Dessert
The morning dew was still tumbling on the tips of the grass when the gate of the Hundred Birds Gang was pounded on.
The eldest son, with his hair in a mess and still half-asleep, opened the door and bumped into a courier carrying a camphor wood box that was half his height, with apricot petals from Jiangnan still stuck to the corner of the box.
"Young Master Qian's letter has arrived!"
The courier wiped his sweat.
"They specifically instructed that they want to watch you open the box and inspect the goods on the spot."
The eldest brother snapped back to reality, not even having time to put on his colorful headgear, and frantically pried open the copper lock.
The moment the box lid was lifted, a sweet aroma exploded out: the sweet and sour taste of candied plums, the light sweetness of osmanthus cake, and the refreshing aroma of Longjing tea pastry mixed with the scent of ink from the family letter, making his nose itch.
"Oh my!"
Pan-fried Fish jumped out of the side room barefoot, with two tufts of hair sticking up at the ends of his hair.
"Boss, did you sneak into the candy shop?"
As the midday sun slanted into the main hall, the entire Bai Niao Gang was gathered around the Eight Immortals Table for a serious tasting event.
Zui Qingfeng held a piece of rose pastry and examined it closely.
"Lychee honey was added when the petals were pickled."
Suddenly, he caught the eldest brother secretly hiding almond milk in his clothes, and tapped his hand with his pipe.
"You weren't this enthusiastic when it came to showing filial piety to your parents?"
Chen Ze used the tip of his sword to pick up a piece of snowflake cake and checked its thickness against the sunlight.
"A slicing skill that falls short of perfection is three points of skill."
After saying that, she quickly stuffed the dumplings into her sleeve, and as she turned around, the hem of her clothes swept away two lotus root starch dumplings.
"You bandits!"
The eldest brother rushed to save the last piece of Ding Sheng cake, but Gou Dan intercepted it mid-air.
The bald chicken flew up to the roof beam with its trophy in its beady eyes.
"You idiot!"
Amidst the commotion, Xi Jiang silently unfolded the crumpled letter from home. Lin's father's handwriting on the Xuan paper was neat and orderly, like a battle formation.
"It's as if we've met. I'm sending four ounces of new tea, along with some tea snacks made by your mother. I'm very pleased to hear that you've established your own gang. The world is dangerous; if you're short of money..."
Shiyun's zither strings suddenly rang out with a "zheng," and then she turned her head to wipe her mouth, which she had just secretly eaten pastries from.
Everyone turned around and saw the leader squatting in the corner, clutching the letter, his colorful headgear hanging limply, his shoulders trembling suspiciously.
Poking his back while frying the fish.
"...Did you choke?"
"fart!"
The eldest brother suddenly looked up, his eyes red as if he had applied rouge, but he fiercely broke open a lava mooncake in his hand.
"This almond filling is too pungent!"
Suddenly, Zui Qingfeng pushed the teacup over.
A few tea leaves were settled at the bottom of the celadon bowl; they were from the new tea brewed in the box.
The tea was clear, reflecting the hand that everyone pretended not to see as he wiped his eyes.
At night, the aroma of caramel wafted from the gang's kitchen.
The eldest brother, wearing an apron, fiddled with the steamer, while Chenze, carrying a sword, supervised the work. Zui Qingfeng, whose hands were bored from being forced to quit smoking, surprisingly helped knead the dough.
"When I was little, my mother always taught me to recognize medicinal herbs by the stove."
The eldest brother suddenly muttered something.
"It is said that a true martial arts practitioner must know how to treat sprains and bruises..."
Before the words were even finished, the steamer spewed out white steam with a "whoosh," and a basket of crooked peach blossom pastries came out of the oven.
Dog Egg took a peck, then immediately spat it out with a "pui pui" sound.
"Murder! Murder!"
Suddenly, the tinkling of jade pendants could be heard from outside the courtyard.
Shiyun leaned against the moon gate, her fingertips still stained with the pine resin of the zither strings. Xijiang walked over carrying a food box, which contained reshaped pastries, each piece imprinted with a small bird pattern.
"Wow!"
Pan-fried Fish held up a perfectly preserved lotus-shaped pastry, "How did you do that, Sister Xijiang?"
Xi Jiang smiled but remained silent. Moonlight spilled over the corner of the food box.
There lay quietly a torn page of a family letter, stained with oil, with the words "My son" faintly visible.
A night breeze swept through the hall, carrying the sweet fragrance of Jiangnan, and a very soft whisper...
Thank you.
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