In the following days, Lin Hong and Zhenzhen repeatedly attempted stir-frying, diligently recording their experiences with cooking utensils, and continuously revising sketches for improving the wok. They changed the wok to a round-bottomed dish shape with an open mouth, a smooth internal arc to allow the spatula to reach the bottom easily during stir-frying, and a thinner body to reduce weight, improve heat conduction, and make it easier to handle. Once they felt it was generally suitable, they sought a blacksmith to forge a new wok according to their design.
After obtaining the wok sample, the two frequently experimented with stir-frying new dishes, both meat and vegetables. Lin Hong's kitchen thus carried a slightly stronger aroma of cooking than before. Zhenzhen felt somewhat apologetic about this, but Lin Hong didn't mind at all. Every day after stir-frying, he and Zhenzhen meticulously cleaned the kitchen together. They spent more time together than before, and Lin Hong appeared even gentler, even occasionally showing a cheerful mood.
One day, A Che went down the mountain and caught several perch, bringing them back to Woodcutter Inquiry Post for Lin Hong and Zhenzhen to practice Slicing Fish. Each took one fish, removed the entrails, and scaled it. Lin Hong went first, picking up the knife to slice the fish, while Zhenzhen observed beside him.
Lin Hong lightly pressed the fish fillet with his left hand, pushing it gently and steadily to the right. With the knife in his right hand, he raised and lowered it rhythmically, producing a continuous, evenly paced sound on the cutting board. Thin slices of fish were cut under the blade, flying to the right like snowflakes or waves.
While admiring his skill, Zhenzhen tried her best to imitate him but found that after each cut, the fish slices often stuck to the blade instead of flying off immediately like Lin Hong's. She raised the question, and Lin Hong instructed, "Apply a little fish brain or fat from the fish's belly to the blade. The sliced fish won't stick, and there won't be any strange odor."
Zhenzhen followed his advice, and indeed, with each strike of the knife, the fish slices fluttered off without sticking. Smiling, she thanked Lin Hong and asked if this method could be used for slicing any type of fish. Lin Hong replied, "Almost all fish with suitable texture for slicing can be prepared this way, except for one—Pufferfish."
Zhenzhen nodded. "Pufferfish is poisonous. My mother never uses it as an ingredient and even dislikes this fish, forbidding my senior sisters from mentioning it."
"Perhaps your mother is kind-hearted and dislikes ingredients with toxins," Lin Hong said. "Pufferfish toxins accumulate in the internal organs, skin, and blood. The blood easily dissolves into fat, so you must not use fish brain or fat to coat the blade when slicing it. However, if you only take the fresh fish meat and thoroughly wash away any blood traces, eating it won't harm the body."
"I know. Even Dongpo Jushi loved eating Pufferfish, which shows that as long as it's carefully handled, the toxins won't prevent people from enjoying this delicacy," Zhenzhen said with a smile.
Lin Hong was slightly curious. "How do you know Dongpo Jushi loved eating Pufferfish?"
"I've memorized his poems," Zhenzhen replied casually, reciting one: "Beyond the bamboo, a few peach blossoms bloom; / In the warm spring river, ducks are the first to know. / Wormwood covers the ground, reed shoots are short— / It's just the time when Pufferfish are about to swim upstream."
Lin Hong smiled. "This poem is well-written. What are your thoughts on it?"
"My thoughts are that many poems were memorized as a child when the teacher assigned them, without truly understanding their deeper meaning. Only after experiencing certain things and learning a lot can one grasp what the poet truly intended to express," Zhenzhen answered. "For example, this poem 'Spring River Evening Scene by Huichong.' The title refers to the spring river scenery, and my teacher back then also told me the poem was about spring scenery, so I believed it. But now, after learning culinary skills and discovering the various dishes Dongpo Jushi ate and prepared, I finally understand what he really meant to say: Bamboo shoots, fat ducks, wormwood, asparagus, and Pufferfish—here I come!"Lin Hong frowned upon hearing this. "How could you interpret Master Dongpo's poetry in such a way?"
Zhenzhen was taken aback, cautiously studying his expression before timidly asking, "Teacher, do you think I spoke disrespectfully?"
"What I mean is," Lin Hong said calmly and deliberately, "is Master Dongpo the kind of person who would only focus on these few ingredients? What about peaches... At that time, gazing at the peach blossoms, he was probably also thinking that in a little while, he could enjoy fresh peaches."
Zhenzhen couldn't help but laugh aloud, and Lin Hong soon smiled as well. The two then set down their knives, sat facing each other, and discussed other poems by Master Dongpo about food, chatting and laughing continuously.
A Che and Xin Sanniang heard their laughter from outside the kitchen and exchanged surprised glances.
A Che whispered to Xin Sanniang, "San Niang, have you noticed that the young master laughs much more often now than before?"
Xin Sanniang remained silent for a long while before sighing. "I used to dislike Zhenzhen quite a bit, but keeping her here seems to be a good thing after all. At least she can help the young master stay grounded."
At night, Lin Hong practiced calligraphy in his study, with Zhenzhen by his side, burning incense and grinding ink for him. Unlike during the day, she appeared lost in thought and melancholy.
Noticing this, Lin Hong set down his brush and spoke gently to Zhenzhen. "You've worked hard all day. Go back to your room and rest early. I've already asked A Che to inform the fishermen at the foot of the mountain that if they catch any pufferfish, they should bring it to my garden. I will teach you how to remove the toxins and cook it."
Zhenzhen forced a smile and said softly, "Thank you, Teacher... but I'm afraid I won't be able to wait until that day."
Lin Hong was surprised and asked her why she said that. Zhenzhen replied, "Tomorrow, I must leave the Woodcutter Inquiry Post and return to Pujiang."
In the letter Zhao Huaiyu had sent to Lin Hong, he only mentioned that Zhenzhen had nowhere to stay due to family troubles and hoped she could reside at the Woodcutter Inquiry Post to learn skills. He did not provide details about the incident at the Suitable Treasure Tower, nor did he mention when Zhenzhen would leave. Zhenzhen blamed herself for the family misfortune, deeply self-reproachful, and lacked the courage to explain in detail to Lin Hong. Thus, it was only now that Lin Hong learned she was leaving.
Zhenzhen apologized to Lin Hong and finally revealed the whole story of why she had come to learn here, explaining that with the Bureau of Palace Provisions selection approaching, she must depart for Pujiang. Seeing Lin Hong looking serious and silent, she tried to smile at him. "I am truly grateful for your teaching and care these days... Today is my seventeenth birthday. Thank you for teaching me the art of slicing fish, making it a very happy day for me... I will always remember all the kindness and goodwill you have shown me, and I hope one day I can repay it a hundredfold."
After hearing this, Lin Hong showed no expression of joy or anger, simply saying, "Follow me." He then walked toward the kitchen.
Zhenzhen followed Lin Hong to his kitchen. Lin Hong took some dried small taro from a jar, brought them to the hearth, lit a fire with straw, and buried the small taro in the ashes to roast.
"I didn't know today was your birthday, otherwise I would have prepared better ingredients. For now, these small taro will have to do for a late-night snack," Lin Hong said. "These taro have been dried; after roasting, they taste very much like chestnuts, so I call them 'earth chestnuts.' One early spring, Huaiyu came to visit me. He was in a hurry, and I hadn't prepared much, so we sat around the hearth, tasted these earth chestnuts, and talked all night."
Zhenzhen nodded. "I've seen San Niang drying these taro before but didn't know why. Thank you for letting me taste them today."Zhenzhen then sat down beside Lin Hong by the hearth, chatting idly while tending the fire to roast taro.
When the topic turned to learning culinary arts, Lin Hong asked Zhenzhen, "Since your family runs a restaurant, why didn't you start learning cooking from a young age?"
Zhenzhen sighed. "My father passed away early, and my mother raised me alone. When I was four, she adopted my elder sister Fengxian and met Pu Bo, and our lives became livelier. My mother was very beautiful, and in those years, many suitors proposed to her, but she turned them all down. Later, a young man from an official family wanted to take her as a concubine, but she flatly refused. While Pu Bo was away buying ingredients, that man sent people to break into our home, beating my mother severely. When Fengxian tried to stop them, she was also badly beaten. I was seven at the time and had been sent to school by my mother, so I escaped unharmed. Both my mother and Fengxian were bedridden from the injuries. When I returned home and saw they were too weak to cook, I decided to prepare food for them myself."
Lin Hong listened patiently, already anticipating what came next. "You hadn't cooked before, had you? So you made a mistake."
"Yes," Zhenzhen said gloomily. "I tried to imitate how my mother cooked based on vague memories. I placed a wooden steamer in a bronze pot, poured rice into it, set it on the stove, and lit the fire... I stayed by the stove but fell asleep without realizing it. Later, the wooden steamer caught fire... Do you know why?"
Lin Hong understood perfectly. "You forgot to add water to the steamer and the pot."
"It wasn't that I forgot—I simply didn't know I needed to add water. I usually just played and rarely entered the kitchen." Zhenzhen smiled bitterly, covering her face with her hands. After a moment of silence, she continued, "When I woke up, the kitchen was filled with thick smoke. Besides the steamer, other items near the stove had also caught fire, and then the nearby tables and chairs... I was trapped in the flames, crying in terror, but every time I opened my mouth, smoke rushed into my throat, causing violent coughing... Just as I was about to faint, my mother rushed in. She was so frail, and her injuries had made it difficult for her to even turn over in bed, but at that moment, she found strength from somewhere, moving swiftly as she scooped water from the vat, pouring it onto the flames... Finally, when the water ran out, she took off her clothes and desperately beat at the fire, eventually extinguishing the flames blocking my way and carrying me out."
Lin Hong shifted his gaze from Zhenzhen's face, avoiding her tear-filled eyes, and looked into the hearth. "You're fortunate to have such a good mother."
Zhenzhen took the opportunity to discreetly wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes and continued, "My mother saved my life. I was choked by the smoke, and my throat hurt for days, but I had no other injuries. As for her, besides the bruises from the beating, she suffered several burns... From then on, she firmly forbade me from entering the kitchen, insisting that I shouldn't learn cooking and should focus on studying instead. She said she would earn money to support and protect me..."
Lin Hong sighed. "You should have told me earlier about your purpose for learning and the time limit for leaving. That way, I could have taught you some rarer dishes. What you've learned so far are just rustic dishes, which might not easily catch the eye of the imperial family."
"I've already learned a great deal," Zhenzhen said with a faint smile. "The dishes you make are all uniquely crafted, embodying the four virtues of fine cuisine. You've also taught me to read poetry and classics, burn incense, arrange flowers, and even helped me recognize many more birds, flowers, fish, and insects. Most importantly, you've helped me understand many principles... These will surely benefit me in the future."Lin Hong smiled at her but did not speak immediately. The two sat around the stove, and though silent, both felt a deep sense of peace within, with no hint of awkwardness.
After a while, Lin Hong fished a small taro from the ashes. He peeled it open to check, found it perfectly cooked, continued to peel it fully, and then handed it to Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen took it and tasted it, finding the taro soft and powdery, with a fragrant, dry flavor, indeed very much like chestnuts.
After she quickly finished it, Lin Hong retrieved two more in succession, peeling them as before before giving them to Zhenzhen. He did not eat any himself, only offering a faint smile when Zhenzhen thanked him.
Once Zhenzhen finished the taro, she stood up to wash her hands and returned to Lin Hong’s side. Suddenly, she asked him, “Teacher, when is your birthday?”
Lin Hong was taken aback but finally answered, “The fifteenth day of the eighth month.”
“That’s the Mid-Autumn Festival!” Zhenzhen said with a smile. “What a wonderful day. Every birthday coincides with a time of family reunion.”
Lin Hong forced a smile. “From what I can remember, my birthdays have never been times of family reunion. The number of people grew fewer and fewer, and after I turned fifteen, I stopped celebrating my birthday.”
Zhenzhen was stunned, wanting to comfort Lin Hong but unsure where to begin.
It was Lin Hong who offered her a reassuring smile and said gently, “If you had not entered the palace, or if you leave after finding your mother, then return to Woodcutter Inquiry Post during the Mid-Autumn Festival to see the scenery… At that time, the garden is filled with golden chrysanthemums. When the autumn wind rises during the day, purple pears and red dates occasionally fall from the branches onto the moss, creating a splendid and beautiful sight. At night, a bright moon reflects in the autumn water of the pond, the silver ground pristine and dustless, offering another kind of serene beauty.”
Zhenzhen imagined the scene from afar, her heart yearning for it. Yet, mindful of her mother’s situation, she dared not promise rashly. With a soft sigh, she lowered her head in melancholy.
At that moment, the flames in the stove grew fiercer, and ashes from the straw danced with the fire, some drifting out of the stove. One piece, like a snowflake, landed on Lin Hong’s brow.
As Zhenzhen brushed the ashes off her own clothes, she turned and noticed the white speck on Lin Hong’s brow. Instinctively, she reached out to wipe it away, and Lin Hong did not avoid her touch, allowing her hand to brush it off.
Once the ashes were gone, Zhenzhen looked at Lin Hong’s still-elegant brows and eyes and smiled, feeling that his face, illuminated by the stove’s fire, was indescribably beautiful. Then, as if remembering something, she deliberately examined the skin on Lin Hong’s neck and hands.
Seeing her scrutinizing him, Lin Hong raised an eyebrow in question. Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Good, this time Teacher didn’t get goosebumps.”
As if wanting to confirm, Zhenzhen extended a finger and cautiously, very gently, poked Lin Hong’s hand.
The strange sensation sent a shiver through Lin Hong’s entire body. He pressed his lips together, lowered his gaze to look at Zhenzhen, and she looked up, her eyes as clear as a child’s. In her bright pupils, he saw his own reflection.
Zhenzhen smiled and said, “This time, you didn’t…”
Before she could finish speaking, the hand she had raised was seized by Lin Hong. While Zhenzhen was still stunned, another surprise struck—Lin Hong, holding her hand, suddenly pulled her toward him. Zhenzhen’s body leaned forward and fell into his embrace.
(To be continued)
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