Tianliangyuan

Chapter 265 Injured

Xu Junting had at least followed someone who had documented corn planting, so he quickly got the hang of it and even got some seeds to try planting in his own yard.

Xu Junting knew this was an opportunity, so how could he not use his brain?

He himself is not good at farming, but he has people under him who are good at farming.

So he brought two farmers to his yard and planted pepper and cumin in batches to see how they actually grew.

That's all Xu Zhaozhao knew, because she didn't know how to plant it either, so the rest was up to Xu Junting to handle on his own.

Because this is just a seasoning, while pepper can be used as medicine and has a slightly higher value, but in the eyes of those in power, no matter how high its value is, it is not as high as the value of grain.

When Madam Zhao visited the Marquis's residence last time, it was actually to make it clear that the Zhao family would not become enemies with the Marquis's residence over such a trivial matter.

To put it bluntly, the Zhao family is on the side of the Loyal King, so their intention is to avoid making enemies as much as possible. Even if they cannot win Xu Han over to their side, they at least cannot become enemies with Xu Han.

Despite being only a marquis, Xu Han's actual status was higher than that of those unfavored dukes.

Although he may seem to have no official duties in the Ministry of War, in reality, the power he wields is no less than that of the Minister of War.

Unfortunately, Xu Lin was there to cause trouble that day, which made Madam Zhao somewhat dissatisfied with Xu Zhaozhao, but even more dissatisfied with Xu Lin.

What did it have to do with her? She still stood there and muttered, she really overestimated herself!

A few days later, when Xu Lin tried to come and pay her respects to the old lady again, she was turned away at the door.

Of course, she was only refused entry to the courtyard by the old lady's men; she was still inside the Marquis's residence.

However, since the old lady refused to see her and her two sisters-in-law had always been dissatisfied with her, Xu Lin had no face to stay any longer, so she left with a sheepish expression.

As soon as she left, people in every house and courtyard started talking about her.

At Ziyuan Garden, Zhang Shi and Princess Anhe were grilling meat with Xu Zhaozhao.

With cumin and pepper, why would Xu Zhaozhao deprive herself?

She had a set of barbecue tools made, and then she and her two sisters-in-law barbecued meat together in the pavilion.

Xu Zhaozhao loves beef the most, so she marinates a lot of beef.

"Zhaozhao, is it done when it looks like this?"

"Hmm, that's about right. You can try it."

The beef and mutton of today are absolutely raised on grass, so the quality of the meat is naturally different from that of later generations.

Xu Zhaozhao took a bite of the beef, and wow, it was really delicious!

"It's a pity that my mother went to my maternal grandmother's house, otherwise, I would definitely have invited her to try this delicacy."

"I must say, this tastes different from what I've had before. But if it's because of these added seasonings, then we've added them to what we've had before!" Princess Anhe said, puzzled.

Zhang didn't quite understand either, and looked directly at Xu Zhaozhao.

Princess Anhe took a bite of meat and looked at her.

Xu Zhaozhao laughed and said, "This is my secret recipe. I marinated it specially, so the taste is naturally different. Are you two sisters-in-law planning to open a restaurant?"

Zhang chuckled: "It's not impossible. How about we open a barbecue restaurant and only sell barbecue?"

People in Daxing love to eat mutton, and even though pork is not as gamey now, it is still rejected by many powerful and wealthy families.

As for beef, that's not something you can have every day.

"We can think about it, but we're not just grilling meat here, we'll also be grilling vegetables later, let's try them all."

Zhang was surprised: "Vegetables can be roasted?"

"Of course!"

Everything can be baked!

The three of them grilled and ate at the same time. Of course, it was Dingxiang and Shaoyao who actually did the grilling. The other three would just help flip the food or sprinkle some seasonings when they remembered.

Xu Zhaozhao had those specially made spice jars made; with a simple shake, the spice is evenly distributed without sticking to your hands—it's wonderful.

Xu Tingting and Xu Wanwan also came over after smelling the aroma. The two sisters arrived not too late. Xu Zhaozhao had only eaten half a meal when she saw them coming and waved to them repeatedly.

"Come here quickly, didn't you go out with your aunt? Why are you back so early?"

Xu Tingting replied, "Something happened at the General's Mansion, and Mother couldn't stay any longer with us, so she came back first."

All three of them turned their gazes toward them simultaneously.

Xu Tingting was so frightened that she trembled.

"My two sisters-in-law, and Sister Zhaozhao, don't scare me!"

Xu Zhaozhao pulled everyone together, and after they were all seated, she asked excitedly, "Tell me quickly, what new things have happened at the Li residence?"

It's not that I want to see the Li family in trouble; I just want to watch the drama unfold.

Xu Tingting took a sip of tea, and seeing that her younger sister had started eating immediately, she had no choice but to say, "It seems that the young ladies in the inner quarters got into a fight over a marriage proposal. This is considered a family scandal, so Mother brought us back."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Tingting quickly picked up a piece of meat and began to eat it with smacking sounds.

After eating two more bites of meat, Xu Zhaozhao put down her chopsticks, picked up a glass of fruit juice, and slowly drank it.

"Which girls got into a fight? And it was because of someone's wedding?"

Xu Zhaozhao was genuinely curious.

Xu Tingting swallowed what was in her mouth, and after thinking for a couple of breaths, she said, "I don't know which young man it is, but I heard it's a marriage from the Qu family. It seems to be a son born out of wedlock, otherwise it wouldn't have caused the young ladies from the concubine's family to fight each other."

A concubine's daughter marrying a concubine's son—that's a suitable match.

Moreover, the Qu family is the Empress's maternal family. Even if he is an illegitimate son, his status will certainly not be too bad. As long as he doesn't gamble or become foolish, he will be able to live a life of wealth and honor.

"Didn't your mother say more than a few words?"

"My mother tried to persuade them at first, but when she saw that the girls were really out of line, she said that she was just an aunt and not worthy of the Li family's home, so she brought us back first."

"How did your aunt look? Was she angry?"

"I didn't notice, but Mother must be a little disappointed."

Xu Zhaozhao nodded; she could roughly understand what Li was thinking.

She went back to her parents' home hoping to ask her brother and sister-in-law to help her son find a few suitable girls. Who would have thought she would encounter such a thing?

"Alright, hurry up and eat. Let's just listen to other people's business and leave it at that. As long as it doesn't involve my future sister-in-law, it's fine no matter what."

Xu Tingting and Xu Wanwan then remembered that Li Mingya was also there.

Xu Tingting's expression was not good, and she whispered, "Sister Mingya seems to be injured."

"Huh? What did you say?"

Xu Tingting was even more careful: "I heard that many old women and maids went up to pull them apart, but they couldn't. Mingya was standing nearby, so she reached out and pulled her, but unexpectedly she was injured by Li Mingshu."

"Who are you talking about? Li Mingshu?"

Xu Zhaozhao's voice changed. She knew he was no good, but she never expected him to dare hurt her sister-in-law!