Chapter 49 Hot Drinks I recognize this umbrella.

Xue Han sat in the main room of the Yu family courtyard, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her heart filled with anxiety. She silently recited her prepared words several times in her mind, hoping that the Yu family lady she had only met once could help her this time.

Hearing footsteps coming from inside, she hurriedly got up, straightened her slightly cramped skirt, and looked up at the person who came in.

Then Yu Man entered. Xue Han remembered their first meeting last month at the wine shop in the prefecture. This woman had bright, intelligent features and a lively spirit, like a peach blossom in early spring. Now, seeing her again, her beautiful face remained unchanged, but a thin mist seemed to veil her brows, adding a touch of melancholy. She was like a begonia that had weathered some storms—its color remained, but its charm had deepened.

Upon seeing that it was Xue Han, Yu Man thought for a moment and remembered that she was the owner of the small wine shop in the prefecture. He then spoke gently, "Madam, you have come from afar to find me. May I ask what brings you here?"

Seeing that Yu Man had taken the initiative to ask, Xue Han felt slightly relieved. She took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Madam Yu, last time you mentioned cooperation, I regret that I was too narrow-minded to agree. Now... I wonder if it's not too late?" Her words were humble, and her posture was extremely modest.

Yu Man carefully observed her expression and saw that Xue Han's brows were furrowed with deep sorrow, and her eyes were dark and bluish. Although she tried to remain calm, her slightly trembling fingertips betrayed her inner anxiety. She did not rush to answer, but instead asked, "May I ask your name, madam?" Although they had met once, they had not exchanged names.

Xue Han then realized her mistake and quickly curtsied, saying, "It was my oversight. My surname is Xue, and my given name is Han."

"Madam Xue," Yu Man asked calmly, "have you encountered any difficulties?"

Having sought help from no one in recent days and already tasted the bitterness of the world, Xue Han felt a pang of sorrow upon seeing Yu Man's clear eyes, unlike those who would take advantage of her misfortune. Without hesitation, she poured out her troubles. Her father had passed away early, arranging a marriage for her with the man Yu Man had seen at the wine shop. The man had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations and later said he wanted to go south to do business. Xue Han gave him all her savings accumulated over the years as capital. Unexpectedly, he disappeared without a trace. Now, her elderly mother had suddenly fallen seriously ill and needed money to save her life, but she was penniless.

"...It is such a situation that it is really difficult to talk about, and I hope that Madam Yu will laugh at me." Xue Han said, her face already full of embarrassment.

Yu Man listened, her mind slightly distracted. She composed herself before saying, "So, Madam Xue has come today to do business with me to alleviate your immediate crisis?"

"Yes," Xue Han replied hastily, her tone resolute as if she were making a desperate gamble. "I am willing to give all the family's ancestral wine and food recipes to Madam Yu, hoping that you will lend a helping hand and save my mother's life!" She had previously sought help from the large restaurants in the prefecture, but those people took advantage of her predicament, not only wanting the recipes but also trying to seize the wine shop where she made a living and forcing her to sign a contract never to do this business again, which was tantamount to cutting off her way of life.

When she was desperate, she remembered Yu Man. The Manxin Food Shop was becoming famous, and this Lady Yu had remained composed even when rejected, so she must be a magnanimous person. So she came to Dongqing County with her last hope.

Unexpectedly, Yu Man gently shook her head: "I don't want to."

Upon hearing this, Xue Han's face drained of color instantly, and she swayed slightly. If Yu Man refused to help, she truly didn't know what to do.

But Yu Man continued, “The recipe is the foundation of my livelihood, and I don’t need you to give it to me. I only want to hire Madam Xue for a year. The fine wines produced in your shop will be exclusively supplied to my Manxin Food Shop. The price will be settled fairly according to the market price, and I will never let you suffer a loss. After a year, whether you stay or leave is entirely up to you.”

Xue Han never expected things to turn out this way. Not only did she save her ancestral recipe and wine shop, but she also found a way out. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away with her sleeve, choking out, "Thank you so much, Madam Yu! I will never forget this kindness!"

The two immediately agreed on the details and signed a contract as proof. Yu Man even took out fifty taels of silver on the spot and handed it to Xue Han, telling her to focus on treating her mother's illness first, and that other matters could be dealt with later.

Xue Han was moved to tears, but still insisted on leaving behind the few carefully copied prescriptions. Yu Man could not refuse, so he glanced at the stack of papers and finally picked up only one. On it, the ink was neat and the title was "A Wanderer's Song".

“This one will do,” Yu Man put away the prescription and gently pushed the rest back. “This is enough.”

Xue Han knew her feelings and did not insist. She carefully put the remaining prescription back into her bosom, thanked her deeply again, and then took her leave.

After leaving home, she dared not delay and immediately returned to the prefectural capital in the hired carriage. Instead of going home first, she went straight to the reputable Ji'an Hall in the city, earnestly requesting the resident doctor to come and treat her. After the doctor carefully examined her mother's pulse, prescribed a formula, and meticulously instructed her on how to prepare the medicine before leaving, Xue Han gazed at her mother's haggard face on the sickbed. All the worries, grievances, and exhaustion of the past few days welled up in her heart, and tears streamed down her face before she could utter a word.

Mother Xue weakly raised her hand, tenderly stroking her daughter's noticeably thinner cheek, her breath faint: "It's all my fault... I've been a burden to you..."

Xue Han quickly shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "It's all my fault. I trusted that heartless man and ended up in this predicament. Fortunately... there's always a way out, and I've met such a kind person as Madam Yu." She told her mother in detail about how Yu Man had helped her when she went to Dongqing County to seek help.

Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Xue's cloudy eyes, and she nodded repeatedly: "Good, good... We've met a benefactor. Han'er, you must remember this kindness and make sure to help Madam Yu well. Don't slack off."

"I understand, daughter." Xue Han grasped her mother's hand, her tone firm. "I've made up my mind. Once you're feeling better, we'll move to Dongqing County to live permanently." Since the wine shop is temporarily closed, there's no point in staying in the prefecture alone. It's better to be closer to our benefactor, which will also make it easier for her to take care of her mother.

"You must get well soon, so that you can help your daughter taste the newly brewed wine and the newly mixed drinks, and see if they taste good."

Perhaps because her daughter's description of life was too idyllic, Xue's mother's will to live was rekindled, and she managed to endure the most dangerous days. During the follow-up visit, the old doctor stroked his beard and nodded, saying to Xue Han, "Your mother's pulse has stabilized, which is a sign of good fortune. From now on, she only needs to take good care of herself and take her medicine on time, and there will be no major problems."

Xue Han's heart, which had been hanging in suspense for many days, finally settled down, and she agreed with tears of gratitude. After seeing the doctor off, she returned to the bedside, held her mother's hand, and said with a choked voice but full of joy, "Mother, did you hear that? The doctor said you should take good care of yourself! You must listen to him! Don't overwork yourself."

Looking at Xue Han, Xue's mother naturally listened to what she said: "Okay, I'll listen to you." But in her heart, she felt even more sorry for Xue Han's hard work these past few days.

After Madam Xue was able to get out of bed and walk slowly, the mother and daughter packed their belongings and traveled lightly to Dongqing County. Yu Man was quite surprised to see them arrive so quickly and asked with concern, "Madam Xue, is Madam Xue feeling much better? Perhaps she should rest for a little longer."

Xue Han curtsied and said earnestly, "Thank you for your concern, Madam Yu. My mother is fine now. It's just that I can't stay idle and wanted to come over as soon as possible to see if there was anything I could do to help. Only then would I feel at ease."

Seeing that she was determined, Yu Man did not try to persuade her further, and first had someone rent a courtyard for them to settle down. Afterwards, she invited Xue Han to the front to talk.

Yu Man did not rush to arrange the work, but turned around and went to the kitchen, took out a small wine jar, and placed it on the table in front of Xue Han. He looked a little embarrassed and said, "Madam Xue, you have come at the right time. It is this 'Wanderer's Song'... I have tried to brew it many times according to the recipe you left, but the taste... is not quite right."

She almost doubted that she had any talent for brewing wine, as she failed every time she tried.

Upon hearing this, Xue Han opened the bottle and took a sniff. She felt that although the aroma of the wine was strong, it lacked the clear and lingering quality it should have. Instead, it carried a faint astringent taste, and it had indeed failed to capture the essence of the wine.

She understood that the process of brewing wine involved factors such as the heat, the season, and even the water quality and one's state of mind; a slight difference could lead to vastly different results. Wanting to prove her usefulness, she offered, "If Madam Yu doesn't mind, how about I take you and we try brewing again from scratch? Perhaps we can find the key."

Yu Man nodded in agreement, but glanced at the corner and said, "We just ran out of yeast today, so we'll have to do it another day. Perfect timing, let me first talk to Madam Xue about some miscellaneous matters at the food shop."

It was September, and the autumn winds were getting cooler. Yu Man keenly sensed that the iced drinks that had been bestsellers all summer probably wouldn't last much longer. Nowadays, most hot drinks on the market were various kinds of tea, so she wondered if she could find another way to sell them.

"Madam Xue is an expert in wine. I wonder if you could consider using wine as a base and adding other ingredients to create a few hot drinks suitable for autumn and winter? They should be warming and have a unique flavor."

These words immediately piqued Xue Han's interest. The two of them then sat down in the small hall, discussing the matter in detail with paper and pen in hand.

Xue's father doted on Xue Han and sent her to the county school to study and learn to read from a young age. Before he passed away, he arranged a marriage for her, hoping that she could become a proper scholar's wife and have someone to talk to, so that they could grow old together in love.

It can be said that parents love their children and plan far ahead, but Xue's father never expected that the man had wasted his time studying the classics and was a hopeless case.

Xue Han looked at her own handwriting, the thought crossed her mind but she quickly dismissed it, and continued to Yu Man: "...My wife, tell me."

Yu Man suggested ideas such as using mellow rice wine as a base, adding ginger shreds and goji berries to cook together to dispel cold and warm the stomach; or using some fruit wine, mixed with honey and jujube paste, and steaming it to warm it up for its sweetness and moistness.

Xue Han, drawing on her family's scholarly background and years of experience, supplemented the discussion with the properties and flavor combinations of various medicinal herbs and ingredients, analyzed which base wines and ingredients could be combined to bring out the best flavor, and how to control the heat to prevent the wine flavor from dissipating.

More than an hour passed quietly. When Xue Han helped her mother, who had drunk two cups of tea and looked tired, back to the small courtyard arranged for them, she was still repeatedly pondering the various ideas she had just had. However, when they stepped into the courtyard, Xue Han couldn't help but be stunned.

The courtyard, though not large, was clean and tidy, with bright rooms and spotless windows. In one corner stood an old osmanthus tree, its fragrance subtly filling the air. This place was neither noisy and secluded, nor isolated; it was exactly the kind of courtyard she had longed to buy for her mother back in the prefectural capital. She never imagined she would find refuge here, and she couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

The mother and daughter worked together to pack their few belongings, and spent the night together, a rare occurrence. Lying on the new mattress, Xue's mother couldn't help but sigh, "Just a few days ago, I felt like I was at my wit's end, but who would have thought that I would meet such a kind person as Madam Yu, and that things would take a turn for the better." Before she finished speaking, she saw her daughter beside her throw off the covers and get up.

"Han'er, it's so late, what are you going to do?" Mother Xue asked hurriedly.

"Mother, you go to sleep first. I'll think about what Madam Yu said earlier. I have some thoughts in my mind that I'm afraid I'll forget tomorrow." Xue Han replied softly as she quickly put on her shoes and socks, carefully lowered the bed curtains for her mother to avoid being startled by the light, put on her outer robe, and went to the table in the outer room. By the bright oil lamp, she ground ink, dipped her brush, and wrote down the thoughts that came to mind.

The next day, she brought two hot drink recipes that she had written overnight to Yu Man. One of them was called "Warm Jade Producing Smoke," which uses ordinary rice wine, along with old ginger, brown sugar, and red dates, and is simmered slowly. It is inexpensive, but has a mellow and warming taste, making it most suitable for ordinary people to ward off the cold.

Another dish is called "Golden Wind and Jade Dew". It is made with finely brewed osmanthus wine as the base, mixed with carefully brewed almond milk and a little honey, and garnished with dried osmanthus flowers. It is warmed in a double boiler. The aroma of wine, flowers and fruits intertwine, making it elegant and sweet. It also has a good meaning and is naturally intended for those discerning officials, nobles and wealthy families.

Yu Man carefully examined the document and offered a few suggestions for improvement. She couldn't help but secretly admire Xue Han, who was truly a treasure, possessing both family expertise in cooking and a willingness to innovate. She smiled and said to Xue Han, "Madam Xue is indeed clever and resourceful."

The two then immersed themselves in repeated tastings. The proportions of ingredients, the temperature of the wine, and the cooking time all required careful adjustment. Failures were inevitable; sometimes the wine was too strong and masked the aroma of the other ingredients, and sometimes the heat was slightly too high and the wine's fragrance was lost. But neither of them gave up, trying again and again, adjusting little by little.

When October arrived, the north wind began to blow and the weather turned completely cold, these two carefully crafted hot drinks were finally able to be listed on the menu at Manxin Food Shop.

Cao Mei was a regular customer at the food stall. Her family was wealthy, and her husband's family ran a cloth shop, making them even more well-off. She had no other hobbies but a deep love for food, and whenever the food stall launched a new dish, she would always be the first to try it.

On this day, she stepped into the shop wrapped in a thick cloak and immediately noticed two new soup dishes on the menu in the lobby, which aroused her curiosity.

She beckoned to a familiar waiter and asked, "Young man, are there any special details or explanations for these two soups?" She knew that the owner of this heart-shaped food shop was very clever and that there was always something special about each new dish.

The waiter, already trained, immediately greeted her with a beaming smile and eloquently introduced the dish: "Replying to Madam Cao, this 'Warm Jade Smoke' is made by simmering top-quality rice wine with old ginger, brown sugar, and red dates over a low flame. It is excellent for dispelling cold and warming the stomach. Drinking a bowl of it will warm you from your throat to every part of your body!"

"And this Golden Dew is even more remarkable. It uses a secret recipe of osmanthus-flavored aged wine, blended with almond milk and acacia honey collected in the morning, and warmed perfectly in a double boiler. The wine has a delicate aroma and a mellow, lingering taste. It is the best for moisturizing dryness and nourishing the skin! To be honest, our boss even had the doctor from Ji'an Hall look at the recipe, and they both said that these two dishes are excellent for warming and nourishing the body!"

Hearing the waiter's vivid description, Cao Mei's appetite was immediately whetted: "It sounds so good? Then bring me these two dishes to try first!"

The waiter responded loudly and efficiently wrote down the order.

Before long, two steaming bowls of soup were served. The "Warm Jade Steaming" soup was served in a celadon bowl, its color a deep brown, with the aroma of ginger mixed with the fragrance of dates and wine wafting out. The "Golden Wind Jade Dew" soup was served in a white porcelain cup, its color a clear, slightly yellow broth, garnished with tiny golden osmanthus blossoms, and it looked sweet just by looking at it.

Cao Mei first took a sip of the former. The warm wine, with the slight spiciness of ginger and the sweetness of sugar, slid down her throat, and a warm feeling immediately spread throughout her body, dispelling the chill.

Her eyes lit up, and she picked up the small spoon again, scooping up a spoonful of the latter. The wine was light, and the richness of almonds, the fragrance of osmanthus, and the sweetness of honey blended perfectly, with a smooth texture.

One bite, two bites, three bites...

Before Cao Mei knew it, she had finished both cups of hot drink.

She put down the spoon and cup, feeling her palms warm, her cheeks flush, and her whole body feel comfortable. "It really is good stuff!" she thought happily, and said to the waiter waiting beside her, "Pack five portions of each of these two, I'll take them home for my family to try."

I imagine her mother, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law also love this kind of soup.

"Alright! Madam Cao, please wait a moment!" The waiter replied cheerfully and left.

Upon learning that the newly launched hot drinks were quite popular with diners, Xue Han finally relaxed a little, feeling that it was a good start.

Half a month has passed and the weather is getting colder. These two inexpensive and delicious hot drinks with nourishing effects are the top order, especially favored by women who are afraid of the cold. After all, in this season when breath turns to frost, who can resist a bowl of hot soup that can satisfy their cravings and warm them up?

That day, Xue Han was in her room brainstorming new recipes for drinks when she saw her mother dressed and about to go out again. She couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Mother, going out again?"

Mother Xue gave her daughter a slightly reproachful look: "You didn't go yesterday because you were tired. Today, Xiaochun's mother specially invited you, and with Third Sister and Sister Pei, we'll have a full table of mahjong. How could you miss it? Just have a quick bite for lunch." With that, she left the house with light steps, having forgotten about her daughter as soon as she had mahjong partners.

Xue Han watched her mother's retreating figure and shook her head helplessly. In the past half month, Xue's mother, Deng San Niang, Pei's mother, and Xiao Chun Niang had formed a regular mahjong team because they lived close by and got along well. In their spare time, they would play a few rounds of leaf mahjong, and their days were quite fulfilling and happy.

She composed herself, went over the new ideas she had come up with in her mind again, and then got up to go to the food shop to discuss them with Yu Man. Now she knew the place well and went straight to the kitchen, where she found Yu Man frowning at a newly opened jar of wine.

"Not done yet?" Xue Han approached. The two had become quite familiar with each other, and their conversation was more casual.

Yu Man lifted the lid of the wine jar, sniffed it closely, and still shook his head: "It didn't work."

The wine "Wanderer's Song" seemed to be inherently incompatible with her. Even when Xue Han guided her step by step, strictly following the recipe, the wine she brewed always fell short of expectations.

Even so, Yu Man insisted on brewing wine, stubbornly sticking to this wine. For the past half month, he had been brewing and ruining wine, brewing and ruining wine again, without interruption for a single day.

Xue Han shared her idea of ​​adding seasonal fruits to create a new flavor of hot drink. After listening, Yu Man added some suggestions on controlling the balance between sweetness and acidity. The two then discussed it for a while.

Finally, Yu Man sealed the wine jar and said, "That's enough for today. I'm going out for a bit."

“Okay,” Xue Han replied. She watched Yu Man turn and leave, then glanced at the jar of Youzi Yin that had been repeatedly defeated. She couldn’t help but shake her head inwardly. This Lady Yu, who usually seemed easygoing, was surprisingly persistent in some matters.

Yu Man picked up a small bamboo basket and, instead of heading towards the food stall, turned towards Xingcheng Village.

She first went to the familiar peach tree on the back hill. The fruit on the tree was already ripe, and she casually picked one and put it in her mouth. She savored it and found that it was even sweeter than in previous years.

Seeing that the area under the tree and around it was spotless, even the fallen leaves seemed to have been carefully swept away, she immediately knew that her father, Yu Chengfu, must have come secretly again. Now that Deng Sanniang was heavily pregnant and had difficulty moving around, she rarely went out except for occasionally playing a few rounds of card games, so Yu Chengfu often came here.

She sat quietly for a while on that familiar rock under the tree, seemingly lost in thought, yet also as if pondering a great deal. An autumn breeze swept through the treetops, bringing a touch of coolness. After a long while, she slowly rose.

As usual, she should have gone straight home. But today, her feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and at the fork in the mountain path, they involuntarily turned and headed in another direction—the path leading to Shanqing Academy.

Yu Man did not go up the mountain. Instead, as if guided by some strange force, he turned towards the house where Pei Ji had recuperated for several days.

The courtyard remained quietly in place, its gate tightly shut, indicating that the owners had been gone for some time. She paused outside the courtyard for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the low wall, her heart filled with mixed emotions, but ultimately she did not go in.

Then, she strolled southwards, where she had previously wandered. The village in late autumn, with its bare vegetation, presented a uniquely open and spacious landscape.

Just then, she ran into the young woman who was drying winter vegetables outside the courtyard. The woman had a good memory, and when she looked up and saw that it was Yu Man, she greeted her with a smile, "Young lady, you're here again?"

Yu Man composed herself and smiled in response: "Yes, Auntie, just taking a stroll."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yu Man was about to take his leave when he heard a soft creak. The wooden door of the umbrella maker's house next door, which had always been tightly closed, was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

An elderly man walked out slowly. He wore a slightly worn dark blue coarse cloth jacket, and was thin, but his back was straight. His face was ancient, and his wrinkles were as if carved by a knife. In particular, there were three deep vertical lines between his eyebrows, which gave him an air of dignified authority even when he was expressionless.

Upon seeing this, the young woman quickly whispered to Yu Man, "Young lady, this is Uncle Yuquan whom I mentioned to you."

The old man, known as Uncle Yuquan, noticed the two talking and his gaze naturally fell on the outsider, Yu Man. He looked him up and down, his brows seeming to furrow even more, before suddenly speaking, "It's you?"

Yu Man was taken aback by his abrupt question, feeling bewildered. She was certain she had never seen this old man before. "Grandpa, do you...recognize me?" she asked doubtfully.

Uncle Yuquan continued to stare at her, as if he understood her confusion. He did not answer her question, but instead lowered his gaze to the bamboo basket she was carrying on her arm—inside, there was still a neatly tied dark-colored oil-paper umbrella.

Now, Yu Man has gotten into the habit of always carrying this umbrella with him.

Uncle Yuquan pointed to the umbrella:

"I don't recognize you."

"But I recognize your umbrella."