33 Lost money (1/2)
33 Lost money
Translator: Kats | Editor: Perriemix
”Boatman, is there a silk warehouse or a clothing shop on the island?” the nobleman asked.
The boatman replied, ”I'm afraid there's nothing of that sorts on the island. There is a philanthropist, though, who opened a charity shop. Usually, if someone fell into the lake, they can change their clothes there.”
After the boat touched down the shore, the nobleman went straight to the charity shop and Ye Jiayao followed him aimlessly. Her delicious meal plan depended on him, so naturally, she followed him closely.
It wasn't long after before the nobleman had transformed into an average civilian dude in yellow linen clothes. Since he has long legs, the pants were too short for him. The cropped pants look was too hilarious, Ye Jiayao couldn't stop laughing uncontrollably after seeing him.
The son of nobility was terribly disgusted. ”What a terrible charity shop! It costs 500 grams of coppers just to get this ragged clothing,” he said depressingly.
Thinking about the cheap clothes that only cost her a few hundred copper coins, she felt proud of herself. She didn't need good clothing if it was going to cost that much.
”It’s all your fault! If you didn't tear my clothes, I wouldn't have any reason to wear this garbage,” the nobleman complained. Hell, even my horse-keeper wears better clothes than this.
”For such a big man, you sure are such a sissy! Don't you get frustrated from talking about these tiny little insignificant details? All you toffs are so squeamish and spoilt! One tiny little thing that doesn't go your way and you think that the sky has fallen apart! What if, one day, you can't depend on your family anymore? What would you do then, huh?” Ye Jiayao ranted angrily. Although the kid was a lot taller than her, he looked very much younger than her. He doesn't even have a full beard!
”A true man needs to know when to yield. What is wrong with wearing linen clothing? Does it really kill you to wear it? There are so many people in the world that don’t even have linen clothes to wear! There are families who make do with one pants for all of them. You are quite lucky compared to them, so stop whining about it!” Ye Jiayao was fully aware that she was acting like a big sister, but she couldn't help it. She just couldn't bear how rotten this young man was acting.
It was the first time that the nobleman had heard of such things. ”I don't think that's true. Only one pants to wear for the whole family? How could they even wear it?”
Ye Jiayao raised her eyebrows, challenging him. ”How? The person who needs to go out wears it and the others just hide in the bed sheets.”
”You must be making that up.” The son of nobility could not picture such a scene.
”That’s because there are only a few places that you have been. You haven’t seen much of the world. Just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
The pretty phoenix eyes of the nobleman lost its fire as he grudgingly said, ”You talk as if you've seen many parts of the world. You look the same age as me, how much experience could you possibly have had?”
”Of course, I haven’t had more experience than you in the rich families, but I certainly understand more about the poor families,” Ye Jiayao said haughtily.
As they talked, they made their way inside an eight-sided, grandeur ancient pavilion. Ye Jiayao raised her head and saw 'Li Xia Pavilion' written on the awning and a feeling of historical significance washed over her. She thought of the poem that was left as the old Du drank here with the protector of the north sea, Li Yongyan. Please, let the sea protect this pavilion. There are many famous people in Ji Nan. Although, I don't think there's an old Du yet at this time.
As she stood in the middle of the pavilion, looking out afar, she marveled over another scenery. She could see the width of the lake, the green lotuses everywhere, the surrounding willow trees - the whole magnificence of Da Min Lake could be seen.
”The scenery here is really good even compared to the river of Qin Zhun.” Thank God, the nobleman finally stopped whining about the clothes and praises. No wonder big mountains and seas can cure a person’s mood. It really opens a person’s heart.
”Are you a descendant of Jin Ling?” asked Ye Jiayao.
The nobleman raised his eyebrows in surprise. ”You know about the river of Qin Zhun?”
”Uh-huh. I've even been there!”
In another space-time, thousands of years later.
”Where else have you been?” the nobleman asked, curious.
”I've been to many places, from the ends of north and south,” Ye Jiayao answered.
”How old are you? You've been to the ends of north and south? You must be bluffing.”
Ye Jiayao shrugged. ”Believe what you want, I don't care.”
I have even been to foreign countries, another continent, oh, and another time! I bet it'll scare the life out of you if I tell you.
”Selling ice sugar and lotus seed soup! Aromatic and delicious lotus seed soup, five copper coins a bowl! It’s cold and refreshing…” The booming voice of a seller could be heard from not far away.
Ye Jiayao was ecstatic. Ice sugar and lotus seed soup could be counted as one of the delicacies of Da Min Lake. The lotus seed produced here were big, round, filling, snow-white in color, and it was very fresh.
”Let’s go! You promised to treat me to delicious food! Let’s go and eat the ice sugar and lotus seed soup!” Ye Jiayao took his arm and dragged the son of nobility outside of the Li Xia Pavilion.
They found the stall that sells the ice sugar and lotus seed soup beside the road. Ye Jiayao excitedly said, ”Madam, two bowls of ice sugar and lotus seed soup please.”
The madam filled up two bowls happily.
The nobleman was left bemused. Are we going to eat it while standing here on the side of the road?
”Hurry up and eat it! This is delicious! The lotus seeds here can only be compared with the Wu Yi lotus seeds from Jin Hua palace. You can’t eat it anywhere else.” Ye Jiayao has already started devouring her food. Her mouth was filled with the tenderness and deliciousness of the lotus seeds, and the aroma stays in the mouth. It was indeed true to its name.
Even though it was just an ordinary ice sugar and lotus seed soup, the cook has to be careful to make it right. The yellow dried up lotus seeds from regular shops don't have the same taste no matter how well you cook it. The good quality seeds must be selected, rid of the bitter heart of the seed, bathed in water for a night, and then added the ice sugar, white fungus, and medlar. After that, it still has to be boiled in a steady fire until the flesh was soft.