Chapter 64 Children's Meal "Hey! How many suns did you pick up?" ...
In December, the north wind swept across the Lindon River and the Bifengfang River, leaving thick layers of ice on them.
Several men were busy, their cotton robes tucked into their belts, their heads wrapped in thick cloth. Some of the more daring ones were walking directly on the river, while others were chiseling ice, bringing it home for storage, or using it to fish.
Two men in jackets were squatting on the ice chatting.
The younger man held a wooden hammer in his hand, the hammer tip polished to a shine, and he chiseled at the ice again and again. Although the wind was strong outside, it didn't bother him. Instead, he chiseled with great enthusiasm, and even sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Just stay steady!"
Another bearded man nearby shrank back, "Make this hole bigger. If I accidentally fall in, my body won't be able to withstand the ice."
"What are you afraid of?"
The young man straightened up and picked up the wooden hammer again. "Look at this ice. It makes a bang bang sound when you hit it."
As he spoke, he swung his arm, and the wooden hammer came down, gouging a hole the size of a bowl. He deftly untied the fishing line, which was tied to an iron hook with a small loach pierced on it.
He grinned, "I've got to catch two crucian carp weighing a few pounds today. I'll have my wife steam them and eat them with wine."
"Go, go, go catch your fish."
The bearded man sat down on the bench on the ice. "Don't catch anything else, like... that thing everyone mistook for a pig a few days ago."
The young man's hand froze. He turned and glared at the bearded man. "You, just bring this up! You've ruined my drinking addiction!"
The bearded man smiled instead. He fished out an oil-paper bag from his bosom, took out the fried small yellow croaker from inside, and chewed it until his mouth was filled with fragrance. "What are you afraid of? Lord Lu is here. Think about it, a few days ago, the streets were so deserted that rats could run away, and Lord Lu solved the case in just a few days."
He pointed to a place not far away and said, "Look at those shops. They've all started cutting ice and shipping it home. Business at the shop in front of Tianqing Temple is also starting to pick up. After we finish fishing, we'll go to Shopkeeper Liu and get some honey-fried dumplings for the kids at home."
On the river bank, several little boys with pigtails on their heads were clinging to the willow trunks and peeking around.
"Mother, I want to go on the ice, too."
A little child tugged at the corner of the woman's clothes and begged coquettishly.
The woman, wearing a quilted jacket, pulled the child into her arms and said, "What are you going there for? You're slipping on the ice. Look, all those uncles have to be careful when walking. You'll fall if you go there... Ming'er, we won't take care of him anymore. I'm taking you to Yunlaixiang for some snacks. You haven't eaten in a while."
As soon as the mother and daughter reached the entrance of Yunlaixiang, the child pointed to the half-human-high painting beside the door and said, "Mother, there are so many suns here."
The painting depicts a group of children, some holding candied haws, some chasing butterflies, all with round, rosy cheeks. Above them, a dozen golden-red suns are crammed together. Next to them sits an old man leaning on a bamboo cane, his lips smiling, his eyes narrowed into crescents.
Behind the old man huddled a strange creature, its pointed ears perched high, its eyes dark and its mouth curled up. Its body was covered in rough, bristly fur outlined with ink and a round belly. Though it looked menacing, upon closer inspection, it also had a somewhat silly quality.
Under Yun Lai Xiang's porch, strings of small yellow flowers cut from yellow fabric were a dazzling sight. The petals were cut into layers, with many red beans in the center, strung together with fine hemp rope, hanging in chains.
Small yellow flower paper-cuts were also hung on the half-dead osmanthus tree next to it. The two wooden doors were even more lively, with large yellow flowers pasted on them and smiling faces outlined in the middle, as if welcoming guests.
Gu Xiang was standing at the door of Yunlaixiang. Seeing someone coming, he quickly turned aside to greet them, "It's cold outside, please come in."
She was dressed brightly today, and her bun was uniquely styled with a light yellow cloth, which was used to tie her hair tightly, and the loose hair at her temples was also carefully tucked in.
The child led by the woman pointed at the small yellow flowers dangling under the porch and said, "Sister, what kind of flower is this? I have never seen it before."
Gu Xiang looked down at him and chuckled softly, "Our shopkeeper Wei said this is a sunflower. Once it blooms, it always faces the sun, no matter if the sun is in the east or the west..."
The apron she wore around her waist today was also embroidered with sunflower patterns.
As she spoke, she made way for the door and said, "Please come in, guest."
As the mother and daughter stepped over the threshold, warmth washed over them.
The lobby was also filled with small yellow flowers, clusters of brilliant yellow hanging from the beams and pillars. Outside, the north wind was howling, but inside, the room, bathed in yellow, felt as if countless little suns were hidden within it, and even the air was warm.
Although it was just past noon, most of the guests were already seated in Yunlaixiang, and many children of the same age as the little boy were walking around.
As soon as the child stood firm, the tip of his nose was attracted by the fragrance in the room, and he kept saying, "What a good smell, what a good smell."
Gu Xiang led the way, "The small tables are all full. If you don't mind, would you mind sharing a table with someone else?"
The woman smiled and nodded.
Gu Xiang took her to a round table by the window, where a woman with a child was already sitting.
Her hair was tied into a neat bun, and her eyes were gentle. The little girl next to her had her hair tied up in a bun and wore a green jacket.
Seeing someone coming, the woman stood up first. The two smiled at each other, looked at the children they were holding, and then sat down.
The child touched the stool, twisted his body on it, sniffed hard, and couldn't help but mutter, "What a nice smell... It smells like the snacks I've never tasted at Yunlaixiang before."
"Of course it smells good, it smells like Sun Tart."
The little girl across from him looked up at him and pushed the plate in front of her towards him. "Look at this. My mom and I ordered the family combo, which includes five sun-tarts, two spring rolls, and three bowls of almond yogurt. But I can't finish any more, so I'll bring it back to my dad later."
The child's eyes lit up, and he quickly tugged at the woman's clothes, "Mother, mother, I want to eat the Sun Tart too! I want that one!"
The woman smiled and patted his hands. "There's no way the two of us can finish this set meal. Your father won't be back for another seven or eight days. We can't give the leftovers to Lai Wang."
Wan Wu walked to the table and said, "Don't worry, sir. In addition to the parent-child set meal, we also have a children's set meal. It includes two sun tarts and a bowl of almond yogurt. It costs thirty-six cents, just right for a young man."
Shopkeeper Wei always praised her beautiful smile, and she kept smiling. Ever since she came home from collecting her monthly salary, her husband dared not even breathe, completely disbelieving that she could actually make money.
Of course, she didn't give much to the family. She bought some rouge and jewelry for herself, two winter clothes for her children, and a pair of socks for her husband.
Almost all the children in the lobby ordered sun tarts, and the sweet aroma made the children look around.
She tugged at the woman's sleeve, swaying back and forth, "Mother, I want to eat the sun tart too..."
"Okay, okay, let's have a children's meal."
The woman was at her wit's end and smiled helplessly. She looked up at Wan Wu and said, "I'll just have a bowl of Red Lotus Youth Soup myself."
The little boy immediately smiled and moved closer to the woman, "Mother is the best to me!"
"Okay!"
Wan Wu agreed and quickly turned to go to the backyard.
Soon, Wan Wu came over with a tray and placed the children's meal in front of the child.
The two sun tarts were golden and round, with layers of puff pastry. Next to them was a small bowl of milky white almond cheese, with a few crushed almonds sprinkled on the surface and a red candied date lying on it.
The little boy could no longer hold back, so he grabbed a sun tart and took a bite.
The tart's center is sweet and has a milky aroma, while the crust is crispy and oily. I swallowed both tarts in a few bites.
He then picked up the almond cheese and ate it slowly with a small spoon. The aroma of the cheese mixed with the sweetness of honey, and he squinted his eyes after taking a sip.
Chao Jiu came over with another tray, "Please keep it, sir. This is a gift for the children's meal."
Inside the tray was a sunflower hairpin, with petals made of light yellow fabric and a small clam bead sewn in the center.
The little boy looked out and quickly waved his hands, "I don't want a hairpin, I'm a boy!"
Chaojiu quickly took out a more exquisite one, with petals cut into even finer pieces and a green cloth wrapped around the edge. "This is a gift for the parent-child set meal, called a sunflower headband."
The little girl took the hairband with one hand and pulled the woman's hand, "Mother, put it on me."
The woman smiled and smoothed her bun, then gently put the hairband on top of her head.
The tender yellow petals set off her rosy face. Without a mirror, she continued to ask, "Mother, does this look good on Jin Jie'er?"
The woman touched her head, her eyes full of smiles, "It looks good. Our Jin Jieer looks good in anything she wears."
The little boy looked at the hairband on the girl opposite him, and his heart began to itch. He stretched out his fingertips to touch the hairpin that Wan Wu had placed on the table.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat and tugged at the woman's sleeve, "Mother, try to pick it up for me."
The woman burst out laughing.
She asked back, "Who just now said I was a boy and didn't need hairpins?"
The child said seriously, "The Master said, 'There is no distinction in education, and both boys and girls are educated.' So... I can wear it too."
The little girl opposite tilted her head after hearing this and asked, "Is this what you mean, Master?"
"almost."
The child nodded firmly and moved closer to the woman, "Mom, please put it on me quickly."
The woman smiled and picked up the hairpin, gently pinning it on the top of his hair.
The tender yellow petals pressed against his ears, as if a small sunflower had actually bloomed on his head. The child reached out and touched it, grinning from ear to ear, but still pretending to be calm, he picked up the almond milk and scooped a big mouthful with a small spoon.
There are more and more young guests coming to Yunlaixiang, most of them are families of three who come to sit around a table or share a table.
As soon as the sun tarts in the parent-child set meal were served on the table, the children grabbed them with their hands, and the shop was filled with the sound of "crunching".
Just as the party was getting lively, Meng Ge'er came running in from the door, wearing a crooked sunflower headband on his head, and the small flower swayed with him.
"Sister Wei, Sister Wei!"
He rushed to the counter and said excitedly, "Brother Meng has picked up six suns. Does that mean... can he eat the fog monster?"
"Yes, Brother Meng is so powerful, I will give Brother Meng the fog monster right away."
Wei Jinyun was packing sun tarts for a customer at the counter. She wiped her hands and glanced into the lobby. "But the shop is full right now. Meng Ge, please eat at the counter."
"No, no!"
Meng Ge'er shook his head like a rattle and waved his hands quickly, "That's Lord Lu's seat, Meng Ge'er can't take it."
Wei Jinyun:?
When did Lu Lan take over the entire counter?
After hearing what Meng Ge'er said, the little boy even forgot to eat the almond milk, "What fog monster?"
Two children who were eating sun-tarts at the table next to them immediately turned their heads.
One of them immediately swallowed the Sun Tart in his mouth and shouted, "You don't even know what the Fog Demon is! Sister Chang has told you about it many times. It's the painting outside the shop."
"Come, let me tell you."
The little girl wearing the sunflower headband also sat up straight, cleared her throat, and began to teach seriously, "Once upon a time, there was a village called Qinggang Village. It was shrouded in thick fog by the fog monster. The fog was so thick that even the sun couldn't get through. The flowers in the fields wilted, and the leaves turned yellow."
She adjusted her headband and continued, "There was an old man in the village who had bright eyes that could help him find his way through the fog. He went into the Black Mountain to find the fog monster, and the fog monster said, 'Give me the light in your eyes, and I'll clear the fog.' The old man nodded and agreed."
"What happened next?" The little boy leaned forward, full of curiosity.
"Later."
The little girl imitated Chang Siyan, gently picking up the bowl and patting it. "The fog demon sucked away the light in Aung's eyes. As expected, the thick fog in the sky dissipated, the sun shone warmly on the village, and the flowers bloomed again. But Aung's world has been filled with darkness ever since."
"Later, Grandfather often touched the windowsill and sighed, wishing he could see the sun again. Now we're picking up sun to heal Grandfather's eyes. With more and brighter sun, Grandfather might be able to see again. Besides, the fog monster is most afraid of too much sun; it will dry him out!"
The child's heart was filled with excitement when he heard this. He wanted to help Aung destroy the fog monster immediately. He immediately asked, "How can we collect so many suns?"
Meng Ge'er was leaning against the counter, waiting for sesame paste. Upon hearing this, he immediately pulled out a small, square piece of floral paper from his pocket and unfolded it for everyone to see. The paper was also a light yellow, with sunflower shapes cut into the corners. It was covered with six round red marks, each with a small sun inside.
"Every time I buy a sun tart at Yunlaixiang, Sister Wei will stamp a sun mark on this flower paper."
He pointed at the marks with his fingers and said, "Look, I've collected six now. I can help the village in Qinggang Mountain eliminate the fog monster and eat it!"
"How do you eat a fog demon?"
As he was speaking, Gu Xiang came over with a bowl of thick sesame paste. On the surface of the paste, a small fog monster was painted with cream. Pointed ears, a round belly, and a pouting mouth, it looked exactly like the one in the painting outside the door.
Meng Ge'er took the bowl without even using the spoon, and said, "This is how you eat it."
As he spoke, he leaned over the bowl and took a big sip. The sesame paste covered the corners of his mouth, like a black beard. But he didn't care. He pointed at the half-licked cream mist monster in the bowl and said vaguely, "Look, I ate the big fog monster!"
Sesame paste is free, and you can get a bowl as long as you collect six sun stamps.
The sesame paste has a rich sesame aroma with a hint of sweetness, and a hint of milky aroma mixed in. Although it is a free dessert, it is made without any ambiguity.
The child watched with drool, and a sense of justice surged in his heart, "Mother, I want to eat the fog monster too!"
You bad fog monster, give the eyes back to Aong!
The woman smiled as she wiped the almond curd residue from the corners of his mouth and gently scratched his nose. "Kid, your greed is coming out again. Let's go to Yun Lai Xiang a few more times and slowly accumulate some sun tarts. You can't eat any more today. You just had two sun tarts and a bowl of almond curd. If you eat any more, your stomach will ache."
The child nodded, the sunflower swaying on his head, and whispered, "Okay... I will come here more often in the future and pick up more sun for Aung."
These days, whether it is the street in front of Tianqing Temple, Shantang Street, or outside Changmen, there is always the chattering of children.
When children in cotton-padded jackets saw him on the road, they would raise their arms and shout from a distance, "Hey! How many suns did you pick up?"
When they got closer, she took out the small flowered notes from her arms and compared them. The one with the fewer red sun marks on it would pout, "I'm still short of two. Let's go to Yunlaixiang together this afternoon, okay?"
"Okay, okay!"
The other one nodded immediately, the sunflower headband on her head swaying. "If we save a few more suns, we can help Aung drive away the fog monster."
Almost every child walking on the street has something on their head, either a sunflower hairpin, or a sunflower headband, or even a small yellow flower sewn by their mother with scraps of cloth and pinned on their lapels.
The north wind was blowing, but the little yellow flowers on the street were swaying, and there was no trace of winter loneliness.
The morning light fell on the table in Su Yuxuan, where Wei Fuqiu and Wei Fuling sat side by side studying.
The goose yellow padded jackets the two sisters wore were made by Wang Qiulan herself. The jackets were embroidered with sunflowers with light yellow silk thread. The sunflower headbands on their heads swayed gently as they shook their heads while reading.
“Isn’t it a pleasure to learn and practice what you have learned from time to time…”
Tian'er, who was sitting next to her, came over and gently touched Wei Fuling's hairband with her fingers, her eyes full of envy.
"Sister Ling, your headband is so pretty."
She raised her hand and touched the sunflower hairpin on her temples. "This is the only hairpin I have."
"Why aren't you wearing a headband?"
Wei Fuling turned around.
"My mother said she had been eating Yun Lai Xiang's snacks for five days straight, and when she weighed herself, she had gained two kilograms."
She propped her chin up and sighed, "Aniang is afraid of getting fatter and losing control of herself, so she refuses to order the parent-child set meal. The headband is a gift with the parent-child set meal. So now Aniang only orders the children's set meal. I get one sunflower tart, and she gets one. This way, we can satisfy our cravings without eating too much... I already have more than twenty sunflower hairpins."
The smart guy at the next table came over.
He was wearing a slightly tight brocade jacket. After hearing Tian'er's words, he patted his chest and said, "Then I'll trade you a headband. I have a lot of them at home. Even the servants wear them."
"Really? Thank you, Mastermind."
She asked curiously again, "Why do you have so many hairbands?"
"Ah, it's all my dad. Every time he goes to Yunlaixiang, he orders the family set meal and eats from noon until the shop closes. Before leaving, he has to ask Sister Wei to pack a few extra sun tarts. Naturally, I have a lot of the headbands Sister Wei gave me."
He took out a sunflower headband from his sleeve pocket and said, "This is for you. I have several more."
The servants in the house of Si Hu Canjun were also curious about what Lord Li was doing. They each received a sunflower headband, and Lord Li insisted that they wear it.
When I go out to do something, or when a vegetable vendor delivers something to my door, if I meet an acquaintance, I will cover my mouth and smile and ask, "My dear brother, you are very childlike" or "My dear sister, spring has not yet arrived, but the spring in your heart has arrived? Your face is beaming, come and tell me which young man you like..."
I really don’t understand Lord Li’s recent habits!
The Suyuxuan was bustling with activity. Almost all the children wore sunflower headbands, and when they shook their heads while reading, the petals trembled gently, filling the room with little suns.
When Master Zhou was giving a lecture today, he actually pinned a small sunflower hairpin on his sleeve.
She read from a book, "Learn and Practice It Often," and the children followed along, nodding their heads. The north wind was still howling outside the window, and the room was filled with the shadows of sunflowers cast by the sunlight, and the sound of reading was clear.
The north wind at Changmen Wharf is much colder than in the city.
Zhan Wenxing leaned against the cabin door, his eyes following the people coming and going on the dock.
Many children wore light yellow sunflower headbands on their heads, and even a few women had the same small flowers pinned on their temples. When the wind blew, the whole dock was brightly lit with yellow, which was eye-catching.
He withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Lu Lan who was reading the military register in the cabin. He smiled and said, "Master Lu, look, these little yellow flowers all over the dock are the work of Manager Wei. It seems that business in front of Tianqing Temple is booming again. When can we go there again? I still miss the taste of those Sun Tarts."
Ever since they solved the Wu Shi San case, their inspection department has never had a moment of rest.
The adults didn't even have time to pass by.
"Before the New Year's Day, we must train the soldiers thoroughly."
Lu Lan looked out the window at the bustling scene on the dock. "The New Year is coming. The people need to spend the New Year peacefully and happily."
In front of the vegetable stall at the pier, there is a row of bamboo baskets. The live shrimps in the baskets are jumping happily, their antennae and feet trembling. Occasionally, a few jump out of the edge of the basket and are quickly caught by the vendors.
"Oh, Chen Niang, you're here to buy groceries again!"
The vendor looked at the sunflower headband on Chen Niang's head and couldn't help laughing, "Isn't this something a little kid would wear? You're still wearing it."
"Peel some fresh shrimp for the young master. He was clamoring for some this morning..."
Chen Niang smiled helplessly, "There's nothing we can do. Our Lord Li goes to Yunlaixiang every day. Now, everyone in the mansion has this flower on their hair."
The vendor weighed the shrimps skillfully and then began to peel them carefully.
He kept praising, "Lord Li is a good official. He is very kind to the people and treats Young Master Li with care. But..."
He leaned in and whispered, "It's been so many years, and he still hasn't remarried. He's not even thirty yet, so he needs someone to take care of him."
"Who said that? Who knows, we might have a new lady in our house soon."
Chen Niang's eyes curved into a smile. "Look at how many times Lord Li has been to Yunlaixiang. Can't you guess?"
"Is this true?"
The vendor was shocked and said, "My wife is getting old too."
"go!"
Chen Niang glared at him and picked a handful of tender green cabbages from the bamboo basket. "How can that be the same? Our masters don't like to go out except when they're on duty or on their days off, except to accompany the young master. Now you go to Yunlaixiang every day, do you think it's just for those snacks?"
"That's true. My wife always says that Shopkeeper Wei is beautiful, kind-hearted, and skillful. If it's really her, then they're a perfect match. But..."
The vendor chuckled, but quickly lowered his voice, "Does Shopkeeper Wei feel that Master Li is a burden since he has a child with him?"
"Oh, no, who knows."
Although Chen Niang said this, there was hope in the corners of her eyes. "But our master is really good, considerate, and family-oriented. He treats the young master so lovingly and is also gentle to others. I just hope that Manager Wei can get to know him better."
She picked up the vegetable basket and said, "I'm not going to nag you any more. I have to go fry some shrimp for the young master."
Zhan Wenxing stole a glance at Lu Lan. The man behind the case had a frown on his face, and his face was tense as if covered with frost.
"Brothers have actually been practicing for many days and have mastered the moves. Don't worry, sir. Sir... Sir..."
Before he could finish his words, Lu Lan stood up with a bang, dropping the open military book to the ground. Without looking back, he strode out of the cabin.
Jing Liulang poked his head in from outside the cabin and said, "Looking at the adult's expression, it seems that the adult is about to cry. He looks so pitiful."
Zhan Wenxing quickly pulled him aside and glanced outside the cabin, "Go! Why is the adult crying?"
Jing Liulang bent down to pick up the military book and sighed, "My lord, you are wronged, but you don't say it."
Yunlaixiang was warm and the sweet aroma spread throughout the lobby.
Chang Siyan held a tea bowl and leaned against the counter. "How is it, Shopkeeper Wei? Has our Yunlaixiang made a fortune again these days?"
Wei Jinyun was calculating with his head down, and glanced at him with a smile, "Yes, it's all thanks to our clever little Chang."
She pointed at the tea bowl in her hand and said, "Stop drinking tea. Where's your medicine? Drink it while it's hot. Your cough won't get better when the weather gets cold."
"Here it comes! Xiao Chang's medicine is here!"
Gu Xiang's voice came from the backyard. She walked in quickly, carrying a steaming bowl of medicine. She placed the bowl in front of Chang Siyan and urged, "Drink it while it's hot. It will be more bitter if it gets cold."
Chang Siyan frowned and leaned over to smell it, his face immediately wrinkled, "It's so bitter... This medicine is even more bitter than the one from the day before."
Wei Jinyun smiled and said, "Drink quickly. After you finish drinking, I will reward you with two sun tarts."
Chang Siyan pinched his nose, picked up the medicine bowl, and gulped it down in a few mouthfuls.
Wei Jinyun smiled and handed over a sun tart. "Here, this is a reward for you. Eat it slowly. When I get off work later, I'll pack a few more for your grandfather to eat. Let him have something sweet every day."
"Manager Wei is such a good man!"
"Have you thought of the jokes for the next new product?"
“… Abuse, this is oppression and abuse of employees!”
Wei Fuqiu and Wei Fuling left school carrying small bags, followed by Li Ji, who was holding Zhi Duoxing in one hand and holding an oil-paper bag in the other.
"Shopkeeper Wei, give me a family meal."
Li Ji's voice was gentle, and when his eyes fell on Wei Jinyun, there was a hint of smile on his face.
"Dad, please help me straighten my hairband. It seems to be crooked."
Wei Fuqiu took advantage of this opportunity to move closer to Wei Jinyun and whispered, "Sister, I've heard that if someone has made a significant contribution to Pingjiang Prefecture, they don't have to wait a full year to settle there."
She blinked, "Maybe we can think of a way."
After Li Ji adjusted his son's headband, he clenched his hands lightly in his sleeves, as if he wanted to say something.
The wind chimes at the door swayed gently, and a man in a red outfit walked straight towards the counter.
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The author has something to say: Lord Lu: [bursts into tears]
Jinyun: I made money again [starry eyes]
Tomorrow is Crazy Thursday, can the wives eat egg tarts?
During the Song Dynasty, sunflowers had not yet been introduced, so people usually ate watermelon seeds.
(The tenosynovitis is a bit painful, and the treatment is very slow. I'm going to get tomorrow's treatment tonight. Otherwise it will be too late [chin])
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