Spring is coming

"Tea?"

Mo Jingchun squatted by the charcoal basin to warm up the fire. At the right time, Hang Sheng also brought sugar cubes. She threw one into the ginger tea and stirred it up with a spoon.

After hearing what Bo Qingshan said, she looked up at him.

"Burning incense, ordering tea, hanging pictures, and arranging flowers are all other idle things that should not be tiring at home. It's snowy today and there is nothing to do at home. I just happen to teach you how to order tea to pass the time. Come on, try it."

Seeing that Mo Jingchun was in great interest, he brushed off the debris on the square table to make a large space for her: "First, crush the tea cakes and put them in a bowl for later use, and boil water in the cauldron."

Mo Jing Chun Zao had heard that ordering tea was very popular among the dignitaries of the dynasty. When guests came, they would serve tea instead of eating. Ordering tea to welcome guests and ordering soup to see them off was considered an elegant act by people at the time.

If the children of any family go out to a banquet and do a bad job of serving tea at the banquet, they will be laughed at.

But this is the leisure and leisure that can only be found in wealthy families. At that time, the common people had not even solved the problem of food and clothing, so how could they have the intention to pursue this?
Suddenly, an opportunity came up for her to have a glimpse into the lives of noble people outside. Mo Jingchun was also interested: "Okay."

She followed the instructions and picked up the small tea mallet on the table, pounded the tea cake into small pieces, then ground the tea into powder, and sifted it through a sieve. At this time, the water in the cauldron was ready to boil.

Just as she was about to ask what the next step should be, Bo Qingshan's voice sounded above her head again: "The water used to make tea should be boiled water with fish eyes and crab eyes jumping in succession. The water after boiling three times is already too old. You can order tea when the water in the cauldron begins to boil."

"It takes a total of seven times to order tea, whisk and pour water. The first to seventh soups are different. You can watch me do this step first."

He sat down next to Mo Jingchun, took the tea cup from her hand, and poured boiling water into the tea cup.
"Measure the tea to receive the soup, and mix it like melted glue. First, mix the tea paste. Take a spoonful of tea powder into each tea cup. When filling the water, add water along the periphery of the tea cup. The technique should be gentle and do not touch the tea cup. . Use the center of the tea cup as the axis to stir in a circular motion, and gradually increase the force to boil, so that the soup flowers will grow from the tea surface. "

"The second soup must be made quickly and with force, so that it can be done with integrity."

His hands were large, white, with protruding joints, and were slightly calloused due to daily sword practice. His elegant manner when ordering tea made Mo Jingchun ignore the simple environment around him, as if he was in the palace of a prince. In the courtyard of the mansion, enjoy the leisurely fun among the gentlemen and ladies.

"Can you see it clearly? First, you need to pay attention to the paste, second, you need to pay attention to the timing of adding water, and third, there are priorities when whisking the tea whisk. If you can see clearly, you can try it yourself after a while."

Bo Qingshan poured the tea soup into cups and motioned for her to try it.

Mo Jingchun looked carefully and saw that the tea soup in the tea cup was pure white and the tea foam was even.

She was reluctant to destroy the intact tea foam and did not drink it. Instead, she held it in her hand and played with it, blowing lightly from time to time to make the foam swirl in the cup.

"One bucket of tea is about the color of the tea soup, and there are two buckets of tea soup flowers. In the competition, the one with the brighter color of the tea soup is better, and the one with the longer tea foam retention time wins. The key to final victory or defeat lies in the length of time the tea foam is retained. If the tea soup can be cooked until it boils The tea foam rotates in the teacup, condenses but does not overflow, as if being bitten, which is the 'Samadhi hand'."

Seeing that she couldn't put it down, Bo Qingshan explained to her how to play tea.

"Why is it called Samadhi Hand? What a weird name." She muttered something in a low voice, but was still heard.

"Samadhi Hand" is famous because of a line in a poem written by a certain person in the previous dynasty. A Taoist came out of Nanping Mountain to test tea. Ah, other people's houses specially ask nuns to teach their children how to order tea, so I am a free teacher again."

Mo Jingchun immediately defended himself: "Brother Bo said that you should teach me how to order tea to pass the time when you have nothing to do. You can't blame me for this!"

Bo Qingshan was silent and made a gesture of invitation.

Mo Jingchun only looked at it once and then put it on the shelf, feeling uneasy. "It's okay, don't be nervous. Even if the tea you ordered is more difficult to drink than the water, Brother Wei and Hang Sheng will also support it."

"." It would be better not to say it if you said it.

Mo Jingchun was afraid that he would hear it again, so he thought to himself.

After washing your hands, take a ladle of clean mountain spring water from a small wooden bucket on the side and pour it into the cauldron to cook.

Then crush and sift the tea cake according to the first step in my memory, then scoop it out when the water is slightly boiling and whisk it seven times.

She carefully offered the teacup to Bo Qingshan, fearing that the foam would disappear if she moved too loudly.

The color of the tea soup in the cup is green and white, and although the tea foam is not as solid as the one in Bo Qingshan, it is already good for beginners.

"Boys can be taught." Bo Qingshan seemed very satisfied with the little apprentice he had taught, and praised him profusely, "It's much better than Hang Sheng."

Hang Sheng was dissatisfied: "It's clear that the tea soup I ordered is whiter than Miss Jingchun's."

"Look, you're distracted again, aren't you?" Bo Qingshan picked up the fan and was about to hit him on the head, "Your father was still saying there just now that the key to winning or losing in the tea fight depends on how long the tea foam lasts. You The tea foam dispersed after just two steps, it’s not as good as a five-year-old child, it’s a no-brainer.”

Seeing that Hang Sheng was still dissatisfied, Mo Jingchun silently added the knife: "Brother Hang Sheng, don't be embarrassed. After all, I am a cook. My hand strength when striking the whisk is about the same as when I am preparing vegetables, cutting vegetables and chopping meat. It requires stability and strength. If you are not good at cooking, it will inevitably be difficult for you to learn.”

"Who said my cooking skills are not good? I will cook tonight to rectify my reputation as Hang Sheng!" He was stabbed in the heart and said sullenly.

"Pfft."

A room full of laughter.

Since it was snowing, Bo Qingshan saw how thinly she was dressed at noon, so he said, "It's better not to work too hard. There isn't much food at home. Just eat a few bites."

"Okay, how about just eating the clear soup pot? I took the pot and set it up on the porch, and cut a plate of whatever vegetables were available and cooked them in a dish." Mo Jingchun said with a smile.

When it comes to clear soup, it's not just water. The picky ones will use mutton bones or pork ribs to make the soup, and cook green onions and ginger slices in it. It's delicious.

Mo Jingchun had an impromptu idea. It was almost noon and he didn't have time to make soup. He saw that there were still a lot of radishes and corn, so he cut them out and cooked them in a pot, which would give them some fresh flavor.

Looking at the rest of the dishes, there was a big black fish in the tank and several "yellow girls" jumping around. The black fish was sliced ​​and the yellow girls were cut into sections, so we had two dishes.

There are no vegetables with green leaves - they are really hard to find in winter, but bean sprouts, radishes, cabbage, tofu, etc. are always on hand.

In addition, she found the frozen mutton in the snow, cut it into thin slices, and fried a few eggs to make a plate of fried rice.

It can be said to be simple but also rich, and it can be said to be hasty but also thoughtful.

It's snowing at the beginning of winter, and eating a steaming hot pot while admiring the scenery, how can it not be called a happy thing?
Finally, she mixed a dip of water according to each person's taste, and Hang Sheng and Uncle Wu worked together to bring it to the corridor outside the study, where tables and hot wine had been set up - as well as hot honey tea specially prepared for her. (End of chapter)