Shopkeeper Wang was driving ahead and saw that the person standing by the city gate looked like Lou Yunchun. He was about to raise his hand to greet him when he suddenly heard a light shout in his ear. Then a donkey, a man and a cart whizzed past him, and the dust they raised flew into his face.
"Pooh, pooh, pooh."
Lou Yunchun saw Xu Jiang driving towards him. The worry on his face was replaced by joy. He quickly stepped forward, waited for Xu Jiang to stop the donkey, took the reins, and greeted her, "You're back."
"Yes!" Xu Jiang smiled, then turned around and took out a branch of locust flowers from the truck bed, and put it in front of Lou Yunchun as if offering a treasure, "This is for you."
Lou Yunchun stared at the flower for a moment before reaching out to take it, unable to hide the excitement and joy in his heart.
Shopkeeper Wang came over and saw the flower in Lou Yunchun's hand. He stared at Xu Jiang eagerly, shook his head, and thought to himself: "What a waste! She was coaxed away with just a flower." But he couldn't help feeling jealous, as he had never received flowers from the lady.
After a while, seeing that the two were still stunned, he reminded them in a dull tone: "Ahem, the city gate will be closed soon."
The two of them came back to their senses and smiled at each other.
Lou Yunchun wore the flower on his lapel, held the donkey in one hand and the horse in the other, and took Xu Jiang home.
When I returned to the bookstore, Liang Mo had already left.
Shopkeeper Wang's son came to see him several times. Finally, he saw his father coming back and waved to him, "Dad, come back for dinner."
"Coming!" Shopkeeper Wang responded with full energy, then waved to Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun with a smile, "Your sister-in-law must be waiting anxiously, so I'll go back first." Then he stared at the locust flowers on Lou Yunchun's body, and asked Xu Jiang for a few branches to give to his wife when he returned.
Xu Jiang picked out a few lushly fruiting ones, tied them into a bundle with branches, and handed them to Shopkeeper Wang. "Let them bloom overnight in clean water. They'll bloom tomorrow, just in time for Grain Rain. My sister-in-law will surely be delighted to see them."
"Okay!" Shopkeeper Wang took it happily and couldn't wait to go home.
Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun also led the donkey and horse back to their own courtyard. As soon as they entered the door, Lou Yunchun picked her up and spun her around twice, then pecked her on the lips, his eyes and eyebrows filled with joy.
"The flowers are squashed!"
"Don't worry, there's still more than half a bucket left."
Xu Jiang sorted out the local products given by the villagers and bought by herself, and divided them into two parts, preparing one for Lou Yunchun to take back later and the other to be delivered to Nanshan Academy tomorrow.
Lou Yunchun was holding the locust flowers and was about to find a bottle to keep them, but he saw Xu Jiang take out a basket and a small stool, sit under the eaves and wave at him.
He was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing. That's right, this is his A Jiang style.
Xu Jiang took the locust flowers, picked the buds and threw them into the basket. She asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Lou Yunchun squatted down and picked flowers with her, "I think it's cute."
"Cute?" Xu Jiang picked up a branch of locust flowers and looked at it. "I just think it's delicious."
As soon as the words fell, a warm feeling came from his lips. Lou Yunchun separated immediately, and nodded with a smile in his eyes, "Hmm, delicious."
Xu Jiang picked up a flower and gently hit him in the face, her heart fluttering.
Oh my god, who taught me these words?
I felt shy but also sweet, thinking: These flowers are the right gift.
Most of the locust flowers picked are still locust seeds. Except for the one on Lou Yunchun's collar, most of them are still flower buds. Eating locust flowers means eating these flower buds, which are sweet and refreshing.
There are many ways to eat locust flowers, such as locust flower rice, locust flower fried eggs, locust flower tea, etc. Xu Jiang plans to steam a pot of locust flower rice and make a locust flower fried eggs, which should be just right.
This is a seasonal snack that can only be eaten for a few days a year. Moreover, since I have met a wise man today, my mouth will be filled with the fragrance.
The firewood was burning and steam was rising.
Xu Jiang slowly removed the sophora japonica seeds from the salt water, drained them, then sprinkled them with flour and mixed them evenly. Once every bean was coated in flour, she scattered them into a bamboo basket lined with gauze. The pot was already steaming, and it would be ready in the time it took to steam for a cup of tea.
Then she took the plump white garlic cloves from Lou Yunchun, put them into the stone mortar, added a spoonful of tea, crushed them and poured them out, then added a little soy sauce and vinegar to make the sauce.
While working, she told Lou Yunchun about what she had seen and heard today.
She spoke vividly, and Lou Yunchun was fascinated by what he saw and heard. He would respond softly from time to time, or just look at her and smile, and both of them felt at peace.
Xu Jiang opened the bamboo drawer, pinched the four corners of the gauze to pick out the locust rice, then poured it into a wooden basin and shook it quickly with chopsticks. After the air was released, she added the sauce and stirred evenly.
"Come, have a taste." She picked up a piece and held it in her hand and brought it to Lou Yunchun's mouth.
Lou Yunchun opened his mouth and swallowed it. The aroma of wheat and flowers instantly permeated his lungs. He nodded and said, "It's delicious."
Xu Jiang also took a bite and tasted it, squinting her eyes in satisfaction. Then she said to Lou Yunchun, "Make another locust flower egg, and we'll set the table."
Sophora japonica beans are fresh and tender, so there is no need to blanch them. After washing them, beat in a few eggs, add a little salt to season, then heat the oil in a pan, spread them into an omelet, and fry until both sides are golden brown. A Sophora japonica fried egg is then served hot out of the pan.
The meal was simple, with one lamp, two people, and three or four bowls and plates, but it tasted delicious and sweet.
The next day, Xu Jiang found two farming books and gave them to Shopkeeper Wang. Shopkeeper Wang praised them highly and said he would teach the villagers the methods in the books the next time he visited the village. The villagers weren't ignorant of how to farm and compost, but they simply didn't know how to adapt to local conditions and improve their fields, so their harvests were naturally poor. With the farming books, they could try different methods, and there would always be one that worked for their particular fields.
After delivering the books, Xu Jiang returned to her shop to make a shopping list for the banquet. Tomorrow, Grain Rain, she would be attending the Zhuxi Elegant Gathering, so she had to complete her shopping today.
Since a book feast is about reading, it shouldn't overshadow the main event. Food should be light, with pastries and snacks being the main focus. A banquet held to welcome the Grain Rain Festival should also avoid meat and fish, preferring plant-based vegetarian dishes. Sophora japonica flowers, mulberry leaves, mugwort, and peonies are all in season and perfect for making snacks.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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