The Little Officials of the Song Dynasty

Niu Er has officially joined Yang Shiheng's residence. Of course, at his level, he will definitely not be taken to see Yang Shiheng. It is stated that he cannot go anywhere except the kitchen at will.

The two chefs with the highest status in the kitchen are the two cooks, one of Liu's age is 27, and the other of Yang's is over 30.

Niu Er was born tender and handsome, and could talk. Liu Shi and Yang Shi looked at him like a little brother, and they shouted affectionately after a while.

"Little two."

——It always makes Niu Er inexplicably feel like he is calling for a waiter.

Niu Er also understood that most of the time, they took turns in charge of Yang Shiheng's dishes, and instructed the chefs below to cook the side dishes.

Although Niu Er was young, he came in as a substitute for a certain vacant cook. Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Yang even heard from the steward that this young man was indeed not weak in his hands, so no one would ask him to do odd jobs, but Let him take charge of Dalang's food for the time being.

Niu Er looked honest and did his own thing without distraction. He seemed like a good employee who didn't like to gossip. Except for Dalang's preferences, he didn't ask any more questions about the affairs of the mansion. His names were Liu Shi and Yang Shi From the looks of it, they are all very permissive.

Yang Shiheng's family has a son and a daughter, and Dalang's taste follows his mother, who is a Sichuan girl, so the mother and son will not eat the same dishes as Yang Shiheng.

Niu Er slowly cooks Sichuan cuisine for Dalang Yang, starting with a dish of boiled beef.

A long, long time ago, when Niu Er heard the name of the dish of boiled beef, there was always a very light picture in his mind. It was not until he ate this dish himself that he realized it was completely different. The red oil chili on that plate, Not to mention how hot it is.

Although there is no chili at this time, there are substitutes such as pepper, peppercorns, and dogwood.

While Niu Er was cooking the beef, Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Yang also prepared some dishes and asked someone to deliver them to Yang Shiheng.

It wasn't long before the vegetable porridge was returned.

Yang Shiheng thought it was too bland.

Liu Shi pouted, "Meat porridge is too greasy, vegetable porridge is too bland."

Yang smiled wryly, "Lang Jun's mouth has been weak recently, and the doctor said it was because of a bad stomach."

The steward appeared at the door: "Don't talk about it, Mr. Lang is getting angry, saying that he is a doctor of Du Zhisi, and he can't even eat a bowl of water and rice. You can make another bowl——Xiao Er, you can try to make a bowl too." .”

"... Oh." Niu Er responded, thinking that this gentleman is really tempered.

Yang Shiheng was from Bianjing, so Niu Er thought he loved sweets like the Bianjing people he knew, and boiled walnuts, pine nuts, chestnuts, red beans, lotus seeds, peanuts, red dates, Gorgon seeds, etc. with rice.

Liu Shi and Yang Shi also separated, one made vegetable porridge and the other made meat porridge.

When Liu saw the porridge made by Niu Er, she couldn't help frowning: "Xiao Er, what kind of porridge do you make?"

Niu Er smiled, "Why not porridge?"

Mrs. Liu shook her head and said, "With so many fruits added, the porridge loses its authentic taste!"

Yang also said: "That's right, water and rice are harmonious, soft and greasy, so it's called porridge. With so many things added to your porridge, isn't the taste mixed and strange?"

Niu Er was criticized by the two seniors, but he said with a good-natured smile: "My name is eight-treasure porridge, which is meant to taste the taste of many fruits. Isn't your mouth weak?"

As he spoke, he poured maltose into the porridge like he didn't want money in front of Liu Shi and Yang Shi.

Liu & Yang: "..."

The two looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly, what a nonsense!He didn't listen to anyone's persuasion. It seems that whether the child can survive today is not certain.

The porridge for the three of them was cooked and brought to Yang Shiheng's courtyard.

……

Not long after, a young man came to the back kitchen to pass the message: "Where is the new cook? The boiled beef is well done, Da Lang wants to reward you in person."

Liu's and Yang's were calm, and they also watched the meat slices made by Niu Er earlier, and they really looked like the type that Da Lang would like.

Niu Er took a step forward, and before he could say anything, the steward hurried over again, "Xiao Er, the porridge is good, the gentleman can eat it, come with me to receive the reward."

This sentence surprised Liu Shi and Yang Shi, so many things mixed together, the taste should be messy, how could someone as picky as Lang Jun eat it?Could it be that the mouth is so light that it has to be washed with a strong taste?

The two chewed carefully, and felt that there was another possibility.

That is, Niu Er's porridge was mixed and not messy, but showed a rare harmony.

Thinking of the name of Niu Erqi's porridge, they felt even more certain.It's not that there is no distinction between primary and secondary, but that each is a "treasure", and each is outstanding, so it is called eight-treasure porridge.

Regardless of what the two cooks were thinking, the others looked at me and I looked at you. In the end, the young man took a step back and told Niu Er to go with the steward first.

Otherwise, what if the son can still compete with the father?

……

Yang Shiheng still didn't see Niu Er in person, so Niu Er went to receive the reward, that is, he and the steward made a silent salute outside Yang Shiheng's room, and then took the reward from the chief steward.

The butler was about fifty years old, with a straight face, and his small eyes scanned Niu Er's body several times, as if he didn't find anything wrong.

Niu Er didn't realize it, and smiled sweetly at the housekeeper: "Thank you."

The butler's face unconsciously stretched a little, revealing a little smile.After all, boys who love to laugh will not be too lucky.

The steward was also a little relieved at the side, and felt that the big housekeeper was quite satisfied with Niu Er, and he himself liked Niu Er quite a lot.

Niu Er received the reward, turned around again, and went to see Da Lang with the boy.

The two walked out of the yard, but the young man wanted to take him in, but a maid stopped them, "Why did you come at this time, Da Lang was very displeased, and said that if he came, he would rush back."

The little servant said anxiously: "It's not that the Lord's side also rewards him, so he went to the Lord's place first."

The maid was also very helpless, "But Da Lang has already said, you tell him to go back first."

The boy also knew that it was impossible to go and explain to Da Lang, and felt a little resentful in his heart. It was a good thing, but maybe he would make Da Lang displeased, so he could only say lazily: "Let's go, I'll take you back."

Niu Er obediently said: "Brother, I remember the way when I came here, you go and do your work, I can just go back by myself."

But the boy shook his head, "No, I have to send you back."

"Then I'll trouble you." Niu Er's eyes flashed a hint of disappointment.

Walking on the road, Niu Er couldn't hold back his conversation, and said with a sigh: "Is your husband always so generous? Today he gave me a whole lot of money."

"Everyone is different, but they are always...it's not a big deal." A smirk flashed across the boy's brows, "Your cooks are still inferior to the people around you."

"Lang Jun is worthy of being the husband of the Duzhi Division!" Niu Er praised, "I heard that Dalang is also going to be the Duzhisi? In the future, his son must inherit his father's business. Brother, if you follow Dalang, it will be better than that." We will have a brighter future in the kitchen!"

The servant was delighted to hear that, "Yes, Da Lang is the only son of Mr. Lang, and it is only natural for his son to inherit his father's career. Besides, our Da Lang is a genius in mathematics, and has been known as a child prodigy since he was a child!"

Niu Er blinked his eyes: "I'm an outsider, I haven't heard of it. It turns out that Dalang is so powerful, so the gentleman must rely on him very much? With the help of the gentleman, he gave advice in advance, and Dalang himself is a genius. The future is sure to be bright.”

The little servant moved his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, then he closed his mouth again, holding back for a long time and said: "Anyway, you are taking care of me, sir, hello sir, we will all live well Already!"

"That's natural." Niu Er nodded vigorously.

……

Niu Er missed an opportunity. After returning home, he thought about it for a while, and got up early the next day.

He ground pepper and cornel into powder, and made soup with a fresh river fish. He put pepper, cornel powder, tempeh, ginger, garlic, etc. into it and boiled them together, and finally boiled a pot of bright red and hot fish soup. Boiled extremely soft and soaked in spiciness.

Then use this hot and spicy fish soup, put a bowl of beef stuffed 饳, and finally sprinkle with a little fresh green onion, the tender green color is dotted with the fiery red bottom, it looks very attractive and arouses people's appetite.

When he was done, Mrs. Liu watched from the sidelines and was taken aback: "You came to Lin'an, cooking Sichuan rice is even more ruthless than the Sichuan people I have seen. It is so early in the morning, and it is done like this Spicy? This, is this still 馉饳?"

Like her and Yang's, they mainly focus on sweet dishes, after all, they are in Bianjing.As for this Niu Er, he seemed to know a little bit about everything, and he was very bold in his hands. He dared to throw so many fruits in it when making porridge, and he dared to cook spicy fish soup when making glutinous rice noodles, which made her speechless.

Ordinary people cook in boiling water, and at most use clear soup to serve it. How could such a different way be used to make Sichuan rice.

"Sister, isn't this appetizing?" Niu Er also took a spoonful of soup and fed it to her mouth.

Mrs. Liu took a sip in doubt, and immediately her tongue was numb from the spicy food, tears came out, she wiped her tears and said, "I really can't eat spicy food, it's a bit salty, but the smell of fish is very strong, it's not bad to eat it in winter. Sweating all over? I don’t know if Dalang can bear it.”

"He liked the boiled beef yesterday very much. I guess I can bear it." Niu Er smiled and put the fish soup and glutinous rice on a plate, then put some pancakes and side dishes on it, and asked someone to bring it to Da Lang. .

Not long after, yesterday's servant reappeared with a smile on his face, "Niu Er, come with me."

Liu Shi and Yang Shi looked at each other, but they could only look at each other with emotion.

This Niu Er is brave enough to find another way, but it also made him walk out of a clever way.

Niu Er wiped his hands and followed the boy out.

The boy was quite emotional, "It seems that what is yours is yours, and you can't escape."

He brought Niu Er to Da Lang's place, and entered the room, he saw luxurious furnishings, not to mention other things, even the fire shield on the charcoal basin was also exquisitely engraved.

Yang Shiheng's eldest son, Yang Yuqing, sat obliquely on a top chair, his lips were bright red, apparently from eating the fish soup.

Niu Er has been taught etiquette, so he always practiced etiquette when he came in.

Yang Yuqing lazily said: "You came up with the rice noodle soup in fish soup and the eight-treasure porridge that I gave Dad before?"

Niu Er nodded and said: "Yes, I heard that Da Lang likes spicy food today, so I tried it. Is Da Lang satisfied?"

"That's right, although I'm sweating all over, it's very refreshing." Yang Yuqing raised his feet and said, "I called you here not only to reward you, but in a few days I invited someone to enjoy the snow, so come along, Get me some dishes for Haosheng, just like these two days, you need some novelty. If you are really capable, you must benefit from it."

The servant at the side looked envious, obviously knowing that Yang Dalang's generosity cannot do without the goodness of the cook.

Niu Er also looked like he was hit by a pie, and promised again and again: "The villain will definitely live up to his high expectations."

Da Lang has revealed all the main points, he is the one who invites friends to enjoy the snow, so it must be suitable for the guests and hosts to enjoy themselves, and it must not be mediocre, Niu Er feels that he is still very confident.

Yang Yuqing said with a half-smile again: "Get him some clothes to put on his head. This time, I don't bring a cook, but a little cook, and I can't give up on myself. If it's not pleasing to the eye, why go for a tour." He put down his feet and walked in front of Niu Er , pinched Niu Er's chin, raised his face and looked at him, "Well, not bad, not bad."

The tentacles were delicate and smooth, Yang Yuqing seemed very satisfied with the feel, and touched Niu Er's cheek again, before letting go, and said with a smile: "What's your name?"

He looked at the young man with a smile on his face, only to hear him lower his head shyly, and said in a low voice, "The villain's name is Niu Er..."

"..." Yang Yuqing suddenly felt bored, as if Shihua had been ruined, "Why did you come up with this name... Forget it, let's go."

"Yes." Niu Er stood up, with his head still down, and his eyes narrowed.