delicious little cook

Chapter 258 Winter Hunting Preparations Begin

After lunch, Bai Kou came to the stable to meet Yan Zheng, and the groom took out two horses and sent them out.

Bai Kou rode Zao Ni in front, Yan Zheng followed, and the two walked into the front alley of Zhou's house smoothly. A brand new mortar had been hung on the lintel of Li Fushun's house - fresh and not dirty.

The courtyard door was open, and there were piles of mason's tools, and there were traces of plaster on the ground. Li Xinghua was sprinkling water to remove dust and sweeping the floor. She noticed movement outside the door, and when she looked up, she saw Bai Kou dismounting, and quickly put down the things in her hands. First he took the reins of Zao Ni, and then called his mother and grandmother to come out to welcome the guests.

Aunt Li and Li Xinghua took the horse to the stable to settle down. Grandma Li greeted Bai Kou and walked to the main room, then rushed to the backyard to call her son and grandson over.

Li Fushun and Li Quan'an were watching the craftsmen at work in the backyard. When they heard that Bai Kou had brought someone, they hurried over to meet the guests.

Bai Kou introduced Yan Zheng to the Li family. The rest of what he wanted to say had already been told to Li Xinghua last time, and Xinghua had already conveyed it to his family. Since it was Gu Yun's own subordinate, the Li family had nothing to object to. Yes, let's just get along well.

Bringing Yan Zheng here today was just to know the way and meet people, and didn't intend to stay to work, but the craftsmen in the backyard were already busy, so Bai Kou left Yan Zheng and let him take over all accounts, she was alone Go home first.

After returning the horse at the stable, Bai Kou walked back to the Zhongming Courtyard along Babu Lane. After entering the gate, the maids surrounded her and told her that Ms. Pang would lead the newcomer early tomorrow morning before the young master had breakfast and left the house. come over.

Because of this, the room vacated by Mei Luan Mei Huan and the four of them was sprinkled with water to remove dust.

In the afternoon, the servant who delivered the letter sent Sun Qing's reply letter, and made an appointment for the next time to meet in Xianbugou.

In the evening when the lights were on, Yan Zheng had dinner at Li's house and returned home. He first went to Zhongmingyuan to talk to Bai Kou. It happened that she had to be busy in the kitchen at this time, so she hurriedly handed it over to the maids. She washed her hands and went to the front to see people.

The two were sitting on the porch at the entrance of the courtyard. When Yan Zheng was talking about the progress of the craftsmen this afternoon, Gu Yun arrived home. Seeing them talking here, he froze for a moment, but he didn't interrupt their conversation, and went back to the house first. .

Fortunately, things are simple today, just take care of the craftsmen and calculate all the expenses clearly. Yan Zheng looks ordinary, but his brain is actually quite active. In the spare time in the afternoon, I walked back and forth in the front alley of Zhou's house, and took a rough look at the environment.

After the two of them talked, Bai Kou felt that she had given the wrong order and should not choose to listen to the reply at night, because night was her busiest time, so she decided to change to the time after the son of the day went out to meet and talk about things.

Bai Kou returned to the main courtyard, and Gu Yun was taking a bath, so she turned back to the kitchen and finished the rest of the work step by step. After eating, Gu Yun went to say good night to the elders, and asked his parents to clean up the former academy used by him. , it's time to use it.

Boys like them who have reached the age of 15 will have a small academy in the front yard to deal with outside affairs. Gu Yun's small academy is the one used by his father when he was the eldest son. It is next to the main hall. In the courtyard, there are two front and back entrances, the back one is a place for individuals to be alone, and the front one is for entertaining guests and hosting family servants to take care of housework.

This small academy was not really idle until after the Grand Master took over the title. After three years of filial piety, the Grand Master still handles official business here. Yesterday Bai Kou mentioned that he wanted a place to contact outsiders, and he thought of this small academy. I just didn't expect Bai Kou to move so fast. I just sent Yan Zheng here today and started asking him to do things.

The Duke and his wife immediately nodded in agreement with this kind of trivial matter, and ordered Mama Pang to do it tomorrow, and then talked with her son about the winter hunting. The Ministry of Rites has officially issued a document to start preparations for this year's winter hunting. The list of attendees at home, and the boys who organized their own small camps should also submit the lists to the Ministry of Industry in time, so that the size and scope of their camps can be delineated.

This list naturally includes all the attendants. Fortunately, Bai Kou has already prepared in advance, and Gu Yun is very relieved of her.

According to the usual practice, all the expenses of preparing for winter hunting at home are paid by the public, and this year's winter hunting time, the second and third rooms are far away, and the long room has to provoke the responsibility of the head of the family. The boys went together, only Gu Shuo, the youngest Seventh Young Master, was left at home.

Although this is a routine event held once a year, it should have been taken for granted, but thinking about how tens or hundreds of people from each household set off to the Balidu paddock in just a few days, it is an extremely difficult task. The thing is, men can still ride horses, but women and children can only endure the bumps in the carriage.

Gu Yun talked with his parents about the division of labor and preparations, said good night and went back to the Zhongming Courtyard. When he passed the kitchen, he happened to see Bai Kou staring at the utensil cabinet in a daze. He was obviously thinking about which tools he wanted to pack, so he took her away. Ti slipped away.

The two went directly to Gu Yun's study room, and before Qinglan finished her salute, Gu Yun spoke first.

"Qing Lan, preparations for winter hunting have begun. When I'm not at home, you run errands for Bai Kou and do some copying."

"Yes, sir."

"Go make a pot of tea, two cups."

Qing Lan hurriedly backed away, Gu Yun led Bai Kou to sit down separately on the Arhat couch.

"Winter hunting preparations have officially started?"

"The Ministry of Rites issued an article today, but the specific date has not been announced. It is estimated that if there is no accident, it will be from the end of October to the beginning of November."

"What is the servant girl going to do? Is there any new division of labor?"

"You just follow the plan you listed. The cooked food prepared in advance counts as a share of the long room. Except for Gu Chen and his parents, the other brothers may find friends to form a small camp. If they are willing to bring some, give them to them. If you want, we can eat it by ourselves."

"Row."

"Tomorrow, Mama Pang will sort out my former academy. You go there to take care of things, so you don't have to stand at the gate of the courtyard and talk to people."

"Yeah, there's an empty space in the front yard."

"Look at you, you have a bad memory at such a young age, do you really think there is no place for you to do business and talk in the mansion?"

"I'm so busy and confused, it's a workshop, winter hunting, and trivial housework."

"Are you complaining that you are too busy with things? Do you want to reduce it?" Gu Yun deliberately teased Bai Kou maliciously.

"No! No reduction!"

Gu Yun burst out laughing, leaning on the cushion and laughing for a while, until Qinglan came in with the tea set before sitting up straight again.

Qinglan filled two cups of tea and quietly retreated outside the door to wait. When she returned home to report the good news, she had been educated by her family to abide by her duties. Don't be too curious about the conversation between the young master and Bai Kou. She is not in that position, it is impossible Knowing the whole picture of any big or small situation like a steward, she only needs to do her job well.

I am very satisfied with Qinglan's sensible Gu Yun, he likes to talk to Bai Kou alone, he can talk nonsense easily, and after going off topic for a hundred thousand miles, he will magically come back, chatting with Bai Kou is a kind of relaxation.

(End of this chapter)