Chapter 40: Tangyuan

Early in the morning, Chen Feng went to Mingshui Town with Dabao to buy ingredients. Mingshui Town was six miles east of Xiangluo Village, passing through Shangshui Village and also passing by the estate of a wealthy person.

Mrs Wang said that the estate was called Tangyuan and that the owner’s surname was Chu. Originally from the capital, he later moved to the capital city. Half of the households in Shangshui Village rented paddy fields from his family. Mrs Wang heard this from Changgen’s wife. Master Wu and his sons were carpenters, and occasionally, the manager of Tangyuan would go to Wu’s home to buy tables, chairs, and tubs.

The small road to the town was over three hundred meters away from Tangyuan, separated by a bamboo forest and a grassland. From a distance, the large estate with its pink walls, dark tiles, and flying eaves was visible, nestled among the green trees and bamboo.

The grand mansion stood out conspicuously, as if it had been placed there abruptly. The vermilion doors were closed, seeming to conceal opulence and shield the toil and hardships outside.

The mansion was too far away for her, so Chen Feng glanced at it a few times and then looked away.

Mingshui Town was not large, with only two streets. Chen Feng first went to the general store to buy some braising ingredients. The shopkeeper pointed out five spices, including star anise and mountain cardamom, saying, “These, along with some peppercorns, sugar, and soy sauce, make a fragrant braising sauce.”

Indeed, there were very few braising ingredients. Chen Feng remembered that many of these spices were considered medicinal herbs in ancient times.

She bought these braising ingredients, along with some peppercorns, brown sugar, and a small jar of soy sauce. Their condiments at home were really too scarce.

She also bought two small packets of rock sugar, one for Dabao and the other to bring back for A’Lu.

She then went to the town’s only pharmacy and bought some cloves, dried tangerine peel, fennel, and amomum for braising. She also bought some astragalus, codonopsis, and schisandra, traditional Chinese medicine for making soup for Chen Ming.

It was quite expensive, all these items cost her over four silver coins. Nevertheless, this was her own money, and spending it did not create any pressure.

After buying the braising ingredients, she also bought two pounds of pork belly, five pounds of lard, ten pieces of dried tofu, and five pounds of vermicelli. The money for these ingredients was provided by Mrs Wang.

By the time she got home, it was almost near mid-day. She began to cook and stir-fry. Chen Feng declined offers of help from Mrs Wang and Chen Ming. Chen Lu helped her with the fire, while Dabao assisted by passing things to her.

Chen Feng braised the dried tofu but not the meat. While braised pork was a luxury dish, it wouldn’t be enough for the laborers. She stewed the pork and vermicelli, making a large pot to satisfy their hunger.

As the aroma of the braised dishes wafted out, the two young boys eagerly sniffed the air.

Chen Feng felt that the dried tofu had absorbed enough flavor, so she cut two pieces and served them to the boys.

Additionally, she made a cold cucumber salad, stir-fried Chinese cabbage, winter melon soup with oil residue, and steamed buns. There weren’t many dishes, but there was plenty of food, and it tasted delicious.

The laborers ate happily, praising the dried tofu and saying it could substitute for meat.

In the evening, Chen Ming also praised her, saying, “A’Feng is really capable. The braised dishes she made were even more delicious than others.”

Chen Feng proudly responded, “Of course, this is my specialty.”

In her mind, she thought about when she could visit a restaurant to see if she could use the old tricks of a time traveler.

It took the six of them half a month to finish building the house. Although the thatched house was small and had a rustic charm, the brick wall, one person high, finally gave Chen Feng some sense of security. This small courtyard was the only part she was satisfied with. There were two doors in the house, one was the main entrance opening outward, and the other opened into the courtyard of the old house. The new and old courtyards now shared the same brick wall.

On the day the house was completed, they entertained guests. Not only did Chen Gui’s wife, Mrs Gao, come to help, but even Chen Lan came to help as well.

Ever since Chen Feng recovered from her illness and crafted unique Needlework baskets, Chen Lan no longer stood outside the courtyard looking for Mrs Wang’s guidance in embroidery. She would enter the house and exchange a few words with Chen Feng.

Chen Lan extended goodwill, and Chen Feng reciprocated. Except for Mrs Hu and Chen Jue, everyone in the main house was decent. Especially Chen Ye and his son Chen Gui, who worked diligently and were genuinely helpful.

On this day, not only did they invite Chen Ye’s family, but also several relatives of the Chen family, Mrs Gao’s family, and several people involved in the house construction. Apart from Chen Ye’s family, the other families sent only one or two representatives, yet there were still four tables set up.

The day before, Mrs Wang asked Chen Ming, “Shouldn’t we invite Hu Laowu? After all, we’re relatives… If we don’t invite him, my sister-in-law will definitely be upset.” Whenever guests were invited in the past, Hu Laowu would always be included.

Chen Ming replied, “In the past, out of consideration for my elder brother, we would have invited him. However, last time, A’Feng had a fight with Er Bai, and Hu Laowu openly sided with Er Bai to extort money from our family. He doesn’t recognize us as relatives, so why should we recognize him?”

Chen Feng added, “Mother, no matter how much you try to please Aunt Hu, it won’t work. That Hu family is best kept at a distance. No matter what happens in our family, we shouldn’t have any dealings with them.”

Unexpectedly, while they were having the meal, Hu Laowu shamelessly arrived, accompanied by a young man of about fourteen or fifteen. The young man was quite good-looking, but his ingratiating gaze made him unpleasant. He was Hu Laowu’s only son, Hu Wui.

A real rascal with a thick skin.

Hu Laowu was able to swagger in the village not only because of his rascality but also because his fourth brother-in-law was a constable in the county town.

As soon as he arrived, Hu Laowu began with flattering words, “Since we’re relatives, why didn’t you say anything about building the house? Otherwise, I would have come to help as well.”

Although everyone disliked him, they all tried to avoid offending him outwardly. Chen Ming had no other choice but to let him stay.

Three tables were for men, and one table was for women and children, set up under the trees in the two courtyards, providing a cool atmosphere. Chen Feng didn’t sit at the table and didn’t want to. She was too busy being the head chef. Additionally, she didn’t want to sit with Chen Jue, who ate the most and pretended to look down on everyone. Lastly, she disliked the way Hu Wui looked at her.

That day, they had braised pig intestines, liver, and dried tofu, which were the most popular dishes.

Hu Laowu, as he ate, said, “This braised food tastes even better than what I’ve eaten in the county town. It has a unique fragrance. How did you make it?”

Chen Feng ignored him in the kitchen, but as she noticed that he kept asking Chen Ming, she had to go out and say, “I bought the braising ingredients in town and followed the shopkeeper’s instructions to make it. That’s how it turned out like this.” She then repeated the shopkeeper’s instructions.

Hu Laowu then smiled at Chen Ming and said, “Feng is truly blessed. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s also capable.”

Chen Ming pretended not to hear him.

After the guests left, it was time to prepare for the journey to the capital. The day after tomorrow, Mrs Wang would be leaving with Chen Lu. When they returned, Chen Feng and her son would move.

The doctor had said that Chen Lu’s leg was crooked due to a misaligned bone. Once bones grow crooked in adults, there’s no solution. Fortunately, Chen Lu was still a child, and by breaking the bone and allowing it to grow straight, he wouldn’t be limping anymore. However, most doctors don’t have this skill, which is why they were going to the capital to see the doctor at Qianjin Clinic.

So, Chen Lu would not only suffer but would also have to stay in the capital for at least half a month. While staying in the capital, they could only live at Chen Shi’s house.

The thought of Chen Lu enduring such pain made Chen Feng’s heart ache.

She had been wanting to meet the golden swallow to see if it could bring some green swallows’ nests to reduce Chen Lu’s suffering.

For many days, the golden swallow hadn’t met Chen Feng. It didn’t return during the day, but it had visited the space four times at midnight, bringing back stolen gold jewelry. These recent jewelry pieces were heavier and more beautiful than the previous ones, with larger and more precious gemstones. The pile of glittering gold jewelry, with red and green embedded stones, was dazzling.

Even the small piece of green swallow’s nest meant for Chen Ming was placed on the small package containing the gold dust.