As one of the most traditional snacks of the Huaxia people, the method of making candied hawthorns is actually very simple.
Generally speaking, one only needs to prepare hawthorns, rock sugar, water, and some bamboo skewers to string the hawthorns together.
First, wash the hawthorns clean, boil the bamboo skewers in high-temperature water for disinfection, then dry them together with the hawthorns before stringing.
After stringing the hawthorns, boil the sugar. Mix water and rock sugar together and boil over high heat. Once the water gradually evaporates and forms a fine, silky syrup, dip a chopstick or bamboo skewer into a small amount and gently flick it in the air.
After flicking, if the syrup solidifies upon cooling, the candied hawthorns can be made. Lightly dip the strung hawthorns in the sugar syrup, place them on a cutting board, and a delicious, healthy string of candied hawthorns is complete.
"Mhm, today's batch of candied hawthorns turned out really well. As expected of me."
Following the steps above, after about twenty minutes, the first batch of candied hawthorns was finished.
Looking at the strings of fragrant, tempting, bright red candied hawthorns on the cutting board, our Mr. Yun Fan nodded slightly, seemingly very satisfied with his own craftsmanship.
After washing off the remaining sugar residue on his hands, Yun Fan moved the candied hawthorns to an empty spot beside the stove to let them cool and solidify naturally.
Then, the youth returned to the stove, heated oil in the wok, and began preparing lunch.
While Yun Fan was busily stir-frying, our Miss Yunli had also followed the Xianzhou navigation guidance, turning here and there until she arrived at the street where Qingque's residence was located.
"Let me see, No. 666, Wutong Road Alley… It should be that house up ahead, right?"
Looking at the direction indicated on her Jade Abacus, Yunli quickly confirmed the residence at the end of the street.
At the end of the alley, a quiet little courtyard stood silently.
Overall, the courtyard's style was similar to a siheyuan, but compared to a real siheyuan, Qingque's courtyard was much larger. In addition to the main three-story building, the other three buildings were also two-story structures.
It was hard to imagine where Qingque had gotten so much money before becoming the Vice Master Diviner of the Divination Commission to afford such a large residence in the prime area attached to Jinren Alley.
Walking up to the main gate of Qingque's residence, Yunli double-checked the number written beside the door. After confirming it was correct, the girl extended her slender fingers toward the lion-head door knocker.
However, just as Yunli's hand was about to touch the knocker, she suddenly stopped, as if frozen by an invisible force. Her eyes became dazed and conflicted, and an indescribable emotion surged in her heart.
She was hesitating, wondering whether she should really open this door. Her heart was filled with doubt and unease.
The girl took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the entanglement in her heart only grew stronger.
She realized that she seemed to have developed an inexplicable feeling toward "Fan." Although it felt hard to believe, it truly seemed to be a feeling called "like."
At this moment, Yunli fell into deep self-doubt and struggle. She was afraid—afraid that Yun Fan would reject her. If he really rejected her, how should she interact with him afterward?
In this brief instant, countless flying thoughts swirled chaotically in the girl's mind, turning it into a complete mess.
"No!" Yunli clutched her temples and shook her head fiercely.
'What exactly am I afraid of? I've wanted to meet Fan for so long. Isn't he the person I've been thinking about day and night? No matter what the final outcome is, it will be a precious memory. Yunli, you're overthinking this…'
'Knock! Knock! Knock!'
Having thought things through, the girl gently shook her head. A relieved smile appeared on her face. Then, she firmly grasped the lion-head door knocker and knocked hard three times.
Inside the main residence, Yun Fan, who had just finished cooking the second dish, heard the knocking sound from outside and his expression froze slightly.
"Did that girl Yunli arrive so quickly? My dishes aren't even done yet. Luckily, the candied hawthorns were finished early."
Humming a cheerful tune, Yun Fan quickly left the main residence and walked to the courtyard gate.
'Creak—!'
With a creaking sound, the residence's main gate was opened from the inside by Yun Fan. As the gap grew wider, a petite and adorable girl gradually appeared in Yun Fan's view.
"You… Fan…"
Staring at the handsome boy who walked out from behind the door, our Miss Yunli was instantly stunned. She had thought the person opening the door would be Qingque, but she never expected it to be Fan himself.
In that moment, all the lines and excuses Yunli had prepared were mercilessly thrown into disarray. Staring blankly at the youth she had longed for day and night, the girl's eyes unconsciously filled with mist. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks.
Seeing the tears in the little girl's eyes, our Mr. Yun Fan revealed a gentle smile from the bottom of his heart and softly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Welcome, little Yunli."
— — — —
Seat of Divine Foresight… Jing Yuan's office desk…
"General, Miss Tingyun sent an urgent letter, saying she needs you to quickly… eh?"
Halfway through her words, the foxian secretary who came to deliver the message suddenly froze. At this moment, sitting in the seat that belonged to General Jing Yuan was a white-bearded old man.
The old man held a teacup in one hand and the documents that should have been reviewed by Jing Yuan in the other.
The woman's arrival naturally drew the elder's attention. He slowly raised his head, nodded slightly to the secretary, and pointed with the hand holding the teacup toward the table beside him.
"Put it there for now. When Jing Yuan returns, I'll pass it on to him."
Huaiyan spoke languidly, his tone carrying a trace of resentment.
"G-General Huaiyan…"
The secretary lady had not expected General Huaiyan to be sitting in Jing Yuan's seat and felt somewhat nervous, even stuttering as she spoke.
"General Huaiyan… um, are you handling affairs in place of General Jing Yuan…?"
The secretary asked cautiously. At the same time, she felt a slight dissatisfaction in her heart.
By any reasonable standard, both General Huaiyan of the Candle Dragon and General Jing Yuan belonged to the Seven Arbiter Generals of the Reignbow and were among the highest leaders of the Xianzhou Alliance.
However… even if the Xianzhou were one family, General Huaiyan should not interfere in the affairs of the Xianzhou Luofu, right? This reach seemed a bit too long…