Chapter 69: The Autumn Wind Raises Crab Feet Itchy
"They say that when the autumn wind blows, crabs' legs will itch. What a coincidence! I just happened to bring you some crabs! I steamed them tonight for you to try!"
Li Qinru, on the other hand, came here completely unprepared. She knew very well that the Bai family in Beijing was different from the Bai family in Huzhou. The Bai family in Beijing was the direct heir of the upright Bai family! If Bei's courtesy was too light, she was afraid that Bai Jingxuan would
them
The father and daughter looked down upon him. The gift he prepared was too heavy and it seemed that they were trying to cling to him. Therefore, after much thought, Li Qin prepared some local Huzhou specialties and picked some things that were not common in the capital city.
, brought it over!
Take these crabs for example. Although they are found in other places, they are not as fat as the crabs in Huzhou! It is said that the water and soil in this area support a person, but the crabs raised in the water in Huzhou are all very fat.
Fat, with green shells and white bellies, the meat is fresh and tender! Moreover, the crabs in Huzhou have more creamy meat in the male crabs, and thicker and yellower meat in the female crabs, and their nutritional value is even greater! After being cooked, the crab aroma can spread for miles!
"Miss... the doctor said, you can't eat cold things. This crab..."
Cai Xing was a little worried, so she quietly whispered in Bai Yanqing's ear.
Last time, in order to reject the third prince, Bai Yanqing ate too much and hurt her spleen and stomach. The doctor repeatedly warned that those with weak spleen and stomach should not eat cold food, but this crab is a food for severe cold!
If Bai Yanqing refuses, it will appear that she is not a housewife. If she does not refuse, she will be the one to suffer! In comparison, Cai Xing is still more worried about Bai Yanqing's health!
"It's okay! Eat less and it'll be okay!"
Bai Yanqing patted the back of Cai Xing's hand and said indifferently.
All the conversations between Bai Yanqing and Caixing fell into the ears of Aunt An behind her. She looked at the two people whispering in front of her, weighed in her mind, and finally spoke.
"Although crabs are good, they are also cold. Women are already weak and yin-deficient. Eating too much may not be good for the spleen and stomach. Today, when my young lady sees her little aunt, she will inevitably be greedy. If you don't mind, I will be greedy.
You can go and get some home-brewed rice wine to warm it up. Then it will be delicious with Aunt Bai’s crabs."
Aunt An smiled and spoke to everyone.
Aunt An's own rice wine contains a lot of blood-activating and cold-repelling drugs, and is eaten with crabs. Firstly, it can remove the smell of crabs, and secondly, it can neutralize the smell and prevent injuries from cold things.
Spleen and stomach.
Aunt An arrived at Bai Mansion for the first time, so others were not familiar with her. Everyone was stunned when she opened her mouth. Only Li Qinru was not dumbfounded. After all, she was also new at Bai Mansion, and she was not familiar with anyone else.
.
"Yes, yes, I didn't think well! This aunt was more thoughtful!"
Li Qinru said a little embarrassed.
"With Auntie's crabs and Aunt An's good wine, we will have a great time tonight!"
After that, Bai Yanqing ordered Cai Xing to send someone to inform Bai Furong and her daughter, asking them to come over for dinner together. As for whether Bai Furong is willing to show up, it all depends on whether she is relieved.
When he learned that Li Qinru had arrived, Bai Jingxuan also hurriedly finished the official duties at hand, and then hurried back. As soon as he entered the house, he smelled the mouth-watering scent of crab.
When Bai Jingxuan stepped into the hall, what he saw was a happy and harmonious picture.
"Father is back!"
After all, Bai Yanqing had sharp eyes, and she caught sight of Bai Jingxuan returning at a glance.
After hearing this, everyone raised their heads and looked toward the door.
"I've met uncle!"
Li Qinru stood up, bent slightly and bowed her knees, and saluted Bai Jingxuan politely. After all, it was their first meeting, so etiquette was inevitable.
"We are all one family, brothers and sisters don't need to be polite."
Bai Jingxuan stretched out his hand and gave it a weak hand.
"This is the first time for my siblings to return home. If there is anything you are not used to, feel free to discuss it with Yan Qing. Don't be constrained!"
Bai Jingxuan waved his hand and motioned for everyone to take their seats, and then spoke politely to Li Qinru.
"Yes, thank you uncle. Everything is fine in the house. Yan Qing is thoughtful, but my aunt is not as thoughtful as her."
Li Qinru smiled very gently, and looked at Bai Yanqing with eyes filled with admiration.
Bai Jingxuan was naturally very happy when others praised his daughter, and his pride overflowed on his face.
While several people were talking, a servant came to report that Bai Furong and her daughter were here. Bai Jingxuan and Bai Yanqing and his daughter were both stunned. They thought that Bai Furong had not yet resolved her knot and refused to come.
Ah! Now it seems that she has figured it out, right?
When Bai Furong and Lai Bizhi entered the house, everyone could not help but exchange pleasantries again. Since Li Qin had just arrived, it was also the first time he saw Bai Jingxuan and Bai Furong's brother and sister, so the etiquette must be thorough and a few words of greetings were indispensable.
When Bai Yanqing saw Bai Furong, who still looked a little gloomy, she quietly pulled Lai Bizhi aside to ask. She was relieved to learn that Bai Furong was in a much better mood today.
"My sister still feels sorry for her mother!"
Lai Bizhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was also worried that Bai Yanqing would hold a grudge and refuse to forgive her mother. But now, seeing Bai Yanqing take the initiative to ask about her mother's condition, Lai Bizhi was convinced that Bai Yanqing still cared about her aunt in her heart.
.
"When my aunt is confused, it is really heartbreaking, but what crime does she have? I feel sorry for my mother, so why doesn't she?"
While Bai Yanqing stretched out her hand to take the handkerchief handed over by Aunt An, she was talking to Lai Bizhi. These words were not meant to be betrayed, so Bai Yanqing did not shy away from Cai Xing and Aunt An.
"Aunt An, why are you so stunned?"
Seeing that Aunt An was stunned and didn't hand the handkerchief to Bai Yanqing's hand, Cai Xing couldn't help but push Aunt An gently.
With this push, the handkerchief that was about to be handed over fell to the ground. Looking at the handkerchief that slipped from her fingertips, Bai Yanqing felt that something was wrong with Aunt An.
"I...I will...get a new veil for the lady!"
Aunt An lowered her head as she spoke, turned around and raised her feet to run out. Unexpectedly, the moment she turned around, she bumped into Bai Jingxuan who was getting up.
"How unbecoming it is to act recklessly!"
Bai Jingxuan looked down at the woman who had crashed into his arms. He was extremely unhappy at the moment and couldn't help but scolded her in a low voice.
"Father, don't be upset. Aunt An just entered the house yesterday and is still a little unaccustomed to it. I hope father won't argue with her. My daughter will take her down to rest for a while!"
Bai Yanqing winked at Cai Xing, and Cai Xing hurried forward and pulled Aunt An away! Bai Yanqing immediately raised her feet and followed!
"Aunt An, what's going on? If you feel unwell today, you can tell me!"
Bai Yanqing also looked a little unhappy. She thought Aunt An was a safe person, but she didn't expect that even a handkerchief could reveal something!
"It's my slave's fault!"
Aunt An didn't make any excuses, she just lowered her head and admitted her mistake with a sincere attitude that made Bai Yanqing feel embarrassed to embarrass her again.
"That's all, go back and get some handkerchiefs for me. I'll have to wipe my hands later!"
Bai Yanqing sighed, stopped blaming her, and waved her hand to Aunt An to go back and get the handkerchief.
When Aunt An was far away, Bai Yanqing turned aside and told Cai Xing to help Aunt An when she was having dinner later, and to look after her more so that she would make as few mistakes as possible. After saying that, she turned around and entered again.
Inside the hall.
However, no one noticed that Aunt An, who had gone far away, stood in the dark, turned around and looked at the brightly lit hall, with tears already filling her eyes.
…
"Here comes the crab!"
Bai Yanqing and Cai Xing had just returned to the hall when they saw servants pouring into the hall carrying drawers of steamed crabs. The overflowing scent of crabs aroused the appetites of everyone present.
After Bai Yanqing sat down, she was amazed by the bright yellow crabs in front of her. Just when she rolled up her sleeves and prepared to eat, Aunt An arrived at the right time.
"Miss, please don't get your hands dirty, please come as a slave!"
Aunt An lowered her head and carefully straightened Bai Yanqing's sleeves, then stood beside Bai Yanqing and carefully peeled the crab shell for her.
"The crab shell is sharp, don't prick the lady."
Aunt An was peeling the crabs while whispering to Bai Yanqing. The rest of the people were all focused on the crabs on the round table. Who had the time to care about others.
"Caixing, bring up the rice wine for everyone!"
Bai Yanqing turned around and gave instructions to Cai Xing. Cai Xing stepped back and soon brought two jars of rice wine.
After uncorking the bottle, the aroma of wine overflowed. The clear and rich aroma of the wine made everyone present swallow their saliva secretly.
At Bai Yanqing's signal, Cai Xing poured the wine for everyone. For a moment, the aroma of wine and crab mingled in the entire hall, making everyone move their index fingers.
"Young lady has a cold spleen and stomach. This ginger vinegar was prepared by my servant myself. You can eat it with confidence, young lady."
Aunt An peeled off a whole crab, then dipped the crab meat in some ginger vinegar and handed it to Bai Yanqing.
Ginger juice has the effect of dispelling cold and relieving pain, and its spiciness perfectly neutralizes the sourness of vinegar. The crab meat is dipped in a little ginger vinegar, and there is no crab smell at all. It is very sweet in the mouth. Drizzle with a little ginger juice.
Pour the vinegar onto the crab roe, scoop it up with a long-handled spoon, and put a spoonful into your mouth. The delicious crab roe will melt in your mouth, leaving a fragrant aroma on your lips and teeth.
Even Cai Xing on the side couldn't help but swallow his saliva. This crab looked so tempting!
"The crabs in Huzhou are naturally different from those in other places. The crabs grown in Huzhou water have thick meat, and the crab belly is full of crab roe and crab paste!"
Li Qinru was greeting people to serve crabs and talking to everyone with a smile.
“It’s really good. It’s really different from what I’ve eaten before!”
Bai Yanqing was quite happy with her meal, and saw Cai Xing's greedy look on the side.
"Such delicious crabs, Yan Qing is so shameless, why don't you ask Auntie for a few more?"
Bai Yanqing glanced at Cai Xing and smiled secretly in her heart. This little girl couldn't hide her greedy face!
"Yes, yes! There are so many! If Yan Qing likes it, I will have someone send a few more boxes to the capital! It will be the Mid-Autumn Festival in a few days, and everyone will get together again and have a good time!"
Li Qinru is indeed very generous. Such crabs are common in Huzhou, but they are rare in Beijing!
After eating a whole crab, Bai Yanqing never got her hands dirty. I have to say that Aunt An was really considerate and considerate. Bai Yanqing never got her hands on such a small thing.
"This rice wine is fresh, sweet and mellow in the mouth, not even spicy at all, and has a faint medicinal aroma. Paired with this mouthful of crab roe, it is truly the best in the world!"
Bai Yanqing couldn't help but took a few more sips of the rice wine Cai Xing brought over. This rice wine was indeed different from those sold outside!
Bai Yanqing's words aroused the curiosity of others. Everyone put down the crabs in their hands, picked up the newly filled wine glasses, and each took a sip.
"This wine..."
Bai Jingxuan just took a sip of the wine in the glass, and suddenly raised his head, staring at Bai Yanqing's face, as if he wanted to see a hole in her face!
"Father...what's wrong?"
Looking at Bai Jingxuan's sharp eyes, Bai Yanqing was stunned. This wine was not poisonous! She had tasted it just now and it tasted very good! But her father's eyes seemed to swallow her up! Bai Yanqing was staring at her a little.
Panic!
"Where did this wine come from?"
Bai Jingxuan stared at Bai Yanqing, his eyes gradually becoming bloodshot.
Seeing that her father was quite excited at the moment, Bai Yanqing was a little scared. For a moment, she didn't know whether she should tell Bai Jingxuan that Aunt An made the wine herself.