Just as Li Menglan had imagined, the river-snail noodles made with fresh, savory river-snail and bone broth as the soup base won unanimous praise from everyone in the Li family, young and old—including Zhao Qingyun and his grandfather.
Snow-white noodles, milky-white broth, with bits of emerald-green chopped scallion floating on top; not to mention... there was also the braised wild boar Li Menglan had prepared the night before, sliced into thin, neat pieces and arranged over the noodles. To let everyone enjoy it even more, there was a small bowl of chili sauce on the side; according to their own tastes... those who liked spicy food could add it themselves.
However... Li Menglan herself preferred the original, pure flavor of the river-snail broth.
Never mind eating it—just looking at it was enough to make one’s appetite stir. At a glance, it was plainly something that would make people hungry.
“Brother Zhao, what do you think of the taste?” Li Menglan did not have a very large appetite and was already full after eating a small bowl. Because the broth was far too fresh and delicious, she forced herself to drink another half bowl of the river-snail soup, which left her so stuffed she kept crying that her stomach hurt.
“You! What a little glutton.” Zhao Qingyun did not directly answer Li Menglan’s question. Instead, his eyes fell on the hand she had placed over her stomach, and he shook his head slightly with a sigh. “Now you know your stomach feels uncomfortable, don’t you?”
“Hehe... that broth was too delicious. I couldn’t help being greedy for a moment.” Li Menglan stuck out her tongue in embarrassment and spoke with a rare bit of childishness.
“This flavor really is very fresh and savory, and it seems like you added some medicinal ingredient into it—is that right?” Zhao Qingyun recalled the taste of the river-snail soup just now and asked curiously.
Li Menglan was greatly impressed. Uh... just how were the noses of ancient people so sharp?
“Brother Zhao, you really are amazing.” Li Menglan explained, “It’s actually nothing. I only added one ingredient—monk fruit. That way, the flavor of the river snails becomes even fresher and more delicious.”
Perhaps seeing the doubt in Zhao Qingyun’s eyes, Li Menglan smiled faintly. “Brother Zhao, do you still remember? Last time, the spices I used for the pig offal were all medicinal herbs bought from the pharmacy. In fact, those are the same as this monk fruit. Rather than calling them medicinal ingredients, it would be more accurate to call them spices.”
“So that’s how it is!” Zhao Qingyun nodded with a look of sudden understanding.
Looking at the little girl standing before him with a gentle smile, Zhao Qingyun suddenly remembered the things Li Menglan had asked him yesterday to bring back from Qingshui Town. “Lan’er, didn’t you ask Brother Zhao yesterday to help buy some things for you in Qingshui Town? Here... they’re all on the carriage. Go take a look yourself and see whether anything was bought wrong, or if anything is missing.”
Li Menglan stood beside the carriage and watched as Zhao Qingyun took the items out one by one: blue homespun cloth, dark blue cotton cloth, and three kinds of patterned cotton cloth in different colors with subtle woven designs... These were probably the fabrics Li Menglan had asked Zhao Qingyun to prepare for her grandmother, maternal grandmother, and mother.
Li Menglan looked over the patterns. Mm... not bad. Her mother’s was lake-blue; her maternal grandmother’s and grandmother’s were deep purple and dark blue respectively. These colors were quite suitable, not to mention in the countryside... even in Qingshui Town. Li Menglan nodded in satisfaction.
“Lan’er.” Zhao Qingyun came in with two small cloth bags in hand and several large paper parcels in the other, smiling.
“Brother Zhao, what are these...” Li Menglan did not remember asking him to buy anything else.
“Here, Lan’er, take a look first and see if you like them.” Zhao Qingyun casually set the two bags on the ground to the side and handed the paper parcels to Li Menglan.
“Brother Zhao... I don’t think I asked you to buy anything else. This... what is it?” Li Menglan said hesitantly.
“Open them and take a look, then you’ll know.” Zhao Qingyun did not say what they were, only kept urging Li Menglan to open the parcels herself.
Li Menglan took the paper parcels with a doubtful expression and tore them open in a few swift motions. “Ah...” Li Menglan could not help covering her lips as she let out a soft cry of surprise. “So pretty!”
Inside the three paper parcels were three kinds of cotton cloth in different colors. The water-red one had faint, fine patterns on it; the goose-yellow one had pink orchids faintly visible; and there was also a piece of lake-green cloth with tiny purple flowers.
Li Menglan widened her eyes and looked at Zhao Qingyun. “Brother Zhao... are all of these for me?”
Women all liked pretty or delicate things. This body of Li Menglan’s was still young in age, so it was not strange at all that she would like these pretty, tender-colored things.
Zhao Qingyun nodded in satisfaction. Mm... he had known his eye for such things would not be wrong. At one glance, he could tell these colors would suit Li Menglan very well.
“Brother Zhao, how much did all this cloth cost? I’ll give you the silver.” Li Menglan suddenly remembered that she had not yet given Zhao Qingyun any silver.
Zhao Qingyun shook his head and smiled faintly. “Lan’er, it really didn’t cost much. There’s no need...”
“How can that be? Familiarity is familiarity, but I can’t take your things for nothing.” As soon as Li Menglan heard this, she became unhappy. Her little face immediately darkened, and there was even a faint hint of anger in her eyes.
Zhao Qingyun said gently, “You! You really are impatient. Can’t you let Brother Zhao finish speaking first?” Faced with Li Menglan’s anger, Zhao Qingyun not only did not get angry, but a faint smile even appeared in his eyes.
Only then did Li Menglan realize, uh... it seemed she had gotten a little too worked up. She could not help saying somewhat awkwardly, “Sorry, Brother Zhao. You speak first, I’ll listen.”
“Lan’er, these fabrics are all things from our own cloth shop. Altogether, they only amount to a few taels of silver. Besides... my grandfather intends to stay at your home for a while longer. What does it matter if these are Brother Zhao’s thank-you gift for helping take care of my grandfather?” Zhao Qingyun directly stated his intentions.
“So that’s how it is...” Li Menglan hesitated for a moment. “How long does Grandpa Zhao plan to stay this time?”
Li Menglan felt that if the other party stayed for a relatively long time... then it would not be impossible for her to accept these things. But if it was only for a few days... then there was no need. That would make her seem very greedy.
Zhao Qingyun saw through Li Menglan’s thoughts at a glance. It was not that he was too shrewd... but that all this girl’s thoughts were written plainly on her face. It would be hard not to understand.
“Grandfather didn’t say it clearly, but I estimate it should be... at least half a month or so?” Zhao Qingyun said his guess aloud.
“So that’s how it is...” Li Menglan thought it over carefully. At worst, during the time Old Master Zhao stayed in their home, she would simply make a bit more delicious food, changing up the dishes in different ways...
So she smiled happily. “Brother Zhao, then Lan’er will thank you first.”
With the stone in her heart settled, Li Menglan had the presence of mind to pay attention to other things. At this moment, she became interested in the two bags Zhao Qingyun had placed to the side. “Brother Zhao, what’s inside the two bags beside you?”
Li Menglan pointed at the cloth bags Zhao Qingyun had set on the ground and asked with a curious expression.
“Lan’er, didn’t you say last time that you wanted to plant some lotus flowers in the pond in the courtyard? These are some lotus roots. You can have your eldest and second brothers plant them in the pond and try it out, see whether they can survive.”
Zhao Qingyun picked up one cloth bag and opened it. Inside really were several plump lotus roots still covered in pond mud. There were not many—probably a dozen or so sections!
Zhao Qingyun said rather sheepishly, “Lan’er, although lotus flowers aren’t some especially rare thing, in Qingshui Town, aside from my family... there really isn’t anyone else growing them. There aren’t that many in my family’s pond either, so...”
A faint blush appeared on Zhao Qingyun’s handsome face. Toward the end, he was probably feeling somewhat embarrassed... and did not continue speaking.
This time, Li Menglan truly smiled from the bottom of her heart. Her eyes curved as she said cheerfully, “It’s all right. Brother Zhao, thank you. Once these lotus roots are planted for a year or two, there will be more and more of them. When the time comes, I’ll make delicious food for you and Grandpa Zhao.”
Lotus roots were treasures! Not only could they be cooked into dishes to fill the stomach, they could also be made into snacks... even the flowers and leaves could be cooked and eaten. Li Menglan could already foresee the beautiful scenery at home next summer...
In the clear pond, ripples would shimmer on the water. On the surface, several graceful lotus flowers would stand elegantly, displaying their beauty to the fullest.