When the Abacus-Bead Lanterns of Green Ox Lodge were tinged with dusk, Xiaotao was busy distributing Winter Solstice dumplings to the abacus beads. The dough-figurine Huwa on her double buns held a tiny soup spoon, while the abacus beads in her apron pocket bounced into the character for "beast": "Brother Fan! A group of scholars are asking for the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas Feast'!"
Zhang Yifan rattled his abacus beads and looked toward the private alcove. Seeing the scholars pointing at ancient texts, the beads bounced into the character for "marvel" across the pages of the Classic of Mountains and Seas: "This feast must be named after mythical beasts, with ingredients shaped accordingly—Lady Xiaotao, how do you write the character for 'Zheng'?" Xiaotao drew "Zheng" on the steamer lid, and the abacus beads rolled across the strokes, revealing a ferocious beast face in the steam.
The lead scholar struck his bamboo slip: "We want three beast dishes: 'Zheng (the Mount Zhang'e, with five tails and one horn)', 'Jiao (Mount Yushan, like a dog with leopard patterns)', and 'Gudiao (Mount Luwu, like an eagle with horns)'!" Xiaotao clutched her abacus beads and hid behind the steamer, the beads bouncing into the character for "difficult" in her palm. Zhang Yifan chuckled, the beads bouncing into the character for "sheep" on the cutting board: "'Zheng' uses mutton as the main ingredient, the five tails are carved from carrots, and the single horn is made from a water chestnut—" …
Chapter 157