Goldfield
Chapter 149: Becoming a Family

In the small market on the pier, there was only one simple store that sold herbs. There were very few types of herbs in the store, and the quality of the herbs was not very good. The price is also quite cheap. Fortunately, huangdan powder was not a rare medicinal herb. Yu Xiaocao bought huangdan powder worth twenty copper coins in the pharmacy that seemed like it was going to be blown away. After that, he also bought soda ash at a nearby public store.

After thinking about it, Yu Xiaocao asked Fang Zizhen, who had followed him and asked all sorts of questions, “Uncle Fang, do you have any black tea? The quality does not have to be really good; the average quality will work! ”

Fang Zizhen furrowed his brows and thought about it. Then he shook his head and replied, “I'm a rude person, so I don't know anything about tea. Is drinking wine more fun than drinking tea? ”

Yu Xiaocao lowered his head in disappointment. He thought he could save money because the price of tea was not low!

Seeing his appearance like a withered frozen eggplant, Fang Zizhen felt a little uneasy and said, “I'll help ask Little Zhang for you later. That person seemed to be someone who liked to disguise as a culture lover. If he doesn't have it, he can still find it for you. Xiaocao, do you like to drink black tea? Next time, if the emperor rewards me with tea, I will definitely not refuse him! ”

Yu Xiaocao was comforted by him. He chuckled and said, That black “Tea is not for me to drink. I need to use it to make century eggs. With black tea, century eggs will taste better! ”

“It used to make century eggs? Okay okay! Uncle will definitely get it for you !! Ah-li, ask Little Zhang if he can get black tea? Faster is better!!” Fang Zizhen looked even more anxious than Xiaocao. After giving his order, he asked Xiaocao, “How long does it take to make a century's eggs? Can I eat it tonight? ”

Yu Xiaocao looked at him with a bright smile, slowly shook his head, and said, “Uncle Fang, you should forget about eating the century egg tonight. It takes at least twenty days or so to complete the entire process of making a century egg. If the weather is cold, I fear it will take longer! ”

Fang Zizhen looked disappointed and sighed softly, “It takes more than twenty days ah! Its alright. I, your uncle, am responsible for overseeing the progress of the construction of the port, so I probably won't be leaving in the next two or three years! There are many opportunities in the future! Did you get all the ingredients? Go, let's go back to Dongshan Village! ”

“Uncle Fang, aren't you here to keep an eye on the construction progress? What time is it, why don't you leave so early? ” Yu Xiaocao is in a good mood after buying all the ingredients, and is joking with Fang Zizhen.

Fang Zizhen chuckled and said, “I am not a supervisor, who needs to sit on the dock every day. Moreover, weren't there Li Li and Wu Yun? The students will handle all the work! The two boys weren't my students, but I saw them grow up. They should be able to do some trivial things for me! ”

With Fang Zizhen riding a tall and large horse and Yu Xiaocao driving a small donkey carriage, they traveled slowly and leisurely on the way back to the village. Fang Zizhen was a chatty person, who had question after question, and hence they were not lonely on the way home.

When they returned to Dongshan Village, Fang Zizhen did not rush back to his master's house, but instead followed Xiaocao and his sister back to the old residence of the Yu Family first.

Under the old elm tree, as if she was afraid that others would hear her, Madam Xiong approached and whispered into Madam Li's ear, “Guihua, your second brother-in-law is simply incredible! First, he liked the third young master of the Zhou Family and became the only vegetable supplier for Zhenxiu Restaurant. This time he licked some government officials! Based on her official dress colors and patterns, she might not be a low-ranking official. I wonder who has a higher rank between him and the county magistrate ?! ”

The county magistrate was the highest-ranking official Mrs Xiong had ever seen! If his short-sighted knowing that Fang Zizhen's title as General Zhaoyong was some level higher than the rank of the county magistrate, then he probably wouldn't even dare to speak!

Li Guihua grinned and spat viscous phlegm onto the ground and said, “I didn't realize it in the past, but this second brother-in-law is really a money thief. What's that saying again? Separate... separate... something... pay... something... ”.

“Isn't it ‘kari delights with those in power’?” Madam Xiong inwardly mocked Li Guihua for being uncultured.

“Iya! That's the expression !! What abilities does my second brother-in-law have? He's not even worth holding someone else's shoes! How could he benefit from them ?! Just see! Do you think it's that easy to rely on officials? He would probably feel annoyed one day and chop off all their heads! ” Mistress Li said wryly.

Madam Xiong suddenly thought of something and said, “Guihua, didn't you say that your family Heizi is filial and wants to go to the dock to get money for you to spend. Didn't Xiaocao just come back from the dock. Why don't you ask about that? ”

“Ask them? What will they know ?? Have you seen my son before? He was full of strength, so there was no way he could not get a job. I heard that the port workers are earning quite a lot now. They could earn dozens of copper coins every day with a problem! ” Mistress Li beamed happily and had a satisfied expression on her face.

Madam Xiong's mouth twitched and thought, ‘Your child's figure? With a fat body, she pants like a cow after walking a few steps. What could he do? ‘

While the two spoke ill of others in a way that seemed to fit in, Xiaocao and the others had already arrived home. Yu Hai was stunned by the official robes at Fang Zizhen and did not recognize him for a moment. He muttered in his heart, ‘Why did they bring an official here?’

Fang Zizhen greeted him first, “Adik Yu, what's wrong? You don't recognize this big brother after one night? It's me, big brother Bufan! ”

“No need, I want to see how century eggs are made!” Fang Zizhen stood in the courtyard and saw all kinds of vegetables flourishing in the courtyard. The courtyard was clean and tidy, and all the items were neatly laid out. He inwardly nodded his head.

“Eastern century? Oh, it's a new meal that's being prepared by our family's Xiaocao. I wonder what the product will be like! ” Yu Hai looked at his youngest daughter with a slight smile in his eyes, and his heart was full of pride.

Yu Hang took out a bench from inside the house and placed it next to General Fang. He said softly and politely, “General Fang, please sit down!”

“Is this your eldest son? Sure enough, he's a handsome boy! Little brother Yu, I envy you so much for having these amazing children! ” Fang Zizhen patted Yu Hang on the shoulder, then lifted his official robe and sat down. His voice was filled with sadness.

Yu Hai laughed and said, “General Fang, you flatter me! With a father like you, the general, your children will surely have good prospects.

“Dad ...” Yu Xiaocao flashes at his father. Based on what he heard from the conversation of Wu Yun and General Fang, he learned that General Fang had no children. So he was afraid his father would poke in the sick part.

Fang Zizhen was even more satisfied with this clever little girl. He waved his hand and said, “There is nothing that cannot be said. I fought a war when I was young and ended up with an unspeakable illness. I fear it will be very difficult for me to have children in this life. Brother Yu, to be honest, I really like your youngest daughter. I want to be a relative with you and adopt Xiaocao as my daughter. Is Brother Yu willing to agree to it? ”

Although the good Yu Hai didn't really want to share his daughter with others, he pitied Fang Zizhen for not having children. Moreover, the other party solemnly stated that he was not trying to take his daughter away from him. He hesitated for a long time, but eventually agreed. Hence, Yu Xiaocao now had a third rank general as his godfather.

After Yu Xiaocao solemnly served tea and recognized him as his godfather, he began his quest to make century eggs. Fang Zizhen watched with interest beside him.

Yu Xiaocao first mixed the salt, white lime, loess, and ash of the plants into a mud-like material. Then, he added black tea and huangdan powder in the appropriate amount into a mud-like material. After which, he wrapped the fresh duck eggs with a mud-like material and covered them each evenly with straw and husk. After she wrapped everything up safely with the oiled paper, she placed everything on top of the warm kang bed. As it turns out, for watermelon breeding, they also heat kang beds in an empty western space. In a warm environment, the egg production time of the century will be shortened.

There was the rest of the material like mud, so Xiaocao took some chicken eggs from the kitchen. Century eggs made with chicken eggs are brightly colored and transparent, like fine yellow jade. It feels cool and refreshing, and fragrant but not greasy. In his past life, Xiaocao loved to eat sweet stuffing, which had a taste in the mouth that was softer and smoother.

“That's him?” Fang Zizhen, who had also followed Xiaocao and personally made the egg several centuries, did not think it was so difficult.

“One stays! That easy. It will be ready to be eaten in twenty days or so! ” Xiaocao nodded. After he said that, he stood up and went to help prepare lunch in the kitchen. With this great master here, they would definitely not be able to just make two dishes.

Fang Zizhen also realized that his visit was too sudden and felt somewhat embarrassed. So he stood up and said, “Don't prepare my food. This morning, I told my master that I would be back for lunch! Brother Yu, I will drink with you at night! ”

Yu Hai graciously urged him to stay, “General Fang, it is already noon. How can we let you go without eating? Everything in the house is ready, so everything is very easy to make. ”.

Fang Zizhen interrupted, “Sister Yu, why are you still calling me ‘General Fang’? You treat me like an outsider. I'm a few years older than you, so you can call me ‘Fang’ Brother! ”

Yu Hai rubbed his hands and laughed, “Fang .. Big Brother Fang ..”

“Good! I can't let my master wait, or I will be punished for standing at the stake! Tonight, I will come with Xiaofan. We three need a good drink! My daughter, when the construction on the pier is completed, the Godfather will take you to visit our residence in the capital. Your godmother would love to have a goddaughter like you! ”

The capital? If he had the chance, Xiaocao had long wanted to visit the capital! In her previous life, she lived in a small county town and devoted herself to raising her younger siblings. Had he not visited his younger siblings, who had worked and settled in the big city, it might have been very difficult for him to get out of the small county town during his lifetime. So, it was even more impossible for him to have the chance to visit the capital.

In this life, he wished he could make up for the regrets he had experienced in his previous life. He wanted to visit the capital and had the chance to see the elegant demeanor of the imperial city. Of course, if that fellow transmigrator was not in the capital, he would have anticipated it more.

In the evening, Yu Xiaocao considered his new godfather's fondness and made ‘soy’ boiled pig with the perfect ratio between fatty and lean meat. It was fragrant and tender, and only melted within one's mouth. He also used bighead carp in a barrel to make ‘ steamed fish heads with a colored and sharp chili’, which has a soft texture. After the bone is taken, the rest of the fish is processed into paste and used to make ‘sop fish meatballs’. There is also stir-fried lettuce with oyster sauce, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, eggplant with chopped garlic. ”.

Fang Zizhen felt that he had never been so happy before as he ate food cooked by his goddaughter himself, drank the wine the emperor had given him, and chatted with two like-minded brothers. He looked at his busy beloved daughter like a bee and felt satisfaction over ‘everything was fine with a putri’.