Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 236 Entertaining the Pastoral
Seeing the children, Ma Min'er's mood immediately improved, "Hello, children!" She knelt down and hugged the twins, holding one with each hand, "Let's go, Auntie treats you to something delicious."

"Auntie, what is delicious?"

"You'll know when it arrives."

Behind him, Xiao Lin said to his wife: "Take the children, I will check in, when the time comes, I will pick you up."

"Okay." Shu Yueru nodded, took her daughter's hand and followed Ma Min'er.

Xiao Lin said to the waiter, "Let's go."

"Young Master Xiao, this way please."

"Arrange my yard next to your boss's."

The waiter froze for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, Young Master Xiao, please—"

Understanding what the master meant, Manager Xiao Lin hurriedly followed the servant, "Brother, may I ask where the King of Beijun is now..."

"Our master is playing chess on the hill to the west."

Xiao Lin followed the servant's words and looked to the west, and saw a small hill, "It seems that there is a small temple."

"Yes, Mr. Xiao, this small temple has just been built for two days, and Master Fakong lives there."

Fakong!It turned out to be Master Fakong, Xiao Lin walked towards the hill, and the steward followed the waiter to check in.

Ma Min'er brought Shu Yueru Niang and the others to her small wooden house. Seeing her coming back, Xiao Dan hurried forward, "Young Madam..."

"Take out the pudding, watermelon, and cherry tomatoes that are in the well water."

"Yes, Young Madam." Shan Xiaodan took the girl Lan Ping to the well to get some snacks.

Ma Min'er took Shu Yueru Niang and the others to sit at the small table in the windy hallway, "Mrs. Xiao, sit down."

"Thank you, princess."

"I'm really not used to calling me Wangfei, why don't you call me Erniang."

"Then you can call me Yueniang."

"Ha ha, alright!"

Shu Yueru looked back and forth in the hallway. In front of it was a vine shelf for melons and fruits, covered with loofahs, cowpea horns, gourds and other melons and vegetables, with flowers and fruits; , eggplant, cucumber, mustard greens, lettuce, coriander (coriander) shallots, etc., are lush and luxuriant, and they are pleasing to the eye. The breeze is coming, which is really good.

"Er Niang is really a person who knows how to live."

The front and back are green and oily, and they are basically planted by Ma Miner himself, full of sense of accomplishment, "Pull out two kinds every day, and then fry them, and sit here with Xia Zhen and enjoy the summer evening breeze. Cozy."

"Sure enough." Shu Yueru said enviously.

"Sister-in-law, seeing you this time is not as free and easy as before?"

"Even you see it?"

Ma Min'er nodded, "You don't live with people from the Xiao Mansion, you should..."

"Alas..." Shu Yueru sighed slightly, "People come to see Xiaoyu, Xiaoze and Xiaoxun every day."

Ma Min'er understood that it was the Xiao family: "Wait...just wait until their curiosity is gone."

Shu Yueru shook her head slightly but helplessly, "It's still quiet here."

Ma Min'er smiled, and when she really didn't know how to answer the conversation, Shan Xiaodan came with snacks, "Come here, let's see what delicious things Auntie cooks!" She divided the creme brulee into quarters, each person There was a point in front of him, "Look at it, is it delicious?"

Ozawa looked at his mother and waited for his mother's approval before he dared to eat.

"Auntie invites you to eat, let's eat."

"Thank you, auntie." As soon as his mother agreed, Xiao Ze immediately picked up a small spoon and dug a piece into his mouth. As soon as he choked, he called out, "Mother, it's so delicious."

Xiao Xun was introverted and more stable. When he heard his younger brother's cheerful cry, he also dug a piece into his mouth. After eating, a smile appeared on his little face unconsciously, "Mother, it's delicious."

Shu Yueru saw that the children wanted to love her, and she was also fascinated by the rare dessert in front of her. She gently dug a small piece and put it in her mouth. Although it melted in the mouth, it had an elastic force, sweet and smooth , I immediately went to my heart, "It really is delicious."

Ma Miner proudly said, "Cream Caramel Pudding!"

"I follow my husband. I can't say that I eat all the rare things in the world, but I have eaten a lot of things, but I have never eaten such delicious desserts."

"Hee hee..." Ma Min'er smiled, thinking, this is a dessert that will only be available after 1000 years, of course you have never eaten it.

"I don't know how it's made?" Shu Yueru dug another piece and put it in her mouth. She is also a gourmet, but she didn't know what ingredients it was made of.

Ma Min'er smiled and said, "To put it bluntly, it's nothing, just sugar, eggs, and fresh milk!"

"Can these three things make such a smooth dessert?" Shu Yueru didn't believe it.

"Really." Ma Min'er said, "The method is also very simple, that is, pour sugar and cold water into a pot and heat it on low heat. After it turns into syrup, add hot water and cook for a while, then pour it into a cup,... …Heat over low heat and stir until the white sugar is melted…Scatter the eggs, stir evenly,…put it in a steamer and steam it…after it cools down, pour it on a plate and eat it!”

Shu Yueru smiled, "Although the ingredients are simple, the process of making it sounds simple, but it is actually not easy to operate."

Ma Miner smiled, "Children like to eat, you can try it, it's really simple."

There was only one piece of creme brulee in a small plate, which was not enough for Shu Yueru's mother and son who had traveled for half a day. Ma Min'er gave them watermelon and cherry tomatoes, and chatted while eating without knowing it. Half an hour passed.

Shan Xiaodan walked up to Ma Min'er and asked in a low voice, "Dinner tonight..."

Ma Min'er understood what she meant, and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, we will eat at our house tonight."

"Er Niang, you are too polite, don't bother, let's go back to our place to eat."

"It's okay, today is the first day, I invite you, tomorrow you can cook by yourself."

"This……"

"It's okay!" Ma Min'er smiled, "Miss Shan, add five people."

"it is good."

Ma Min'er said to the three children, "Why don't you go pick vegetables with Auntie?"

"Yeah!"

Hearing that there is something to play, Ozawa clapped his hands and laughed happily. Seeing the children laughing like before, Shu Yueru softened unconsciously. It was really the right time for her husband to bring them to this place.

Ma Min'er took a small bamboo basket, gave one to each of the three children, and shared Xiaoyu plucking chicken feathers, "Pick the big ones, use two fingers, pinch the root, don't connect the side, this way, the big ones After plucking, the small ones have room to grow, and after two days they will be big, and we can eat them again."

Xiaoyu nodded with a smile, "Auntie, I understand."

"Okay, don't worry, take your time." Ma Min'er turned her head again, "Come on, Ozawa, come over here and help me pinch shallots, will you pinch them like this?"

"Yes, I will." Ozawa hurriedly stretched out his hand, pinched a few times with his little finger, and finally cut off a green onion.

"Haha..." Ma Miner laughed happily, "Xiao Xun, come, stand by the fence and help auntie pick cowpeas, pick the big and fat ones, understand?"

Xiao Xun nodded solemnly.

"Okay, then let's start." Ma Min'er said with a smile.

Shu Yueru smiled, "What about me?"

Ma Min'er said, "Just watch your three children and help clean the 'battlefield' behind them."

Shu Yueru smiled and nodded, "Okay, no problem."

Xiao Lin soon arrived at the top of the hill and stood next to the chess players. The sun was setting and the heat wave of the day was blown away by the breeze from the mountains, and his hot heart became quiet.

Looking at the chessboard, the game has come to an end, and only one white piece is needed to eat the black piece. Master Fakong twisted his beard slightly, and dropped the white piece in his hand, Xia Zhen's black piece was eaten.

"Master, good chess skills." Xia Zhen praised with a smile.

Fakong smiled, "It's not that the old man is good at chess, but that the prince is restless."

Xia Zhen looked up and saw Xiao Lin.

"Blame me?" This glance made Xiao Lin blurt out.

"Did I say anything?" Xia Zhen stood up and gently brushed the folds of her robe, calmly.

Uh... Xiao Lin cast a glance, that's right, skills are not as good as others, so don't make excuses.

Fakong turned his head and looked westward. At this moment, the setting sun slanted over from the western mountain, and everything on the ground was shrouded in a rosy beauty.It sprinkled a layer of glow on the high and low villages in the distance, as if it brought people into a fairyland, and the woods around the village seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, making the trees more green and attractive.

The small river that flows along the small mountain has a different feeling at this time, quiet and tranquil. Xia Zhen and Xiao Lin went down the mountain together, bathed in the mist of the sun, watching the smoke from the village cooking, listening to the young noblemen beating their hands. The laughter at Marutoki and the feeling of the cool evening breeze are really pleasant.

"It really is a fairyland on earth. Why didn't I expect this grass ditch?" Xiao Lin shook the sleeves of his toga, feeling relaxed and happy: "After you leave, sell this place to me."

"Do not sell!"

Xiao Lin raised his head and laughed loudly: "If you don't sell it, you won't sell it. Why are you so upright, as if I owe you money."

Xia Zhen snorted, "Disturbing the tranquility."

Xiao Lin raised his eyebrows sharply, "The resort is open to the public, and I am also a guest, and I also pay for it."

The three children of the Xiao family stood by the stove and watched Ma Miner stew soup, stir-fry vegetables, fry fish, and fried shrimp. The whole kitchen was filled with the aroma of food, which was so tempting that the little guy's saliva almost flowed out.

After the deep-fried prawns were ready, Ma Min'er peeled two of them directly, a pair of twins, each of them stuffed one in their mouths, "Look at it, Auntie's specialty dish."

"good to eat."

"good to eat."

Shu Yueru was also amazed by Ma Miner's craftsmanship, "The seemingly ordinary home-cooked dishes, but you cooked them like a restaurant."

Ma Min'er smiled and said, "Could it be that my plate arrangement is worse than that of a restaurant?" As she spoke, she looked at the deep-fried prawns that had just been laid out on the plate, one by one, and arranged twice, with green coriander dotted on them, Golden and emerald green, don't look too good.

"Yes!" Shu Yueru laughed.

"Look at this plate of three delicacies again, red and green, floating in the transparent thickened soup, like a work of art, isn't it beautiful?"

"Yes." Shu Yue covered her nose with her hands, and was amused by the funny Ma Erniang again.

It was almost the end of it, Ma Min'er called out, "Miss Shan, help me!"

"Young lady..."

"Put the squid soup in the casserole on the table."

"it is good."

Shan Xiaodan helped Ma Min'er bring all the dishes to the table, Shu Yue counted them, six dishes, two soups and one soup, it was really hearty.

"Xiao Ren, is Xia Zhen back?"

"I'm back, there are still a dozen steps to the door."

"Oh." Ma Min'er took off her apron, "It's really on time."

Shu Yueru asked: "Did Er Niang make the plan that King Beijun will come back at this time every day?"

Ma Min'er nodded, "Well, if he doesn't come back, he will send a message back during Shen Shi."

"I see."

Sure enough, after a few words, Xia Zhen entered the backyard and arrived at the dining room next to the kitchen. Ma Min'er smiled and said, "Put the washing water on the basin rack, go wash it quickly."

Xia Zhen turned her head without moving.

Ma Min'er immediately understood what he meant, "Tonight, I am treating guests to Brother Xiao's family."

Xiao...Brother?Xia Zhen frowned, when did the little daughter-in-law recognize her brother?
"Either I recognize the elder brother, or he is older than you, as a polite name."

Oh, it turned out to be like this, Xia Zhen gave Xiao Lin a look, which means you heard it, politely called it, and then walked to wash his face.

Xiao Lin frowned, and glanced at the twins. The two little guys were staring at the delicious food on the table. Well, for the sake of my son, we will ask you to be polite.

Shan Xiaodan fetched water and put it on the small table next to him, "Master Xiao, please—"

Xiao Lin was also polite, bent over and took a towel to wash his face and hands.

A medium-sized Eight Immortals table, Xia Zhen served as the host, and the rest of the people sat around, which was quite casual. Ma Miner, the hostess, greeted warmly, "Sister-in-law, the little guys picked the dishes on the table themselves, don't You’re welcome, you can eat whatever you want, feel free, just like being at home.”

"Okay." Shu Yueru smiled and nodded.

At the dinner table, Xia Zhen was always like a big child. Ma Min'er served him soup, helped him peel shrimp, and helped him pick fishbone. It was really an extraordinary job.

Shu Yueru is not much better than Ma Miner, except for her eldest daughter, Xiaoyu, who doesn't want her to take care of her, the other three men, one big, two young and young, have to be taken care of by him, and she is busier than Ma Miner.

Although Xia Zhen is an older child, he only eats three shrimps and two bites of fish, and the rest is done by himself, so as not to keep his daughter-in-law busy. They ate together, Xia Zhen had three bowls of rice, she had two bowls, and they just finished eating together.

Xiao Lin noticed that Xia Zhen's young couple really eat a lot.

Damn, if Ma Miner knew that this guy thought they had a lot of food, she would definitely beat him up. First, the bowl itself is not big, and three bowls are nothing; Whether it is mental work or physical work, it is very satisfying. If you don’t eat so much, how can you have a good body? Besides, let alone eating, sometimes there is supper!
Xiao Lin, who said that others eat a lot, also added an extra bowl of white rice today, and ate a lot of vegetables. Not only that, his pair of twin sons ate half a bowl more today.

When a few people sat down to the table after eating and drinking, there were only empty plates on the table.

"Mother, the dishes made by Auntie are really delicious." Ozawa rubbed his bulging belly and spoke in a nonchalant manner.

Shu Yueru patted her son's head. During this time, her sons have lost weight. Seeing them eating a bowl of rice, she was very happy, "Mother learned from auntie, and I will cook it for you when I go back, okay? "

"Okay." Ozawa was very happy.

After an afternoon of eating and drinking, the Xiao family returned to their wooden house, not far away, half a mile to the east of Ma Min'er, and walked back after a walk!

After seeing off the five members of Xiao's family, Ma Min'er and Xia Zhen returned home, took a shower, and lay down on the bed. The bamboo mat and floor washed by well water were cool and pleasant. The young couple hugged each other and talked in a low voice .

"Why is he free?"

"Grand Master Feng is engaged in a family."

"Ah, did they mess with Feng Zhiping Feng last time?"

"Yeah." Xia Zhen said, "Several children from aristocratic families were arrested and brought to the Ministry of Punishment."

"Didn't you say that the people from the Ministry of Punishment are not on the same side as the master, why do you let them do it?"

"It is because they are not, that they are even more allowed to do it."

"You mean that the emperor is watching, if they dare to show favoritism, the emperor can directly stroke them?"

"Well, that's about it."

"Oh." Ma Min'er shook her head, "It's really complicated." She clicked her lips as she spoke, fortunately they were separated from the court, and they fought back and forth, and if one failed, it would really be life-saving.

Xia Zhen turned over suddenly, "Don't care about the complexity, let's have a son quickly."

Ma Min'er was taken aback by his sudden movement, "Did you miss your son when you saw Xiao Ze and Xiao Xun?"

"Yeah." Xia Zhen nodded honestly.

"Brother Zhen, there must be some prelude, it's so scary, okay?" Ma Min'er stretched out her hand and patted him.

"Prelude?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, I get it now!"

Xia Zhen lowered her head, her gentle lips... The word N is omitted below.

The five members of Xiao's family entered the small wooden courtyard. Xiao Lin brought his servants and had already packed up everything and waited for the master to come in.

Shu Yueru glanced at the servant, lowered her eyes slightly, stretched out her hands to straighten her son's hair bun, and her daughter's sleeves, without saying a word.

Seeing his wife's small movements, Xiao Lin thought for a while, and said, "Except for Changqing, the others will rent another small courtyard. Without my order, they are not allowed to approach this small wooden courtyard."

The steward was a little worried, "Master, then..."

"Changqing took all the letters and affairs."

"Yes, Lord." The steward waved his hand and left the small wooden courtyard with a dozen servants.

Changqing glanced at his master, and quietly backed out.

After the servant left, the whole small courtyard seemed much empty, Xiao Lin said: "Go, go and see our bedroom and bathroom."

"Okay." Only her own family, Shu Yueru's slightly condensed brows unknowingly loosened, happily took the hands of her children, and visited the small wooden courtyard with Xiao Lin.

After the visit, Shu Yueru said relaxedly: "Unexpectedly, the small yard is quite convenient to live in, and there is no need to boil water. It really saves a lot of trouble, and there is no need for servants to help."

Xiao Lin nodded, "Our family will live our lives happily."

"En." Shu Yueru followed the man's embrace and leaned into his arms. Ever since they went from being an underground couple to the ground, they haven't lived an ordinary and free day.

"We also learn from Xia Zian. Even if we are not ordinary, we still live like ordinary people."

"Zilin..." Shu Yue hugged the man excitedly.

"Believe me, if Xia Zian can do it, so can I."

"Okay." Shu Yueru relaxed, "I'll take the children to take a bath, and I'll talk to you later."

"I'll help you."

"Okay." Shu Yueru smiled with brows and eyes crooked, with a happy face.

Xiao Lin held one in each hand, and the two sons put their arms around his neck, "Father..."

"father……"

"Hey, baby, daddy is here..." Xiao Lin kissed the eldest son on the left and the younger son on the right, making them giggle.

Seeing her parents smiling again, Xiao Xiaoyu happily went to find her younger brothers to change their clothes.

Woke up early the next morning, and it actually rained yesterday, "No way, I didn't even hear thunder!"

Shan Xiaodan glanced at Ma Min'er, turned her head and smiled without saying a word.

"Did it thunder last night?"

Shan Xiaodan nodded, "Not only did they fight, but several of them."

This... Thinking of someone's crazy behavior to give birth to a son last night, Ma Min'er secretly stuck out her tongue, "I'll go see if the melon is knocked down by the rainstorm."

Xia Zhen was refreshed, it was thunder, or it was raining, what's the big deal, he followed the little daughter-in-law, helping her to put on airs.

After helping the melon stand, the couple went to the dining room arm in arm to have breakfast, mung bean porridge, fried dough sticks rolled with rice cakes, salted duck eggs, and pickled cucumbers. The simple and practical breakfast was enough.

After breakfast, Xia Zhen is going to the military camp, and won't come back for lunch.

Ma Min'er said, "Will the person surnamed Xiao come to you?"

"It doesn't matter if you look for it."

"Oh." Ma Min'er said: "The weather is too hot, don't forget to add some salt when drinking plain water."

"Well, I see."

"Also, when you're not practicing, take off your shirt and don't get prickly heat."

"Ok!"

Ma Min'er sent Xia Zhen to the intersection of the small village, and waited for him to go up the hill before turning back home. When passing by Xiao Lin's house, she knocked on the door, and Shu Yueru opened the door, "Er Niang, so early?"

"Xia Zhen went to train, so it was a little early." Ma Min'er asked, "Are you still used to it here?"

"Very good." Shu Yueru said, "I didn't pay attention last night, but when I got up this morning, I found that there are also vegetable beds and melon racks in this small wooden house. It's great."

Ma Min'er said: "There are in every courtyard."

"It's just like a small farmyard, it's really artistic!" Shu Yueru fell in love with Xicaogou Resort from the bottom of her heart.

Ma Min'er smiled and said, "I made the small wooden courtyard according to Tao Gong's "Returning to the Garden and Living in the Field"."

"No wonder." Shu Yueru said with emotion: "...in the wilderness of the south, I kept my humble home and returned to the garden. The square house is more than ten acres, and there are eight or nine thatched houses. The back eaves are shaded by elms and willows, and the front of the peach and plum hall. Warm and warm in Yuanren Village, Yiyi Ruins Liyan...is really beautiful."

"In addition to the fresh vegetables, if you need to eat meat, go to the outer market, bring your family, and enjoy the fun of shopping."

Xiao Lin led his son and walked over, "Er Niang Ma, who owns the money for buying meat?"

"Of course it's yourselves!"

"You can really make money."

Ma Min'er smiled, "Young Master Xiao, if you enjoy life, don't worry about money. Besides, if you go out to buy meat, thirty Wen is enough for you to eat. What money do you want!"

Xiao Lin looked at the smiling Ma Erniang, and thought to himself, don't say it, Xia Er's life is really good. He found such a capable lady and took care of everything properly. He only cares about training soldiers and horses. Heart.

Shu Yueru asked, "Did Er Niang have breakfast?"

"Have eaten, how about you?" Ma Miner asked.

"Ready to eat."

"Oh, then you can eat, I won't bother you, if you don't have enough ingredients for lunch, you can go to the market outside to buy them." Ma Min'er said.

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)