It's noon in a daze, just after the summer solstice, when the sun is the most poisonous, there is a hoarding of fire in the Saijia compound, and the few people waiting in the courtyard can't help but start wiping their sweat, and their brows are wrinkled unconsciously.

"How long has it been? Why haven't you come back? ”

"Look, it's back! It's finally back! ”

At the west entrance of the compound, Xiaolian ran over with an empty teacup, and a group of people wanted to ask about the situation, but Xiaolian ignored it, dropped the teacup and ran away with Xia Shang's chicken soup and a sentence.

"Madame, want to taste it."

Thinking of the words left by Xiaolian, everyone was a little confused.

This situation is that the eldest lady named Xia Shang's chicken soup!

Looking at the empty teacups again, it was obvious that the act of giving tea was exactly what the eldest lady needed at that time.

The chicken soup of the previous few people was eaten very little when it was sent to the inner courtyard, and then it was sent out. What I sent over just now was just a bowl of ordinary coarse tea, but the eldest lady drank not a drop left, could it be that the chicken soup carefully boiled by everyone is not as good as a bowl of coarse tea? What's even more strange is that how did Xia Shang know that the eldest lady wanted tea?

His eyes fell on Xia Shang again, and at this point, no one argued with Xia Shang, because he could let the eldest lady take the initiative to ask to taste his chicken soup, which had already announced the result. What they care about now is the reason, why can Xia Shang do what he likes?

"How do you know that the eldest lady wants tea?"

"yes!" The girl on the other side was also curious, "Tell me about it." ”

Xia Shang replied with a smile: "The reason is very simple. Our tasting process this time is to taste the chicken soup in order of starting the pot, and the taste of this chicken soup is naturally stronger the longer it lasts. We will make the soup at the same time, and the soup will naturally taste lighter if it is started first. Therefore, the eldest lady tasted the light chicken soup first, and each bowl of chicken soup in the future was thicker than the previous bowl. What am I saying and no? ”

The girl thought for a moment and nodded: "But what does it matter?" ”

"It may not have much impact on ordinary people, but it is different for the eldest lady. Judging from the medicinal materials in the chicken belly, angelica, white peony, and wolfberry nourish blood, longan meat improves qi, and hawthorn strengthens the spleen. I already have a bad appetite, and I have changed from a light flavor to a strong flavor, and the soup is greasy and hoarded in my mouth, and no one wants to taste the dishes that follow. When Sister Xiaolian whispered to her sister, it meant that the eldest lady didn't want to continue tasting. ”

Listening to Xia Shang's words, the girl's eyes changed when she looked at Xia Shang: "It's really strange!" You know what Xiaolian told me? Isn't there a tailwind? ”

"No, this is just ordinary speculation. A good chef knows what the diners need, and the best way to make dishes that best suit the tastes of the guests is the highest level of culinary skills. The reason why I didn't let the eldest lady taste my soup was that I knew that the eldest lady had no intention of eating at the moment, and was upset by the greasy mouth! So send a cup of tea, moisten your throat and remove oil, this is what the eldest lady needs most at that time. ”

Several people around were stunned for a moment, although they didn't know if they were right, but at least they couldn't find anything wrong.

The girl praised: "I didn't expect you to be a little less talented and have some skills, and the soup just now was really delicious." However, whether or not you can stay in the Sai family has to be done by the eldest lady herself. ”

……

"Xiaolian, is this what kind of 'golden jade is on the surface, and it is ruined'?"

Xiaolian sat outside the bed curtain and nodded: "Hmm." Wen Crepe's name is not good at all, and so is that person, who speaks in a set way, not like an honest person. ”

I couldn't see the movement in the bed curtain clearly, but I heard the eldest lady flip the spoon and whispered: "Just now he said that the soup should be bright in color and clear to the bottom, and there should be no sundries in the soup." I thought he was talking about it, but judging from the bowl of soup in front of him, he really did these things. I just don't know what it tastes like......"

"Sister Sangsang tasted it and said four words, 'bitterness is sweet'."

"Bitter and sweet?" The eldest lady tasted it suspiciously.

After a while, the voice of the eldest lady with a slight smile came from the bed: "It's bitter, it's really bitter." Xiaolian, summon the cook and tell me, Mrs. Ben wants to hear what is the way of this 'golden and jade appearance, and ruining it'? ”

……

Back in the compound, Xiaolian came back again, this time the little girl was in a good mood, and slapped the soup bowl on the table: "You, come with me, the eldest lady wants to talk to you." ”

"The eldest lady wants to talk to him?" The others were as uncomfortable as stuck fish bones, looking at Xia Shang, their faces full of envy, jealousy and hatred.

Xia Shang couldn't hide his pride, and bowed his hand to a few people: "Everyone, there will be a period later." ”

After that, he followed behind Xiaolian with his head held high.

Seeing Xia Shang disappear into the compound, a few people, you look at me, I look at you, and finally saw the soup bowl on the table that was drunk to the core, and there were only some medicinal herbs left in it.

"Hey! Let's go back to our own homes, the chefs of the Sai family, we don't have a show! ”

……

Xia Shang followed Xiaolian into the inner courtyard of the Sai family, and the mansions of the ancient big families marked made Xia Shang dumbfounded, not to mention how beautiful the pavilions and pavilions were, the area of this mansion alone was shocking. The previous compound had more than 100 square meters, plus this inner courtyard, as well as the back garden, vestibule, etc., not to mention an area of 500 square meters. Even in ancient times, it was a rare mansion, and this Saijia must also be a big local family.

"What are you looking around? This is the inner courtyard of the Saijia, be honest! Xiaolian turned her head and glared at Xia Shang.

It was not good to be reprimanded by a little girl, Xia Shang ignored her, and arrived at the door of the eldest lady's wing room in a blink of an eye.

"You wait here, I'll pass the word."

"There is labor."

Xiaolian pushed the door and disappeared into Xia Shang's field of vision, leaving Xia Shang alone to scan the surroundings.

It is very quiet here, except for some flowers and gardening, the most eye-catching is a century-old pine, which twists and turns and coils beautifully, countless branches support almost half of the sky, and the ground is full of pine needles.

In such an environment, the depression and helplessness after crossing suddenly came to my heart.

Xia Shang stood in place with his head bowed, thinking about what no one knew, but his eyes gradually moistened.

"Hey! Feed! What are you in a daze? ”

I don't know when, Xiaolian appeared in front of Xia Shang again and patted him on the shoulder impatiently.

Xia Shang came back to his senses and replied blankly: "Oh! ”

"Oh what? The eldest lady asks your name! ”

Xia Shang looked up, he was still outside the door, and he didn't see the so-called eldest lady.

"My name is Xia Shang."

At this time, a voice came from the room: "Who is it? ”

"An orphan in Shahe Township."

"Are there any ties at home?"

"No worries, no worries, alone, begging for a living."

"You are very skilled, why are you begging?"

This question made Xia Shang difficult to explain, thought about it and replied: "As the saying goes, it is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice, even if the craftsmanship is good, food and clothing are not self-sufficient, how to display the craft?" ”

"That's reasonable, Mrs. Ben saw that your life was not easy, so she hired you to cook a pot in the Saijia family, five dollars of silver a month, are you willing?"

"Mrs. Xie."