CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 68: TOMATO BEEF BRISKET

Today is a leisure day, Lin Wanwan and Xiaoyu are sitting cross-legged in front of the dining table, each enjoying a bowl of tomato beef brisket.

Ever since the tomatoes ripened, Lin Wanwan has, like magic, procured lots of beef from Xiaoxi Town, freezing them in the underground ice cellar.

Then Lin Wanwan taught Hua Nong how to braise tomato beef brisket.

When it comes to culinary skills, Hua Nong has surpassed the master. Now, her tomato beef brisket is not to say better than Jie Yuting’s, but at least far exceeds that of ordinary chefs, and Lin Wanwan cannot compare.

When it comes to food and drink, Lin Wanwan has always been generous; whatever they eat, the three servants at home eat the same. The "security" Lin Zhentian in the study hall is the same, only they don’t eat together.

Just as they were enjoying their meal comfortably, there was some movement from the western gate. Kun Lun, who was squatting at the door eating tomato beef noodles, immediately stood up, staring at the cobblestone path in front of the door.

During leisure days, the gate connecting to the front courtyard’s study hall is mostly locked, but the western gate is generally left open for the convenience of family visits.

A moment later, a composed figure appeared, with a mysterious faint smile at the corner of his mouth. Facing the north wind, he wore a snow-white fur coat that fluttered in the wind, exuding an inexplicable artistic romance, leisurely and graceful.

The warm sun penetrated the thick clouds, shining just behind him as if enveloping him in a gentle halo.

With Lin Wanwan’s eyes, accustomed to all sorts of handsome men and beauties on the internet, as well as fantastical beauties in the second dimension, she couldn’t help but feel amazed.

His appearance is always so real yet illusory, truly unlike a being that belongs to this world.

Oh! This breathtaking charm! It’s like throwing a giant stone into calm water, causing ripples.

Lin Wanwan stared blankly for a while until the visitor was below the corridor, she came to and said, "Cousin, your arrival is an honor, I apologize for not greeting you sooner. Ever since receiving your card a few days ago, I’ve been waiting."

Xiao Chong had a slight smile at the corner of his lips and said, "The servants at home brought the first batch of New Year goods, and I found something fresh among them, so I brought it for you to try."

As he finished speaking, the follower behind him, Shuchi, came forward and handed a small bamboo basket to Yun Shang.

Yun Shang gently took it, placed it in front of Lin Wanwan on the dining table, revealing a dish of bright red cherries inside.

Though they are just small cherries, in the Great Tang, they are absolute luxuries. Even a moderately well-off family can’t easily buy them, as they are monopolized by noble families. Only in Chang’an, where merchants from all over the world gather, does the market have more, giving ordinary people a chance to taste them.

She laughed, recalling a poem by Du Mu, and couldn’t help reciting, "Endure not the stewed surefire, to appreciate the jade plate. If the years could be stopped, why need Nine-Flower Pill? Hmm, cherry with steamed surefire, I must try it."

Xiao Chong’s eyes brightened, looking at Lin Wanwan he said, "What a good phrase: ’If the years could be stopped, why need Nine-Flower Pill’, Cousin, you have great talent."

"No, not at all," Lin Wanwan chuckled inwardly, It’s a poem by Du Mu, if it weren’t for Du Fu being so strong, he wouldn’t even be called ’Little Du’, wouldn’t he have to be exceptional, "Yun Shang, bring my cousin and Shuchi each a set of bowls and chopsticks."

"Sure!"

Shuchi, unexpectedly included, was flattered and said, "No, no, no, I mustn’t."

Lin Wanwan laughed, "We’re all eating, and you’re just watching; how inappropriate."

Xiao Chong cheerfully took off his cloak, which Shuchi then hung on the coat rack by the door, and said, "I see the dishes on Cousin’s table are extraordinary, what is this redness?"

Lin Wanwan said, "Just like sweet potatoes, it’s a good thing from America, have a taste and you’ll know, Cousin."

Xiao Chong unhesitatingly sat cross-legged at Lin Wanwan’s left, while Little Qingyu, lifting her head from the bowl, glanced at him, slightly unhappy, feeling he was there to compete with her for her mother.

Since he appeared at the door, her mother hadn’t looked at her yet!

Xiao Chong, unaware of the child’s feelings, even reached out to pat the little one’s head.

Little Qingyu leaned back to avoid his hand, sending him two wide-eyed glances, prompting Lin Wanwan to laugh heartily: "Cousin, aren’t you welcomed everywhere you go, never encountering such coldness before? Hahaha."

Xiao Chong awkwardly retracted his hand, teasing Little Qingyu: "Oh, does the little one have something against me? Call uncle for me."

Little Qingyu turned her head: "Hmph."

Xiao Chong said, "So you’re a little pig that can grunt."

Little Qingyu, infuriated, stood up and stomped: "You’re the pig! You’re the pig! Little Yu is not a pig!"

Xiao Chong, smiling mischievously, continued teasing: "Oh, you can talk, then you’re not a little pig."

Just then, the bowls and chopsticks were brought up, already filled with a bowlful of aromatic tomato beef brisket.

The Tang Dynasty nobility all had divided meals, Xiao Chong was accustomed to it.

Xiao Chong picked up a piece of red tomato, observing it for a moment before putting it in his mouth, an explosion of sweet tanginess on his tongue, the flavor was rich and tangy.

Xiao Chong immediately proceeded to have a second, third, all the way to the fifth piece, before picking up a piece of meat to taste.

The beef, soaked in soup, was utterly devoid of gaminess, tender and flavorful, a taste Xiao Chong had never encountered.

After swallowing the food, Xiao Chong remarked meaningfully, "This is beef indeed."

Lin Wanwan casually said, "A few days ago in Xiaoxi Town, I happened to come across an old cow in the market and bought some. How is it, paired with my tomatoes, isn’t the taste exquisite?"

Xiao Chong beamed, saying, "This beef is succulent and flavorful, not tough at all."

Lin Wanwan said offhandedly, "Because it worked all its life, the meat is firm. Besides, how does Cousin know it’s not old, have you eaten veal?"

Xiao Chong sighed gently, "Every year a few cows fall ill and die at home."

"Pfft!" Lin Wanwan laughed, "So that’s it."

"Are you keeping these vegetable seeds? Sell me some, they’re well worth promoting." Xiao Chong, mindful of his duty to the country and people, was enthusiastic about this.

Being a County Magistrate, how could he not be concerned with the people.

The County Magistrate is busy like a dog at the end of the year, having to do everything, manage everything. In principle, even the number of people in a household, what they look like, and their wealth, should be registered and well-known.

Despite having assistants like the County Magistrate, the workload is still too large. Were it not for Xiao Chong’s efficiency, he would have died of exhaustion in his post, and today he rarely found time to relax.

Lin Wanwan said, "No problem. However, these can only be grown in greenhouses; it’s not the season outside right now. Next spring, I’ll organize all the seeds and give them to you."

"In that case, I thank you on behalf of the people of Mao County and Father."

"I understand the people’s gratitude, but why thank your father too?"

Because of the previous embarrassing incident calling out "sir", Lin Wanwan specifically checked the Tang Dynasty’s titles and found out that in the Great Tang court language, they all called their father "Ah Ye" or "Ah Ye", "Yeye".