RPAGF Chapter 187 Braised Pork Trotters
Chapter 187 Braised Pork Trotters
Old Mrs. Lin couldn't go up or down in one breath.
He no longer had the desire to fight with Wang Chunxiu.
Wang Chunxiu didn't expect that she would be beaten and scolded by her mother for saying something that was not a big deal. What was going on?
If Lin Xiaohua has any problems in the future, she will never come to join in the fun, and don't even think about asking her to go to Panjia Village to seek justice.
Lin Gui walked up to the villagers and said, "My fellow villagers, Xiaohua is impatient and easily deceived. I'm afraid she would rush out in a hurry after hearing half of what was said. I'll talk to Xiaohua later. If there is really something wrong, I will ask everyone to help her go to Panjia Village to seek justice."
After Lin Gui took action, the villagers who were originally skeptical no longer suspected that Lin Xiaohua was pretending.
The villagers dispersed one after another.
Seeing that most people had left, Lin Gui asked Lin Dajiang to go back quickly as well.
"Dad, Xiaohua, what are you going to do?"
Lin Dajiang didn't expect that his father would let him go first.
"What? You still want to stay?" Lin Gui said unhappily. He had learned the essence of Old Lady Lin's disgusted expression.
"Do you really want the Pan family to rely on your sister to succeed? Go back quickly and stay away from them. Don't get involved in this mess." After saying that, he went into the house, closed the door of the main hall, and locked Lin Dajiang's family out.
Wang Chunxiu was still angry. Just now her father-in-law didn't dare to do anything in front of her, but now he didn't care anymore and started to curse at her.
"Sister-in-law, the Pan family is the best at being sneaky and cunning. If Pan Yong gets confused and sends you bad meat, you won't be able to explain it clearly."
Li Taohua nodded, "Sister-in-law, thank you very much this time."
"What's the big deal! I didn't help much. We always had a disagreement in the past. I didn't expect that after Big Brother became rich, he would bring along my stupid head of the family."
"Sister-in-law, listen to Dad and leave quickly, don't get yourself into trouble."
"Okay, we'll leave now."
"Hey, if anything happens, I'll sneak over to tell you."
"Row."
Lin Dajiang and his family walked out of the Lin family's old house. "I didn't expect that Dad would stand up this time. If Dad had been fair earlier, Mom wouldn't have made a fuss."
"Yes, but then again, your little sister's family is really disgusting. I don't know if your little sister is really stupid or just pretending to be stupid. She can bring up such a thing."
Lin Dajiang was silent for a moment, looking at his three children, and finally his gaze stopped on Li Taohua.
"I can only say that they are blinded by profit. In my plan, the villagers will not be so supportive of me. Instead, they will force me to agree to cooperate with the Pan family as she imagined. I will pretend to be pitiful and the matter will be settled. When the Pan family makes money, I guess they will be so happy that they won't have time to wait."
"You really don't use your brain when doing things. You can do such a thoughtless thing. Boss, your little brothers and sisters are nothing special!"
Lin Dajiang looked helpless, "Taohua, you didn't marry into the Lin family overnight. But don't worry, I just need to treat you well."
"What are you saying in front of the child?" Li Taohua threw a flying knife at Lin Dajiang, "You are the only one who talks too much."
Lin Xiaoman pretended to cover her ears, "Mother, I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything."
Guyu covered Lidong's ears and followed suit, "Mother, my little brother and I didn't hear it either!"
"It's all your fault!"
Lin Dajiang got another cold stare. He frowned and pretended to be angry. He picked up Lidong and slapped him on the butt twice outside his thick clothes.
After arriving home, Lin Xiaoman was still thinking about her method of making money, which was essential for traveling through a book. She said something to Li Taohua and went to find Lin Jingzhe.
"Lin Jingzhe!"
Lin Xiaoman knocked on the front door of Xie Ci'an's house. Not long after, Lin Jingzhe came over to open the door. "Don't be disrespectful. Call me big brother!"
"Actually, it's hard to say who is the older brother and who is the older sister between us." Lin Xiaoman said calmly.
"I came out before you, that's a fact. Except for the fact that I'm older than you, I can give you up on everything else." Lin Jingzhe said firmly.
"What?"
Lin Xiaoman was very curious.
"I'm your older brother, so I have to take care of you, stupid! If you were your older sister, wouldn't you have to take care of me? You're skinny and small, but if we go out, we don't look like twin siblings. People would believe you if you said you're two years younger than me."
Lin Xiaoman sighed heavily.
Long-term malnutrition has caused a huge difference in height. I have grown a little in the past two years through supplementation, but the effect seems to be minimal.
Lin Jingzhe, on the other hand, grew a lot taller.
It’s really frustrating to compare yourself with others!
Forget it, if she can’t grow taller, then she can’t grow taller. As long as she can make money, that’s enough!
So, didn’t she come to consult with the “fools”?
Lin Xiaoman didn't feel anything when he saw Xie Ci'an, but when he stood up, Lin Xiaoman suddenly didn't want to talk anymore.
I haven't seen this guy for only half a month, how come he has grown so much taller?
He had just suffered a blow from Lin Jingzhe, and this time he suffered a critical hit from Xie Ci'an.
I really want to pinch your philtrum!
Forget it, forget it, she has lived for more than 20 years, which makes her older than these guys. Making money is important.
So she told him everything she heard in Ruyi Tower, and then she said, "Brother Changsheng also heard it, so he probably has the same idea, right?"
Unexpectedly, Gu Changsheng didn't say anything.
This made Lin Xiaoman a little confused.
"Just think about it, if students had the examination papers of the county, academy, and prefectural examinations in previous years, would they rush to buy them and do them again?"
Lin Jingzhe was stunned. "This...is this cheating? Doesn't this mean I'll go to jail?"
"This is not cheating! We are selling past exam papers openly. Boss Gu might also prepare this kind of paper for Brother Changsheng." After saying that, Lin Xiaoman turned around and asked Xie Ci'an.
"The children of the noble families in the capital are probably familiar with this kind of paper, right?"
Xie Ci'an nodded, "Indeed."
Lin Xiaoman got a positive answer and said everything he was thinking.
"Why is it so difficult for peasants to take the imperial examination? Isn't it because they start late, have no money, and no resources? This kind of test paper costs tens of taels, and some are even sold for hundreds or thousands of taels, and this is a private transaction. This is simply a huge profit."
"If we print the test papers, we can sell them at a cheap price. We can make money and let the candidates have the test papers to read. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
"Do you think this is feasible?"
Xie Ci'an: "Not appropriate."
Gu Changsheng: "No."
The two spoke almost at the same time.
Seeing that both of them said no, Lin Xiaoman was a little discouraged. "Why? Is it against the law to print the imperial examination papers of previous years?"
She really didn't know this.
If it really violates the law, then she will just let it go. She won't do anything illegal.
Xie Ci'an said: "I have never violated the law."
Not illegal?
Lin Xiaoman had a puzzled look on his face, "Then why do you all say no?"
Xie Ci'an glanced at Gu Changsheng and explained with a smile: "You just told me the whole story yourself."
"Huh? I didn't say anything?"
Lin Xiaoman was even more confused now.
"You said that it is almost impossible for a farmer to get the imperial examination papers of previous years. In addition to the high price of the papers, there are also aristocratic families behind the scenes who control them. The number of students who pass the exam every year is almost fixed. If every student who takes the exam can buy a paper..."
Xie Ci'an stopped talking here. Needless to say, everyone present already understood the interests involved.
Lin Xiaoman said disappointedly: "So, even a wealthy businessman from Lin'an Prefecture like Uncle Gu can't shake it."
Gu Changsheng nodded, "The imperial examination is related to the foundation of the country. Since ancient times, it has been in the hands of aristocratic families."
Well, it’s no different from the modern times, where resources and discourse power are in the hands of capital. It’s similar to here, where resources and discourse power are in the hands of the aristocratic families.
It is difficult for a poor family to produce a noble son, let alone a peasant son who has nothing.
No wonder a farmer's son can rise to prominence once he gains power, because it is so difficult for a farmer's son to pass the imperial examination.
Perhaps Dayi Town may not be able to produce a juren in the next ten years or so.
"I've learned a lot." Although Lin Xiaoman was disappointed, she would never do anything that concerned her own safety.
"Xiaoman, although the county test papers cannot be copied, we can look at them ourselves. Jingzhe will not take place this year, but we can take a look at the county test papers in advance and make plans in advance." Gu Changsheng comforted.
Lin Jingzhe hesitated and said, "Brother Changsheng, what have I learned so far? Even if you give me another two years, I still won't be able to win."
Xie Ci'an smiled, "Why do you underestimate yourself? You have worked hard in the past six months. According to your current level of hard work, the county exam will not be a problem in two years."
Lin Jingzhe was a little flattered.
The boy's face was filled with a bright smile and he could hardly speak clearly.
"Really? I, I, I can also pass the county exam?"
Xie Ci'an encouraged: "Everything depends on human effort, Jingzhe, you can definitely do it."
It was the first time that Lin Xiaoman saw her brother being so carefree, free and happy.
He used to laugh, but it always seemed like he wasn't really happy. But now it's different, the happiness overflowing from the bottom of his heart can't be hidden.
After all, she is only fourteen years old, how much can she hide?
"Brother, I'm still waiting for you to pass the imperial examination. Then I will be the sister of an imperial examiner." Lin Xiaoman said with a smile.
Lin Jingzhe couldn't help laughing, "Xiao Man, you'd better not wait any longer. By the time I pass the imperial examination, you'll be an old maid."
"What's wrong with being an old lady? I can also eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks as an old lady."
"Since you said so, I must study hard every day and try to make you a juren as soon as possible." Lin Jingzhe swore secretly. Since he planned to take the imperial examination to become a tongsheng scholar, why not work harder and try to become a juren?
Although the road is long and difficult, there must always be a goal to move forward, right?
Lin Jingzhe was full of fighting spirit. He wanted to take out the rough paper immediately and write a thousand big characters to relieve his excitement.
"Then I'll wait." Lin Xiaoman said with a smile: "If you all pass the exam, won't I have three juren masters to support me? Next time I want to try what it feels like to walk sideways in Jialin County."
Gu Changsheng deliberately misinterpreted her meaning, "Xiao Man, you can now walk around the county town with your head held high."
After saying that, he took out the last dividend of Lin'an Tabloid last year.
"At the beginning, according to Xiaoman's suggestion, we divided the writers into different levels and gave them different remunerations according to their levels. As expected, everyone was in high spirits and wrote books more diligently than before. However, Xiaoman, many readers are asking, Liang Mancang has stopped writing since the Dali Temple Official's Case-Solving Notes, when will he publish a new book?"
"This... I'm not good at writing books. Wasn't there a shortage of picture books for Lin'an tabloids back then? Now that so many people are writing books, I won't write one!"
The truth is, writing a book is too brain-intensive. Every time she writes, she has to write and revise, revise and write again, repeatedly, and revise the vernacular word by word.
My already thin hair is almost falling out!
She would rather cook a meal than write a story.
"What a pity. Every day, scholars surround the shopkeeper and ask who Liang Mancang is. The shopkeeper writes to me every few days to ask about my Liang Mancang's news."
Lin Xiaoman said nonchalantly: "Don't worry, the stories are getting more exciting than the last, and soon the scholars will forget about Liang Mancang. After all, nothing is irreplaceable."
She weighed the cloth bag in her hand, without even counting the silver inside, and said with a smile, "What do you want to eat? I'm in a good mood today, I'll cook tonight."
Lin Jingzhe said without hesitation: "Beggar's chicken! We only have chickens and ducks at home."
Lin Xiaoman nodded. Beggar's chicken was the easiest. "Okay, what about you?"
Gu Changsheng, "As long as you cook, everything will taste good. I am not picky."
Xie Ci'an shook his head, "I won't go, my mother..."
Before she finished speaking, Lin Jingzhe ran outside and asked Wang, who was embroidering a handkerchief, "Aunt, can Ci'an come to my house for dinner tonight? I have some knowledge to ask him."
"Okay, my Ci'an is a bit of a taciturn person, so don't despise me."
"how come!"
Lin Jingzhe ran away after asking, and Wang was a little stunned.
Thinking back to the past, her Ci'an was also such a carefree young man...
At the eldest brother's farm, he rode horses, played Cuju, and shot arrows. His father urged him to read books every day, but he still couldn't sit still.
Now, no talking is allowed and one has to sit for several hours.
-
There were guests in the evening, and thinking that Gu Changsheng had never tasted the beggar's chicken made by Xiaoman, Lin Dajiang grabbed two live chickens.
Kill the chicken, remove the chicken legs and feathers, gut and clean the chicken.
Rub the chicken with the sauce prepared by Xiaoman.
Then wrap the chicken tightly with lotus leaves and cover the outside of the lotus leaves with a layer of yellow mud.
There was a ready-made mud pit in the backyard. Lin Dajiang was good at making fire, and the fire was burning brightly in no time.
The beggar's chicken covered with yellow mud was put into the burning firewood pile, and some dry firewood was added.
The shanks are already stewed, simmering over low heat.
The pig's trotters had just been blanched in water. While her family wasn't paying attention, Lin Xiaoman scooped out a handful of rock sugar from the space and sprinkled it into the oil pan. She fried the pig's trotters until they turned sugar-colored. She then added spices and sauces, and added water to cover the trotters until the pot boiled.
Afterwards, Lin Xiaoman put the pig's trotters in the pot into the stew pot, placed it on the charcoal stove and simmered it over low heat so that the meat could be stewed with flavor.
Lin Xiaoman also made shredded radish meatballs. This dish is the favorite of the two little kids in the family. It is made into small round balls, one in each bite, and is refreshing and delicious.
I also made pickled fish and stir-fried pork liver. After thinking about it, I decided to do my brother a favor and make some stir-fried cabbage and black ears.
Since there were guests, Li Taohua generously cooked a full pot of white rice.
As night fell, Lin Jingzhe and the other two smelled the fragrance and walked in.
Lin Xiaoman laughed and teased, "Brother, do you have a dog nose? You came just as the food was ready?"
Lin Jingzhe snatched the soup from Lin Xiaoman's hand and said, "Hey, let me do it, you take a rest!"
"You wash the dishes tonight."
Lin Xiaoman happily divided the tasks, went back to the house, changed out of his old coat, put on a new one and went out.
The bone soup with chicken mushrooms and dried long-bearded worms is full of freshness and fragrance, the braised pork trotters are soft and tasty, and they melt in your mouth, and the beggar chicken that Lin Jingzhe will never forget, and the spicy stir-fried pork liver that is steaming from the wok...
Served with a bowl of white rice, the taste is amazing!