Chapter 30: The apricot blossoms are about to get wet from the rain, and the willow branches are blowing in the wind without feeling cold.

  On the second day, the Smoke and Rain Pavilion also started to receive guests. It seemed that various rumors had been circulating for a long time, and it was only natural that they would eventually come true. After all, not many people had actually seen ghosts, but the Smoke and Rain Pavilion had somehow absorbed the thick fragrance of the White Gentleman's scent, which lingered on for a long time and made the pavilion even more famous. Scholars and poets recited "The fragrance of flowers assails people, knowing it is warm during the day", saying that they had dreamed of the flower god in the Smoke and Rain Pavilion, and when they smelled it, it was indeed true. As they recited poetry while drinking tea in the flower hall, the atmosphere was particularly enjoyable, and the Smoke and Rain Pavilion suddenly became lively again.

  Could it be that this fragrance and dream were the vital energy and blood that Bai Gongzi paid for the Smoke Rain Pavilion sister, leaving a return gift? Going to Longshen Temple to worship, only to hear that the fragrance of the pagoda tree in Longshen Temple is even more intense. Entering the door, I saw that Longjing was half-reclining on the offering table, holding a porcelain jar in his hand, using his slender fingers to scoop out the transparent liquid inside and eat it.

  The melon slices are drooling and about to drip, shouting: "Give me, give me!"

  "Go, go, go! The white one is left for me, not you. Your parrot's mouth is stuck, and I don't have to listen to your chatter. The Dragon God Temple is too quiet, which is actually not good."

  "I couldn't help but ask: 'Dragon God, what is this? Why does it smell so unusual?'"

  Longjing smiled and said, "Xiaobai didn't refuse, saying that he wouldn't let this god eat the pagoda flowers grown on his body. Instead, before the flowering period ended, he asked Yuwang Xian to collect a bottle of pagoda flower honey for this god. And also, there's a basket of the freshest and tenderest Sichuan pepper buds inside."

  So it is indeed, people categorize themselves into groups, objects gather with similar kinds. White gentleman and Dragon God are really of the same kind!

  "Flower pepper sprouts are paired with plum vegetables, and the plum vegetables are given to Father Dragon God to make flower pepper sprout meat diced fried noodles to eat!" I said bravely.

  "It's just as well," Longshen smiled faintly: "The silly girl is still the same as before."

  It's very windy on sunny days. It has been blowing for several days, and at night you can hear the strong wind whistling over the roof, and the sound of the beams being squeezed.

  Seeping through the window gap, in addition to the wind and sand, there is also the smell of fresh leaves being crushed. Opening the door early, the wind has just subsided, and on the street corners are colorful flower petals and broken tender branches. The originally flourishing spring scene has been ravaged and left disheveled.

  People who opened their stalls early on Zi Yu Street were yawning and greeting each other, all saying: "The wind was really strong last night!"

  "Yes, it's windy, I'm just afraid the roof tiles will be blown off!"

  "If someone goes out on the street, they'll probably be blown away like a kite!"

  The bluestone street was blown clean by the wind, and the sand in the stone seams was all blown away.

  It has not rained for several days, and the sky is dry and parched. The lush and green mugwort balls are particularly lovely and have become a new favorite snack of the season.

  Picked a handful of tender mugwort tips on the mountain slope, brought them back home to clean and rinse with water, squeezed out excess water, finely chopped into mugwort paste, wrapped in gauze to squeeze out juice, then mixed with glutinous rice flour and kneaded until even, the white glutinous rice flour was coated with mugwort paste, turning into a delightful green color.

  With sesame seeds, or red sugar, or bean paste, or mashed potatoes to adjust the flavor as filling, wrap it in a glutinous rice ball with wormwood, knead into small balls, and steam over boiling water, slowly releasing the unique fragrance of wormwood, making people drool. Across thousands of years: meeting you after a thousand years

  Out of the steamer, but saw a round and smooth small ball, soft and sticky glutinous rice flour with a faint bitter taste of wormwood, when it touched the sweet filling, the fragrance accompanied by sweetness, appetizing and warming, making people eat one after another, soft and delicious, simply can't stop.

  However, glutinous rice is difficult to digest, so it's better to eat less of it. Eating a small amount can already make people feel very satisfied.

  The crystal girl likes this kind of mugwort ball, and has already given advance notice to her father. After finishing breakfast, I took the basket to send it to the Smoke Rain Pavilion.

  Unexpectedly, just as they arrived at the gate of the Smoke and Rain Pavilion, a large crowd was gathered in a circle, discussing something.

  I thought there was a commotion to watch, relying on my slender figure, I squeezed in to take a look, thinking it was just another street performer doing some tricks. But unexpectedly, it was a young woman lying on the bluestone street, wearing only a thin spring shirt, her face down and unconscious, her hair disheveled, seemingly in a coma.

  Although people said they were watching from a distance, none of them dared to take a closer look. They all discussed: "Could it be that she is the concubine who secretly escaped from a wealthy family and got sick here due to the strong wind?"

  "Look at him, he's probably not going to make it..." An old woman said: "Who lies down with their face facing downwards?"

  "This girl has delicate and tender flesh, probably hasn't had a hard life..."

  "Could it be that she is the young lady of a wealthy family kidnapped by mountain bandits?"

  "You guys, guarding the Smoke and Rain Pavilion, are actually guessing far away!" A sly-looking scoundrel pointed at the Smoke and Rain Pavilion and whispered: "Who knows, maybe it's the sister of the Smoke and Rain Pavilion, who couldn't bear the cruelty of the madam, and took her own life in front of the pavilion to show her grievances!"

  "Go to hell!" A sharp, shrill voice rang out: "Hu Saner, I think you're just sour grapes! You've been eyeing our Smoke and Rain Pavilion every day, but you don't even have a single copper coin in your pocket. Toad wants to eat swan meat, no less, and you dare to splash dirty water at us!"

  We turned back to see Luo Mama bringing her servants, coming out in a majestic manner, staring with wide eyes, hands on hips, pointing at Hu San: "Having money makes you a guest, but your mouth is not clean! How could our Smoke and Rain Pavilion have someone as despicable as you?"

  Hu Saner took one look at Luo Mama personally taking the stage and was so scared that he tucked his feet in and, amidst a chorus of loud curses, hugged his head and scurried away.

  "You scoundrel! You're just a coward!" Ro's mother said with great indignation, her words still lingering in the air.

  Others took a look at Luo Mama's expression, which was not to be trifled with. Some of them lifted their feet and left, while others approached her with a flattering smile and asked: "Luo Mama, since this girl is not from the Smoke Rain Pavilion, how did she happen to be lying in front of the Treasure Gate? Does Luo Mama know?"

  "Who knows this!" Luo's mother frowned and scrunched up her eyebrows: "Good grief, dying at the gate of my Smoke Rain Pavilion, how inauspicious!"

  As he spoke, he tried to stir the woman, and after a while, she faintly let out a soft, thread-like voice: "Ah...".

  "Not dead!" Madam Luo was taken aback at first, then raised her face and shouted: "Xiao Qiu, hurry up and invite Dr. Huang from Hui Chun Tang to come over!" She also pointed at a young servant and ordered: "Hurry up and report to the officials! Tell them that there is a woman with unknown origins here, maybe she's an escaped convict or something, our Yan Yu Lou doesn't want to get entangled in this kind of relationship, when the time comes, who can bear this responsibility?"