Chapter 138: Cherry Sweet Drink

Sui Sui said it was fine, and everyone felt relieved.

The children had been busy for half a day and were tired.

Ying Ningzhi clamored for water, and upon hearing that, Su Xiangzhi also said she wanted water.

If they hadn't mentioned it, it would have been fine, but once they did, Sui Sui also felt a bit thirsty.

The children came back noisy, and Aunt Qiu had already had people prepare the appropriate snacks.

Sui Sui had Ying Zhi holding her left hand and Liu He Meng holding her right; the three young ladies returned happily.

Ying Junzhi followed behind with his brothers, like loyal and reliable knights.

After entering the house, Aunt Qiu led them to one side to eat and drink.

"The Zhuangzi estate sent cherries early this morning; they've just turned red, still a bit sour. The back kitchen boiled them with cow's milk, added osmanthus honey and walnut pieces. Young masters, come try them—if they're still sour, there's sugar on the side you can add."

"The snacks prepared are lotus pastries, pickled plums, and crispy walnuts."

……

Aunt Qiu led the way while also introducing what they were eating and drinking today.

The Grand Princess and her entourage were coming today, so the kitchen naturally had prepared early.

Not only here, but the Small Classroom also had them.

The Feng family brothers still in class at the Small Classroom didn't know that, while they were in class, their homes might be stolen.

Ying Zhi had already been whispering in Sui Sui's ear: "Sui Sui, do you want to come back to the manor with me, sister? My manor is wonderful; from now on you can hug me, sleep with me, and I'll give you my clothes and toys—okay?"

Liu He Meng also wanted to lure her away, but knowing some of Sui Sui's circumstances, she thought it better not to say much.

After thinking, she finally restrained herself.

She thought, Grandfather said she was here to accompany Sui Sui, so she couldn't just abduct her.

The young masters of the manor aren't so easy to provoke.

She's not like Ying Zhi, who has several older brothers; if they really confronted each other, the other side would have some fighting strength.

As for herself……

Thinking of her own brother, Liu He Meng got a headache.

When fighting her, he could be fierce.

When out and about, he behaves like a proper gentleman.

It's really worrisome!

Today's snack is something Sui Sui had never seen before.

Cherries.

This thing is also planted in Qingzhou, but Sui Sui's village doesn't have it.

The cherries are just about to ripen, but not all at once.

One needs to pick from these trees the best ones that have been bathed in sunlight.

Even so, by the time they're ready, they still retain a slight sourness.

When truly ripe, they are sweet with a hint of sourness, which balances the flavor well.

Seeing Sui Sui curiously staring at the teacup, Ying Zhi leaned over and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Is there gold in the bowl?"

Sui Sui, teased, didn't know whether to be angry, just pursed her lips and softly said, "Red little fruit."

The cherries have been pitted by the head chef, then boiled with processed cow's milk; after boiling, they are let cool slightly, then osmanthus honey and walnut pieces are added.

At this point, each little fruit floats in the water, looking tempting and delicious.

Hearing Sui Sui say that, Ying Zhi nodded: "Mm, this should be the early-ripening batch of cherries; only with good care do they ripen. My father said it's colder here in Jing Cheng, so it's not easy to cultivate them. If we went further south, to Qingzhou or Xin Prefecture, they'd probably be ready to eat heartily by now."

After saying that, Ying Zhi felt something was off, tilted her head, and wondered whether cherries had been ripe at this time in previous years.

The cherries in Prince Qi's villa at Zhuangzi have ripened; ours should have ripened too, right?

She still quite likes eating them.

Today, returning to the manor, I'll ask Zuzu and them whether they've ripened.

She wants to go to Zhuangzi to pick cherries!

While Ying Zhi was thinking, she met Sui Sui's puzzled gaze, smiled, brushed aside her chaotic thoughts, and continued: "This batch is vermilion; actually it's not the tastiest. I prefer wax cherries—those are tender and sweet, with the best flavor; even without cooking, they taste great. If they're sugar‑preserved and then steeped in tea… sigh, delicious!"

Her description was spot‑on; hearing it, Sui Sui couldn't help but drool.

Not wanting her drool to look unsightly, Sui Sui quickly lowered her head and took a sip of today's drink.

Actually calling it a tea drink isn't quite accurate, since there's no tea base today—it's just a simple fruit drink.

The first taste is a faint sweet fragrance of osmanthus honey; after this drink swirls around the lips and teeth, Sui Sui then perceives the cherry's sweet‑sour flavor with a slight astringency.

Because the cherries have just ripened, there is a hint of greenness and astringency.

However, this astringency is quickly diluted by the osmanthus honey, turning into a sweet‑sour, tempting flavor.

It makes one unable to help anticipating more.

The walnuts are roasted then crushed, sprinkled into the fruit drink; they carry the milk's aroma together with the cherry's sweetness, roaming freely in the mouth, giving a experience that is both sweet and fragrant.

Sui Sui originally took a sip just because she was craving.

After finishing, her big round eyes lit up: "Sister, it's delicious!"

When the little girl's eyes widened, she looked even more like a civet cat.

Ying Zhi could hardly control her hands.

She thought: Today, returning to the manor, I'll ask Mother if she has time to give me another little sister.

Ying Zhi doesn't think Sui Sui is bad; she just feels……

Her own brothers are really useless; they'd probably lose to the young masters of the Prince Qi manor.

So, what to do if we can't snatch it?

We can only think of a solution ourselves, have one!

However, Mother giving birth to one...

When will it be able to grow as big as Sui Sui?

Moreover, will there be one as cute as Sui Sui?

Thinking of these, Ying Zhi became uncertain again.

Liu He Meng, on the other hand, didn't have so many burdens; she obediently sat beside Sui Sui, after thanking Aunt Qiu, she first tried the fruit drink, the taste was indeed good.

However, Liu He Meng's family background isn't bad either; for her, these things are just seasonal snacks, often eaten, not feeling novel.

Compared to her own enjoyment of delicious food, Liu He Meng would rather feed her younger sister.

Not seeing Ying Zhi's eyes light up, she had already prepared to pick the lotus flower pastry.

Liu He Meng felt she couldn't fall behind!

She set her sights on the walnut pastry, preparing to pick this for Sui Sui!

While the children were eating and drinking, everyone also talked about the previous explosion.

It was also because the Grand Princess and them talked about this that the Princess Consort of Qi tentatively asked: 'Then in the future, will you still let Ying Junzhi research these?'

Ying Junzhi has been interested in fireworks since childhood.

His talent is not bad, and his memory is also good.

However, this thing's stability is too poor, and there are also many things to note when preserving it.

One careless mistake and it will explode midway, just like before.

The Princess Consort of Qi remembers that the Grand Princess previously was unwilling to let Ying Junzhi research these.

However, later, because the child liked it, they had no choice but to compromise.

After this explosion, will they still let the child continue researching?

The second watch is at 19:00.