Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 380: Big Geese, Fat Chickens, and Mountain Products

When Shen Yu and others came to the kitchen and looked at the bamboo cages in the yard, they understood why Qi Xi said something that was definitely unexpected.

There were two large bamboo cages in the kitchen yard. Two big white geese inside heard the noise and were trying hard to look out from the narrow opening at the top of the cages.

When he saw someone coming, he immediately started to cack.

Qi Xi looked very proud, and presented the treasure and said, "Girl, how about it, you never expected it, did you?"

"These two geese are fat and big, each weighs more than ten pounds."

Yucheng and Dundun picked up a piece of firewood to tease the goose, and Yutao also followed with interest.

For a moment, the kitchen yard was filled with the cries of geese and the excited shouts of children, making it very lively.

iShen Yu couldn't help but wonder, "Aren't all the shops in the market closed these days? Where did you get this pair of big white geese?"

Qixi said complacently: "Didn't the young master catch a large white ceramic goose yesterday? Yucheng also said that the goose meat was delicious."

"I just remembered that I haven't eaten goose meat for a long time. The last time I ate it was when I was in the capital before I came to the county."

"After I send you back to the restaurant, I will think about where to get two geese to cook."

"I muttered a few words casually, and the driver heard me and asked me if I wanted to buy a goose."

"I didn't expect that the driver had a few of them at home, and they were fat and big."

"I was thinking of selling them at the market after the Longevity Festival to earn some money for the winter. When I asked about buying them, I bought two at the market price."

"Early this morning, he brought two geese to the county government office."

Qixi pointed to the corner of the yard and said, "Look, those chickens over there were also bought together. They are also fat and big."

"Chicken soup is the best in winter. The young master has been busy these days for the birthday celebration and has lost weight. It's just right to make him some soup to nourish him."

Shen Yu looked in the direction Qixi pointed and saw a small chicken coop in the corner.

Five or six fat hens were eating food around an earthenware basin, chirping and flapping their wings from time to time.

Shen Yu couldn't help but laugh and said, "You raise geese and chickens in this yard. Aren't you afraid that Chef Jiang will be angry when he comes back?"

Qi Xi said proudly: "He won't be angry. When the dish is cooked, the young master will eat the meat and he can drink the soup. Who would refuse delicious food?"

After hearing this, Shen Yu couldn't help laughing.

The two chatted casually and walked into the kitchen.

The kitchen still looks deserted today.

After Chef Jiang finished making breakfast, he cleaned up and rushed to listen to the lecture, leaving only the cold pot and stove.

Qi Xi took a few quick steps and took a small bamboo basket with a big belly from the shelf to show Shen Yu: "Look at this, young lady. This is also what the driver sold to me."

"In his spare time, he liked to go hunting in the mountains, and he picked a lot of mushrooms and fungus. He couldn't finish them at home, so he dried them and stored them. In a few months, he had accumulated a lot."

"Yesterday I casually asked him if he had any dried mushrooms or something, and I didn't expect he actually had some, so I bought two bamboo baskets."

"These mountain products are very fresh when they are cooked."

Shen Yu fiddled with the dried mushrooms and black fungus in the bamboo basket. They were all cleaned very cleanly and dried in the sun. When he grabbed them with his hands, they made a rustling sound.

It smells like the unique fragrance of mushrooms, and is even better than those sold in the shops at the East City Market.

Shen Yu couldn't help but praise him, and then asked, "Did you hire that driver on the street, or is he a driver specially employed by your county government?"

Qixi shook his head: "Although I'm not a professional driver, I often use his car. He always solicits business around here. I see him often, so I've become familiar with him."

Shen Yu thought for a moment and said, "Then ask him next time you see him if he still has these mushrooms and fungus and whether he wants to sell them."

"The quality is really good. If he is willing to sell it, I would like to buy some. His mountain products are better than what I buy at the market."

Qi Xi nodded and said, "Leave it to me. Ask him next time you see him. If he sells it, I'll have him deliver it directly to the restaurant for the girl."

Shen Yu smiled and thanked him, then asked, "Are you going to eat the goose or the chickens today?"

Qi Xi rubbed his nose with the back of his hand in embarrassment. Just as he was about to speak, he heard footsteps and the clucking of a goose outside the kitchen.

The goose's cry attracted the hens to cluck vigorously, and for a moment, the yard looked like a chicken farm.

Qi Xi and Shen Yu went to the door and saw an old man who looked to be in his fifties walking towards them.

Qi Xi saw it and hurried forward to greet him and asked, "Butler Lu, why are you here at this hour?"

The old housekeeper Lu Changping nodded to Qi Xi, but his eyes were looking at the unfamiliar young girl next to him and the several children who were standing obediently beside him.

Shen Yu had heard about this old housekeeper from Lu Lang yesterday, so he hurriedly took Yu Tao and the others to greet him and said, "Honorable housekeeper Lu."

Lu Changping looked at Shen Yu and asked Qi Xi, "Who is this girl?"

Qixi hurriedly introduced them: "This is Miss Shen who runs Fengnian Restaurant. The flower cakes and pastries for Guang'an Temple this year were made by the staff of her restaurant."

The old housekeeper thought for a moment and asked, "But Miss Shen, who gave the sutra to the master, I didn't expect that Miss Shen is so young."

Qi Xi nodded with a smile: "It's Miss Shen. Although she is young, her cooking skills are better than the chef in the restaurant."

"Everyone who has eaten the food she cooks has praised it."

The old butler narrowed his eyes and looked at Shen Yu calmly. Shen Yu met his gaze with a smile, and just stood there quietly, allowing him to look at her.

The old butler watched silently for a while, smiled approvingly, and said nothing.

He asked Qi Xi in a somewhat strange way: "Why didn't you go out with the Fourth Young Master today, but are here with Miss Shen instead?"

Qi Xi hurriedly told the old housekeeper about Lu Lang's whereabouts and what he had told her. The old housekeeper nodded and said with a smile, "Then I really have to trouble Miss Shen and the others today."

"I followed the master to Guang'an Temple for a stroll. The master wanted to go to listen to a lecture, but I saw there were too many people inside, so I came back first."

"I passed by the kitchen and heard someone talking, so I came in to take a look. I didn't expect you to be here."

Qi Xi asked hurriedly, "Where are you going to eat at noon, Butler Lu?"

"Are you going to Guang'an Temple to eat vegetarian food?"

The old housekeeper shook his head and said with a smile: "I can't bear to eat that. It doesn't taste sweet."

"Just make something in the kitchen and make do with it."

"Chef Jiang's cooking skills are just so-so. They are far inferior to the dishes your father cooks."

Qi Xi said with a smile: "Don't make do with us. If you don't mind, just eat with us."

"We are discussing here whether to have the goose or the chickens for lunch."