The Little Consort's
Eps. 32: BBQS
People love holidays the most. At least, in seven days, they will spend two to three days on the weekend to relax and calm down, or take advantage of quality time with family, friends, or friends.
Li Anlan's holiday in the modern world is almost every day, because he is always absent from college for various reasons that make sense. In fact, he uses his time to have fun, take up hobbies, and travel to increase knowledge and insight about the world around him.
For a free man trapped in a palace like Li Anlan, the holiday is a day of independence. One day off he got was his happy day, because he could be relieved momentarily from his suffering in serving the punishment as Long Ji Man's servant. At least, for a day, it already feels very valuable.
Today, he got his independence day. Long Ji Man gave him a waitress schedule at Hongwu Palace for six working days, and was only given one day off. Li Anlan had already protested, questioning why he had only been given one day to rest. But, Long Ji Man instead shifted the conversation to another topic.
Although his job was only to help clean up the official royal clothes and robes, clean up and clean up the workspace, and compile the archives of reports of officials, Li Anlan could still feel tired, he said, especially if Long Ji Man's workspace is disheveled and the report archives are cluttered. As her strong physique weakened slightly, she was often exhausted to the point of falling asleep at Long Ji Man's desk.
Li Anlan's work wasn't too bad. He was used to living independently, so all the affairs in his house, including cleaning and cleaning things had become commonplace done by him. So, when the woman was given the task of being a housewife who cleaned the husband's workspace, she did quite well. Long Ji Man also did not denounce his work.
The grounds of Xingyue Palace were covered in green grass in spring, transformed by Li Anlan into a small picnic spot. He was planning for a simple recreation, as he could not get out of the palace for fun. The woman asked Xie Roulan to help prepare for her needs.
Li Anlan floated a square carpet patterned on forest scenery. In the middle was a large wooden dining box. The contents are mantou, meat filling wonton, crispy potato chips, oyster mushroom soup, dried zangjiangmian noodles, and lotus root soup. Next to the large lunchbox was a basket of fresh fruits, consisting of two apples, two pears, four peaches, a green grape, five oranges, a melon, and a melon, and a piece of watermelon. In order for a simple recreational event to taste sweeter, Li Anlan made a few glasses of squeezed orange drink in addition to water and tea. There was no wine (dragon), as Li Anlan did not like it.
The woman also asked Xie Roulan to make a burning furnace of red bricks complete with firewood and charcoal and lighters. He also told his servant to ask for a kilogram of raw beef that had been seasoned and cut into small pieces. When Xie Roulan arrived from the palace kitchen carrying Li Anlan's request, he immediately asked his master,
“Mistress, this much beef for what?”
“You'll know soon. Put it here!”
The burning furnace is lit. Two Xingyue Palace auxiliary eunuchs fanned it to keep it burning, until embers spread burning firewood. Li Anlan sorted out the pieces of beef, then he separated the large ones from the small ones in different containers.
As the fire that burned the firewood began to extinguish, Li Anlan told his two eunuchs to put the dried charcoal into the combustion furnace. The two eunuchs fanned it again, until the embers spread to the charcoal earlier. The woman placed the roasting wire she had designed herself on the stove. After being oiled with vegetable oil mixed with a little lime juice, Li Anlan put a few large pieces of meat on top, re-oiled them and told the two eunuchs to continue fanning nonstop.
The smell of roasted meat evaporating into smoke spread throughout Xingyue Palace. That distinctive fragrant aroma flew away in the wind, making the six gatekeepers sniff, guessing what kind of scent this extremely fragrant and delicious felt. The six guards went inside, down the street, until they found the source of the scent.
“You, big guards, help them!” li Anlan's orders on the six gatekeepers who abandoned their duties unknowingly. The six gatekeepers mindlessly followed his orders, helping the two eunuchs fan the furnace.
Meanwhile, Li Anlan also told Xie Roulan to arrange every meal that was on the as neat as possible carpet. The large lunchbox in the middle was moved to the side until there was enough free space to put three plates and one basket of fruits.
“Mistress, her flesh turned black,” shouted one eunuch. Li Anlan rushed over to them, then saw if it was true what the eunuch had said.
Some pieces of meat do start to look blackish, but the inside is red. Li Anlan took back the vegetable oil, then splashed it on the top of the piece of meat. After which, Li Anlan flipped the cut meat until a reddish-black position was on top. Li Anlan taught two eunuchs and six guards how to fumigate beef so he wouldn't have to go back and forth.
“Roulan!”
“Yes mistress!”
“What kitchen palace have corn?”
“I think there must be.”
“Take some.”
“Good.”
Li Anlan squatted among the crowd of eunuchs and guards. The smoke from the furnace went into his nose and made him cough. Black dust from the combustion furnace stuck to his hands and elbows. The shirt is dirty too.
As Li Anlan was engrossed in grilling meat, someone from the direction of the entrance suddenly shouted,
“Fire! Protect Your Majesty!”
The nine people who were squatting around the fire furnace turned their heads, staring strangely at Xiao Biqi who was smashing his body in front of Long Ji Man. He also spread out his hands, as if not letting the wind touch his king. Seeing the people in this palace go silent, Xiao Biqi grew even more panicked.
“Why is that little eunuch splashing himself?” li Anlan asked who.
“Maybe he was surprised to see smoke billowing from here,” replied one of the guards.
The excitement and panic that Xiao Biqi created was inversely proportional to the mood of Long Ji Man. Seeing her concubine being dirty and her face filled with black charcoal dust to the point of looking like a dirty person, Long Ji Man smiled slightly. Li Anlan's confused and dirty face was very cute.
Long Ji Man rushed over to Li Anlan along with the guards and eunuchs. The man stood two meters away from Li Anlan's squatting spot. Before he said those words, Long Ji Man first looked around, especially at the carpet that was held wide and topped with food and drink. Then, Long Ji Man stared at the two containers filled with raw beef of different cut sizes, and one other container that was still empty. Lastly, Long Ji Man stared at the other piece of meat that was above the embers of the fire.
The color is reddish but slightly blackened. Smells fragrant. The aroma between spices and vegetable oil mixed into one, flying into his nostrils and piercing his olfactory nerves. This scent was so soft, yet delicious at the same time. This was the first time Long Ji Man smelled the scent of food that was so different from most.
“Concubine An, what are you doing?” ask Long Ji Man.
“Baking meat. Your Majesty, do you want to follow?” li Anlan said as she brandished the piece of bamboo she used to flip through the meat. The pointy bamboo tip like wet oil.
“Mistress, this is her corn!”
Xie Roulan half ran. When he arrived before the king, he slightly bowed, then approached Li Anlan who was still loyal crouching waiting for the meat of the cow to ripen. As Xie Roulan put down some corn, Li Anlan picked up one, then thrust a pointed bamboo rod into the corn cob. He roasted corn near the cut of beef.
“Truly a small party!”
Long Ji Man chose to sit on the carpet. He had no intention of getting involved in the process of roasting meat and corn. An honorable and great king like himself could intervene alone in terms of food. He would wait there while keeping an eye on Li Anlan.
Not long after, Li Anlan brought a very fragrant and seductive plate of roasted meat before Long Ji Man. The black dust on the woman's face was getting more and more. Her hair is a little loose. Li Anlan placed the warm roast meat among the dishes of other foods. He was astonished to see Long Ji Man's expression that was like he was being amazed and confused at the same time, as if he was thinking of something.
“Little eunuch, why is your king's face like that?” li Anlan asked Xiao Biqi.
“Mistress, I'm not a little eunuch!”
“Jawab only my question!”
“Before the government test will be held. His Majesty is in confusion to determine the conditions for the participants because they must rely on the position and power of their parents.”
“Wah, very strong nepotismu!”
What other foreign term is this? Long Ji Man asked inwardly. He looked at the woman, wanting to know the explanation for something that had just been said.
“You have any way?” ask Long Ji Man.
“Let me think. If it is like that, it means that the people you choose forever cannot be separated from the shackles. They don't have any ability then.”
Long Ji Man demanded an explanation.
“Let them create their own CV at registration. His Majesty can immediately make a selection to determine who will qualify for the next preliminary round just by looking at the qualifications on their CV.”
“CP? CV?”
“Curicullum vitae. Ah, it's a curriculum vitae written by themselves. Let them write down their personal data, achievements, and organizational experiences they have had. That way, Your Majesty will easily select them, sort out which ones are really of quality and which ones are not.”
“What can this do?”
“Of course. It's not something that breaks the law.”
“Then, how to do it?”
“The details will be explained later.”
Li Anlan returned to near the roasting. The woman left a hanging explanation for Long Ji Man. The immature roasted meat he turned over, so and so it went on until everything was perfectly cooked. In addition to meat, grilled corn is also cooked all.
As all the food was served, Li Anlan called the guards and eunuchs to join him. But, they did not dare to take a step. Li Anlan was confused, but then she realized the reason they did not want to join her. Long Ji Man is here. Those of low status and only as subordinates are unlikely to sit on the same carpet as their king. It was considered disrespectful and against the rules.
Realizing that undeniable situation, Li Anlan could not force it. The law is the law, but equality must remain. Moreover, they had been instrumental in helping him roast meat and corn. So, Li Anlan told Xie Roulan to throw one more carpet near the carpet he occupied. Food is divided in two until two places are formed to eat.
Li Anlan told them to sit on the new carpet. But, they still did not dare to sit on it.
“Why is it still standing? Sit!”
“Mistress, this seems inappropriate,” said one eunuch.
“Because he is king?” show Li Anlan to Long Ji Man. The guards and eunuchs nodded.
“Who said you were sitting with His Majesty? Are we sitting on the same carpet?”
Only the guards and eunuchs understood. They sat on a new carpet and started eating.
“Your Majesty, please.”
Long Ji Man smiled faintly. He began to eat the food in a relaxed manner. Long Ji Man was satisfied to see Li Anlan's intelligent actions that made the guards and eunuchs obey his orders. Long Ji Man's originally bad mood slowly improved. The little barbeque party in Xingyue Palace warmed their hearts, bringing the king closer to being one step closer to the subordinates who were far below his status and standing.
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