Ghostly Fragrance [COMPLETED] [UNEDITED]

Dinner at the Chen Household

Jingyi eagerly agreed, placing her forefinger and her thumb on her mouth. A high pitched whistle sounded out which called upon a white dove which landed on Jingyi's shoulder. Xiao Lu gave Jingyi a sheet of paper and a brush to write out a message, and the dove was send-off. Both Jingyi and Xiao Lu followed Fangsu to the entrance of her house, "Wait, hold onto me." Fangsu took both of their hands.

"Why?" Jingyi questioned, clearly confused to why they need to hold onto Fangsu.

"The barrier that is placed here only allows people with the Chen family blood or jade," Fangsu explained as they walked through the barrier easily, "If you don't have access, the barrier would activate itself and incapacitate you." Fangsu let go of the Jingyi and Xiao Lu who shudder at thought of the barrier incapacitating them. The trio entered the house where Fangsu's grandpa was sitting inside drinking tea.

"Grandpa!" Fangsu cheerfully greeted her grandpa.

"Elder Chen," Both Jingyi and Xiao Lu respectfully greeted, bowing all the way to the waist.

"No need to be so formal," Fangsu's grandpa smiled. Jingyi saw the resemblance between the Fangsu and her grandpa, their smiles were small but they had a weight to them whether it be they were happy or angry.

"Both Fangsu and Elder Chen have the same smile," Jingyi commented.

"Really? I would have never thought about that," Fangsu's grandpa continued to sipping his tea wanting to hear more.

"Fangsu is always calm very much like you are right now, " Jingyi spoke out of her heart speaking all of Fangsu's traits, "She must have learnt her skills from you,"

Fangsu's grandpa let out a relieved breath, "I only taught her skill but her mother taught her cooking," He drained the last drops of the tea and stood up, "I'm thankful Fangsu has a friend like you." Fangsu's grandpa thanked Jingyi and Xiao Lu.

"Grandpa! Come help me peel the bamboo shoots!" Fangsu shouted from the kitchen, the sounds of utensils clanking against each other, steam and the aroma of fragrant oil swirled mingled in the air. Jingyi and Xiao Both being curious about Fangsu's cooking skill peeked through doorways of the kitchen.

Fangsu's ash grey hair was tied up in a bun with a beige ribbon as she opened at boiling pot filled with ingredients that she had bought in the market silkie chicken, bamboo shoots and herbal plants. After checking the progress of the bamboo shoot and silkie chicken soup, Fangsu began making the dough which she allowed to rest. In a bowl, a mixture of minced meat, finely diced bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, scallions, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and egg whites was stirred together so that it would be incorporated together.

Xiao Lu entered the kitchen, "Could I help out?" Asking if there were any task to be done.

Fangsu shook her head, "You're a guest, there is no need for you to help out," As she rolled out the dough.

Xiao Lu also began rolling out the dough alongside Fangsu who could not stop Xiao Lu from helping in the kitchen. Jingyi stood in the doorway wanting to help also but was too shy that she would make a mistake. "Jingyi do you want to help too?" Fangsu kindly asked seeing that Jingyi wanted to help make buns.

"But, what if I make a mistake?" Jingyu pouted sadly. Despite her hands dusted with flour, Fangsu pulled Jingyi into the kitchen. Tying an apron to prevent possible flour from dirtying Jingyi's clothes. Fangsu slowly taught Jingyi to roll out the dough and folding technique of the buns to hold the meat filling.

Eventually, they finished all the dough and meat filling, making a mountain of buns. "We make a mountain of buns." Jingyi cheered happily while Xiao Lu and Fangsu giggled at Jingyi's cute childish behaviour. Fangsu took 8 of the buns they made, placing them into a readily available steamer that Fangsu had already placed beforehand. While the buns steamed in the steamer, Fangsu returned to check on the soup which was ready to serve (Dragon's beard bamboo shoot & silkie chicken soup). Dishing out the soup into a bowl to be served for dinner, "Xiao Lu can you take this soup to the table?"