In front of the bookstore, two guards were eating rice dumplings and drinking Dragon Boat Festival wine under a tree. When they saw Lou Yunchun coming back, they hurriedly stood up to greet him.
Lou Yunchun dismounted and said to the others, "Continue eating. After you finish eating, go back to the Lou residence and come back after the festival."
"Yes." Although they responded like this, they couldn't enjoy their meal with Lou Yunchun around, so they started to clear the table and wanted to take the uneaten rice dumplings back to eat.
It's not that I'm greedy for this little profit, it's just that Manager Xu's cooking skills are so good that I can't stop eating the rice dumplings.
Xu Jiang was putting away the cups and plates when she heard the noise and knew it was Lou Yunchun who had returned. She walked to the door and saw Lou Yunchun carrying an exquisite food box. She asked with a smile, "What are you carrying?"
"Zongzi." Lou Yunchun handed it to her. "It's a reward from the saint."
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiang quickly raised her hands to take it. After taking it, she saw the two guards were about to leave, so she called them back and asked Yin Yin to cut off a bunch of each for the two to take back and eat.
When Yin Yin saw Lou Yunchun coming back, she knew that she couldn't stay any longer, so she packed up her things and left reluctantly with the guards.
Xu Jiang held the imperial gift of rice dumplings and went into the backyard with Lou Yunchun. When the stubborn donkey saw the horse coming back, it turned its butt and blocked the donkey shed to prevent the horse from entering.
The mana nudged the dog open with its head, and then walked to the dog's trough and started to nibble on the grass.
The stubborn donkey howled for a while, and was slapped twice by Xu Jiang.
The stubborn donkey received two slaps and glared at the horse for a long time before moving over to chew with it.
"These days there are no horses competing with it for its nest, so it has been given all to keep."
Lou Yunchun was tying the reins when he heard her say that. He looked up at her and said, "I've been busy trying cases these days and can't spare time. I'll stay with you in the shop during these few days of rest."
Xu Jiang chuckled and said, "I know you are busy, but I don't blame you. Don't think too much." Then he went to the store with the rice dumplings in his hands.
Lou Yunchun tied up the horse, touched the donkey's head, washed his hands, and then followed him into the shop.
"Can we eat the rice dumplings given by the saint?" Xu Jiang carefully placed the food box on the table, turned it around and looked at it, and asked Lou Yunchun who came in later, "Should we offer it as a sacrifice?"
Lou Yunchun grabbed her, held up her face, and frowned as he examined her wound. "Did you apply the medicine on time?"
"Well, I apply it three times a day and the swelling has gone down."
"Have you gone to Qianjintang for a follow-up visit?"
"I went. Doctor Chen said it's fine and I just need to take the medicine on time."
Lou Yunchun reached out and stroked the scabbed wound, causing Xu Jiang to shiver. Seeing a hint of self-blame lingering in his eyes, she placed her face back in his palm and soothed him, "Doctor Chen said it won't leave scars. It will be back to normal in a month at most."
"Yeah." Lou Yunchun leaned over and kissed the scar, "Next time you go out, remember to bring a guard with you."
Xu Jiang's eyes curved, "Okay."
Seeing that she didn't refuse, Lou Yunchun felt relieved and said with a frown, "Try the rice dumplings given by the emperor."
Xu Jiang glanced at the food box and swallowed her saliva, saying, "No, since it's a gift from the saint, I'll take it back for my uncle and aunt to taste."
"I've already sent one to them." Lou Yunchun took her hand and sat her down. "Eat it. This one is specially brought for you."
Xu Jiang asked curiously, "Can I get two more rewards?"
"The last time I entered the palace, the saint snatched a portion of rice cake from me. This is a return gift." In fact, he asked the saint for it.
Thinking of the surprised expressions of the Saint and the Minister of Justice, Lou Yunchun's face turned slightly hot.
Xu Jiang praised him, saying, "The sage is indeed sensible and reasonable."
She opened the food box with anticipation, wondering what the rice dumplings in the palace would taste like.
There are nine rice dumplings in total, strung together using bamboo leaves and colorful ropes. They look no different from the ones eaten by ordinary people.
Lou Yunchun cut off two with scissors and handed one to her first, "Eat it."
As Xu Jiang untied the rope and removed the leaves, the aroma of rice immediately filled her mouth and nose, making her mouth water. She took a bite and discovered it was an ash water rice dumpling. The taste was incomparable to ordinary ash water rice dumplings, with a stronger rice aroma and a more glutinous texture.
Lou Yunchun also opened one, dipped it in the brown sugar on the table, and finished the whole zongzi in a few bites.
"As expected of a palace delicacy, it's indeed better than ordinary rice dumplings."
"Because it uses Wujiang tribute rice, it tastes better than ordinary rice."
After Lou Yunchun finished one, he didn't reach out for another one. Instead, he said to Xu Jiang, "I want to eat the rice dumplings you made."
He just saw everyone carrying rice dumplings and leaving, and he felt very anxious.
Xu Jiang poked his forehead with her hand and said with a smile, "There's a pot of steaming food on the small stove, which is reserved for you. Go and get it yourself."
Lou Yunchun pulled her up and went to the kitchen together.
When he came out again, Lou Yunchun's face was full of satisfaction. Xu Jiang pursed her slightly red lips and tasted the sweetness of candied dates.
That's strange, it was clearly eaten by Du Lou Yunchun just now.
Xu Jiang divided the remaining rice dumplings into several portions and asked a runner to deliver them to regular customers such as Ji Shan and Deng Yuechuan.
Since Yuan Zuzhi and Master Lin were close to each other, she and Lou Yunchun went to see him off in person.
The two of them locked the door, and one of them carried a basket of rice dumplings as they strolled out onto the street. The street was crowded with people, most of them visiting households, paying their respects, and some returning home with their families to visit relatives.
It was a rare opportunity for the two of them to have such leisure time, so they were not in a hurry. When they met acquaintances, they would exchange a few words with them. When they met peddlers carrying loads of goods, they would stop them and ask them questions.
Xu Jiang bought some cattail grass insects and sachets, intending to give them to Yuan Yanyan and Lin Hongchu.
Xu Jiang pinched the sachet and smelled it, then glanced at Lou Yunchun secretly, and her gaze happened to meet Lou Yunchun's.
Lou Yunchun stared at the sachet in her hand and touched his empty waist.
"This is for Yanyan and Xiaochutou." Xu Jiang saw that he looked a little disappointed, so she took one out of her purse and handed it to him, "This one is yours."
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