When the Abacus-Bead Lanterns of Green Ox Lodge glowed as bright as day, Xiaotao stood behind the counter clicking her abacus. The flour-figurine Huwa on her double buns wore a top scholar's cap, and abacus beads bounced into the character "Bi" in her apron pocket—today marked the eatery's hundredth day in business, as well as her "Abacus Chef Graduation Exam."
"Lady Xiaotao," Zhang Yifan said, rattling his abacus beads as he leaned against the counter, "today you must independently handle three groups of guests: the Sour Scholar wants 'Sour Literary Dishes,' the Sogdian merchant wants a 'Sogdian Feast,' and Daoist Master Yuqing is coming to audit the accounts." Xiaotao clenched her abacus beads and nodded, the beads spelling out the character "Steady" in her palm: "Don't worry, Brother Fan! The 'Sour Literary Dishes' use plums, the 'Sogdian Feast' uses sheep's milk, and the Daoist Master... the Daoist Master will drink plain tea!"
The Sour Scholar was the first to arrive, tapping the counter with his folding fan: "I've long heard your 'Classic of Poetry Dishes' are exquisite. Can you make something 'sour and tangy'?" Xiaotao's eyes lit up, and the abacus beads leaped into the character "Plum" on his fan: "Yes! 'Plum Trees are Falling'—green plum pork ribs paired with sour plum soup, taking the meaning of 'Plum trees are falling, seven parts of them remain'!" The pork ribs were stewed until tender and melting, dotted with abacus-bead-shaped dried green plums. The scholar sl…
Chapter 158