the man behind the eggplant.

In addition, do you understand why Xie Xiaochuan's surname is Xie?