When Duan Yingluo came back, Gu Xiyan was sitting on the kang with Qin Niang talking.

“… Our lady is happy and quiet, and there are few people in Huaiyuan, only me and Bao Niang and the other four rough mothers-in-law. Now that the Chinese New Year is approaching, Mrs. Xu has a lot of things to do, and Mrs. Xu is inconvenient to disturb, so I will serve in the girl's house first, and then discuss with Mrs. Xu after the Spring Festival to add two girls to the girl. The girl was wronged first. ”

Qin Niang saw that Duan Yingluo was empty-handed, so she was busy and said with a smile: "Miss Duan, do you have eyebrows for what you are looking for?" ”

Duan Yingluo bent her knees to make a blessing to Qin Niang, smiled and shouted "Aunt Qin", and said embarrassedly: "Siping helped me look everywhere, but I didn't find it... I'm afraid it's lost in Hongtai. ”

"That's not a problem." Qin Niang smiled: "Find someone to bring a letter, and send someone back in a few days." ”

Duan Yingluo smiled: "Siping said the same thing. I said I'll ask for news in a few days. ”

Qin Niang smiled meaningfully: "Miss Duan, when I met Siping in the future, it is better to call the fourth brother, speaking of which, after all, he is an errand by the side of the master, no better than the steward of the inner courtyard or something..."

Duan Yingluo's face changed, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly...

Who is Duan Yingluo? She's the uncle of the head of the Shura Sect! Respected and prestigious... shouted a little guy who was so much younger than himself and shouted, "Brother? ”

Gu Xiyan was stunned in her heart, for fear that she would say something inappropriate, so she hurriedly said before Duan Yingluo spoke: "Miss Qin reminds us." We're new here. My mother died early, and there are many things I don't understand, and if there is anything in the future, I hope the girl will mention more..."

Duan Yingluo also reacted, and followed modestly.

Everyone gossiped for a while. Qin Niang left.

Gu Xiyan hurriedly said, "What's the matter?" ”

Duan Ying got on the kang and said with a smile: "I talked to Siping, and Siping said that this box of things was sorted out by the master himself." He didn't know what it was. Don't worry, girl, the excuse we came up with is excellent, and in a few days we will have someone bring a wicker box with old clothes from Hongtai, and say that it was dropped before leaving. Let's put on new clothes these days. If someone asked, the girl said that it was something left by the girl's mother... No matter how you say it, the Wei family is also a big family. The rotten ship also has three catties of nails, and there is always a bit of old foundation. ”

Gu Xiyan had no choice but to nod: "We were too negligent at that time. ”

Duan Yingluo said: "How can you blame us, the master is too treacherous, and he doesn't discuss it with others..."

I'm afraid that this guy is used to making decisions, and he has long since lost the term "negotiator"... In the future, everyone will really live together, and I don't know how many things need to be run in.

Gu Xiyan let go of these problems that she needed to worry about in the future, and asked, "How did you inquire about the kitchen matter?" ”

Duan Yingluo smiled: "Siping I asked! ”

"Ahh Gu Xiyan was a little surprised. "Why do you want to go far?" Duan Yingluo disagreed, "I said that your cooking skills are good." I want to find a chance to cook something for Mrs. Wei... He will have to answer all questions. ”

Gu Xiyan sweated on his forehead: "How did Siping answer?" ”

"Very carefully." Duan Yingluo had a satisfied look on her face, "There are a total of eight kitchens in the Yanguo Mansion. One is located in the communal kitchen of Shang Zheng's residence, and the other seven are small kitchens in various courtyards. There is one outer courtyard, located in a corner at the junction of Songzhenin and Seongheiin, and it is responsible for the food of Songzhenin and Seongheiin. Because Chengxi Courtyard is uninhabited, the lord is in Hongtai. So the kitchen was already in a half-stopped state; There is one in Dexin Courtyard, which was closed after Mrs. Ye's death; There is one in Xianjiyuan, which is currently the largest and best small kitchen, and several skilled chefs in Shangzheng Curie are currently working in the small kitchen of Xianjiyuan; The kitchenettes in other places are all in Gongshun Courtyard. There is one common one in the northernmost corner, and the other three are located in Huaiyuan, Guiyuan and Banyan Garden. Guiyuan was closed more than ten years ago, and Rongyuan was closed after Mrs. Zhou moved to Garlic Miao Hutong. At present, only the outer courtyard, Xianji courtyard, and Huaiyuan monk's residence kitchen are in use. ”

Gu Xiyan's eyebrows quickly frowned: "Guiyuan." You hear me clearly. Guiyuan also used to have a kitchenette. ”

"Hmm." Duan Yingying said, "I asked carefully. Siping said. It turned out that Gongshun Courtyard shared a kitchen, and in Qi Yu's hands, a small kitchen was set up in the garden. ”

Gu Xiyan picked out a pearl earring the size of a fingernail from the jewelry box given by Qi Maosheng, and said with a smile: "Let's go, let's go to Miss Liu's place to sit down." ”

Duan Yingluo answered, and the two went to the north wing opposite.

Ri Qiugui, who came to answer the door, her eyes were red, as if she had cried. Gu Xiyan pretended not to pay attention, and said with a smile: "Sister Qiugui, is Miss Liu here?" ”

Qiu Gui smiled reluctantly and said, "Miss Gu, wait a minute, I'll send you a message." ”

There was only a thick velvet curtain separating the living room from the inner room, and Liu Mei'er had already heard Gu Xiyan's voice over there, and said loudly: "Sister Gu, don't be polite to me, come in!" There was a hint of choking in his voice.

Qiu Gui hurriedly helped Gu Xiyan lift the curtain and enter the house.

Liu Mei'er's eyes were also red, and she forced a smile: "Sister Gu, sit down quickly." ”

It's time not to be confused.

Gu Xiyan whispered "yo", and said while getting on the kang: "Sister Liu, what's wrong?" ”

A far-fetched smile pulled out at the corner of Liu Mei'er's mouth, and said, "Nothing, nothing?" ”

Gu Xiyan didn't want to ask much, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and spread it out in his palm, and a pair of pearlescent pearl earrings appeared in Liu Meier's eyes.

"This is a gadget left by my mother, I just came with my luggage early this morning, my sister took it, make a thought!"

Liu Meier knew at a glance that this pair of beads was worth a lot of money, and hurriedly excused herself: "How can this work..."

Gu Xiyan rewrapped the pearl and kept stuffing it to Liu Mei'er: "Sister, take it... I'm following Mrs. Wei now. There is a place to eat and drink, and it is useless to keep it..."

Then the two of them seemed to be fighting, and in the end, Liu Mei'er was defeated by Gu Xiyan's words, so she had to accept it.

At this time, Qiu Gui had already served tea to the two of them, and Gu Xiyan took a sip of the tea cup. said: "Now that the New Year is almost over, I don't know when Sister Liu will leave for Chengdu?" ”

Liu Mei'er smiled bitterly: "My aunt said that I would accompany her to spend the New Year and then go back." ”

Gu Xiyan smiled: "It's okay, I was going to personally cook a table of wine and food for you when you left... You will go back to Chengzhou after the Spring Festival now. It was warm, so that I wouldn't freeze my hands and feet..."

When Liu Mei'er heard this, she was stunned: "Sister, you have to do it yourself..."

Gu Xiyan nodded and laughed at herself: "I'm not as good as my sister, I'm proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting." That's all there is to it..."

"No, no, no," Liu Mei'er hurriedly retorted, as if she had admitted that Gu Xiyan's cooking skills were rough after refuting it was too late, "Where is this considered rough work, women's six arts, cooking is also one of them!" ”

Gu Xiyan had already heard Liu Meier talk about the "Six Arts of Women" a few times, and she wanted to ask which six arts the "Six Arts of Women" were. But I was afraid of wearing a bang, so I had to laugh wryly.

"What do you like to eat?" Gu Xiyan asked Liu Mei

Liu Mei'er smiled at the corners of her eyes and eyebrows: "I eat everything!" ”

Gu Xiyan seemed to suddenly remember something, and muttered, "You say, if I also cook a few dishes for my aunt these days..."

Liu Mei'er said happily: "That's a good idea." My aunt is a very far-sighted person, and she looks down on ordinary people. If you can show your hand in front of her, life will always be better in the future! ”

The two said they would do it. Liu Meier came up with a lot of names for dishes based on her memory, which are said to be Mrs. Wei's favorite food.

Gu Xiyan was a little worried when he held the rice paper with the name of the dish written on it: "I have to find a place to practice." Sister Liu also happened to help taste the taste. This person is ten miles away, and the rural style is different, not to mention the taste of the food..."She commented on the few dishes she ate with Liu Meier in Hongtai that day, and finally Yan sighed: "If I knew this was the case, I should have brought one back." When the time comes, it's better to start or something! ”

Liu Mei'er thought for a moment. Said: "We can beg Bao Niang to go... She's a good talker. ”

Gu Xiyan showed an embarrassed expression.

Liu Mei'er smiled: "Don't worry, this matter is on me." ”

Gu Xiyan was relieved.

Liu Meier seemed to think of something. gave Qiu Gui a look, and Qiu Gui asked Duan Yingluo to go out to help under the pretext of boiling hot water for the two girls.

Gu Xiyan knew that this must be something Liu Mei'er had something to say to herself, and she also glanced at Duan Yingluo.

When there were only two people in the room, Liu Mei'er put aside the kang table between the two and whispered in Gu Xiyan's ear: "You can do anything, but don't make rice balls." That thing is a big taboo in the Guogong Mansion. ”

Gu Xiyan whispered: "Why? ”

Liu Mei'er listened to the movement for a while, and made sure that there was no sound around, so she leaned into Gu Xiyan's ear and said: "Ye Yuan has a younger brother, named Qi Handi, when he was seven years old, during the Lantern Festival, several children played in Huaiyuan, Mrs. Zhou personally cooked osmanthus rice balls, and the three brothers rushed to eat, Qi Han... I choked, I didn't know anything, and I lay on the bed and Lazar... The next year, Aunt Shui died... Qi Han had been living in Chengxi Yuan until he died ten years ago. The old grandfather closed the Banyan Garden, and the third master was left unattended, so he was sent to the northwest camp... After the lord inherited the knighthood, Mrs. Zhou was released. After another two years, the third master opened a house in Garlic Miao Hutong, and wanted to take Mrs. Zhou to live with him. Otherwise, she is a concubine who has fallen out of favor, how can she have the title of lady..."

I really didn't expect it... A seven-year-old child, so old, how can he be choked by rice balls...

"Qi Han's mother, Aunt Shui, didn't she live in Guiyuan?"

"I don't know much about this!" Liu Mei'er, "This is what I wanted to eat when I was celebrating the Lantern Festival in the Guogong Mansion the year before last, and Mama Wang, the chef in the small kitchen, told me." ”

Gu Xiyan's eyebrows moved: "Sister Liu, why should we alarm Bao Niang, since Huaiyuan has a small kitchen, why don't you ask Mama Wang to help me, what do you think?" ”

Liu Mei'er smiled: "It's okay." That Mama Wang, who has served in front of her aunt for more than 30 years, has first-class skills, and knows her aunt's hobbies well, and it is the best to have her to guide you. However, this man is very vulgar, and he has no roots in his speech..."

That couldn't be better.

The corners of Gu Xiyan's mouth couldn't help but curl.

came to Liu Meier, it was really the right decision.