The hot summer days are like fire, and the five spices are waiting for the visitors.
Five-spice tea was created by Zen Master Chou. It combines spices with medicine to create a five-flavor drink. It is mainly nourishing and harmonizing. It was originally a medicinal drink for the sick to strengthen their bodies. Due to the health-preserving trend in the capital, it became popular in various teahouses and teahouses.
The five spices are mainly agarwood, followed by cloves, sandalwood, zelan incense and sweet pine, which can adjust the harmony of the five internal organs.
Xu Jiang's five-spice tea was prepared by Qianjinfang. The recipe was modified by the disciples, reducing the bitterness and increasing the sweetness.
The reason for the change in Qianjinfang was that the medicine tasted too strong and the disciples did not like to drink it. However, Doctor Chen prepared a different medicine every day and cooked a large pot of each medicine, and told the disciples to drink it all.
Many of the disciples pretended to obey but actually disobeyed. If the older ones refused to drink, they would push the drink to the younger ones. The new disciples drank so much that they burst into tears and kept shouting that they wanted to go home. Only then did they have no choice but to change the recipe.
After the recipe was changed, the taste was indeed much more palatable. Not only did the disciples stop crying, but the dish was also quite popular among the neighbors and sold very well.
Three people were in the kitchen, tending two stoves and making tea. The heat from the firewood was as intense as a steamer.
Song Qiao was a guest, and Xu Jiang didn't want to make her feel bad, so she asked her to be the water steward. She asked her to dilute the boiled tea with boiled water and then pour it into ice water to chill.
By the time the five-flavor tea was ready, Xu Jiang and Yin Yin's clothes were soaked with sweat. Song Qiao quickly fetched water for them to wash and cool down. After washing, they both felt much better.
Xu Jiang rested for a while, and because she thought that some people didn't like the five-spice drink, she started to make the dough. After making it, she gave a bowl to Song Qiao and Yin Yin respectively, and then filled a few more bowls and asked Liang Mo to take them outside.
She took a sip of the sugar water and sighed, "Finally, it's all done. Preparing noodles for a banquet in this hot weather really tests one's patience."
"It's much more interesting than staying at home." Yin Yin rarely had such an experience. She found it interesting and happily swung her feet while holding the bowl.
"Yeah." Song Qiao agreed. She never liked to get close to others, so this was her first time, but it didn't feel bad.
The white clouds in the sky rolled lazily, and the rice noodle soup in the bowl was sweet. The three of them stared blankly, and only when the heat in their bodies dissipated did they get up and go back to the shop.
The inn was cool, and Xu Jiang pulled Song Qiao to sit down and rest. She said embarrassedly, "You came as a guest, and not only did I not treat you well, but I asked you to help with the chores first."
"It's okay." Song Qiao was much more relaxed now, not as tense as when he first came to visit. His expression was also friendly. "I can't sit still either. I feel more comfortable when I'm moving around."
Xu Jiang smiled and said, "We are the same in this respect." Then he asked about the orchid book, "How is Mr. Wen's orchid book editing going?"
"I've basically finished the proofreading, but I'm not entirely satisfied with the drawings. I'd like to have someone redraw them, but that's probably going to take some time."
“How many categories have you decided on in total?”
"The original number was 340, but after revisions and deletions, there were only 128 left, all of which were rare species."
"That's quite a lot." Each category would require a small piece of art, and at least four volumes would be needed for elegant binding. Otherwise, it would appear heavy and clumsy. Xu Jiang asked again, "Does the old man have a choice?"
Song Qiao shook his head, "I haven't found the right one yet."
"One hundred and twenty-eight sketches is no small number. Finding a famous artist would be time-consuming and expensive, and it's hard to specify requirements. Finding an ordinary artist would also be a concern, as they might not meet the requirements. It's really a dilemma."
Xu Jiang couldn't help but feel worried. Since the painting couldn't be completed, her work on the other end naturally couldn't move forward either.
Suddenly, her eyes turned to the painting on the wall, and then she slapped her forehead and cried out "Aiya!" twice, "Look at my brain, I think the heat has made me confused. Isn't there a ready-made candidate right in front of me?"
Song Qiao followed her gaze and was stunned. It was the painting of Bairibxiangshan.
Just at that moment, Hu Xu arrived at the door.
"You really can't talk about people behind their backs. If you do, you'll get caught." Xu Jiang smiled, stood up, walked to the door and greeted Hu Xu. Seeing him riding in, she asked, "Where are you going?"
"Qinghuai Township." Hu Xu dismounted and took off the saddlebag on the horse's back. Seeing that the saddlebag was heavy, two guards hurried forward to help.
Xu Jiang quickly pulled Song Qiao, who had followed, out of the way and asked, "Master Lu, have you finished writing on the board?"
"It's finished." Hu Xu looked at Song Qiao and asked with a smile, "When did Madam Song come?"
Song Qiao replied, "It's been a while."
Hu Xu lowered his head and loosened the saddle for the horse. "I saw no one was home, so I thought you were out delivering flowers."
Did he go looking for himself?
Song Qiao's heart moved slightly. She was about to say something but was interrupted by Liang Mo.
Liang Mo settled the routine and came out to lead Hu Xu's horse to the backyard to give it water and feed. This was a gift from the emperor and could not be neglected.
Xu Jiang invited Hu Xu into the house and then went to the kitchen to serve tea. Song Qiao wanted to help, but she pushed him to sit down. "Yin Yin is here. You can sit down and talk to him about Lan Pu."
Hu Xu asked curiously, "What happened to Lanpu?"
Song Qiao said: "Mr. Wen wants to find someone to draw the map again..."
Xu Jiang kept the two of them talking, then pulled Yin Yin to the kitchen.
Yin Yin followed behind Xu Jiang and asked quietly, "Sister Xu, is this Miss Song attracted to Brother Hu?"
Xu Jiang nearly stumbled and turned around, asking in surprise, "Where did you get that?"
"That's just a guess," Yin Yin said. "Mrs. Song is quiet and not very friendly, but she didn't miss Brother Hu the moment he walked in, so I guess... um?"
Xu Jiang covered Yin Yin's mouth and said, "Little girl, you haven't woken up yet, what are you thinking about?"
Yin Yin's eyes rolled around. Could it be that she guessed wrong?
Xu Jiang warned again, "Don't tell this to anyone else, understand?"
Yin Yin nodded.
"Be good." Xu Jiang let go of her and patted her head again.
Yin Yin smiled sweetly, then added, "Actually, I guessed it from the young master."
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