Chapter 42 This is called ice cream, it's a summer dessert.
"This is called ice cream. It's delicious." Jiang Ling carefully tore open the packaging for him.
"Ice cream? Is it made of snow? Made from snow that falls from the sky?" Xiao Zhuang finally mustered up his courage and reached out again.
That's when I realized it wasn't hot, but ice.
The kind of ice that forms when it snows in winter!
In this sweltering heat, there's ice? Just holding it in my hand, I felt a refreshing coolness all around me.
He tried putting it in his mouth and licking it; it was sweet!
And it has that soft, creamy texture, similar to cheese!
He had tasted snow, and snow had no taste, but the ice cream that Sister Jiang gave him was sweet!
He licked it several times, and a cool sensation slid down his throat, making him feel refreshed!
"So refreshing! So delicious! Thank you, Sister Jiang!"
"Eat slowly," Jiang Ling said with a smile.
Several other children passing by drooled when they saw it, but they didn't dare to come over; they weren't invited.
They could only watch longingly, drooling.
Seeing their longing eyes, Jiang Ling said to Xiao Zhuang, "Go and call all your friends over. Tell them that Sister Jiang is treating them to ice cream."
Xiao Zhuang ran over and said a few words, and the group of children happily gathered around.
The shouts were uneven:
"Thank you, Sister Jiang!"
Jiang Ling gave each child an ice cream.
They ate happily.
Grandpa Zhao was passing by with his hoe on his back when he saw this scene. He knew that Jiang Ling was doing good deeds for the children again.
"Miss Jiang has spent too much money again."
Jiang Ling smiled and said, "It's just a little snack. The children here are all very sensible, and hardworking children deserve to be rewarded."
This is food for children; adults don't dare to participate, and are too embarrassed to participate.
It's fine for a child to eat some, but if an adult shamelessly goes to ask for it, they'll be laughed at by the whole village.
The villagers had noticed these past few days that carriages frequently lingered in front of the shop, and the young men and women there were all dressed in fine clothes. They guessed that the shop was selling something extraordinary.
So, they didn't dare go inside unless necessary, for fear of damaging something and not being able to afford the compensation.
As the sun set, the villagers all went home to cook.
Jiang Ling's cardboard box was also empty.
Just as I was about to head back, I saw a familiar carriage approaching from afar.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Hongxiu's bright and beautiful face.
"Sister, sister!" She waved to Jiang Ling, eager to get off the carriage before it had even come to a complete stop.
Jiang Ling was afraid she would fall, so she quickly went forward to help her.
"Watch out! What's the rush? I'm not going to run away."
Hongxiu pouted, her eyes instantly filled with grievance.
"My sister has vanished without a trace! I've come back several times, but each time I've missed her. I thought she was a fairy descended from heaven to enlighten me, and then went back to heaven after enlightening me!"
Jiang Ling found it amusing, "You really managed to come up with that."
Xiao Qiu also got out of the car and stood beside her, bowing. "Greetings, Miss Jiang."
"Alright, don't just stand at the door, come in." Jiang Ling ushered the two of them inside.
Hongxiu looked up at the shop. Even though she had only been there once before, she felt a strange sense of familiarity.
On this table, the image of Jiang Ling patiently instructing her that day still lingers.
Her eyes reddened, she released Jiang Ling's hand, took a step back, and gracefully bowed.
"Sister, thank you so much for helping me win the title of courtesan! If it weren't for your guidance and help in removing my worries, Hongxiu would have been filled with regret for the rest of her life!"
She knelt down, and Xiao Qiu, who followed behind, also knelt down.
Jiang Ling was startled and quickly went to help her up.
"Silly girl, this is the result of your many years of hard work. The person you should thank the most is yourself, the self who worked day and night and never gave up. Others are secondary."
Hongxiu's face was already streaked with tears as she embraced Jiang Ling. Her voice trembled with sobs:
"Sister, will you be my sister for life? Hongxiu has never had any family since she was little, and Hongxiu really wants a sister like you!"
Jiang Ling's heart softened, and she hugged her back, gently patting her back. Feeling the warmth of the embrace, she comforted her like a child.
"Okay, I promise. But... you have to allow me to disappear often, okay?"
Hongxiu released her embrace and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Jiang Ling laughed and said, "Your sister is rather lazy and likes to sleep for long periods of time, sometimes for three days or even longer. And when I'm asleep, I can't hear anything."
"So, when my sister was away, she was always sleeping?"
Jiang Ling nodded. "You could say that."
Hongxiu seemed to understand, yet also seemed to understand nothing at all.
While she was distracted, Jiang Ling turned around and walked to the freezer, took out three vanilla cups, and then took three small spoons from the side.
"Quickly wipe your tears," Jiang Ling handed her a tissue, then shoved an ice cream cup with a spoon already inserted into it into her hand.
"I'll treat you to something good to eat."
She took another cup and handed it to Xiao Qiu next to her.
"Miss Jiang, do I have one too?" Xiao Qiu had never thought she would be treated equally. She was just a maid, and everything in the building was always given to the young lady. Only when the young lady didn't want it would she be given it as a reward.
"Of course. Otherwise, I'd feel awkward eating it if you looked at me like that."
Jiang Ling walked to the doorway and sat down. She scooped out a large spoonful of food, put it in her mouth, and demonstrated for them.
She wanted to eat it after seeing the children eating it.
Hongxiu then sat down and turned her attention to the cold paper cup in her hand.
"Sister, what's in here? It's so cold, it's even a little freezing to the touch."
"This is called ice cream, a summer dessert, similar to the frozen yogurt you sell. Try it quickly, it won't taste good if it melts."
As they were talking, Xiao Qiu had already taken the first bite.
The icy touch sent a shiver down her spine.
"It's so refreshing! Girl, you should try it, it's really delicious! It's icy cold and has a milky aroma! It's much better than the ice cream in the city!"
Seeing this, Hongxiu couldn't wait to scoop out a spoonful and put it in her mouth.
The first bite is intensely icy cold! The texture is soft and fluffy, bursting with sweetness and milky aroma!
It doesn't have the watery texture of ice cream cheese; it's more like the texture of marshmallows!
"Mmm, it's delicious!"
Sugar intake can improve one's mood, and Hongxiu immediately forgot about her recent crying.
"What should I do if I want to see my sister?" Hongxiu asked while eating.
Jiang Ling thought for a moment: "If nothing unexpected happens, my shop will probably open once every three days. If it doesn't open on the third day, it will open on the fourth day. If something really happens, we can arrange a time."
Hongxiu was a little disappointed, but it was alright. At least she knew roughly when her sister would appear, which was better than waiting in vain with no clue!
At this point, she suddenly remembered something else.
"By the way, sister. I wonder if you can supply the rouge, face powder and lip balm that you gave me in bulk? The girls under the peony flower have seen the effects of your rouge and face powder and they all want to ask me to buy some from you."
"These past few days, besides missing my sister, part of the reason has also been to talk to her about this matter. Mother has seen the effects of these rouge and face powders and agrees with them, but I don't know if my sister can supply them to the Peony Garden?"
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