Chapter 1190: So-Called Golden Feast
Although Wen Xinya had some vague insights regarding Xia Ruya’s intentions, Xia Ruya’s real plans and calculations were unclear to her. She mentally prepared herself for it, but she still did not put too much care into it.
She went in and out of campus, as usual, watching the rumors about her intensify day by day, and the discussions about her get more and more out of hand. She was like an outsider, and she did not care about it at all.
During Wen Xinya’s rare free time, she accompanied Si Yiyan to Grandpa Du for treatment. She learned that Si Yiyan’s old disease had improved tremendously. Instead of going to the pharmacy once every 3 days for prescriptions, he now went once every 5 days. And there were also changes in the way the medicine should be taken.
According to Grandpa Du’s words, if this goes on like this, he would completely recover in 3 to 5 years’ time.
This piece of news made Wen Xinya very happy, and she immediately brought Si Yiyan to the vegetable market, planning to personally cook a meal to celebrate.
“If you want to buy vegetables, going to the supermarket is way more convenient, or you can make the housekeeper come to buy vegetables instead.” This was Si Yiyan’s first time to a vegetable market, and witnessing the dirty and messy environment was causing him to frown.
He meant no harm, but since he was raised as a proud and arrogant man, this environment was not something he was used to.
Wen Xinya pulled on Si Yiyan’s hand, entering the vegetable market. “The vegetables in the supermarket are no way as fresh as these. Since I am cooking up a meal personally, I must choose the ingredients myself to feel satisfied!”
Since she put it this way, Si Yiyan had no objections and held onto her, avoiding the crowd carefully.
Wen Xinya spoke, “Let’s go pick up a few large crabs, September and October are just the most suitable timing for eating crab. There’s the saying: as the autumn wind blows, the crab leg itches; as chrysanthemums bloom, the smell of crab comes. The crabs in September and October have the freshest roe and delicious fat.”
“Alright!” Si Yiyan brought Wen Xinya to the place for buying crabs.
The stench of seafood fills up the nose, making one feel uncomfortable.
Wen Xinya looked at the variety of seafood available, at a loss of which one to pick. “What kind of crab do you want to eat? Green crab, Hardsh.e.l.l crab or Hairy crab?”
Because she loved to eat seafood, she was well versed in the different preparation methods of the different seafood. Now that she was picking crabs with Si Yiyan, she could not help but show off a little.
Si Yiyan replied, “Let’s go with Hairy crabs. The Hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake has very tender meat, juicy roe, and fragrant taste. It’s the top-grade crab, and the ones here look quite good.”
His preferences were quite different from Xinya’s. he ate very boring food, nothing too sour or sweet, and only a little spicy. Xinya, on the other hand, liked sour, sweet and spicy food, yet the two of them were pretty similar in that they liked seafood. But due to his old ailment, he rarely ate it.
This time, Grandpa Du said that in terms of diet, other than spicy food, seafood could be eaten in moderation and did not need to be completely banned, which was why Xinya suggested it.
Wen Xinya pulled Si Yiyan to pick the crabs. “Here, picking crabs also requires some knowledge. Green sh.e.l.ls, white bellies, and golden claws are what to look out for, and there is also the saying to pick 9 males and 10 females.”
9 males and 10 females, that was referring to eating male crabs in September and female crabs in October.
Si Yiyan listened to Wen Xinya’s words and picked 4 fat female crabs.
The two of them bought a bunch of other vegetables and headed back to the condominium.
After returning to the condominium, it was already after 4 o’clock in the evening. Wen Xinya started preparing the dinner, ordering Si Yiyan. “Brush these 4 crabs clean, 2 of them will be steamed and 2 will be used to make crab meat rice. What do you think about that?”
Si Yiyan looked into the basin, watching the dancing crabs and immediately looked troubled. But he had always answered her wishes, so he obediently did what she wanted.
Thus, the Ninth Young Master Si started to simultaneously watch a tutorial on cleaning crabs while getting to work on was.h.i.+ng the 4 Hairy crabs.
When dinner was finally made, it was already 6 o’clock at night.
The steamed crabs were overflowing with fragrance, topped with Wen Xinya’s condiments and coupled with Wen Xinya’s b.u.t.ter melted with ginger and mellow plums. The cool nature of the crab, together with the warm nature of the b.u.t.ter to warm the stomach, was a wonderful match.
The golden-yellow crab meat rice placed on the plate looked absolutely stunning.
Once the delicious dinner was over, Si Yiyan immediately got to was.h.i.+ng the bowls, before hugging Wen Xinya with a contented sigh. “With a wife like this, what more could I possibly ask for!”
Just like all men, he wanted an educated wife who was also skilled in the kitchen. He was extremely fortunate to have Xinya—calm and rational, able to see the big picture, as gentle and tender as water towards her lover, and in the evening… she transformed into a demon girl.
Wen Xinya was too lazy to argue that they were not married. Husband and wife was not a question for her to debate since she always ended up losing. “Si Yiyan, do you know Bo Yaxuan?”
Today she heard Zhou Tianyu mention the golden feast hosted by Bo Yaxuan, letting her know about such a graceful place in the Capital city, piquing her curiosity.
Si Yiyan replied, “Of course I know. Bo Yaxuan’s most famous art items are not in this shop but are in the shop during the golden feast. Since ancient times, the Tang Family had the Qionglin feast, the Song Family had the Qianjiao feast, the Ming family had the Baihua feast. This golden feast style is very similar to ancient boudoir women fighting art.”
Wen Xinya was puzzled. “Since this golden feast has quite a long history, why does it not have any reputation in the Capital city? I have returned to the Wen Family for more than three years already, yet I have never heard of this.”
If she did not hear Tianyu mention it, she would still be in the dark.
Si Yiyan explained, “The golden feast is only held once every 3 years, and only scholars are invited to partic.i.p.ate—scholars who have inherited their family traditions. Due to the weakening ancient culture, the golden feast is a small gathering and thus, has not much reputation. But it is a rare opportunity for the educated.”
Wen Xinya nodded and exclaimed, “Oh, I see!”
Si Yiyan smiled. “Say, are you interested in this so-called golden feast?”
Wen Xinya nodded honestly. “A little!”
After all, the music, chess, calligraphy and drawing she learned were all ancient studies. To learn from others was a good thing.
Si Yiyan answered, “This golden feast is pretty interesting. Although it is difficult to find an invite, if you wish to join, it is not impossible.”
Wen Xinya shook her head. “Nevermind, then. Recently, Teacher Ji has allocated a lot of homework. I don’t really have time. Furthermore, the rumors about me recently have been spreading pretty intensely. It is better for me to lay low.”
Although she was interested in the golden feast, if she was not recognized as an elegant and respected individual, there was no point in going.
Si Yiyan seemed to read her mind and had nothing left to say. “It’s better to not go.”
Using her reputation as Old Mr. Mo’s granddaughter to enter such a place would definitely spark some debates. She may not be afraid of the trouble, but why look for it.