Wu Pen's work is perfect, Perfect Husband Episode 32: A Gentleman Keeps a Distance from the Kitchen

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  "Big brother."

  "Eh, Second Brother, this is my filial piety!" Cheng Yaojin stopped Ao Wu from speaking, "Originally I wanted to invite the two elders to live in our Cheng Village, but fearing it's too far and inconvenient, that's why I decided to build a big house for the two elders here. If you're going to refuse me even this, then what kind of elder brother am I?"

  Cheng Yaojin knew that Ao Wu, as a son-in-law, wanted to give his parents a good life, but would be subject to others' gossip. Otherwise, with Second Brother's abilities, why would he still let his parents live in a thatched hut and be bullied by the local tyrant? He was an adopted son, so doing these things wouldn't make him a target for criticism; therefore, he must help his brother fulfill this filial wish.

  "Big brother!" Ao Wu said with a fist bump.

  He accepted this favor and would repay Cheng Yaojin a thousand or ten thousand times in the future.

  Cheng Yaojin burst out laughing and called Cheng Erde: "Go to Sanli Village to find a good piece of land, buy it for me, I want to build a big house for my father-in-law and mother-in-law!"

  Cheng Erde responded with a sound and ran outwards.

  "Today I didn't prepare a good meal, so please make do with this, and tomorrow I'll invite you to have a better one!" Ao Wu said.

  He prepared some dishes from later generations and asked Cheng Yaojin to have a meal.

  The Sui Dynasty's dishes were either boiled or roasted, very simple and single-minded.

  Whether it's delicious or not depends on the quality of the ingredients.

  Of course, good ingredients are often wasted too.

  Kao Wu himself wasn't picky about food, as long as he could eat it. He came to ancient times for cultivation, and apart from that, nothing else mattered, so he never thought of improving his diet.

  Now in order to thank Cheng Yaojin, he decided to take action.

  But when these words fell into other people's ears, they seemed a bit strange. It was as if Ao Wu didn't plan to invite Cheng Yaojin to dinner at all.

  "Haha, what's the big deal about eating between brothers? As long as we can eat, that's all that matters!" Cheng Yaojin said with a smile.

  Zhong Qing said with a hint of annoyance, "Lang Jun, lunch at home is already prepared. Xu Daifu is still holding the signboard at home waiting for you, please ask your parents to return together to have lunch!"

  As for this arrangement, Ao Wu naturally did not object.

  Xu San Mao said he would come to see us off, but after what happened, no one entertained him.

  A Lai drove a horse cart over, Zhong Qing helped the old couple get on the cart, then followed by Cheng Yaojin and Ao Wu, each riding a horse, heading towards the Zhong family.

  Xu San Mao had already drunk two cups of tea at the Zhong's house and finally waited for Ao Wu and others to return.

  "Lord Ao's son has arrived as scheduled!" Xu Sanmao bowed gratefully to Ao Wu.

  At this time, Xu Sanmao's speech was slightly coughing a few times, but compared to three days ago, it was much better.

  Xu San Mao turned around and made way for the plaque behind him, "Miraculous Doctor of the World".

  He also remembered Ao Wu's order and said: "Please accept this plaque from Clock God Doctor!"

  Zhong Qing said: "My father went out for a medical consultation and didn't return, so Lang Jun took over in his place!"

  She said this sentence, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ao Wu.

  Zhong Shenyi is not at home and someone needs to receive it on his behalf. Ao Wu is the one who treats illnesses, so in a way, this also counts as returning something to its rightful owner.

  Kao Wu didn't pretend, and straightforwardly accepted it.

  The Zhong family had already prepared lunch, and everyone sat down together.

  After the banquet, Xu Sanmao rested in his room. Cheng Yaojin heard that there was an idle courtyard near Sanli Village and planned to rent it out for convenience. He took Lu Dazi, the steward, out with him.

  After settling down the two elders, Ao Wu asked Zhong Qing: "Hey, after being busy for so many days, did you just blow off the purchase of medicinal materials?"

  Thinking about the past few days, Zhong Qing got up early and worked late, finally settling the business. The last sentence made Ao Wu feel a little moved.

  "This is Yan's family provoking Xiao's family, if they don't do this, Xiao's family will have an opinion about us." Zhong Qing splashed a little cold water on him.

  "Alright. Ao Wu rubbed his nose and said: 'Anyway, thanks for your help. The other night was my fault, I didn't give in to you.'"

  "That's also what my husband said, what's the point of saying so much?" Zhong Qing was somewhat angry, "You just don't make trouble for me, that's all. Tomorrow you can't cook a separate meal for Cheng Gege to eat."

  It seems that Zhong Qing took Ao Wu's words as an invitation to dinner at Sanlitun, which would make the Zhong family seem too distant.

  "I'll let Da Hu prepare the dishes, and we'll cook them here tomorrow." Ao Wu stood up, "Don't forget about this, I'm going to find Da Hu now."

  He walked out in Zhong Qing's stunned state and soon heard Ao Wu shouting at Da Hu.

  She propped her chin with both hands, furrowed her brow and thought for a moment, then went to the study room to write a letter. She called over a servant: "You go to Licheng County and give this letter to my father..."

  "Yes, miss." The servant took the letter and left.

  "Brother-in-law, this is medicine, no need to go out and buy it!" Da Hu said bewilderedly as he listened to Ao Wu report the name of the spice.

  "Medicine?" Ao Wu suddenly remembered that in ancient times, the five spices - cassia bark, tangerine peel, star anise, galangal and Sichuan pepper - were used as medicinal herbs.

  The Zhong family is a medical family and also a wholesale pharmaceutical merchant, so this thing is naturally indispensable.

  "Then take it from home!"

  The ingredients were mainly pork, chicken and fish, which Da Hu was told to buy. Ao Wu himself went into the kitchen, where he quickly scanned everything at lightning speed amidst the cries of surprise from the kitchen aunt.

  Coming to ancient times, I feel that other places don't seem to be backward at all. Although they can't be compared with later generations, people can still live here.

  But this kitchen really is backward to the primitive society.

  Simple, two words summed up the kitchen.

  Inside it's as simple as a place for boiling food for pigs.

  No wok, no scoop, it doesn't matter, just make one.

  No seasoning, just now Da Hu said it's medicine, and the concept of taking it is very practical.

  No MSG, this can't be made, but simmering chicken soup can replace it.

  Soy sauce is nowhere to be seen, let alone old extract and new extract. This thing will be brewed again next time.

  Inside there was a push of black stuff that didn't look very good, and when I asked, it turned out to be crystallized sugar. The refining technique is not good, and I don't know if this thing can be used to make rock sugar.

  Can't help but curse this Sui dynasty, things are too scarce.

  I originally wanted to make a plate of braised pork ribs for Cheng Yaowen to taste how delicious it is, but without soy sauce, it can't be done. However, the boiled pork ribs and sugar vinegar pork ribs are no problem.

  Zhong Qing was startled and ran over to see Ao Wu just coming out of the kitchen, saying: "Lang Jun, a gentleman keeps a distance from the kitchen."

  "A great kindness should be thanked heavily!" Ao Wu replied, and at this time he saw Da Hu pulling a fat pig in, so he hastily stepped over Zhong Qing to instruct the butcher to dissect the pork.

  Pork ribs, tenderloin, and fatty pork belly were set aside. The lean and fat hind leg meat was chopped into a paste. Four pig trotters were reserved for future use.

  Zhong Qing looked at Ao Wu and just instructed him, without taking action himself, so he didn't say anything else.

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