Troubled times: Start practicing spiritual practice by taking care of your sister-in-law

Chapter 283 Another New Year’s Eve Dinner

Xuanhe eight years, New Year's Eve.

As night falls, the boundless darkness swallows the earth like a giant beast, and the twinkling stars in the sky are like peeping eyes.

There were several large pots set up in the barracks, and Hu Qiang, Cui Shuang and others, with their soldiers around them, were distributing dumplings.

Hu Qiang held the iron ladle in his hand, looked at the scalding heat in the pot, and glanced at the soldiers: "Everyone is lined up, everyone is there, and they are full."

The three guards in line took the food, rubbed their hands, breathed into their palms, looked straight into the pot, and swallowed their saliva.

Nowadays, among the three armies, they are actually a mixed bag. There are the former Tianshi Army, Qingzhou Army, and Yuzhou Army, as well as garrison troops and peasant armies from various places. How can they be treated as well as when they followed other bosses? ?

Three meals a day of dry rice, including one meal of meat.

If he were an officer, it would be three meals of meat.

The monthly salary is also high. Currently, the most poorly paid among the four guards, the trap guards, each receive 800 pennies a month.

In addition to monthly salary, there are also rewards during holidays.

Now you can still eat dumplings during the Chinese New Year, which is simply better than at home. People’s hearts are made of meat. Comparing one’s heart to another’s, whenever anyone in the military talks about Chen Mo, people around him will definitely give a thumbs up.

And they also heard that they will be able to wear cotton-padded clothes next year.

Cotton-padded clothes are not the winter clothes they wear now that are sewn with multiple layers of fabric and filled with catkins and leaves. I heard that the cotton-padded clothes are extremely warm when worn on the body.

"Everyone, please listen carefully." Cui Shuang cleared his throat and said: "Some of the dumplings you eat are made by the Marquis and his wife themselves. There is a copper coin in the dumplings. If anyone eats it, you can take it. Go to the Yamen to receive ten coins and a jar of fine wine.

Of course, don't be careful and stuff your own copper coins into the dumplings. The Marquis said that he had marked the copper coins. If anyone uses his own copper coins to claim it, not only will he not be rewarded, but he will also be punished. "

This is a small game held by Chen Mo to liven up the New Year.

A total of ten copper coins were put in the dumplings. When they were finally given out, it was only a hundred copper coins, which was harmless.

As soon as these words came out, all the soldiers cheered, and then chewed slowly, for fear of swallowing the copper coins in the dumplings.

Soon, the first lucky person was born.

"I got a copper coin." A man took out the copper coin from his mouth and held it up high with a hint of shock on his face.

The man was already in his thirties and was no longer a young man. He had once been a member of the Yuzhou Army. He had seen too much of the world and thought that there must be something behind this copper coin game. Those generals who ended up winning the prize must not be him. Plant big soldiers.

In the end, he really got it.

"What's your name?" Cui Shuang came over and briefly checked the copper coin. After confirming that it was genuine, he took out a small notebook from his arms and took out a charcoal pen to record it.

"General, my name is Ma Jiejie." The man said excitedly and a little nervously.

"Okay, you can take this copper coin and go to the Yamen to collect the reward." Cui Shuang returned the copper coin to Ma Jiejie.

"Thank you, General." Ma Jiejie said excitedly.

"You should thank the Marquis, not me." Cui Shuang said.

"Thank you, Lord Marquis, and thank you also, General." Ma Jiejie is a good person.

The surrounding soldiers were all envious, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

Soon, the second and third lucky ones also appeared, arousing the envy and jealousy of the people around them, and the flavor of the New Year became more intense.

The lucky guy was so grand that he immediately called to his brothers who were playing with him and said, "I'll treat you to a drink tomorrow."

The barracks was immersed in the excitement and joy, forgetting the coldness of winter.

……

In Longmen County, the lights of homes everywhere are bright, and the voices of children cheer. For children, this time is their happiest time. Being able to eat delicious food is what they look forward to most all year round. .

From the kitchens of various houses, noises, shouts, and the clatter of pots and pans could be heard.

The lively celebrations of the New Year dispersed the silence of the night, adding a touch of fireworks to the empty night.

In the lobby of the Yamen backyard.

There is a mandarin duck pot handmade by Chen Mo on the table. There is a small coal stove under the pot, and stacks of prepared side dishes are placed around it.

There are slices of lamb, beef, pork belly, and venison.

There are also bear paws, tiger paws, tiger meat, etc.

Of course, the must-have tripe, pork blood, and cabbage for hot pot are also indispensable.

The mandarin duck pot contained boiled bone soup, and Chen Mo put jujube slices, ginseng, and astragalus into the clear soup.

Soon, a strong smell of meat spread out.

Neither the servants nor Han Anniang knew what hot pot was. In order not to cause trouble to Chen Mo, Chen Mo was busy in the lobby alone, with the servants helping him, and Song Min helping to clean the table and hold chopsticks.

Han Anniang and the others took a bath early in their room, put on new clothes, put on makeup, and appeared at the New Year's Eve dinner in their most beautiful appearance.

Chen Mo prepared the soup stock that was ready to be added at any time, then wiped his hands with a rag, and smiled at Song Min: "Min'er, it's almost done. You can ask Sister Han and the others to come over and eat."

"Okay." Song Min trotted over to inform. Soon, several beautifully dressed girls came to rely on each other.

In order to have a clear distinction and to show their own style, the coats and skirts worn by the women are different colors. Even the Xia sisters are black and white.

The most dazzling ones are undoubtedly Xia Zhiqing and Liang Xue.

The ladylike temperament of everyone is here. The cloud bun is majestic and beautiful, the temperament is graceful and gorgeous, the gorgeous face, under the illumination of the candlelight, is white and flawless, especially Liang Xue's pink lips, holding a wisp of charm, Like a violet flower.

But Xia Zhining is a little less interested. She no longer has the aura of a noble lady. After Chen Mo has been exposed to the wind and sun in the army for so long, she is a bit more arrogant, more heroic and less feminine.

Yi Shiyan is smart and cute. Even though she is dressed more mature now, she still looks like a girl next door, a little childish.

As for Han Anniang, although her skin is fairer and more supple, she is still a country woman and her temperament has not been cultivated. However, her figure is too prominent and makes people coveted.

Han Aniang, Yi Shiyan, and Liang Xue stood together. Liang Xue held Han Aniang's arm, like a pair of good sisters, coming together.

"Erlang." Han Anniang's soft voice sounded, and she pursed her lips.

"Husband."

"Mo Lang."

Yi Shiyan and Liang Xue greeted each other in turn and bowed to Chen Mo.

Then there are the Xia sisters.

Xia Zhining looked a little jeweled with the pearl necklace, gold ring and the hosta she got from her sister.

Because it was Chinese New Year, Xia Zhining also called Mo Lang.

"Mo Lang, is this the hot pot you're talking about?" Xia Zhiqing looked at the steaming iron pot on the table and asked.

Chen Mo nodded.

Han Anniang came over to check, looked at the dishes prepared next to her, and said in slight surprise: "Erlang, how come these dishes are raw?"

"How do you eat raw food for New Year's Eve dinner?" Yi Shiyan's eyes flickered.

"You'll know just by watching me eat."

With that said, Chen Mo picked up the hot pot base that had been cooked before, looked at Xia Zhining, and joked: "Zhining, do you still remember what you said to me a few days ago?"

Xia Zhining looked at Chen Mo holding a piece of fiery red "oil" and the chili pepper solidified on the surface. She didn't think it was delicious. She raised her proud swan neck and said, "Of course I remember."

"Then just wait."

Chen Mo cut off a piece of hot pot base and put it into the mandarin duck pot on the right. The bone soup was already boiling, and after a while, the hot pot base melted.

On a large table large enough for more than a dozen people to sit, steam was rising from the mandarin duck pot, and the white mist intertwined with each other, turning into a huge fragrance.

"It smells so good." Song Min swallowed her saliva.

"Do you want to drink soup?" Han Anniang was slightly startled, but the smell was really good.

"Watch it." Chen Mo picked up a piece of mutton with chopsticks, put it into the spicy pot, rinsed it up and down a few times, put it into the prepared bowl, stirred it a few more times, and ate it while it was hot. After chewing a few mouthfuls, he gave a thumbs up: "It smells good."

Chen Mo is cut very thinly, which can be described as as thin as a cicada's wings. Eating it this way ensures that it is cooked well without losing its flavor.

The girls were all attracted by Chen Mo's novel way of eating.

Yi Shiyan stared at the mandarin duck pot, his eyes were a little straight, and he was already swallowing his saliva.

Chen Mo cooked a piece of mutton for Yi Shiyan, fed it to her mouth himself, and said, "Little deer, try it."

"Yeah." Yi Shiyan opened her mouth and took it into her mouth.

Soon, those big and smart eyes shone slightly, and the hot oil swayed in the mouth, followed by the spicy, numb and fragrant hot pot base, the freshness and tenderness of the mutton, and the spicy taste of the seasonings. The taste buds dance alternately, and the rich oil and water make every cell in the body cheer for joy.

It might not be the best she'd ever tasted, but it was definitely unforgettable.

Seeing that Yi Shiyan didn't speak, Han Aniang couldn't help but murmured: "Will it be cooked just by rinsing it for a few times?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Yi Shiyan couldn't wait to say: "Sister Han, it's so delicious, spicy, numb and fragrant, please try it quickly."

After saying that, Yi Shiyan took up the chopsticks himself, followed Chen Mo's example, and started cooking.

Seeing that Yi Shiyan was not pretending, Han Aniang also took action.

Then there are Song Min, Liang Xue, and Xia Zhiqing.

The novel experience and the spicy, numbing and fragrant taste made several women give it very high praise.

Xia Zhiqing ate like a lady, and was afraid of oily juice splashing on her body. She said in surprise: "I didn't expect mutton to be eaten in this way. Zhining, please try it quickly. It's really delicious."

In fact, when Yi Shiyan and Han Aniang both said it was delicious, Xia Zhining wanted to try it, but Chen Mo kept looking at her with a smile, which made Xia Zhining unable to look away, but the aroma of the hot pot kept stimulating her. taste buds.

(End of this chapter)