Zhang Ning's residence is indeed not very spacious. The small courtyard upon entering is like a house on the top of the mountain. There are two bamboo and peach trees planted in the small courtyard, and the branches are bare. The rent is only one tael per month, which is cheap. If in later generations, it would be six hundred
Can I rent a courtyard house with seven or eight rooms in urban Beijing?
Luo Yaoniang's carriage had no choice but to lean on the road outside the courtyard gate. The alley was not wide and was immediately blocked halfway. The horse had to be tied to the bamboo and peach tree in the yard because the stable in the yard was too small.
Two handymen assigned by the Ministry of Ceremonies came to lead the donkeys. Apart from Zhang Ning, they were the only two people in the family, and neither of them was a very good labor force: one was a groom who was almost sixty years old, Zhang Ning called him Old Man He; the other was a young man in his teens.
, but he was skinny, and his mouth was crooked. He often giggled "hehe" for no reason. When he heard that his surname was Niu, Zhang Ning felt that he was quite "second", so he decided to rank him as Niu 2. Niu.
The second is a follower, doing chores such as buying firewood, rice and cleaning the yard, but Zhang Ning feels that his IQ is unreliable, so the money for daily expenses is handed over to Mr. He. The salary of these two people is paid by the Ministry of Rites, and Zhang Ning
It would be better to be picky than picky.
"Old man He, we have guests at home today. I want to buy some things now. I'm afraid Niu Erji is not good, so you go and make a trip." Zhang Ning ordered, "Spare ribs, fish, pork, leg meat and condiments, leg meat
Buy two more pounds."
Old man He agreed and went to get the money, while Niu Er took the donkey to feed. Zhang Ning invited Luo Yaoniang and Wang Zhen into a west wing that was used as a study to entertain them. The two servants were not there and made tea.
Only Zhang Ning took matters into his own hands.
"We really can't bear to have you serve tea and water in person." Luo Yaoniang said with a smile.
Zhang Ning brought the tea and put it on the table, and said nonchalantly: "The house is simple, you two can be more casual. By the way, Wang Maocai, there is a bed in the room to the north of the east chamber. I will take the quilt and tidy it up later.
It’s a manageable stay.”
Wang Zhen took a big sip of tea and said with some emotion: "Brother Ping'an's friendship, Mr. Wang will never forget it."
Zhang Ning thought: Forget about friendship, as long as you don't think about Laozi Yin, I have nothing to do with you.
When Old Man He bought the things back, Zhang Ning stood up and said, "I'm going to change clothes and make dinner. Please sit down and excuse me."
After hearing this, Wang Zhen and Luo Yaoniang immediately made a fuss and looked surprised. Wang Zhen said: "A gentleman is far away from the kitchen, how can he dare to let Brother Ping'an cook and entertain?" Luo Yaoniang said with great interest: "You can also cook?"
Zhang Ning smiled and said: "Old man He usually cooks meals for three people, but the taste is hard to say. We can't let him cook today because we have guests."
There is no other way. With Zhang Ning's income, a monthly salary of two and a half, one tael will be deducted from the rent. He should go to restaurants and restaurants as little as possible, otherwise he will really have to borrow money to survive in a short time. If it costs too much to entertain guests in restaurants and restaurants,
It's different when buying things at home. Pork only costs 20 cents per pound, and carp costs less than 20 cents per pound. This meal can be done for less than two cents.
Zhang Ning changed into old clothes made of white linen and went into the kitchen. After a while, Luo Yaoniang also ran in. When she saw him rolling up his sleeves and picking up the kitchen knife, she covered her mouth and laughed heartily: "How dare you do it last time?"
You bought a kitchen knife to use as a weapon on the way, so you really know how to use a kitchen knife?"
"Niu Er, come in and light the fire!" Zhang Ning shouted to the outside at the top of her lungs. She turned around and replied to Luo Yaoniang's words, "That's it. I haven't practiced for a long time and I still feel comfortable picking up a kitchen knife." After saying that, he handled it skillfully and quickly.
The ginger was quickly cut into very thin shreds.
"As soon as you come in, help me and scrape the skin off the yam." Zhang Ning ordered without looking back.
Luo Yaoniang said angrily: "I have never done anything like this at home." She hesitated for a while, then went, and when he ignored him, she said again: "Wang Maocai said it well, a gentleman is far away from the kitchen, no wonder you
Don’t take the imperial examination!”
Zhang Ning said: "Not everyone wants to honor their ancestors, it is true that they are ordinary."
"Then why do you want to be an official? Why don't you become a hermit?" Luo Yaoniang fiddled with the poor yam awkwardly, but she didn't expect that it would be troublesome to do such a simple thing with her own hands.
Zhang Ning said earnestly: "It's not easy to be a hermit. Everyone needs food, clothing, housing, and transportation. The masters outside the world all have unique abilities. Can I use the books of sages as food?"
The two of them were bickering and chatting, while Zhang Ning was cooking. It didn't take long before several dishes were cooked: braised pork ribs with yam, fried fish fillets, roasted legs with carrots, stir-fried shredded pork, and two vegetarian dishes. The roasted pork was so messy
There was quite a bit of it, so Zhang Ning scooped up a bowl and left the rest for Old Man He and Niu Er to eat meat.
The food was placed in a dining room in the east wing. Zhang Ning brought a jar of Shaoxing wine. The three of them took their seats and started the meal. The sumptuous dinner was nominally for Wang Zhen to wash away the dust. In fact, Zhang Ning mainly wanted to entertain Luo Luo.
Yaoniang. Anyway, Zhang Ning is very grateful to her for helping him repair his book and report that he is safe.
"How does it taste?" Zhang Ning said with a smile as he poured the wine.
Luo Yaoniang unceremoniously picked up a fish fillet with her chopsticks. She was about to say something sarcastic, but her face suddenly changed and she couldn't help but said: "Zhang Pingan, okay, you really have some skills."
"I'm just kidding, I'm not going to waste my fame by cooking a few home-cooked dishes." Zhang Ning said proudly, holding up the wine glass and motioning to Wang Zhen.
Of course Zhang Ning in the Ming Dynasty could not cook. What brought this skill was the memory of his later generations. He could cook in the past, but now the taste of the food he cooks is not much different. The modern daily condiments are ginger and garlic.
Onions, vinegar, wine, salt, sugar, etc. were all available in the Ming Dynasty, but it lacked MSG and chili. However, Zhang Ning used seaweed to boil the sauce to barely replace the MSG, which was almost the same.
Luo Yaoniang couldn't help but said: "Why don't I have a wine glass? Is this how you treat guests?"
"What do girls drink?" Zhang Ning looked at the fading light outside, "I won't keep you after dinner, go home early."
"You are the child! My father doesn't care about me, but you still care about me!" Luo Yaoniang said angrily, "Who are you to me?" As soon as she finished saying this, she suddenly felt something was wrong: It seemed like I had admitted it myself.
It looked like he was someone. Her face turned slightly red, but she still said unconvinced: "Bring me a wine glass and see if I don't drink you down."
Luo Yaoniang's control at home is indeed very loose. Yang Shiqi is busy with official duties and barely cares about her. She doesn't have her own mother in the Yang family, so who can take care of her?
Zhang Ning said: "You are really good at drinking... By the way, a heroine, a hero among women, I am disrespectful. Can I get you a glass?"
Wang Zhen was quite polite at first, but he soon discovered that Zhang Ning was not that serious at all. He only took care of the food, so he had no need to be polite. He talked less and ate more food. He ate and drank, and ate and slept on the road.
He had a full meal. Although the table tonight was not a delicacy, he was very satisfied.
Luo Yaoniang was so arrogant that after three cups her face turned as red as a peach blossom, her eyes became blurred, and her words seemed a little inappropriate for the occasion: "Zhang Pingan, what is going on with your Miss Fang? What happened to you and her?"
"Stop drinking." Zhang Ning hurriedly advised.
Luo Yaoniang refused and asked Wang Zhen again: "Are you his neighbor? What is Zhang Ping'an's reputation in his hometown?"
Wang Zhen glanced at Zhang Ning lewdly and said: "Brother Ping'an is a scholar, with good knowledge and conduct... I don't know who the woman named Fang is, but I have met the young lady from the Wang family, and she has already broken off the engagement.
, Miss Luo, please rest assured."
"Miss Wang, is there still an engagement?" Luo Yaoniang looked at Zhang Ning with red eyes.
Zhang Ning turned to look at Wang Zhen in astonishment and thought to herself, are you drunk too? I'm so kind to entertain you, why are you talking so much! Luo Yaoniang is the same, I don't know what she is doing: she has nothing to do with herself
After being matched by my parents, I still dare to pick you up like in modern times?
He used to be a rule-abiding person, but in the Ming Dynasty he was also unwilling to challenge the current order easily.
"Didn't Wang Maocai say that he broke off the engagement?" Zhang Ning explained calmly. He didn't want to make Luo Yaoniang anxious. Besides, this girl has a fat waist and a nice figure and a good-looking face.
It's not bad. Being jealous was considered a shortcoming in the Ming Dynasty, but Zhang Ning didn't care. If she really meant it, it would be okay. Besides, it would be great to have Yang Shiqi as a relative and supporter.
Luo Yaoniang looked angry and sad: "Why did you break off the engagement and you always gave up?"
Zhang Ning said: "How could I do such a thing? I was still in a coma when I broke off the engagement. I was dying at that time. It is only human nature for a young lady from the Wang family to break off the engagement for the sake of her future."
After hearing this, Wang Zhen said: "Brother Ping'an, there is no need to care about women who are unkind and unjust."
"Who are you calling unkind and unjust?" Luo Yaoniang cursed with red eyes.
Wang Zhen was stunned: "I mean that little girl from the Wang family."
Luo Yaoniang said: "You are all gentlemen and officials, who is not unkind and unjust, and has the nerve to talk about women..."
"I told you not to drink. You must be pretending to be a heroine." Zhang Ning said angrily, turning back to Wang Zhen and saying, "You're drunk, so you don't have to worry about what you say, Brother Wang. I'll send her back, you eat first, and wait."
I'll come back and we can continue drinking."
"It's time to see off the guests. Miss Luo, don't be too polite. Let's go." Zhang Ning stood up and said.
Luo Yaoniang couldn't laugh or cry: "What kind of politeness are you talking about? Is there any etiquette for expelling people?"
Zhang Ning glanced at the sky: "It's getting late. If you go back at night when you're so drunk, what will Mr. Yang think?"
Luo Yaoniang drank some wine and felt a little uncomfortable because of what happened to Miss Wang, but she was sober. When she heard his words, she remembered that her father said that she would find a chance to see Zhang Ning. If she left her father
It's never a good thing to leave a bad impression. She was quite sensible, so after thinking about it, she stopped messing around, stood up, and went out angrily: "Who wants you to give it away!"
"I'll take him to the entrance of Ganyu Hutong." Zhang Ning was not at ease and hurriedly followed him, then went to the stable to fetch the donkey.
Luo Yaoniang didn't wait for him at all, and said: "I just broke off the engagement, so what are you afraid of? Now that you have restored your reputation and have an official position, can you still do it if you go back and coax that Miss Wang family?"
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