Blissful Days After Widowhood

    After Gu Yin and Mr. Wen finished talking at the door, Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Xu heard the sound and came out.

    Wang asked: "The person is gone?"

    Guyin nodded, "I don't know what the old man is angry with. When I left, I told him to give him a lantern, and he didn't want it."

    The family washes and rests separately, and they have to set up a stall the next day.

    Wang still remembered to give the little cotton robe to the child, Aunt Ge also specially sent a pair of small cotton shoes, and asked them to help hand it over.

    But the strange thing is that the child did not come again for several days. It was freezing cold, and no one knew how the child would live after leaving the pier.

    Several people were worried, and Mrs. Wang went to the next door to help.

    Guan Potou helped him pay attention during his daily patrol, but after searching for several days, he never saw the child again.

    …

    In the end of November, the weather became more and more freezing. Although it hasn't snowed yet, the canal has begun to freeze.

    There are fewer and fewer ships on the dock, and fewer and fewer people.

    After a winter rain, the street vendors in the countryside like the old Liutou family simply closed their stalls and hurried home to celebrate the New Year.

    Wang has long prepared a large oil-paper umbrella and propped it firmly above her stall.

    Wang shi didn’t feel anything, but seeing Gu Yin’s face flushed from the cold every day, chilblains on her hands, her hands were swollen into small steamed buns, so she went to buy cotton again He pulled the cloth and made a big cotton robe for Gu Yin.

      together.

    This is not enough, perhaps inspired by the old man she met in front of the stage that day, Wang also made her a leather hat.

    Of course it's not as thin and warm as the old man's leather, glossy and slippery, more like a big leather case.

    Not to mention other cotton pants, cotton shoes, and cotton gloves, she will prepare them for the winter.

    Gu Yin really didn't feel very cold - the clothes on her body were made by Wang herself, and the cotton was stuffed enough. Usually, Wang also pressed her on the small bench and hid in the booth back of file. The daily chores that require cold water are also rushing to do by Wang. The fact that she has frostbite is purely a physical problem.

    But Wang made it especially for her, and she could only wear it from head to toe.

    Because Wang's idea is to be clean and resistant to dirt, so all cotton robes and hats are black.

    She got up and dressed herself that day, mocking herself as a "person in a cover", Xiao Wuan came over sleepily.

      There's a bear in my sister-in-law's house!"

    Wang sprinted in after hearing the sound, and when she saw the dark shadow beside the bed, she jumped, and even called Gu Yin's name, her voice changed .

    "Don't shout, it's me!" Gu Yin said helplessly, then dragged her heavy body to light the oil lamp on the table.

    "You child..." Wang shi was about to nag, and seeing that she was putting on her own outfit, she stopped abruptly, turned her head and knocked on the small Wu An's head continued, "What are you doing when you are so shocked? Think of your sister-in-law as a big bear, I think you are a bear!"

    Xiao Wu'an rubbed his eyes, making sure that the one standing in front of him was his sister-in-law, not some big man-eating bear, and then smiled shyly, "I didn't wake up, I read it wrong."

    After speaking, Mrs. Wang sent Xiao Wuan to wash up. Gu Yin also took off the cotton robe first and went to the stove. When she was done going out, she put on the cotton robe again.

    Because of this dress, the guests who patronize the stall these days can't help but take a second look.

    Some more daring regulars approached and said, "The little lady is so beautiful, why is she dressed so funny?"

    The person next to him said: "That is, I can eat an extra bowl of wontons with the beauty of the little lady! Isn't it a pity that I can't see it now?"

    When Mr. Wang heard this, he stopped doing it, and immediately stood up and said: "You rough men are on the pier every day in the wind and the sun, don't you cry bitterly? My daughter-in-law is skinny and tender. How can we withstand this knife-like wind? We sell wonton bun porridge, not color!"

    Being scolded by her like this, the two who were teasing immediately fell silent.

    The name of her wicked mother-in-law became more and more famous, and I heard that she caught a Dengzi who was trying to molest her daughter-in-law, twisted her arm, and threw it into the river. No one really underestimated her anymore. If it wasn't for the fact that their food was really delicious, they really didn't want to provoke this wicked woman.

    This first made Xiao Wuan a bear, and then made people laugh at it. Wang Shi thought that even if he was so cheeky, he would be embarrassed, not to mention Gu Yin’s tender age .

    Gu Yin said no.

    Although the family is now a little richer than before, but it is not rich enough to have food and clothing. Now that it's all done, it must be put to good use. And I don't know if I don't compare it, but when I wear this robe, I know that it feels so comfortable from head to toe.

    "It's just a little worse, but it's really warm. My mother said it herself, we sell wonton buns porridge, not anything else, they just laugh if they want."

      .

    "It's really been too cold these two days, and it may snow at night. My old Ge started coughing, so I'll just have a new year off tomorrow."

    Because they didn't make much money from the stall, the Ge family was busy from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, and even during the New Year, they had to support the stall. After so many years of hard work, there are many small problems in the body. In the past two months, Aunt Ge and Gu Yin have been working together, and they can earn dozens more a day, although not much, but at least they don't have to work so hard.

    Gu Yin took the steamer in her hand and said with a smile, "Then I will wish my uncle and aunt a happy New Year in advance."

    When Aunt Ge was sent off, Mrs. Wang looked at the deserted pier and said, "Then let's rest tomorrow."

    He knows that his daughter-in-law attaches great importance to Wu'an's education. Although the business has been getting better and better in the past two months, Gu Yin will report the bill to her every day. I saved six taels, and it is still a long way from the fifteen taels.

    She was afraid that Gu Yin would not take a rest in order to earn a little more.

    I didn't expect that as soon as she said it, Gu Yin nodded and said, "Mother is right. When the snow falls, we won't come, and we will come again when spring begins."

    Wang was overjoyed.

    The next few days were gloomy and gloomy days, the snow did not fall slowly, and the pier became more deserted after Ge's stall was closed, and more and more people chose to rest.

    On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Gu Yin got up as usual, and before she got out of bed, Mrs Wang happily came in and held her down.

    Gu Yin saw that she was happy, she could not help bending her lips, and asked, "What are you happy about?"

    Wang said with a bright smile: "It's snowing! It's still snowing particles, but it's going to be big in a while."

    Gu Yin knew that Wang was in a hurry to let herself rest, so she was ready to get out of bed to watch.

    Wang held her down and helped her tuck her four corners tightly, "Why am I lying to you about this kind of thing? It's really snowing! You put me to sleep Come on, I'll call you after the meal is ready."

    She looked at her like a thief, Gu Yin could only close her eyes again, and fell asleep with even breathing after a while.

    Wang saw that she was asleep and then took the oil lamp out of the house.

    I didn't know it was going to snow yesterday, so I prepared some ingredients at home.

    Fortunately, the weather is cold, and the prepared things are not easy to break.

    Wang took out the minced meat prepared by Gu Yin, clumsily wrapped a dozen buns, and put them on the steamer.

    Gu Yin didn't take two quarters of an hour for this task, but she spent more than half an hour.

    Wu An also got up later, and Wang let him watch the fire, and took a big broom to sweep the snow outside.

    After a while, Xu Qingchuan next door also came out with a broom, but before he swept twice, he was snatched by the broom and dragged into the house.

    Xu Shi and Wang Shi have seen a play together once, and now they don't quarrel when they meet.

    The two of them had to chat a little while sweeping snow together. After chatting and chatting, they made an appointment to buy New Year's goods together in the morning.

    When the sky was bright, Mrs Wang was sweating profusely, and the steamed buns were also steamed and hot on the pot.

    Xiao Wu'an was already hungry and said he wanted to eat morning food.

    "It's rare for your sister-in-law to sleep late. If you're hungry, you can go to bed for a while. Let's eat together when your sister-in-law gets up."

    The mother and son were talking and Gu Yin got dressed and came out.

    Wang smiled when she saw her neatly dressed appearance, "You are a prophet, do you know that I have an appointment with your aunt Xu to buy New Year's goods? But you don't need you, you said you want Yes, I bought them all for you."

    Gu Yin smiled but didn't respond, and after eating the morning meal, she said: "I'll go out later and have other things, just make up my mind to buy the new year's goods, the money is all at my bedside. I'll give you the keys in the locker. I won't go."

    Wang naturally wanted to ask her what she was doing, but Gu Yin was not going to lie to her, "In the twelfth lunar month, many restaurants and restaurants have to ask for help, I'll go there and have a look."

    "It's so tiring. At least we can have a rest for half a day when we set up a stall, and being a helper is busy from early to midnight. How can I go to be a helper?" Said Wang Shi paused and asked her again, "Did you think about it long ago?"

    This is indeed what Gu Yin had long thought of.

    The stalls on the wharf have to be closed in winter. No matter how talented she is, she can't earn enough for Wu'an's beam repair in more than two months.

      You have to pay five times the salary to keep employees working overtime, and you have to pay a lot of money to hire temporary workers.

    Afraid of Wang's nagging, Gu Yin was ready to go out.

    During this period of time, Mrs. Wang also knew that she had a big idea and would not change it easily, and she was not good at actually locking her at home, so she could only chase out with the umbrella and big robe, and put a cover on her. He buttoned it carefully again, "If you take your umbrella with you, just take it out for a walk. If it snows again, come back immediately."

    Gu Yin responded one by one, and Mrs. Wang kept sending her to the alley before returning.

    After a while, Mrs. Xu came to look for Mrs. Wang to go out.

    "Why haven't you seen your daughter-in-law? Do you feel sorry for her tiredness and let her rest at home?"

    Speaking of this, Mrs. Wang couldn't help sighing, "I thought so, but she got up and told me to go out to help the cook. I couldn't say it, and I couldn't fight. Why is it so troublesome to raise a girl? If this is a kid, either Qingyi or Wu'an, I would have been honest."

    Xu snorted softly: "Don't be in the midst of happiness and do not know happiness. Such a good daughter-in-law is hard to find with a lantern, how dare you complain? If you don't want it, give it to..."

    "Where am I complaining? I feel sorry for her!" Wang shi said worriedly, "I set up a stall outside before, the wind was blowing and the sun was blowing, I didn't hinder anything, but you didn't look at her. Those hands, they used to be clean and beautiful, but now they are swollen into small steamed buns. I asked her if it was itchy or painful? She smiled and told me that it was not uncomfortable at all, and when I turned her head, I realized that she had more than one hand. I have it on my feet, and my feet are so itchy that I can't sleep at night. I finally gained some weight in the autumn, but I have lost weight recently... Now I can finally rest, and she..."

    Speaking of this, Mrs Wang slapped her mouth heavily, "You said I was like this, when you promised her what to do with saving money for the New Year!"

    Xu sighed.

    In the past, the two of them would worry about this little money, but now it is really a few taels of money that beat the hero. If things were good in the past, it wouldn't matter if Xiao Wu'an's beam was completely out of her.

    …

    Besides, after Gu Yin came out of Zhenyi Lane, she asked people about the big restaurants in the town that were recruiting workers—she wanted to be a cook, it must be that the bigger the restaurant, the more salary . And by the way, I can learn the operation method of restaurants in this era and prepare for opening my own store in the future.

    After asking around, Gu Yin learned that a restaurant called Wangyuelou was recruiting.

    This restaurant has been open in the town for more than ten years, and it has a good reputation and a lot of daily traffic. Don't talk about it during the holidays.

    When Gu Yin found Wangyuelou, it happened to be the morning market.

    As soon as Gu Yin entered the door, Xiao Er immediately greeted her.

    Gu Yin said straight to the point that she was here to apply.

    The little Er didn't change his face, and smiled: "Little lady, wait a moment, I'll go to invite our shopkeeper."

    After a while, a middle-aged man with a round neck and a round waist came over.

    He looked at Gu Yin first, but he didn't take offense at her strange big cotton robe, but he was a little hesitant about her age.

    "I will tell the little lady, although we are asking for a cook, but the requirements are no lower than the requirements of the small shop outside to ask for a chef."

    Gu Yin nodded and said that she would save it, and added, "I just want a chance to be assessed. If I don't do what you want, I don't need to say more, I'll just leave."

    The shopkeeper nodded slightly and asked Gu Yin to follow him to the back kitchen.

    This Wangyuelou is worthy of being a large-scale restaurant. There are more than ten light stoves in the back kitchen. And all the places that the eyes can see are clean and spotless, and the light can be seen.

    It is Gu Yin's dream kitchen in this era!

    The shopkeeper asked Gu Yin and found out that she was good at white cases, so she said, "Laba is only a few days away, the little lady will make Laba porridge."

    Cooking porridge is one of Gu Yin's long-term priorities, so she should naturally follow.

    All kinds of materials are ready-made, red beans, mung beans, kidney beans and other things have been soaked in advance. Gu Yin took off the cotton robe, washed her hands, rolled up her sleeves to her forearm and started to work.

    The chefs of Wangyuelou are all men with big waists and round waists, just like the shopkeeper.

    The shopkeeper stared at them one by one, and then he stared at a few men honestly.

    The chef in charge of the kitchen helped the shopkeeper beat a few people, and then smiled and whispered to him: "The shopkeeper doesn't have the same knowledge as these bastards, they are circling among the men every day, which is rare to see When it comes to women, she is still such a beautiful little lady, so it is inevitable to see more."

    The chef smiled, but the shopkeeper didn't say anything, but his face darkened.

    He didn't like this slick chef for a long time, but this person really has some skills. Although he doesn't have a particularly commendable craftsmanship, he has been involved in both red and white cases. Second, the most difficult thing to do is that this person is a distant relative of the owner's wife.

    While they were talking, Gu Yin had already put a few kinds of beans into the pot, squeezed the alkali noodles and put them in.

    She only put half a pot of water in the pot and ordered cold water while cooking. After ordering cold water five times, she closed the lid of the pot.

    Then she switched to another stove to cook kidney beans.

    The chef was unaware that the shopkeeper resented him, and continued: "Isn't this Laba porridge cooked in one pot? Why does this little lady separate several kinds of beans? The shopkeeper should not let her spoil our stuff."

    The shopkeeper suppressed his anger and said, "Kidney beans are the least likely to rot, and need to be cooked separately. Cooking porridge is not a matter of simmering in a random pot. Since you don't understand, don't make a sound. ."

    When the pot boiled, Gu Yin then ordered water, put chicken head rice, red dates, and quinoa, then covered the pot, then took the chestnuts in the bamboo basket on the table and put them in another pot cooking. When the beans in the pot were all blooming, she poured in peanut rice and sorghum rice.

    Cover the lid again, Gu Yin took a bamboo stick to core the lotus seeds.

    This is such a delicate job that ordinary kitchen workers have to spend a lot of time.

    But when the bamboo stick was in her hand, it was like she was alive, and every stroke could be inserted into the small hole accurately and pushed out the grass-green core.

    After removing the lotus core, the chestnut skins on the pot were also soft, Gu Yin flipped her fingers and quickly peeled off the chestnut kernels.

    Then she put the lotus seeds and chestnut kernels into the pot together, and then boiled it, then put the rice, longan, rice, millet, and boiled kidney beans, adjusted the fire again, and waited for the porridge in the pot After tumbling several times, a pot of Laba porridge is ready.

    She didn't put sugar, but the aroma of the food itself was stimulated by the precise heat, and the whole kitchen was filled with a sweet and mellow atmosphere.

    Since she came across, Gu Yin had never cooked as happily as she did today, so she didn't feel tired, and while wiping the sweat on her forehead, she smiled and invited the shopkeeper to taste it.

    The shopkeeper saw that her operation was smooth and smooth, and she knew the time and method required for cooking various ingredients.

    It's also just right, he hasn't opened his mouth yet, Xiao Er came in to report: "The shopkeeper, the owner's wife is here."

    Because of the picky of the shopkeeper, it is better to have people in the back kitchen than to have too many people. Every year, it is a big problem to hire people in Wangyuelou.

    The owner's wife was very critical of him, and felt that it was because of his picky that he did not do a lot of business during the festival.

    This time is mostly for this matter.

      ? Moreover, the shopkeeper also cherishes talents, seeing that Gu Yin is quite poor in dressing and dressing, and feels that her craftsmanship should not be like this.

    If the owner's wife tastes her craft, he can directly hire Gu Yin as a chef, and the salary will naturally be doubled.

    "The owner's wife was asked to come over, and she said that I had recruited a new person and asked her to help Zhang Zhangyan."

    Little Er went away, and after a while, two women, one tall and one short, came over slowly.

    The taller woman was younger, and supported another older, shorter old woman.

    The young woman is anxiously saying: "Mother, the children of the second room are going to study at Mr. Wen's door. We can't be left behind!"

    The old woman said angrily: "I can't think of what you think? But several children in our family have let Mr. Wen pass the school test several times. What can I do? Your father and I are going to force others to accept students?"

    "Then Mr. Wen can't do it, isn't there a more powerful Mr. Wen in our town?!"

    The old woman became more and more embarrassed, "That's the eldest master from the Hanlin Academy, our children can't even enter the door of the master, and want to be a student for such a fairy ? You really dare to think about it!"

    The young woman was ashamed by what she said, "Mr. Wen doesn't care about fame and fortune, but the Wen family may not be like that. Master Wen Er is not afraid that the Wen family will take away his wealth. , are you in a hurry to find another way out? We might as well get from him..."

    The two went into the back kitchen while talking, worried that there were outsiders, the young woman did not continue to speak.

      I can't do it."

    The two women looked up at her and changed their faces.

    "How are you?!"