Boss Zhang was deeply moved.
He felt that the Gu family was truly worth associating with, and it was not a mistake that he had risked his life to recommend Gu Zhaobei to Steward Zheng back then.
Inside the house, Gu Zhaobei was accompanying Boss Zhang for a meal and drinks, while Gu Qingcheng was preparing to make Cantonese preserved sausage rice.
As soon as Mi Guo heard about making preserved sausage rice, he asked Qingcheng how to do it and if he could help.
Gu Qingcheng simply told him the details and the cooking steps, and confidently handed the task of cooking to Mi Guo.
Mi Guo did not disappoint his reputation as a "god of cooking." After listening to Qingcheng's verbal instructions and under her guidance, he immersed himself in the work.
The ingredients for Cantonese preserved sausage rice are: rice, Cantonese preserved sausage, baby bok choy, eggs, Wei Ji Xian soy sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, cooled boiled water, and sesame oil.
First, soak the rice for half an hour, then mix in a spoonful of cooking oil and stir evenly.
Brush a thin layer of oil on the inner wall of the large pot, pour in the rice, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Slice the Cantonese preserved sausage. Then wash the baby bok choy and set aside.
At this point, observe if the rice has become porous. If so, spread the preserved sausage on top and continue to simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes.
Add a little salt and a few drops of oil to hot water, blanch the baby bok choy, remove, and drain.
Turn off the heat after 5 minutes. Without opening the lid, continue to let it steam for another 10 minutes.
In a bowl, combine light soy sauce, Wei Ji Xian soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, cooled boiled water, and sugar, stir well to make the sauce.
Lift the lid. Drizzle the prepared sauce over the rice. Then serve the rice in bowls and arrange the baby bok choy on top.
While Mi Guo was cooking, Qingcheng also made a large pot of sliced pork and black fungus soup, and sprinkled a lot of pepper into it. In such cold weather, pepper can drive away the cold and increase appetite.
Then Gu Qingcheng asked Mi Guo to call the laborers to come and eat.
As soon as the laborers heard that there was food, they put down their tools and came to the kitchen.
There was no underfloor heating in the kitchen, but the residual heat from the stove made it warm, much warmer than outside.
These laborers had helped out before, and smelling the aroma of the food, their stomachs were already rumbling.
In the morning, when Boss Zhang asked them to come and do the underfloor heating work, they were all very enthusiastic when they heard it was for Mr. Gu's house.
Because they all remembered that the Gu family was very generous, always providing enough to eat, with meat at every meal. They hadn't expected to smell meat today either, but they didn't know if they would get to eat it.
After all, for meals provided by the employer, it was usually good enough to get a bowl of wild vegetable porridge. If it was plain rice porridge without wild vegetables, that was already the limit.
To their surprise, when they received their rice, they saw the fragrant preserved sausage, the appetizing green vegetables, and a bowl of thick black fungus and sliced pork soup. The laborers' eyes widened, and their salivary glands went into overdrive.
Holding a full bowl of preserved sausage rice, they wondered if they were dreaming.
Many of them hadn't eaten rice in years.
And it was rice with meat!
All their nerve cells were screaming with excitement; devouring food was their greatest motivation.
Before they even realized it, they had already devoured a bowl of preserved sausage rice with lightning speed.
Still wanting more, they looked at the full bowl of sliced pork and black fungus soup, which was also substantial. They ate until their bowls and plates were clean, feeling incredibly satisfied.
"Miss Gu, you are the most upright employers I have ever met. Every time I come to work for you, I get to eat my fill."
An older laborer said boldly, unable to suppress his gratitude.
"That's right, when Boss Zhang mentioned working for your family this morning, everyone rushed to come." A younger man said with a simple smile, "Everyone wants to come to your house to eat meat and rice. You have to have good skills to get the job."
Gu Qingcheng smiled slightly, not wanting to dwell on this topic.
She filled three bowls of rice and soup, took them to her mother's bedroom, and had lunch with Hu Lanfang and Mi Guo.
"Mom, Mi Guo made this, the cooking god!"
Gu Qingcheng boasted.
Hu Lanfang was pleasantly surprised that Mi Guo could also cook so well.
"I like to cook. If the family doesn't mind, I'll take care of the cooking from now on."
Mi Guo looked at Hu Lanfang expectantly, afraid she would refuse.
He wanted to take charge of cooking not only because he genuinely enjoyed it but also because he wanted to contribute to the family.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be used to just eating without doing anything and would feel embarrassed.
"Alright, it's all yours from now on!" Hu Lanfang understood Mi Guo's intentions and did not refuse.
After all, agreeing now would make Mi Guo happy, and it was unlikely that he would be asked to cook every meal.
Indeed, upon hearing Hu Lanfang's agreement, Mi Guo felt he had value in this home, and a big smile bloomed on his face.
After eating, the laborers returned to their work. The extreme cold made the work much more difficult than before.
Fortunately, Boss Zhang knew they were eager to finish the project, so he had hired enough people, and they would be able to complete it before dark.
Hu Lanfang overheard Gu Zhaobei and Boss Zhang clinking glasses from outside. She pulled her daughter aside and instructed:
"Go check on him later, don't let your father drink too much."
"Don't worry, Mom, a single bottle of wine won't get him drunk. Boss Zhang can hold his liquor much better than him." Gu Qingcheng said with a chuckle.
Like wives everywhere, Hu Lanfang always worried about her husband drinking, and although he drank every time she worried, she still felt she had to say something.
Hearing her daughter's teasing, she could only leave sheepishly.
Indeed, since arriving here, the only people Gu Zhaobei could drink with, apart from his own family, were these few newly acquainted friends.
As Boss Zhang and Gu Zhaobei drank, they discussed the progress of the Old Master Gu case. Boss Zhang said with a smile:
"Steward Zheng told me that Old Master Gu intends to build the Seven Star Town Evil Pagoda. The real purpose is not to suppress the drought demon, but for something else entirely, which also involves the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Upon hearing this, King Xia was furious and ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. Even the prefect of Jinsha City has been arrested.
However, the case has not yet been properly tried, so it cannot be made public. It should be settled in some time."
In Boss Zhang's view, Gu Zhaobei was also a trusted subordinate of King Xia, and King Xia would give him an explanation.
Gu Zhaobei merely nodded in approval, without making further comments.
At this time, the Gu family was enjoying themselves with food and drinks in their warm mountain dwelling. However, the Gu Old Man's family, who were imprisoned in jail, were not faring so well.
The entire family of more than ten people, including Gu Old Man, had been thrown into jail, separated into male and female wards.
Gu Old Man, his son, and grandson were crammed into a prison cell less than twenty square meters. Not only was it cramped and dark, but they also encountered a prison bully.
Although the cell was small, it held over 20 inmates. One burly man with a deep scar across his face looked intimidating and radiated a fierce aura. He had been sentenced to death.
In prison, death row inmates often served as bullies. With little time left to live and being inherently vicious, they would seize every opportunity to torment other inmates in the same cell.