In early summer, sunlight, as soft as a veil, filtered through the glazed tiles of the capital's palaces, cascading down onto the bluestone-paved streets, tinting the capital's South Market a brilliant golden hue. Su Jinli moved with delicate steps, her lilac skirt hem in hand, carefully stepping over the puddles. The newly adorned gardenia in her hair trembled with each step, like a nimble butterfly. The refreshing fragrance of the flower blended with the delicate scent of her powder, drawing the attention of an old woman selling sachets on the street. "You look even more beautiful than the jasmine in my basket," she said, her eyes filled with admiration. "You look even more beautiful than the jasmine in my basket," she said, her voice etched with the vicissitudes of time, yet tinged with genuine affection.
Lingge followed behind him with a smile on her face, her clear voice ringing like a silver bell: "That's right, the Prime Minister said yesterday that he would find the best embroiderer in the capital to embroider this pattern into a screen for the young lady." The laughter of the master and servant was like a breeze in early summer, and it was particularly pleasant in the hustle and bustle of the market.
As the master and servant chatted and laughed, they turned the corner. Suddenly, a rich, sweet aroma filled their nostrils. Ahead, beneath a sycamore tree, stood a small jujube wood stall. In a copper pot, amber syrup bubbled cheerfully, playing a sweet melody. A nearby bamboo rack was filled with a variety of sugar sculptures: a soaring dragon, seemingly poised to soar into the sky; a phoenix frolicking in the water, its graceful form and lifelike wings; a butterfly, ready to fly, seemed to be about to break free from its bamboo and soar into the flowers. The sunlight shone on these sculptures, radiating a dreamlike, iridescent glow, like sealed fairy tales. They attracted several children with pigtails, who gathered around the stall, their drooling mouths watering, their innocent eyes filled with longing.
"It's Grandpa Zhang's sugar painting stall!" Su Jinli's eyes lit up instantly, like twinkling stars in the night sky. She walked quickly forward, memories flooding back. In her past life, every Lantern Festival, her nurse would secretly bring her to this sugar painting stall. Back then, clutching a sugar phoenix would bring her joy all day long. Those simple, pure joys still shine with a warm glow through the years.
Old Zhang, the sugar-painting vendor, narrowed his eyes, peering at her intently. A kind smile crossed his face. "Oh, it's Miss Su! It's been ages!" He spoke, trembling as he lifted the copper spoon. In his calloused hands, the spoon seemed to come alive. "Same old thing, a dragon?" Old Zhang's voice was filled with familiarity, as if no time had passed.
"Hmm!" Su Jinli softly responded, squatting down, her eyes fixed on the copper spoon as it twirled gracefully in the old man's hands. Scalding syrup flowed from the spoon like golden threads, slowly outlining the outline of a dragon's head on the bluestone slab. The old man's technique was deft, and with a flutter of scales and claws, a lifelike sugar dragon took shape. The dragon seemed to come alive, even its whiskers shimmering with a shimmering, mysterious light in the sunlight.
"Grandpa Zhang, your craftsmanship has become increasingly refined." Su Jinli took the sugar dragon, and her fingertips touched the slightly cool temperature of the stone slab, as if touching the traces of time. At this moment, she seemed to suddenly remember something, and a hint of anticipation flashed in her eyes: "Grandpa, can you let me try?"
Old man Zhang was slightly stunned, then laughed heartily and said, "Miss, you want to play? Sure!" He handed the clean copper spoon to Su Jinli, his eyes full of encouragement, "But the syrup must be served while it's hot, don't shake your hands."
Su Jinli took a deep breath and, trying to imitate the old man, scooped up a spoonful of syrup. However, the moment the amber liquid left the copper pot, it quickly thickened. As soon as she poured the syrup onto the stone slab, it spread uncontrollably like a wild horse. She had intended to draw a prancing dragon, but what emerged was a tangle of crooked, twisted lines. It looked nothing like a dragon, but more like a randomly twisted mass of earthworms.
"puff--"
A clear laugh echoed from behind her. Su Jinli turned quickly to see Jiang Yan, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, standing beneath the locust tree like a graceful figure. The Hetian jade pendant on his belt buckle flickered in the interweaving of light and shadow, like a mysterious star. A trace of doubt crept into her heart. When had he arrived? She hadn't even noticed.
"Is Jiang Zhuangyuan also visiting the market?" Su Jinli's cheeks flushed slightly, like the sunset glow on the horizon. She hurriedly stuffed the shapeless "candied earthworm" into Old Man Zhang's hands, looking a little embarrassed. "You should come here, old man. I'm afraid my skills will ruin your reputation."
Jiang Yan walked forward with a leisurely pace, his eyes fixed on the twisted mass of sugar filaments on the slate. The smile on his lips deepened. "Miss Su's dragon painting is quite... quite charming." He paused slightly, a sly glint in his eyes, and suddenly reached out to take the copper spoon from Old Man Zhang's hand. "Grandpa Zhang, let me try."
With a gentle twist of his wrist, the syrup seemed to be imbued with a soul at his fingertips, responding as if to their movements. In a matter of moments, a phoenix, its tail spread wide, leaped onto the stone slab—its head held high, revealing an innate nobility and pride; its feathers, layered and detailed, seemed to flutter in the wind; even the sugar bead in its beak was crystal clear, like a glittering pearl.
"Great!" The children watching couldn't help but applaud, the clear sounds echoing throughout the market. Old Man Zhang was even more amazed, his eyes full of wonder: "Zhuangyuanlang, I'm afraid you must have learned this skill from me, right?"
Jiang Yan just smiled slightly, carefully peeled off the candied phoenix, and handed it to Su Jinli, his eyes gentle and focused: "For you."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
