Chapter 99 Sugar Water

"Okay." Deng Wenyan agreed with a smile and washed his hands with Changquan's help.

Changxi was about to go and serve Pan He but was pushed away by Pan He. Changxi became malicious and put Si Ya aside to untie Sandan from Du's back and stuffed him into Changxi's arms.

"If you have nothing to do, take care of the baby."

Changxi: “…”

Such a soft and small creature, still baring its teeth and claws in his arms, Changxi was about to cry.

It's the kind where if you hold the baby tight you're afraid of hurting it, but if you don't hold it tight enough, it feels like the baby is going to slip out of your arms like a fish and fall flat on its face.

In just a moment, Changxi was sweating profusely.

"Sir." Changxi asked for help.

"Hold her well and practice. After Wen Yan gets married, you will be able to take good care of the young lady or young master." Pan He encouraged.

Changxi gritted his teeth and thought of that scene, he could only continue to try his best to hold the child.

Erdan came over after washing his hands and brought a stool over: "Uncle, it will be easier for you to hold him if you sit down. Just put him on your lap and hold him with your hands."

Erdaner kindly gave Changxi a demonstration.

"Thank you." Changxi was polite, but he glanced at Deng Wenyan first. Seeing that his master was still standing, he hesitated.

"Please sit down. There are not so many rules here."

Deng Wenyan spoke, and Changxi sat down and hugged Sandan again according to Erdan'er's instructions, and finally felt comfortable.

Sandan, who was held in his arms, also felt comfortable and stopped struggling.

"It's really not an easy job." Changxi sighed, holding the child carefully and observing everyone in the Li family.

This is the family that Mr. Pan is worried about.

The eldest, second and third Li washed their hands and went to move the table. There were too many people today and there was no room for them to sit in the house, so they had to put it in the yard.

Dadan, Erdan and Sanya moved the stools together.

Daya and Erya followed their uncle and poured sweet soup for the guests according to his instructions.

The snow-white sugar rushed into the water and quickly disappeared without a trace of any other color.

"Mr. Pan, have some water." Erya smiled with her eyes curved.

"Be good." Pan He called Changquan and Siya to play with small wooden sticks. "He can also play with sticks, and he is quite good at it. You can play with this uncle."

Si Ya rushed forward waving a small wooden stick. Changquan dodged left and right, and the little girl couldn't hit him, which made her even more excited.

Very good, all of Deng Wenyan’s civil and military servants brought the baby with them.

"Sir, please have some water." Daya brought the water to Deng Wenyan, trying not to panic, but when she turned around, she walked out with her hands and feet timidly.

Mrs. Du and Mrs. Yuan brought out the dishes and buns together.

Qin Fangci asked Li Yulan to beat all the eggs in the house, and Wang went to the backyard to pick a handful of leeks. Qin Fangci quickly made a dish of scrambled eggs with leeks, and then took out the blanched bamboo shoots and fresh meat slices and stir-fried them. The two dishes were quickly completed.

The bracken that the children brought back the other day can be eaten today. Just add a little sauce and stir-fry it and it will be very fragrant.

The freshly braised meat was cut into two large plates and placed on the table, which was full.

The dishes are not presented in an exquisite manner, but they are mouth-watering just by looking at them.

Pan He took a sip of water and just as he was about to invite his apprentice to eat, he noticed something different.

The water is sweet.

Looking down at the bowl again, there was not a trace of impurities in the water.

He had tasted Lao Li's sweet soup before. It was a little yellow and not as pure and sweet as this one.

"Is this your gift for becoming my apprentice?" Pan He looked at Li Baisong.

Li Baisong asked with a smile, "Sir, do you like it? Didn't you say before that sugar water is worse than plain water? I think the sugar you've tasted should be better than the ones at home."

"Did you buy refined sugar?"

"No, I simply boiled the raw sugar twice and then drained it. The resulting sugar is as white as snow." Li Bosong handed the jar over. "Take a look, sir. I think this method should be applicable to more than just sugar."

Pan He's hand trembled as he took the candy jar. "You kid,"

Pan He lowered his voice, "The official is right there, what do you want to do? If you do anything illegal, you will be arrested. He is an official. If he is found out, not only will he lose his job, he will also lose his head!"

They are so lucky to have such a disciple.

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir. I just said that." Li Baisong sighed, looking up at the sky. "Sir, do you think there will be a day when salt and sugar are as white as snow, and when you eat them, there's nothing but sweetness and saltiness. And the price is so cheap that everyone can eat them however they want."

This is the place he misses the most since he came here.

In the past, adults always chased after children and told them to eat less sugar, saying that eating too much sugar would damage their teeth.

Here, sugar has become a luxury.

Occasionally, I would make two bowls of sugar water and give each child in the family a sip, which would make them happy all day long.

Pan He patted Li Baisong's forehead and said, "It's broad daylight, don't dream."

Li Baisong smiled bitterly. Only when simple little things become dreams will he realize how convenient and comfortable the previous days were.

At this moment, Li Baisong was filled with lofty ambitions.

Deng Wenyan looked at Li Baisong in front of him and thought of himself when he was young. He had said the same thing to his teacher.

Sir, I will study hard and become a high-ranking official in the future to benefit the people.

"Okay, the candy you made is very good. Next time, make less. It wastes firewood and sugar. A little sweetness is also good."

The people are still hungry, how can we indulge in extravagance?

"Then I will make it for you and your family from now on. If you feel sad, I will personally make you a cup of sweet water, okay?"

Pan He's mouth twitched. This is not a good thing to say, right?

Looking at Li Baisong again, the young man was determined, serious and pious.

Well, let's just consider it as his filial piety.

It's really a love-hate thing, you little brat.

Pan He slapped Li Baisong on the back, "You kid."

Li Baisong smiled even more sweetly.

"What is your other gift for becoming a disciple?"

"After dinner, I'll tell you everything, sir." Li Bosong kept it a secret. "Aren't you hungry, sir? We've been working all morning, and we're starving."

"Oh, yes, you've gone to the fields to plant rice. Let's eat first." Pan He was curious. "Is planting rice tiring?"

To be honest, he has never planted rice seedlings.

Li Baisong blinked his eyes. "Transplanting rice seedlings is a bit tiring, but it's fun. Watching the yellow mud turn green little by little under my hands, it's as if the hills and valleys in my heart are being filled. That sense of satisfaction can't be expressed in a few words. Thinking of the heavy ears of grain in autumn, it's as if I've already reaped the joy of a good harvest. Sir, would you like to join us this afternoon to try it? The food will be even more delicious after hard work."

Pan He: "...Let's talk about it after I've eaten my fill in the morning. I haven't been eating or sleeping well lately, and I've suffered a lot."

Changxi, who has always taken good care of others, said: "..."