Chapter 154

When frost flowers hung from the eaves of Green Ox Lodge, Xiaotao was standing on tiptoe to wrap the Abacus-Bead Lantern in a cotton cover. The Huwa dough figurine atop her double buns wore a skullcap, and the abacus beads in her apron pocket bounced to form the character for "Frost." "Brother Fan! Boss Liu says today is Frost's Descent, and we need to make seasonal dishes!" Zhang Yifan rattled his abacus beads, looking out the window at the parasol tree leaves blanketing the street in a golden carpet. The abacus beads bounced across the frost flowers to form the character for "Persimmon." "Frost's Descent calls for persimmons and chestnuts—Mistress Xiaotao, how do you write the character for 'Persimmon'?" Xiaotao traced the character on the frost-covered windowpane, and the abacus beads rolled across her strokes, magically shaping themselves into a persimmon amid the frost crystals. At three-quarters past the Wei hour, a scholar wearing a bamboo rain hat walked into the eatery, the cuffs of his robe embroidered with the four characters "Solar Term Poet." The abacus beads on his bamboo hat bounced to form the character for "Pick." "I hear your esteemed establishment excels at turning poetry into cuisine," the scholar stroked his beard. "Today is Frost's Descent. Do you dare make the 'Three Marvels of Frost's Descent'?" Xiaotao clutched her abacus beads and hid behind Zhang Yifan, the beads in her palm bouncing to form the character for "Marvel."