Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 57
Translated by Serena Love
Edited by Azure
Chapter 57: Hot and Sour Fern-Root Noodles
After Xu-shi and Zhou-shi left, Jiang Shuyao asked the maids to bring in the remaining roast duck.
Xie Xun changed into his official uniform and returned to the east wing. He saw the roast duck on the table, and his mood warmed. "Is this for me?"
Jiang Shuyao hesitated momentarily and nodded with a guilty conscience, "Yeah." She originally planned to keep a whole duck for Xie Xun, but they had a big appetite, and only half a duck was left.
Xie Xun quietly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her affirmative reply.
Then he froze for a while. Isn't it right? Why was he so nervous about this?
Throwing the doubts happily, Xie Xun quickly solved the roast duck and the lotus leaf buns dipped in sauce.
Usually, he would go to the study to read a book after dinner and then return to the east wing when it was time to rest.
But today, instead of going to the study to read, he followed Jiang Shuyao to the kitchen.
Jiang Shuyao was busy preparing food for tomorrow and ignored him.
He coughed slightly, "Did you eat with eldest sister-in-law and second-sister-in-law?"
"Yes, what's the matter?" Jiang Shuyao continued working her hands.
"Well, it's nothing. I just asked." Xie Xun said vaguely.
Jiang Shuyao didn't care and continued what she was doing.
Xie Xun watched quietly and then suddenly said, "Does eldest sister-in-law often bring her children over?"
Jiang Shuyao stopped, wiped her hands, and frowned at him. "No, why are you asking about this?" It sounded strange.
Xie Xun also didn't understand why he asked this and said uncomfortably, "Nothing, but I just think that you are bored in the yard all the time, and it's okay for you to walk around." His words were both sincere and insincere.
"Of course." Jiang Shuyao packed up the ingredients that she would use tomorrow, turned around, and walked out of the small kitchen. She said, "Especially the second sister-in-law. Second sister-in-law... you know, she has a life-saving grace for me. I also sympathize for her experience, and I want to accompany her more, to comfort her."
Xie Xun followed behind her, listening in silence.
This is the first time that she talked about the second branch matter to Xie Xun in a serious manner and said, "To be honest, she is very sad. I think if second sister-in-law can forget her worries when she is with me, and can enjoy food happily, that's great! Isn't that the essence of food?"
It was not good to talk bad about his brother in front of Xie Xun. Jiang Shuyao was a little embarrassed after she finished speaking and stopped talking.
Xie Xun watched her getting into the east wing, stood in the yard for a while, and thought in silence.
Even without Jiang Shuyao’s words, he could sense her worries. Thinking about the mess his second brother had caused with his concubines, he couldn't help but sigh. Taking the second branch as a case in point, no matter how much he wished to avoid it, he knew he had to prove to her that he was nothing like his second brother.
He wasn’t sure how difficult the road ahead would be, nor whether he could truly succeed. Xie Xun walked under the moonlight while thinking and unknowingly walked to Qushui Pavilion. When he looked up, he saw his two brothers again.
But tonight, they were not playing chess; instead, they were savoring the moonlight and drinking.
The two of them were drunk, lying on the table as if lost in a dream.
He knew his two brothers well. Tomorrow wasn’t a day off, yet they drank without restraint. Most likely, they were weighed down by sorrow and difficulties.
His gaze fell on Xie Lang, who was frowning and muttering vaguely, and then looked at the slumbering Xie Li next to him. It must have been his eldest brother dragged to drink by his second elder brother.
He was about to turn around and walk away when he suddenly heard a loud "bang--"
Xie Lang was completely drunk and didn't place his head on the table properly. He was crooked and fell from the stone table, firmly to the ground.
The ground was cold and hard. Xie Lang gasped in pain, but it did not sober him up. He was twisting on the ground a few times and unable to turn over, then he simply lay on the floor.
Xie Xun paused.
His brother fell to the ground. How could he watch idly?
He rushed and strode forward to Xie Lang. His second brother is lying on the ground, his face full of pain. He didn't seem to fall lightly. He was still in pain after so long.
Although it was summer, it was still cold on the ground. It was not good to lie down like this. He had to get up quickly.
So Xie Xun looked worried and anxiously... lifted his right foot and kicked Xie Lang's leg.
Hey, no response.
Xie Xun kept his hands on his back and switched to kicking his arm with his left foot.
Still no response. Why is he so drunk?
He sighed quietly and wandered away with his hands behind his back.
Not far from Qushui Pavilion, he encountered a passing maid. He stopped the person and said, "Go to the first branch and tell the lady that the eldest brother fell asleep at Qushui Pavilion. Then, she will send someone over to help him back so he won't catch a cold."
The maid curtsied and hurried to the first branch.
As for his second elder brother, he didn't know who to call with the mess in his courtyard. So he simply waited for his eldest sister-in-law to send someone for his eldest brother and pick him up on the way. However, they would have to call for more manpower and let him lie on the ground for a while.
After Xie Xun's heart felt more relieved and when he returned, he felt much more comfortable.
In the evening, when he went to the bedroom with Jiang Shuyao, his tone became more relaxed. He gossiped with her, asking, "How is my mother-in-law?"
Jiang Shuyao is very interested in this topic, "Mother said that she plans to open some restaurants in other docks, one after another, and then plan to open more restaurants. I think she wants to make the brand bigger."
"That's good, just opening one restaurant wastes your recipes and methods."
Jiang Shuyao sighed, "I don't know how these restaurants will be."
Xie Xun said, "If you are curious, let's see if we can go."
Jiang Shuyao raised her head to look at him, "Really?"
"Naturally. We should take it seriously." Her appearance amused Xie Xun. "I will accompany you and do whatever you want."
Jiang Shuyao was slightly stunned.
The room's light was dim, and Xie Xun couldn't see her expression clearly. "You can tell me what you want and think in the future. Since I promised to take good care of you, I won't break my promise."
To some extent, Jiang Shuyao has something in common with the Zhou-shi when she was just married to the Xie family. Xie Xun thought about Xie Lang and Zhou-shi's current relationship and added, "Don't worry too much in front of me. Don't act with restraint, I... I don't want to see you become second sister-in-law."
He didn't hear Jiang Shuyao's answer for a long time after he finished speaking, and when he thought she would not answer, she suddenly approached him.
Jiang Shuyao looked at his eyes earnestly and said softly, "Xie Boyuan, you have to do what you say."
Her warm breath sprayed on his face, causing half of his cheeks to feel numb for a moment, and his mind went blank. It took him a long time to utter the word "Okay."
As soon as the voice fell, a sound suddenly came from outside the door to break the two's hazy atmosphere.
"Miss, the fourth young master's stomach has a problem. The first branch asked for a doctor and alarmed the old madam."
Jiang Shuyao was startled and suddenly sat up from the bed.
Xie Xun was also startled. He quickly got up, put on his robe, and then opened the door to let Bai Zhi in.
Bai Zhi told the whole story roughly.
Xie Yao's body was weak. For him, vomiting twice in one night was a serious matter. Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun rushed to the first branch worriedly.
When she arrived at the first branch, the old madam was there and asked Xu-shi with a calm face.
Seeing Jiang Shuyao was coming, she immediately aimed the fire at Jiang Shuyao. After all, Xie Yao had a bad stomach at her place.
The doctor came out just after she started.
The old madam shut up immediately and looked at the doctor anxiously.
"It's just that he ate too much food. I think the dinner was a bit greasy. The little boy feels uncomfortable in his stomach, so he just vomits it out.
It was a false alarm, and everyone was relieved.
But the old madam is here, so this matter can't be lightly dismissed just because Xie Yao is not in serious trouble.
The old madam asked about Xie Yao's dinner carefully, and she was dissatisfied, "Duck skin is fatty, and Ah Yao has a bad body. How did you let him eat so much?"
Xu-shi attempted to defend her, saying, "Ah Yao is already much better, and he rarely has such a good appetite. I saw him eating so happily—"
The old madam interrupted her, displeasure evident in her voice, "Enough. Stop making excuses for misbehavior."
With no other choice, Xu-shi lowered her head and replied, "Daughter-in-law understands and knows it was wrong."
"He is your son, and when he is ill, it is you who suffers the most. It is of no use for me, an old woman, to say much, but you—" The old madam's gaze shifted to Jiang Shuyao. "I will punish you for this. Do you accept?"
Before Jiang Shuyao could respond, Xie Xun was already poised to speak up in her defense. "Mother..."
As soon as he said the word, he saw Xu-shi winking at him.
Originally, the old madam was only going to punish lightly. After all, Jiang Shuyao was indeed responsible. But if Xie Xun opened his mouth to help her, the old madam might not give a simple punishment.
"I accept the punishment." Jiang Shuyao said. She was worried about Xie Yao and felt guilty and uneasy. "I will accept whatever punishment was imposed." It was indeed her negligence.
The old madam softened her tone after seeing the worried and anxious look on her face, "This matter was caused by eating too much, so please seal up your small kitchen for ten days."
For Jiang Shuyao, this was indeed a punishment.
She nodded, "Okay."
"I will send someone over tomorrow morning." The old madam was too old and tired after tossing so much once. She didn't want to say anymore, "Okay, you can go in and see Ah Yao."
After she finished speaking, Jiang Shuyao immediately got into the inner room. Xie Xun was about to follow her but was stopped by the old madam.
She had just watched Xie Xun and Jiang Shuyao enter the courtyard together, and she felt strange. Now she saw him with a gloomy expression after hearing her punishment. He looked uncomfortable and distressed. The old madam felt even more unpleasant, "I punish her, and you are not happy?"
Xie Xun looked at the old madam and was speechless.
What effect did the closing of the small kitchen have on Jiang Shuyao? She has been eating in the second branch recently, so she could cook and eat over there.
He is different. His lunch and even dinner have to be cooked in the small kitchen.
Rather than punishing Jiang-shi, the old madam was torturing her son.
He said depressedly, "Mother, go back to sleep. I'm going in first to see Ah Yao."
The old madam was left in confusion.
＊
Before the old madam sent someone to seal the small kitchen early in the morning, Jiang Shuyao made Xie Xun's last lunch and packed it for him.
Xie Xun carried the food box to the East Palace, looking unhappy.
The bruises and blood on his forehead had dissipated, only leaving behind a shallow trace. With his very cold expression today, it is inevitable that everyone will guess about what happened.
When it was time for lunch, Xie Xun opened the food box to prepare his meal. Perhaps because this would be his last lunch box for a while, Jiang Shuyao had specially prepared a large bowl for him—this one meal was worth two of the usual servings.
Xie Xun's face became more resentful when he thought about this, making his face even colder. Everyone was so scared that no one was sitting at the table around him.
Lin Cheng came forward as always, and before he had time to guess what surprises would be eaten today, Xie Xun lifted the lid, and a strong sour and spicy aroma flowed out.
There is a large porcelain bowl in the food box, and the white bowl is lined with a clear brown soup. The contrast of colors is very eye-catching.
The porcelain bowl is filled with fern-root noodles sprinkled with chopped peanuts, green onion, and chicken shreds. The black fern-root noodles make the finely chopped red pepper extra eye-catching. The soup was watery and looked cool.
Jiang Shuyao processed all the chili peppers that Lin-shi sent and wanted to test the taste of chili. Today, she specially made hot and sour fern-root noodles containing both diced red pepper and some pickled peppers. As a result, the fern-root noodles have a unique sour scent of pickled peppers, which smells refreshing.
Seeing the large portion, Xie Xun simply gave Lin Cheng half a bowl of noodles.
After the two separated, they immediately lowered their heads and ate.
The fern-root noodles were smooth, their texture becoming even more pronounced after being soaked in the cold soup, allowing them to slide easily with chopsticks. Compared to rice noodles, they were lighter, non-sticky, and offered a delightful crispness within their tenderness.
The soup was refreshing, not clinging to the fern-root noodles, allowing the noodles to absorb the unique flavor of the broth. The smooth, tender noodles paired perfectly with the hot and sour soup base, which continuously dripped over them. With each bite, one couldn’t help but take a deep breath in delight.
As soon as he tasted it, a strong hot and sour flavor instantly overwhelmed his senses. The tanginess of vinegar and pickled peppers mingled with a spicy kick, spreading from the tip to the back of his tongue. It was crisp, numbing, and so refreshing that it made saliva flow like a spring.
Yet, this hot and sour sensation was not heavy or overwhelming. Instead, it was cool and light, perfectly balanced. It awakened the appetite and provided a delightful relief from any heaviness, leaving him craving more.
It was tender and refreshing, delicious and sour. You couldn’t stop after a bite. The sour and spicy taste is so overbearing.
After sucking and eating for a few mouthfuls, the spicy numbness on the tip of his tongue gradually climbed up, and Xie Xun picked up a cup of tea and poured it into his mouth.
The tea was hot, and in that instant, the spicy sensation on the tip of his tongue was magnified a hundredfold. Xie Xun quickly set down the teacup, but the burning sensation clung to him, refusing to fade. The heat was so intense that beads of sweat gathered on his forehead, and his eyes brimmed with tears.
At first, only one person noticed, but soon, others followed suit. Before long, the entire room observed Xie Xun's struggle to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.
The bluish-purple mark on his forehead, paired with the sorrowful expression from earlier, was enough to weave a tale of melancholy.
As they thought this, their gaze shifted to Lin Cheng. As Xie Xun's close friend, Lin Cheng was the one who most likely knew what had caused this quiet torment.
Lin Cheng, under the collective gaze of the room, suddenly raised his head. A tear slipped down the corner of his eye, and with a soft "plop," his chopsticks clattered onto the table.
Everyone: ?!
A man does not raise his head when he has tears! What happened?!
They leaned over to Lin Cheng, trying to comfort him, but he hastily wiped away his tears, hissing, "What are you talking about?"
In a bid to divert attention, Xie Xun, unwilling to be the only one in such a state, added, "These fern-root noodles are very delicious. Would you like to try them?"
Everyone, still confused, gathered around with their small bowls in hand.
...
When the crown prince returned to the East Palace from the Central Palace, he made a brief stop by the dining hall, intending to offer his condolences to the officials for their meager meals.
However, as soon as he entered, he was struck as though by lightning.
The room was filled with an eerie silence. Some stood, others sat, all with swollen eyes and tears streaming down their faces. A few were even wiping away their tears while sniffing!.
The dark aura in the room was almost suffocating, enough to send a chill down his spine.
What on earth had happened in the political affairs to cause all the officials of the East Palace to cry in unison like this?
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