The afternoon sunlight was pleasant, casting a lazy warmth upon everything it touched.
Outside Green Willow Fortress, Blind Man and Elder Wen Sutong reclined comfortably in their deck chairs. A small tea table sat between them, with Yuexin pouring the tea. At each of their sides, a long rack stood, both draped with sausages.
Smoked sausages dangled from the rack on the left. They were flavorful and incredibly versatile, perfect for slicing and stir-frying with almost any dish.
Hanging from the rack on the right were Qian State-style sausages. Predominantly made with lean meat, complemented by a touch of fat, and seasoned with grain liquor, they turned out rather firm and salty after air-drying. Paired with two bowls of white porridge in the morning, they were truly a luxurious treat.
Blind Man and Zheng Fan were both fond of this type, while Elder Wen, who hailed from Qian State, had recently taken to eating the smoked sausages.
