Chapter 160 Autumn Chrysanthemum Appreciation: After this flower blooms, no more flowers will bloom (Just kidding!)
One autumn rain brings one chill.
When the sycamore leaves in the courtyard have all fallen, the golden chrysanthemums in the Shen Garden bloom in full glory.
Yellow like gold, white like snow, purple like the sunset.
Shen Jin was in high spirits today and specially had a table set up in the chrysanthemum garden, with writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones prepared, intending to emulate the ancients and have an elegant "chrysanthemum appreciation and poetry composition".
“Your Highness, look at this ‘Green Cloud’ bonsai. Its petals are like silk and its color is like jade. It is truly exquisite.”
Shen Jin, dressed in a blue robe, stood amidst the flowers, hands clasped behind his back, and recited, "It's not that I particularly love chrysanthemums among flowers, but that after this flower blooms, there are no more flowers. What does Your Highness think?"
Jiang Mianmian sat on the stone bench next to her, wrapped in a thick cloak, holding a hand warmer in her hands, but her eyes were somewhat vacant.
As she looked at the garden full of chrysanthemums, her mind was preoccupied with something else entirely.
It is indeed very beautiful.
But... these chrysanthemums are blooming, does that mean...?
The crabs are fat?!
That's overflowing with crab roe! That's crab paste oozing with oil! That's a hairy crab so delicious it'll make your eyebrows fall off!
[Chen Jin, stop reciting poetry! Quickly send someone to catch crabs! I want drunken crab! I want steamed crab! I want crab roe tofu!]
Shen Jin was still gathering inspiration for his poem when he heard this barrage of "crab" comments and sighed helplessly.
He knew it.
In this woman's eyes, even the most beautiful scenery will eventually become—"Is it edible?", "Is it delicious?", "How do you eat it?".
"princess."
Shen Jin turned around and looked at her. "I'm discussing refined matters with you. What are you thinking about... how to eat?"
"Food is the most important thing for people!"
Jiang Mianmian retorted confidently, "Besides, appreciating chrysanthemums without eating crabs is like...like going to the toilet without toilet paper! It's soulless!"
Shen Jin: ...
What a terrible analogy!
"Someone come here!"
Shen Jin waved his hand resignedly, "Go, steam that basket of hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake. And warm a pot of Shaoxing wine while you're at it."
"Yay!" Jiang Mianmian jumped up from the stone bench instantly. "Your Highness is wise! Long live Your Highness!"
I knew you were the best! There's nothing in this world that a meal of crabs can't solve!
Just then, a series of "crackling" sounds came from deep within the chrysanthemum garden.
"What's that sound?" Jiang Mianmian asked alertly. "Is a mouse stealing my chrysanthemum?"
The two went over to take a look.
Fourteen-year-old Shen An was squatting in front of an extremely precious "black chrysanthemum" with a pair of scissors in her hand and petals piled up at her feet.
Beside him, Jiang Guoguo was using a mortar and pestle to mash the precious flower petals into a paste.
"What are you doing?!" Shen Jin's eyebrows twitched with heartache.
That black chrysanthemum was a unique specimen that he bought from a flower grower at a high price!
Tuantuan looked up, her face completely innocent:
"Dad, my cousin said that this black chrysanthemum has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, and it can also improve eyesight. She wants to make 'Chrysanthemum Eye-Brightening Pills' and sell them at the pharmacy."
Jiang Guoguo calmly replied, "Uncle, this is called making the most of resources. Flowers will wither anyway, so it's better to turn them into silver."
Shen Jin: ...
Jiang Mianmian: ……
[Pfft—!]
[As expected of our child! That money-grubbing trait is incredible!]
[Son! Well done! Remember to give half the money to your mother after you sell it!]
Looking at this family of "common people," Shen Jin suddenly felt out of place as the only "refined person."
That's all.
So be it, it's vulgar.
Who can blame them when they're their own flesh and blood?
Half an hour later.
In the pavilion of Juyuan Garden, the elegant poetry gathering completely turned into a lively "whole crab feast".
The table was piled high with bright red crabs, and the air was filled with the aroma of Shaoxing wine and the sour smell of ginger and vinegar.
"Crack!"
Jiang Mianmian skillfully broke open a female crab, revealing the golden, hard crab roe inside.
Wow! Absolutely amazing!
She couldn't wait to take a bite, and her mouth was filled with its delicious flavor.
I'm so happy!
This is what autumn should be like! All this talk of being melancholic about autumn and spring is just idle chatter!
Chen Jin sat beside her, his slender fingers holding crab-eating tools, elegantly and swiftly picking out the crab meat.
Soon, a plate full of crab meat and crab roe was placed in front of Jiang Mianmian.
"Give."
"Thank you, honey!"
Jiang Mianmian took the food without any hesitation and ate it with gusto.
Tuan Tuan was not to be outdone. He was strong and didn't need any tools. He crushed the crab shell with his bare hands and ate it with his face covered in oil.
"Cousin, here's a crab claw for you."
Tuantuan handed the largest crab claw she had peeled to Jiang Guoguo.
Jiang Guoguo glanced at it, and surprisingly, without any disgust, opened her mouth and ate it.
"Hmm, not bad. For the sake of this crab claw, I won't use you as a test subject today."
Tuantuan breathed a sigh of relief.
When the autumn wind blows, the crabs get restless; when the chrysanthemums bloom, the crabs arrive.
Shen Jin held his wine glass, looking at his wife and children eating without any regard for their image, and then at the chrysanthemums in the garden.
Although the refined pleasure of composing poems is gone, the lively atmosphere of everyday life is added.
"Your Highness."
Jiang Mianmian was a little full and leaned on his shoulder, saying, "This chrysanthemum wine is really delicious."
"Um."
"This crab is really delicious."
"Um."
"You... are really beautiful too."
Shen Jin turned his head and met her slightly tipsy, sparkling eyes.
"More beautiful than a crab?" He rarely made a joke.
"Of course!"
Jiang Mianmian chuckled, stuck out her greasy finger, and poked his face. "Crabs can only be eaten for one season, but you... I can eat you for a lifetime."
[And you don't even need to peel them! So convenient!]
Shen Jin took her hand and kissed it.
"good."
"Then... I'll let you eat this for the rest of your life."
As the sun sets, golden rays bathe the courtyard in its afterglow.
That autumn, though fewer timeless poems were written, there was much more laughter and joy, and a table full of... delicious crab shells.
This is the story of Shen Jin and Jiang Mianmian.
Autumn Limited Edition: Worldly Happiness.
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