Of Soil And Sovereign

Mei woke up early that morning, and, knowing she had a long day ahead today, she asked her maids to get some hot water, add some petals, and soak in the bathtub while watching the sunrise, once she finished she got up to her brush her teeth and braid her hair and complete her morning routine.

Finishing that, she had breakfast with her brother and told him about all her preparations for the day. He agreed with her plans and volunteered to help in any way she required him to, and Mei was grateful.

After breakfast and conversations, Mei took her pouch with coins and left for the market with her two maids. Before leaving, she instructed the steward to go to the blacksmith and make sure he got the grill she ordered yesterday and to bring before evening.

Since Mei did not have a carriage yet, she had to go by foot to the market. Though her maids were against it and suggested they hire a carriage and come back to get her, she refused, as that would just waste some of her time, and the market was not far. She needed the exercise anyway, to be honest.

After just half an hour of walking, she reached the market and started browsing. Mei bought every ingredient she required that was available, and for the ones that were not available during this time, she looked for the closest substitute she could find to use instead.

When she was done with the shopping, her baskets were very heavy and full, so she requested Xiao Lan to rent a cart, though it was not the norm for a noble lady to walk around footing, so to avoid gossips she needed to get a carriage.

She did not know where to buy one and decided that when Xuan arrived this evening, she would ask him to direct her to where he bought his because she liked how comfortable it was.

When the hired cart arrived, they loaded their goods and went back home. Once they reached home, they offloaded their goods, and the guards carried them into the kitchen. 

Upon reaching home, she wore a newly made apron and went to the kitchen to start her cooking preparation. Though lacking chef's experience, her skill was forged by years of cooking for herself, so she started by marinading her meat and fish; since she selected tilapia for today, she scaled and gutted it after washing, and she stuffed it with ginger and scallions to remove the smell.

She would steam some, then she fry the other ones, so she prepared them the same way but stuffing different herbs, the fry ones with lemon slices and thyme from her garden. 

She then moved to the steak since people in this period preferred pork. For a cheap price, she got a good steak. She marinated the ribeye, readying it for grilling.

The chef and most of the servants surrounded her, checking her work, and were impressed; they usually only saw noble ladies in their courtyards, never near the kitchen, but their miss even gutted fish without blinking.

Next, she worked on the flatbread dough. She mixed her dough well to let it rest, and she was done with her cheeks and hand white with flour. She then moved on to making the stuffing and seasoning for the buns.

After all her key ingredients were prepared, she started moving on to make her cheese. She started by heating the milk slowly, pouring vinegar, and then pouring cold water. After finishing, she had a chunk of cheese and put salt on it. She put it with the other ingredients.

The chef and the servant stood there in amazement as their mistress turned cow milk into the solid white thing. They had never seen that before and were very impressed.

Mei, finishing her prepping, left the kitchen for the chef to cook lunch. She went to look for the steward, and once she reached in front of the hall, she found him dragging a metal grill. Even though it looked different, Mei knew it would just do fine and asked him to put it in her courtyard under the shed as she would barbecue, since the interaction between males and females was supposed to be minimal.

Mei was now running around here and there as evening drew by.

She went back to the kitchen and made her buns with a small oven line place created from clay. After those were done, since it was almost time, she steamed the fish and boiled them in oil after that.

Mingde arrived, asking if he could assist her. She instructed him to set up the tables, use some silk she made to cover them, and place some flowers she had arranged in a vase after he was done with that.

She also requested he take some charcoal they bought and assist her in firing up the grill; once he was done, he should go to the gate and welcome the guest with the steward as the young master of the household.

She also requested him to dress well and make the guest feel welcome, even though her brother was just then. She knew he could do that and more and mingling left.

Mei went back to frying mushrooms after triple-checking them and made the lotus soup for the starters once done she asked the chef to take it to the table and put it at the centre also put ceramic bowls and a spoon to use and also took the drinks the rice and the mulberry ginger tea and set it up as well and their chef with the interaction. 

She cut the bun and stuffed the minced pork and their cheese and returned them to the oven. She cooked quite a number so that the servants could get a share, too.

She sighed in relief because the only thing remaining right now was the barbecue and she left the kitchen with the marinated rib eye, instructing Xiao Lan and Xiao Wei to bring the other cooked food.

Once she reached her courtyard, a steward informed her that four gentlemen had arrived and were seated. Mei wondered who else had joined them, so she instructed the steward to add more utensils for the new guests.