Chapter 246: The Matchmaker Reads Faces

Zhao Meipo was very happy, "Right! Only those who have farmed the land know, that field full of seedlings is just like one's own child!"

Zhang Shen interjected, "I just said, my family Xixi loves this."

"As soon as I heard you needed emergency help, she was even more anxious than I."

Zhao Meipo gratefully looked at Gu Xixi, repeatedly agreeing, "Ah, Little Gu boss really is good!"

"Little Gu boss helped me with such a big favor, if you need anything, just speak up."

Gu Xixi said, "Zhao daughter-in-law need not be polite, actually this time I originally owed you a favor."

Zhao Meipo was doubtful, Zhang Shen also somewhat puzzled.

Gu Xixi smiled slightly, "Many thanks, Zhao daughter-in-law, for seeing I don't want to marry, and not accepting my family's errand."

Everyone suddenly understood.

He Jinglan laughed, "So that's it, you really should thank Zhao daughter-in-law."

"Though we've never met, we already feel a kindred spirit, something rare to encounter."

"If not for the generation gap, we three should today right away become sworn brothers."

These words made everyone laugh.

Zhao Meipo fanned herself, laughing till she bent forward and back, "Oh, Miss He truly is a well-read lady of noble family, this little mouth of hers, truly makes people like her immensely!"

"But I've been in this matchmaking business for a long time, I can still tell whether this young lady has marriage prospects soon."

Having said that, she truly examined Gu Xixi's face closely.

"Like Little Gu boss, one can see it's not an excuse, but truly she hasn't thought about marriage yet."

Gu Xixi very interested, "So, Zhao daughter-in-law, please also look at Jing Lan for me."

He Jinglan wanted to dodge, but Gu Xixi seized her, turning her face toward Zhao Meipo to look.

Zhao Meipo looked, then laughed blossoming, "Oh dear, eyes like autumn water, face hiding peach blossoms."

"Miss He, although currently somewhat troubled and puzzled, I see the red string star moving, good fortune approaching."

He Jinglan's face flushed, "Zhao daughter-in-law, you're a matchmaker, why also learn to read faces?"

Zhao Meipo didn't pretend mystique, spoke plainly, "I don't read faces. I'm observing your reactions."

"Just now when mentioning marriage, I saw Little Gu boss, her eyes clear, one can tell she neither hides in her heart someone she must marry, nor has daydreamed about marriage."

"Miss He is... somewhat different."

He Jinglan, after all a young lady, Zhao Meipo just smiled and left it at that, didn't specify what exactly differs.

She stood up, brought an open-mouthed clay pot, placed it on the table.

"Come, this is what I myself planted, first harvest this year, let's all eat something fresh together."

Gu Xixi lowered her head to look, smiled, "Good stuff."

"Zhao daughter-in-law, for entertaining us, you really are generous."

He Jinglan also looked into the pot, but didn't recognize, "Is this... green beans? Boiled vegetables?"

Zhao Meipo laughed, "Calling them green beans is not wrong, but they're not eaten for the pods."

She said, pinching one for demonstration.

"See, like this split open, eat the tender beans inside."

At this time the pea pods are still green, absolutely qualifies as northern summer fresh produce.

To say mature old peas are grain, high starch content, can be stir-fried into dry rations, also can be ground into flour to make jelly, pea salty noodle paste, etc staple foods.

But tender peas are different, fresh and juicy, only suitable as a small snack. If picked before maturity, not only wasteful, also can't fill the stomach.

Therefore ordinary farming households consider it wasteful, rarely willing to use tender peas to entertain guests.

He Jinglan tried it, then was astonished as a heavenly thing.

"A bit beany, but very tender! Aftertaste sweet and refreshing, also with clear watery fragrance."

"Compared to the yellow peas I ate before, why is there no difference at all?"

Zhang Shen somewhat amused, said, "Otherwise they'd say you're a city-raised child."

"What you described is the mature beans harvested in autumn, dried and stored, having various uses."

He Jinglan shelled peas, the more she shelled the more adept, eating couldn't stop.

"So green peas are just the youth of yellow peas."

Gu Xixi explained, "Green peas also have old and tender varieties."

"Like the kind Zhao daughter-in-law picked, the beans just reached their fullest, water abundant, taste most sweet and tender."

"Such a good period, before and after only about five days."

"After that, tender peas though still tasty, are different from what we eat now."

He Jinglan nodded, "In other words, if picked too early, beans haven't grown, can't eat."

"If picked too late, flavor differs."

Gu Xixi laughed, "After tender pods are picked, they still age, so even if marketable, taste can't compare to this fresh-picked fresh-cooked."

"So today we are favored, getting to eat this rare delicacy."

Zhao Meipo heard delighted, repeatedly urged everyone not to be polite, eat as much as possible.

Salt-water boiled tender peas, only added coarse salt, ginger slices, two star anise.

After boiling, need not fish out, together with pot soak in freshly drawn well water, change water several times to let broth cool completely.

During this process the pods soak in salt water, absorbing more flavor.

The simplest refreshing salty taste highlights the pea's bean fragrance sweet sweet, making one unable to stop eating.

As the sun neared zenith, Gu Xixi gave Zhang Shen a glance.

Time not early, cannot still be eating lunch at someone else's house.

Zhang Shen understood, stood up and said, "Then we'll head back first."

You just follow what Xixi says; if you notice anything off, come to my place anytime.

Zhao Meipo agreed, still wanting to keep them for a meal; Zhang Shen firmly declined, and only then did they leave.

Zhao Meipo saw the three of them all the way to the village entrance.

At the moment of parting, she solemnly said to Gu Xixi, "Although I dare not say how much help I can offer."

"But whenever you need to find me, I will certainly do my best."

Gu Xixi respected this woman from the bottom of her heart, and she said solemnly, "Madam Zhao, don't sell yourself short; as a matchmaker for many years, from the surrounding villages to Qing Tian Xiancheng, how many people have you seen?"

"Such connections are not something ordinary people can compare to."

She clasped her hands and said, "Perhaps one day when I truly need Madam Zhao's help, I will certainly not stand on ceremony."

Having just earned a lot of money, some of the things Gu Xixi had previously planned began to gradually unfold.

That day, the hired carpenter came to work at the house, and according to the blueprint Gu Xixi gave, they built a bathhouse.

The bathhouse needed solid waterproofing, and it required a professional to do it.

Underground, they had to bury drainage channels carved from bluestone; these things aren't cheap. To save a bit and also let the carpenter do it incidentally, they chose a spot right next to the outhouse.

Gu Xixi had long wanted a place to take a shower.

Washing in a wooden tub and changing the water is really inconvenient, so even in summer she couldn't bathe every day; she could only wipe herself down with warm water each night.

He Jinglan curiously asked, "You mean the shower is pouring water from above onto the body to wash?"

"Mm." Gu Xixi nodded, "That's much more convenient."

"Until the weather turns cold, you can take a bath whenever you want."

The two were talking when they saw Zhang Shen return in a fury, not knowing what had happened.