Because of the Nine Princesses, Xu Jinfei is not allowed to leave the house in Huamanxi these days, and the crazy woman in the province doesn't know when, maybe she will come with two big axes. There are people in Tianxian Building, and the shopkeeper has all the guys, even if Hua Manxi doesn't go, can they still not move? On the fifth floor, some exquisite ornaments were damaged by the fight, staircase tables and chairs, and bills were also sent to the Nine Princes' mansion, and Nan Jinxing had to pinch his nose to accept it.

Fortunately, there are not many distinguished guests who come to the fifth floor, so they can be sealed and picked up again, but they can change their style, and it is not a loss. Hua Manxi is bored at home, in addition to cooking, he is also embroidering a hundred flowers with the maids, because there are many types, if you do it all yourself, it will be out of fun. Just a few days later, she received a post from the wife of the Guanglu doctor, saying that she was invited to the lotus banquet.

The lotus festival is the custom of Nanyang in ancient times, it is said that I don't know how many years ago, there is a high monk sitting here, so the lotus flowers by the pond are all over the ground, its color is like gold, it is a very precious variety, but the strange thing is that if the lotus is transplanted, most of them can not survive, even if it is the remaining small half, it will gradually become an ordinary lotus. The world calls this strange, the former emperor started a high platform in the middle of the water, called the heart of the bright moon, once it came to the season of lotus blooming, there was the lady lady, the boat came.

This place is rare and elegant, but the area is not large. Of course, it can't be called a place for those nobles and nobles, but for ordinary people, it is already a place that they can't afford to buy or see for a lifetime. In order to prevent everyone from being vassal, but quarreling and fighting for this grand event, Mingyuexin's guests have always been decided by lottery, and less than thirty people are drawn each time, and they are all women. Thirty seeds are drawn, and if they can germinate and bloom within one month, they will be considered successful.

This kind of seed is not the golden lotus in the pond, but another companion plant, called three inches, don't underestimate things, it is really delicate. Even the best old gardener may not be able to plant three inches with absolute certainty. If you are a successful woman, you can bring a female companion to the banquet when you come. The wife of this Guanglu doctor is also surnamed Hua, called Hua Yuer, and her nickname is Sanniang. said that it was with Hua Manxi, maybe it was a family five hundred years ago, and he came with her.

Hua Manxi also wanted to see it, so he cleaned up a little, combed his horse bun, wore a green Luo skirt, a blue jade pendant, and boarded the carriage lightly. When she arrived at the edge of the pool, Hua Yu'er was in the same boat with her, laughed and said some gossip, and whispered: "It's a little inappropriate to say, but I asked my sister to come with me today, in fact, I have something to ask for, and I hope my sister will help." How I am a person, my sister should be very clear, if there is half a bad intention, you will ignore me in the future, and I will not dare to have half a complaint. ”

Hua Manxi knows that the noblewomen in the capital are like clouds, but this Hua Yuer is one of the few solid eyes, when he is in the Tianxian Building, it stands to reason that he is not allowed to raise cats and dogs, so as not to disturb the interest of diners, unless it is bolted to the outer door, used to watch the house, there is a teenager among the helpers, secretly raising a kitten, because he is busy, he let the cat jump to the third floor for a while. The women at the table were a little displeased, but Hua Yu'er picked up the cat, said a few kind words, and returned it to the helper.

Friends help each other, so that the friendship can last for a long time. If the scenery she saw this time was good, she could also bring poetry next time. Therefore, Hua Manxi settled down, and laughed softly: "Between you and me, why be so unfamiliar, you have something on your mind, just talk to me." As long as it doesn't hurt nature and reason, and doesn't violate morality, what is there to be embarrassed about? ”

Hua Yu'er nodded, and then explained: "When I first met my husband, I admired him for his young talent, and secretly inquired, and there was indeed no family to set up, so I asked my mother to go to explore the wind, and in the Shangyuan Festival, Hua Chaojie met twice, and I also felt that the eye was good." After becoming a parent, I knew that he had a confidant, but the confidant was not pretty, and he preferred the highest, and he actually married his boss. ”

When Hua Yuer said this, she was a little angry: "People go to high places, and water flows to low places, this is not an indelible thing, speaking of which, how many people in the world are not like this?" It's just that the boss died of illness last year, leaving the confidant to be a widow. Since then, I feel that she has no good intentions, and she invited my husband to talk about her heart by some sad reason, but fortunately, my husband is a knowledgeable person, unlike her who has no shame, and it will be cold when we meet in the future, so I stopped. ”

"But I don't know what to say now, and there is a rumor that she has two sons, one of whom belongs to the boss, and the other who belongs to my husband. I sighed, I have only been married into the house for a long time, and there is such gossip. The most annoying thing is that she didn't say yes, nor did she clarify, at this lotus banquet, she also said that she wanted to show her hand, saying that she would cook two dishes for everyone. She deserves it too? It's just that I'm really loose in the kitchen, so I have to beg my sister for help. ”

Hua Manxi pondered for a moment, feeling that this disturbing other people's family affairs was really not good, if she wanted her to accompany Hua Yu'er, and when the time came, she would tear the lady apart, she would still be a little unable to wipe her face. However, if she is just asked to cook, she has done her best to be friendly, and Hua Yuer will deal with the rest, which is remarkable and acceptable. A seat in this lotus feast is worth a thousand gold outside, and she borrowed the east wind of others to come, and she always has to express it.

Hua Manxi thought for a while, nodded slightly, and said, "What I can do, I should do it for you." I just hope that when the time comes, it won't be too stiff, the ladies in the capital are just such a small circle, you have a wishful husband, the family is very happy, and you don't need to be too angry with her, but the value has fallen. ”

While talking, the boat swayed leisurely, and it had already docked, and the two of them joined hands and went up to the pavilion of the 'Bright Moon Heart'. It is said that there is also the wonder of the lake in August at night, which is even more beautiful. A few of the ladies who had arrived earlier had already sat in two or three places, and the maids were fanning themselves leisurely. The pavilion is cleverly designed, with little sunlight and countless paulownia willows planted, gently swaying in the cool breeze.

Hua Yu'er pointed to her hand, and there was a woman sitting on the left, with a jade forehead and a huge silk flower on her hairpin, which should be this person. The rules of this lotus banquet are to use lotus as the main material, and everyone drinks and eats vegetables, appreciates flowers and moons. In the past, there were also ladies who were in a good mood or had good craftsmanship and would do one or two dishes by themselves. A gentleman needs to cook far away, and if a woman learns a few porridge dishes and serves them to her husband at night, it is a good means.

The time is not long, limited to one hour, in addition to fresh lotus seeds, lotus roots, whole lotus flowers and lotus leaves, the rest of the meat and vegetable ingredients should also be prepared. Hua Manxi thought about it, first made two desserts: bean paste lotus petals and crystal lotus root cake, and then two appetizers, lotus fragrant marinated platter and hot and sour lotus root, the most famous lotus leaf glutinous rice chicken naturally must not be said, it will take some effort, and finally make a whitebait crisp made of fresh fatty fish caught in the lake.

Once she has made a choice, she does not look at what others have done, but concentrates on her own business. Both desserts are deep-fried and made quickly, if you do it first, the oil will not taste good when it is cold. Therefore, first get those two appetizers, in response to the trend of Tianxian Building, partridge wine is very popular, more than three times more expensive than the original.

A white-flowered chicken lies on the black iron board, Hua Manxi knife skill, from head to abdomen, cut out a thin and deep trace, the internal organs are washed clean, after flushing, a long tube is slowly poured into glutinous rice, sliced shiitake mushrooms, and some green beans and radish dices, taking into account personal preferences, some diced bacon, salted egg yolks, and some wine are poured in, making it taste more mellow.

After the whole is processed, the seam is blocked with some large pieces of ingredients, and the five-color silk thread can be slightly bundled to make a beautiful flower shape, and the skin is coated with some seasonings mixed with dark soy sauce, vinegar, chili pepper, etc. Hua Manxi patiently took the soft brush and wrapped it repeatedly, and finally took three large lotus leaves, wrapped them, and put them in the oven. The glutinous rice chicken is only ripe, and the lotus marinated platter is relatively simple.

Just put some refreshing and tender bamboo shoots neatly, add the chicken leg mushrooms that are washed and taken from the stems, chew very smooth, boiled peanuts in the shell and put them in, and some excellent bean tendon duck neck, and some chicken claw fish balls, in short, the most particular thing is to put on the plate, which is suitable for waiting to be served with the hot and sour lotus root.

Hua Manxi got out of the pot, poured oil, turned the spoon, and finished it in one go, the white lotus root was finely chopped evenly, and with the minced chili peppers, it suddenly burst out in the pot with a very fresh and sour and hot taste. While making everyone sniff, they couldn't help but sneeze. Hua Manxi is as if nothing happened, seeing that the time is just right, the hands and feet are quick to sprinkle garlic, sprinkle star anise, and pour a small plate of yuba to neutralize the taste, the yuba is tender and smooth lotus root cloves are crispy, and when the time comes, the person will want to eat the second bite.

When dealing with the whitebait, Hua Manxi cut a few marks on the fish, and neatly cut out the excess sour and bitter flesh, but did not scrape off the scales, and a woman next to him sneered: "You can eat it without scraping the scales when you make fish?" It's really the practice of a rural village woman. Hua Manxi didn't mean to be angry, just as the flies were buzzing in his ears, washed and put it in a large basin, poured rice wine, a little starch, and some sauces, turned and marinated repeatedly, and finally made a snort, and then started the oil pot.

The crispy fish had to be more hot, so she ordered the firewood to fan the wind, and when it was stir-fried, the tongue of fire quickly rose more than three feet high, and everyone couldn't help but exclaim and talk in a low voice. Hua Manxi repeatedly turned the pot to make sure that the crispy fish had been cooked in the boiling fragrant liquor, and waited for a while. At that moment, he didn't stop, and turned around and began to process the ingredients needed for the crystal lotus cake. It has been soaked in clean water for a long time, and it is time to take it out at this moment, and scrape it repeatedly on the clean bamboo fence until it turns into lotus root mud.

The lotus root mud was as white as snow, and the flowers were carefully rubbed into a small ball.