Chapter 7
Qiao Hezhi lay on the soft couch idly flipping through a play script, but found it difficult to focus on the words. "Siyu, is the medicine ready? If it's not ready soon, I might just go to sleep first."
[戏文 (xìwén): the script, libretto, or the performance itself of classical Chinese opera, encompassing the singing, dialogue, and storytelling of genres like Kunqu or Yue Opera.]
"The medicine was just taken to the small kitchen to be simmered. It will probably take some more time. Please stay up a little longer, young master."
Hearing the unfamiliar voice line, Qiao Hezhi instinctively turned his head to look towards the door. Seeing that it was actually Fang Yu who had come, he couldn't help but be stunned. It took him a good while to react before he hurriedly put down the book in his hand and sat up properly. "You... why has the master come?"
Fang Yu stepped into the room and glanced at the play script on the soft couch. "Reading?"
Qiao Hezhi quickly closed the book and hid the play script behind his back. "They're just some lowbrow little books, read to pass the time. When did the master return?"
"I heard from Siyu that your knees hurt and you didn't know how to use the medicine from yesterday. I came to check on you."
"I... I'm not in much pain. It's already much better after using the medicine yesterday."
Fang Yu laughed. "That physician's medicine must truly have miraculous effects. We should always keep some at home. If there are any bumps or bruises in the future, it can be used."
Qiao Hezhi rubbed his fingers somewhat restlessly. He had felt disappointed when the person wasn't there after delivering the food. Now that he had finally come to see him, he didn't know what to say. Perhaps he had never really expected him to come, so this sudden visit had thrown him into disarray.
Seeing his expression, which was very much like a student having his homework inspected by the teacher, and considering the awkwardness of their relationship, Fang Yu said, "Have I disturbed you by coming?"
"N-No, not at all." Qiao Hezhi hurriedly said, "I just heard the master had gone out to meet poetry friends and thought you might return late."
"It was terribly dull. I won't go out for drinks again next time those scholars Yang and Liang invite me."
Fang Yu sat down at the table. Seeing this, Qiao Hezhi quickly got up, picked up a teacup, and poured some tea.
He was very surprised that Fang Yu would tell him such things. He asked, "Why is that? I remember the master is a classmate of those two Xiucai and often attend poetry gatherings with them."
"They are not people one can associate with deeply. If you go out and encounter them in the future, be sure not to engage in much conversation with them either." Fang Yu looked at Qiao Hezhi. "Let's not talk about them anymore, it just makes me angry. Sit down, and I'll apply the ointment for you."
Qiao Hezhi pressed his lips together, turned to fetch the ointment from the cabinet, and obediently sat down on the soft couch, rolling up his trouser leg. He watched as Fang Yu poured the medicine into his palm, rubbed his hands together, and then gently applied it to his knee. The physician's medicine was truly effective; after just one application yesterday, the redness and swelling on his knee had already subsided in less than a day. It would definitely be completely better in three to five days.
He should be happy that it was healing quickly, but now he found himself thinking that it wouldn't be a bad thing if the injury healed a little slower.
"I heard you only had some rice porridge at noon. Is it because you're ill and have no appetite?"
A faint trace of guilt flashed in Qiao Hezhi's eyes, as if his earlier sulking had been discovered. He quickly explained, "No, the physician said that when one is ill, it's not suitable to eat spicy or greasy food. That's why I only had some rice porridge."
"So obedient to the physician? You could even resist eating the food you made yourself."
"How did you know I made food?"
"I have a greedy mouth. When I returned, Xuezhu told me you had made grilled lamb. Eating lamb during the Winter Solstice is fitting for the season, so I told Siyu to heat it up."
A flash of light passed through Qiao Hezhi's eyes, but then he remembered he had already given it to Siyu to dispose of. Just as he was about to speak, Siyu and Xuezhu happened to enter the courtyard carrying the meal.
There was a plate of grilled lamb, two vegetable dishes, a soup, and Siyu had also warmed a pot of wine. Although it couldn't compare to the large table of food and drink at the Qionghua Tower, this small pot of wine in a warm room and a plate of fragrant lamb were enough to whet one's appetite.
Qiao Hezhi breathed a sigh of relief, and the words on his lips became, "If the master likes it, please try it. I don't know if it will suit your taste."
Fang Yu wasn't standoffish either. He sat down at the table and picked up his chopsticks. It wasn't an exaggeration by Xuezhu; the lamb was excellently grilled, wrapped in spices, and even the lunchbox couldn't completely block its aroma. He couldn't wait to taste a piece, and his appetite was immediately whetted. He didn't hold back his praise for Qiao Hezhi: "The skin is crispy, tender and juicy. I don't detect any gaminess, only the fragrance of the meat. This lamb is very well done."
The spices in this era were far less varied than in modern times, but being able to produce such roasted lamb was a complete surprise.
Qiao Hezhi pursed his lips, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.
"The lamb was made some time ago, it's even crispier right out of the pot." He added a cup of wine for Fang Yu. "If the master likes eating lamb, I can make some other lamb dishes tomorrow. I know how to make one or two dishes like the widely praised 'Pit-Roasted Lamb' from the restaurants."
Fang Yu was surprised; he had thought the grilled lamb on the table was his specialty. Although he was very interested in the "Pit-Roasted Lamb" Qiao Hezhi mentioned, he still rationally joked, "Although I'd like to taste this Pit-Roasted Lamb, eating lamb every day would probably make me suffer from excessive internal heat. Moreover, the price of lamb is high now. If this continues, the household expenses won't be small."
"That was an oversight on my part. If the master has any dishes you'd like to eat, you can tell me. I know how to make some of the popular dishes in the city now, as well as some homely ones."
"You can make so many dishes?" Fang Yu laughed. "Someone who didn't know might think the Qiao family was in the restaurant business."
"I learned a thing or two when I had nothing to do at home before." Qiao Hezhi lifted his eyes to look at Fang Yu. "Tomorrow for the midday meal, I'll make some dishes that are popular in the city. The master can come and taste them, or I can have Siyu deliver them to Bicang Small Pavilion."
Fang Yu almost agreed immediately, but then remembered he had matters to attend to tomorrow and said regretfully, "The academy has ended my leave. I have to go to the academy tomorrow and probably won't be able to come home for the midday meal."
"Then... I... I can deliver the meal to the academy tomorrow at noon? Anyway, the servants always have to deliver food there."
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