This year’s winter was particularly cold, with delicate snowflakes drifting over the Qiantang area as soon as the twelfth lunar month began.
Yuan Niang was dressed by her personal maid Fu Shuang in an exquisitely crafted plain satin jacket with diagonal collar and overlapping front, paired with a diamond-patterned plum blossom lined skirt. For the occasion, a white-petaled plum blossom with yellow stamper was painted on her forehead.
After carefully examining her outfit, Yuan Niang asked, “Are we going out today?”
Fu Shuang smiled and replied, “It started snowing after you fell asleep last night. Sister Chao Yun came early this morning saying that the plum blossoms at Tianzhusi Temple have recently bloomed. Since the master has tomorrow off, he’ll surely take the family to Tianzhusi Temple to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms. On such occasions, everyone dresses accordingly.”
When Yuan Niang arrived at the main hall, she saw this was indeed true! Not only the masters, but even the maids had changed their hair ornaments to plum blossom-shaped tongcao flowers. The red accessories complemented their rouge makeup, creating an indescribably enchanting beauty. The most striking was still Chao Yun – even when gazing silently without smiling, she naturally carried an aura of plum blossoms and snow, with her red lips and white teeth creating a particularly dazzling beauty.
Even Chen Ge’er was dressed in a crescent-white brocade raccoon sleeve with gold-printed colored plum blossom patterns, looking utterly adorable like jade and snow.
Su Shi and Su Mai dressed much more modestly and plainly. Su Mai wore a stone-blue scholar’s robe with only subtle plum blossom patterns visible on the cuffs, while Su Shi’s Hechang (Crane Cloak) collar was embroidered with a branch of snow plum blossoms in silver thread, both elegant and amusing.
Today’s morning meal would be plum blossom porridge at the temple, so nothing was prepared at home. Only some boxes of plum blossom cakes were loaded onto the carriage in case the children got hungry.
Except for the newborn Liu Lang and his wet nurse who stayed home, even the frail and often ill Shu Ji was carried onto the carriage to join the outing. The carriage was heated extremely warmly, making Chen Ge’er too restless to sit still and ready to cause mischief.
Fearing he might let in cold air that would chill Shu Ji, Su Mai pulled him down to ride horses together. Unexpectedly, Chen Ge’er couldn’t sit still on horseback either, constantly bothering Yuan Niang.
Su Shi, sitting leisurely on his horse, saw this and laughed, “Yuan Niang, come quickly. Your master will take you riding.”
Wang Runzhi, who had just finished attending to Shu Ji’s medicine, said, “The road is slippery with snow – you three should stop fooling around.”
But Yuan Niang felt tempted. She had only ridden horses at tourist spots before, with strong, handsome ethnic young men holding the reins, which was relatively safe.
She looked at her master sitting upright on horseback – his entire being exuded an air of reliability. She thought, indeed, someone who could write “River Town: Hunting in Mi Zhou” must have decent riding skills. She might as well give it a try. So after informing Wang Runzhi, Su Shi lifted her onto the saddle in one motion.
Yuan Niang felt a chill hit her face, but Su Shi laughingly wrapped her in his Hechang (Crane Cloak), leaving only her pair of dewy large eyes exposed, exceptionally lively.
With Su Shi and Su Mai riding side by side, Chen Ge’er and Yuan Niang sat in front whispering secrets. After a while, the little fellow grew dissatisfied. He turned his head and said, “Brother! Father! Why are you riding so slowly? Soon all the temple’s plum blossoms will end up in the monks’ cooking pots – how unromantic! Faster! Faster!”
Just as Su Shi was about to say something, he suddenly clamped his legs against the horse’s belly, holding Yuan Niang with his left arm while gripping the reins with his right hand, and galloped off abruptly.
Chen Ge’er laughed heartily on his horse, “Father has gone ahead to snatch the plum blossoms!” He had secretly whipped his father’s horse with his riding crop.
Su Mai’s voice scolding his younger brother faded into the distance as he sped up on horseback. The biting wind whistled past Yuan Niang’s ears, her heart racing with exhilaration. This was an entirely new experience—the galloping steed moved with thrilling speed, dangerous yet controllable under skilled hands, making it intensely exciting.
Yuan Niang trusted her master completely. Snowflakes fluttered into her eyes along the way, cool and ticklish, yet she deliberately kept them wide open, scattering her laughter along the path.
After an indeterminate time, the gates of Tianzhusi Temple drew nearer. Su Shi fumbled to rein in the horse, shouting “Whoa!” as he did. But the mischievous horse insisted on prancing playfully, prompting Su Shi to yell, “Hey! Stop, stop—we’ve arrived!”
A young monk sweeping snow at the entrance chuckled, “Has Master Su startled his horse again?”
Only then did Yuan Niang belatedly grasp the meaning of “again.” Could it be this wasn’t the first time? Watching her master’s flustered demeanor, genuine and unfeigned, a chill ran down her spine, and she broke into a cold sweat for herself.
Fortunately, the horse was merely playful and not truly out of control. It eventually halted before the sweeping monk, blowing hot breath and spraying his face with saliva and nasal discharge. Fastidious as he was, the monk simply patted its head and remarked, “It seems this humble monk is fated to endure this trial today!”
Su Shi dismounted, then lifted Yuan Niang down before leaning against the saddle, hands on his hips, and laughing heartily, “What exhilaration! Pure exhilaration!”
A young monk led Su Shi’s horse into the temple grounds while the sweeping monk set aside his broom and personally escorted Su Shi and Yuan Niang inside.
The temple courtyard brimmed with plum blossoms in full bloom, crimson flowers against white snow glowing like rosy clouds. Waves of plum fragrance wafted through the air—truly an elegant sanctuary perfect for brewing tea and composing poetry.
“I came looking for you as soon as I arrived in Hangzhou,” Su Shi said, “but you were away traveling. How much time has been wasted!”
“Knowing a glutton like you was coming, I went down the mountain early to beg for alms,” the sweeping monk retorted.
Su Shi laughed dryly, “How could I possibly eat Tianzhusi Temple out of house and home? Don’t be so stingy, old monk. I’m not here for that today—it’s for my youngest son.”
“The other day, Prefect Chen came to offer incense and mentioned you’d consulted a physician from the Qiantang Shen family,” the sweeping monk said. “No improvement?”
Su Shi shook his head, “The Shen physician said my son’s legs are full of lifeless meridians—not even a point for acupuncture could be found. He left without prescribing anything, saying it was incurable.”
“The Shen family’s prescriptions mostly serve the wealthy for maintenance,” the sweeping monk noted. “Your son’s condition is substantive—it’s no surprise they’re helpless. But since you were busy enjoying yourself today, did you bring the boy? Let me examine him.”
“He’s in the carriage behind with his mother,” Su Shi replied.
Temple monks were already gathering plum blossoms to cook congee. Curious, Yuan Niang clattered over to watch.
The sweeping monk glanced up, “And this is…?”
“My newly accepted disciple. You know her father too,” Su Shi said, gently brushing aside a plum branch.
The monk’s eyes flickered with surprise. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Could she be Official Lin’s daughter?”
“Exactly,” Su Shi nodded.
The sweeping monk understood, “You’ve done a good deed.”
“It’s not as if I usually go around committing evils,” Su Shi retorted.
“I’ve long heard the Lin family produced an extraordinary girl. Might I read her fortune?” the sweeping monk inquired.
“Save your energy,” Su Shi warned, his eyes narrowing.
“Don’t look at me like that, as if you’re about to devour someone. I’m plain and simple, not tasty at all,” the floor-sweeping monk teased.
The two walked into the tea room, where the monk said, “It’s the end of the year, so don’t expect fine tea. Make do with this for now, and next spring I’ll treat you to fresh pre-Qingming Longjing.”
“Fair enough, fair enough,” Su Shi laughed. “Now let me see what alms you’ve managed to gather?”
The floor-sweeping monk clapped his hands and sighed dramatically, “Calling you a glutton does injustice to gluttons – you’re clearly a locust in the fields! You leave nothing behind when you pass through.”
Just as he spoke, Yuan Niang carefully stepped over the threshold holding a snow-covered white plum branch, calling out, “Master, brew tea, brew tea!”
Su Shi asked with a smile, “What kind of tea are we brewing?”
Yuan Niang replied, “Brewing tea with plum snow is one of life’s great elegant pursuits.” According to books, literati all appreciate this tradition, and her master being the most literary of them all, surely he must enjoy this!
Su Shi casually picked up an empty teapot, shook the plum snow into it, and placed it on a small stove to boil.
Yuan Niang sat obediently nearby, savoring this refined moment. Amused by her serious expression, Su Shi teased, “When the tea is ready, you must taste it carefully and see how it differs from what we usually drink?”
Yuan Niang nodded solemnly, watching the teapot on the stove with great anticipation, waiting for it to bubble and boil. She had actually encountered this legendary elegant activity – how wonderful, how marvelous!
Soon the water boiled. Su Shi used bamboo tweezers to take some tea leaves from the nearby tea caddy and placed them in a teacup. He then poured the freshly boiled plum snow water over them, covering the cup with a lid. His tea-brewing movements flowed as smoothly as floating clouds and flowing water – the hands that usually held a brush now prepared tea with equal elegance, leaving Yuan Niang utterly mesmerized.
After a moment, Su Shi pushed the teacup toward Yuan Niang and blinked, “Want to try?”
Overjoyed, Yuan Niang lifted the lid with ceremony, took a deep breath, and sipped delicately. She put the cup down with a clatter, then faced her master’s obviously amused expression. Sticking out her tongue, she complained, “Why does it taste so earthy? Where’s the promised plum blossom fragrance?”
“Which young novice told you this method would yield plum fragrance?” Su Shi asked curiously.
Yuan Niang shook her head, “I read it in a book! It said brewing tea with plum snow is one of the ten essential elegant activities for cultured scholars.”
Su Shi laughed heartily, patting her shoulder as he said, “The scholars who write books and the scholars who drink tea definitely aren’t the same group.”
Though thoroughly disappointed, Yuan Niang persisted, “What if we collect this plum snow in jars and store it in a cellar? Would it still be like this?”
“It wouldn’t be earthy, but it would likely develop a sour, musty smell,” Su Shi replied.
“How does Master know?” Yuan Niang asked curiously.
“Because your master was once that kind of reckless romantic himself, wasting my precious pre-Qingming Longjing for nothing,” the floor-sweeping monk exposed him mercilessly.
Yuan Niang deflated, “So being a cultured scholar is this difficult?”
Su Shi reached out and tapped her jade-like nose gently, asking softly, “Want to drink tea with plum blossom fragrance?”
Yuan Niang nodded vigorously!
Su Shi stood up and pulled out a sandalwood box from the tea drawer. Inside lay a purple-black hare’s fur teacup, a slightly used tea whisk, tea grinder, and tea roller – a complete tea whisking set.
Yuan Niang’s almond-shaped eyes widened in astonishment. Ah! So this is the famous tea whisking of the Song Dynasty!! She’d seen many content creators recreate it and had even bought the tools herself, but she’d time-traveled before getting to try it. Such is fate, destiny, and fortune.
Su Shi stood up to wash his hands, and Yuan Niang followed.
Su Shi went to the long table to grind tea powder, and Yuan Niang followed.
Su Shi pinched a bit of tea powder and dabbed it on Yuan Niang’s cheek, examining it left and right before chuckling, “There we go.”
The temple sweeper handed Yuan Niang a clean cloth, which she used to wipe her face with bold efficiency. She then stepped back and continued shadowing Su Shi.
“My, my, I didn’t realize I’d grown a little tail,” Su Shi teased, glancing at Yuan Niang as he sifted the tea powder.
Yuan Niang urged with utmost seriousness, “Master, focus on your work, no joking around. I’m secretly learning your techniques.”
Su Shi laughed heartily, “Very well!” He loved to laugh, his joy radiant like the spring sun.
After preparing the tea powder, Su Shi brought out several small boxes. Yuan Niang saw they were labeled with plum powder, sandalwood, and borneol. Using a fine gold pick, he added a bit of each to the hare’s-fur glaze teacup, poured in warmed water, and swiftly whisked it with a tea whisk. Gradually, snow-white foam rose to the surface.
This was Yuan Niang’s first time witnessing such authentic tea whisking, and she was utterly dazzled. Her little head began swaying side to side, following the movement of the whisk.
The temple sweeper quietly reminded, “Su Zizhan, if you show off any longer, the tea foam will dissipate.”
With unshakable confidence, Su Shi replied, “It won’t.” As he spoke, he added more water to the cup, gradually lightening and evening out his whisking strokes. The tea had now reached sixty to seventy percent readiness. He continued whisking, adding water, and whisking again.
Yuan Niang darted around like an agitated kitten, peering intently and marveling inwardly: Tea whisking is truly a skilled craft.
Just when she expected him to add more water, he feinted—instead, he took a fine pick, dipped it in tea powder, and drew a branch of green plum blossoms atop the snowy foam. He slid the teacup toward Yuan Niang and asked, “What do you think?”
“Absolutely miraculous!” Yuan Niang praised, full of appreciation.
Su Shi was so pleased he nearly floated away! He patted her head and said, “Quick, taste it. Is this the plum-scented tea you wanted?”
Yuan Niang had never seen latte art on tea before, especially not crafted by her master. If she drank it in one gulp, her stomach would be worth a fortune! Ahhh! How could she possibly consume such a masterpiece? It’d be a sacrilege! A utter waste!
Cradling the teacup, she carefully admired the pure white foam, gently inhaling the plum blossom fragrance, utterly captivated.
Just then, the Su Family arrived at Tianzhusi Temple. Chen Ge’er bolted into the temple like a runaway horse the moment he dismounted. Spotting Yuan Niang, he immediately asked, “Is there anything to drink? I’m parched!”
Yuan Niang protectively covered her whisked tea and jerked her chin toward the table. “Isn’t there some over there?!”
Chen Ge’er grabbed a cup and gulped it down, then spat it out with a splutter. “Who put mud in this teacup?!”
Everyone burst into uproarious laughter.