Back to the marriage proposal, helping the incompetent husband to rise to the top

Chapter 256 Exploding Locusts

Looking at Ye Chenxi who was getting angrier and angrier, Ye Chenting wanted to say something, but in the end he had no choice but to explain: "Even though Cheng Qiu is mediocre, he is also the magistrate of Lin'an County appointed by the emperor.

It is his responsibility to control the local locusts, and we are all here to help.

If I were to control the locusts in Lin'an and then submit a memorial to the emperor requesting an imperial decree to control the locusts, it would be an overstepping of authority.

"Everyone should do their job. If everyone can interfere with other people's jobs, wouldn't the court be in chaos?"

Ye Chenxi was coaxed a little, but still angry: "Second brother is right..."

Ye Chenting stretched out his hand and rubbed his hair: "Okay, don't be unhappy. You are still young, there is no need to rush to make achievements.

However, if the locusts are properly controlled, I will make sure that Cheng Qiu includes your names in the memorial. You may not get an official position, but you will definitely get rewards."

Ye Chenxi felt wronged: "Okay..."

Ye Chenting looked at Chu Anlan again: "Anlan is the same. The court is treacherous. There is nothing wrong with waiting for you to temper your character for a few years before entering.

You are all still young now, so there is no need to enter the officialdom too early and get involved in intrigues.

In the future, you will have plenty of opportunities to accumulate merit and build your career."

"What about you, brother-in-law?" Chu Anlan asked, "You are only a few years older than us, why did you enter the Imperial Academy so early?"

Ye Chenxi also looked at his second brother eagerly.

Ye Chenting was silent for a moment after being asked, and then he smiled gently: "You also said that I am your second brother.

The second elder brother’s responsibility is to protect his younger siblings.

With me as an official in the court, you and An Lan can let go and do what you want. In this way, even if the elders grow old in the future, I will still be there to take care of you. "

Hearing this, Ye Chenxi's eyes turned red: "Second brother..."

"Why are you crying again?" Ye Chenting said lovingly and amusedly, "So many people are watching us."

Ye Chenxi suddenly came back to his senses.

There are so many people in the yard!

While the four were talking, the servants had already dealt with the locusts and cleaned up the yard.

The cook spoke carefully: "If you have no other instructions, I will start cooking now?"

"Start the fire." Ye Wanqing took her eyes off her second brother and said to the cook, "Don't feel any psychological pressure. Just watch the cooking."

The cook responded.

Chu Anlan glanced at the locusts in the basin and touched his chin: "It's still a little too little.

Mo Yan, take more people to the fields and catch some more. They will be useful later."

Looking at the half basin of locusts, Ye Chenting felt a chill on his back and retracted his gaze: "Are these locusts not enough?"

"I originally thought it was enough." Chu Anlan said, "But now it's not too much.

Aren't you going to the government office later? Take some with you and give it to those stubborn old men."

Ye Chenting was stunned: "The officials in the Ministry of Rites are still discussing sending a memorial back to the capital, asking the emperor to order a sacrifice to the locust god.

Letting them eat insects is probably worse than killing them."

"That's easy." Chu Anlan smiled as if he was afraid that the world would not be in chaos: "Just repeat what the 'miracle doctor' said to them.

After all, at their age, it is inevitable that they are unable to do things as they wish, but they are still young at heart.

With such a good opportunity to be old and young, are they willing to miss it? "

Ye Chenting was speechless for a rare moment: "In that case... let's do as you say, An Lan."

But, can we really eat these locusts?

Ye Chenting had been traveling outside Beijing for two years. This was the first time he encountered a locust plague and also the first time he saw someone cooking locusts.

He sat aside with a skeptical attitude.

Ye Wanqing asked the maid to bring tea leaves and tea sets, and brewed tea under the osmanthus tree nearby.

A pot was set up in the middle of the yard, and the fire in the stove was burning at its brightest.

The cook instructed one to prepare the seasoning, and then instructed another apprentice to add a few more pieces of firewood and boil the water in the pot. After the water boiled, he picked up the locusts in the basin and poured them into the boiling water.

As soon as the locusts entered the water, a fragrant smell instantly drifted in the wind along with the rising water vapor.

Ye Wanqing frowned and turned her face away.

Suddenly, Chu Anlan stretched out his hand and covered her nose with his sleeve, and pinched his nose himself: "This smell is really bad.

It’s hard to believe that this thing is edible.”

Because he covered his nose, he spoke in a muffled voice.

Ye Chenxi's facial features were distorted: "If it tastes like this, who would be able to eat it?"

Ye Chenting covered his mouth and nose: "Maybe it will taste better after it's cooked. After all, fish, mutton and the like are also very smelly before they are cooked."

"Second brother is right!" Ye Chenxi was comforted: "Then let's wait a little longer."

While waiting, Ye Wanqing asked the maid to bring a few plates of snacks.

Chu Anlan grabbed a piece of dessert and said, "Come to think of it, I forgot to ask, does Xiao Fengnian have any land?"

"It should be gone." Ye Wanqing took a sip of tea: "Those people from the Ling family who divided up the family property and ran away should have sold the land long ago."

"There's really no chance of survival for the mother and son." Chu Anlan said with a sigh.

Ye Wanqing looked at the tea leaves floating in the cup and said, "Human nature is complicated. There are many pure and kind people, but there are also some vicious people.

Xiao Fengnian and Xinrou were orphans and widows, and their health was poor. They could not compete with those people, and they did not have the mind or energy to compete.

They probably knew this for sure, which is why they acted so decisively."

Chu Anlan gnashed his teeth and said, "Don't let me meet them, otherwise, I will beat them to their knees and kowtow to Xiao Fengnian and Xinrou, humph!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Wanqing smiled gently and did not comment.

Next to the stove, the cook had already scooped up the blanched locusts and asked his apprentice to drain the water and divide them into several portions for later use.

And he heated the oil in a pan.

The smell of cooking oil was so strong that even Little Pomegranate, who was staying in her own yard, was attracted over and squatted at Chu Anlan's feet, crying.

Chu Anlan stroked its fur and said, "It smells too fumes here, go back to your nest and lie down!"

As he said this, he asked someone to take the little pomegranate away.

The servants stood far away, all looking at the cook eagerly.

The cook methodically dolloped some of the locusts into the prepared batter and coated them, coated some of them in dry flour, and fried the rest.

Soon, the fragrance wafted out.

Ye Chenxi said excitedly: "Second brother, you are right! As soon as the locusts are put into the pot, the fragrance will waft out!"

The cook breathed a sigh of relief and worked even harder.

After a stick of incense, several locusts with different flavors were placed on the table.

It looks a little ugly, but it is fried to a golden brown and crispy texture, and it smells delicious.

The cook said, "There is one portion that has not been gutted. I will cook the best portion later."

"Okay." Chu Anlan nodded.

Ye Chenxi's index finger moved: "Can I taste it?"

"Are you sure this is non-toxic?" Chu Anlan asked again, worried.

As soon as he finished speaking, Mo Yan on the side stepped forward and said, "Sir, let me taste it first.

I have nothing to do now, you can try again."

Chu Anlan was about to speak when Gu Chen came in from outside the courtyard with his attendants and a medical box on his shoulder: "What are you doing?

I was outside the gate when I smelled the fragrance."

Chu Anlan immediately waved: "Gu Chen, you came at the right time. Aren't you a doctor? Come and take a look. Can these locusts be eaten?"