Chapter 239: The Vegetarian Feast

The shrimps with green vegetables were molded from soft broad beans and dried glutinous rice flour, with eggs and seasoning as the main ingredients of the vegetarian shrimps. The broad beans were peeled and cooked with oil, turning their color into dark jade-like green. They were cooked in the pan with oil and stir-fried with ginger slices and mulled rice wine. After which, the broad beans, sugar, salt and other spices were added into the soup first. Once the flavor had leaked into the soup, the vegetarian shrimps, which were stir-fried with cornstarch and sprinkled with sesame oil, were added. The red and green gave the soup a vivid color. The broad beans were fragrant and the shrimps were tender. Although they were not real shrimps, they had a distinctive flavor.

The Luojiang Tofu Chicken used soybeans as the main ingredient. The soybeans were first grinded then drained to remove the residue. Once done, the soy milk was poured into the pan and boiled over low heat. When the paste formed a solid layer, the layer was pulled and placed aside to be sun-dried. Then, sesame powder, soy sauce, vegetable oil, and pepper powder were spread evenly on the beancurd skin, wrapped into rectangular pieces, and steamed in a steamer basket to soak various seasonings into it. After being steamed and taken out to cool, they would be cut into small pieces with a uniform diamond shape and served as a dish. It was soft, dry, salty, and chewy.

The ivory snow bamboo shoot was mainly made from tender bamboo shoots and salted vegetables. The tender bamboo shoots were trimmed into ivory-shaped roots and blanched in boiling water. The salted vegetables were washed and cut into sections for later use. Then, peanut oil was added in the pan while the scallion pieces and ginger slices were stir-fried, before placing aside after they gave off a fragrance. Lastly, the tender bamboo shoots were thrown into the pan, cooked, and simmered over low heat before thickening with cornstarch. For the arrangement, the four ivory bamboo shoots were placed in the four corners with the sharp ends pointing outwards and the middle was piled up with salted vegetables. The ivory was pure white while the salted vegetables were light and simple, tasty and fragrant.

In addition, there were bean curd meat slices, lotus leaf meat, shredded chowder, fish maw with shrimp, fish, and pork, osmanthus scallops, chickpea flowers, crystal duck cubes, high quality dove eggs, fresh mushroom and chicken slices, lotuses, wine-pickled bamboo shoots, crowned daisy vegetables, stir-fried orange day lilies, smoked pine nut and tofu, and other dishes that were all made from vegetarian ingredients.

Shi Fengju was obviously familiar with all this and could tell Sang Wan about each dish. Although Sang Wan had visited temples a few times before, the vegetarian food served were only stir-fried cabbage, green vegetables, and tofu. Upon seeing the dishes, she was full of praise as they enjoyed the feast. Even Liu Ya and the others got to enjoy a rare instance of fine food.

When they were done with the vegetarian feast, the sun had set in the west. As such, the two took their leave and went down the hill.

Nothing happened when they spent a night at an inn. Early the next morning, they set off and rode towards the dock. They got on a boat, and headed towards Qingzhou.

“We won’t be delayed for long even if we stop over, so there isn’t a need for us to rush too much. We’ll dock ourselves at night and climb ashore to stay in an inn! We’ll just leave two or three people to look after the boat,” Shi Fengju said.

Upon hearing that, it was close to what she wanted. Although she was unlikely to meet with two unlucky encounters in a short period of time, it was better to be safe than sorry. Thus, she agreed with a smile.

At night, the two of them climbed ashore to stay in an inn, together with Liu Ya.

Nothing happened during the day journey on the boat. Although Shi Fengju was very energetic, there seemed to be hardly anything to idle away time. At night, he would naturally make love to consume his energy. Seeing that he did not have any restraint at all, she was reluctant. He was a patient who had just recovered from his injuries. If he went back with his health still weak, she would definitely be embarrassed. However, Shi Fengju said half-seriously yet half-jokingly, “Sang Wan, I’ve made up my mind. We should have a child quickly so that mother can be busy with something instead of letting her imaginations run wild the whole day!” Smiling, he also asked how Nanny Li was doing.

However, what actually gave him such an idea was because of the accident he had met with. The more he thought about it, the more upset he was. If he were not able to leave behind an heir and something happened to him, he would have let his ancestors and wife down. Realizing this misery and with how much he loved his wife, this matter became even more urgent.

Since Sang Wan thought he made sense, she did not say anything and let him undress her. Having her in his embrace, he pulled her onto the bed.

Half a month later, the boat finally reached the shores of Qingzhou’s dock. Because they had sent a horse to report by land two days ago, Head Servant Jin had been waiting for them at the dock with a group of others. Once Shi Fengju and Sang Wan got off the boat, Head Servant Jin quickly welcomed them.

“Young Master, Young Mistress, the both of you are finally back! Old Mistress and the servants have been looking forward to this day every day!” As soon as Head Servant Jin saw Shi Fengju, his eyes watered and he could not help but lift up his sleeve to wipe his eyes. He had watched Shi Fengju grow up. When he heard that he had met with a huge mishap, how could he not be concerned? At the sight of him, he suddenly felt as if they had been separated for a long while.

“Nobody asked all of you to be worried! Aren’t I fine now? Let’s go back to the household!” Shi Fengju scolded them with a smile before letting out a soft sigh.

“Yes, yes. Young Master, Young Mistress, please get onto the carriage. Leave the luggages to me. I’m afraid Old Mistress is anxiously waiting for you!” Head Servant Jin hurriedly said with a smile and led Shi Fengju and Sang Wan to the horse carriage.

After the two of them got in, the carriage headed straight towards the Shi household. The two of them did not speak as Head Servant Jin’s tone made them feel somewhat miserable. It was obvious that Wang Shi must have been very worried.

Both Shi Fengju and Sang Wan had not expected Wang Shi, Second Old Master Shi and Second Old Mistress Shi, Third Old Master Shi and Third Old Mistress Shi, Gu Fangzi, Nanny Li, and the rest to be waiting at the entrance of the Shi household. When the two of them saw that from a distance, they hurriedly instructed the carriage to pull over.

“My dear son! You’re finally back!” Shi Fengju quickened his pace and lifted his sleeves to kneel and greet his mother. Just when he was about to get down to his knees, Wang Shi stopped him. She hugged him and started crying bitterly while everyone at the side promptly comforted her.

After some time, Wang Shi slowly regained her senses and observed Shi Fengju from head to toe. Shi Fengju could not help but show her a relaxed and comfortable expression for her to see. “Mother, look. I’m fine now, aren’t I?”

“What nonsense! You don’t look well, and you’ve lost weight!” Wang Shi said while sniffling.

Shi Fengju replied with a smile, “Perhaps I was worn out from the trip. I’ll be fine after resting at home for a few days. Mother, tell the kitchen to make more delicious food for me and it’ll nourish my body!”

Upon hearing that, everyone chuckled, but Wang Shi nodded her head seriously and said, “Of course! You have to rest at home for a few days and not worry about anything else. I’ll ask the kitchen to make ginseng chicken soup for you everyday! Together with some longans, lotus seeds, and white fungus, they’ll be very nourishing for you. You’ll also have a cup of red bird’s nest every morning and night to supplement your blood!”

Shi Fengju’s scalp went numb from hearing that and he agreed just for his mother to see. Second Old Master Shi and the others quickly persuaded him to go inside, and they all went to Wang Shi’s courtyard.

When he was seated, Second Old Master Shi and the rest knew that Wang Shi had a lot of things to say to Shi Fengju. They excused themselves and left the mother and son alone.

“Big Cousin, you’re finally back! Auntie has been worried about you these days and would not listen to anyone. She even became vegetarian and prayed to Buddha!” Gu Fangzi said with a slight sigh.

“Yes, yes. Come quickly. Wash your hands, clean your face, and change your clothes first. We’ll burn an incense to Bodhisattva and our ancestors in the ancestral hall to thank them for their blessings that my son was able to escape from death!” Wang Shi hurriedly urged.

Shi Fengju nodded his head and said, “Mother, I’ll go back to Ning Garden1 with Sang Wan to have a change of clothes first.”

Wang Shi then remembered her daughter-in-law who accompanied his son back. She nodded her head and said with a smile, “Sang Wan, thank goodness you took good care of Fengju. You’ve done well. Quickly, go get changed first before praying to Bodhisattva and your ancestors later!”

“It’s my duty.” Sang Wan promptly responded before she went out together with Shi Fengju.

Back at Ning Garden, the masters and servants had many things to talk about. Inevitably, Nanny Li also had a lot of questions, so they could not avoid briefly replying to her. Nanny Li also knew that Wang Shi had been waiting for them, so she asked the servants to help them get changed. After hearing that he was fine, she placed aside everything else that she wanted to ask.

After praying to Bodhisattva and the ancestors, Wang Shi sent Sang Wan away first before she pulled Shi Fengju and had a look around. Then, she rolled up his sleeve to check on his arm and his injured leg.

Greatly embarrassed, Shi Fengju quickly took a step back and said with a smile, “Mother, the physician said that I’m fine! Look, aren’t I walking the same as before? There isn’t any difference, right? So don’t look anymore!”

To prove what he had said, Shi Fengju immediately walked back and forth twice in front of Wang Shi.

Wang Shi observed very carefully and saw that nothing was different. Thus, she was relieved and said, “Is there a scar left on your leg? Were you seriously injured at that time? Let me take a look or else I won’t be at ease!”

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Shi Fengju sighed in his heart: I’m already standing fine before you. Why are you still feeling uneasy? Upon seeing how insistent she was, Shi Fengju could not dissuade her. Sighing, he resigned to his fate and sat on the couch. He took off his shoes, lifted his clothes, rolled up his mid pants, and showed his injury clearly to his mother.

He had used the ointment prescribed to him for more than a month, and a large piece of skin on his leg was covered with the brown color of the undiminished ointment which highlighted the tragically ferocious scar.

Wang Shi trembled and gently stroked it with her hands as tears burst out again. “It… it must’ve been painful! My son, how can you be so careless! If anything happens to you, how would I live!” Wang Shi was both heartbroken and furious, and scolded him.

Shi Fengju quickly persuaded her that although the wound looked grave, the doctor was very brilliant. The medicine he used was very effective and the injury did not hurt. He also said that he was still applying the ointment and the scar would disappear after a while.

However, it set off Wang Shi’s anger again. She scolded Zhan Huan, Head Servant Zhang, and the others badly. She was of the mind to reprimand them, but Shi Fengju managed to dissuade her once more.

“Big Cousin! Look at how badly your leg was injured!” Gu Fangzi suddenly shrieked and rushed in from outside. She leaned forward and reached out to touch Shi Fengju’s leg.

“Cousin!” Shi Fengju shouted sternly and hurriedly pulled his leg away. He pulled down the leg of his pants and his robe as he frowned in dismay.

Embarrassed, Gu Fangzi’s hand stiffened and she slowly withdrew it before lowering her head to apologize softly, “I’m sorry, Big Cousin. I’m sorry! I… I was out of my mind just now! Seeing you hurt like this, I… I…”

Feeling awkward and embarrassed, heart-broken and sad, Gu Fangzi whimpered before covering her face as she ran out.

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