Juhua smiled faintly and said, "I put a lot of vinegar in the bean-jelly noodles today."
Huai Zi broke into a wide grin, looking at her happily. "I love it when it's a bit sour," he said. "It really whets your appetite."
Qingmu, who had just lifted Lanzi from the well, frowned at his words. "I don't want it that sour," he said, displeased. "I want it spicier." 'Is my sister deliberately making it the way Huai Zi likes it?'
Juhua chided her brother playfully. "I made two kinds. There's a spicy bowl. Brother, it's so hot out, you should eat less spicy food. Weren't the stir-fried green peppers spicy enough for you? If you eat those and then have spicy bean-jelly noodles, your stomach will feel like it's on fire."
Qingmu pulled two ripe gourds from inside Lanzi and gave one to Huai Zi. Gnawing on his own, he smiled at Juhua. "I was just messing with you. It's fine if you go easy on the chili paste for the spicy one."
