Seeing Su Qingluan say this, Xie Zian's originally angry expression faded a bit and turned into curiosity: "Oh? If you didn't want to ask for a high price, would there be any difficulties?" Then he waved his sleeves nonchalantly and said, "Yes. Just tell me what the problem is, and if I can solve it, it won’t be a problem!”
Su Qingluan sighed softly and said softly with a very regretful tone: "The daughter of the people also knows that Mr. Xie Xiaolang has a filial heart, but since this jam is dedicated to the elder, naturally it cannot be scrawled."
Hearing this, Xie Zian straightened his body subconsciously and nodded: "...This is natural. If you want to dedicate it to my grandmother, it must be the best!"
"In this case, then the process of this jam is indispensable." Su Qingluan lowered his eyes, "From the selection of raw materials, picking, brewing of jam, and even the selection of containers, it is all sloppy." Although There are only a few key steps, but that doesn't stop her from saying some scary names and starting to fool people... Oh no, it's to persuade Xie Zian to make up his mind.
However, Xie Zian obviously didn't have the patience to listen to what Su Qingluan said, and just asked: "What do you mean?"
Su Qingluan sighed silently, thinking that this chuunibyou was really the type with a brain defect, and she made it so clear. So she had to speak more clearly: "Xie Xiaolangjun, this jam is not made out of thin air, it is made bit by bit."
"Nonsense, do you think I'm a fool?"
...Well, why not? Su Qingluan thought silently in her heart.
However, the housekeeper on the side understood the implication of Su Qingluan's words, bent down and said to Xie Zian: "Little master, the Mid-Autumn Festival is only a few days away. Even if you rush to deliver the things to the old lady now, can you If you can’t keep up, it’s all five to five.”
Xie Zian still respects the old housekeeper who has always been by his side. Although there is still a little impatience between his eyebrows, he finally did not say anything rude and just nodded: "So?"
"From what Mrs. Su said, making jam may not be something that can be done in a moment."
Su Qingluan heard this and interjected at the right time: "That's it. Let's not mention the need to select the appropriate fruit in advance. I just want to say that after the jam is successfully brewed, it needs to rest for a few days before the internal contents can be allowed to grow. The tea powder and jam are fully integrated to create a more layered and rich aroma.”
"How long will it take?" Xie Zian raised his head and asked quickly.
"If you don't want to cut corners, it will take twenty or thirty days no matter what." In fact, if we speed up the process, it will only take ten days. However, after repeated consideration, Su Qingluan decided to use twice the time for various reasons. Come tell Xie Zian.
"Then I can't give this marmalade away," Xie Zian was a little discouraged, "It's rare that I came up with a good idea to make grandma happy..."
After yelling for a while, Xie Zian didn't know whether it was because of his anger or something, but he said angrily to Su Qingluan: "It seems that you are not lucky enough to let the nobles in the capital try your jam. Hey, some people are just lowly and hardworking. My life lacks some luck for rapid advancement."
When Su Qingluan heard this, he rubbed his back molars and thought silently in his heart: I am not angry if people are angry, and there will be no one to replace me if I am angry. Think of him as a pig that saves money, and hit it with a hammer to explode the gold coins... The gold coins are so cute, I won't be angry if there are so many gold coins...
After reciting a few words silently to suppress her anger, Su Qingluan handed over the speech she had just prepared: "We can't let the nobles in the capital taste the fruit jam of the people during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This jam will be unlucky. But if The young man just wants to fulfill his filial piety, so there is no need to stick to these few days."
"Oh? What do you say?"
"Although a civilian girl comes from a humble background, the elders in her family are kind and kind, so she knows that the elders always care about the younger ones in their hearts. Whenever the younger ones offer anything, even if it is a trivial thing, as long as it can express filial piety, the elders will be very happy."
Xie Zian's eyes lit up when he heard this: "...So you are saying that if I just give you something to fool my grandmother, she will be happy?"
Su Qingluan:......
Old housekeeper: ...
Although the two people's positions are completely different, at this moment, their brain waves subtly overlap: This Xie Zian is really a bit stupid, how did he grow his brain? !
Of course, no matter how much they hate Xie Zian in their hearts, due to their respective positions and identities, they will not show it.
However, Su Qingluan lowered his head speechlessly to cover up his rolling eyes.
The old housekeeper explained: "... I think Mrs. Su means that since this jam is to express her feelings, it cannot be careless, but it does not have to be delivered on the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Then what should I give to my grandmother during the Mid-Autumn Festival?" Xie Zian raised his head and asked.
"Of course it wouldn't be good if you don't give anything as a gift, but if you say something particularly outstanding..."
In fact, the old housekeeper has already prepared some local products privately. However, Lefeng County, which can be described as a remote and remote area, does not have any special local products that can catch the attention of the nobles in the capital.
To put it bluntly, it is because Xie Zian comes here to "reflect" in the final analysis, which is equivalent to a low-end version of "exile". Although Xie Zian will not really suffer, it is still considered a punishment, so this "exile place" is natural Don't be too rich or rich, otherwise it will become "enjoyment".
The old housekeeper had put all his efforts into preparing Mid-Autumn Festival gifts, hoping that Xie Zian, a naughty boy, would take the initiative to remember to fulfill his filial piety to his grandmother, but unfortunately, his stupid head couldn't think of it at all.
Although the old butler has seniority, he is still a servant after all, and he is not a particularly confidant. He can only give advice and cannot directly ask the master to do this or that.
So Xie Zian couldn't think of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and he couldn't force it. Now that the time was approaching, the young gentleman remembered to prepare gifts, but he still looked so careless and indifferent.
...After all, it was because he had been pampered and supported since he was a child, and he was used to being arrogant, the old housekeeper thought to himself.
Naturally, Su Qingluan didn't know these anxious thoughts in the old housekeeper's mind. She only heard the old housekeeper mention the local products, and she knew it without thinking - in such a small place, how can there be anything that can be obtained in a real sense? "Local product"?
In the modern era of a previous life, with the developed transportation chain, the most common and precious things in many small places were all kinds of "fresh food" - after all, China has a vast land and rich resources, and many species are endemic to the place. For example, fungi from Yunnan and Guizhou, coconut mango from Hainan, or fish from specific waters, etc...
But in the era that Su Qingluan lives in now, it is impossible to bring this kind of "native product" to other places - because these ingredients are just fresh to eat.
However, due to various transportation conditions, many fresh foods deteriorate and rot before reaching their destination. Naturally, they cannot become "specialties". Instead, they will become "heritage" after people eat them.
However, if you make your own jam, you don’t have to worry about this problem at all.
Su Qingluan clarified her thoughts and said: "Folk women believe that compared with choosing local products, another 'gift' that costs nothing but is worth thousands of gold is more important."
Seeing Xie Zian looking over, Su Qingluan continued: "It's a 'feeling' for the elders. As long as the elders in the family know Xie Xiaolangjun's filial thoughts, no matter what you give, the elders will be very happy."
The old housekeeper also nodded in agreement: "Ms. Su's words are very true. Rather than being cowardly, it is more important to let the old lady know your filial intention, little master."
"The 'heart' thing is invisible and intangible. How can I let my grandmother know?" Xie Zian asked impatiently, "Do you want me to go back and tell you directly?"
"This... I'm afraid it won't work..." The old housekeeper was a little embarrassed, "You can't leave here without Master Lang's order."
Su Qingluan looked at Xie Zian's confused look and planned to give him a hint: "Speaking of which, the last time Xie Xiaolangjun asked his daughter to make the 'black pepper plaice', didn't he also want the elders in the family to try it? taste?"
After hearing Su Qingluan's words, Xie Zian paused, then turned his eyes aside: "...The fish was not delivered."
Su Qingluan was stunned, but the old housekeeper next to her answered her doubts: "Ms. Su, you don't know something. That fish is very delicate and difficult to keep. It will die in a few days. You can't give away a dead fish." …”
Then Xie Zian simply ate the remaining plaice - the cook in Xie's house saw Su Qingluan making black pepper plaice and naturally learned this dish.
Su Qingqing: ...This is a way she never imagined.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and she advised: "Although I didn't give away the fish, my dear husband, your desire to be filial to your elders is not hypocritical."
"Of course!" Xie Zian nodded quickly, "Although I want to go back, I really miss my grandmother!"
This is not a lie.
Although Xie Zian is a playboy, he is not so conscience-stricken as to be a white-eyed wolf.
Although he was punished, he still had feelings of admiration for his grandmother and other elders who had loved him since he was a child - but if he was usually attracted by the colorful world, his admiration would be at the back.
Su Qingluan smiled and said: "In that case, why not write all these thoughts in a letter home? As the saying goes, 'A letter from home is worth ten thousand dollars', I can naturally tell you how you miss your loved ones in writing."
When Xie Zian heard this, his eyes immediately lit up, and even the old housekeeper next to him nodded in agreement.
Then, Su Qingluan finally said her purpose: "As for the jam, I can first describe my experience of tasting it to the elders one by one, so that the elders know your thoughts."
"But didn't you say that it will take twenty or thirty days to make this jam?" Xie Zian asked.
"The so-called good products can only be found but cannot be sought," Su Qingluan showed an enigmatic smile, "Young Master might as well say something like this, it will definitely make the elders in the family happy."
With that said, she took a few steps forward and whispered a few words near Xie Zian and the old housekeeper.
