Wu's name is Wu Wan, and Wu Wan chatted with Miss Xu for a while before getting up and leaving. It was time to eat evening food, and she was carrying a big food box, which contained braised herring. Today Miss Xu wanted The fish balls that are going to be sold tomorrow are pretty big, so braised fish is also eaten for dinner at night, and she also brought some back.

Strange to say, brother Shao only eats food made by Mrs. Xu, even the braised herring that he often eats, he can't get tired of eating it, and he can eat a bowl of bean porridge with braised fish.

Of course, even the bean porridge was cooked by Mrs. Xu.

Obviously Miss Xu told her how to boil the bean porridge, how long the beans should be soaked, how much beans and japonica rice to add, how much water to add, when to make the bean porridge soft and sticky, but What she cooks is not as delicious as what little lady Xu cooks.

Even the taste is much worse.

Carrying the food box, Wu Wan returned to Laixi Lane.

Her alley is right in front of Osmanthus Alley, and most of the houses are second-entry houses, which are naturally more expensive than the houses in Osmanthus Alley, but Laixi Alley also has ordinary small yards, and the price is five taels more expensive than those on Osmanthus Alley To ten taels of silver, because there is a small river in front of Laixi Lane, which was dug by hand a few decades ago. It is convenient for the people in the town to wash water. Both sides lead to the wharf on the North Street. It is a running water, and the alley crosses. There is also a big locust tree at the intersection, and a well under the locust tree is convenient for people who don’t have a well at home to drink water. There is a stream in front of Xishui Lane, and a well is not far away, so the house price is generally more expensive than other alleys.

At the entrance of Laixi Lane, Wu Wan ran into a ten-year-old girl who was washing clothes by the river, so she said to the little girl, "Er Niu, tell your wife that Miss Xu from Osmanthus Lane will meet tomorrow." Braised herring, fish balls and fish head tofu are sold in pot, remember to buy them early, otherwise they will be sold out soon.”

The little girl who was washing clothes immediately responded: "Mrs. Xia, I understand."

Most of the houses that can live in the second entry are doing business, and they are much richer than ordinary people. They will buy one or two little maids at home.

Along the way, Wu Wan would let everyone know when she saw someone she was acquainted with.

She is usually a generous person, and she also likes to chat with the women in the neighborhood, and all the women's families in the whole alley know her.

Originally, the families next to Wu's family knew that her evening food was very delicious, and knew that her evening food was bought by Mrs. Xu's family, and the women around her passed it on to their good neighbors, and they all knew that it was delicious. Got it, now all the female relatives in the alley are planning to come to buy some and try it tomorrow.

At the same time, Xu Qinyu was still making fish balls at home.

Since we want to make fish balls, no matter how big the herring is, the herring sent by Mr. He used to be about two or three catties. Because of the fishing net, the fish under one catty cannot be caught, but now the ones that are more than three catties are sent. She also wanted the fish slices to be pounded to make fish balls, and the fish heads could be fried with tofu without any waste.

She plans to set the price of the fish balls at five Wen a piece. A piece is about ten and a half catties. A catty of fish meat can produce about a catty and a half of fish balls. Fish meat is cheap, but it needs starch. She added mung beans Starch, there is no starch here, it is all separated by grinding and filtering mung beans by herself. Grinding starch from mung beans is not difficult, so I left the work to the fourth brother.

When she was filleting the fish, Ning Jieer was also helping, scraping off the remaining fish meat from the fish bones, not wanting to waste it.

Sister Ning will now help her scrape the scales of the fish and do what she can.

Xu Qinyu planned to give sister Ning five hundred coins a month as pocket money, and then see what sister Ning wanted to do. She didn't have to help her with the work, she could hire someone to do it.

Stewed tofu with fish head depends on the portion size. There are five yuan, ten yuan, and fifteen yuan.

All in all, the price of braised herring is the most cost-effective.

After the fish balls are ready, you can put them aside, and make another pot tomorrow, otherwise it may not be enough to sell. The fish head tofu pot will be made tomorrow, and today's braised herring has been sold out.

Just after the fish balls were cooked, someone knocked on the door outside the yard. Xu Qinyu went to open the door. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, tall and tall, wearing the official clothes of the yamen, with a long knife on his waist. When he arrived at Xu Qinyu, the man said, "But Miss Xu?"

Xu Qinyu nodded, "You are?"

I already have a rough guess in my heart.

The man said: "I'm Xu Ren, Xu Kongmu, who works in the yamen, came here today to find the little lady's husband to discuss something."

Sure enough, it was Xu Kongmu. He was looking for the fourth brother. It should be related to the theft of Jinyinzhai. It was the clue given by the fourth brother, so come here to ask the fourth brother?

Xu Qinyu said: "Please come inside Xu Kongmu."

Leading people in, Pei Weixuan also came out of the room, saw Xu Kongmu nodded slightly, and invited him into the main room to sit down, Xu Qinyu served two cups of hot tea, the tea was not very good, she bought it to make tea For eggs.

Recently, there are a lot of glutinous glutinous rice sausages at the wharf. There are a lot of eggs left from Mr. He, so she buys them as tea eggs. This is easy to make. Boil the eggs, add soy sauce, salt, a little spices, water and continue. Boil it, and then pour a proper amount of tea water into the egg. The key is to soak the boiled egg in the tea brine for an hour, so that it tastes better.

Two cents a piece, it sells quickly every day.

Xu Kongmu didn't come here today for the food made by Mrs. Xu, and Pei Weixuan.

He knew that the theft case that was able to break the Jinyinzhai so quickly this time was reminded by Pei Weixuan that this young man knew that the theft had something to do with Manager Ma even just by hearing about the case. He was a talented person, and the yamen lacked such people. Officials are different from officials, but if a minor official has been working for a long time, he may not be able to get promoted, so he came to ask Pei Weixuan if he would like to join the yamen as a minor official to help solve the case.

Xu Kongmu told Pei Weixuan the purpose of his arrival.

Pei Weixuan pondered for a moment and said, "I'm afraid Xu Kongmu's good intentions will be swept away. I am a criminal exiled here, and I can't enter the office. I am afraid that the superior will blame it. In addition, I also ask Xu Kongmu to guard the Jinyinzhai theft case for me. I don’t want outsiders to know that this case is related to me.”

Although Empress Fu and Xindi are unlikely to stretch out such a long hand to inquire about what he is doing here, and Empress Fu feels that he is already a complete waste, can't make any splashes, and will not pay attention to their family at all, and All he can do is continue to live with his head down, quietly waiting for an opportunity.

The eldest brother once told him that if something happened to him in the future, some black armored guards he left behind would be given to him, and those black armored guards were loyal servants to the eldest brother.

When he is free of the poison on his body, he will not stay here, and will go to find the black armor guards to do something.

But before the big event, he will not reveal his identity, so as not to expose his family to danger.

So when he left, he couldn't tell his family directly, he would find an excuse to leave home.

Xu Kongmu was stunned for a moment. He probably didn't expect Pei Weixuan to be exiled as a criminal. In this case, it was indeed inappropriate for him to come to the yamen as a minor official.

Xu Kongmu didn't force it, but cupped his hands and said, "It's disturbing."

Since it was like this, Xu Kongmu didn't want to stay for a long time. He got up to leave, Pei Weixuan sent him out and came to the courtyard. Xu Xiaoniang was putting fish balls in a jar. Fish balls are food that can be kept for several days. What's more, it's still such a cold day.

Xu Kongmu smelled the delicious smell and couldn't help but ask, "What kind of food is this made of?"

Xu Qinyu smiled and said: "This is fish balls, made of fish meat, five cents per serving, and one serving is ten and a half catties. You can eat it after you go back and warm it up. It tastes better with a few drops of sesame oil. , you can also put it back in the pot and simmer it in oil, and you can cook it with other side dishes.

Xu Kongmu thought of his two-year-old grandson. Now is the time to start eating. I can buy some fish balls for my grandson and give my family a taste.

Moreover, the fish balls smelled really good, and had eaten the delicious food made by the little lady in front of me at Brother Xia's house a few days ago. It was really delicious and unforgettable.

Xu Kongmu said: "Then trouble the little lady to pack five catties for me, and I will take it back and taste it."

"Okay, Xu Kongmu wait a moment." Xu Qinyu found oil paper and wrapped five catties of fish balls for him.

Xu Kongmu took fifty pennies from his arms and handed it to Xu Qinyu.

Xu Qinyu took it and said with a smile, "Tomorrow there will be fish head tofu pot for sale. If Xu Kongmu thinks it is delicious, he can send someone to buy it."

Xu Kongmu nodded and left.

Besides, after leaving Pei's house, Xu Kongmu was walking on the road and smelled the fragrance of the fish balls in his arms. He couldn't hold back. He picked one up with his hands and put it in his mouth to taste. There is no earthy smell, but he still thinks that the fish in the fatty sausage fish that he ate that day is more suitable for his taste. It is delicious and spicy. This fish ball is indeed more suitable for the taste of the elderly and children.

Wife, daughter and grandchildren at home will definitely like it.

Thinking of this, Xu Kong had a little anticipation in his mind.

He lives on West Street. He is only a small official, and his salary is not high. However, his wife is a businessman and has two shops. Ordinary people can afford it.

To be honest, the taste of this fish ball can be sold for hundreds of pennies a pound in Donglaiju.

No one can match this skill, that little lady obviously just wants the people in the town to be able to eat meat.

Xu Kongmu couldn't help but stare at Mrs. Xu twice.

After returning home, Xu Kongmu put the oil paper in his hand on the table.

Seeing this, his wife Xiang Shi smiled and said, "What did you bring back?"

The fish balls have been completely cold after this journey, and the fragrance has been reduced a lot. It is indeed difficult for people with insensitive sense of smell to smell it.

Xu Kongmu said that he had eaten at Xia Yuanzhi's place a few days ago, and the food made by a young lady was very delicious. Today, he deliberately bought it for his family to try, and did not mention that he went to Pei's house to find Pei Weixuan.

Xiang Shi couldn't help but said, "Is it really that delicious?"

"Madam, you'll know after you taste it."

Xiang Shi shouted that the little maid took a pair of wooden chopsticks and picked one up. The entrance was a bit cold, but even the cold fish balls were not fishy at all, and they were delicious and flaky.

Xiang Shi was surprised: "It's really delicious, shouldn't it be cheap?"

Xu Kongmu said, "It tastes fresher when it's overheated."

After speaking, she couldn't help but say, "Madam, guess how much this fish ball is in silver per pound."

Xiang Shi also often eats at Donglaiju. The dishes in it are not cheap, and they are really not as simple as such a simple fish ball. She thinks that this fish ball costs at least a few dozen pennies a pound.

She said, "At least one hundred cents a pound. If you live and sell in Donglai, at least one hundred twenty or thirty cents will go up."

Xu Kongmu smiled and said, "It only takes ten pennies a pound."

Xiang Shi was very surprised, "Are fish balls with such craftsmanship and taste so cheap?"

"Yes, this little lady is not only delicious in fish balls, but I heard that there are also braised herrings, a small five-cent piece, a large eight-cent piece, and a fish head tofu pot tomorrow, do you want to buy them all and try them? "

Xiang Shi naturally said, "I'll go buy some tomorrow and come back to taste."

She remembered that her little grandson didn't eat the evening meal very much at night, and told Xu Kongmu, Xu Kongmu was also a little worried, "Why didn't you eat well?"

Xiang Shi sighed, "The egg custard stewed at night was not very tasty, so I refused to eat it after taking a few bites."

"It's too early, why don't you warm up the fish balls and ask everyone to come out and try it? Brother Xi can eat it too."

Brother Xi is Xu Kongmu's two-year-old grandson.

Xiang Shi immediately asked the little maid to go to the kitchen to simply put the fish balls in a pot and heat it up. It didn’t take long for the house to be full of umami. Before Xiang Shi could call, his son and daughter-in-law came over with Brother Xi and his daughter Xu Yunlan. He also came, and he shouted as soon as he came, "Mother, what's the smell? It's so fragrant."

Xu Yunlan is only fifteen years old this year. She looks like her father, tall and handsome.

Xiang Shi smiled and said, "Your father brought you something delicious."

The fish balls were quickly heated up. The little cook brought the fish balls to the table and heated them for two catties. One catty was placed in a plate. There were about twenty pieces per catty, and a few drops of sesame oil were dripped on top.

Xu Yunlan remembered that when she was a child, her family lived in a small yard, and her food and clothing were not as good as it is now. What she looked forward to most every day was whether she could bring some delicious snacks or other cooked vegetables when she came back, smelling the fragrance, It reminded her of the scene when she was a child, and her heart was warm.

Xiang Shi tasted another fish ball that was overheated and dripped with sesame oil, and it was even more delicious.

Xu Yunlan also took one and ate it, her cheeks bulging and her eyes lit up, "Dad, where did you buy it, it's delicious."

She ate it, and even took one for her little nephew, who thought her little nephew wouldn't eat it.

The little nephew has not had a good appetite these days, and has lost some weight.

Unexpectedly, the little nephew smelled the smell, opened his mouth and took a bite, and then shouted in a milky voice, "Little aunt, I still have to eat."

Xu Yunlan said happily: "Daddy, Brother Xi also likes to eat."

Even Xu Yunlan's sister-in-law couldn't help but tasted it, and they all said it was delicious.

In the last two plates of fish balls, Xi Geer ate six or seven fish balls, and everyone shared the rest.

Xu Kongmu hasn't seen his family like eating together so much for a long time, and he plans to buy braised herring and fish head tofu stew tomorrow to try.

...

After Xu Qinyu finished her work in the kitchen, she had to prepare hot water for the fourth brother's second medicinal bath.

This time Pei Weixuan was much better than last time. Although the meridians were still black after soaking for a while, he did not lose his mind. He kept his eyes closed, but it should still be in pain. His lips were all pale, this time it lasted for half an hour, and when he opened his eyes, the medicinal properties in his meridians had receded and returned to normal.

Seeing this, both Xu Qinyu and Wen could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

...

The next day, after Xu Qinyu sold the Korean food, she bought ingredients at noon and came back, and the whole family began to get busy.

Recently Mrs. Luo dared not come to the house to make troubles. After finishing the housework at home, Mrs. Wen went out to continue washing clothes for others.

Pei Jianing stayed at home to look after the two children.

When Xu Qinyu and Pei Weixuan bought back the ingredients, Wen Shi hadn't returned yet.

Sometimes Wen can come back in one or two hours, and sometimes it takes three or four hours, probably after the laundry is done.

A few people started to get busy, and the little black panther Moyu was running around with a fish in its mouth, and Xu Qinyu followed him, anyway, this fish would be the ration for him and the little white snake for a while.

Yes, that little black panther has been renamed Mo Yu.

Because the first time I called ink, Ning said, "Sister-in-law Si, the little white snake is called Baiyu, so nice. Why is the little black panther called ink? Ink should be ink, so why not get the word jade in the taboo name of sister-in-law Si?" Mo Yu, just so happens to match and sound good with Bai Yu."

Xu Qinyu also thought it was good, one white jade and one black jade.

So before Mo Mo had been called Mo Yu for a day, he changed his name to Mo Yu.

Not to mention, one of white jade and one of black jade are indeed very good.

I don't know whether Pei Weixuan's ointment is effective or Moyu has strong recovery ability. After raising it for a few days, it can already run and jump on its hind legs in the yard. It is a very energetic little leopard. Sometimes Xu Qinyu comes out of the kitchen , even saw it walking around in the yard biting a small tree branch, but didn't know what it was trying to do, probably because it was too energetic.

At this time, human eyes meet a pair of ignorant little animal eyes.

Human eyes moved away helplessly.

The little beast played by itself again.

This Moyu not only played by himself, but he also went to pick and pull the sleeping little white snake. It didn't even stretch out its claws, but just picked and pulled the little white jade. Qinyu and Pei's family picked it up by the stove in the kitchen and placed it next to the stove, and Xiao Moyu continued to paw and pull. Sometimes when the little white snake woke up, Xu Qinyu felt that it was a little confused, and it probably didn't know why it could get out of the stove Here ran to the firewood pile under the stove.

The little white snake wakes up almost once every few days, and when it wakes up, it runs to Xu Qinyu to ask for food. If Xu Qinyu is not there, it goes to find Pei Weixuan. Others, presumably hibernate the rest of the time.

Xiao Moyu continued to play with the fish in her mouth.

It can also coax brother Feng and sister Xian, and the two children stare at it with good eyesight.

Xu Qinyu made another pot of fish balls, more than 30 pieces of braised herring in brown sauce, and a dozen pieces of stewed tofu with fish heads.

These are all done together in one big pot, saving time and effort.

At about 3:00 a.m., the neighbors from Osmanthus Lane consciously came to line up in front of Pei's house, and when the neighbors from Laixi Lane also came, they found that there were already many people queuing in front of Pei's house.

"Why are there so many people lining up?"

"Aren't you from Osmanthus Lane? Madam Xu's fish is delicious. We come here at this time every day to buy it."

"Hey, didn't you come from Xixiang? I know him, isn't this Mrs. Chen's wife? Did you also come to buy fish to eat?"

"Yes, I heard that Mrs. Xu from Osmanthus Lane makes delicious fish. Today, I made more fish balls and stewed tofu with fish heads. We just came to buy them."

"Is there any new food today? No wonder it smells different. I thought it was the little lady's own food."

"I just don't know if the price is expensive? It must be a little expensive. Madam Xu is already content to sell us such cheap braised herring."

"Yes, yes, I am very grateful to Miss Xu for being able to eat braised herring."

Even the restaurants on the North Street can't eat a plate of meat and fish for only five cents or eight cents.

The people in Laixi Lane did not expect that the people in Osmanthus Lane were so supportive of Mrs. Xu.

In fact, they didn't know what kind of fish Xu Xiaoniang made. They had never even eaten braised herring.

Most of the people living in Laixi Lane are the family members of merchants, and they occasionally go to restaurants to eat. feel that people in Osmanthus Lane may not be able to eat delicious food on weekdays, and they have not eaten in restaurants much, so feel like a little lady. The fish is delicious.

In short, everything has to wait for them to taste the taste.

Xu Qinyu opened the courtyard door and saw that everyone was queuing up, so she quickly apologized that she had delayed her work today.

The woman's sister-in-law in Osmanthus Lane all laughed and said, "Don't panic, little lady Xu, we're not in a hurry, little lady take your time."

Xu Qinyu said the price of fish balls and fish head stewed tofu.

Fish balls cost five cents a pound, fish head stewed tofu has five cents, ten cents and fifteen cents. Naturally, the size of the fish head is different, and the price is also different.

I heard that these two new foods are not expensive. They are probably slightly more expensive than braised herring. Fish balls are the most expensive, but they are still affordable. You can buy a pound of it for ten cents to try it out.

The guests at Osmanthus Lane have been eating braised herring lately. Although the taste is good, it is not worth eating too much. This time there is fresh food, and the price is a little higher. Most of them buy a pound of fish balls, or a fish head stewed tofu.

Osmanthus Lane is relatively economical on weekdays. Even if there is new food, they will only buy one per household. Those who buy fish balls will not buy fish heads, so in the end, there are fish balls and fish heads left.

Laixixiang's food is still affordable, and some people ask for it directly.

I bought it first, so I couldn't help but eat a fish ball first. It was easy to eat. The fish ball was fresh out of the pot. It smelled delicious and tasted even fresher in my mouth. "Little lady, give me two more catties, no, five catties of fish balls." Their family could still afford such a delicious meal at ten cents per catty.

Someone behind started shouting, "Hey, sister-in-law of the Chen family, you bought a pound in front of you, and you bought another 5 kilograms here. Can there be any leftovers? Leave us some."

Xu Qinyu also felt that according to this selling method, the latter would definitely not be able to buy anything, so she could only say, "Now each person can only buy two kilograms of fish balls."

The sister-in-law of the Chen family mumbled a few words before leaving regretfully.

Even if it was sold like this, there was nothing left. Originally, there was one braised fish left. The last customer smelled so delicious that he ordered two together.

When she got home, the family was just right to eat these two fish, so she felt that it was the right decision to buy one more fish, otherwise it would definitely not be enough.

Needless to say, whether Laixixiang has eaten braised fish or fish balls and fish head, there is no bad taste, all of them are impressed by the taste.

Going to continue shopping tomorrow.

After all the food was sold, Xu Qinyu returned to the kitchen with Pei Jianing and Pei Weixuan.

Today, thanks to the help of Ning Jie'er and fourth brother, she received the money, and the two went to help serve the fish.

The kitchen is warm, and Xu Qinyu likes to count money in the kitchen on weekdays.

She brought the wooden box over, and the copper plates inside were rattling. It was filled with the money for selling Korean food this morning and the money for selling fish just now.