Film and Television World Life Record

Her setback in selling pancakes sparked her curiosity about this novelty, Jianbing Guozi (a type of savory crepe), and she immediately decided to try making it herself.

At this moment, Hu Tao also rushed back. She was somewhat surprised to see Li Mu. She was no stranger to Li Mu. Not only had she heard her mistress mention him many times, but sometimes when Li Mu passed by the small building and chatted with Nie Yunzhu, she would also peek out the window to see which Ning Yi, the one her mistress had mentioned who had saved her, was.

Unexpectedly, today they not only helped the young lady push her cart, but also came to her door.

He curtsied and said, "Greetings, Young Master Ning."

Li Mu smiled and said, "You must be Hu Tao. No need to be so polite. I've heard your young lady mention you before."

Then, changing the subject, she said, "Since you're back, we're making a new snack. Why don't you give us your feedback?"

So, after spending more than half an hour, I finally managed to make a few jianbing guozi. Although they didn't look very appealing, they tasted quite good.

Once I'm more familiar with the place, I'll be able to set up a stall.

Not only can you make Jianbing Guozi, but you can also try making many other snacks, such as Liangfen (cold mung bean jelly), Liangpi (cold skin noodles), Shouzhuabing (hand-pulled pancake), Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger)... and even the preserved egg from the original novel.

However, this will take time.

Chapter 591 (596) Guests Come and Go

More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye. As we enter the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, the weather is getting colder, and in the mornings, snowflakes even fall from the sky.

Although it only covered the ground with a thin layer, it caused the temperature to drop sharply, and the entire city of Jiangning became much quieter.

Winter is not a good time for most people, especially for the poor who lack warm clothes and are often hungry and cold.

Jiangning is a large city, and the situation is relatively good. After all, it is a prosperous commercial city, and there are many well-off families. As long as you are willing to work hard, you can always find a way to make a living.

The school remained unaffected and continued to operate, though several braziers were added inside, and some female students were seen holding pretty hand warmers.

Qin Siyuan finally closed his chess stall by the Qinhuai River, and the two had become quite familiar with each other. At Qin Siyuan's invitation, Li Mu visited his home a few times; it was quite simple and unpretentious.

Of course, the word "simple" is relative to the Su family's house. Qin Siyuan's house was indeed not big, only a little bigger than the small courtyard where Li Mu and Su Tan'er lived, and there were not many servants.

However, the area around the house is kept in a neat and orderly manner, exuding both a scholarly atmosphere and a down-to-earth sense of life.

It's truly rare for someone holding such a high-ranking official position to live in such a residence.

Qin Siyuan was once a poor scholar who rose to a high position through the imperial examinations. Although his first wife came from a peasant background, she was not petty and was a very peaceful woman. In her fifties, she managed the household affairs and tended to fruits and vegetables in her spare time. Together with her concubine Yunniang, the three of them lived a respectful life.

That day, Li Mu left the academy and went to Qin Siyuan's house as agreed. Kang Xian had already arrived, and the two were playing chess.

Upon seeing Li Mu, he smiled and said, "Li Heng, you're here!"

Kang Xian usually acts like an old master, dressed in gorgeous clothes, with servants and maids accompanying him when he goes out, and he also carries tea sets and snacks. This time was no exception.

Although I didn't bring tea sets, I did bring fine tea leaves and spring water specifically for brewing tea, which the maid had already prepared.

Li Mu didn't stand on ceremony. He took a cup, pulled up a stool, sat down by the chessboard, and took a small sip: "Old Kang, you're... going to lose."

Kang Xian glared at him irritably: "You're drinking my tea and you still can't shut your mouth, saying I'm going to lose."

"Today, I'll show you what a truly ingenious trick is."

After saying that, he raised his hand to place the piece, when he suddenly heard Li Mu say "Eh?" He looked at the chessboard in front of him suspiciously, but found nothing wrong. He then turned to look at Li Mu suspiciously, and saw him drinking tea. He laughed and scolded, "What are you yelling about?"

Li Mu raised the tea in his hand: "Old Kang, what kind of tea is this? It's quite good!"

Kang Xian snorted: "Kid, never heard of it, have you? You don't know anything about tea, all you know is how to drink it. What a waste! Have you ever heard of Zisun tea?"

Li Mu laughed and said, "Old man, look how smug you are. I only had a few sips of your tea. Are you feeling bad about it?"

Kang Xian seemed to have been hit where it hurt, and he immediately became anxious.

The next moment, however, he put on an extremely magnanimous expression and waved his hand, saying, "I would be anxious. Tea is meant to be drunk; it's just an inanimate object, created to please you and me. It only has value if you and I find it palatable. What's the point of regretting it?"

Li Mu clapped his hands and laughed: "Elder Kang, that's magnanimous! That's how a great man speaks."

Kang Xian stroked his long beard, a smug look on his face, and said, "Like a big shot? What do you mean, like a big shot? I am..."

Li Mu interjected, "How about this generous sir gives me half a pound of Zisun bamboo shoots?"

Kang Xian, as if a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly stood up, pointing a finger at Li Mu: "You...you..."

Li Mu asked in surprise, "Elder Kang, you are such a generous and magnanimous person, you wouldn't be so stingy as to not even part with a bit of bamboo shoots, would you?"

Kang Xian couldn't bring himself to refuse, so he pointed at Li Mu and laughed, "You brat, I spent a lot of effort getting just one pound of this top-grade purple bamboo shoot, and you're asking for half a pound right off the bat."

Li Mu smiled and said, "Since it's so precious, then give me two ounces!"

Kang Xian was a bit visibly angry, and after a long while he held up one finger and said, "At most one or two ounces."

Li Mu clapped his hands and gave Kang Xian a thumbs up: "As expected of Elder Kang, you are truly magnanimous. I thank you in advance."

Kang Xian was taken aback for a moment, then snorted: "You little rascal, you really are cunning. You managed to trick me out of an ounce."

Li Mu laughed and said, "Old Kang, you're wrong about that. How can you call it deception when it comes to a scholar's affairs? Besides, you said it yourself."

Before Kang Xian could say anything more, Qin Siyuan gently placed a piece: "You've lost!"

Kang Xian was stunned and exclaimed, "It can be like this?"

Qin Siyuan said, "Haha, originally you brought some fine tea today, and I wanted to sneak a few tricks and win a round. But you gave such good tea to my friend Liheng and completely forgot about me. I really deserve to lose."

Kang Xian was both amused and exasperated: "Lord Qin, you're so vulgar, coveting my little bit of tea. I'll give you an ounce of tea in return."

Qin Siyuan laughed and said, "Your top-grade purple bamboo shoots are quite rare, so I would be impolite to refuse them!"

Kang Xian gave a wry smile, casually beckoned a servant, gave him a few instructions, and sent him home to fetch tea leaves. The group then sat down together and reviewed the game they had lost.

As they played chess and chatted, they inevitably talked about the situation in the north and the Liao people's invasion.

Qin Siyuan said, "If we're talking about what I know about the Liao people, I'm reminded of someone who, though not from my own clan, shares the same surname as me."

Kang Xian said, "Is the person Qin Gong is referring to Qin Hui, the current Censor-in-Chief?"

Li Mu watched the two talking speechlessly. He knew Qin Hui'er well too!

Qin Siyuan nodded: "I heard that a few years ago, the Liao people went south and captured his family and took them to the north, where they were trapped in a dangerous place. However, this man was brave and resourceful. He pretended to be friendly with the Liao people and took advantage of the Liao people's attack on Shanyang the year before last to return south with his family."

Kang Xian said, "He is indeed brave and resourceful, but after all, he came back from the Liao Kingdom. The journey was so smooth, and the events he experienced were all dictated by him, so there are some doubts."

Qin Siyuan said, "There are indeed many doubts in the court, but His Majesty values ​​him highly. However, making baseless guesses is not the act of a gentleman."

"I have heard that this man is of upright character, righteous and awe-inspiring, and concerned about the country and its people. This is not something that can be faked. We shall see how he behaves in the future."

Kang Xian nodded: "I heard that his hometown is in Jiangning. If there is a chance in the future, I can meet him and have a chat."

Li Mu blinked, listening to the two of them talking about Qin Hui in a very serious manner, especially Qin Siyuan saying that he was upright and righteous, as if they were talking about a very positive person, and he almost laughed out loud.

However, he didn't show it on his face. Maybe Qin Hui was also a passionate and ambitious young man when he was young! Like that guy surnamed Wang who said, "I'd rather die a quick death than betray my youthful ideals."

In the afternoon, he was a guest at Qin Siyuan's house, unaware that guests had arrived at the Su family's house that morning.

Although the Su family was a merchant family and not a scholarly family, it was impossible for them to have no dealings with the officialdom, given how large their business was.

For example, Song Mao, who is visiting today, is now the prefect of Shenzhou and has a close relationship with the Su family.

Su Tan'er's second uncle, Su Zhongkan's first wife, was originally a cousin of Song Mao. The Song family had only produced a few minor officials in the past, and the Su family had helped Song Mao a lot on his way to promotion. Now that Song Mao had become the prefect, they naturally had to repay him and take care of him.

Although he was the prefect of Shenzhou, his influence did not extend to Jiangning. However, with such a person present, whenever he visited other officials in Jiangning, he could subtly reveal his relationship with the Su family in his words. Although the officials might not show him any special treatment, they would know that someone was speaking up for them and would not become easy prey.

The only downside is that Song Mao is a relative of the second wife, which may have some impact on Su Tan'er's future power.

However, having such a person is ultimately a good thing for the Su family.

To be honest, Song Mao was able to become the prefect without much background. Even though the Su family spent a lot of money to help him, his own knowledge was still outstanding, and he was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Every time Old Master Su visited the Su family, he would bring out the outstanding children for Song Mao to examine. Song Mao's judgment was not bad, and his evaluation was quite fair. The Su family had indeed produced a few promising students with some talent in recent years.

After the examination at the Su family's library was over, Song Mao returned to the courtyard arranged for him. His personal servant came to report: "Master, Young Master Wenxing requests an audience."

Song Mao nodded: "Let him in."

Su Wenxing is Su Zhongkan's son, and he is already twenty-three years old, older than Su Tan'er. He ranks fifth among the third generation of male members of the Su family, a ranking that includes not only the third branch of the Su family but also many cousins.

Su Wenxing was quite dissatisfied with Su Tan'er's future leadership of the Su family. In the past, the old patriarch of the Su family had no way to control him, but now that his uncle had come, he naturally wanted to seek support.

After greeting Song Mao upon entering, she began to recount how Old Master Su arranged for Su Tan'er to succeed him, how he found her a son-in-law, and what kind of fame-seeking person that son-in-law was.

When Song Mao heard him mention Ning Yi, he showed some interest: "You mean Ning Yi, who wrote the poem 'Shuidiao Getou'? He was the son-in-law that Old Master Su found for Tan'er! No wonder he's an old man, he really has good taste."

"You're saying that Ning Yi is just trying to gain fame and fortune, and that poem he wrote was also plagiarized?" Song Mao asked, looking up.

Su Wenxing said, "Uncle, it's definitely plagiarism. Maybe Grandpa paid for it to put on a show. Look, he's already gained a reputation for talent."

Seeing that Song Mao still didn't quite believe it, he quickly said, "Uncle, what I said is true. We have already investigated his background thoroughly. He used to be a bookworm, always alone, with no relatives or friends, so naturally he didn't have much knowledge. That's why Grandpa chose him."

Su Wenxing spoke at length about his doubts and his grandfather's favoritism in handing over the family business to a woman.

Song Mao listened for a while, then gently pressed his hands down to calm him down.

"Wenxing, don't always listen to rumors. The truth of this matter is still uncertain. As for who will take charge of the Su family business, if you really have the ability, your uncle will naturally support you."

"As for Ning Yi, whether he is seeking fame and fortune by buying poems to cheat, my uncle will give him a chance to test him."

After saying that, looking at his nephew who was still full of resentment, Song Mao shook his head inwardly. The Su family was really getting worse with each generation.

He patted Su Wenxing on the shoulder and said, "Wenxing, you need to think more long-term. You can't compete with Su Tan'er like this. Actually, with me here, even if Su Tan'er takes over the Su family, she won't treat you badly."

Seeing that his nephew hadn't listened at all, Song Mao sighed: "Wenxing, I have to go out later. Think about what I just said. You may leave now."

Su Wenxing was stunned for a moment before reluctantly leaving.

Song Mao shook his head and instructed the steward, Song Kai, to prepare his travel necessities and gifts. His trip to Jiangning was secondary to visiting the Su family; his main purpose was to visit some officials. The itinerary was a bit tight, and the order in which he visited them was important.