Xin Mei bowed her head and took a knife as she concentrated on carving the tofu. The tofu had been soaked in cold water before, added with today being in the middle of winter, her hands had began to turn red. Some of her fingers had became unsmooth, so she had to slowly draw the outline of her face, while holding her breath, for fear of making any mistakes.

She remembered when she went to see him several times before, he was always late. It seemed like he was unwilling to come. However, later on, it was him who came to wait for her early by the edge of the cliff. His words gradually became more and more, unlike their first cliff meeting at the beginning, where she would say ten sentences, and he could not return even two words.

This is a shāomai with mushrooms and glutinous rices as fillings. Shāomai is a type of dumpling. What makes it different that the usual dumpling is, the top of a shāomai isn't properly sealed, as it left open like in the picture.

Image Credit : 遙遠の呼喚 () via Meis.h.i.+ China

Zhao Guanrenrespectful term of address for a man in the Song Dynasty², who was stuck in the underground palace while writing the final part of Unhappy Couple Made In Heaven, would occasionally come out for fresh air. When he sniffed the delicious smells, he had spittle three feet longChinese idiom : drool with envy³ and immediately ran into the kitchen. His eyes emitted green light as he looked at the white tender pastries.

“Miss has made them herself. How could they not be delicious!”

“Miss, are you going to Changgeng Mountain Pa.s.s tonight to talk to the General?”

“Could you please take our messages to the General too?” He dug in his crumpled sleeve for a long time before he took out a crumpled envelope and placed it in her hand.

When Xin Mei opened the envelope, she saw inside, a piece of white paper which had been folded so many times. The names of all the monsters had been written on it. Tao Guoguo and his younger brother couldn't write, so each of them had attached their yellow feathers, one each inside. His younger brother also left behind his fat palm print on the paper.

Zhao Guanrenrespectful term of address for a man in the Song Dynasty² smiled at her in a lewd way, “How can we let him to be an eyesore amidst the flowers under the moonlightChinese idiom : ideal setting for a couple in love⁵ in your world of two peopleromantic couple's world⁶? Miss, you should ask the General to come back quickly. I'm almost done with the final part of Unhappy Couple Made in Heaven. We'll start the performance once he comes back. I've changed a lot of the storyline this time, and I'm sure there won't be another tragedy.“

“No, no, no, it's definitely different this time! It is an outcome that even you will never guess!“ Zhao Guanren touched his beard mysteriously and whispered, “I'm going to make the General's mother dies of severe illness. The mother's dying wish is to ask the General marries a war demon n.o.ble lady, which made him stuck in a dilemma between loyalty and filial piety. As a result, you will have to withdraw while feeling gloomy. Fifty years later, the General will stand in front of your grave and weep silently. Then he draws his sword and commits suicide to follow you.“

Xin Mei s.n.a.t.c.hed the steamed buns left in the steamer and stuffed them in her mouth. This old person had a crow's beakperson who has made an inauspicious remark⁷. She could not let him eat anymore good things.

Zhao Guanrenrespectful term of address for a man in the Song Dynasty² sent her to the edge of the Miss Formation while smilingly said, “Miss, isn't this good now? You have changed a lot, since you are not acting so childish anymore. You must quickly become a much better woman and get the General back.“

With a smile, she turned around and went out through the Mist Formation.

However, he was not here today.

She took out five boxes of pastries from the huge food box and gave them to him, “Here's a box for you, happy new year. Please send the remaining four boxes to Xinxie Manor for me.“

Xin Mei thought for a moment, “Why don't I ride Qiu Yue first and you will catch up with me after you deliver the pastries?”

“Fake monk, have you encountered any happy occasion today?”

The Great Monk's eyes gleamed slightly as he smiled, “Why do you ask?”

Although he was usually happy and gigglingChinese idiom : frivolous⁹, today he…how should she put it, was quite different than usual. There was an inexplicable pleasure coming from within him, which unable to deceive her eyes.

What was good the occasion? She was a little curious.

“Then, you go first. I'll catch up with you later.”

Xin Mei rode on the back of Qiu Yue and patted it on the head. “Good Qiu Yue, let's go to Changgeng Mountain Pa.s.s.”

On the first day of the first lunar month, the peasant army who had repeatedly committed crimes did not come to attack. Presumably, everyone was busy celebrating the new year. It was rare for Changgeng Mountain Pa.s.s to feel warm for once. While, the country soldiers celebrated the new year by following the customs of their hometowns, either by making jiaoziChinese steamed dumplings¹⁰ or eight treasure rice puddings. The aroma of the food masked the lingering smells of smoke and blood.

He dug into the red and green eight treasure rice puddings, and put one into his mouth—it was too sweet.

He seldom felt somewhat flighty and impetuousChinese idiom : frustrated¹¹ as he looked up at the sun. It was estimated that it would be one or two s.h.i.+chenone of the 12 two hours period of the day=2 hours¹² before dusk to arrive. At that time, Xin Mei would come. He was hungry, but he didn't want to eat anything because she had promised that she would cook for him today.

He finally grasped the taste of nostalgia and hoped that the sun would soon fall—he missed her and he wanted to see her much earlier. This time, he wanted to try to jump over the cliff, stand beside her and touch her cheek.

If she didn't come, the whole Changgeng Mountain Pa.s.s would seem to be in black and white. The smell of blood no longer excited him. He wanted more…he wanted to smell her once more.

He put down the square map and grabbed the heavenly maiden darent.i.tle of respect toward superiors¹³ that had been on the table for a long time. He adjusted her sleeves, combed her hair and took out the knife to trim its worn and unsmooth areas.

“General! He, he just trespa.s.sed…“

“It's okay. You may go out.” Lu Qianqiao put down the doll and stood up.

Lu Qianqiao did not look at him, but instead asked him with a heavy expression, “What is it?”

Lu Qianqiao still didn't look at him, “I won't go back to my clan.”

Lu Qianqao finally looked back, with his two cold eyes on him. Li Min suddenly felt afraid in his heart, and he involuntarily took a step back. He bowed his head, didn't dare to offend him anymore.

…..these mother and son, was it inevitable that they were going to fight till one died?

Noob Translator's Musing Sorry for the delay. It had been a very busy week for me, you know, with works and with it being at the end of the year. (X_X)

And another one, I think I have mistakenly translated a word. Remember when the Fake Monk...err..I mean the Great Monk told Xin Mei about LQQ's past? I had translated that LQQ was sent to Hui People, when it actually meant his (mother's) clan, the War Demon Clan. I will have to change that one too.

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