Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 81
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 81: Dried Plum Flatbread
When Jiang Shuyao left the palace gate, Xie Xun had been waiting there for a while.
The sun was gradually setting, the sky was dyed red, and only a band of gold was left at the bottom. The golden glow of the sun made people unable to open their eyes.
Xie Xun was tall and majestic, dressed in his bright official clothes, standing not far from the palace gate. He looked very conspicuous.
Jiang Shuyao's heart was filled with unforgettable joy, and she ran to him while holding her skirt.
As if Xie Xun had felt something, he turned around and saw Jiang Shuyao running towards him.
He didn't expect that she would run towards him. He subconsciously stretched out his arm to catch her, fearing that she would fall, but he thought that this was in front of the palace gate, so he quickly held his arm down.
Jiang Shuyao ran to him and stopped. She panted a little to catch her breath, "Have you waited for a long time?"
"No." Xie Xun blurted out, "I will wait no matter how long it will be." It would be nice if he could wait for her every day while bathing in sunset glow, then suddenly turning around to see her running towards him. The feeling of waiting became wonderful.
Jiang Shuyao didn't understand his sentence. She pulled at the cuff of his official uniform and said, "Let's go."
Xie Xun nodded, and the two walked forward side by side.
"What did you do in the palace today that you have to spend so much time?"
"After chatting for a while, I made a bet and made a dish for the imperial concubine."
"Oh?" Xie Xun looked downward at her, "You were cooking in the palace?"
Jiang Shuyao told the ins and outs and finally asked, "Do you think the concubine ate it?"
Xie Xun pursed his mouth, and the corners of his mouth were lifted. Seeing her proud look, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Of course, not only did she eat it, but she also thought it was delicious, right?"
"Huh?" Jiang Shuyao said, "How do you know?" She tried her best to describe the process very nervously.
He naturally said, "Because you made it."
Jiang Shuyao was a little bit ashamed because of his words and hit him, "What nonsense?"
At this time, it has been a while since the end of work hours. There were not many people in front of the palace. Most of them were officials with gray beards who went out very late.
It was really eye-catching for the two to walk side by side, but Xie Xun didn't want to waste this good time together, so he quietly moved his hand closer to Jiang Shuyao.
The official uniform is very broad and bright, blending with Jiang Shuyao's light lotus red soft satin. Their wide cuffs overlap and collide.
Jiang Shuyao was unclear, so she was about to move her arm, but Xie Xun suddenly caught her hand.
She looked up at Xie Xun in surprise. Xie Xun clenched her left hand and cleared his throat, "It's covered by the sleeve."
Is this the point?!
Jiang Shuyao was speechless.
After Xie Xun finished speaking, he turned left and took a look around, confirming that no officials looked at them holding hands, and he was relieved.
After holding her hand, Xie Xun's footsteps were much lighter. However, the road was too short, and they arrived at the carriage before walking a few steps.
Xie Xun helped Jiang Shuyao into the carriage, followed her in, and sat down beside her.
After getting on the carriage, Jiang Shuyao felt a little dizzy, so she opened the wooden box containing the flatbreads, picked up a piece of flatbread, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Xie Xun asked, "Hungry?"
Jiang Shuyao nodded, "I had lunch in the Imperial Concubine palace. It is not very good, and there is no other refreshment in the afternoon."
After eating a few cakes, the dizziness subsided. Xie Xun brought her a cup of hot tea, and she took it down.
Her stomach feels better, Jiang Shuyao sighed, "It's still more comfortable at home."
Xie Xun took out a handkerchief and wiped off the crumbs from the corner of her mouth, "That's natural."
After wiping it twice, he felt something was wrong, "What's stuck on the corner of your mouth? Why is it red?"
He looked at the color that transferred to the handkerchief very nervously. It looks like blood but not like blood. Could it be that the corner of her mouth was hurt?
Seeing his nervous look, Jiang Shuyao was stunned, "What?"
She raised her hand to touch the corner of her mouth and saw the bright red color on her fingers, and she understood, "...This is lipstick."
Xie Xun's nervous expression froze. He folded the handkerchief silently and put it back in his cuffs, "Your lipstick was not that bright before."
"Of course, this one is used by the imperial concubine." The lipstick she usually uses is a light pink lip balm, but the lipstick Concubine Lin gave her was very rich and red. Xie Xun had never touched these things, and it was impossible to stare at a woman's lips every day to see the difference. Although it was a bit silly, it was normal that he didn't know.
She approached Xie Xun and asked, "Don't you notice that my lips are particularly red today?"
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little quiet.
Xie Xun looked at her rosy and plump lips, blinked, and suddenly realized, "So that's the case. I thought why today is different."
Jiang Shuyao was originally thinking about teasing him, but there was no effect on him at all. She suddenly felt bored and leaned back on the wall of the carriage.
Xie Xun surreptitiously moved his gaze over her lips and carefully pondered it. While feeling magical, he distinguished the difference between this redness and the redness of her lips after eating chili.
It seems to be more moist, brighter, and fuller.
Jiang Shuyao felt his gaze fall on her mouth, thinking that he would do something, she felt a little nervous. But when she looked at his face, it was expressionless and seriously studying her face.
She hummed silently in her heart and turned to face the carriage wall.
After arriving at Duke Xie's mansion, Jiang Shuyao jumped from the carriage and walked to the mansion without answering Xie Xun's.
Xie Xun was confused and followed her into the courtyard, thinking about what happened.
When Jiang Shuyao returned to the courtyard, the first thing she did was rush to the kitchen to find food. She was so hungry and flustered that she didn't eat well all day.
She swept around in the kitchen and saw the dried plum flatbread covered in the shade.
A few days ago, she discussed with Lin-shi about opening breakfast stalls in various places in the capital. However, there are more things for sale, and the production time is shorter, so Jiang Shuyao began to think about all kinds of flatbreads.
Strictly speaking, the dried plum flatbreads are not considered breakfast. They are like late-night snacks to her. When people think of dried plum flatbreads, they would think of the street snack carts. There would be shaking light bulbs on the roof of the car, casting a warm orange light. The oily aroma of the fried flatbreads rises, giving a plump and salty aroma. Just by smelling it, people would feel that looking for supper was the right choice.
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The dried plum flatbreads are very thin and look unremarkable. There is no sesame on the surface, and there is no circle of lines on the puff flatbread. Only a bite will tell if it is good. The stuffing in the flatbreads is naturally dried plums and minced pork meat, so you don't need to put oil in it, and it's fried directly in the pan. After the minced meat in the flatbreads is heated, the oil gradually overflows, and the rich oil soaks through the crust, making the surface of the flatbreads oily and crisp golden. In some oily areas, even the crust will be soaked into a transparent color.
The flatbreads' shell gradually expanded, bulging into a bulging pocket. It looked very cute. After frying, touch it with chopsticks, and you can clearly feel that the thin skin on the outer layer becomes hard and brittle.
Xie Xun quietly surveyed outside the small kitchen, thinking about what mistake he had, but when he smelled the scent, he bit his lips and came in.
He looked at the dried plum flatbreads in the pot, swallowed softly, and asked in a kind and cautious manner, "Would you like to have porridge? I will ask the maid to bring it from the big kitchen."
Jiang Shuyao looked back at him. She felt that his uneasy look with his eyes down and his mouth was no different from Xie Yao, and she suppressed a smile and said, "Go. Just a basic rice porridge."
Xie Xun got the order and ordered the maid out of the small kitchen.
Because Xie Xun was there, Jiang Shuyao fried two more flatbreads and placed them on a plate, on top of a few pieces of oil paper, and dinner was settled like this.
The maid's legs are quick, and as soon as Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun sat down on the table, they brought the rice porridge.
Xie Xun was still in panic, and he dared not eat until Jiang Shuyao moved her chopsticks.
Dried plum flatbreads, or any flatbreads, are not enjoyable enough to eat with chopsticks. You must pinch the cakes and pass them to your mouth. The best way to bite them is to bite them directly with your mouth.
The crust of the dried plum flatbreads is extremely thin. It was hard when you knead it, but it tastes extremely crispy. The oily smell of the fatty meat penetrates into the crust, bringing out the flour's light fragrance. When you bite it down, it made the "Kacha Kacha" sound.
There is only a thin layer of dried plums and minced pork, not too much. If it's too much, it will be salty and greasy. The minced meat is very fatty. When it's fried, it's oily and watery and blends with the dried plums. At first glance, it is brown-green-brown-green, occasionally dotted with red and white minced meat. It is very plain and light.
The crispy pie crust is squeezed with a pinch, and the transparent oily soup oozed out. It is not clear whether the dried plum absorbs the oil from frying or the salty and fresh juice.
Against the dried plums' backdrop, the minced meat looked finely cut and lovely, shiny and not greasy at all. Xie Xun pinched the cake and sent it to his mouth. He bite it down, only to realize the beauty of the dried plum flatbreads.
The dried plums are chopped very finely, not coarse at all, and crunchy to chew. It is a bit soft, and with one bite, his mouth is full of freshness and saltiness. Dried plum flatbreads are not delicious enough if they are eaten dry, but they are a must when paired with fatty meat. The dried plums compliments and absorb the minced meat's oil, which fully stimulates the umami taste, but it is not greasy. He only feels that the bite is full of fragrance, plump with oil, and refreshing dried plum.
The minced meat is hidden among the dried plums. It is tender and soft. The taste is inconspicuous, but it has a strong fragrance. When chewed with dried plums, the more fragrant it is. It is salty but also sweet, and the sweetness is rich and fresh. Children will like it.
At this time, there is no need for a white porridge. It would be best to have a cup of tea so the bitterness and freshness are neutralized. After the oil and aroma are scraped off, the aftertaste is sweet.
Xie Xun asked after eating a dried plum flatbread, "Is it going to be sold in the market in the future?"
Jiang Shuyao said, "Of course there are other flatbreads, and there are many kinds."
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Xie Xun nodded and later pretended to mention inadvertently, "Are there any restaurants selling breakfast around here?" After speaking, he wanted to explain, "Although around here clearly is a high-gate residence such as Duke Mansions, but in the neighborhood, we also go out early and need to buy food. Take Lin Cheng as an example. Every day, he has to carry a few copper plates on his body and go around Wuliu Alley to buy duck meat pastry." Jiang Shuyao must not be allowed to hear him saying. "I want to eat too," for fear that Jiang Shuyao will misunderstand him and banned him from lying in bed.
Jiang Shuyao stared at him without speaking.
Xie Xun said again, "If they are late in the morning, everyone will go outside to buy some food and take the road." He is different. He will go outside to buy food so he won't be late. Jiang Shuyao has reformed his taste bud. It's been a long time since he has suffered and eat the main kitchen's food.
Jiang Shuyao pondered it carefully, and it seemed to make sense. She nodded and said, "We can try it."
The expression on Xie Xun's face remained unchanged, but his heart was cheering, almost overwhelmingly happy.
The next day, he went to the East Palace and couldn't hold back to talk about it. It caused a lot of praise and cheers from his colleagues. Lin Cheng exaggerated: Every day, he ate duck meat pastry, and he almost grew into a duck meat pastry. Lin Cheng was so happy, he offered a cup of tea.
Later, early morning breakfast stalls opened in various places, but there was no movement here in Xicheng. The colleagues looked at him like a liar, big-mouth man, causing Xie Xun to shrink with guilt. The colleagues had to remind him every day. Go get your wife to make arrangements quickly!
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