Chapter 81
The slightly callused fingertips brushed against the soft lips.
Shen Feng Ming practiced martial arts. His five senses were far more sensitive than ordinary people. He only touched it lightly and knew that those lips were softer and more delicate than the cherry next to him.
Jiang Yun Zhu raised her head, her small fan-like eyelashes flickered twice.
Shen Feng Ming originally wanted to withdraw his hand, but at her reaction, he lightly rubbed her lips with his fingertips.
"Gentleman Shen." Jiang Yun Zhu whispered, took a step back, and half leaned against the cherry tree. Her face was like peach petals and her eyes were like autumn water. Even the tree full of cherries wasn't as delicate and charming as her.
Shen Feng Ming's eyes were as deep as the sea, staring at her as if he wanted to devour her.
Jiang Yun Zhu didn't dare to look at him, she grabbed the tree trunk behind her tightly, turned her face and said, "Gentleman Shen, please have some respect."
"You got something on your lips." Shen Feng Ming raised his finger and showed it to Jiang Yun Zhu. She saw that there was indeed a little broken cherry leaf. The green leaf was very conspicuous in his hand.
Afterward, Shen Feng Ming raised his hand and took off a bigger leaf from her head, "I wanted to help you take it off."
So Shen Feng Ming wanted to help her take off the cherry leaves. But when she turned around suddenly, she bumped into his hand. Then, he helped her take off the leaf on her lips?
Jiang Yun Zhu's face turned red. She told him ‘to have some respect’ just now?
"Sorry, I..." She misunderstood.
Shen Feng Ming said, "I was the one who was abrupt."
Jiang Yun Zhu didn't know what to say, "Gentleman Shen's illness has healed. When will you return to the capital?"
Shen Feng Ming knew that he made her uneasy.
"In a few days, it’ll be time to return to the capital." He replied.
He was retreating to advance. He knew it.
He was leaving. The thought flashed through Jiang Yun Zhu's mind. Yes, he would definitely leave. Just a matter of time.
"If Miss Jiang is willing, you can visit the capital with me." Shen Feng Ming said.
Perhaps because she realized that Shen Feng Ming would leave soon, Jiang Yun Zhu suddenly relaxed. The two of them were like people from two worlds. They would be separated sooner or later. If that's the case, why think too much.
"Forget it." Jiang Yun Zhu smiled. Then she said, "The cherries are delicious. Gentleman Shen, try it?"
Shen Feng Ming went along, picked a few cherries from the side, washed them with pool water, twisted one out with his fingers, and put it in his mouth.
His hands were slender like bamboo and held a ruddy cherry. The red and white complemented each other, giving people a stunning feeling. Especially when the cherry was put into his mouth. The drops of water on the cherry stained his lips, making the red lips more and more gorgeous.
Sweet and sour cherries were indeed delicious. Shen Feng Ming stood by the pool. The pool water reflected in his eyes seemed to be shining.
His face was compelling and he was handsome and stern.
Jiang Yun Zhu looked away and put a cherry in her mouth. However, she felt that it wasn't as delicious as before.
So let’s pick some to bring back to cook. She put the remaining few into her mouth, got He Ying to bring the basket, and started picking cherries.
"I'll help you." Shen Feng Ming said and came over to pick cherries.
There was a branch of cherry on the high place that was so red that Jiang Yun Zhu couldn't reach it even on tiptoe. At this time, a hand stretched out from the side to help her lower the branch of cherries.
"Thank you." Jiang Yun Zhu said.
"Miss Jiang is too polite." Shen Feng Ming responded.
Still as before, "When we go back, I’ll cook something delicious for you."
"En." Shen Feng Ming said with a smile.
The two continued to pick cherries. Occasionally, Shen Feng Ming's hand would touch Jiang Yun Zhu's. But this time Jiang Yun Zhu didn't make any fuss.
The five baskets they brought were all full. There were still many cherries on the tree.
"Let's come back tomorrow." Shen Feng Ming said.
Only then did Jiang Yun Zhu stop, feeling thirsty and tired.
She had brought water and food. She told He Ying to fetch them from the carriage. At this time, she was sitting by the pool and noticed that there were fish in the pool.
"It's peach blossom carps." Jiang Yun Zhu uttered in surprise after looking carefully.
It was recorded in ‘Conscience Fasting Recipes’ that the peach blossom carp could only grow in places with clean and clear water. Because the body was light red, like a peach blossom, it was called peach blossom carp. This kind of fish was tender and delicious. It was a rare quality ingredient. It was a pity that it cannot be cultivated, nor could it grow in large rivers. So few people encounter it. After encountering it, it would be caught and wiped out soon.
In the seven years of Jiang Yun Zhu's dream, she had spent a lot of money to buy it once in the capital. She didn't expect to encounter it here today. And it looked like a lot.
The water in the pool wasn't deep. She wished she could take off her shoes and socks and go down to fish by herself.
This was actually nothing in modern times. But Shen Feng Ming was by the side...
She was anxious. How about getting He Ying go back and fetch a fishing net?
At this time, there was the sound of water nearby. It turned out that Shen Feng Ming took off his shoes, rolled up his trousers, and went down into the pool.
The water in this pool looked very shallow, but it was actually half a meter deep. The peach blossom carps inside were very clever. If ordinary people go down, it would be difficult for them to catch them. But Shen Feng Ming stood there for a while, waiting for a few peach blossom carps to swim over tentatively. He stabbed down with a dagger, caught one and threw it to the shore.
The peach blossom carp was even more colorful when it was out of the water. Jiang Yun Zhu hurried to the side, picked it up, and then looked at Shen Feng Ming, hoping he could catch a few more.
Shen Feng Ming moved very quickly. Within a short while, he had already caught seven or eight.
"Enough." Jiang Yun Zhu hurriedly said. This kind of fish would die soon after leaving the original growth environment and the taste would change. Catching too much was a waste.
Shen Feng Ming went ashore.
Looking at the seven or eight fish, Jiang Yun Zhu missed her spatula very much. Steamed, braised, or grilled were all excellent choice.
They should go back immediately. It should be enough time, right?
"I'll grill it for you." Shen Feng Ming said.
Jiang Yun Zhu raised her eyes. He knew how to grill fish?
"When outside, there’s often times when we’re in the middle of nowhere." Shen Feng Ming explained. He had already put on his shoes, and went to pick up firewood nearby.
Then he took out the fire stick and lit a bonfire soon.
At this time, he took the dagger, went to the pool, swiftly processed the fish, skewered them on the branches, and put them on the fire to grill.
After a while, the tail of the fish lifted slightly and the fish began to emit fragrance.
At this moment, Jiang Yun Zhu saw Shen Feng Ming take out a box from a buckskin pocket on his waist, and opened it. There was salt in it. He sprinkled it on the grilled fish finely. The aroma became several times stronger.
The gentlemen of the Xia Dynasty liked to hang some sachets, incense balls, pouches and other things around their waists. Shen Feng Ming had a few things around his waist. Jiang Yun Zhu didn't pay attention to them before. Now, she was a little curious about what was in those pouches.
"Do you want to look?" Sensing her gaze, Shen Feng Ming reached for a small pouch at his waist.
There were all kinds of things in his pouch. Many of which were specially developed and equipped by Qilin Guards to deal with various emergencies.
Jiang Yun Zhu did want to see it very much. She guessed that there would be many magical things in it.
"No need." But she quickly shook her head and answered. She was afraid that he would mention the word Qilin Guards.
Shen Feng Ming only thought that she didn't want to be too intimate with him, so he withdrew his hand and continued to grill the fish.
The peach blossom carp itself had its own faint flavor. It didn't need any seasoning to make it delicious.
After a while, the grilled fish was ready. Shen Feng Ming handed the fish to Jiang Yun Zhu.
"Gentleman Shen, you eat it too. This skewer is almost ready." Jiang Yun Zhu urged.
However, Shen Feng Ming said, "It's already agreed that I'll grill it for you."
As he spoke, he picked up the skewer and continued to grill it skillfully.
Jiang Yun Zhu had no choice but to take the skewer of grilled fish and started eating it bit by bit.
This peach blossom carp was delicious.
After returning to Qishanju in the afternoon, Jiang Yun Zhu cleaned the cherries and put them in a pan to cook.
While cooking, rock sugar was added in.
Soon, the cherry’s flesh and core were separated. At this time, filter them again to get fine pulp.
Boil it for a while. Once the moisture was less, a pan of cherry sauce was ready.
There were no refrigerators in ancient times. So the fresh cherries could not be stored for a long time. It could only be preserved by making sauce.
Thinking how it had been a long time since Chabuliang served new desserts, Jiang Yun Zhu looked at the pan of cherry sauce and contemplated.
Before going to bed at night, soak the glutinous rice. The next morning, Jiang Yun Zhu got up very early, steamed the soaked glutinous rice in a steamer, and pounded it into dough after steaming until soft. Knead the dough until smooth, break it into small pieces, and roll it out with a rolling pin. Put a little cherry sauce on the dough, wrap it well, and roll it in cooked glutinous rice flour. A glutinous rice dumpling was ready.
"Miss, this thing is so pretty." He Ying, who had been working beside her, immediately praised the dumpling when she saw the dumpling.
That's right. The snow-white skin of this dumpling was filled with bright red cherry sauce. It was rosy within the white. Like a beauty’s face.
"It's delicious too." Jiang Yun Zhu said with a smile.
"Miss..." He Ying cutely called out.
She looked heroic and was taller than ordinary women. She usually followed Jiang Yun Zhu, helping her carry things and block passers-by. Got a sassy attitude. So it was rare to have time where she softly pleads.
"Eat then." Jiang Yun Zhu responded. She didn't realize that she was a foodie.
"Miss eat first." Instead, He Ying was thinking of her.
"Eat first. I'm not in a hurry." Jiang Yun Zhu teased her.
He Ying's cheeks were slightly red. She took a dumpling and held it in her hand. She felt that it was cool, slippery and soft. It was also cute and good-looking. She was reluctant to eat it.
Finally, unable to resist the temptation, she raised up the dumpling and bit down.
The fragrant glutinous rice skin was soft and elastic, while the cherry sauce inside was sweet and sour. When eating the two together, one could feel their mouth watering. There was nothing more delicious than this.
She stuffed the remaining half of the dumpling into her mouth in one gulp. Her cheeks puffed up slightly, like a hamster.
Jiang Yun Zhu took it in amusement.
At this moment, Shen Feng Ming walked out of the room door. Jiang Yun Zhu called him from the kitchen, "Gentleman Shen, do you want to try the newly made glutinous rice dumplings?"
Her voice was so clear. When she called out this morning, Shen Feng Ming felt that his mood improved a lot.
He stepped into the kitchen.
Jiang Yun Zhu handed him a freshly made dumpling, "I made it from the cherries we picked yesterday. I told you I'll make it delicious for you."
When reaching toward the end, her voice picked up slightly, as if with joy.
A smile was on Shen Feng Ming's face. He accepted the glutinous rice dumpling and took a bite. The bright red cherry sauce inside was revealed. Paired with the dumpling’s fairness that outdo frost and snow, it looked like a beauty's sandalwood lips.
He raised his head and looked at Jiang Yun Zhu.
"How is the taste?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked.
"Delicious." Shen Feng Ming replied and took another bite of the dumpling. The dumplings were soft, glutinous and smooth. It was hard to put it down.
Today, Chabuliang got new pastries- glutinous rice dumplings. A plate of four costs twenty wens.
To be honest, it was a bit expensive. But after the first person ordered it, everyone was immediately won over by the appearance of the dumpling. Beautiful and exquisite pastries were of course like alluring beauties, priceless!
Everyone was talented. Looking at the dumpling, they immediately became poetic.
“The sandalwood mouth and powdery cheeks convey happiness, the spring breeze is blowing for delight.” Someone looked at the dumpling and praised it.
"Slender, faint, and light sandalwood mouth; heavy makeup and powdery cheeks." Some people didn’t want to be outdone.
"The powdered face is slightly red; the sandalwood lips are shy; the held-back smile is fragrant." Someone merrily uttered.
...
Once this dumpling was launched, it became very popular. Jiang Yun Zhu had to raise the price once. There was a limit to those wild cherries and couldn't stand the sale like this.
But what she didn't expect was that after the price increase, more people would buy it.
At this time, a plate of this kind of dumpling was placed in front of Lin Ting An. He picked up one with his slender fingers, took a bite, and watched the little bit of bright red cherry sauce flow out. His handsome eyebrows slightly raised.
"Everything’s prepared?" He asked Lin Qing.
"It's all sorted, Eldest Gentleman." Lin Qing said respectfully.
Lin Ting An put the dumpling in his hand into his mouth, got up, and walked out. He was determined to succeed in today's matter.
He stepped into a teahouse in the west of the city. The several people inside immediately stood up in a hurry.
"Eldest Gentleman." They all bowed to him, including Subprefectural Magistrate He.
It stood to reason that Subprefectural Magistrate He was the head of a prefecture and Lin Ting An should bow to him. But who made Lin Ting An the eldest gentleman of the Marquis Anping and were friends with the sixth prince! Subprefectural Magistrate He may have to rely on him in the future. So of course he had to bow to him.
"En." Lin Ting An responded casually and sat directly on the main seat.
This was a round table. There were five people at the table including him.
He lowered his hands and Subprefectural Magistrate He sat down.
On the other side of him, there was originally a short and fat man sitting. After he stood up and bowed to Lin Ting An, he was about to sit down when he felt Lin Ting An’s gaze on him.
A thin layer of sweat immediately broke out on his forehead, "Eldest Gentleman?"
"Let's move another chair for Official Zhang." Lin Ting An said.
The people sitting here were all smart people. They immediately understood what he meant. The seat next to him should be reserved for others.
"Official Zhang, sit on my spot." The person next to Official Zhang quickly stood up and let Official Zhang sit. Following this, even the person next to that person stood up.
At this time, someone moved in an additional chair. Everyone sat down again. Looking at Lin Ting An, they waited for him to speak.
Lin Ting An tapped the table twice and directed to Qin Zhen, "Boss Qin, about the matter we need to talk about, aren’t we missing someone?"
Qin Zhen, who was called, felt his heart skip a beat. He responded with a smile, "What does Eldest Gentleman mean?"
"Isn’t there that 5% of the shares? If she doesn't come, it can’t really do?"
Qin Zhen's scalp was about to explode. This... How did Lin Ting An know... He hadn’t linked this matter to...
Before Qin Zhen could figure it out, Lin Ting An said in a deep voice, "Boss Qin?"
Qin Zhen had no choice but to ask Housekeeper Qin to come in and instructed to him, "Go and invite Miss Jiang."
As he spoke, he wanted to wink at Housekeeper Qin so that he could remind Jiang Yun Zhu.
It was a pity that the room was full of powerful people from Lu Prefecture. After Housekeeper Qin came in, he didn't dare to look up at all. He couldn't see his wink.
Housekeeper Qin quickly withdrew and went to Qishanju to find Jiang Yun Zhu.
"Boss Qin invited me over? What's the matter?" Jiang Yun Zhu wondered.
"Master didn't say anything either." Housekeeper Qin replied.
Jiang Yun Zhu hesitated for a while before deciding to go and have a look.
Walking to the west of the city, she came to a teahouse in a short while.
Taiminglou, the best teahouse in Wuling County. Inside was full of private rooms. It was a place for rich people to discuss and drink tea. The target customers were different to Jiang Yun Zhu's Chabuliang. The two sides were relatively peaceful.
"Miss Jiang, right?" A server came down and led Jiang Yun Zhu upstairs, with Housekeeper Qin following.
Jiang Yun Zhu went upstairs and arrived outside of a suite.
Someone opened the door of the suite.
The people inside all looked outside, Jiang Yun Zhu saw the situation inside and her heart skipped a beat twice.
Lin Ting An. Next to him was Subprefectural Magistrate He. Then it was Associate Administrator Wang. That side was Enlist Feng. Then Qin Zhen and Tao Ling. Good heavens, she knew more than half of the people at this table.
"It’s Boss Jiang, right? Please sit down." Lin Ting An looked at her and said.
At this moment, Jiang Yun Zhu felt that time and space were out of order. In her dream, she participated in such tea parties several times. At that time, Lin Ting An would also reserve a seat next to him for her to sit.
Jiang Yun Zhu lowered her eyes, "I'm afraid I won't be able to do that."
"It's okay." Lin Ting said. He responded to it casually, as if it was a small matter.
It was certainly so. None of the people in the room dared to speak out. They looked at Jiang Yun Zhu and guessed her identity.
"Miss Jiang, sit then." Qin Zhen was afraid that Jiang Yun Zhu, a girl, would suddenly be embarrassed and cowardly in front of so many important figures, So he stood up to smooth things over.
Since she already came, Jiang Yun Zhu could only sit down.
She walked to Lin Ting An's side and sat on that chair. From the beginning to the end, she seemed to be strolling in a courtyard, with a graceful posture and a calm expression. As if she wasn't the owner of a small teahouse, but everyone’s important guest.
Qin Zhen secretly marveled. He underestimated Jiang Yun Zhu. He wasn't as calm as her.
Others have their own thoughts. When they first saw Jiang Yun Zhu, they only thought she was beautiful. But now that they saw her like this, they seemed to understand why Lin Ting An let her sit next to him.
Of course, some people have crooked thoughts and couldn't help but wonder about the relationship between Lin Ting An and Jiang Yun Zhu. A powerful man and a beautiful woman. Oh, what other relationship could there be.
However, look at Lin Ting An’s handsomeness, as bright as the moon! And Jiang Yun Zhu, who was as beautiful as pearls and jade. Really, sitting together, they did truly feel like a perfect match.
Lin Ting An didn’t expect Jiang Yun Zhu to be so calm and collected. She walked up to him and sat there, as if she was born to sit next to him.
Lin Ting An felt as if his heart had been hit hard by something, making him clenched the teacup in his hand.
He turned his head to look at Jiang Yun Zhu. From this angle, he could only see her side profile. Those long eyelashes like opium, those pupils hidden with scatters of stars, and the soft sandalwood mouth were all beautiful to the point of amazing people.
Jiang Yun Zhu could feel the gaze of everyone in the room, especially Lin Ting An's. However, she didn't look at them. She wanted to get out of here quickly.
At this moment in Qishanju, a black figure knelt down and reported to Shen Feng Ming.
Hearing it, Shen Feng Ming put down the book in his hand with a bang.
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