Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 424 Mrs. Wanzhi
Yan Jiekuang only hung a cafe sign at the door of his cafe without giving it a name. It was not that he did not want to give it a name, but he had not decided what to name it. He could not bear to see it being too vulgar, even he himself could not stand it.

The morning sunlight poured in through the door. It was not yet opening time, and Yan Jiekuang just wanted to wash the coffee with utensils. On the small stove beside him, a pot of coffee was brewing. Steam mixed with fragrance drifted in the air. Yan Jiekuang did not turn on the lights, and the sunlight coming through the door and windows illuminated the entire first floor hall.

Yan Jiekuang was wearing a sky blue shirt today, which Ji Lian bought for him specially to celebrate the opening of his cafe. She insisted that he must change into it today.

After cleaning up the workbench, he glanced at the wall clock and saw that there was still half an hour before opening. He poured himself a cup of coffee, sat at the round table to the left of the door where he often worked, drank his coffee and watched the busy crowd outside.

People nowadays are in a hurry, running for life and making money. Everyone has his own direction, but they will not stop. At this time, time is money.

Yan Jiekuang also discovered a certain pattern. Those walking towards Di'anmen Street were basically office workers. Most of them were riding bicycles with lunch boxes hanging on the handlebars.

Most of the people walking in are people running shops and doing business. Both men and women are carrying a bag and walking in a hurry. They never show any interest in the shops on either side.

Time passed slowly, and before he knew it, it was nine o'clock. The wall clock reminded Yan Jiekuang that it was time to open the shop. Yan Jiekuang stood up, turned on all the lights, turned over the sign outside that read "Closed for Business", then returned to his seat, lit a cigarette, and continued to drink his coffee.

The wind chimes at the door rang. The old lady from yesterday came again. Yan Jiekuang put out his cigarette, stood up, and said, "Since you're here, what would you like to drink?"

"It's the same as yesterday." He walked to the bookshelf and picked up yesterday's book, then walked to the seat where he sat yesterday and sat down.

Yan Jiekuang tidied up his table, returned to the workbench, started to make coffee, and turned on the stereo and turned it to a low volume. The melodious sound of piano rang out in the store.

Not long after, Yan Jiekuang brought over the coffee and a plate of fruit. What was different from yesterday was that there were sliced ​​apples and peaches on the plate, with a fork next to them. The old lady was still reading a book and drinking coffee quietly, just like yesterday.

Just after ten o'clock, the young couple came again. When they came in, Yan Jiekuang was feeding the fish. Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Come on, sit wherever you want."

"Boss, just like yesterday, there's no need to take the bill." The girl's voice sounded like a silver bell, and they were still sitting in the same seats as yesterday.

"Okay, wait a moment." Yan Jiekuang said.

After a while, they were all served, and the old lady's cup was refilled. The young couple was then reminded that there was freshly brewed coffee on the workbench and they could get refills.

Yan Jiekuang continued to feed the fish until noon, when no one came. The two young men had already left, but the old lady had no intention of leaving. She waved to Yan Jiekuang, and he walked over.

The old lady asked, "What do you usually eat for lunch?"

Yan Jiekuang was stunned. It seemed that the old lady wanted to stay here forever, so he said, "I usually make some noodles. Would you like some?"

The old lady nodded and said, "What kind of noodles can you make?"

Yan Jiekuang was happy and said, "Whatever kind of noodles you want to eat, I can make most of them."

"It's not good to brag. Do you know how to make silver thread noodles?" said the old lady.

Yan Jiekuang was delighted and said, "I didn't expect that the old lady is such a foodie. You are in for a treat. I brought some soup stock today. We didn't have any yesterday. I'll let you taste my cooking today."

The old lady's eyes lit up and she said, "I didn't expect you to be a great chef."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said nothing, then returned to the workbench. While he was making the noodles, the old lady put down her book and came over. She saw Yan Jiekuang pulling the dragon beard noodles and then putting them directly into the pot. As an expert stretched out his hand, there was nothing. The old lady knew that Yan Jiekuang was an expert among experts, and she had more questions in her mind.

After a while, a bowl of noodles was brought to the old lady, with clear soup, thin noodles, two heads of rapeseed, a few slices of ham, and half an egg. The old lady knew how to eat, so she didn't rush to eat the noodles. She first scooped up a spoonful of the soup with a spoon and started drinking it. The soup was based on high broth and was very delicious.

The old lady took a bite of the noodles and showed a shocked expression on her face. The noodles were hollow and so thin. This was the silver beard noodles that Emperor Qianlong liked to eat. The old lady asked, "Young man, where did you learn this?"

"Old lady, to be honest with you, I inherited the skills of the imperial chef Yu since I was a child, and I have been practicing since I was young. I can cook most of the palace dishes." Yan Jiekuang sat at another table with a bowl of noodles.

The old lady was unhappy, with an angry look on her face, and said, "I can eat you, you are so far away from me, come and sit over here."

Hearing the old lady's unquestionable tone, Yan Jiekuang took the noodles and sat down opposite the old lady, and the two of them ate the noodles in silence.

After finishing the noodles, the old lady gave Yan Jiekuang a thumbs up and said, "It's authentic, and it definitely tastes like a royal palace."

"As long as you are satisfied with the food, I can make some noodles. Just tell me what you want to eat and I will cook it for you." Yan Jiekuang said.

The old lady was amused and said, "You smoke, why don't you smoke when I come in?"

Yan Jiekuang said: "I am afraid that the guests may not like it, so I am controlling it."

The old lady said, "Go ahead, I don't mind. By the way, you know my name, what's yours?" Yan Jiekuang was stunned and said, "How did you know?"

The old lady smiled and said, "Although I am old, my memory is still good. When I put the bookmark in, I deliberately used the back side. Today I saw it turned into the front side. Who else can read it except you?"

Yan Jiekuang was very impressed by the old lady's tricks and attentiveness, and said, "My name is Yan Jiekuang, what's your last name?"

The old lady smiled and said, "My last name is Nalan."

After the old lady finished speaking, Yan Jiekuang was very shocked and said, "Nalan Wanzhi?"

The old lady nodded with a smile, and Yan Jiekuang asked, "How old are you?"

"You're eighty-six this year, but you don't look like it?" said the old lady.

Yan Jiekuang shook his head and said, "No, not at all."

"Alas, time makes people grow old. I am already in my twilight years," said the old lady.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Please sit down first. I'll clean up. Would you like coffee or water?"

The old lady said, "Give me a glass of water. Your sofa is so comfortable. I'll take a nap."

Yan Jiekuang put the dishes, chopsticks, coffee cups, etc. on a tray and put them away at the workbench and sink. He also poured the old lady a cup of warm water and placed it on the old lady's table.

Yan Jiekuang turned the music down to the lowest volume and sat at the workbench with a book in his hand. He glanced at the old lady, who seemed to be squinting, so he took a blanket and gently covered her with it.

Yan Jiekuang walked out of the door, hung up a sign indicating that the business was temporarily suspended, and then returned to his workbench to read quietly.

Time passed by minute by minute. When the afternoon sun shone into the store again and shone on the old lady's face, she woke up, stretched comfortably, and said, "This sleep is so comfortable."

Yan Jiekuang came over, changed a cup of warm water for the old lady, and said, "You are awake, drink some water."

After that, he walked out and turned the sign over again. The old lady nodded and said, "That's great."

The old lady looked at the time and said, "Don't drive today. Come on, come to my house and I'll cook a meal for me."

Yan Jiekuang thought about it and decided that he had nothing to do anyway, so he nodded, turned off the water and electricity, then took the old lady out, locked the shop door, and followed the old lady as they walked and chatted.

The old lady took Yan Jiekuang to Nanchizi Street and stopped at the gate of a courtyard. Yan Jiekuang was very shocked and asked, "Madam, do you live here?"

Mrs. Wanzhi said disdainfully: "Why, I can't live here?" She unlocked the door, took Yan Jiekuang in, and then asked Yan Jiekuang to close the door.

As soon as Yan Jiekuang entered the courtyard, he was completely shocked. This was a small Forbidden City and all the buildings were exactly the same as the Forbidden City.

After walking through the small garden in the front yard, Mrs. Wanzhi took Yan Jiekuang to the middle courtyard. The door of the main room in the middle courtyard was open, and there was a glazed curtain hanging on the door. When the wind blew, it made a very pleasant sound. The old lady lifted the curtain and walked in, and Yan Jiekuang followed her in. As soon as they entered, they saw typical palace furnishings, all made of huanghuali wood, and the screens were all carved with jasper.

The old lady sat down on the upper seat and said, "Go make some tea yourself. I know you have a lot of questions. Go make some tea first. The first room in the east wing is the water room."

Yan Jiekuang walked out of the house and went to the water room. Once he entered the water room, he was shocked again. Even the noodle cabinet was made of rosewood. Tea sets and various covered bowls were neatly placed inside. Yan Jiekuang picked one up and saw that there were three sets of the Twelve Flower God Cups made by Emperor Qianlong neatly placed inside.

When the tea cabinet was opened, wow, it was full of various tea cans, all from the Qianlong period, cloisonné enamel tea cans with labels on them. Yan Jiekuang habitually chose scented tea, brewed two cups of tea, and carried them on a tray before returning to the main hall.

As soon as he entered the room, Yan Jiekuang placed a cup of tea on the square table beside Mrs. Wanzhi and said, "Old lady, you scared me to death. I am afraid to use this teacup."

Mrs. Wanzhi smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? It's just a broken teacup. What's there to be afraid of?"

Yan Jiekuang smiled bitterly and said, "Old lady, do you know how much this one is worth now?"

The old lady said disdainfully: "If it can be used, it means it still has some value. If it can't be used, it is worthless."

Yan Jiekuang was confused by the old lady's words. In fact, what the old lady said was quite right. Forget it, don't dwell on this issue. People have different ideas.

The two of them drank tea and chatted, and slowly Yan Jiekuang got to know Mrs. Wanzhi. This Mrs. Wanzhi was really extraordinary.

(End of this chapter)