Chapter 1 The Fragrance of Locust Trees Fills the City "Where are my flowers?!"
In the third year of Xingping, Xu County was busy building a temporary palace to welcome the emperor, and Guo Jia had just arrived there with his wife Deng Jie to join Cao Cao.
The couple had just moved into their new house and their lives were just getting back on track.
In May, the locust flowers in Xuxian County are in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance.
Early in the morning, Deng Jie carried a basket to the old locust tree at the entrance of the alley to prune branches.
The gate to the small house was wide open, and Deng Jie returned laden with her harvest. Upon entering, she saw Guo Jia squatting in the front yard, turning over the soil in the herb garden.
Hearing Deng Jie's footsteps, he looked up and smiled, "You're back? It smells so good!"
He naturally stood up to take the basket, then gently nuzzled her temple and chuckled, "Mmm, you smell even better."
Deng Jie felt ticklish from his rubbing and laughed as she pushed him away, saying, "Stop being so cheeky and go start a fire."
Smoke and the aroma of roasted noodles soon wafted from the stove, but the kitchen was small, and the two of them had to pass each other when they turned around inside.
But Deng Jie moved swiftly, and Guo Jia also tacitly added firewood and water from the side.
"Just wait, I'll handle the rest!"
Deng Jie felt it was too crowded and wanted to kick Guo Jia out.
Guo Jia reluctantly left the room, looking at her with a hint of apology.
"Now I regret telling you to push down that big mansion next door. I'm sorry you had to suffer."
When Guo Jia first arrived, he had a very pleasant conversation with Cao Cao and they hit it off immediately. It was as if they had known each other for a long time. Cao Cao immediately offered him a mansion and a dozen servants, but Guo Jia politely declined them all.
After all, he came from a poor family and grew up alone. He survived for more than ten years by relying on Guo Tu's father for food. He might as well find a quiet and comfortable courtyard.
Deng Jie served a golden-brown locust flower pancake, looked up upon hearing this, and said, "What's there to complain about? This place has two courtyards, front and back, and even a study. It's much better than our thatched cottage in Qiao County."
She handed him the flatbread, saying, "We've been crammed into that thatched hut for over a year, and now you're worried I'll complain about the small yard?"
She made no mention of the three-story mansion in Lujiang owned by the Deng family, where she had lived a life of luxury for ten years.
That place, along with her mother, sister-in-law, and nephew, was crushed into scorched earth by the iron hooves of the Sun family.
This was the deepest pain in their hearts, and they both tacitly avoided it.
Guo Jia took the cake, took a bite while it was still hot, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction. "That's good. But..."
He paused, but ultimately didn't say "I'm sorry, Brother Yuanming."
If her brother Deng Zhaoruo knew, he would probably come all the way from Jiangdong to buy them a new house.
"Don't mention that!" Deng Jie smiled sweetly at him, then drew one for herself as well. "Is it good?"
Guo Jia quickly took a big bite, "Delicious! My lady is exceptionally gifted!"
Deng Jie chuckled, "That's good. That's all I know how to make... I'll make it for you every day from now on!"
Guo Jia's smile froze; she wasn't lying...
For several days in a row, just as Deng Jie had promised, Guo Jia's food box contained locust flower cakes every day, which made him somewhat apprehensive.
That day, Guo Jia, carrying a food box, strolled leisurely into the council hall of Cao Cao's residence.
Xun Yu's voice could be faintly heard. Guo Jia did not announce his arrival but strode straight in, squeezing past Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun, and sat down next to Cao Cao. He did so very naturally.
“Fengxiao…” Xun Yu frowned slightly, about to remind him not to be impolite, but Cao Cao didn’t care at all. He raised his hand to stop Xun Yu, put down the tea in his hand and smiled, “Fengxiao, you’ve come at the right time. Wenruo is just talking about this land reclamation policy. You should take a look.”
Guo Jia glanced up, leaned back, opened the food box, broke off a piece of bread, and stuffed it into his mouth. "Wenruo's points are all correct, continue." As he spoke, he pointed to the map on Xun Yu's face.
Cao Cao gave a soft "hmm" and his gaze fell on the cake in Guo Jia's hand. "What kind of pastry is this? It's quite sweet."
Guo Jia's eyebrows twitched slightly, a hint of triumph flashing through his mind, but his face remained calm. He swallowed the food in his mouth and respectfully replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, this is a locust flower cake made by my wife herself. It's just a simple country dish and not worth mentioning."
Although he said this, he placed the food box on the table and said, "If you don't mind, my lord..." He even glanced at Xun Yu, "and Wenruo, please have a taste?"
Seeing that Cao Cao was quite interested, he turned over a whole piece from below and presented it with both hands.
Xun Yu hesitated for a moment, then accepted it.
Cao Cao hadn't eaten such light millet cakes in a long time. The sweetness melted in his mouth, and he casually praised, "Hmm, indeed very good. Your wife is very skillful!"
Xun Yu tasted it and nodded slightly, which was considered his approval.
Seeing the two men nod, Guo Jia became excited, picked up the food box, and distributed it to all the generals.
When Xiahou Dun and the others saw that Cao Cao and Xun Yu had praised them, they didn't stand on ceremony, accepted the food, thanked them, and began to eat heartily.
"My wife is clumsy and looks rough, but she has a sweet and delicious taste." Guo Jia saw that Dian Wei was still standing behind Cao Cao with a stern face, his eyes constantly glancing at the food box. He smiled and handed over a piece, saying, "General Dian, you've worked hard."
Dian Wei was taken aback, and glared at Cao Cao. Cao Cao was still chewing on a small piece of cake with his tea and did not stop him.
Dian Wei loosened his beard and said gruffly, "Thank you, strategist!"
As everyone continued their discussion, they finished dividing up all the cakes in the food box, and Guo Jia felt much more at ease.
As noon approached and the sun shone brightly, everyone was getting quite hungry.
The guards at the other end of the hall began to stir, and the aroma of meat wafted in, causing all the generals to swallow hard, and even Dian Wei couldn't help but sniff.
Guo Jia watched as the lacquered tray with lamb chops was placed on the table. He thought that Deng Jie must still be eating those dry biscuits today. He glanced at the empty food box, his eyes lit up, and a plan came to mind.
He coughed lightly and moved two steps closer to Cao Cao. "My lord, you see, this coarse bread won't satisfy much hunger."
"I dare to humbly offer my wife's 'crude' cooking skills in exchange for some meat dishes from your household, so that my wife may experience some of the refined elegance and learn what true delicacies are."
The room fell silent instantly upon hearing this.
All the civil and military officials watched with wide eyes, waiting to see how Cao Cao would respond to this rogue.
Cao Cao looked down at Guo Jia's face, which was full of "sincerity" and "greed," and then glanced at the empty food box. How could he not understand the kid's plan?
He managed to suppress a laugh, pointing at Guo Jia: "You, Guo Fengxiao! You fooled me and everyone else with a few pieces of bread, but now you're eyeing my roasted meat? You've got a shrewd business sense!"
Everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, suppressing their laughter, while Xun Yu helplessly pursed his lips and shook his head.
Guo Jia, with a face as thick as a city wall, chuckled and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Excellency is mistaken. Although the cake is simple, it is a token of my wife's good intentions. Moreover, with Your Excellency's praise, my value has increased many times over!"
"Sending some meat instead shows Your Excellency's consideration for your subjects' families; it will be a well-known story!"
"A good story?" Cao Cao chuckled, looking at Guo Jia's shameless "I won't leave without meat" attitude, and then, remembering that the locust flower cake was indeed sweet and refreshing, he waved his hand, "Fine, fine!"
He pointed to the guard carrying the lacquered tray and said, "Come, give half of today's roasted meat to Military Advisor Guo!"
Finally, he added irritably, "So that word gets out that I'm mistreating my strategist, and won't even give him meat!"
Although Cao Cao was generous, all the burly generals present were envious. They thought, "Why don't I have the good fortune to have half of my flesh taken away with just a few words?"
"Thank you, Lord Ming!" Guo Jia beamed, took the meat from the food box, immediately closed the lid, hugged it to his chest, and bowed deeply to everyone. "Please continue your discussion, everyone. I'll take my leave!"
Having said that, he turned and slipped away, fearing that Cao Cao might change his mind.
After Guo Jia left, before Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun could speak, Xun Yu took his seat first and tentatively said, "Your Excellency seems to be quite indulgent towards Fengxiao."
Cao Cao looked at him with a half-smile: "Wasn't it you who introduced me?"
He then waved to the crowd, inviting them to sit down. "Besides, Fengxiao's temperament is compatible with mine. He is loyal to his wife and will naturally serve me faithfully. I have nothing to worry about."
Xun Yu bowed slightly, "That's because you have a great capacity for tolerance. Back in the days of Benchu, Fengxiao was never treated like this."
Cao Cao sneered when he thought of Yuan Shao's arrogant demeanor. "That's for sure. Yuan Shao is precious, and I can't compare to him!" The generals laughed and flattered him.
Inside the small house, Deng Jie was drying locust branches in the front yard when she saw Guo Jia happily carrying a food box home. She wondered, "Why are you home so early today?" Guo Jia couldn't wait to pull her to sit down by the stove and opened the food box to divide the meat for her.
"Look! I'm so happy! The roasted meat that the Lord bestowed upon me! I traded it for your locust flower cakes!"
He proudly recounted what had happened in the council chamber, emphasizing Cao Cao and Xun Yu's "unwavering praise."
Looking at the glistening, tempting meat, Deng Jie was both surprised and delighted, and a little embarrassed: "This... how can a few pieces of coarse bread be worth exchanging for so much meat? General Cao is too kind."
Feeling warm inside, she tended to the locust flowers even more diligently, thinking that she would definitely make some fresh ones for Guo Jia to take with him tomorrow.
The next day, Deng Jie went out to trim the flowers as usual, unaware that his actions had been noticed by someone with ulterior motives and had become evidence of the rumors that had circulated from the Cao residence the day before.
Over the course of several days, Guo Jia served soup and meat, and took countless delicacies from Cao Cao with Deng Jie's cakes. The couple's busy figures, morning and evening, were catalyzing the falling of locust blossoms in the city.
Finally, Deng Jie couldn't find any more flower branches to cut.
"It's not even June yet, so why aren't the locust trees blooming?" That morning, Deng Jie returned dejectedly with an empty basket. "I'm afraid I won't be able to make pancakes today..."
Seeing his wife's worried face, Guo Jia went outside to look around with suspicion. He patted his chest and assured her, "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of food today, and plenty of flowers tomorrow!"
Guo Jia, unusually, stayed at Cao Cao's residence until the evening drum sounded, and only left after bowing respectfully.
He took a deep sniff and said, "Have I been eating too many cakes lately? Why can't I smell the locust tree fragrance in the manor?"
He then pulled Xun Yu into the mansion.
When the two arrived at the courtyard, they were stunned. The enchanting old locust tree was half white and half green, clearly indicating that half of its flowering branches had been cut off.
"Where did I spend my money?!"
Cao Cao was so angry that he couldn't even think straight. The image of the little fox that had obediently retreated earlier immediately flashed into his mind.
"Guo, Feng, Xiao!"
Xun Yu pulled him back in time, "My lord! My lord, don't be angry! Fengxiao is..."
Xun Yu leaned down and whispered in Cao Cao's ear: "I've heard rumors circulating in the city recently that the newly arrived military advisor Guo is deeply trusted by the lord, all because of the fragrance of his wife's locust flower cakes. As a result, everyone is imitating Deng's method of cutting flowers and making cakes."
"I originally thought it was just hearsay and that the locust flowers falling on the road were just a coincidence, but now it seems to be true."
Fengxiao must have been unwilling to let the Deng family have no flowers to work with, which is why he resorted to this desperate measure. My lord, please don't hold a grudge against the boy and ruin your reputation..."
As he spoke, he himself lost confidence.
But Cao Cao's anger turned to laughter after hearing this. "Is that so? Even Fengxiao himself doesn't want to eat cakes, yet he dares to cut flowers right under my nose?"
"Interesting, very interesting! Wenruo, since he dotes on his wife so much, shouldn't we be considerate of him too?"
Xun Yu then saw that the cunning and ruthless man's brows and eyes relaxed as he summoned his servants and guards.
In the courtyard of the Guo residence, Guo Jia was helping Deng Jie wash the branches. Deng Jie exclaimed in surprise, "Husband, you have such skill! Where did you find such white and tender flowers?"
Guo Jia just chuckled and said, "It was traded for face."
Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the courtyard gate. Guo Jia felt a pang of guilt and stopped Deng Jie from opening the gate, asking to do it himself.
Guo Jia took a deep breath and opened the courtyard gate. Standing outside was not the furious Cao Cao or Xun Yu, but several servants from Cao Cao's household, carrying three large baskets of white locust branches, with someone behind them carrying a food box.
The head steward bowed and said, "Military Advisor Guo, the lord has ordered that, having heard that the lady needs locust flowers, all the remaining locust trees in the manor should be presented to you."
A plate of roasted meat is also provided; please enjoy it, strategist and your wife.
After saying that, he put down his things and left, leaving Guo Jia bewildered in front of the flowers.
Deng Jie came out upon hearing the noise and gasped when he saw the mountain of locust blossoms. "General Cao... this is too much... Fengxiao, did you steal those flowers?"
She couldn't help but raise her eyebrows in reproach.
Guo Jia smiled calmly, handed the food box to Deng Jie, and slowly dragged the basket into the doorway. "What nonsense are you talking about? Your Excellency is just being considerate of me because I couldn't find any fresh flowers, so he specially sent someone to deliver them to my home!"
To remember even such a trivial matter—such a wise ruler! I could never repay even a fraction of his kindness, even if I were to give my life for him!
Guo Jia's words of comfort to his wife were neither too harsh nor too gentle, but they were clearly heard by Cao Cao and Xun Yu, who were standing in the corner outside the door. Cao Cao, who had originally wanted to hear Guo Jia's complaints and lamentations, was amused instead and couldn't help but chuckle. He felt inexplicably proud and comfortable.
"Wenruo, Fengxiao, that kid... ha."
Seeing the smile on his lips, Xun Yu said, "Let the family members try these 'locust flower cakes' in a few days!"
Xun Yu watched his graceful figure, shook his head and sighed softly, realizing that he still doted on him after all!
Fortunately, a few days later, contrary to Xun Yu's fears, there was no need to mobilize civil and military officials to eat cakes together. Instead, Guo Jia sent over locust flower tea that Deng Jie had made at home.
"So you haven't eaten any cakes these past few days?" Cao Cao asked with ill intent, shaking the dried flowers in the bamboo tube.
"Your Excellency is wise. When Jia was recuperating in Qiao County, my wife was busy with her studies, and Jia was the one who took care of everything in the kitchen."
Guo Jia explained to him with a grin, "I taught her a few moves during my day off the other day. She'll be good after a few days of practice."
This fragrant tea suited Xun Yu's taste perfectly, and he couldn't help but smell it several times.
Guo Jia sidled up to him and pointed, "Tea brewed with honey water is even more fragrant and sweet. Even though my family doesn't have any honey right now..."
Cao Cao suddenly looked up: "You wouldn't be hoping to get honey from me again, would you?"
"Absolutely not!" Guo Jia, worried that Cao Cao might take the matter to heart, left his seat to serve tea to the other civil and military officials in the hall, and even made a special mention that "this was made from flowers bestowed upon you by Your Excellency."
But before the craze for the strategist's wife's "locust flower cakes" had even died down, new rumors began to circulate among the officials and servants of Xudu as if they had grown wings: the strategist's wife had changed her tactics again!
The new wave of "locust flower craze" has quietly shifted from "cakes" to "tea".
Guo Jia held his teacup, listening to the faint discussions, his face calm and composed, but inwardly he sighed: This month, no matter in what form, the fragrance of locust trees will surely continue to permeate the entire city.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com