After the salted fish is married

78. Liangpi

Even though it was May, the temperature began to rise rapidly.After a while, the bright sun caused the leaves of the vegetables in the courtyard to droop.Whenever this point was reached, Yan Xining felt powerless.He didn't want to go anywhere, he just wanted to hide in the shade and enjoy the wind.

Blue Wind also had the same idea as him.After a period of cultivation, the injury on Cang Feng's shoulder gradually improved.Two days ago, the gauze on the wings was removed, and Cangfeng changed from a free-range chicken to an old hen that occasionally flops around a little bit.

The old camphor tree in Wenzhang Garden also sprouted new shoots. Clusters of goose-yellow shoots emerged from the trunk, and Yan Xining left a few healthy new branches to let it continue to grow.It didn't take long for the new branches that had accumulated the energy of the whole tree to stretch out, and when the sun shone, a shade was formed under the camphor tree.

Blue Wind took a fancy to this shade with the scent of camphor trees, and when the temperature was high, it hid under the shade with its mouth open and gasped, at first glance it really looked like a hen in a brooding nest.

Seeing that the temperature is getting higher and higher, and the lettuce that is too late to eat in the vegetable field is growing rapidly, Yan Xining observes it for a while and feels that it is really impossible to keep them.Early this morning, he chopped off all the lettuce and is currently peeling the lettuce under the eaves.

Lettuce leaves are fed to chickens and ducks, and the skins are left to be pickled with salt to make pickles. The stalks with the old skins removed are cut open in the middle and hung on a rope to dry.Lettuce stalks dried in the sun will taste extra crispy. Whether it is fried or hot pot in the future, the taste will be very good.

The unique bitterness of lettuce lingers on the tip of the nose, and a row of green lettuce stalks hangs under the eaves.Yan Xining looked at the empty vegetable field, thinking about what to plant next.

At this time, Bai Tao's voice came from outside the courtyard: "Master, I'm back. Didn't you say that you'll handle the lettuce after I come back? Why did you handle it yourself?"

Yan Xining took advantage of the situation and saw a wooden stick in Bai Tao's hand, grinning while walking in a strange posture.Yan Xining was happy: "How do you feel today?"

The guards were not relentless when they practiced Baitao. After a few days, Baitao's condition was much better than at the beginning, at least he won't cry at Yan Xining after being wronged.And he has become more caring, seeing Yan Xining doing things, he always rushes to do them.

Bai Tao finally walked under the eaves of the corridor, his legs stiffened and he sat down with a puff: "I feel better than a few days ago, young master, guard Liu and the others praised me today, saying that I am quite resistant to practice now."

Yan Xining encouraged: "Good job Bai Tao, the young master believes that you can do it!"

Bai Tao chuckled: "Thank you, young master. By the way, young master, what are you eating today? I'll go pick vegetables."

Bai Tao is very hardworking, but he has no talent in cooking, and Xiao Song doesn't want to eat the food he cooks.Therefore, he is very conscious and prepares the ingredients that Yan Xining needs in advance every day.

Yan Xining smiled and said, "Today I eat Liangpi at noon, I have already washed the noodles, and I will steam the Liangpi in a while."

Bai Tao had never eaten Liangpi before, and he knew from his feeling that today's dish must taste the same.So he said expectantly: "Then young master, please wait for me for a while, I will change my clothes and go to light the fire."

Yan Xining smiled and waved her hands: "Don't worry, you don't need to light the fire for now, you should take a good rest first."

At this time, there were two figures approaching from outside the corridor, and they looked closely at Steward Leng and a servant. It seemed that he had come to deliver food to Yan Xining again.Ever since Ji Song moved into Wenzhang Garden, Steward Leng would often bring some fresh vegetables and meat.

Soon Steward Leng came to Yan Xining, and the servant behind him put down the basket.The basket was covered with gauze, and the gauze was stained with blood, which looked like meat.Without waiting for Yan Xining to ask, Steward Leng took the initiative to introduce: "Princess, Zhuangzi has brought you some horse meat."

Yan Xining said "Huh" in surprise, horse meat?This is quite unusual. It is not uncommon to eat pork and beef in Chuliao, but horse meat is rare.

He removed the gauze, and a choking smell of blood came to his face.Scarlet horse meat was placed in the basket, and the horse meat and the white fat attached to it could be clearly seen.Looking at the size of the horse's legs, Yan Xining felt that it was still a pony: "Steward Leng, is this a pony? Why is the palace willing to kill a pony?"

Steward Leng sighed regretfully: "Princess, the people in the mansion are not willing to kill the foals. These foals are slaughtered for meat as a last resort."

Prince Rong's Mansion has more than one property. Apart from the other courtyard in the suburbs of Beijing that Yan Xining and the others visited last time, the Prince's Mansion also has several farms that specialize in raising livestock.One of them, Zhuangzi, is near the royal paddock and is famous for breeding war horses with excellent bloodlines.

Spring is the season for foals to be born. At the end of spring and early summer, the foals that have grown for several months are fat and strong.Curious foals are ignorant of potential dangers.The guards of the stable guards cannot stop the foals from exploring everywhere, so every time this season comes, some foals will always die in accidents.

The two foals given to Yan Xining had their legs broken by the rabbit hole when they were running wildly in the pasture. The horses with broken legs had only a dead end waiting for them.Even though the horsemen were extremely reluctant, they could only cut off their way of life with their own hands.

Butler Leng said: "Pony meat is the freshest and tenderest, and it is a rare delicacy in this season. The prince specially asked his subordinates to bring it to you, so that you can try it."

The horses bred with the aura of the entire pasture are naturally extraordinary in taste.The horses that had accidents in previous years would be sent to the palace to serve as imperial meals, but this year the fattest horses were sent to Wenzhang Garden.

Yan Xining could only accept these two heavy baskets of horse meat. After Steward Leng left, he lifted the gauze and sighed at the bloody horse meat: "It's a pity."

They should have grown into war horses galloping on the battlefield, but lost their lives because of a small accident.It can be seen how difficult it is for a life to die in peace.

Feelings are all emotions, since the horse meat has been delivered, we have to find a way to consume it.Yan Xining first thought of stewed horse meat, but when he saw the fat on the horse meat, he thought of another delicacy: "Bai Tao, have you ever eaten horse meat buns?"

Bai Tao scratched his cheek: "I often eat steamed stuffed buns, but I've never eaten stuffed with horse meat."

Yan Xining said: "You will be able to eat it soon, call someone to help unload the meat." There are two baskets of horse meat, and you need to find a professional to help.With his own strength, he would only turn Wenzhangyuan into a crime scene.

Hearing that Yan Xining needed help, Wang Chunfa quickly brought a burly guard into the kitchen: "Princess, this is Han Jin, he is the one who knows how to use knives the most among our brothers besides the master, what do you have?" All you have to do is tell him.”

Han Jin had a dark complexion and smiled shyly. He scratched his hair naively: "Princess."

Yan Xining said gratefully: "Thank you, Guard Han. There is too much horse meat, and Bai Tao and I have no time to deal with it. Can I trouble you to help unload the horse meat?"

Han Jin rolled up his sleeves, and he carried the basket with both hands to the table with the chopping board: "Leave it to your subordinates!"

Han Jin is indeed a master of the knife, with only a thin dagger, the whole leg of the horse was clearly dismantled by him.The unloaded bones are white in color, with no trace of meat on them.His movements are smooth and smooth, and the sharp knife draws smooth lines.

Seeing Han Jin using a saber, Yan Xining admired him, "The guard Han is good with sabers."

While cutting up the horse meat, Han Jin said modestly: "This subordinate's sword skills can only be regarded as average. If you say that the sword skills are good, there may be no one in the Chi Ling Army who is better than the master's sword skills. This subordinate is just learning from the prince. Got a fur."

Yan Xining was surprised and said, "Huh? Your lord knows how to use a knife?"

Han Jin placed the divided horse meat and bones separately, and he put the other horse leg on the table to divide it up: "Yes, the prince's swordsmanship and riding skills are unmatched in the army."

It's just that Ji Song injured his leg, so he couldn't get on his horse anymore, and he couldn't swing his sword to kill the enemy anymore.

Yan Xining was surprised and said: "I thought the prince could only shoot arrows."

Wang Chunfa laughed and said, "My lord's archery skills are also very good, but his sword riding skills are even better."

Yan Xining thought of Ji Song's arrow technique that could penetrate the human body and then bamboo, and the back of his neck went numb: "You said... that kind of archery technique is not as good as his sword technique?"

The reputation of the God of War in Chu and Liao is not something that can be exaggerated. If so many generals risk their lives to follow him, Ji Song must be stronger than them.

Unfortunately, when he saw Ji Song, Ji Song had already lost his legs.He didn't get to see Ji Song holding a knife while riding a horse.

After Wang Chunfa walked around the kitchen, he found a large basin of milky white flour water.He asked curiously, "What is this princess?"

Yan Xining explained: "This is gluten-washed water, ready to make Liangpi at noon."

Hearing Yan Xining's words, Bai Tao finally realized: "That's right, young master, you said you eat Liangpi at noon, what exactly is Liangpi?"

Yan Xining organized the words: "It is to wash the dough in water, and the washed flour will settle for two hours, then pour off the excess water and steam it in a pot. After the steamed dough is cooled, it will be cold skin. Mix cold skin Eating it with sauce is very appetizing, especially when it’s hot.”

Don't look at what he said lightly, it's not so easy when you wash your face in the morning.

The dough melts when it meets water, and the clear water stains the flour and turns milky white. After a few more kneading, the dough becomes loose, loose and shapeless.The loose dough sank to the bottom of the basin, and he had to keep groping for the sunken dough in the basin, gathering them together and kneading them like washing clothes.

He washed it several times before the water became clear.At that time, the dough had turned into a ball of gluten with great toughness. The yellow gluten was bumpy on the outside. It was obviously such a big ball of dough, but the gluten that came out was only the size of a fist.

He has already steamed the washed gluten. The gluten full of holes is full of chewiness, and it smells like noodles when eaten empty-handed.He cut the gluten into small pieces and put them in the cupboard, and put them in a bowl to eat together when he ate the cold noodle later.

The remaining flour water has settled in the kitchen, and the excess water can be poured out and steamed in a pot after a while.

Wang Chunfa admired: "The princess can cook a lot of delicacies. We have never heard of this delicacy."

Yan Xining smiled and said: "You will know in a while, I think you will like Liangpi." How can Liangpi cold noodles be missing in summer?On a hot day, serve a cool Liangpi, topped with chili oil and vinegar, served with thinly shredded cucumber and fried peanuts, who can resist the taste?

After a while, Han Jin divided the two baskets of horse meat. According to Yan Xining's request, the horse meat was divided into complete tendons, half-fat and half-lean meat, and bones that made dogs cry when they saw it.

Han Jin put away the knife neatly: "Princess, the horse meat has been divided."

Yan Xining gave Han Jin a thumbs up: "Han guards are good at swordsmanship!" He has more important things to ask for their help: "Can I trouble you two to chop the horse meat in this basket into minced meat?"

The horse meat that Yan Xining was referring to was the half-fat and half-lean meat. The whole basket of these meats weighed thirty to forty catties.To make horse meat buns, you need to mince the minced meat. This is a huge project. If no one helps, Yan Xining's hands will be useless after the meat is minced.

Wang Chunfa and Wang Chunfa happily accepted the task: "Leave it to us!"

79. Liangpi

After washing the horse meat with warm water and draining the water, it can be minced. Yan Xining took out two sturdy low tables from the house and put them under the eaves.Han Jin and Wang Chunfa were standing next to the short table with their arms bare and holding a pair of knives. The two knives made a rhythmic sound of chopping meat on the chopping board. The two men were very busy.

Bai Tao put the big wooden basin between the two of them, and he looked at the strong muscles of the two with envy: "When will I have such great muscles?"

Wang Chunfa was overjoyed: "Little Baitao, as long as you work hard, sooner or later, you will become a man like us."

Bai Tao was greatly encouraged: "I will!"

Hearing what they said, Yan Xining sighed lightly: "It's nice to be young." Bai Tao had the opportunity to develop good muscles, and he died.In the past few days, even if he practiced boxing and kicking, he didn't feel that he had made any progress.

Looking at her small abdominal muscles that were about to return to one, Yan Xining rubbed her belly: "Forget it, you can't be too greedy."

I want to lie flat and be a salted fish, but I also want to have a body of muscles that make people envious. This is inherently contradictory.Although he envied men with tough bones, he also knew how much he had. He only wanted to have the power to protect himself, and he was destined not to be a hero in this life.

Wang Chunfa and the others were chopping meat, and Yan Xining was not idle either.He and Bai Tao prepared a lot of onion and ginger. After chopping the onion and ginger into fine pieces and putting them aside for later use, Yan Xining kneaded a large bowl of noodles.

Seeing Yan Xining kneading the dough, Bai Tao became excited: "Young master, are you making buns?"

Yan Xining nodded with a smile: "Yes." But he didn't plan to make buns. It would take too long to knead and wake up the dough and wait for the dough to ferment. He was going to challenge dead buns.

Dead buns don’t need to be fermented. They are said to be buns, but they are actually more like cakes.It's a pity that he doesn't have a kiln, and the dead bread baked in a kiln will taste better.But this does not affect his performance, he can fry the buns in the pan, just like making pancakes or raw pancakes.

Kneading dough is really a technical task. After kneading the dough, Yan Xining's hands began to tremble: "I'm quite tired."

Bai Tao felt distressed and hammered Yan Xining's arm: "It's all because I'm useless."

Yan Xining smiled and rubbed Bai Tao's hair: "Don't talk stupidly, if you are useless, few people will be useful. Go help the young master to light the fire, we are going to make Liangpi."

Bai Tao was happy again, he was good at lighting fires.After filling most of the pot with boiling water, Bai Tao sat behind the stove. He looked curiously at the two large iron plates with round ears on the stove: "Master, these two plates are so big."

Yan Xining replied: "Yes, I borrowed it from the kitchen this morning." Most of Wenzhangyuan's large plates are made of ceramics, which is not conducive to making Liangpi. Fortunately, there are suitable large plates in the kitchen, which solved his urgent need.

Yan Xining cleaned the two large plates and brushed a dense layer of oil on the bottom of the plates.

At this time, the flour water in the wooden basin has settled, and the color of the top layer of floating water is slightly yellow.Yan Xining carefully tilted the wooden basin and gently poured out the layer of water on top.When the floating water gradually disappears, a layer of milky white slurry appears under the water surface.

There was a layer of slightly whitish floating water above the slurry, and when the floating water reached the pulp of her little finger, Yan Xining put down the wooden basin.At this time, the water in the pot was already boiling, Yan Xining scooped up a spoonful of boiling water and quickly poured it into the flour water, stirring quickly while flushing.

When the water in the basin turns into white and thick flour water like milk, all the preparations before steaming the cold skin are in place.I saw him scooping up a spoonful of flour and water and pouring it into the big iron pan.

After picking up the iron plate and quickly shaking the flour and water at the bottom of the plate, he lifted the lid of the pot, put the iron plate into the boiling water pot and covered the pot.After a while, he lifted the lid of the pot, and saw that the flour and water in the iron pan had condensed into a slightly transparent skin.There were big bubbles under the skin, and Yan Xining was relieved when she saw the bubbles: "It's done."

He quickly picked up the large iron plate, and then put another plate filled with flour and water into the boiling water pot.He put the iron plate that came out into a basin of cold water. When the iron plate got cold, the leather in the plate quickly flattened and became a big leather.

Yan Xining brushed a layer of deep-fried oil on the surface of the leather, then peeled off the leather and put it in a small bamboo stalk.At this time, the leather has strong toughness, and it is slightly deformed after being gently pulled by hand.

Yan Xining was extremely satisfied: "It's done."

The speed of steaming the skin alternately between the two plates was astonishingly fast, and after a while, round pieces of dough were piled up in the Shau Kei.Yan Xining sighed while putting down the iron plate: "The cold noodle is delicious, it's a pain."

The steamed noodles are really hot, if there is not a lot of flour water in the basin, he really wants to quit.

Fortunately, his hands and feet were nimble, and it didn't take long for the flour and water in the basin to turn into dough in the bamboo stalks.Looking at the thick pile of dough, Yan Xining felt very accomplished.

He grabbed a few skins and cut them into finger-wide strips and put them in the bowl, then poured a spoonful of seasoning water into the bowl.Seeing this bowl of seasoning water, Bai Tao suddenly realized: "Master, yesterday you asked Butler Leng for nutmeg just to boil this bowl of water, right?"

Yan Xining smiled and said, "Yes, isn't it very fragrant?"

Bai Tao took a deep sniff: "Yes, I smell pepper and star anise."

Yan Xining smiled and said: "There are cumin and cinnamon leaves and nutmeg in it. In fact, it's five spices with a little nutmeg added. With seasoning water, the taste of Liangpi will be even better."

In addition to seasoning water, Yan Xining also prepared garlic juice and sesame paste mixed with sesame oil.Looking at the large and small bowls on the chopping board, Bai Tao was a little dazzled: "Master, there are so many seasonings."

Yan Xining smiled softly, "The cold noodle needs to be seasoned with so many things to taste good, it won't taste good if you don't eat it blindly."

Having said that, today's Liangpi is missing the most important shredded cucumber.Yan Xining finally understood what to grow in the lettuce-he wanted to plant a lot of cucumbers, and summer is incomplete without cucumbers.

Although there is no shredded cucumber, he has other substitutes.He has already blanched the bean sprouts, and the mung bean sprouts raised in cold water have a crisp taste and can add a different flavor to the taste.

After adding seasonings to the bowls, Yan Xining put two spoonfuls of crushed peanuts in each bowl, and he called Bai Tao: "Go call the guards of the king and them to eat the cold noodle."

Wang Chunfa and Han Jin walked into the kitchen quickly, Yan Xining smiled and handed them a cold noodle: "Try to see if it suits your taste."

He can't take spicy food very much, so he didn't add chili oil to the two of them.But there is a jar of chili oil on the corner of the table, if you want to eat it, you can just dig it yourself.

It was the first time Han Jin saw something like this. He said it was noodles, but the color was milky white and slightly transparent.The cold skin looks very refreshing. After stirring, each cold skin is covered with sauce.A smell of vinegar spread to his mouth and nose, and Han Jin couldn't help swallowing.

He couldn't help but pick up his chopsticks, roll up a large chopsticks cold skin and stuff it into his mouth. As soon as he took the cold skin, the aroma of sour, garlic, sesame and sesame blended together, and the delicious taste instantly conquered his taste buds.However, this is not what surprised him the most. As the name "Liangpi" shows, it is cold in the mouth.

The two guards, who were sweating from chopping meat, felt a piece of ice in their mouths, and it was cool and refreshing from their throats to their stomachs, and their hot emotions were also suppressed.

The gluten has been washed away from the Liangpi, and the taste is not as strong as noodles, but it has a unique toughness and refreshing taste in the mouth.The bean sprouts and crushed peanuts in it make the cold noodle taste richer.

The two guards ate the cold noodle in big mouthfuls, and for a moment they didn't bother to add chili oil.Yan Xining originally wanted to ask them if this dish was to their liking, but seeing their reactions, he understood.He said softly: "Don't worry, if you like to eat, wait a while and cut a few more skins."

Wang Chunfa slurred his speech: "It's delicious, it's so delicious! When it's hot, people don't have much appetite. It would be so refreshing to eat a bowl of Liangpi."

Yan Xining smiled and took a bite of the Liangpi. Although the shredded cucumber was missing, the taste of the Liangpi was well adjusted.Being able to make Liangpi, his summer in Chu Liao would not be so sad.

After eating a bowl of cold skin, Yan Xining felt refreshed.At this time, he thought of Ji Song who worked in the Ministry of Industry: "I wonder if the prince has eaten?"

Ever since she knew the trouble he had brought to Ji Song, Yan Xining felt very ashamed, and would leave Ji Song a meal every day.However, the Ministry of Works was very busy these days, Ji Song left early and returned late, and when he came back, Yan Xining had already fallen asleep.

Hearing what Yan Xining said, Wang Chunfa's eyes lit up: "The food in the yamen of the Ministry of Industry is notoriously unpalatable. The prince is busy with work and can't swallow it. If he can eat such delicious Liangpi, he must feel much better. No, princess, can you cut two pieces of leather and my subordinates will send them over for you?"

No wonder the concubine made Liangpi today, so he has noticed that the prince has lost his appetite these days.In order to let the prince eat more, the princess really took great pains.

Yan Xining was not hypocritical, he said with a smile: "Then trouble Wang Shiwei." Wang Chunfa and the others did not take the usual route, they climbed over the west wall, and within a few steps they could reach the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry, which was much more convenient than taking a detour by themselves.

As he said that, he found a bowl and cut two skins in the bowl. After adjusting the taste, he saw the chili jar on the desk.After thinking about it, he put two spoonfuls of chili sauce on the cold skin: "He can eat spicy food."

Wang Chunfa and Han Jin glanced at each other, and they showed tacit smiles: The princess really loves the prince so much.