Chronicle of Farming in Muxianfu

Chapter 40 Winter Storage
After eating, Mu Ai leisurely wrote a few big characters in the study, and then entered the hall with the spring equinox Hou at the door.Guo Huai had been waiting for a long time, when he saw his wife came in, he quickly bowed to salute.

Mu Ai waved her hand, "Uncle Guo, you don't need to be polite." Then she smiled and said to Chun Equinox, "Pour tea for the housekeeper."

"Thank you, madam." Guo Huai sat down gratefully, waiting for his wife to ask questions.

Mu Ai took a sip of tea, and said to Guo Huai in a warm voice, "Uncle Guo, I'm afraid I used up all the food stored at home at the banquet yesterday. Taking advantage of the few days before the snow falls, take people to the city Come back and buy some."

"Returning to Madam, yesterday's banquet indeed used up all the rough noodles in the house, leaving only a tank of breaded noodles. Uncle Xiao sent those fine noodles, you didn't say anything, and the villain didn't let the big kitchen be used."

Mu Ai calculated carefully in her heart, and then asked, "How much money is left in the account?"

Guo Huai hurriedly handed over the account book with both hands, and then slowly reported the expenses of these days, and finally said, "Every expense has been recorded in the account, and since the day the villain took it from Manager Xiao, Just follow his example and do it carefully."

Seeing his uneasy expression, Mu Ai knew that he was afraid of being blamed, and sighed inwardly. After all, the time we spent together was too short, and Housekeeper Guo still didn't trust her enough. "Uncle Guo, there are not so many rules in our house. You don't have to call yourself a 'little man' in the future, just call yourself 'I', so it will be easier for me to listen to. The so-called employing people is not suspicious, and suspecting people is not necessary. When I bought your husband and wife back , because you are all loyal and rigorous people. I have noticed all your hard work in the past month. You don’t have to have any scruples, just let go and do everything.”

Hearing his wife's trust, Guo Huai was so excited that he knelt on the ground and was about to kowtow. Mu Ai quickly motioned for Chun Equinox to help him up, and frowned slightly, feeling really helpless for these people's habit of kneeling every now and then.

At this time, Guo Huai also thought of his wife's strange temper of not liking people kneeling and kowtowing, but he still insisted on kowtowing before getting up.

"Thank you Madam for your trust in me. I, Guo Huai, will live up to Madam's high expectations." There was obviously less anxiety in his tone, and the rest was full of confidence and respect. Mu Ai nodded in satisfaction, "Well, from now on, our family You need to work hard on the matter. I invited you here today because it snowed last night. Our village is located in a mountain depression. I am afraid that it will be inconvenient to go out if the snow will cover the mountain in a few days. So, you Take two people into the city tomorrow, and buy all the things you need this winter."

Guo Huai got Madam's trust and encouragement, so he raised his head and looked like a big housekeeper. After thinking carefully for a moment, he said, "Madam, I walked around the big kitchen just now, and I have some ideas in my heart. If It is something to prepare for the winter, so first of all, we must add more food, and buy a carload of common food such as cabbage in winter. As for meat... I will buy as much as Madam's small kitchen needs." Guo Huai Speaking of meat, he obviously hesitated for a while. After all, meat is very expensive. No family feeds meat to their servants every day. If they can add a few meat dishes during the festivals, they are considered generous.

Of course Mu Ai noticed his hesitation, and said, "Uncle Guo, although our mansion has just been built, we haven't planted any fields this year, our foundation is weak, and the money is not rich, but you just entered the mansion more than a month ago I said at the time that you should never be stingy with food and clothing. You must remember what I said, and tell Aunt Guo to listen to it when you go back. From now on, in the big kitchen, it is best to steam steamed buns with corn noodles and thick noodles in the morning Make a corn porridge and stew a dish. At noon, you will have two dishes, one meat and one vegetarian, and one vegetarian dish and one soup at night. Meals must be arranged according to this standard, and there is no limit. No, next spring may be very busy, so take advantage of this winter to take a good rest. Estimate how much grain you will use according to this amount, write down the list, and buy it all at once. In addition, you can ask in the village, if anyone wants Selling fat pigs, you order two, pay some extra copper money, first ask the owner to help feed them, and after a few days, when the weather gets colder, come back and kill the frozen ones, and keep them for daily use. The rest are cabbage and For other ingredients such as dried mushrooms, you can decide to buy them, and don’t let everyone’s dishes be empty.”

After finishing speaking, she glanced at Guo Huai, wanting to continue explaining what should be bought, but for a moment she forgot what else to buy, so she could only say, "Uncle Guo, you need to finish the two things of buying pigs and counting grain today. Come on, I'll make a list for you if I need to buy more."

Guo Huai stood up, saluted again respectfully, "Yes, ma'am, I'll take my leave first." Then he took a few steps back, turned around and went out to make arrangements.

Mu Ai took the vernal equinox back to the study, saw Xia Zhi was arranging the table, and said, "Xia Zhi, go and tell Dong Zhi to accompany the old lady in the West Courtyard to do needlework for a while, and then invite Miss Shuan over, saying that I want to teach her how to make pasta. .”

"Yes, ma'am." Xia Zhi put down the brush washer in his hand, and went in response.

Mu Ai leaned on the low couch carved out of red cedar, picked up the teapot on the table, and poured a cup of tea by herself.It just so happened that Autumn Equinox came in with a pot of hot tea. Seeing that she wanted to drink herbal tea, she hurriedly stepped forward to take it, and said with a smile, "Madam, it's getting cold, drink some hot tea. Herbal tea is easy to get sick. I just made a pot of it." The tea is the 'Ningrui' that Uncle Xiao sent yesterday, you have a taste." Then, he took another clean cup, poured hot tea and handed it to Mu Ai.

Mu Ai took it with a smile, lowered her head and sniffed it gently, it was really good tea, green in color, with a delicate fragrance, after taking a sip, the taste was neither harsh nor heavy, the tongue was full of fluid, and there was a hint of aura wrapped in it, Moisturizes the heart and spleen.She knew it in her heart. A few days ago, she specially asked them to wash a small water tank with a cover, which was filled with the spiritual spring in the space, and told them to use this tank of water for cooking porridge or soup. Be careful, after using it for a few days, I'm afraid I found the difference in the water, so I used it to brew new tea today. "Well, the taste is good, and the autumn parting skills are about to catch up with the vernal equinox." Mu Ai smiled and praised, "I have a headache preparing for the winter. You also manage the small kitchen on weekdays, just think about it with the vernal equinox. Let's What else is there to add to the yard?"

After hearing this, Qiufen raised her head and glanced at Chunfen who was covering her wife's legs with a thin quilt. She was always cautious. Although she immediately thought of something important, she didn't dare to say it easily.

Mu Ai didn't notice the eye contact between the two, and grabbed the gift list sent by Xiao Heng yesterday. She didn't have time to look at it carefully last night. At this time, she looked slowly and realized that the gift prepared by this sister-in-law who had never met before was really comprehensive. Cloth, embroidery thread, the four treasures of the study, snacks, tea, all kinds of knick-knacks, fifty catties of bacon, two hundred catties of fine noodles, etc., food and clothing, everything is not lacking, with a slight smile, there is this A cart full of things saves me a lot of money, at least I don't need to buy many things for the small kitchen in the yard.

Chun Equinox saw that she was looking seriously, and nodded to Qiu Equinox. She had been with Madam the longest and understood Madam's temper best. Besides, she had listened to Madam's orders to the housekeeper just now.Just after Mu Ai put down the gift list, Chi Kong'er said with a smile, "Madam, tomorrow the manager will go to the city to prepare things for the winter. Can you buy some thick fabrics and cotton? The weather is getting colder, and everyone in our house is empty-handed." It came in without a cotton coat."

"What?" Mu Ai was taken aback when she heard that, touched the quilted dress on her body, and then looked at the spring equinox and autumn equinox, it was indeed the green cloth dress that was handed out when she entered the mansion, she couldn't help but slap her in frustration Slap on the table.She was not a thoughtful person, she was used to being lazy and casual, and the four of them had to worry about daily food and clothing, and the house was warm, so she didn't notice that everyone in the house was not wearing cotton coats.

"Why didn't Steward Guo come to report. After a while, when the weather gets colder, I'm afraid everyone in the family will be sick from the cold, and I don't know the reason." Mu Ai sat up, her tone a bit bad.

Spring Equinox did not expect Madam to react so strongly. In her mind, it is kind of the master’s house to give food and clothing to the servants, even if they do not give cotton-padded clothes, there are also some who wear single clothes or jackets all winter. Listening to Madam’s voice, it seems to blame the housekeeper, which is a bit inappropriate good.She hastened to wink at Autumn Equinox while talking roundly, "Ma'am, there are too many things going on in the mansion right now, it doesn't matter if you don't remember these little things. Butler Guo may be in a hurry to count the food, and I will ask you for instructions after this afternoon , maybe."

"Yes, ma'am, we've run out of mutton in our small kitchen. I'll grind the ink now, so I'll let Sister Chunfen write it down." Qiufen helped to divert the conversation.

Mu Ai hummed briefly, and knew in her heart that it was wrong for her to anger Guo Huai.She originally thought that after building a house and buying servants, she would be able to live a leisurely life, but she did not expect that it was her responsibility to eat and dress dozens of people in such a large mansion. Put in more effort, and wait until a year or so later, when Steward Guo and the four female stewards in spring, summer, autumn and winter have formed regulations.Frowning slightly, Mu Ai thought carefully about what else was missing, while watching the vernal equinox spread the paper and the autumn equinox rub the ink.

(End of this chapter)