The daily life of the prime minister of the Qing Dynasty, thick black

Chapter 35
Xiao Shifang always felt that he still understood Gu Huaishu.

Ever since he was married to this mansion, he knew what he was going to face, but he didn't expect that the difficulties would come so quickly.

He didn't have any intention of blaming Gu Huaishu in his heart. He had cooked for this girl for several years, but he only made a fool of her tongue. I'm afraid that if he changed to another cook, Gu Huaishu wouldn't starve to death. Can also be heartbroken.

Xiao Shifang has always felt that Gu Huaixiu is the meaning of his existence. It is a great honor for a cook to raise a picky girl to be even pickier.

He is used to Gu Huaishou's picky tongue, and also to the weird ideas she pops up from time to time, and he is also used to cooking for her alone.

That day was actually quite leisurely.

When he was in the Gu mansion, Xiao Shifang didn't need to talk to others, as long as he had a decent relationship with the group of people who were in charge of the cooking, he only cooked food for one master.Although it made people feel out of place, he didn't think it was any big deal after all.

But after changing Zhang's house, the situation seems to be back to the original point.

This was the case after Gu Huaishu threw him into the Gu family's kitchen and said that no one but her could use this cook.

Isolation was inevitable, and there were days when he couldn't bear it.

But Gu Huaishu told him: If you want to cook food for so many people besides me, you can go ahead and do it. Actually, I won't stop you, it all depends on whether you are willing or not.

But Xiao Shifang is a lazy, picky master, it is enough to serve Gu Huaishu, as for the others - are they qualified?
It's not that Xiao Shifang is boasting, his craftsmanship is second to none in the whole capital.

How do you say that?

His little Shifang is a culinary expert who lives in the city and hides among the people.

Therefore, even after entering Zhang's mansion, Xiao Shifang still had a feeling of getting used to it when he started to face the situation when he just arrived in Gu's mansion.

But maybe it was because he was so famous as the "Queen's cook" that he actually attracted a delicate guest.

Little Shifang has never met such a difficult and unreasonable master.

To be honest, he didn't want to talk to her, but remembering that the girl had just married into the mansion, there was a lot of bitterness in it, and he was afraid that she still didn't want to cause trouble, so Xiao Shifang endured it.

He doesn't think he is a person who can endure, but sometimes, isn't patience necessary?
While burying his head in chopping vegetables, a chef in charge of the spoon sighed: "Why are you bothering? Tell the second young lady, maybe you can solve the problem. Does this Buddha jump over the wall mean that you can do it?"

Seeing that Xiao Shifang is not very old, but a young man of fifteen or sixteen, standing in this huge and full of things in the kitchen, he seems to be short of stature, and he wants to jump out of the wall like a Buddha. Can't bear it.

Xiao Shifang actually seems to be a very easy-going person, and he has learned to be smart in the past few years, and he can make friends with the cooks.

Hearing this, he smiled, and broke the sheep's elbow under his hand a little, with a clever technique.

"I'm afraid Miss Chen will drive me out of the house. After all, I'm the second young mistress' dowry cook. If I go back in such a disheveled manner, I don't know what the master will say. I have been favored by the second young mistress for a long time, as long as I can repay it." One or two, and I'm happy. It's nothing to do such a little thing."

The cook's surname is Xu, and everyone in the kitchen is called Master Xu.

He folded his hands, stood in the kitchen, watched Xiao Shifang's knife flying up and down, and nodded appreciatively: "It's a pity that you only cook for the second young lady, otherwise you must be the chef in our kitchen."

As a newcomer, Xiao Shifang doesn't have the guts?

But when he was facing other people, he was a little stupid. He smiled, shook his head, and stopped talking.

Everyone in the kitchen here knew that Miss Chen was not easy to serve, and they didn't have any requests when they moved in early, but after getting familiar with the environment in the mansion, people began to change.

She seemed to be sure of the old lady Wu's liking for her, and she was also sure that she could become the third young mistress in this mansion, so she became bolder.

In fact, she wants to eat some exquisite food, who in the kitchen will make it for her, but this one is so picky and fickle. The last moment she asked the maid to say that she wants to eat lotus seed paste, waiting for you to get the skin and stuffing After everything was ready, the little aunt told someone to stop eating and eat sesame stuffing instead.If you change it back and forth, you can worry yourself to death.

The cooks in the mansion have more or less been aggrieved by Chen Yuyan.

Now seeing what happened to Xiao Shifang when he first arrived, they didn't treat him very much at first, but as soon as Chen Yuyan came, they were full of sympathy for Xiao Shifang.The things that everyone has encountered before have now happened to Xiao Shifang, and I really have an indescribably complicated feeling.

There was a bearded cook who patted Xiao Shifang, and said in the tone of someone who had come here: "Just bear with it, it's just been a few times. But you are the second young lady's cook, but your second young lady doesn't care about you. Otherwise, if the Buddha jumps over the wall and does it, his life will be gone."

The dishes from Fujian and Zhejiang are said to have existed in the Tang Dynasty. Many people know the allusion of Buddha jumping over the wall, but this is a very difficult dish, and many people don’t even know how to make it.

Different chefs have different understandings of the same dish, so they make it differently.

Everyone thinks that the second young lady thinks so highly of it, and it is common sense that the cook brought here as a dowry has two brushes capable of jumping over the wall, but now seeing Xiao Shifang's expression is light, and the weight is light, it is a little curious.

What can Xiao Shifang do?
The knife in his hand paused for a while, but he was thinking about whether the girl would come to save him from the fire or not.

After a while, an unfamiliar maid came running.

"Is Master Shifang here?"

"here I am."

Xiao Shifang was a little surprised, and when he raised his eyes, it was another maid whom he didn't know.

He knew that the maids around Gu Huaishu had changed, and that Qing Dai was now the Second Young Mistress's personal maid, so she couldn't easily come through the kitchen, so he didn't mind much.

"What's the matter?"

This is one of the four maidservants next to Gu Huaishu, named Duo Huan.

She has a round face, looks a little chubby, and looks timid standing outside.

However, this was the first time that the second young lady asked her to do something, and she was thinking about how to do it well so that the second young lady would value herself more, but when she spoke, her voice trembled a little.

"The Second Young Mistress just asked Ms. Qingdai to invite the Eldest Young Mistress and the Little Chen, and she said that she was going to the Second Young Mistress for lunch at noon. I heard that the Little Chen asked Master Shi Fang to be a Buddha Jumping Wall. I ask you to put down what you are doing first, and finish the matter at noon first."

There were not a few people in the kitchen who heard this, and they immediately slapped their thighs. The Second Young Mistress who just walked in did a great job!

Ordinary people are not very happy when they see others using their own cooks, and they might tear their faces apart.Fortunately, the second young mistress went with the flow and did her best, and directly invited the eldest mistress and the young lady Chen who came over from the Chen family to have dinner.

It's really normal for a new daughter-in-law to treat her sister-in-law to a meal.

The Hanchen family has strict rules, but there is no big fuss about these matters.

Zhang Ying likes to have a good family. As long as he doesn't violate his bottom line, he can get along well, and he doesn't care about anything else.

The Second Young Mistress invites people to dinner, it's simple, but she can cook, isn't Shi Fang just the cook?

Alright, let me put you down, buddha jumping over the wall, and let me finish my lunch.

Now it's all right, once the matter of Buddha jumping over the wall is put aside, it will be put aside forever.

In the big family in the deep house, which young lady is a fuel-efficient lamp?Look at the young lady of the National People's Congress, she has been in the door for so many years, her stomach has not moved at all, and she has not been divorced. She is not a simple person.

What's more, if the Second Young Mistress thought of such an upright move, how could she not be able to do it later?
Thinking about it in this way, many cooks in the kitchen who have been tossed by Miss Chen all rolled up their sleeves and hurried to work, waiting to prick up their ears to listen to the good show.

As for Xiao Shifang himself, he nodded in a daze, put down the knife, raised his face, and smiled happily at Duo: "I see, you go back to Second Young Mistress and tell me that I will do well."

"Hey."

Duohuan blushed and retreated from the door, walked back along the corridor, and reported Xiao Shifang's words to Gu Huaishu.

Gu Huaishu was sitting in the room, holding tea, looking relaxed.

She waved her hand and asked Duo Huan to stand behind Duo Xi, "You both have smart legs and feet, and there will be times when you will be needed in the future. Now it's time to pay more attention to everything, prick up your ears, and sharpen your eyes." Walk. Qingdai, go ask Ade, it's best not to come back for dinner at noon, I'll ask someone to send it over later."

The men in the house all want to study.

At this time, when I was studying, I basically didn’t go back to the house. Those who were near were in the study, and those who were far away were going to the school. People were worried about eating and drinking.

Those who have a daughter-in-law will be arranged by their own daughter-in-law; those who do not have a daughter-in-law will be arranged by the old mother above; no matter how bad it is, there will always be someone to take care of them, and they will not die of hunger.

Gu Huaishu is not worried about Zhang Tingyu at all, she has not yet clarified the relationship between the two of them.Such a separation, less contact for a while, is just right for her.

But Qing Dai didn't know what Gu Huaixiu was thinking, she was a little worried: "Little...no, Second Young Mistress, this...Second Master won't be angry?"

Gu Huaishu glared at her threateningly, and finally put down the teacup with a soft "da".

For Mr. Zhang Er, Gu Huaishu only had two words: stocking.

She waved her hand impatiently: "It's been said that he won't die from hunger, so you should hurry up for a snack. I'm entertaining my sister-in-law at noon. What's your sister-in-law saying, Duoan?"

Duoan didn't come back, but Duofu next to him spoke crisply, touched his mouth up and down, and then said: "Back to the second young lady, Duoan hasn't come back yet."

But as soon as the words fell, Duo'an came back and squatted in front of Gu Huaishu: "Second Young Madam, Eldest Young Mistress said she would come in half an hour, and said thank you. This slave looks like she is preparing a gift for you. "

Oh, it seems that this one is really not simple.

During the half day that Gu Huaixiu enjoyed tea with his in-laws, he also heard a lot of things from the maids.For example, the young lady of the big house has been married for almost ten years, and there is no movement in her stomach. The uncle Zhang Tingzan can bear it, and refuses to take a concubine because of this sick master.

She reckoned that the Wu family might not like her eldest daughter-in-law very much.

When she came back in the morning, Mrs. Chen said that the doctor told her not to see Mrs. Wu, because she was afraid that she would get ill and give others a sign of being unfavored.

I also heard that half a month ago, the old lady gave Zhang Tingzan some young and beautiful maids.

I still don't know how Chen's reaction will be.

Thinking about it, time flies too fast.

Within half an hour, Mrs. Chen really came.

Because Gu Huaishu invited her and Miss Chen, so this time, the girl in red was still walking behind.

As soon as they came in, the two sisters-in-law greeted each other, Gu Huaishu asked Chen Shi to sit down, and was about to ask someone to move a seat for Chen Yuyan, unexpectedly she was already sitting beside Chen Shi very familiarly.

Chen's complexion was still not very good, and he smiled and said: "It's no wonder that my brother and sister have such a heart, Fang Jinmen is so busy."

Gu Huaishu calmly withdrew his gaze from looking at Chen Yuyan, and poured tea for Chen Shi with his own hands: "It's not a family, and I don't come into the family. I'm a member of the Zhang family now, and it's time to get acquainted with my sister-in-law now." .If it wasn’t for Miss Chen who just came to my cook and said that she wanted to eat Buddha Jumping Over the Wall, I’m afraid I haven’t thought of this one. Left and right, it’s Miss Chen who woke up.”

This was originally a compliment, but Mrs. Chen didn't hear it right.

When Gu Huaishu entered the door, apart from the emperor's praise, he was famous for his beautiful appearance. Gu Zhenguan's daughter's status was also considered a bit, but the most talked about was the dowry cook.There is no rule that cooks cannot be dowry, so even if someone expresses dissatisfaction, no one dares to say that she is not good.

Now it is said that Miss Chen reminded her, and there is such a thing as "Buddha jumping over the wall"...

For so many years, the Chen family has not been divorced because of childlessness. It is really not as simple as it seems on the surface.

The meaning in Gu Huaixiu's words was not as friendly as she showed.But this brother and sister didn't reveal the words, which was considered to be giving her face.

Her heart turned sharply, and Mrs. Chen glanced at her unaware cousin indifferently, and her smile faded a little: "My brother and sister are really caring, and their thoughts are much more careful than my cousin."

Chen Yuyan was not happy anymore, twisted Chen's arm, pouted, and snorted: "My cousin knows how to praise others and come to demean me, I am not happy!"

Chen's slender finger pointed, and asked Gu Huaisui to look at it: "Look, she has such a virtue that she will never raise a child."

Gu Huaixiu covered her lips, she also seemed to find it interesting, she suddenly glanced at Qing Dai: "Qing Dai, what are you doing in a daze? Why don't you pour tea for Miss Chen?"

Just now Qingdai saw that Gu Huaixiu poured the tea for the eldest mistress herself, and thought she was going to pour it for Miss Chen, but she put down the teapot after saying a few words, as if she had forgotten.

Now after talking for a while, she asked Qing Dai to pour tea.

Qing Dai's heart trembled, but she quickly understood the meaning, and immediately picked up the teapot and poured tea for Chen Yuyan.

Chen Yuyan's complexion changed slightly, and she glanced at Gu Huaishu timidly, only to find that the Second Young Mistress didn't seem to have any feelings for her actions at all, and calling the maid to pour tea for her was just as easy as she said.

How could Gu Huaixiu make a little girl see the depth of the film?
She did all the work in acting, chatting with Mrs. Chen, and taking care of Miss Chen from time to time.

Chen Yuyan always wanted to interrupt, but she interrupted a few times, but couldn't get in.She didn't know what was wrong, the cousin seemed to be indifferent to her at the moment, so she simply shut up and looked at the room of the second room, thinking that everything was good, she was careless for a while, and waited until the table was full. It was only when the food on the table was gone that I came back to my senses.

"Miss Chen, Miss Chen?" Qing Dai went up to remind her.

Only then did Chen Yuyan come back to her senses, and stuck out her tongue embarrassingly: "I was lost in thought just now, and I hope my cousin and sister-in-law will forgive me."

Sister-in-law?

Gu Huaishu almost spit out a sip of tea from his mouth, this is because he regarded himself as the Zhang family.

That's right, Wu's internal decision.

Gu Huaishu didn't show anything, seeing that the food had been served, he greeted them to eat.

It was Chen who felt ashamed, and made a fool of Chen Yuyan, only then did she realize what she had said, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

As for the maids, they acted as if they hadn't heard, those who were supposed to hold the bowls were holding the bowls, and those who were supposed to be holding the teacups were holding the teacups.

Gu Huaixiu served dishes enthusiastically, as if he liked Chen's cousins ​​very much.

As soon as Chen Yuyan tasted the dish, her face was full of surprise and joy.

"My God, the cook brought by the second young lady is different. I even asked him to help me make Buddha jump over the wall. I don't know what it will be like when it comes out!"

The maids in Gu Huaishu's room all changed face.

The smile on Gu Huaixiu's lips faded a little, but it soon deepened and she was very gentle: "Miss Chen, as long as she likes it, as long as she likes it. As a cook, I came from a restaurant in the capital and have seen the world. , the craftsmanship is not ordinary, no wonder Miss Chen likes it, I also like his craftsmanship, so I save it on weekdays, lest he lose his temper. But it’s good that Miss Chen likes it.”

However, Chen felt that she couldn't hold her face anymore. In the past, she only thought that Yuyan was innocent and cute.

But for some reason, sitting in front of this brother and sister, I feel that everyone is a bit shorter, let alone this cousin who is not on the stage.

Thinking of some things, Chen's heart became blocked, and the originally delicious food was like chewing wax when it entered his mouth.

Mrs. Chen put down her chopsticks lightly, and when the time was almost up, she said softly: "I'm not feeling well, and I have to go back to the house to take care of some things. Thank you for your hospitality. I will look for opportunities later, and invite you to come to my house too." Sit here. Yuyan and I will take our leave now."

Gu Huaishu got up, sent the two sisters to the door, and asked Duoxi to run to see them off for a while, and then came back after watching Mrs. Chen return to the yard.

Seeing the people leaving, Qing Dai covered her mouth and started laughing secretly: "Young Mistress, look at the appearance of that little Miss Chen just now, she really..."

She looks like someone who has never seen the world, how can she look like a dignified young lady?

Chen's father is the county magistrate, as for the county magistrate brother, he is just a teacher and a fool.

In the early years, Gu Huaixiu traveled to and from the south of the capital, what he saw and knew was different from that of ordinary ladies, and he had the courage to follow Gu Zhenguan to the north and south, not to mention that Gu Zhenguan was an official in his early years. So powerful.

Even though the Chen family has a little family background, it is still difficult to compare with Gu Huaishu in terms of background. As for the little Chen girl, it can only be a joke.

Gu Huaishu leaned against the door, smiled, turned around and touched his round pink nails, walked back, "Remove this table, ask someone to ask about the situation at the second master's side, the food is suitable It doesn't suit your taste or something."

"Yes."

Zhang Tingyu was still studying in school, so he didn't distract himself when eating today. He was still thinking about Zhang Tingzan, but when he ate the soup, he frowned.

He Fang wanted to ask about the soup, but suddenly realized that today's meal was prepared by his newly married Mei Jiao Niang.

Zhang Tingyu is also clear about the dowry of the cook.

He muttered: "No wonder I wrinkled my face after eating porridge this morning... Ade—"

Hearing his call, Ade came in from the corridor: "Second Master, is your name young?"

Zhang Tingyu said: "I always feel that something must have happened in the mansion, you go and inquire about it."

Ade thought that what could happen in this mansion, it's calm.But the second master must have his own reasons for saying this.

He responded, and went away in a daze, leaving Zhang Tingyu in the room with a bowl of soup, feeling very unhappy.

Forget it, I will talk about it when I go back tonight, but now, homework is the most important thing.

Not to mention, Ade went to inquire about something, and only after asking did he know the joke in the kitchen today.

But there are some things that Ade cannot hear.

This is what happens in big houses.

The Chen family took Chen Yuyan all the way back, and as soon as they entered the house, they waved for people to go out, leaving Chen Yuyan alone.

Chen Yuyan still squinted her eyes and recalled the delicious food at Gu Huaixiu's, "Cousin, do you think Second Young Mistress' cook really came from a big restaurant in the capital? I don't think she is as old as me—ah!"

"Snapped!"

As soon as the person left, Chen walked over and slapped Chen Yuyan.

Chen Yuyan was stunned. She covered her face and looked at her cousin as if she was looking at a ghost: "Cousin, are you in a daze?"

"I'm dazed? I'm dazed at you! This morning you said you were going to the kitchen to find someone to cook something delicious. I thought you were just looking for an ordinary cook, but you actually went to find the second young lady's dowry cook." !"

Chen slapped the table and coughed angrily.

God knows how she felt when she was sitting with Gu Huaishu and heard this sentence.

This cousin, if the father and the second uncle hadn't forced her to find a good home for her, or to put it more clearly: let the cousin marry Zhang Tinglu, so as to curry favor with the Zhang family.She would never pay attention to this foolish fool.

Chen felt aggrieved, and she couldn't see it on weekdays. Her situation in the mansion was not as beautiful as her family thought, but how could she dare to tell her family about her heartache?

His father married Xu Xian, and all he could think about was official positions and flattery.Seeing that her stomach is not up to date, she may not be able to keep up with her, so she hastily sent her cousin over to stabilize the big tree of the Zhang family.

I thought things were going well.Because her father still had some friendship with her parents-in-law back then, and Yuyan was innocent and cute, she could make the old lady happy just like Ting Lu, so Chen thought that there was no twists and turns in this matter.But today she realized just how stupid her cousin is!
The Second Young Mistress spoke so plainly that she acted as if she hadn't heard it. Isn't this embarrassing to the Chen family?

Fortunately, Gu Huaixiu had just entered the door, and she didn't seem to want to tear her face apart and give her a little face, otherwise she would still want to marry Ting Lu smoothly if this matter becomes serious today?

Don't think about it!

But Chen Yuyan really didn't know about the plan in Chen's mind.

She saw that her sister who had always been kind to her actually made a move on her, and she really felt that the sky was about to fall.

"Cousin, you are the third grandma of the Zhang family in the future. What's the point of using a cook? Although she married the cook, she entered the Zhang family, that is, the Zhang family, and even she herself belongs to the Zhang family. What kind of waves?! Cousin, you will be the head of the house in the future, why do you seem to be afraid of her?!"

Don't say it's okay, just say it will poke Chen's pain.

The Wu family had just stuffed people into Zhang Tingzan's room a while ago, and she was obviously very dissatisfied with her. Her position as the eldest mistress is precarious. One day, her father-in-law and mother-in-law will ask Youchen to divorce her.

Chen really didn't have the strength to cry, "You are about to marry Ting Lu, the two families are already talking about marriage, you should settle down a bit—"

This was Chen's advice, but all Chen Yuyan could think about was her sister's angry slap in the face, and she didn't listen to what she said. When she got angry and stomped her feet again, she covered her face aggrievedly and wanted to run out: " I went to Brother Ting Lu and said, you all despise me! You all despise me!"

For Chen Yuyan, this is really a disaster for no reason.

She came from a small family, but since she was a child, she was rich and well-off, and her heart is proud.She also knew that Mrs. Wu liked her, and she also knew that she was going to marry in to be the third mistress, so it was inevitable to be a little arrogant and frivolous.

But this is incomparable to Gu Huaishu. She has endured so much anger from Gu Yaofang in the early years, and she has a calm temper. If there is nothing that violates her bottom line, she can expose it without moving her face.

Chen Yuyan couldn't hide things, Chen was afraid that she would go out and do bad things, so she patted the table and said: "Wen Xin, Shu Yun, bring the girl back and don't let her go out!"

I haven't seen Mrs. Chen, who is very stern, for many years.

The two servant girls, Wen Xin Shu Yun, were her confidantes, they hurried up to order the old woman, brought them back, and locked them in the house.

After a while, the two servant girls came back, both worried about Mrs. Chen.

Mrs. Chen just smiled wryly, thinking of what her father said in the letter, her teeth itch with hatred.

My father said that if she couldn't marry the third son of the Zhang family, she would be the next best thing to be Zhang Tingzan's concubine, and her second uncle would be willing to do so.

How could Mrs. Chen not take care of her cousin's affairs with all her heart?If one is not good, the fire will burn on himself.

She just felt dizzy in front of her eyes, and she was about to faint.

Both Wen Xin and Shu Yun were about to cry, "Miss Yuyan is really ignorant, she has to take care of everything, and sooner or later she will be useless, why bother to wear yourself out?"

They still dared to cry, but Mrs. Chen didn't dare.

She sat down dejectedly, and only smiled and said, "Thankfully Erfang's heart is not bad, I just hope that Yuyan won't cause trouble again..."

If you use her cook today, you can invite her sisters to dinner. If you use her tomorrow, you don't know what means.

Who is the fuel-efficient lamp?

Gu Huaishu took the scissors, and with one scissors cut off the leaves of the orchid on the shelf.

She looked at it and asked Qingdai: "Do you think I'm ugly or beautiful with the scissors?"

Qing Dai shook her head: "This servant doesn't understand..."

Gu Huaishu felt that it was boring, threw the scissors away, and said: "There has been no movement from Dafang since then?"

"That is to say, Miss Chen made a fuss for a while, but somehow fell silent."

Qing Dai heard about Gu Huaishu before, and went to inquire about it, but they didn't dare to inquire too deeply when they first came, so they came back after listening to it.

"This sister-in-law is a rare and sensible person..." Gu Huaishu clapped his hands and said, "Go talk to Xiao Shifang, you can rest assured. Also, I want to eat pigeon glass cake, you ask Xiao Shifang to make one ..."

Qing Dai was still listening well in the front, but her face turned green in the back, and she suddenly collapsed: "Young Mistress..."

Gu Huaishu rolled his eyes, "Go!"

Qing Dai shrank her neck and went away in aggrieved manner.

Gu Huaishu rubbed his wrist, and then walked into the back room.

In the afternoon, when Zhang Tingyu came back, he happened to pass by the window sill. When he saw a pot of orchids outside, he frowned.

Why do I always feel that the branches and leaves that were pruned a few days ago have been cut by others?

He stopped in his tracks, picked up the scissors and put them aside, and cut off two more leaves, mumbling a few words: "Although the leaves are quite sparse, there is also a bleak character, almost... "

After putting down the scissors, Zhang Tingyu entered the room.

At this moment, he would not have guessed the fate of this pot of orchids.

(End of this chapter)