Chapter 31
It was time to start getting the Guanyin leaves ready so she collected them all the leaves and washed it clean not throwing the branches away but leaving them outside to dry because dried wood ash from the Guanyin Tree is the prefer ingredient for making fairy tofu. There wasn't any dried Guanyin Tree ash so other ashes would suffice as she had just cooked this morning so the ashes were still there. She first grabbed a handful of flour and put it in a bowl then poured cool boiled water from the water barrel into it then stirred and let it settle.
Xiao Ming and Xiao Yu looked skeptically at her feeling that she was making a mess but they continued looking not saying anything. The plant ash had settled next was to deal with the 'fairy leaves' so she got the makeshift filter cloth sterilized it by boiling it in a jar then she blanched the pile of leaves with boiling water then turned them into fine fragments and then finally filtered them into two bowls with the greenish color. She had poured the spring water and added some brown sugar in one bowl so once the bowl was rinsed she had filtered the remaining liquid from the jar into the bowl until was eighty percent full. Looking at the pleasing greenish liquid Xiao Ming asked
"Do we drink it like this?"
"Of course not"
Smiling she poured the previously settled plant ash into the tree leaf juice stirring it until the quantity was enough she didn't stop stirring until she felt a change in her hand then she did the same for the other bowl.The kids stared dumbfounded at her actions of pouring the plant ash into the plant juice, amused by their reaction she said.
"It's done, let's wait for an hour"
Their attention was diverted so they looked at her wondering what was next so she led them outside telling them to go play and it would be ready soon she went back to the room and continued sewing the cloth as Xiao Shan had gone to take a bath. After an hour she had completed the cloth and folded it neatly on her bed planning to give it to him tomorrow she then entered the kitchen to look at the Fairy tofu which had already solidified with the proportion of ash water right. She called out to the kids to go wash their hands and face to come taste something delicious.
There eyes lit up at the thought of something delicious and they hurriedly washed their hands and rushed inside. Xiao Shan was done bathing and reading in his room so hearing her call he dropped the book and stepped out to the dinning area to see the results. As they rushed inside the saw two glimmering green substance on the table and froze.
"Mother, is this the leaf juice from before?".
"Yes"
It was more vibrant than before so they took their seat alongside Xiao Shan staring curiously at the thing on the table. She cut three small pieces about three centimeters square then scooped out sugar water which had cooled down and poured it into the bowl not mixing much knowing the effects of the spring water, then scooped one piece and offered it to Xiao Ming and said
"I told you it was edible. Have a piece".
The jade -like substance, soft and elastic shimmered vibrant green on the wooden spoon looking so beautiful that they felt their mouth water. Xiao Shan couldn't care less of it was edible or not with the fragrance teasing his nostrils and chewed immediately. The fragrance, texture and sweetness made him sigh out in wonder
"Mother, this tastes better than the hare meat we had the other day".
She then gave one to Xiao Yu and the other to Xiao Shan and the chewed it too. Xiao Shan ate his piece elegantly internally marvelling at the softness and texture which was topnotch just as she had said. He was convinced that it would sale well especially during this hot summer just a bite would leave you craving for more. Su Ying cut two more pieces and handed it to them and they'll ate alongside her before she asked for their opinion.
"What do you think we sell them?"
"It will surely sell well mother"
"Hm"
Hearing their affirmation she felt pleased then she shared the remaining one on the table and they had it for lunch. The others had solidified so she planned to sell it tomorrow morning and see how it goes. They cleared their plates and she thought of what to prepare before deciding to go fishing at the stream with the kids to have fish for dinner before retiring to sleep. Xiao Shan wanted to follow but she refused urging him to stay at home as they wouldn't take long to get back. Happily the children picked up the bucket and followed her to the stream.
Xiao Shan stared at their retreating back and felt downcast thinking of his leg which prevented him from doing some things with them he felt gloomy. It was time to get treated and with that he called out
"Ghost shadow"
At first it felt like he was talking to air but soon a man cloaked in black from head to toe even his face was covered appeared before him. Not turning back he asked
"How is the job I gave you going?"
"Master, we have found some clues and planning to check it out tomorrow"
"Hm. You can go"
With a whoosh he disappeared leaving no trace behind but only the rustling of leaves. If Su Ying was here she would have recognized the technique as the legendary"Qingrong" light step technique but unfortunately she wasn't. Xiao Shan stared at the door for a while pondering on something before he stood up and went back into the room. Back at the stream Su Ying used the same method as the last time to catch fishes this time luckier than before as the caught seven carp fish, five shrimps and two loaches before deciding it was enough. They packed the fishes into the bucket and headed home bumping into a few woman headed to the stream and she greeted them sparking heated conversation and astonished look. She was famously know for her arrogant and bad behavior so seeing her harmoniously walking with the kids back from the stream made them speculate.
"Ah. Isn't that Xiao's wife?"
"She went to the stream to catch fishes with the kids?"
"She even greeted me when she passed by"
"The children looked so happy could it be she has changed?"
"Are they so poor that now eat only fishes"
"How did she catch so much fishes.
Wild speculation spread as the villagers discussed about her wondering what happened but there were also jealous ones who said
"Hmph! Just a few changes who knows if she is pretending"
"I bet she is going those fishes alone"
"Yes. She is just a malicious woman only running around causing trouble"
Su Ying couldn't care less about what they said as she continued on her way to the house occasionally getting some elders she met on her way till she arrived home and they entered and closed the door she then headed to the kitchen and picked three large fishes and entered the kitchen and started making dinner. She steamed the rice and chopped and washed the fishes then put it on fire and added the scallions and ginger and soon the soup turned milky white she then scooped it out and served before boiling water for bathing tonight.
After having their dinner she bathed the kids and then took her bathe before Xiao Shan took his own bathe and they're retired to the room.