Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 172: Delicious and Easy to Cook Lotus Leaf Chicken

Qixi said, "After returning yesterday, the young master felt that after Miss Shen prepared the dishes, she had to deliver them to the county government office. Although it was not far away, the young lady's family had to set up a stall to sell buns every day, and they had to deliver meals to various shops at noon. It was very hard work."

"When the young master was studying, I had nothing to do, so I was sent here. If the young lady needs any errands, just give them to me."

Does this mean that after the food is prepared, you don’t have to deliver it to your door, but instead send someone to pick it up directly?

Or are you afraid that if I don’t cook it today, there will be no chicken to eat today?

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Your young master is really thoughtful. Thank you, Mr. Lu."

Li said happily, "Mr. Lu is a really nice guy. This way we don't have to worry about the county magistrate seeing it when we send it over."

"Qi Xi, you came at the right time today. Could you please go back and ask us when the government will give us the money that Mrs. Hu paid as compensation? When can we move this shop?"

Qi Xi hurriedly said, "Madam, are you short of money? I still have some money from pawning my inkstone. Why don't you take it first?"

Li was so anxious that she waved her hands: "No, no, it's just that my two children are going to study in the academy, and there are more places to spend money. You can go back and help ask."

Qi Xi quickly nodded and agreed, rolling up his sleeves to help Shen Yu carry the bamboo basket.

Shen Yu handed the bamboo basket to Qi Xi and said with a smile: "I am just about to go to the chicken and duck stall in the market. Since you want to help, I would trouble you to take the chicken to the stall, kill it, pluck its feathers and bring it back."

Qi Xi said with a smile: "It's just killing a chicken, how difficult is that? I helped my father do this job before, so just leave it to me, young lady. I can do it quickly and well, and it won't dirty the yard.

As Qi Xi spoke, he put down the bamboo basket, asked Li which basin he could use, asked for a basin of hot water, went to the kitchen to get a kitchen knife, put it in an empty basin, and brought them one by one to the outside of the courtyard gate.

Then he took out the bamboo basket.

He also considerately closed the gate.

There was a slight noise outside the door, and a moment later Qi Xi came in with a plucked chicken in a ceramic basin.

Shen Yu went to the gate of the courtyard and looked around. There was nothing dirty on the ground except a small puddle of water. He gathered the chicken feathers and other things that had been plucked off and put them in a large basket for garbage. The basket lid was even closed on top, making it very clean.

Shen Yu closed the gate and praised Qi Xi: "Qi Xi, I didn't expect you to have such a skill. You killed the chicken so neatly."

Qi Xi chuckled, washed his hands with clean water, squatted aside and said while washing: "My father is the cook in the mansion. Although I don't have the opportunity to cook, I have seen him kill chickens and fish since I was a child. Sometimes he is too busy, so I help him do some."

"Later, the Madam selected a servant for the young master. My father thought that only by following the young master could I have a bright future, so he spent some money and recommended me, and I followed the young master."

After that, he muttered with a bitter face: "Who would have thought that I couldn't even eat meat when I followed the young master? It's better to have meat every day when I followed my father."

Shen Yu tried to hold back his laughter and consoled him, "Qi Xi, why don't you wait until the chicken is ready and take some buns back with you when you leave? Although my meat buns are not stuffed with soft lamb, they taste pretty good."

After hearing this, Qi Xi's face immediately became cheerful again, and he said with a smile: "Okay, thank you Miss Shen, I still have some money here, otherwise I won't buy chickens and ducks myself, just give them directly to Miss Shen, you can just cook some meat dishes for me."

As he spoke, he took out a small purse from his bosom and said, "There are four taels and five cents of silver in this. Last time I bought those four chickens for five cents of silver, and the remaining money from the pawning of the inkstone is all here."

Shen Yu didn't want to accept it, thinking that Lu Lang had already helped his family a lot, so how could he accept money just for eating a few buns.

Li said, "Put it away quickly. How can I accept your money? Master Lu helped my family buy a store. I don't know how to thank him. I can afford a few meat buns."

Having said that, he pushed the 7-Up pouch back.

Qi Xi had no choice but to give up and said, "Then Madam, Miss Shen, please don't be polite. If you have any work to do, as long as I am here, just tell me to do it. I grew up in the kitchen with my father, and I have done all kinds of work."

That being said, he was after all the servant of the son of the county magistrate, so how could I dare to really order him to do anything.

Li politely asked Dun Dun to bring Qi Xi a glass of water and asked Qi Xi to sit on a small stool and wait.

Shen Yu asked Jiang to steam an extra basket of meat buns today and leave some for Qixi to take away later.

Jiang agreed, and started to steam buns and porridge soup for lunch with Li and Yutao.

Shen Yu began to prepare the chicken.

Looking at the cleaned fat chicken, and then at Qixi who was sitting there waiting for the food, Shen Yu decided to make a lotus leaf chicken. Not only does it taste good, it is also quick and easy to make.

Pour hot water into the basin again, put the chicken in and wash it again. This is not only to clean it, but also to make the chicken firmer.

Take out the chicken and drain the water. Add some sugar, salt, sweet soy sauce, some sliced ​​ginger, and a spoonful of oil to a bowl. Mix them evenly and spread them on the surface of the chicken. Set aside to marinate for a while.

Qi Xi was watching from the side and felt itchy, so he came up and said, "Miss Shen, is there anything I can help you with? I feel uncomfortable sitting idle."

Seeing that Qixi really wanted to help, Shen Yu smiled and said, "Do you know how to light a fire? If so, help me light the small stove. In a while, you will be responsible for adding firewood and steaming this lotus leaf chicken."

Qi Xi said proudly: "No problem, then I can bring back lotus leaf chicken for the young master to have as a snack at noon, and the young master will definitely praise me!"

After saying that, he quickly lit the fire and burned the wood.

Shen Yu ignored him and continued to use the big stove and soup pot at home.

Shen Yu took out a large casserole that he had bought a few days ago, which was specially used for stewing soup, and added half a pot of cold water.

I told Qixi to come over and steam the chicken when the water boiled, then I covered the lid and let Qixi sit there and add firewood to watch over the pot.

Shen Yu picked out two large and complete dried lotus leaves and soaked them in water until they were softened.

They took the marinated fat chicken, rolled up the chicken head and feet, wrapped it tightly with lotus leaves, and tied it three or four times with reeds.

Place the tied lotus leaf packets in a soup plate and place the plate on the small steamer.

Just as it was done, Qixi said, "Miss Shen, the water is boiling."

Shen Yu lowered his head and fiddled with the soup plate and said, "I'm done here too, take the lid off the pot."

Qixi used a cloth to pad his hands and took off the lid of the casserole. Shen Yu put the steamer on it, and Qixi quickly put the lid back on.

Shen Yu said: "It will only take about one stick of incense to steam."

Looking at the steamed buns, Shen Yu continued, "By then the buns will be ready, so we can take them back warm."

Qi Xi responded and said expectantly, "Miss Shen, can I come again tomorrow?"