There was something stuck in his mind, but he couldn’t quite recall it.
Spring had arrived, and all the creatures that had been dormant through the winter in the mountains were now awakening. The various trees, flowers, and plants were all budding and turning green, full of life—truly, anything you grabbed was wild game, and whatever you plucked was a wild vegetable, things you could never find at the foot of the mountain.
The colorful village trinkets by the roadside dazzled Yu Jinnian’s eyes, and many of them were things he had never seen before. But they had only been on the road for two hours, and if Yu Jinnian were left to his own devices to admire everything, they probably wouldn’t reach their resting place by the next evening.
So, before Yu Jinnian could even make out what that patch of white flowers was, he was pulled back by Young Master Ji, who wrapped his arm around him and shoved a candied date into his mouth. After being teased by Young Master Ji for a while, Yu Jinnian quickly forgot all about it and curled up like a mother hen, listening to him read while drifting into his daydreams.
They traveled for several days, and one noon, they finally crossed a mountain ridge and arrived at a small village with only a dozen households. Naturally, there were no inns or lodgings, but a kind aunt selling pancakes at the village entrance, seeing they had come from afar, offered them her family’s old house to rest.
This aunt’s ancestors were once landlords, living in comfort and wealth, but later, they got into some trouble, and the family gradually declined. Everything valuable had been sold off or pawned, leaving only this empty house as a memento. Fortunately, her sons and daughters-in-law were diligent and filial, and although life wasn’t luxurious, they weren’t bullied.
Yu Jinnian rubbed his eyes as he got out of the carriage and saw before him a large courtyard. The aunt’s family only lived in the three or four rooms at the front, while most of the house in the back was vacant, so there was plenty of space for them. However, many of the rooms hadn’t been used for years and were dusty, requiring a good cleaning.
Shi Xing took a few men to fetch water and rags for cleaning, while Qing Huan settled the little maid and went to borrow some bedding. The two young masters of the Min family, their hands unused to any labor, were already exhausted from the journey. After giving a few instructions, they retired early to rest. Su Ting and his companions, having never traveled so far before, collapsed onto the dusty beds without a care and immediately fell asleep.
Initially, Ji Hong tried to stop the young boy, saying such trivial tasks could be left to the servants. But how could Yu Jinnian sit still? He couldn’t manage the serene act of “idly watching the flowers bloom and fall.” After watching just two petals drop in the courtyard, he became restless. By the time Ji Hong returned with tea, he found the little rascal directing Shi Xing and the others as they worked, even standing on a stool to clean the cobwebs from the corners, which made Ji Hong’s heart pound with anxiety.
Their half of the courtyard was bustling with activity, while the other half was eerily quiet.
Lu Yanjia had arranged for a few chairs to be set up in the courtyard and placed some tea there. Although his face didn’t fully show it, the furrow in his brow made it clear that he was deeply dissatisfied with the simplicity of their accommodations. When a servant approached to pour him hot water, First Young Master Lu threw the remaining tea in the servant’s face, venting his anger. “What kind of moldy tea is this? Do you want to poison your master?”
He followed it up with a kick at the stunned servant. “What are you standing there for? Go make a fresh pot!”
The servant was quite aggrieved. This was clearly the same Dragon Lip Cloud Mist tea that his master always enjoyed, freshly taken from his luggage. How had it suddenly become undrinkable “moldy tea”? But after serving Lu Yanjia for many years, he knew his master’s temper and didn’t dare argue. It wasn’t the tea that was moldy, but rather his luck. So, after being beaten and scolded, he slinked away, submissively.
Nearby, Qi Wenjun said nothing, seemingly unable to tolerate Lu Yanjia’s temper either. She stood up soon after.
“Where are you going? Sit down,” Lu Yanjia glanced at her, his tone not particularly gentle.
Qi Wenjun replied coldly, “I don’t feel well. It’s probably the baby causing trouble. I’m going to rest.”
That “baby” was the precious offspring of the Lu family, hard-won after much effort. Lu Yanjia’s gaze fell on her belly, but he held back his anger, letting her go without further comment.
The servant who had been scolded came out, wiping the tea stains off his face. Out of sight of Lu Yanjia, his expression turned dark as he spat into the jade tea cup in his hand, glaring at it with venom. “Hmph, just a bastard. You may have climbed up to a noble, but you’re no emperor,” he muttered.
Just as he was in the middle of his rant, he heard someone laugh. “Hey, is that you again? What, got scolded again?”
The servant looked up to see the same boy who had bullied him before. His luck couldn’t get worse, and he gave the boy a dirty look. “What do you want? Come to laugh at me?”
Yu Jinnian was carrying a bucket of water, so he couldn’t use his hands. He carefully set the bucket down before pulling out a handkerchief from his sleeve, rolling it into a ball, and tossing it over to the servant with a grin. “Here, wipe yourself.”
Seeing something thrown his way, the servant instinctively caught it. Feeling the soft fabric and the faint scent of perfume, the material was as smooth as a lady’s undergarment. He hadn’t touched such things before, but it felt feminine, and he suddenly felt mocked. His neck flushed with anger as he threw the handkerchief back. “What kind of girly nonsense is this? Take it back, I don’t want to dirty my hands!”
These little items were always prepared by Qing Huan, and Yu Jinnian didn’t mind what he was given; he wasn’t picky. After picking up the handkerchief, he sniffed it—indeed, it had a faint fragrance, but it was the kind Ji Hong often used for scenting his clothes. And of course, ladies’ materials were always soft. How did that make it girly?
The servant, already in a foul mood after his run-in with Lu Yanjia, was now practically fuming. He couldn’t get rid of the silky feeling left on his fingers, and as he stared at Yu Jinnian, he recalled how the boy and that well-dressed man had been inseparable throughout the journey. To say they were “inseparable” was an understatement—there had been several times when he had even seen that man touch the boy’s face!
He suddenly had an epiphany, thinking he had uncovered some unspeakable secret, and with the glee of a small-minded person, he sneered, “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you off ‘serving’ your handsome master?”
He emphasized the word “serving” with a heavy sarcasm, which anyone with a discerning ear could pick up on. His intent was to embarrass the boy, especially since, in his narrow-minded view, serving someone with one’s body was considered vulgar. A man serving with his body? Even more vulgar—if someone stooped so low, they deserved to be ridiculed.
Yu Jinnian, however, merely smiled and said, “Oh, him? He’s easy to serve. He’s just waiting for me to come back and have tea!”
“…” The servant hadn’t expected him not only to not refute it but to look smug about it. It felt like his heavy blow had landed on a soft cushion, and it made him so angry that his face twisted. With a low curse of “small-minded fool,” he bypassed Yu Jinnian and headed to the kitchen.
Yu Jinnian simply chose not to lower himself to the servant’s level. As they passed each other into the back courtyard, First Young Master Lu had already gone inside, but Young Master Ji was still standing at the door, watching something. When he saw Yu Jinnian, he immediately straightened up and came over to help.
“What are you looking at?” Yu Jinnian carried the bucket into the room, feeling parched after all the work. Without caring if the water was cold, he grabbed a ladle and took a big gulp.
“Just had a sudden thought… This Young Master Lu seems familiar, like I’ve seen him somewhere before…” Ji Hong withdrew his gaze, then seeing Yu Jinnian gulping down the cold water, quickly took the ladle from his hand. “Why are you drinking cold water?”
Yu Jinnian chuckled, “It’s fresh from the well, sweet as can be.”
The water was indeed clear and clean, without any odd taste. It had a slight sweetness, better than the water from the well in the noodle shop courtyard, almost like spring water.
Ji Hong was more worried that drinking cold water would give him a stomachache, while Yu Jinnian was already thinking about how to use the well water for cooking.
Just then, a little boy, about five or six years old, came bouncing in, hopping in that playful way young children do, switching feet with each step. The two little buns on top of his head wobbled as he moved, making him look like a chubby child from a New Year’s painting. Without any shyness, he bounced right up to Yu Jinnian and tilted his head, saying, “My mom asked if you’re cold or hungry, do you want some food?”
Yu Jinnian ruffled the little boy’s hair buns and laughed, “And who’s your mom? What else did she say?”
“My mom is my mom, who else?” The boy pouted, clearly displeased. “My mom said she’s cooking, dad’s chopping wood, and… um, I forgot…” His face began to crumple, and he looked like he was about to cry.
This little guy was clearly spoiled at home, as tender as tofu. Seeing his big, red, tear-filled eyes, Yu Jinnian immediately softened his voice, picked him up, and comforted him. He also took a few dried fruits from his pocket to give him. “Alright, alright, it’s okay if you forgot. It’s normal for kids not to remember everything! I’ll go help your mom and dad with the cooking later, okay?”
“Okay…” The little boy mumbled, his cheeks bulging with the dried fruit. His eyes, however, were fixated on the plate of pastries on the table. It seemed his mother had taught him not to ask for other people’s things, so even though he was practically drooling, he didn’t say a word.
Ji Hong, on the other hand, had little patience for noisy children, especially ones still sucking on their fingers. The sight of the boy made his head throb, so he quickly distanced himself, pretending to read a book. But Yu Jinnian saw right through him and playfully brought the boy closer, telling him to pick whichever pastry he liked.
The boy leaned over the table, his drool almost dripping, and finally chose an orchid pastry.
The orchid pastry wasn’t anything special—just dough, sugar, and butter rolled into balls, flattened into layers, then cut with a knife to make flower-shaped patterns before being fried to a pale yellow, crispy, sweet perfection.
Considering how they’d traveled long distances, Ji Hong had prepared these treats to pass the time for Yu Jinnian. Now, seeing the boy hand them out one by one to the child, he furrowed his brow slightly and pulled the plate away a bit. When Yu Jinnian looked up at him, he pretended it was an accidental move, keeping his eyes on his book.
The little boy’s hands were now full, unable to carry any more, and just then, Duan Ming returned, saying he had caught a rabbit. Yu Jinnian put the boy down and sent him off to see the rabbit.
Ji Hong was still reading, but before he knew it, the book was snatched out of his hands, revealing Yu Jinnian’s mischievous face. “What’s this? You’re actually upset over a few pastries?”
“Why would I be upset?” Ji Hong turned away, switching to another book, and calmly said, “Just don’t complain later that your mouth feels empty.”
Yu Jinnian snatched the book again, staring at him for a moment. Then he suddenly leaned in close, pressing down on Ji Hong’s sleeve as if to move in for a kiss. “How is my mouth empty? You should explain that clearly.” But just as Ji Hong leaned forward, Yu Jinnian ducked away, laughing, leaving Ji Hong grasping at thin air. Laughing loudly, Yu Jinnian tossed the book back to him and ran off to see the rabbit with Duan Ming.
Ji Hong glanced at the wrinkled sleeve Yu Jinnian had pressed down on, and though he didn’t know why, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.
The rabbit, still alive, had escaped its bindings and was now running wildly around the courtyard. Yu Jinnian crouched on the doorstep, laughing as he watched Duan Ming chase it. The little boy ran over with a handful of leaves, proudly offering them up. “Here, play with these! If you crush them, you can use them to write!”
Despite being so young that he didn’t even know what writing was, the little boy was eager to talk about it. Yu Jinnian patted his head and praised him, “So talented! I can already tell you’ll be a top scholar in the future!” He then took the leaf and his eyes lit up. “Tell me, where did you pick this leaf? Let’s go get more, okay?”
“Just behind the house…”
There weren’t many children in the village the same age as the little boy, and the older kids thought he was too childish, always sucking his thumb and playing in the mud, so they didn’t include him in their games. Naturally, when Yu Jinnian suggested going to pick more leaves, the boy saw him as a “good brother” and eagerly tugged at Yu Jinnian’s sleeve to lead the way. Before leaving, Yu Jinnian quietly instructed Duan Ming to skin and clean the rabbit so they could cook it when he returned.
The two “kids” circled behind the old house and found a patch of lush greenery down the slope, where a few nandina trees were growing by the roadside.
Nandina, or *nanzhu*, was common in Jiangnan, but rarer in the north. These particular trees were thriving in the sunny spot, tall and healthy, with a few small saplings sprouting nearby. Yu Jinnian tucked up his robe, rolled up his sleeves, and started picking the leaves one by one. Though the little boy didn’t understand why he needed so many, he happily helped out.
As for what Yu Jinnian was going to do with the leaves? He was planning to eat them, of course!
Due to differences in customs, these leaves weren’t commonly used in the north. In the south, however, the tree had another name: the “black rice tree.” The juice extracted from its leaves was a deep color, which was why the little boy used it for his writing games.
Around Qingming Festival each year, in southern towns, people would pick these leaves, squeeze out the juice, and soak rice in it. The rice, once steamed, would turn a dark greenish-black. This “black rice” was made with *nanzhu* leaves.
Not only was black rice popular among common folk, but it was also favored in both Buddhist and Daoist traditions, where it was surrounded by various legends. In Daoism, it even had a more elusive name: “green essence.”
It was said that ancient Daoist sages created this dish to promote lightness of body and longevity. The color green symbolized spring, the time of rising yang energy when the world and all living things flourished. The green of the dish symbolized the nourishment of spring, and since the *nanzhu* tree grew toward the sun and absorbed yang energy, its leaves were called “green essence.” While these were just later interpretations, the tree’s real benefits—strengthening the body and improving health—were beyond doubt. Its branches, leaves, and fruit were all beneficial to the liver and kidneys, boosting vitality and providing anti-aging effects. No wonder Daoists believed it could prolong life.
Yu Jinnian picked a whole bundle of *nanzhu* leaves, then led the little boy back home, where they bumped into his mother returning from outside.
The young woman couldn’t have been much older than Ji Hong, her face still carrying the fresh softness of youth. Who would’ve thought she was already the mother of a five-year-old? The little boy rushed up to hug her, excitedly recounting how Yu Jinnian had played with him, telling the story over and over. The young woman repeatedly thanked and apologized to Yu Jinnian, saying her son was troublesome and had pestered him.
They headed into the kitchen together, where Yu Jinnian soaked the *nanzhu* leaves in water and prepared a stone pestle to mash them.
As he looked over, he noticed the boy’s mother taking something out of a basket. It was the white, plump thing he had seen earlier by the roadside. Curious, he thought it looked familiar but couldn’t recall where he had seen it. With genuine curiosity, he asked, “Pardon me, ma’am, but what is this?”
The young woman, seeing his fine clothes but sensing no arrogance, was no longer as nervous. She answered, “It’s a type of mushroom, wild from the forest. It rained a couple of days ago, and today I saw a lot of them sprouting, so I picked some.”
Yu Jinnian smiled and asked, “Is it called ‘meat mushroom’ because it tastes like meat?”
Though their house seemed spacious, it was really just an old family estate, and they lived like any other village household, not enjoying meat regularly. When Yu Jinnian mentioned meat, the young woman blushed slightly, embarrassed. “Yes… we’re not like you noble people who can eat meat all the time. We just use this to satisfy our cravings…”
Yu Jinnian hadn’t meant it that way, but realizing his offhand remark had caused her some embarrassment, he quickly changed the subject, focusing on washing the *nanzhu* leaves. After thoroughly cleaning them, he placed them in the stone mortar to soak, preparing to grind them into a paste.
He brought in the high-quality rice they had carried from the carriage. The young woman, now curious about the *nanzhu* leaf juice, moved aside as Yu Jinnian filtered the juice and soaked the rinsed rice in it. She couldn’t help but ask, “What are you making?”
Yu Jinnian smiled, “I’m going to steam some green essence rice.”
Just as he was explaining what green essence rice was, the kind aunt who had lent them the house came stomping in, grumbling under her breath, “What nonsense! Back when I was a young lady, I’ve seen plenty of servants. Who does this one think he is, acting so high and mighty? Truly an insolent slave!”
The young woman quickly stepped forward to calm her, whispering, “Mother, please, not in front of our guests.”
The aunt huffed, “What did I say? Back when I was young—” She stopped abruptly when she saw there was indeed a guest in the kitchen, her mood instantly dampened.
The men from the Min and Ji families were all well-trained, cold, and polite, never speaking more than necessary. They wouldn’t waste words, let alone be called “insolent slaves.” If anyone had angered the aunt this much, it was likely someone under First Young Master Lu’s employ. Yu Jinnian, seeing the situation, said, “Aunt, don’t be upset. It’s not worth it. Why don’t you try some of this green essence rice later? It’s good for your liver and body, and it might even turn your hair black again, just like our little madam here—beautiful as a flower.”
The aunt was easily swayed by Yu Jinnian’s sweet words, which were as honeyed as they were polite. Even though she knew it was impossible to regain her youth, she still felt flattered. And with Yu Jinnian being so young and lovable, she couldn’t help but smile and pat her hair before secretly pulling out a piece of sesame candy she had been saving for her eldest grandson to give to him.
While the *nanzhu* leaf juice was soaking into the rice, Yu Jinnian prepared a simple shepherd’s purse and egg soup. As for the wild rabbit, he planned to cook it later with Ji Hong in a small private setup, so he didn’t bother preparing it in the main kitchen. He’d wait until he returned to his room to use their portable stove.
Once the rice had absorbed the *nanzhu* leaf juice and turned a dark green, it was time to steam it. When finished, the rice would have a dark greenish-blue hue, and if mixed with brown sugar or honey, it would taste even better.
As soon as the rice was set on the fire, Madam Lu arrived with a smile, holding a jar of wine. She entered and said, “Aunt, it was my servant earlier who was rude and spoke out of turn. You’ve already been kind enough to let us stay here, and I heard you’re fond of good wine. This jar of *Taoxi Hong* is a little treat to satisfy your palate.”
The Lu family was filled with scoundrels, with the exception of these two sisters, who remained untainted. Compared to the foul-mouthed, long-faced servant and his despicable master, the sisters were like lotus flowers rising clean from the mud.
Madam Lu smiled as she entered the kitchen, glancing around—likely in search of some food.
The Lu family’s servants were nothing like Yu Jinnian, who knew medicine, herbs, and how to cook, nor were they as skilled as Duan Ming or Shi Xing, who could scale walls and hunt game. In town, Lu Yanjia could still throw his weight around, but in the countryside, his people—ignorant of farming and incapable of hard labor—were completely dependent on their dry rations or whatever hospitality they could get.
The aunt understood this and didn’t want to provoke such officials, so she smoothly followed Madam Lu’s lead. “It was just a few extra words, no need for you to come here yourself. Please, if there’s anything you’d like to eat, we’re just a humble village, but we’ll do our best to serve you…”
Madam Lu glanced at Yu Jinnian and then quickly looked away, seemingly still embarrassed from the previous arsenic incident.
She didn’t ask for anything fancy, just a few simple dishes that were already available in the kitchen, and she left behind two silver ingots as compensation. The aunt, who indeed had a fondness for fine wine, had already caught the aroma of the jar from a distance. Just as Madam Lu was about to set down the wine jar, her gaze fell on the meat mushrooms being prepared by the aunt’s daughter-in-law.
The aunt smiled and said, “Madam, would you like to try some? It’s a local delicacy from our village! Though it may look simple, I assure you it’s just as good as anything you’d find in a restaurant. This is true mountain delicacy!”
“Is that so? Then why not share some with us outsiders to taste?” Madam Lu replied. But suddenly, she paused, as if something had flickered across her face. Even Yu Jinnian thought it was just a trick of the light from the fire. Her expression quickly returned to normal, and nothing seemed out of place.
The aunt continued explaining how delicious the meat mushrooms were when—
*Crash!*
The jar of *Taoxi Hong* slipped from Madam Lu’s hands and shattered on the floor, the fragments scattering everywhere.
Immediately, a rich aroma of wine filled the doorway of the kitchen.
The aunt cried out in dismay, “Oh no!”
Madam Lu lowered her head slightly, looking apologetic as she said, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened. It just slipped out of my hands…” She quickly knelt down to help clean up the mess. Before the aunt could grab a shard to lick for a taste of the wine, Madam Lu had already swiftly cleaned up all the broken pieces. “Look at this mess. Well, it’s broken now, so there’s no use fussing over it. I’ll have someone bring over a box of peach blossom pastries instead.”
As she looked up, she noticed Yu Jinnian staring directly at her.
She quickly averted her gaze, rising hurriedly and walking toward the door. “I’m so clumsy, I’ll just get out of your way now. I’ll send someone with the pastries shortly,” she said, glancing back one last time before leaving.
Yu Jinnian furrowed his brows, his eyes lingering on the dark stain of wine soaking into the ground for a moment before following her last glance toward the half-sliced meat mushrooms on the table. The mushroom flesh was white and didn’t look like any poisonous variety he was familiar with. Besides, if it were truly poisonous, the aunt’s family, who ate it regularly, would have been affected long ago.
Still, there was something nagging at the back of his mind, something he couldn’t quite remember. He thought to himself, *I’ve definitely seen this before, but where exactly…?*