Chapter 58 Silken Tofu Milk Tea

The guys ran back to Wuwei Tower in a panic. Si Li didn't take this little episode to heart. The last time Wu You came to see her, he had no good intentions, not to mention that this time he was obviously taking advantage of the situation to find out the news about Prince Yue's Palace.

However, Ah Sheng and Ah Xiang seemed to be stimulated and helped with this and that with great enthusiasm. They even wiped the tables in the lobby twice.

It was just past noon, and Ah Sheng and his two companions who had come to work had already left. The residents were having some free time. Meng Taotao read a book for a while and took a plate of tofu from the shelf in the back kitchen.

The newly made silken tofu has been pressed for half a morning and has taken shape. It is much softer than the old tofu used to make Zhuangyuan tofu. It is placed in the frame like a pool of milky white water, shimmering. After picking up silken tofu milk tea yesterday, Tang bought several kinds of tofu from outside to try, but the results were not satisfactory. It was not until Meng Taotao could no longer bear the two people's worries that he made a plate of tofu, which solved the problem.

However, relying entirely on Meng Taotao is not a long-term solution. After asking Meng Taotao if she is willing to teach the method to others, Si Li asked for ten cents per plate of tofu for her. The beans were provided by Tang the shopkeeper, and the share of the profits between Wanglaiju and Tang the shopkeeper was calculated separately after deducting the costs.

It was the first time for the silken tofu milk tea to be sold. The shopkeeper Tang did not do much, but he came over with a milk tea cup after a while. A boiled and dried wheat straw was inserted diagonally into the cup. The light tea fragrance and the soft milk fragrance floated slightly. The milky white milk tea and the light yellow-green wheat complemented each other. The cup was painted with a small boat on the cold river in winter snow, which looked very interesting.

When holding a cup of milk tea in your hand, you can feel the weight is different from before. The soft and smooth tofu cubes hidden under the milk tea are looming, as if covered with a layer of gauze, which is very beautiful. Si Li is a little regretful. The price of Daning's glassware is still high. Buying it to make a milk tea cup is really a bit like buying a pearl to return the casket. Otherwise, with this appearance, putting some flower petals on it will definitely be a weapon that can instantly capture the hearts of girls.

However, if milk tea is considered middle-class, then sweet potato and ice jelly are considered high-class. A serving of 1.5 taels of silver is not something that ordinary people can afford. Thinking of the colorful ice jelly she would make in the future, Si Li estimated her wallet and decided to buy a few glass bowls. The transparent cups filled with colorful ice jelly look very beautiful!

Just as she was counting the expenses, Xiao Qi walked in angrily, which scared Si Li. "What happened?"

"It's all because of those nerds from the Imperial College. This year, the two academies held the winter exam together, and the top few were selected and handed over to the adults in the court for evaluation. Who knew that the Imperial College would send a few calligraphy and painting works in advance? I heard that the exam also has calligraphy and painting. If they left their names in advance, wouldn't that be cheating in the eyes of the adults?!"

Cheating was a very serious accusation. Although Xiao Qi was angry, she knew the seriousness of the matter and lowered her voice so that only a few people around her could hear it.

Si Li pulled her to sit down. Meng Taotao's face darkened slightly, and she spoke first, "Du Xuan's is also among them, right?"

"Yes, I heard that the painting was of your family's ice jelly, and a poem was also composed, which was praised to the sky by the chief priest." Xiao Qi curled her lips, quite unconvinced.

Meng Taotao said nothing and left with the book. Since it was her time to read, Si Li did not think much about it. Seeing that her friend was upset, she offered her the first cup of the new drink sent by the shopkeeper Tang, "Drink it to cool down and relieve your anger."

Unlike Xiao Meng, when she heard that her ice jelly was painted and praised, her first reaction was to think about whether she should be paid for the copyright. Then she realized that she would not get paid for such secondary creation no matter where she went, and she immediately lost interest in the matter.

"It's not a bad thing actually." Si Li comforted him, "Originally, the Imperial College and the Qunying Academy in Beijing are both well-known for their students' annual examinations, and they also have close connections in the court. Regardless of whether they send paintings or not, everyone has a general impression of who is good and who has strong abilities. Although the Jijiu sent paintings in this way, it left a deep impression before the winter exam, but the adults are probably afraid of giving people a chance to talk, and they may even lower their impression of them."

This statement has a basis. Si Tang's title of the most talented woman in the capital is because she always tops the list in the girls' school exams every year. The capital is so small, and the students in the Imperial College and the Qunying Academy, which are official schools, do not change much. If there are any powerful people, they should know them long ago.

"What kind of nonsense is this?" Xiao Qi rolled her eyes, and her anger dissipated a lot.

Si Li continued, "Besides, they used such means, doesn't it mean that they are afraid?"

Xiao Qi laughed out loud, "You're right." She picked up the cup and was about to drink, but suddenly saw the wheat sticking out of the cup. She was a little surprised, "What's the point of putting this in there?"

"Poor." Si Li sighed half-seriously, "Take this as a habit. Miss, please be more tolerant and don't complain that our inn is not hospitable enough."

“Pfft.”

Xiao Qi took a sip of the milk tea, and the smooth tofu slid into her mouth along the hollow tube. The moist and fragrant taste was quite surprising. She tasted it carefully and asked uncertainly, "Is this... tofu? How can tofu be put in tea?"

"Just tell me if it tastes good or not." Si Li did not answer her but only asked.

"It tastes good." Xiao Qi nodded. She had grown up in the border area without much restriction. She was just surprised for a moment, but then quickly accepted this new attempt. She drank while chatting. When she took a few puffs with a flat face and nothing came up, she looked down and realized that she had finished the whole thing without realizing it.

Xiao Qi said regretfully, "I was thinking of taking the rest with me to drink."

"How could you be missing yours?" Si Li had just asked Xiao Que to ask Tang the shopkeeper for another cup of milk tea. "Here, take it away and drink it."

"Thank you, Xiao Si!"

Xiao Qi walked out of the door in a few steps, looking back as she walked, and almost bumped into a middle-aged man. She looked closely, her face changed drastically, and she said in surprise, "Mr. Qin?!"

"Huh?" Si Li looked at her and Mr. Qin. "You also know Mr. Qin? Mr. Qin hasn't been here for a while. There are some new products in the store. Which one would you like to try?"

Xiao Qi was dumbfounded, watching the great scholar Qin nod to her slightly and be welcomed in like an ordinary diner. Thinking of the brothers and sisters from the Yue Palace who were still coming and going and not leaving, she was surprised for a moment: How come the guests that the Beijing restaurant most wanted to attract were all gathered here? This was such a great honor, and a poem or a word from the scholar Qin would be enough to make the business famous.

Thinking about it more, no, wasn't that right? Didn't she notice Wanglaiju before because she heard that Master Qin liked to eat its fries? But later there were no more rumors, so she thought it was fabricated by others. It turns out that Wanglaiju had been in contact with Master Qin so early!

Si Li was completely unaware of Xiao Qi's shock. After entering the lobby, she remembered that Meng Taotao had gone out to read a book, and asked nervously, "Sir, would you like Xiao Meng to introduce herself to you?" Si Li maintained considerable respect for this old customer who had followed Meng Taotao since he was still in the Huang family.

"Is she busy?"

Si Li nodded, "At dawn in the afternoon, she was reading in the backyard."

"That's not necessary." Mr. Qin said casually, "Ice jelly is a new thing. Give me one with today's milk tea. What book is she reading?"

"I was reading 'Water Classic' a few days ago, and today I switched back to 'On Geometry'." Si Li sighed. She could still explain geometry to Meng Taotao, but when she took a look at other books, she would doubt herself for being illiterate, and she really could not help.

Since this was an acquaintance, she spoke more casually, "She studies hard every day, and only paints and draws one or two pieces when needed in the shop. I heard that the genius of the Du family in the Imperial College paints and eats every day, and I don't know when he reads. The world of genius is really hard to understand. If there is a chance, I would like to see whether his paintings are better or my ice jelly is better."

Mr. Qin smiled, with fine smile lines at the corners of his eyes. He looked elegant and gentle, and answered her complaints seriously, "It's a good thing to be studious. As for ice jelly, you have to taste it before you can judge. However, if you are talking about Du Xuan, he is not a genius."

"Are you in a hurry to leave?" Si Li had heard nothing but praise from Du Xun these days. Even Xiao Qi, although angry, admitted his intelligence. She didn't expect to hear another version of the story. She was particularly curious at this moment and was not in a hurry to complete the customer's order. She just wanted to hear the story first.

"Sit down and listen." Mr. Qin seemed to see through her thoughts and said gently, "I have seen a child who could write poems at the age of three, do math at the age of five, and discuss policy at the age of seven. When he took the imperial examination for the first time at the age of eleven, he won the first place in the college examination. I still remember that article now."

"Wow--"

If this is true, then he can be compared with those famous child prodigies in history books. Mr. Qin's age can be called a child, so he must be a teenager. Si Li asked, "What about now? Who is it?"

Since it’s not Du Xuan, such a talented and stunning person should have some fame by now, right?

Mr. Qin sighed, "She was a very hardworking girl. Her name was Du Xinran. The last time I heard from her was four years ago. I think now she should be living a good life just like Miss Meng." The curtain that was lifted slightly between the front hall and the backyard trembled, then fell down completely, and Mr. Qin withdrew his gaze.

It is always a pity when a genius dies. Si Li nodded in agreement with his words, "No matter what, if you live a good life, good news will always come. Sir, please sit down for a while, I will bring you ice jelly right away."

Si Li pushed Wang Ting, who was standing in front of the door and was hesitant to speak, to find Manager Tang to get milk tea, and went straight into the backyard. The scene of the brother and sister in the backyard was like a glue stick, and would not fluctuate with the comings and goings of the backyard. Meng Taotao, who was sitting aside reading a book, had slightly red eyes. Si Li told her to go and rest if she was tired, and after getting a positive answer, she quickly walked into the kitchen.

When Mr. Qin returned to the lobby with the ice powder, he was already sipping milk tea. Xiao Qi looked a bit ruffian when she held the wheat in her mouth, but Mr. Qin made her look leisurely and free. Mr. Qin waved his hand, "The tofu is light, the milk is rich, and the tea is light. The three blend just right, sweet but not greasy, fragrant and mellow. The shopkeeper has ingenuity."

Si Li felt a little embarrassed by the compliment, after all, the idea didn't come from her, so she quickly put down the ice jelly and said, "Take a look at this."

The ice jelly was made with great care, and although it was still rated as mediocre by the system, she tried her best to do her best, from the newly added dried osmanthus to the amount of honey and taro balls. Perhaps it was because he was a customer who had been there from the beginning, or perhaps it was because his demeanor made people unconsciously trust him, Si Li waited nervously for his comments.

Mr. Qin picked up the spoon and gently touched the tip of the ice jelly, which was shiny and very beautiful.

“Painting is not even close to this.”

Si Li smiled.