novelaction Chapter 194 Winter Melon Lotus Leaf
Chapter 194 Winter Melon Lotus Leaf
Xu Ranyuan wrote down a lot of medicinal food recipes for Cheng Yuntao in one breath. Cheng Yuntao sat at the desk and examined the recipes in his hand one by one.
At this time, the cicadas outside the window were chirping, and the sound was urging the spread of summer heat.
It is almost the end of July, the hottest time of the year. The scorching sun pours down without reservation, and even the air is filled with a hot breath. At this time of year, what is most needed is something that can clear away heat and relieve summer heat.
Cheng Yuntao's eyes wandered among the recipes, finally settling on the recipe for winter melon and lotus leaf soup.
Winter melon has the effect of relieving heat and clearing away heat, is sweet and beneficial to the spleen, promotes urination and defecation, eliminates edema, stops thirst, and dissipates heat, toxicity, pain, and swelling; lotus leaves are bitter, pungent, and slightly astringent, with a refreshing and ascending fragrance. They enter the heart, liver, and spleen meridians, can clear away heat and dampness, strengthen the spleen and raise yang, and are often used to treat symptoms such as summer-heat and dampness diarrhea, dizziness, and water-retention edema.
In this scorching summer, the combination of the two to make a soup can not only relieve heat and thirst, but also nourish the body. It is really perfect.
After preparing all the necessary ingredients and herbs, Cheng Yuntao moved to the kitchen.
There are freshly picked lotus leaves lying in the bamboo food box, the jade-like leaves still covered with morning dew, which brings up a wisp of refreshing lotus fragrance; an old winter melon lies across the table, its frosty skin covered with a thin layer of frost, and the flesh is as white as snow where the blade passes through, which contrasts beautifully with the emerald lotus petals.
She placed the winter melon steadily on the chopping board, held the kitchen knife tightly in her right hand, and pressed the winter melon with her left hand. The blade fell with a crisp sound, and she cut the winter melon into large pieces neatly, leaving the skin and kernel together for later use.
Stir-fried lentils, coix seeds, red beans, Poria cocos, Alisma orientalis, Smilax glabra, and kapok flowers were neatly arranged in exquisite porcelain plates. Cheng Yuntao picked up the plates one by one, poured the herbs into clean water, and washed away the dust.
After placing the cleaned herbs and winter melon chunks into the clay pot, add a few bunches of rush flowers, then lift the copper kettle and add enough water to boil. Soon, a faint fragrance gradually emanates from the steam, the aroma of the blending of herbs and food.
She lowered the heat to a simmer and patiently stood by, stirring gently with a spoon from time to time to allow the ingredients and herbs to fully blend. The aroma from the clay pot became more and more intense. Cheng Yuntao lifted the lid, and the fragrance instantly filled the entire kitchen.
The winter melon pieces were as crystal clear as jade, the red beans were blooming with rouge patterns, and the wick flowers were curling in the water like golden dragons. A bowl of soup was served, the soup was clear and moist. Cheng Yuntao took a sip, and the soup slid down her throat, bringing a burst of freshness and sweetness. In a trance, it was as if the lotus pond under the moon had just stopped after a sudden rain, and the dew in the pond turned into sweet rain in her throat.
The soup, slightly thickened by the stewed winter melon, has a rich texture, making each sip smooth and silky. The melon fibers blend into the broth, giving it a subtle crunch. The subtle bitterness of the lotus leaves gradually becomes apparent in the aftertaste, interweaving with the sweetness of the winter melon, creating a sweet-bitter, bitter-sweet, and bitter-sweet lingering aftertaste.
After finding the effect was good during the first try, Cheng Yuntao was overjoyed and couldn't wait to drag Jiang Yu to the market to buy a batch of soup bowls so that she could divide the medicinal food into small portions of equal size when setting up the stall.
The market is bustling with people, the cries of hawkers are heard one after another, and it is very lively. There are all kinds of stalls selling all kinds of goods.
The two of them shuttled through the bustling crowd and soon arrived at a shop selling various types of porcelain.
The store is filled with all kinds of porcelain, in different sizes and styles. Under the sunlight shining through the carved window lattices, they have a warm luster. Some are whiter than snow, while others are colorful, with exquisite patterns of flowers, birds, fish, insects, etc. painted on them, which look lifelike.
The porcelain in the store is classified according to its use, and the areas such as tableware, tea sets, and ornaments are clearly divided. Cheng Yuntao and Jiang Yu found the tableware area at a glance.
Cheng Yuntao picked up a few soup bowls and looked at them carefully. Some of these soup bowls were small and exquisite, while others were simple and elegant. The textures also varied, making it difficult to make a decision for a moment.
At this moment, the shopkeeper came up to her with a big smile on his face and introduced her enthusiastically, "You have a really good eye, young lady! Our porcelain is all top-notch, made with high-quality clay and exquisitely fired. I guarantee it's both durable and beautiful. This soup bowl you have is a real hit!"
He held up three fingers and said, "Thirty cents each, this is a really good price."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yuntao frowned slightly, thinking that the price was a bit high. Thirty cents for a soup bowl, if purchased in large quantities, the cost would be quite high.
Before she could say anything, Jiang Yu stepped forward, picked up the soup bowl, and gently weighed it in his hands. He then carefully examined the texture and glaze of the bowl, and said coldly, "Shopkeeper, your price is not fair. Even though this bowl is made of clay, the texture and workmanship are not top-notch, and yet you're asking such a high price? I'm afraid you're trying to rip us off."
The shopkeeper's smile froze, a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face, but he still argued, "Sir, you are wronging me. My price is already very fair."
Jiang Yu was not annoyed, and said slowly: "I know a little about the firing of these porcelains."
"Look at the body of this porcelain. It's unevenly thick, and when you knock it, it makes a dull sound, not a crisp or pleasant one. This suggests poor control of the firing temperature. Also, look at the glaze. There's obvious glaze flow, and the pattern isn't detailed enough, with blurred edges. This quality isn't worth the price you're asking."
Jiang Yu paused slightly, then looked up at the shopkeeper. His expression was calm yet revealed an unquestionable confidence. "Besides, Junhua City has convenient logistics and a large number of merchants. All kinds of porcelain circulate frequently. Ordinary porcelain is not a rarity at all. Soup bowls of this quality can be found everywhere on the market."
"Not to mention that there are several large kilns outside the city, producing a considerable amount of porcelain every day. With such a large amount, the price will naturally go down. Do you think I am right or wrong?"
Cheng Yuntao stood aside, her mouth wide open in surprise. She hadn't expected that Jiang Yu actually knew about porcelain.
Jiang Yu noticed Cheng Yuntao's gaze and scratched his head a little embarrassedly. "My family's business has a kiln factory. I used to like to go there when I had nothing to do. I also made a lot of porcelain myself, so I have some understanding of it."
Jiang Yu's questions were sharp, one after another. The shopkeeper knew he couldn't fool him, so he smiled awkwardly and said, "Sir, you are really an expert. So, what's the price?"
"Ten coins each. This soup bowl is only worth this much given its quality."
When the shopkeeper heard this, he showed an extremely helpless look on his face, as if he had suffered a huge loss. He sighed heavily, waved his hand, and said with a bitter face, "Okay, ten cents is ten cents, just take it."
As he spoke, he kept shaking his head, and he looked as if he was really reluctant to give up the item, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes. After all, although the price was lower than he expected, it was not without profit.