Li Ying was completely unaware of the shock in Shopkeeper Du's heart. She was about to call Mao Mao and go home when, from afar, she saw Old Zheng from the donkey stable leading a black donkey and slowly approaching Deji Hall.
"Girl, you're here too? Just in time. Take a look at this donkey. Is it good enough for your Nine - Dynasty Tribute Gelatin?"
Li Ying greeted him and then carefully examined the donkey before shaking her head. "Grandpa, I'm afraid not. I'll have to trouble you to look for more."
Old Zheng had long guessed that this business wouldn't be that easy. He took a puff of his dry tobacco and waved his hand indifferently.
Du Zhong naturally took the donkey from his hand and without saying a word, was about to stuff a silver ingot into his hand.
"Old Du, are you out of your mind? Didn't you hear what Girl Ying said? This donkey can't be used. What, are you going to turn this pharmacy into a mill?"
Du Zhong snorted. "I'm just afraid you, this old stubborn donkey, won't be able to sell your livestock and will starve to death! Consider it doing good deeds!"
Old Zheng firmly held the reins and refused to budge an inch. "Thank you, Great Benefactor Du. I got a good horse this time and sold it to Young Master Qin of the Qin family. We're living a very comfortable life. No need for your concern!"
Although they were at odds with each other, their expressions clearly showed their closeness, as if they were old acquaintances.
Li Ying was a bit curious, but her ears keenly caught the words "Young Master Qin" and she immediately became alert.
"Grandpa, do you mean Qin Shao?"
Old Zheng nodded, while Du Zhong sighed anxiously.
"You stupid old stubborn donkey! That Qin family has been trying to drive Lady Li to a dead end everywhere. How could you do business with them!"
Old Zheng was stunned for a moment, then looked at Li Ying apologetically. "Girl, it's my fault for being out of touch with the world. I only heard that they were looking for a fine horse to give to the county magistrate. By accident, I didn't expect to help your enemy. I'm damned, damned!"
Li Ying naturally wouldn't blame Old Zheng, but Qin Shao bribing the county magistrate... There must be other schemes.
Although the black sheep in Deji Hall had been completely uprooted, the Qin family who had instigated Huang Lian to do evil obviously wasn't going to let it go easily.
How to teach them a lesson was really a question that needed careful consideration.
Li Ying bid farewell to the two and left with Mao Mao in her arms.
The little sick cat meowed at her a few times. Seeing that she was just concentrating on thinking about countermeasures, it waved its little paw anxiously.
Seeing that she still didn't respond, it simply jumped to the ground and without looking back, got into the grass.
"Mao Mao!"
Li Ying was afraid that it would get lost and quickly followed. In a moment, she saw Mao Mao come out of a clump of long grass. It proudly shook the twigs and grass leaves off its fur and dropped a bunch of red fruits at her feet, then gently patted them with its round and soft paw pads.
"Do you mean that these fruits are poisonous and we can take revenge by putting them in the Qin family's food?"
Mao Mao held its tail high, and the tip of the tail swayed slightly, like a proud little flag. It meowed once and rubbed its little ear against her hand, obviously ready to be praised by Li Ying.
Li Ying picked up the bunch of red fruits, her eyes wide open in surprise and joy.
These weren't poisonous fruits at all. They were clearly chili peppers!
She originally thought that chili peppers, such a rare crop, could only be found when sailing overseas in the future. She didn't expect that there were wild chili peppers in this small fishing village!
Mao Mao didn't know how to taste the "spicy" flavor. Presumably, it had accidentally eaten some before and suffered a burning pain, so it regarded these fruits as highly poisonous things.
She had been troubled by the insufficient flavor of dogwood. These wild chili peppers were really a timely help!
Li Ying fiercely kissed Mao Mao on the little head. "Our baby is really amazing! But it's really a waste to use such good things to teach those scoundrels of the Qin family a lesson. I have another way!"
She picked a full basket of chili peppers and carried two chickens before going home contentedly.
Grandma Sun had already helped her sort out the seafood from the fisherwomen. Seeing her uncontrollable excitement, she knew that she must have gotten something good today.
Thanks to the connection with Deji Hall, there were all kinds of spices at home, such as star anise, cinnamon, angelica dahurica, and cardamom. Li Ying stir - fried the Chinese prickly ash and the chili peppers she picked today until they were dry and fragrant. She mixed them with the spices and ground them into powder with a stone mortar.
She heated the clear oil until it was boiling hot and poured it into the chili powder in three times. Each time she poured the oil, a red oil flower bloomed in the bowl. After it cooled down, she sprinkled a layer of stir - fried and crushed peanuts on it. Smelling the long - missed aroma of the oil - splashed chili peppers, Li Ying let out a long, satisfied sigh.
Grandma Sun was helping her in the kitchen. By now, she had already cut and cooked the tender chickens, and a pot of chicken bone broth was simmering richly.
The chicken breast was suitable to be cut into thin slices, otherwise the taste would be dry. The chicken legs were juicy and just right to be cut into small pieces.
Li Ying skewered the chicken back meat, chicken gizzards, chicken livers, chicken foot tendons, and chicken skin separately. She also selected some tiger prawns, razor clam meat, and small abalones cut into chrysanthemum shapes. She blanched the soaked black fungus, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots until they were cooked, drained the water neatly, and placed them on a bamboo tray.
These colorful skewers were pleasing to the eye, but Grandma Sun still couldn't help but have some doubts in her heart.
A Ying was always very particular about seasoning when cooking. Those stir - fried dishes were so attractive just by looking at the sesame oil at the bottom of the plate.
But this time, all these meat skewers were only boiled once. Although they looked delicate... But... Would they really taste good?
Li Ying saw Grandma Sun's worry, but she just smiled calmly.
She started another pot of lard, added scallions, ginger, and star anise, and stir - fried until fragrant. Then she poured in the chopped chili peppers and farm - made salty sauce. After frying out the red oil, she added the already richly stewed chicken soup and simmered for half an hour.
After the soup had completely cooled down, she mixed in the oil - splashed chili peppers and then soaked all the skewers in the soup until they were completely flavored.
Each tender chicken and vegetable skewer was coated with the red spicy oil, just like a young novice who had walked through the mortal world and then was dyed with the heroic spirit of the chivalrous people in the Jianghu.
Grandma Sun was staring blankly. When Li Ying placed a plate of "spicy cold skewers" in front of her, she just woke up from a dream.
The chicken skin was soft and tender, the chicken liver was soft and smooth, the chicken back meat was firm, the chicken foot tendons were crispy and elastic, the chicken legs were juicy and rich in meat flavor. Mixed with the burnt aroma of the oil - splashed chili peppers and crushed peanuts, every bite tasted different!
If one got tired of the meat, the seafood and vegetables just right brought a fresh and refreshing taste. This spicy cold skewers, seemingly only having the same spicy flavor from beginning to end, was actually like a charming foreign beauty, passionate, unrestrained, and full of variety, making people never tired of it!
"A Ying, is this cold skewers also the new dish for tomorrow?"
Grandma Sun put down her chopsticks reluctantly, but Li Ying waved her hand.
"Auntie, cold skewers aren't suitable to go with rice. I made this dish for another purpose."
She took two skewers of each kind, filled two casserole pots full, and poured a layer of Chinese prickly ash oil on them before excitedly rushing to the government yamen.
The yamen runner was already familiar with her. Cold skewers were great to go with wine. After receiving her "bribe" and hearing that she had something important to see the county magistrate about, he didn't hesitate to go and report for her.
Not long after, the county magistrate also walked out slowly. He looked down at her with a haughty air, looking rather sanctimonious in his every move.
"Lady Li, what do you want this time?"
Li Ying heard the faint impatience in his tone, but she just smiled sweetly.
"Your Honor, I heard that the Son of Heaven has implemented a clean - government policy. If any civil or military official embezzles, the common people are allowed to go to the capital to report. Those who embezzle more than sixty taels of silver will be beheaded and their skins will be stuffed with grass. Is there such a law?"
She spoke casually, but the county magistrate's face instantly changed!