The first watch, asking for pinks.
*******
"Soone from the Shen family is coming again?" Lian Manman casually asked. She didn’t really expect Lian Yeye to answer. There’s a temple for Empress Shen on the mountain, so naturally, the Shen family visits every season to make offerings. Additionally, the emperor gifted the garden to the Shen family, making it an excellent place for a sumr retreat. Although it’s not mid-sumr yet, the weather is pleasant, and the mountain environnt is beautiful and quiet, truly a place for immortals.
Ever since the construction on the mountain was completed, everyone knew that the Shen family would occasionally co and stay.
Just not sure, who ca this ti?
"...They all ca in carriages, I counted, there are more than a dozen just for people. Behind them were mounted riders." Lian Yeye further inford Lian Manman, "Oh, and there were soldiers, one of whom looked a bit familiar."
"Seems like that commander who ca to help with the corn harvest last ti." Lian Yeye tilted her head and thought.
"Not very tall, not very old, quite energetic?" Lian Manman asked.
"Yes." Lian Yeye nodded.
"That should be Commander Zhang Qianhu." Lian Manman replied. Commander Zhang had been there several tis, and Lian Yeye happened to see each ti. This little girl, Lian Yeye, had good eyesight and recognized people well.
With soldiers escorting, and Commander Zhang also coming. That ans, most likely, Shen Liu is among those from the Shen family who ca this ti. Shen Liu returned from the Capital? Then Fatty should be back too. There’s no festival or anything, doesn’t seem like there’s any big event, so it’s rare for Shen Liu to have ti to visit here.
If Shen Liu ca, then did Fatty co with him?
While Lian Manman was pondering this, Xiao Qing had already picked over half a basket of yellow apricots, ca down from the stool, and brought the basket to Lian Manman for a look.
"That’s enough, just pick these for now." Lian Manman said.
Although these apricots are delicious, they shouldn’t be eaten too much at once. If picked in excess, they can’t be finished in ti; even if stored in the cellar, they won’t be as fresh as newly picked ones. Besides, with the apricot tree right at the doorstep, it’s very convenient to pick and eat fresh.
"Yeye, want to co to the house and sit for a while?" Lian Manman invited Lian Yeye to co inside.
"No, Sister Manman, I have to go back and feed the chickens and ducks. My mother is making new clothes for my father and these days." Lian Yeye said with a cheeky smile.
"Alright then." Lian Manman didn’t insist. The two families lived close now and visited often, not bothering about this mont.
Lian Yeye was about to go ho, and Lian Manman grabbed so yellow apricots to put in Lian Yeye’s basket.
"Take them back for Third Uncle and Third Aunt to try, if they like, you can co back for more." Lian Manman said to Lian Yeye.
"Okay." Lian Yeye agreed happily. Because of the good relationship, these cousins no longer needed to be overly polite with each other.
After seeing Lian Yeye off, Lian Manman then took Xiao Qing back ho.
She washed the apricots clean, kept so for Lian Shouxin and Xiao Qi, and took another plate into the east room, inviting Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi to eat together.
"Mom, Sister, take a break, see I’ve brought back so apricots."
Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi then put down their needlework, the three of them sat on the kang and began eating apricots.
Lian Manman only picked the fully ripe apricots, the ripe ones are a bit soft to the touch, and with a gentle twist of both hands, the two halves of the apricot separate neatly, with almost no pulp sticking to the pit. The apricot trees grown at Lian Manman’s family were the best local variety chosen by Zhang Qingshan, with large apricots, thick pulp, and a sweet and fragrant taste.
Having eaten the pulp, the apricot pits shouldn’t be thrown away casually. Placing them on the windowsill outside to dry, and cracking them open, the kernels inside can be used for dicine. Moreover, by peeling the apricot kernels and soaking them in water to remove bitterness, they can be made into a well-known dish from Liaodong Prefecture.
Children from farmstead families, usually, after drying the apricot pits, are reluctant to eat them imdiately. They often carry a pouch of apricot pits to play gas with their friends. This kind of ga is similar to marbles. The ga also has stakes, which are these apricot pits. So children might go out with a pouch of apricot pits, and co back with two pouches. Of course, so go out with a full pouch, but co back with it flat, surely losing.
No one in Lian Manman’s family plays marble gas with apricot pits now, so they save the pits, crack them for apricot kernels, and make cold dishes.
While eating apricots, Lian Manman told Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi about the arrival of the Shen family.
"Let’s send soone to find out who ca, so we can prepare so gifts to send over." Lian Manman said.
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