Dafeng Night Watchman

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Xu Erlang: I have no family

Chapter 180: Xu Erlang: I have no family

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Considering the problem of oil smoke, the kitchen of the official ship was set up on the upper deck of the cabin to facilitate the dissipation of oil smoke. The walls and floors of the kitchen were painted with fireproof red paint. The main material of this paint is a resin called "carnivorous tree", which can prevent water and fire.

Therefore, this tree was widely promoted and planted by the Ministry of Industry and widely used in the construction field.

In the kitchen, several cooks were preparing lunch, sweating in the winter. A large pot of fish soup was stewing in the pot, and the steam "gurgled" against the lid of the pot, and the rich fragrance filled the air.

Xu Qian'an came to the kitchen smelling the fragrance, opened the pot by himself, and asked: "Is the fish soup ready?"

"It will be ready soon!"

The cooks were surprised that an adult actually went into this smoky kitchen in person.

Xu Qi'an stared at the fish soup, which was slightly light brown in color. This was because soy sauce was added. He sniffed the aroma and said, "Give me the spoon.

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A cook obediently handed over the spoon. Xu Qi'an scooped some soup, tasted it, and said in surprise, "The earthy smell is very light."

Due to the limitations of seasonings and cooking skills, most river fish in this world have an earthy smell that cannot be removed. Of course, the best restaurants are excluded, such as Guiyue Tower, where the chefs are very skilled.

Hearing this, the cook said proudly, "Sir, those of us who float on the water usually eat fish. When it comes to eating fish, no one in the world knows better than us. How to get rid of the earthy smell, hehe... We have a secret method."

He was still keeping it to himself and deliberately didn't say it.

Xu Qi'an said, "I also have a secret recipe that can make this pot of fish soup taste several times better."

The cook didn't believe it, but didn't refute it because he didn't dare. But the disapproval in his eyes was not concealed.

Xu Qi'an took out the porcelain bottle of chicken essence.

"Sir..."

Several cooks were shocked. They had served on the official ship for many years and received many officials. They were naturally sensitive to food.

If the officials on the ship died of poisoning, they would be buried with them.

"What are you afraid of? You can just try the poison later." Xu Qi'an comforted.

The cooks were not comforted at all, but more worried.

Xu Qi'an poured a little into the pot first, took a sip to taste it, and added a little more if it was not enough, and tasted it again. After repeating it several times, he nodded with satisfaction.

"Come, try it!" He scooped a small spoonful of fish soup and handed it to the cook who was talking.

Xu Qi'an's tasting just now gave him courage. The cook hesitated, took the spoon and took a sip. In an instant, his eyes widened.

The delicious fish soup soaked the taste buds, "Gurgle..." As the Adam's apple rolled uncontrollably, it poured into the stomach.

The fragrance lingers between the lips and teeth.

"It's so delicious..." The cook was excited, "Sir, what is this secret recipe? What a magical secret recipe, please teach me."

Xu Qian'an: "Hehe."

Governor Zhang sat on the couch, holding his forehead, enduring the shaking of the ship. After taking the pills given by the white-robed sorcerer, he felt much better.

The attendant brought hot tea and said, "Sir, after passing the border of the capital, the wind

on the river will be smaller, and you won't have a headache then."

Governor Zhang nodded, took the tea and took a sip.

"It's time for lunch, I'll get it for you." The attendant said.

"No need." Governor Zhang waved his hand and pinched his brows: "I feel dizzy and have no appetite..."

As soon as he finished speaking, his nose twitched: "What's the smell?"

From the open window, the river breeze rushed in with a fresh smell, which aroused Governor Zhang's greed and accelerated his saliva secretion.

"Gulp..." The attendant swallowed his saliva and looked outside the house frequently, his mind was not here.

Governor Zhang pondered for a moment: "Well, even if I have no appetite, I can't fight with my body, just help me get some food... Well, although the fish soup is fishy, I can't hold it, I have to share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers."

The attendant responded happily and trotted out of the room, thinking that the adults are worthy of being scholars, and they can say shameless words so beautifully.

Xu Qian'an and his colleagues sat in the spacious hall, eating and bragging while eating.

"This fish soup is simply amazing. I have never had such a strong soup in my life."

"Yes, even the fishy smell is fragrant."

"If I can drink such fish soup every day, I will be happy to stay on the boat for the rest of my life."

The night watchmen ate and sweated profusely, enjoying the surprising fish soup.

Jiang Luzhong occupied a table alone, closed his eyes, and savored the unforgettable fragrance on his tongue. He called the cook and asked curiously: "This fish soup tastes extraordinary. I have never tasted it before. How did you make it?"

There should be a secret recipe... Jiang Luzhong thought.

He was not greedy for other people's secret recipes, he was purely curious and wanted to know how this amazing fish soup was made.

The cook immediately looked at Xu Qiyan: "It's the secret recipe of that adult, it has nothing

to do with me."

The night watchmen looked over immediately.

"What are you looking at me for? This is the secret recipe of the Sitianjian. I don't have much myself." Xu Qiyan said immediately.

He knew that this group of shameless night watchmen, especially Jiang Luzhong, would definitely find ways to ask him for money.

Everyone immediately turned their heads to look at the three white-robed sorcerers in the corner, and the young white-robed sorcerer said, "Look at what we are doing. The secret formula of the Sitianjian was taught by Master Xu."

Damn, these sorcerers are just arguing, right... Xu Qian'an complained in his heart.

At this time, a group of guards in armor came in at the cabin door. While sniffing the tempting aroma of fish soup, they silently received their own simple meals.

This trip to Yunzhou, there are 20 copper gongs, 6 silver gongs, 1 gold gong, three long-time attendants of Governor Zhang, and 100 accompanying Tiger Guards.

Including Governor Zhang, a total of 131 people.

These Tiger Guards live in the small and dark cabin bottom, and the food they eat is not as good as the night watchmen, so they naturally have no share of fish soup.

The lean men silently twitched their noses, swallowed their saliva quietly, and looked at the

fish soup eagerly.

Xu Qi'an thought for a moment and called the cook: "Are there any more fish in the boat? If not, go to the net and cook a pot of fish soup for the soldiers. Everyone must have a drink." Then he handed the porcelain bottle to the cook: "If it's not enough, ask me again." The eyes of the Tiger Guards lit up, and they straightened their backs unconsciously and said in unison: "Thank you, sir."

I am always too soft-hearted, too soft-hearted, and I take all the problems on myself...Xu

Qi'an nodded: "My last name is Xu."

"Thank you, sir."

At this time, the long-time attendant of Governor Zhang came in and said loudly: "Is there

any more fish soup? My master still wants to drink it."

Everyone laughed, and the cabin was filled with a happy atmosphere.

.....

Beijing, before dusk.

Xu Xinnian returned to the capital. He was going home to get some clothes, rice, flour and

silver. Students studying at Yunlu Academy had to pay a tuition fee every three months. At the same time, they had to bring their own rice and flour. The academy provided accommodation but

not food.

So Xu Erlang would go home regularly to take the dirty clothes that he had no time to wash and leave them to the servants, and bring enough money and food for three months.

"Sigh..."

He pulled the reins outside the Xu Mansion and was surprised to find that the door was locked.

This was not a trivial matter. There were servants in the mansion. Even if the owner was not at home and closed the door to visitors, it was locked from the inside. The lock outside often meant that no one was in the mansion.

Xu Erlang's heart sank and he had a bad premonition.

He turned over and dismounted, came to the wall, took a deep breath, and said loudly: "Flying over the eaves and walking on the walls!"

After reading it, he silently stepped back a few steps, feeling the surging power filling his

limbs, and with the help of sprinting, he jumped over the three-meter-high wall and landed

steadily.

The mansion was quiet, and there was no one.

Xu Xinnian walked from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard, opened the doors of his

sister, parents, servants... empty.

The most important thing is that all the things in the mansion have been moved out, leaving

only an empty bed in the room, but no quilt.

Where is my home? My big home... Oh, it's still there, but where are my family? Xu Erlang stood in the yard blankly, thinking about life.

"The door was only locked, not sealed, which means that it was not my eldest brother who

committed a crime again... The things in the house were emptied, but there was no dust on the ground and it was clean, which means it was not robbed..."

Xu Erlang, with his wisdom as a scholar, deduced the result: they moved. Why didn't anyone notify me about the move? Did they forget that there was another Erlang in Yunlu Academy? Xu Xin was so angry that he wanted to curse. Oops... Then, his face changed, and he quickly added a layer of buff to himself, climbed over the wall, rode on a horse, and planned to leave the capital before the city gate closed.

At this time, a faint drum sound came from afar, which was the drum sound before the city

gate closed.

...

New house.

Xu Ershu had to be on duty today, and he had to go out after dinner.

Aunt looked at her husband and asked in confusion: "Logically, Erlang should be back soon.

He didn't bring much money and food last time."

As a mother, she naturally cares about her son and always estimates when he will return

home.

"Probably in the next few days." Uncle Xu said indifferently.

"Did Dalang... write to him?" Aunt asked.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean by don't know?" Aunt raised her eyebrows.

"I didn't ask either." Uncle Xu replied, finished the last bite of food, hung his sword on his

waist, and put on his helmet:

"I'm going out. Watch Lingyin at night and don't let her go to the well again. In addition,

don't be suspicious all day long. The house is not haunted."

After that, Uncle Xu went out.

That night, he led a team of imperial sword guards to patrol the outer city. When passing by

the ancestral house, he found a figure squatting at the door of the mansion, hugging his knees, burying his face in his arms, and shivering in the cold wind.

There was a horse beside him, snorting and paddling his hooves listlessly.

There was no curfew in the outer city, and the people could travel without restrictions, but the Imperial Sword Guards had the power to conduct random inspections and questioning. Seeing someone squatting at the door of his house, the second uncle immediately led people to greet

him.

Just as he was about to ask, the light of the torch illuminated the man's Confucian robe, and

he suddenly felt familiar.

Second Uncle Xu was stunned, thinking, no way...

"Erlang?" He asked uncertainly.

The Confucian student slowly raised his head, handsome and haggard, it was Xu Erlang.

The father and son stared at each other in silence for a long time, and Second Uncle Xu's scalp

numbed: "Why don't you go to the inn?"

Damn Xu Ningyan, he really didn't write a letter to his brother.

"No more silver."

"Why don't you stay at home?"

"The horses will be stolen."

"Why don't you go back to the academy?"

"The city gate is closed."

".... My family has moved to the inner city, and I forgot to tell you. Well, there is a curfew in

the inner city, and your father will take you to the inn."

Xu Erlang slowly turned his face away, his voice hollow: "Sir, I have no family."

Xu Ershu: "....."

At night, the moon was hanging high.

The official ship had limited rooms, and Xu Qi'an did not have the treatment of a separate

room. He slept in the same room with Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao.

It was a row of beds.

He turned his head to the left, and Song Tingfeng was facing him. He looked to the right, and

Zhu Guangxiao was facing him.

Xu Qi'an suddenly remembered a joke: If you sleep between a man and a woman, would you

turn your butt toward the man or the woman?

If you face your butt towards a woman, you will be considered gay. If you face it towards a

man, you may be raped. In my case, I choose to sleep lying down... Xu Qian'an complained in his heart, and there was a knock on the door.

The voice of Governor Zhang's entourage came from outside the door: "Sir Xu, my master wants to see you."