Manbao sat under the tree in the courtyard, holding a book in her hands, while Xi Bing fanned her with Eldest's old palm fan.
May came up from the foot of the mountain carrying a food box. After putting it down, she took out two large bamboo tubes from inside and said, "My lady, Eldest Madam sent some things over this morning. Knowing you love douhua, she made some today and sent it over. I'll take it up to the cold spring to chill in a while."
Manbao nodded, turned a page of the book, and asked, "Has the letter been sent out?"
"It has. Eldest Madam said there's a stone mill at the manor, and right now there are plenty of idle women in the village, and lots of beans at home. Whether they want tofu or douhua, they can make it, it's not hard at all."
Manbao nodded, placed the book face down on the table, took a slice of melon from the side to eat, and asked, "Have you seen the person the Imperial Guards sent over to talk business?"
