[Comprehensive] The days when I pretended to be a meow in the Forbidden City

"Master, it's here." A low-key small carriage stopped at the door of a two-entry house. A middle-aged man with the appearance of a housekeeper put a small stool on the ground, and then moved closer to raise the curtain for the owner's house, respectfully Get people out of the car.

Every posture of his is extremely regular, and he looks like an experienced and seasoned butler, but when he lowered his head, his nose couldn't help but twitched twice.

Well, it smells so good.

This smell, faintly, is the smell of food... like marinade, but not exactly like it.

It is more three-dimensional, and the taste seems to be stronger, like a rope, which hooks people's spirits in strands.

Helping his master out of the carriage, this middle-aged butler with a goatee is the butler of the Lin family who was rescued by Xia Anran, and he came here this time to personally thank him.

After the young master of the Lin family was brought home, he started to have a fever and talked nonsense, so the Lin family naturally circled around the young master.

The doctor said it, thankfully he discovered it early.

Young Master Lin is so honorable. He was frightened by the kidnapper and was taken away by force. He was frozen again. Even if the fever subsides, he still babbles constantly. He can't sleep well at night. He must be accompanied by his own father to feel safe. .

Lin Ruhai was not a loving father in the first place, but now that his son suffered a serious crime, his heart suddenly became soft, so he had to accompany his youngest son after he left the office.

When the young master got better, he pulled out his nerves and came to the door to thank him personally with a thank you gift, also to make amends.

Just as he got out of the car, he was startled by the strong fragrance.

Lin Ruhai is the only seedling of the four generations of the Lin family. He has not been very strong since he was a child, and he is also from a scholarly family. The food at home is mainly light and restrained. Even at banquets outside, he chooses more soft and rotten food. Food-based.

The stew... the stew is eaten very occasionally... Hiss, "This is really... delicious."

He is in poor health, but the daughter-in-law at home is still in good health. Lin Ruhai brushed off the non-existent dust on her body, looked around, and couldn't find the store, so she said to the housekeeper, "Wait, find out who this is from." If the marinade is clean, I will buy it and bring it back for the lady to taste."

Butler Lin readily agreed, and waved his hand to find a young man to ask him to inquire. He had to go to work with the master at home.

Lin Ruhai nodded to the housekeeper, and the housekeeper took a few steps forward and lightly knocked the door button of the second courtyard, and said loudly, "But at Mr. Xia Xiaolang's house, we are young master Lin's family, so we came to thank you."

He soon heard a reply from a child inside, followed by the sound of running, and then the wooden door was opened.

The impactful fragrance rushed towards him, and Lin Butler felt that his entire soul was shaken by the impact.He quickly recovered, and nodded to the little boy in front of him with great professional ethics, "But Mr. Xia Xiaolang?"

"Exactly." Xia Anran bowed to him, "The old man is..."

"This is the butler of the Lin family. This is our master. The one who helped the young master before is our master's only son. This time I took the liberty to visit the door. Firstly, I want to thank the little man for saving our young master. Second, It is also an apology for the delay in coming to the door."

Butler Lin made his intentions clear in a few words, and his expression was extremely sincere. Xia Anran hurriedly asked people to come in and sit down first. It was really rude to keep the guests out in winter.

The two of them were invited into the room. As soon as they entered the room, Steward Lin and Lin Ruhai's eyes lit up. They saw a small fireplace built in the room, which was not big in size. A pot of water was steaming, and the stove was converted from a simple large tank, and there were two futons beside it, which looked very comfortable.

This stove was made by Xia Anran not long ago, and it is actually very rough. The bottom is a large tile vat that Xia’s family has no longer used. The bottom is covered with a thick layer of ash left over from the firewood in the stove. The fireproof layer was isolated with broken bricks, and a few small pieces of charcoal were placed inside, which were flickering and flashing red.

This small surrounding stove can be moved as needed, because instead of an open flame, the amount of charcoal used is less, and it is safer. The plant ash has a sufficient flame-retardant effect. When it is necessary to extinguish the fire, you only need to press the charcoal into the ash. In fact, at the beginning, Xia Anran was a little worried about carbon monoxide poisoning... Later, he realized that, after thinking too much, the house was actually quite airy, and the degree of air leakage made him not need to worry about such small problems at all.

The kettle was placed on top of it, and the charcoal fire was only enough to keep the water at a warm temperature, so in fact, the kettle of water was boiled on the stove first and then placed here to keep warm.

Putting this pot of water is not only because it is convenient to drink hot water, but also because if nothing is put on the fire, the heat will go up and spread out when it hits the roof, but if you put a kettle , the hot air will disperse when it hits the kettle, part of it will be absorbed by the kettle, and it will go down, which can ensure the heat around the stove and the surrounding warmth, which is conducive to heating.

This is what Xia Anran learned from watching popular science programs in variety shows.

He asked the two to sit down, and took out a futon from the back room, "Please sit down first, gentlemen, and I will pour tea for the gentlemen."

Lin Steward and Lin Ruhai looked at each other, but Lin Ruhai didn't mind, and said, "Since Mr. Xiao Lang doesn't mind, Mingde might as well sit down and enjoy the fire together, this small stove is quite warm."

The two grew up together, Lin Butler is Lin Ruhai's baby brother, sometimes there is no need to care about the difference between master and servant.Lin Butler was also free and easy, and sat down on the spot with one hand lifting his hem.

The two haven't sat on this kind of futon for a long time. The Xia family's futon is made of rattan and has good elasticity. Although this sitting posture is a bit indecent, it also has a bit of rustic charm when you do it occasionally.

Lin Ruhai became a little interested in this child.

Xia Anran came out with a teacup and a tea tray after the two of them tidied up their grooming.

He moved a small table, put things on it, and then put two teacups in front of the two guests. "Both of you, please drink tea."

As soon as the tea cup is lifted, a sweet fragrance of grains rushes to the face, the tea color is golden, and it is seventy percent full, so it is easy to start.

Lin Ruhai was slightly taken aback when he smelled the taste, "This is..." He hesitated for a moment, recalling the taste he had drunk before, and then asked with some uncertainty, "But corn tea?"

Xia Anran nodded.

The so-called corn tea is actually a tea made from corn silk. Corn silk is flat in nature and sweet in taste, which is good for removing edema, promoting bile excretion, and has anti-allergic and slight detoxification effects.

The key is that drinking corn tea in winter, its sweet and mellow taste can make people feel happy.

The Xia family doesn't have any good tea to entertain people, but this corn tea is really unique.

After serving tea to the two of them, Xia Anran sat down, saw that both of them took a sip of tea, their eyebrows relaxed, and couldn't help smiling, "It's snowing in Gusu today, you two came here bravely, it's really intentional."

"Take the liberty to bother me." Lin Ruhai nodded to Xia Anran, with a calm and cautious attitude, "Thanks to Mr. Xiao Lang for saving my son, he was shocked these days, so it's not convenient to come to thank him in person. When my son is healthy, I will definitely let him Come to thank Mr. Xiao Lang."

"Lord Lin, you don't have to be polite." Xia Anran, who was listening quietly, smiled and shook her head slightly, "Your young master is blessed. Expose the kidnapper. The kid is just throwing bricks, and the one who attracts the jade is the policeman."

"Young Lord, you are polite." Seeing that he was modest, Lin Ruhai didn't say any more. He took another sip of corn tea, then put down the teacup and said, "To tell you the truth, I have heard a lot of rumors these days, but for that I am still very curious about Mr. Ri Xiaolang's performance of wisdom and bravery, could you please tell me what the scene was like that day."

Xia Anran was taken aback for a moment, he didn't expect Lin Ruhai to let him repeat the scene of that day, but after thinking about it, he knew why.

He hadn't thought about it that much before, but the servant woman brought a cloak to look at the richness, and poured the young master with medicine... The point is, the young master, who is only three years old, should not be taken out in winter, let alone, just According to the information he got before, the Lin family came back to worship their ancestors during the New Year's Eve, and there are naturally traces of ancestor worship.

Young master Lin, you won't be abducted by others, will you?Theoretically, most kidnappers should not set their sights on a wealthy family like Young Master Lin, especially a child who is an official, let alone an only child, because the price is too high.

Then, Xia Anran made a bold guess.

Was it kidnapping by a political enemy?Or, revenge?

Then it is very possible that the reason why these kidnappers came to Gusu was actually for Young Master Lin, and the remaining 20 or so children were probably just passing by - but it had nothing to do with him.

Xia Anran thought about the whole process of that day carefully, and tried to tell the whole thing through.

After saying that the kidnapper was stopped by passers-by for a moment, Lin Ruhai frowned, "Young master, do you still remember what the woman who stopped the kidnapper looked like?"

After thinking for a while, Xia Anran said uncertainly, "The seat I was standing in, I couldn't see the woman's face very clearly, but I remembered that she was slender and a bit tall, more than a head taller than Pai Huazi,"

He blinked, hey, it's so strange, why... can't remember what that person looks like at all, except for his height, he can't think of other characteristics. "The clothes... the clothes are also very ordinary..."

Xia Anran has always felt that he has a good memory, but no matter how he thinks back at this moment, he can't remember the woman's appearance, not even a single feature.

Seeing that there was no more news, Lin Ruhai's expression did not change. He thanked the child again very sincerely, and took the gift list from Butler Lin, and offered "Little Master, please don't refuse my favor." .”

Seeing the thick gift list, Xia Anran didn't even blink his eyes. He thought about it for a while, but still took it, and put it aside instead of opening it.

He didn't know what the Lin family gave, but for this kind of Zanying family, the problem that can be solved with money is far simpler and more direct than the solution of owed favors.

If he refuses, it will give people a look that he is plotting more. He smiled freely, "It's because the kid's eyelids are shallow." The young boy tilted his head slightly, and smiled so much that his small canine teeth were exposed. "Master Xie Lin."

"Xiao Lang-jun, you are welcome, Xiao Lang-jun is the benefactor of the Lin family." Lin Ruhai said very straightforwardly, "If anyone from the Lin family can help me in the future, please don't give birth to Xiao Lang-jun. I will return to Beijing after the new year. But I have already talked about the young master with the old Zhai people, if there is any difficulty, please don't hesitate."

Huh?This was somewhat beyond Xia Anran's expectations, it was a promise from the Lin family to help him without going too far.

Xia Anran originally thought that the Lin family planned to repay the favor with generous gifts, but it didn't?

He thought about it, Lin Ruhai in the original book is also a very kind person, Jia Yucun has only been Daiyu's husband for a few years, and this person recommended books to others, which made him a little embarrassed.

Seeing that the two were about to say goodbye, he hurriedly asked to stay.

Xia Anran trotted into the kitchen, Xia family was cutting braised pork.

This stewed meat was stewed for half a day today, because it was pierced before putting it in, it is already very tasty.

Xia Anran said a few words to Xia Shi, and Xia Shi was a little surprised when she heard that Master Lin was visiting, but she quickly calmed down, but when Xia Anran said that she would give away the whole piece of stewed meat, she still After hesitating for a while, "Is this... this pork meat is a bit..."

"Mom, don't worry." Xia Anran was very calm, "We have given the best things to others, so it's okay."

What Xia family was worried about was what I said before that the upper class did not eat pork, but Xia Anran was not worried. First, even if Lin Ruhai didn’t eat it, she would give it to others. After all, it is meat, so it would never be wasted. Second, This is to show his attitude, to give the best they can give, as for whether the other party appreciates it, it doesn't matter whether the conclusion is different.

Xia family took kraft paper to wrap the stewed meat, took a bamboo pot and spooned some marinade, and handed it to Xia Anran who was waiting.

As soon as her gaze turned to the empty pot, the worry she had just had disappeared...and turned into some regret.

They have been cooking braised pork for a whole day, and they haven't eaten it yet.

The author has something to say: Mr. Author, are you a little wordy...

When it comes to eating, I can't stop the car... silently covering my face.

Corn tea is really delicious!Sweet!I personally like the taste of corn very much, and it is cheap, TB sells it.Now there is still that kind of roasted corn tea, which has a burnt aroma of corn. (sucks silently)

So far no one has guessed who Gong is.

The author showed an inscrutable smile.

The author of the Xiaoweilu in the article has seen someone do it, it is really surprisingly simple! !The essence is that thick plant ash and a small amount of charcoal, really, really, will not burn at all!Even if the wood is placed under the ashes, it will not burn.

This is a simplified version of the hearth. After all, Gusu City is quite hot in summer, so there is no need to dig a hole for winter use, so Xiaoxia made a surrounding stove.

right!I don’t know if you have this habit. It’s just TV dramas or movies. When you see this kind of stove with no teapot on it to boil water and lean on the meat, you feel... this charcoal is so wasteful... ahem.

PS: Putting things on top can really have a warming effect!

PPS: You can also barbecue!