Chapter 518 - 519: Want to Drink
Chapter 518: Chapter 519: Want to Drink
Smelling the burnt aroma drifting from the pot, Bai Suihe quickly took out the tea leaves.
"These are a bit burnt," Nanny Pang said with a smile. "Should I have someone fetch some more tea leaves?"
"We need this hint of burnt aroma," Bai Suihe said, quickly washing the pot. She added a little water, then poured in some sugar.
Speaking of sugar, it was a rare commodity in ancient times. It was quite expensive, and only families with some wealth would buy it to keep in stock. Bai Suihe put in two large spoonfuls. Feeling it wasn’t enough, she added another.
"Are you making syrup?" Nanny Pang wanted to point out that adding so much sugar would make it too sweet, but she held her tongue.
"No, I’m making caramel." Bai Suihe was already gently swirling her spatula to make the sugar dissolve faster.
Nanny Pang grew even more curious about what she planned to make today. When the liquid in the pot started bubbling and darkening, Bai Suihe poured the tea leaves back in, followed by the goat’s milk she had prepared earlier. Watching the goat’s milk slowly blend with the caramel into a rich brownish-coffee hue, Bai Suihe couldn’t help but swallow hard. This was exactly the right color. Though its flavor would be different from cow’s milk, it wasn’t unacceptable.
She boiled a large potful. Once it came to a rolling boil, she scooped it all out and said to Zisu, who had just walked through the door, "Get two people to bring over an ice basin. This needs to be chilled for the best flavor."
Zisu quickly complied. By the time everything was arranged, Gu Xingyang had followed the scent and arrived as well.
"Mother, what delicious food are you making?" Gu Xingyang asked through their mental link. Of course, she couldn’t speak aloud to order the servants around, but after spending some time together, everyone could understand her gestures. When she raised both hands high in the air, she definitely wanted her parents. The servants had to immediately comply; otherwise, when the young miss threw a tantrum, she would wail at the top of her lungs.
The ones currently holding her were two specially selected, sturdy maids named Dangfeng and Dangyu. Following behind to protect her were two young guards, Dangmin and Dangqi. The four of them were now solely responsible for Gu Xingyang. They played with her during the day, and in their free time, Gu Kaiyuan would personally instruct them in martial arts. He hoped that in the event of an emergency, these four would be able to protect Gu Xingyang’s safety.
Of course, these were just the initial selections capable of holding their own for now; the rest were still undergoing training. In the future, as their family business grew, Gu Xingyang would have more and more people by her side. These subordinates needed to be cultivated from a young age.
Ever since having a child, Gu Kaiyuan and his wife finally understood that parents must plan far ahead for their children. Although there was a saying that children and grandchildren would have their own fortunes, they simply wanted to present all the best things in the world to their daughter. So what if she was still little? Children grew up in the blink of an eye. If they waited until then to prepare, they feared they might overlook something.
"You little glutton, you came running back at the first whiff of food." Bai Suihe was in a great mood, knowing she would soon be able to drink milk tea again. She reached out and took the baby into her arms. "Mother made some milk tea today, but unfortunately, you’re still too young. You can’t have this tea."
Gu Xingyang wrinkled her little nose. "Mother, and you call yourself a medical student? Have you forgotten? It’s recorded in ’Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica’ that Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, encountered seventy-two poisons in a day, and used tea to detoxify them. The ’Herbal Supplement’ calls tea the ’medicine for ten thousand illnesses.’ This is good stuff! How can you say a child can’t drink it? Besides, you even added my rations into it. You can’t do this to me!"
Surprise flashed in Bai Suihe’s eyes. "You even know about this?"
Gu Xingyang tilted her head up smugly, a cocky expression on her face. "Of course! I’ve memorized most of what Nanny Pang has taught me. It’s this damn, unstoppable talent of mine."
"Don’t celebrate too early. The ’Classic of Tea’ states that tea can quench thirst and stimulate the mind. You’re growing right now and don’t need your mind stimulated. If you’re thirsty, just drink some pure goat’s milk or boiled water. For the next few years at least, you won’t be touching any tea," Bai Suihe said mercilessly. Although she craved milk tea herself, she didn’t want such a young child exposed to it. Tea could be quite stimulating. A child this small had never had it before; what if she got too excited and it overstimulated her brain?
"Mother, how can you be like this? I used to be so jealous watching you drink milk tea. Now that the opportunity is right in front of me, you’re actually telling me I’m not allowed to taste such a delicacy? I won’t accept this! No, if you don’t let me drink it, I’ll throw a tantrum."
Gu Xingyang blinked her innocent little eyes and stared at Bai Suihe. Off to the side, Nanny Pang and the others thought the young miss was acting cute with the madam again, as they had seen her do this plenty of times before.
"You’ve got quite the nerve, daring to threaten me now?" Bai Suihe exasperatedly gave her a light pat on the bottom. "If you won’t give up, let’s ask Nanny Pang right now. If she says you can drink it, I promise I won’t stop you."
Gu Xingyang thought this made sense, so she lay quietly in Bai Suihe’s arms.
After hearing Bai Suihe’s question, Nanny Pang thought her ears were playing tricks on her. "Madam, what did you just say? Are you asking if the young miss can drink this tea?"
Bai Suihe nodded. "Nanny Pang, what do you think?"
"Madam must be joking. How could you give the young miss tea?" Nanny Pang shook her head emphatically. "The young miss is only a few months old and is in the middle of growing. Aside from milk and water, she should touch as little of anything else as possible. I’ve already mentioned this simple logic to you before. Even if you want to give her tea, it would be best to wait until she’s at least a year old. Giving her a little light tea would be the absolute limit. Look at this tea of yours—you’ve roasted it and boiled it. It’s so strong! If the young miss drinks this, she’ll be bouncing off the walls all day. That would severely affect her growth."
Bai Suihe pointed at Gu Xingyang. "Nanny Pang, I was asking on her behalf."
Nanny Pang scoffed. "Impossible. I may be a bit older, but my eyes aren’t failing me yet. The young miss has been in your arms ever since she came in. She doesn’t even know where the milk tea is. How could you shift the blame onto her?"
With that, Nanny Pang took Gu Xingyang from Bai Suihe’s arms. "Young Miss, Nanny will take you to play in the courtyard. In a bit, I’ll have the maids bring you some fresh goat’s milk. Let’s not let Madam trick us—that’s what’s truly delicious."
Having said her piece, she immediately carried the baby outside, terrified that Bai Suihe might actually let Gu Xingyang try her so-called milk tea.
Gu Xingyang kicked her two stubby little legs in the air, only to be met with Bai Suihe’s smug face and waving hands.
"Mother, you set me up..."
Bai Suihe flashed her a toothy grin. "Nanny Pang is absolutely right. Once you grow up, you can drink whatever you want."
Gu Xingyang let out indignant cries of "AH, AH, AH!" but Nanny Pang showed no signs of softening this time. In the blink of an eye, she stepped out of the courtyard and carried the baby away toward the backyard.