Bai Erlang had finished eating and was holding a copy of the Records of the Grand Historian while reciting it. He wanted to read it thoroughly before writing, as it would make the process faster. This was an experience he had accumulated over years of copying books.
Yin Huo jokingly asked Zhou Man and Bai Shan, "Do you need us to help tomorrow?"
Manbao and Bai Shan shook their heads together, saying, "Forget it, too many people go, and our teacher will definitely get angry. It’s not good if we get punished for another month."
Yin Huo nodded and did not bring up the matter again.
Feng Zongping and Yi Ziyang also finished eating. They pushed aside the food boxes and ca over curiously, asking, "You guys made such a big splash yesterday, but Assistant Lecturer Zhuang didn’t praise you, how co you were punished?"
Indeed, in just half a day, the news of Bai Shanzhou Man and Bai Cheng getting punished by Assistant Lecturer Zhuang had spread throughout Chongwen Pavilion.
Bai Shan didn’t explain that he wasn’t punished and just tacitly accepted it.
Seeing the three silent, Feng Zongping shook his head and said, "Just because you were eating on the railing? Assistant Lecturer Zhuang is too strict..."
Bai Shan said, "We won’t tell you the reason, stop probing."
Feng Zongping paused and said, "I’m concerned about you, it’s not just idle chatter."
Not only Bai Shan and the other two, but even Yin Huo and Liu Huan eavesdropping didn’t believe him. Perhaps because his grandfather was the Minister of Justice, he had a particular interest in these matters and was more inford about palace news than even Zhao Liulang.
You should know Zhao Liulang is the nephew of the Empress, with a bunch of relatives in the palace, able to visit them occasionally for als and chats, but even his news isn’t as up-to-date.
Yi Ziyang laughed and pulled Feng Zongping away, "Alright, let’s go, take a break, we have classes in the afternoon."
Talking about classes, Manbao rembered she had to go to the Imperial Hospital in the afternoon to discuss so affairs with Director Xiao, and also had to give acupuncture to the Empress Dowager, so she quickly started eating her al.
In the remaining days of this cycle, the three of them were particularly busy, with hardly any ti to play. So, once they got out of the palace, Manbao couldn’t help but lie down in her bed and sleep in.
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang were the sa.
When they woke up, they slled the aroma of at in the air. They followed the scent to the kitchen of the West First Courtyard, where they saw Junior Ms.Qian arranging stead at. There were already dozens of bowls arranged.
Manbao was surprised and opened her mouth wide, asking Junior Ms.Qian, "Sister-in-law, did our family make a fortune?"
Why make so much stead at?
Junior Ms.Qian smiled and said, "This isn’t for the family to eat, the one’s we’re eating are steaming in the pot, I didn’t make much, just ten bowls, we’ll divide them among the three families and that’s it."
"Then these..."
"These are to be taken to the restaurant," she laughed. "You all sent stead at to various families before, and many people ca to ask about it later. Plus, Liulang said it was delicious, so the restaurant added this dish."
"Originally, Liulang and the others made it themselves, and I occasionally helped, but the custors said the taste was different, so I just took over this task, specially preparing the seasoning for them, they take it to the restaurant to steam it."
Manbao looked at the bowls lined up on the board and asked in surprise, "Can they sell this much in a day?"
Ms.Fang ca in from outside with a bowl of freshly ground Sichuan pepper powder, and hearing this, she laughed, "More than that, this is the fixed number for the restaurant, selling fifty bowls a day, no more than that."
She said, "Not only do the custors in the store want to eat it, but the families you gave gifts to during New Year also often go to buy ready-seasoned raw at to steam at ho, returning the bowls the next day to buy more... Business is very good."
Junior Ms.Qian laughed, "It’s because of the recipe Manbao found before, I modified it a bit, and Dad said the recipe shouldn’t be casually shared anymore, it has to be passed down in the family."
Ms.Fang didn’t speak, thinking secretly: passing down in the family might not be feasible, they all learned together, but only Sixth’s stead at tasted close, the others... well...
Though it’s the sa ingredients, what can they do?
Bai Shan curiously asked, "Do people co to buy raw ingredients?"
"Plenty, Lord Tang’s family, Young Master Yin’s family, Shopkeeper Zheng’s family, even Director Xiao and Imperial Doctor Liu’s families have people going," Ms.Fang laughed. "Originally, the business was run from the restaurant, where the at should also be seasoned, but to make so much, there’s not enough counter space, Fifth Uncle and Sixth Uncle are planning to build two long tables in the back kitchen, and a shed, so for now, we prepare at ho and send it over."
Manbao nodded, her gaze moving back and forth among the bowls, she said, "Stead at is delicious, but you can’t eat it too often, it’s too greasy and bad for health."
Everyone looked at Manbao.
Manbao said, "So sell less, especially Liu Taiji, they’re older and should eat less at. I’ll bring a few bowls into the palace once it’s stead, and share them with my classmates."
Ms.Fang: ...
Junior Ms.Qian couldn’t help but tap her forehead, scolding with a smile, "You’re the one who needs to eat less, look at your face..."
Junior Ms.Qian paused here, after assessing her, she hesitantly asked, "Have you lost weight? You gained quite a bit before entering the palace this cycle."
After all, they got a few days off for New Year, and the food at ho was better, with no assignnts, and most work was also paused.
So Manbao put on a bit of weight, but now, the weight she gained during New Year seed mostly gone.
Junior Ms.Qian gazed at Manbao with distress, touched her little face, and asked, "Aren’t you eating well in the palace?"
Manbao was about to shake her head, but Bai Shan nudged her back from behind, so Manbao nodded.
Junior Ms.Qian said, "It’s okay, your sister-in-law will nourish you in the next two days, see if you can bring so snacks when you enter the palace."
She thought of sothing, asking, "Don’t you have lessons in the Imperial dical Office every day? Shall I have Datou bring you so food every day?"
Manbao’s eyes lit up, can it be done like this?
Manbao didn’t care about Bai Shan’s objections and nodded repeatedly.
Bai Shan could only say, "Your class is only in the morning for three days a cycle, and one day ends early, so you don’t eat lunch outside the palace."
Manbao said, "It’s good to eat two more als a cycle too."
Junior Ms.Qian nodded repeatedly, "Right, eat two more good als, and the weight will gradually return."
Bai Shan could only remind, "Be careful, when you leave the palace, you cannot have much contact with outsiders."
Manbao nodded, "I know what to do."
Junior Ms.Qian said, "I’ll have Datou leave the food boxes at the door, and not get close to you."
Manbao happily laughed, holding Junior Ms.Qian’s hand and asked, "Sister-in-law, is this tiring to do?"
"It’s not tiring to cook," Junior Ms.Qian laughed, "Much easier than working the fields."
Ms.Fang chuckled from the side, "Boiling dicine is tiring, how about asking too, little sister?"
Manbao imdiately asked, "Fourth sister-in-law, where are you tired? I’ll give you acupuncture."
Ms.Fang imdiately refused, thinking of those long needles, "Forget it, I’ll just sit for a while and be fine."
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