"Mrs. Li, what do you mean by this?"
Li Ying watched the county magistrate looking greatly startled and secretly snickered in her heart.
Such an impatient person! How could he be a corrupt official!
She remained calm, smilingly placing the clay pot in her hand in front of the county magistrate.
"Your Honor is the parent - official of our town. You've always been just and impartial. Thanks to your decision the other day, I was able to get a divorce. I admire you very much. Today I've specially brought some homemade food and wine. I hope Your Honor won't mind."
As she explained how to eat the cold skewers, she casually said,
"Your Honor, I do have a matter to ask for your help. You know that I've been doing business with Deji Hall to make Pengfu Glue and Guyuan Ointment. However, due to their personal grudge against me, the Qin family has repeatedly provoked and deliberately slandered me.
"I'm just a woman and I originally thought it's better to avoid trouble. But the owner of Deji Hall and Foreman Zheng of the North - Town Stable are not the kind of people who will let it go easily. I heard they've already written a petition and will come to the court to appeal their grievances tomorrow!"
She deliberately emphasized the words "stable" and "Foreman Zheng". As expected, the county magistrate's expression darkened. The crispy chicken tendon in his mouth suddenly lost its flavor and felt like a fishbone stuck in his throat.
Li Ying pretended not to notice his uneasiness and continued, "Your Honor is a noble and upright person. I'm sure you'll give us a fair deal. I've come today also to discuss another business with you."
The county magistrate never expected her to change the topic so suddenly. He felt a little suspicious.
"The Emperor values business. Our town is remote and rarely trades with the outside world. So the taxes we can pay each year are quite limited. I have a plan. It can not only actively open up the market, making the people richer, but also increase the tax revenue, which will surely gain you credit with your superiors. Are you interested?"
Although she seemed to be discussing with the county magistrate, her confident look left no room for rejection, which made the county magistrate a bit stunned.
What a shrewd woman!
On one hand, she threatened him with the crime of embezzlement for accepting fine horses. On the other hand, she showed him a way to get promoted. The choice was obvious.
The county magistrate finally swallowed the chicken tendon in his mouth whole. He stared at Li Ying and said, "Mrs. Li, you're so resourceful. I'd like to hear your plan in detail."
Li Ying smiled and asked, "Your Honor, how do you like these cold skewers in spicy oil?"
The weather was getting hotter and people had little appetite due to the summer heat. These skewers were spicy but not over - powering. They made people's mouths burn but at the same time made them feel refreshed all over. They were truly a rare delicacy.
"Just like these cold skewers in spicy oil, I have dozens of other recipes suitable for snacks in mind. As long as Your Honor gives the order, we can open a night market in the town. And we can also arrange some singing, dancing and acrobatics. As long as we promote it well, it can not only boost the consumption in our town, but also attract people from neighboring towns, thus revitalizing the sluggish economy. Isn't it easy?"
The spicy smell of the cold skewers slowly burned down the esophagus. The taste was much stronger than that of dogwood. Before the lips, teeth and tongue could make a decision, the fingers had already involuntarily reached into the clay pot to pick up another skewer.
The county magistrate heaved a long sigh. He knew it was useless to resist. After pondering for a long time, he finally nodded and said, "Fine. Since you've said so, first make some samples of the night - market snacks for me to see. If it's really feasible, I'll do everything as you say."
Although his words left some leeway, looking at Li Ying's confident back as she turned to leave, he vaguely felt that perhaps his official career from now on would depend entirely on this woman.
Li Ying left the yamen unhurriedly. On the way, she stopped by Deji Hall to check on the second batch of Pengfu Glue being boiled.
Du Zhong heard that the county magistrate would surely deal with the Qin brothers fairly. The rock that had been weighing on his heart finally fell.
"As the saying goes, the common people shouldn't fight against the officials. You even dared to threaten the county magistrate, girl. You're so brave! But I like it! Don't worry. If you need me to testify that the county magistrate took bribes, just say the word!"
Old Zheng praised her highly, but Li Ying just smiled faintly.
"Thank you, sir. But the county magistrate is a smart man. I'm sure he'll turn over a new leaf once he sees my snacks."
She spoke so confidently that Du Zhong seemed to remember something. He rushed to the backyard and dragged out several sacks.
"Mrs. Li, last time when you used basil in your dishes, it was very well - received. After hearing about it, the owner was also very curious. He specially ordered me to find some other spices. If they're useful to you, just take them."
The owner's spice shop in the capital had recently got a batch of goods. Unfortunately, the smell after burning was really unpleasant. The ladies and young misses in the capital sneered at it, so they were discarded.
Li Ying didn't expect such a pleasant surprise. She just took a look and showed a knowing smile.
The sacks were filled with turmeric, fennel and even some peppercorns. These were clearly seasonings!
The elegant boudoir of a young lady would instantly turn into a common barbecue stall if this kind of incense was lit.
She couldn't contain her excitement. She took the sacks as if they were treasures and said sincerely, "Thank you! These treasures have just solved my urgent problem!"
Li Ying didn't even have time to exchange pleasantries. She happily took the spices and went straight back to the fishing village. Coincidentally, Mrs. Li brought a fresh yellow croaker to see Mianmian, which was just right for cooking.
She cut the big yellow croaker into two pieces. The fish head and bones were fried until golden brown and then used to make soup. The tender fish meat was the best choice for making hand - beaten fish balls.
The big yellow croaker had few small bones. She scraped off the delicate fish meat evenly with a spoon, then added scallion and ginger water and starch in small amounts several times, kneading and stirring in one direction until the fish meat became sticky.
The stirred fish paste was spotless and as delicate as a beauty's skin, fair and flawless.
Li Ying wet her hands and squeezed the fish paste out from between her thumb and index finger into a cold water pot. The smooth fish balls were as round and lovely as precious pearls.
She cooked them over low heat until all the fish balls floated to the surface, then turned off the heat and fished them out.
These hand - beaten fish balls were soft, tender and chewy. They were delicious whether eaten plain or made into fish - ball soup.
However, since she was going to show them to the county magistrate to impress him, she naturally couldn't make them so plain.
She ground the turmeric powder and fennel together and fried them over low heat. It was a pity that there was no onion, so the taste of this homemade curry was a bit inferior.
Li Ying thought for a while and added some coconut milk to the pot and boiled them together, which added a special flavor.
This pot of golden curry sauce bubbled "gurgling" and emitted an alluring exotic flavor.
Then she poured in the soft and glutinous white radish that had been stewed aside. The radish soup brought a special sweetness to the curry. The fish balls absorbed the flavor of the curry. Each one was like a small sun. Biting into one, it would jump and burst out a unique freshness between the teeth.
Granny Sun had never seen such food before. She was so stunned that it took her a long time to come back to her senses. She said happily, "A Ying, if the county magistrate sees these curry fish balls, he'll surely approve of your idea for the night market!"
However, Li Ying didn't relax at all.
She wasn't satisfied with just persuading the county magistrate to open a night market.
The Qin family, who had repeatedly come to cause trouble, must pay a price this time!
The two Qin brothers would go to the capital for the imperial examination sooner or later. Whether they could pass the exam and win the top prize was still unknown. If she wanted to persuade the county magistrate to be their enemy, she had to offer an overwhelming temptation. A simple dish of curry fish balls and a plate of cold skewers were far from enough.