Chapter 257 Matchmaking
Since the county magistrate's mother has come, it would be inappropriate to just give her the big pot of food.
Even though the county magistrate's mother also lived a hard life in the countryside, she did not feel neglected by the big pot dishes. Instead, she felt a sense of nostalgia for the past.
It's not that Tong Huaqiong treats people differently, but Han is, after all, a guest of Tong Huaqiong's family.
Since they are guests, the way we treat them cannot be so simple.
Therefore, Tong Huaqiong personally stewed spare ribs, braised pork, twice-cooked pork, pork elbow with rock sugar, and stir-fried pork intestines. Zhao helped to fry a few vegetarian dishes and set a table for Han.
He also asked Gu Jingzhe to open a jar of good wine.
Tong Huaqiong asked Zhao, Aunt Qin and Hong, who had been busy for half a day, to accompany her.
Originally, Mrs. Zhao and Aunt Qin were reluctant to sit at the table, but they sat down after Tong Huaqiong's strong persuasion.
A table of middle-aged and elderly women eating a sumptuous meal alone was a first in Qinghe Bay.
"This pork tastes so delicious." Han ate a piece of braised pork and nodded repeatedly.
Ever since their son passed the exam, the Liu family's life has become better. In addition, County Magistrate Liu was extremely filial and gave all the delicious food and drinks to Han.
After eating so much delicious food, although Han's taste has not become picky, he can still tell the quality of food from that of others.
For example, in the past, only during the Chinese New Year could one buy a pound of pork for making dumplings. Han didn't know when he always felt that pork had a fishy smell.
At first she thought it was because she had entered the city and the pork in the city was not good, which made her feel that pork tasted bad.
But her son brought her fresh pork from the countryside, and she still smelled a fishy smell when she ate it.
Therefore, she has not eaten much pork in recent years.
Even when making dumplings during the Chinese New Year, the main fillings are beef, mutton, leeks and eggs.
When cooking at home, we mainly use rapeseed oil.
Just now, when she was eating lard residue in the kitchen, she found that the lard residue from Tong Huaqiong's house tasted more delicious than before. She thought it was because she had not eaten pork and lard for a long time.
Han picked up another piece of pork ribs, which was as delicious as the braised pork, without any smell.
After hearing what Han said, Zhao and Aunt Qin took over the conversation.
The two of them felt honored to be able to sit and dine with the county magistrate's wife, and they could show off in the village later.
Zhao picked up a piece of braised pork and said, "When I was eating the lard residue, I discovered that the pigs from my in-laws' house are different from the ones we usually eat. They are more fragrant."
Aunt Qin swallowed a chopstick of pig intestines and continued, "It seems that pigs fed with corn are different. Even their offal doesn't smell fishy."
Tong Huaqiong smiled.
Not only is this pig castrated, it also has a natural and pollution-free growth environment and eats the most natural grass and corn. How could the meat not be tender?
Coupled with her careful cooking, its delicious taste is even better.
No wonder even the Han family, who had no shortage of delicacies, praised it highly.
Tong Huaqiong tore off a piece of pork elbow with rock sugar. The fragrance of the plump and juicy pork elbow wafted between her lips and teeth, reaching her crown.
Tong Huaqiong had eaten so much braised pork and braised spareribs in her previous life, but she was still drooling over the pork from her own home today.
So fragrant, so fresh, so tender!
It’s delicious even when boiled in plain water!
If it were in her previous life, this would be pure green and pollution-free local pork, and it would be sold in organic supermarkets at a shockingly high price.
This pig made Tong Huaqiong very confident about the batch of pigs to be slaughtered at the end of the year.
Just wait, from now on she will be the one supplying pork to all the major butcher shops and restaurants in Pingchuan County.
Our own business territory is about to expand again.
Because the table full of braised spare ribs, braised pork, and candied pork elbows were so tempting, Tong Huaqiong and the others chatted for a while and then started to eat.
Even Mrs. Hong, who had a relatively poor appetite, finished half a bowl of braised pork and two large steamed buns.
After everyone finished eating, Mrs. Zhao and Aunt Qin rushed to clean up the dishes and stopped Tong Huaqiong from doing it.
Hong followed to help.
Tong Huaqiong didn't hesitate and sat in the room to talk with Han.
Han asked about the business of the shop, the crops in the fields, the chickens, ducks and geese in the yard, and then suddenly asked, "When I first came here, I saw a boy squatting in the yard washing pig intestines. I heard that he was your twin son. Who is older, him or Taohua?"
During the meal, Gu Jingzhe was busy serving dishes and rice, without any of the reserved manners of a scholar.
At this time, Gu Jingzhe was squatting in the yard washing dishes.
Han's impression of Gu Jingzhe became better and better.
Tong Huaqiong nodded and smiled, "He was born a cup of tea earlier, so he is the older brother."
Han smiled and said, "It's rare to have twin brothers."
Tong Huaqiong was quite surprised. How could this be faked?
Then she thought that Han’s sigh was not surprising.
In her previous life, she had heard of some families that favored boys over girls. When they gave birth to twin boys and girls, no matter whether the boy was born earlier or later, the girl would be treated as the older sister so that the girl could take better care of the boy.
Such situations would occur even when men and women were relatively equal in the past. Moreover, in ancient times when there was a serious preference for boys over girls, such situations would probably have been even more common.
Because it is so common, it is rare for Tong Dajiao to sort the twins according to time.
Tong Huaqiong calmly accepted the approval from Han's eyes.
However, why did Han mention Gu Jingzhe for no reason?
Tong Huaqiong glanced at Lu Zhaozhao who was sitting next to Han and found that Lu Zhaozhao's expression was a little unnatural.
Tong Huaqiong had an ominous premonition in his heart.
Han said: "Your youngest son is different from other scholars. He can do housework and I heard he can also do farm work."
Tong Dajiao's youngest son is really a good guy. He doesn't have the arrogance of a scholar and is willing to humble himself and work.
As sensible as her son was back then.
Tong Huaqiong said: "Children of poor families have to grow up early. Besides, he will become an official after studying. How can he be a good official if he doesn't even understand the lives of ordinary people? So I often teach him not to think that studying makes him different from others. The more he studies, the more down-to-earth he needs to be so that he can walk the right path in the future."
After hearing this, Han nodded repeatedly and began to treat Tong Huaqiong as a close friend.
Tong Huaqiong educates her son in exactly the same way she did back then.
That’s why her son is now praised by everyone as a good official, because he has a good foundation.
Gu Jingzhe will definitely be fine in the future.
Han changed the subject and asked, "Your youngest son is so handsome and sensible, is he ready for marriage?"
Tong Huaqiong's heart was filled with alarm.
Could it be that Han came to the house not only to see Liu Yanhong, but also to act as a matchmaker?
Who should I matchmake for?
Obviously, it must be his adopted youngest son and Lu Zhaozhao.
Given Gu Jingzhe's Chen Shimei style in his previous life, Tong Huaqiong does not want Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao to be together in this life. She feels that Gu Jingzhe is not worthy.
If the two of them really have an unstoppable fate in this life, Tong Huaqiong will not stop it. With her pressure, Gu Jingzhe will definitely not dare to let Lu Zhaozhao down.
That’s right, it’s too young to talk about marriage at this age.
Not only has Gu Jingzhe not even gotten the title of scholar yet, but Lu Zhaozhao will have to get pregnant and give birth after getting married at this age, which will be very destructive to her body.
Therefore, even if Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao were destined to be together in eight reincarnations, Tong Huaqiong would not let them get engaged now.
Tong Huaqiong thought for a moment and said to Han, "We haven't talked about marriage yet."
Lu Zhaozhao's eyes lit up, and the sharp-eyed Tong Huaqiong caught it.
Tong Huaqiong continued, "I don't plan to arrange a marriage for him so early. He is just a student now, with no achievements or fame. I won't let him ruin the girl's life."
Lu Zhaozhao clenched his hands in his sleeves, and his palms were pinched by his fingernails, which made him feel painful.
His eyes were covered with sadness.
"Zhao Zhao, go check on your nephew and see where he is. Don't let him do anything naughty!"
Han and Tong Huaqiong talked for a long time before they realized that they had forgotten to kick Lu Zhaozhao out.
So he quickly found an excuse to kick Lu Zhaozhao out.
After all, no one would matchmake in front of the girl herself.