Stir-fried marinated pork with lotus root, fried duck with spicy pepper, boiled cabbage in crispy broth, and courgette mixed with salt. Several dishes were delivered to the table one after another. The person cooking was Zhao Erniang, and Zhang Xiaomei and Taohua Fairy were also helping to set the meal... because it was just a while ago
Zhang Ning had already dismissed all the cooks, maids, and handymen in the courtyard.
When those people were dismissed, each of them was given five taels of silver. In this era when a well-off family only spends one tael a year, the severance pay of five taels is definitely considered a very kind boss. Plus these people are here
After working together for several months, Zhang Ning thought they would be somewhat nostalgic before leaving, but unexpectedly they left very quickly.
When Zhao Erniang brought the dishes, she also muttered: "The money given by the boss is too much. This is how the money is used... Just give it to me. I thought those people would be thinking of the boss's kindness and at least give it to me."
After dinner is ready and the yard is tidied up before leaving, it turns out that we are just wishful thinking, and people are afraid that we will think that we have too much money and the enemy will not take it for free."
Fang Ling smiled and said, "Didn't you expect that some slaves can also break Er Niang's heart?"
Zhao Erniang glanced at Zhang Ning: "It's not those people who can hurt me. It's just that I almost forgot the ruthlessness of the world for a while, and they reminded me again today."
Zhang Ning stretched out his chopsticks to taste a piece of lotus root with an indifferent expression. While chewing, he praised: "It's not bad, crispy, it tastes like it was made by Er Niang. Even if the family hired a cook, I would still eat it made by Er Niang."
If you don’t eat the food one day, you will definitely not get used to it for a long time.”
This sentence was obviously talking about her cooking skills, but in fact it revealed a shallow and sincere warmth. Zhao Erniang's face showed a kind of emotion that she was hiding because of embarrassment. Looking back, she saw that Fang Ling and others were very impressed.
She responded with a kind smile, and her heart felt warm again. This small circle made her reluctant to leave.
In fact, everyone knows about Zhao Erniang's "misfortune", and a woman's compassion makes people obey Zhao Erniang and treat her well.
Her voice trembled slightly and became gentle: "Try this plate of duck meat, it may be very spicy. Let me tell you, Huguang is hot and humid, so you have to eat spicy food."
"It's really spicy enough." Zhang Ning just picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, but he was stunned and couldn't speak clearly. Zhang Xiaomei hurriedly took his bowl to fill the soup.
He took a sip of the soup and exhaled a long breath of hot air. Fang Ling smiled and said, "Don't try it, little sister. People from Jiangsu and Zhejiang cannot eat spicy food."
Zhang Ning looked back at the scene in the yard. It was no longer as tidy as usual. There was a large bag of luggage at the door, which made him feel a little more anxious about going out. He reached into his arms and took out a letter and handed it to the Peach Blossom Fairy:
"When the news is confirmed, I have to ask the fairy to rush to Nanjing, bring a few people and this letter from me, and bring my uncle's family to the anti-evil sect to stay temporarily."
Fairy Peach Blossom took the things and couldn't help but said: "If you want to be ruthless, then the emperor's family can be considered. Mr. Zhang has made a lot of contributions to Xuande, and even your family will not be spared if suspicion arises?"
"Just in case. If the emperor is not going to send someone down to investigate, but calls me back to Beijing directly, we have to make preparations early." He glanced at Zhang Xiaomei and said, "Uncle Zhang has been kind to me.
, now it is helpless to involve them, but we cannot sit idly by and ignore it."
At this moment, there was a loud "bang bang" knock on the door. The people at the dinner table immediately stopped talking. The Peach Blossom Fairy immediately got up and went into the room to get the sword. Everyone's expressions changed immediately when they saw it.
Zhang Ning mentally estimated the days again and said calmly: "The people from the imperial court won't come now, not so soon." After saying that, he glanced at the Peach Blossom Fairy and said, "Open the door and see who it is."
The Peach Blossom Fairy walked out of the dining room and opened the courtyard door. She stood there and said a few words. Everything was calm. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. After a while, the Peach Blossom Fairy came into the house with two women.
Zhang Ning has seen both of them. They are the two main guardians of the anti-evil sect. The older one is Dongxue and the younger one is Chunmei.
In the Anti-evil Cult, there are four high-ranking guardians below the leader. They are the people with comprehensive real power in this organization. One autumn leaf just left, and now two more came suddenly. Zhang Ning realized that something important had happened.
Dongxue is an old woman in her late fifties. She looks like a peasant woman with rough skin. She looks more like a commoner wearing homespun clothes. It is indeed a bit inconsistent to be associated with her name. But there is a scorpion hanging around her neck.
The Buddhist beads added a bit of mystery. She bowed politely: "We are a bit presumptuous in coming, disturbing Mr. Zhang's dinner."
Zhang Ning hurriedly replied: "It doesn't matter, you two have come all the way here after a tiring journey. You must have something important to do?"
The other guardian Chunmei is in a different situation. This girl must be less than twenty years old by visual inspection. She is too young to be Dongxue's daughter. She is able to reach the position of guardian at such a young age, but she doesn't know what special ability she has.
Her dress is very unusual. She has many small braids on her head, which looks like a barbarian woman's headdress. However, she wears a cross-collar blouse full of Hanfu style, with exquisite embroidery on the collar and cuffs, just like a lady...
... Wearing long trousers may be convenient for riding. Of course, her image is nondescript in people's eyes. Maybe the ancient version of non-mainstream is her virtue?
There were so many women in the anti-evil cult that Zhang Ning didn't pay attention to her, but his attention was immediately attracted. First of all, her oval face, and her pointed chin added to her pretentious charm. This kind of face was obviously considered a good one in this era.
Unfortunately, her eyes were even more bold, scanning Zhang Ning's body unscrupulously. There was no trace of any feminine etiquette on her body.
Then Zhang Ning was attracted by the towering breasts that held up the clothes. As Zhang Ning knew, there was no bra in the Ming Dynasty, and there was nothing that could deliberately support the breasts. In addition, the Hanfu system was loose.
Generally speaking, anything that can hold up such a height with clothes must not only be plump but also strong. Just like Fang Ling and others in the room, they all have considerable breasts when they are not wearing clothes, except for Zhao Erniang, who usually only bulges under clothes but is not so conspicuous.
Zhang Ning couldn't understand why he could still think about that thing in his mind at such a time. Many times in critical situations, his thoughts were so simple. What was so good about the woman in front of him? Imagine how it would feel to touch...
At this time Chunmei spoke, her voice was very squeamish: "We ran all the way and could only eat dry food. We haven't even eaten dry food this afternoon. We are covered in stinky sweat from running. I have to worry about disturbing others tonight."
Apologize, ugh." After saying that, he picked up the material of his collar and lowered his head to smell it, which exposed his cleavage.
The eyes of the women in the room immediately showed a hint of disgust and disgust towards this woman. Dong Xue, who came with her, looked at her expressionlessly, as if she was used to it.
After hearing this, Zhang Ning said: "We have just started eating. If you two guardians don't mind, let's sit down and eat together first. Second mother, go get two pairs of chopsticks."
Chunmei looked at the women's eyes innocently and said, "Are you speaking politely, or do you want to invite me sincerely?"
Zhao Erniang actually retorted angrily: "It's none of our business whether we protect or not protect the religion. We are not members of the anti-evil cult. Why should I serve her?"
Chunmei said to Dongxue face to face: "If you don't say a word, people are scolding you for being a protector, and I'm not the only one."
Everyone was immediately speechless.
Zhang Ning had no choice but to turn around and say: "Little sister, go get the chopsticks and bowl. Don't be angry, please sit down and talk."
Zhang Xiaomei happily agreed and went obediently. She is really an extremely easy-to-get-to person, and it can be seen right now.
Dongxue declined and thanked her politely, but her politeness made Zhang Ning feel that she was too serious and dull, and she seemed very boring. In contrast, he preferred Chunmei to talk, which was much more interesting... Apparently women and men like this
What kind of people are completely different.
Chunmei smiled and said, "You are such a well-educated scholar."
Zhang Ning responded with a kind smile of thanks, after all, others were praising him.
Dongxue spoke in that lifeless tone again: "We were ordered by the leader to rush day and night to deliver the letter." After saying that, he took out an envelope and handed it over respectfully with both hands, "This is a letter written by the leader himself."
Zhang Ning looked attentively, took it carefully, paused and put it in his pocket, not wanting to read Yao Ji's autographed letter at the dinner table.
Seeing this, Dongxue said: "The leader is very anxious and asked Mr. Zhang to set off to the main altar immediately after receiving the letter without packing up anything. There is reliable news from above that the imperial court will send Jin Yiwei to take Mr. Zhang back for questioning. It is estimated that the Jin Yiwei is already there.
We are on our way, so there is no further delay.”
"That's it." Zhang Ning nodded.
Chunmei said: "You are not in a hurry at all?"
Zhang Ning said with a smile: "I have already made a guess. I have already dismissed my servants, packed my luggage, and are ready to leave Yuanshui Tea Garden at any time. Now I just confirmed the news."
Chunmei said: "Master Zhang, why don't you buy a goose feather fan?"
"Why do I want a goose feather fan..." Zhang Ning asked doubtfully, and the people next to him couldn't understand this kind of nonsense. This is what Chunmei's girls are completely crazy about.
"Because Zhuge Kongming, the master of the Three Kingdoms, has a goose-feather fan. Mr. Kongming is also very handsome and handsome. Don't you know?" Chunmei became amused and leaned forward and backward with laughter. But she was the only one laughing.
Zhang Ning had no choice but to laugh twice and thought to himself: Reliable news from above? Unexpectedly, the news from Jianwen's party members was so efficient. He was worried that the painstaking calculations would have no impact and disappear... This is really good news.
He thought deeper and thought that most of the people who leaked the secrets of the imperial court were Wang Gou'er. Only this eunuch could have easy access to such secrets.
Just then Chunmei's voice said: "What the hell is this? It's so spicy!"
Zhao Erniang said: "You don't want to eat as much as you like, but you don't mind eating other people's food."
Zhang Ning finally said: "Please stop saying a few words. The two guardians are guests, and the hard work is for our sake. Therefore, we should treat you well. Why bother with the details?"
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