Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Bubble Tea
The Princely Heir wasn’t interested in the poetry from her dreams but instead inquired about the stories the old lady heard during the day.
"The old lady said your story is very interesting, is the book called ’Journey to the West’?"
"Yes, have you heard of it, Princely Heir?"
"I haven’t, but since the old lady praised it, it must be truly good."
The Heir Pei wasn’t really interested in hearing stories but played along by asking about the story content to appease the old lady.
The old lady was being secretive and refused to tell him, saying she’d let him be amazed on the opening day.
What kind of extraordinary story would amaze people? The Heir Pei didn’t think much of it.
He continued, "I heard this was something you received from the expert in your dreams?"
"Yes, it was written by a senior with the surname Wu."
Qu Fulan could hear the doubt in the Princely Heir’s tone, but she remained unfazed, thinking that if he could find out the truth, she’d admit defeat.
Nonexistent things appearing in dreams had an impeccable explanation.
While the Princely Heir was bathing, she was behind the screen arranging his clothes.
Qu Fulan, sensing the Princely Heir’s lack of interest in ’Journey to the West’, didn’t bring it up. She just briefly mentioned her general plans for the ’Zhaoying Building’ and the opening date. As he had no objections, she refrained from disturbing him, hung his clothes on the rack, and left.
The next day, Qu Fulan heard that Master Huideng had arrived at the Pei Mansion and was in the third branch treating the second young lady.
The Princely Heir accompanied them throughout, while Qu Fulan, engrossed in researching new products for the opening in the small kitchen, didn’t need to accompany them.
This was a great relief for her.
Later in the afternoon, word spread that the second young lady’s illness was cured, thanks to some unknown medicine from Master Huideng that instantly cured her rash.
This showed that Master Huideng was indeed skilled.
In addition to this, Qu Fulan also heard a key piece of information from Hai Xia.
"Master Huideng said the second young lady’s condition was rather peculiar, and regular medicines couldn’t resolve it. It was only with talisman water that the ailment was cured."
Qu Fulan was somewhat shocked to hear of talisman water, linking it directly to the supernatural.
"What else did Master Huideng say?" Despite the internal panic, she maintained a calm exterior.
Hai Xia said, "Master Huideng mentioned that the second young lady was accidentally jostled by someone born under the Dragon sign, aged between ten to forty, but after checking, no one in our mansion fits that description. So it might’ve been one of the female guests at the banquet after the young lady returned."
Qu Fulan’s hand trembled as she held her cup.
She herself was a Dragon, albeit in the twenty-first century.
In this world, her original was under the Monkey sign.
Goodness, Master Huideng was quite formidable. She might have to avoid crossing paths with him in the future.
"Such an impressive figure, Princely Heir surely intends to keep him at the mansion for a while, right?" Hopefully, not at Lixiang Courtyard, lest he discovers anything.
"How could that be? Master Huideng is very busy, and he left right after treating the second young lady, escorted out personally by the Princely Heir." Hai Xia, unaware of Qu Fulan’s intentions, relayed what she saw truthfully.
"The old lady tried to persuade him to stay, thinking someone so capable would bring good fortune to the Pei Mansion."
Possibly even removing ’bad luck’, Qu Fulan thought.
Though not considering herself as bad luck, it wasn’t up to her to decide.
Now that he had left, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Him leaving was for the best; having him stay would’ve caused her restless nights.
This time travel affair was too unsettling, especially having one’s ’true self’ detected.
Damn heavens.
Days passed peacefully.
On this day, Qu Fulan started tinkering with new samples again, with Hai Xia and Douya assisting her, neither aware of what she was doing but helping earnestly.
Back in the modern days, she loved watching culinary livestreams to relax; they were quite stress-relieving. However, due to her busy schedule, it was always either the cafeteria or takeout, leaving little time to cook herself.
Now, with time on her hands, she could leisurely enjoy the process of making snacks, eventually creating many delicious treats, both available in this era and not, and sent some to each house, receiving unanimous praise.
Following her instructions, Hai Xia made tiny black round balls about peanut size and couldn’t help but ask what they were.
Qu Fulan, brewing tea leaves in water at a 1:10 ratio, explained, "You see they are black, round, like pearls? They’re called pearls."
Hai Xia nodded in understanding, then saw her pouring milk into the tea and was surprised, "Fulan, what is this you’re making?"
How could one boil tea with milk?
This unheard-of method—was it drinkable?
Qu Fulan laughed, "You’ll know once it’s done; it’ll be delicious. This is called milk tea, and with the pearls you’re holding, it becomes bubble tea."
Hai Xia looked bewildered, even more so for Douya.
However, as the milk tea simmered, the aroma spread, making both maids salivate.
"Smells wonderful, this milk tea is rich in color, sweet in scent, and looks appetizing." Unable to resist, Hai Xia swallowed hard.
But how could the maids eat something the master hadn’t tasted yet?
Qu Fulan, being the cook, naturally sampled to ensure the taste was satisfactory. When several varieties had been made, the Princely Heir returned.
He didn’t need to enter the small kitchen; the milky aroma reached him as soon as he entered the courtyard.
Although described as milky, it distinctly included the scent of tea leaves?
What could this be?
One of the four guards explained to the Princely Heir, "Fulan is cooking in the kitchen, but we’re not sure what it is. It’s been smelling great all afternoon."
Their tone had a hint of complaint, for they’d endured the enticing aroma all afternoon.
While they had food to eat, the delightful scent made their usual fare less appetizing.
These days, Fulan busied herself in the small kitchen creating culinary delights, and after sending them to the masters, distributed the rest for everyone to taste, winning over the four guards.
Intrigued, Pei Ji’an walked over to see.
He saw several cups on the table, each filled with different colored concoctions.
"What is this?" he asked.
Seeing the Princely Heir arrived, Qu Fulan smiled and explained, "These are all called milk tea; I’ve tasted them, and they have a good texture. Would Princely Heir like to try?"
"Milk tea?"
Qu Fulan pointed to each cup, explaining one by one, "This is original milk tea, this is bubble tea, this is iced black tea with ice cubes in it. This is herb jelly, this is..."
At present, only six kinds were made.
"I plan to convert the third floor of ’Zhaoying Building’ into a milk tea shop, targeting the high-end market for the noble ladies of the Capital City."
On the opening day, there will be milk tea, ’Journey to the West’, and modern delicacies.
It will surely be a hit!