116 Set dish name

◎I don't understand it, but it sounds good◎

Time flies, and it is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.

Li He wore a light purple veil hat and went out with Song Jinyi and the others.

Song Jinyi held her arm and asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"

She responded softly.

These days, Huo Changqing would visit Li He almost every one or two days, sometimes bringing new gadgets, and sometimes just chatting with her quietly, telling her harmless anecdotes from the outside world.

In this way, Li He's condition improved significantly.

Tonight, Song Jinyi specially invited Huo Changqing and Ruer to go to the street market to enjoy the lanterns.

The lights were just coming on, and the long street was as bright as day. Fire trees and silver flowers were blooming, and tourists were thronging shoulder to shoulder.

At first, they were walking side by side, but later they were squeezed into several groups by the crowd. Song Jinyi turned around anxiously and tried to grab Li He.

She was seen following Huo Changqing closely. If she was accidentally pushed by the crowd, she would shrink suddenly and hide behind Huo Changqing almost instinctively.

Huo Changqing would always turn slightly to the side at the right time, using his body to separate her from the crowded crowd, "Don't be afraid."

Song Jinyi turned around calmly and left with the others.

When passing by a stall selling jewelry hairpins and rings, the colorful little gadgets caught Li He's attention.

She was playing with a hairpin that was not exquisitely made but had a unique style. The head of the hairpin was made of lanceolate green leaves, decorated with two small purple-red triangular flowers, and hung with a bunch of red fruits.

Li He stood there for a long time, and finally put the hairpin back to its original place silently.

Song Jinyi saw this and after walking a few steps, she wanted to go back and buy it for her to give her a surprise, but she saw that Huo Changqing had stopped at some point and was taking the small hairpin from the stall owner and paying for it neatly.

Song Jinyi paused, turned around and continued walking.

A few of them came to a steaming food stall selling Yuanzi Youchui, a traditional Chinese food dish for the festival. Yuanzi are made by rolling rice flour into balls, which are called "yuanzi." Then, the rice flour is fermented, coated with stuffing, and shaped into a pancake. Then, it is fried in oil and called "youchui."

Fresh from the wok, the fried dough sticks are golden and round, sizzling in the oil and emitting an alluring sweet aroma. The stall owner enthusiastically greets them: "Red bean paste filling! Sesame filling! Osmanthus filling! Fresh from the wok, it smells so good!"

Song Jinyi bought a few and distributed them to everyone. When they broke open the crispy shell, they found hot and sweet fillings inside. The red bean paste was delicate and soft, the sesame had a rich aroma, and the osmanthus filling had an elegant fragrance.

On a cold night, eating this hot and sweet oil hammer can relieve the coldness in your body.

"This oil hammer is delicious, but it's a bit dry." Song Jinyi suddenly said, "Mr. Huo is feeling thirsty too, right? Why don't we go buy some drinks up front?"

Huo Changqing glanced at Song Jinyi, had no objection, and followed her.

After they crossed an intersection and stepped onto the arch bridge, Huo Changqing stopped behind her and asked, "Madam Song, is there anything you want to say to me?"

The laughter and joyful sounds around them, the playful children, and the lively conversations of friends, made the silence between the two of them seem even more solemn and heavy.

She turned her head and said to Huo Changqing seriously, "Mr. Huo," she paused, as if choosing her words, "You know, Ah He has suffered a great blow recently, and her mind is unstable and she is very dependent on others.

"Just like a wounded animal, it will instinctively rely on a place where it feels safe. Your company gives her this sense of security."

Huo Changqing's eyes were calm, as if he was waiting for her next words.

She met his gaze, a barely perceptible worry in her tone: "I hope... you don't give her the wrong impression."

Huo Changqing's brows knitted slightly. "Illusion?" He repeated the word, his eyes fixed on Song Jinyi. "Madam Song, why do you think I gave Madam Li an 'illusion'?"

Song Jinyi didn't expect him to ask so directly and was slightly stunned.

She pursed her lips, then revealed a look of mixed meaning, "Li He is only fifteen or sixteen years old, but her mind is as childish as a child, while Huo Langjun is much older than her, with rich experience and broad knowledge, and he is..."

She paused, choosing a more subtle approach. "You're someone who's experienced in the world of romance. With your personality, how could you possibly be interested in such a childish woman?"

Huo Changqing listened quietly, his face showing no sign of being offended. Only after Song Jinyi finished speaking did he slowly and very slightly shake his head, "Madam Song, you're thinking so much. Why don't you just watch a few more plays?"

A look of doubt flashed in her eyes.

Huo Changqing looked deeply into Song Jinyi, with an unprecedented seriousness in his eyes, "From your words, it can be seen that Madam Song does not understand love. When you like someone, you won't care about those things.

"I won't look at her age, I won't think about whether she's mature enough, I won't consider her social status, her appearance, her wealth...

"I like her, I like the feeling of being with her, I like seeing her smile. Whether she's childish or immature, that's all part of her. If I like her, I like all of that.

"No matter what she is like, as long as it is her, that's enough."

Song Jinyi was stunned and couldn't respond for a moment.

She looked at Huo Changqing. Even though he said this, the worry in her heart did not completely dissipate. "Even if Langjun is sincere, Ah He is still young and has little experience. She can't tell whether her feelings for others are dependence, gratitude, or something else.

"She may not be able to see through her own heart yet."

Huo Changqing smiled faintly when he heard this, "It's okay, I'll wait for her——"

"Why haven't Sister Jinyi and Mr. Huo returned yet?" Li He nibbled at her third red bean paste-filled oil-pounded dough, her cheeks puffed up as she looked in the direction they had left, puzzled. Several empty oil-paper packages lay on the stone bench beside her.

Ru'er also stretched her neck to look. "Yeah, does it take so long to buy drinks? This oil hammer is almost cold."

Zhang Yao was holding half a cold sesame-stuffed fried dough stick in her hand, chewing it absentmindedly, her eyes also looking towards the arch bridge.

After waiting for a while, the three of them stood up and headed in the direction they left. Just after taking a dozen steps, they saw the figures of Huo Changqing and Song Jinyi slowly walking towards them from the other end of the bridge.

The two of them held a few cups of perilla drinks in their hands.

"Sister Jinyi!" Li He trotted over to meet her. "What took you so long? Is there something else going on?"

Huo Changqing and Song Jinyi stopped at the same time, their eyes meeting briefly in the air. Facing Li He's question, they both answered calmly, almost in unison, "Nothing."

Li He tilted her head slightly and looked at the two of them.

?

******

After the first month of the lunar year, the theater has been always full since Huo Changqing took the stage. Song Jinyi "strikes while the iron is hot" and launches the fine wine that has been brewed long ago.

"Master," Zhang Yao asked, puzzled, as she watched Song Jinyi ordering people to carry jars of wine with red seals labeled "Juxinglou" into the kitchen of the theater. "We have a lot of customers over at Juxinglou, so why don't we sell it here?"

Song Jinyi was carefully checking the seal of a jar of wine. Hearing this, he didn't even look up. "Juxinglou has always been about catering to the masses. It's a place that's good for filling your stomach and is lively and affordable."

She clapped the wine jar in her hand, making a dull sound. "But this fine wine is different. The ingredients used in brewing it are all top-grade to achieve delicious taste. The slightest difference in time and temperature will make the flavor go awry.

"The cost of a jar of wine plus various expenses, on average, one cup would cost thirty coins."

Song Jinyi looked at Zhang Yao's surprised expression and continued to explain, "This wine is meant to quench the thirst of peddlers and hawkers." She pointed to the second and third floors of the theater and said, "The theater has performances and private rooms. Drinking while watching performances is standard. The guests in the private rooms can certainly afford the cost of this fine wine.

"Besides, Shopkeeper Huo only buys from our Juxinglou and doesn't charge any fees. Secondly, the words Juxinglou are written on this wine jar, which can be regarded as advertising for us."

Zhang Yao said nothing and followed to help.

******

As for the wine, at first, it was just ordered by curious guests to accompany the opera.

But when the amber wine was poured into the white porcelain cup, a rich aroma that blended the unique honey fragrance of longan and the cool and clear fragrance of osmanthus quietly spread, instantly overwhelming the usual scent of cosmetics and snacks in the theater.

"Hiss... this fragrance!" An old man in a silk shirt took a deep breath, his eyes narrowed slightly. "It's elegant and not vulgar, sweet but not greasy, and layered."

Another elegantly dressed businessman took a sip. The wine was warm in the mouth, with the sweetness of longan at first, and then it was wrapped in the refreshing fragrance of osmanthus. A hint of just the right amount of drunkenness followed, lingering on the tip of the tongue and throat.

He closed his eyes and savored the wine for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table and praised, "Great wine! Rich and sweet, with a long aftertaste! Even better than the osmanthus wine from Zhaixing Tower. Buddy, warm me up another pot!"

In just a few days, the truckload of longan and osmanthus wine was sold out, and Song Jinyi hurriedly introduced green plum wine, peach wine and other wines to replace them.

"This green plum wine is amazing!" A scholar-like guest at the next table twirled his beard and nodded at the emerald green wine in his glass. "It's brightly sour, subtly sweet, and the flavor is light yet lingering. It's like drinking the entire early spring of Jiangnan! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Soon, the news that "the theater has great operas and even more exquisite wines" spread like wildfire. Many guests who originally came just to listen to the opera began to make reservations in advance specifically to taste a glass of "Juxinglou Secret Brew".

The price of thirty cents per cup did not scare away customers. Instead, the theater's alcohol revenue increased at an astonishing rate, becoming the most important source of income after theater tickets.

Seeing that the demand for alcohol and beverages exceeded the supply, Song Jinyi discussed with Huo Changqing and decided to continue serving ordinary tea, a small amount of affordable alcohol and snacks on the first floor as usual.

The private rooms on the second and third floors offer menus, and a free pot of wine is provided for purchases of ten taels or more.

This exclusive menu was personally prepared by Song Jinyi and eventually handed over to chef Zhang Yao.

******

In the afternoon, the sun lazily sprinkled on the empty street of the theater. Before the bustling hours, the whole street was empty. The door of the theater was ajar, and only fine dust was flying in the beam of light.

“Squeak—”

The wooden door was gently pushed open, and a figure wrapped in cold air walked in - it was Shen Lingyuan.

Because she had previously learned about the abolition of the liquor monopoly in the Imperial College, she informed Song Jinyi of this, allowing Juxinglou to seize the initiative in the liquor market.

Song Jinyi was grateful for this friendship and promised to give her a jar of freshly brewed wine. Today, she came to receive this "thank you gift".

In the hall, Ru'er was the only one sitting at a square table, concentrating on copying the list of dishes.

Hearing the noise, she immediately stood up, looked at the person clearly, and saluted respectfully: "Master Shen, you are here. Please sit down for a moment, I will go to the back to get you some wine."

Shen Lingyuan was dressed in men's clothes. Except for Song Jinyi, no one knew that she was a woman. She casually picked a nearby table and sat down, her eyes sweeping over the menu that Ru'er had just written.

She picked it up casually and saw the words "Braised Lion's Head", "Steamed Sea Bass", "Honey-baked Steamed Bun Slices", "Cold Lotus Root Salad", "Chestnut and Yam Soup..."

Shen Lingyuan looked at the menu and suddenly laughed.

Just at this moment, Ruer came back holding a wine jar wrapped in red silk.

Hearing the laughter, she paused and carefully placed the wine jar on the table next to Shen Lingyuan. "Master Shen, what are you laughing at? But this menu... is there something wrong?"

Shen Lingyuan picked up the menu and pointed with her fingertips, "Is it wrong? Not really. The dishes are good, and the names are good, but..." Her fingertips lightly ran over the names, "They are too real, and lack some interest.

"Most of the people who come to your theater to listen to opera are those who are pretentious and care about the mood. I'm afraid such a straightforward title will not catch their eye, nor will it arouse their interest in placing an order."

Upon hearing this, Ruer's eyes moved slightly, and she immediately asked, "Then according to your wise opinion, Mr. Shen, how should it be changed?" She even took out a charcoal pencil and paper from somewhere, as if she was listening attentively.

Seeing her being so serious, Shen Lingyuan found it amusing and said, "Why not change the name of Chestnut-scented Yam Soup to 'Golden Jade Soup'?"

Ruer is puzzled. Is there any connection between these two names?

"The yam is as white and smooth as jade, the chestnuts are as golden as treasures, the soup is thick and juicy, and the gold and jade shine together. Isn't it wonderful to call it 'Golden Jade Soup'?"

Although she didn't understand it, it sounded good, so Ruer nodded.

"This honey-baked steamed bread slices might as well be called Suqiongye."

"What's the connection?"

Hearing this, Shen Lingyuan showed her two rows of white teeth and laughed, "It's not related." Looking at Ru'er's dull expression, she said, "But it sounds good."

“…”

Finally, under Shen Lingyuan's suggestion, the menu was adjusted as follows: the cold lotus root salad became "Snow Lotus Root with Beauty", the "Chicken and Tofu Soup" became "Searching for Plum Blossoms in the Snow", and the "Lotus Root with Osmanthus and Glutinous Rice" was called "Golden Threads of Fragrance"...

Ruer wrote down while doubting, is this really okay?

But Mr. Shen is a juren, so what he said should be correct, right?

Ruer remained in this state of uncertainty until the day the menu was officially presented.

"Red robe offering auspiciousness? What is this?" a guest pointed at the menu and asked the waiter with interest.

"To my dear guest, this is our secret recipe of braised lion's head, chosen for its vermilion red color and round shape, which symbolizes good fortune."

"Great! Great! Let's order this!"

"Let's order 'Jade in the Blue Waves'!" Another guest had obviously done his homework and knew that this was the theater's signature dish, steamed sea bass.

"What is this 'Beauty Snow Lotus Root'? It sounds refreshing, I want one too!"