si-mexico Chapter 229 Making the Best Use of Everything
Chapter 229 Making the Best Use of Everything
Chapter 229 Making the Most of Everything
Enjoy the flowers when they bloom.
Eat the fallen flowers.
Actually, people in ancient times also ate flowers.
It is called flower dish.
It involves using flowers from all four seasons to make desserts or dishes.
However, incorporating flowers into dishes and tea was initially just a refined pursuit by literati and a way for royalty and nobility to flaunt their wealth.
Ordinary people don't believe in this.
After all, what the vast majority of poor people want is to have enough to eat. For them, flowers are just something to look at for their novelty.
No matter how much effort you put into gathering, after blanching it, only a little bit is left. It's a waste of time, and it's not even as filling as wild vegetables.
But in the eyes of writers, gourmets, and medical experts, these edible seasonal flowers are treasures.
Many people have also written poems, articles, and recipes for this.
In their eyes, eating flowers is about enjoying the pleasure and elegance, and they can even use flowers to cure diseases.
Although some people love to eat it and some people know how to cook it, there are certainly not many experts who are good at incorporating flowers into their dishes.
There probably aren't any restaurants specializing in flower dishes, at least not in Jiangzhou.
It's quite rare.
Because the cooking methods for fresh flowers are different from those for other vegetables and fruits, they can be said to be quite unique.
Some flowers smell sweet but taste bitter.
Some flowers can be used as medicine, but eating too much of them is not advisable, and they should not be eaten by people with special constitutions or during special periods.
Some flowers are poisonous; if prepared properly, they can be a delicacy, but if not, they can be poison.
For example, the large white rhododendron can cause poisoning if it is not cooked thoroughly.
Bitter thorn flowers are a dish for clearing heat and detoxifying, but they need to be blanched countless times to reduce their bitterness.
Peach blossoms can be used in tea or desserts, but eating too many can cause diarrhea.
Even worse, some people mistake unopened daffodils for garlic sprouts and cook them, getting poisoned without even realizing it.
Even though eating flowers is risky, some people are still eager to be guinea pigs.
Thus, Jiang Miaomiao discovered a small business opportunity.
Jiangzhou's climate is not only good for people, but also for flowers. There are many varieties of flowers, each plant grows lush and green, and the flowers are plump and large.
It's quite suitable for cooking.
But after these flowers are enjoyed by people, their fate is to become soil for cultivation, which is a real pity.
They can actually be put to the best use and become more valuable.
Jiang Miaomiao has an idea.
But she couldn't tell her mother and aunt everything.
Sometimes being exceptionally gifted isn't necessarily a good thing, especially for such a young child. If they understand a little bit, others will think they are exceptionally intelligent.
But if you know too much, beyond the scope of ordinary people, then others may regard you as a monster.
Therefore, Jiang Miaomiao only occasionally reveals a little bit of her cleverness in front of others.
Holding her mother's little finger, she tilted her head and asked, "Mother, there are so many chrysanthemums and magnolias in the house across the street. Auntie said we can make delicious food there. Why don't we just open our shop there?"
The house is located in the wealthy and powerful district of Jiangzhou. It would be perfect to open a private restaurant where people can enjoy flowers and eat flowers, and for ladies to gather, chat, and have afternoon tea.
After all, young ladies in ancient times didn't have the opportunity to go out every day, let alone go to lively and noisy places, but it was different at their doorstep.
With the right timing, location, and people, it would be unreasonable not to hold the Hundred Flowers Banquet.
Lu Qingyao and Xiuxiu exchanged a glance and nodded.
The house was bought at a low price, not even as expensive as a prime shop on Sajin Street. Since it's just sitting idle anyway, why not renovate it into a restaurant?
It's so close to home, I don't even have to worry about getting food.
"Sister, this is a good idea." Xiuxiu really liked the suggestion. It was close to home, and she could do chores and keep an eye on Miaomiao at the same time.
And so, Jiang Miaomiao's suggestion was adopted.
The pastry shop was transformed into a private restaurant, and my mother gave it a simple and easy-to-understand name.
Baihuazhai.
As the name suggests, it involves incorporating flowers into food, appreciating flowers of all four seasons, and enjoying a feast of a hundred flowers.
We only make dishes and desserts related to flowers.
The idea is this: a complete package including food and entertainment.
You can enjoy flowers, eat a banquet of a hundred flowers, play pitch-pot and cuju (ancient Chinese football), arrange flowers and taste tea, or watch dances and listen to music.
Of course, consumption cannot be low.
It's estimated that a single meal could cost hundreds or even thousands of taels of silver.
What you're really after is emotional value.
When Aunt Xiuxiu heard this, she felt it was quite a challenge, so she became interested, took out a box, and gave her savings to her mother.
"Sister, let me make this clear: I can be the owner of Baihuazhai, but I'll only be responsible for developing the dishes; I won't be involved in anything else."
"Alright then, you just need to be in charge of developing the dishes and collecting money," Lu Qingyao said with a smile.
Since the owners weren't just the two of them, but also Qiao'er, she decided to hand over Baihuazhai to Qiao'er to manage, while she would just be responsible for collecting money and become a hands-off manager.
It's time for Qiao'er to be able to stand on her own.
Lu Qingyao had learned about the Sun family from Old Madam Cui.
Manager Sun Yu originally held an official position as a censor.
He was later demoted and dismissed from his post for offending the emperor.
Grand Tutor Cui admired his character and couldn't bear to see his talents go to waste in the countryside, so he invited him to be his advisor.
He's been doing it for decades.
Now they are all surrounded by children and grandchildren.
Even after Grand Tutor Cui retired and returned to his hometown, Sun Yu still followed him, bringing his wife and children with him to Jiangzhou.
Sun Yanshu was the youngest in the family and the only one who was preparing to enter officialdom.
He has two older brothers.
Sun's eldest son went into business and married the daughter of the Pan family, merchants from Fuzhou. The Sun and Pan families were old friends, and the two could be considered childhood sweethearts.
Sun's second son joined the army and became a captain under Duke Mu Yunji of Shen. He married Xu Yu's eldest daughter, a former colleague of Sun Yu.
Now both sons live in Beijing. Although the eldest son's wife is in charge of the household, it is said that the two daughters-in-law have been fighting for control of the household for many years.
Pan looked down on Xu for being poor and stingy, while Xu looked down on Pan for being from a low social class; neither of them respected the other.
Therefore, Lu Qingyao felt that Qiao'er should have extra lessons.
Although the Sun family was not considered a prominent family, they still had to deal with complex conflicts between mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
It's obvious that Qiao'er will have two difficult sisters-in-law.
It's hard to say what the power struggles within the household might be.
However, it's not too late. The Sun family has their own residence in Jiangzhou, and Manager Lu Qingyao is a kind person they've dealt with before.
Madam Sun was also easy to get along with.
If the marriage goes through, Qiao'er should not leave Jiangzhou for the time being until Sun Yanshu passes the imperial examination.
There's still time to gain experience.
after lunch.
Jiang Miaomiao did not take a nap today.
I watched my mother use the abacus, her slender white fingers moving the beads on the abacus.
"Crackling... crackling..."
The speed was so fast that Miao Miao's eyes were a little blurry, and it also made people a little sleepy.
Then she lay down opposite her mother and took a nap.
"Miaomiao..."
Jiang Miaomiao thought she was dreaming and heard Sister Qiao's voice, but when she opened her eyes, Sister Qiao was standing in front of her with a radiant face.
My uncle, aunt, and Jiang Wenxuan also came.
It seems like the whole family's clothing and appearance have improved significantly; they're clearly a wealthy family from the village.
My aunt has gained some weight and her legs are fully healed.
As for Jiang Wenxuan, he has grown much taller and is now quite refined, somewhat resembling his father. He is no longer that little brat wiping his nose.
I heard from Sister Qiao that he has already started studying at the village's private school.
Jiang Miaomiao sweetly called out to them, "Uncle, Aunt, Brother Xuan..."
"Miaomiao, it's been so long since I've seen you! Your aunt has missed you so much!" Liu Yuniang said excitedly, picking up the little girl and showering her with kisses.
Then, with a look of amazement, she exclaimed, "Sister-in-law, what did you feed Miaomiao? She's so chubby, the little one is as heavy as a small stone."
Jiang Miaomiao: ...Uh! Fat?
The little girl's face turned red; she was shy.
Her young heart was hurt when someone actually called her fat.
Everyone says she's chubby and cute, isn't it normal for a baby to be chubby?
She retorted, "I'm not fat, Auntie is talking nonsense."
This caused everyone to burst into laughter.
After a cup of tea, the eldest uncle spoke up: "Sister-in-law, we've come today to ask for your help in preparing Qiao'er's dowry. The Sun family is a scholarly family, so we imagine they have many rules. We thought we'd come and ask for your opinion."
"Okay, keep it on me."
……