286 Cousin, Does It Smell Good?
Yu Youyao placed the beads in her cousin’s palm. “I made this myself. I just made it today. Quick, smell it.”
“Fragrance!” As soon as the box was opened, Zhou Linghuai smelled a faint lotus fragrance that was elegant and refreshing. It was ingeniously mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus. The lotus fragrance was not inferior to the laurel, and it was 30% sweet.
Therefore, there was no need to get close to smell it.
However, the little girl was looking at him with sparkling eyes. Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but listen to her and lower his head to sniff gently.
The thick incense did not rush into his nose. Instead, it was layered and sent into his nose. Layer by layer, it was like ripples of water that stretched endlessly, making his heart flutter.
Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “It smells very good.”
There was no better praise than the words “very good.” Yu Youyao even raised her eyebrows. “As long as Cousin likes it. The Wood Osmanthus Incense Beads are sweet and not greasy. It’s elegant and refreshing. Cousin can wear it whether you’re reading, writing, painting, sipping tea, taking a nap, or sleeping at night. You will feel cleansed and focused. It’s most suitable for you when you use your brain.”
He knew that every time the little girl gave him something, it would definitely be beneficial to his body and mind.
Zhou Linghuai tightened his grip on the beads. The exquisite patterns on the wooden osmanthus beads were carved into the flesh between his fingers, and they were also carved into his heart, leaving an indestructible mark.
In her ear, the little girl was still showing off how good the incense beads she had made were. “Nanny Xu said that the Lantian Jade has the effect of regulating the yin and yang and Qi and blood, eliminating illnesses, and benefiting the divine. It’s also known as longevity jade. It has the three characteristics of divinity, spirituality, and human nature. It secretly integrates the three tenants of heaven, earth, and humankind. The wooden osmanthus incense beads are made of flowers and wood, and the wood is the source of vitality. The two complement each other and match nature.”
“By using the fragrance to nourish the beads, and using the jade to nourish the beads, this effect will last for a year and a half. The texture is firm and warm, and the jade is soaked in the fragrance of the beads. Beautiful jade produces fragrance. Then, using the beads and jade to nourish the body, they will become rare medicinal beads that can best nourish the body and mind…”
Zhou Linghuai lowered his head and wrapped the beads around his wrist in circles. There were exactly two circles. It was neither loose nor tight. The beads were neither too big nor too tight, and wearing them would not hinder the agility of his hands. The red string was also a little elastic. As he grew older, it could also be adjusted and tightened with the bones in his hands. This string could be worn for a long time.
There was nothing he didn’t like. He sucked on his lips and said in a hoarse voice, “Thank you, Cousin. It’s been hard on you.”
Zhou Linghuai had never made incense before, but the little girl liked to mix incense, so he had been reading some incense recipes recently to understand more.
However, he also knew that making incense beads was troublesome and tiring. Simple incense beads would only take three to five days to make. However, the process was the most torturous and testing. If there was a mistake in any of the procedures, it would be ruined.
Yu Youyao looked at the bracelet on her cousin’s wrist and smiled even more happily. “It’s the right size. Cousin, it looks good on you.” The newly made incense beads weren’t that smooth, but her cousin was a man, so the muscles and bones on his wrist were exposed. This roughness also revealed a hint of the heaviness of a whole. She revealed her wrist. “Cousin, look, I’m wearing one just like you.”
Zhou Linghuai’s breathing paused for a moment. The little girl revealed a small portion of her fair wrist. She was also wearing a small string of beads on her wrist. The wooden osmanthus incense beads were paired with light yellow and green Lantian jade beads. The only difference from the bracelet in his hand was its size.
The slightly textured bracelet made the little girl’s fair wrist look fair, making her look very dizzying.
He suddenly tightened his grip on the armrest. “Cousin, you look good in it too.”
Yu Youyao tilted her head. “Cousin, when it’s a little hotter, I’ll make you a cooling bracelet. It’s hot in summer, so you’ll be frustrated. Just smell it, and it’ll help you cool down and relieve the heat. In autumn, I’ll make an agarwood bracelet. It’s dry and hot, and it’s suitable for nourishing the kidneys. In winter, when it’s cold, I’ll make a cold-repelling bracelet to stimulate your blood. If you have any incense you like, you can tell me. I can make the incense beads you like.”
Zhou Linghuai smiled again. “Alright, I don’t know much about incense beads. I think whatever Cousin likes is very good.”
At the mention of the cold-repelling bracelet, he remembered that when his old illness acted up a while ago, the little girl had made incense and burned it in the house day and night. There were still unfinished ones in his house.
Yu Youyao smiled and nodded. Then, she saw the sachet tied to her cousin’s waist. “Cousin, it’ll take a few days for me to embroider the sachet. I’ll give it to you when I’m done.”
Every time she did needlework, she had the illusion that she would be able to do it well soon.
However, every time, it would take a long time.
Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “There’s no hurry. Cousin, take your time embroidering. If you don’t have time, don’t embroider anymore. It’s bad for the eyes to make too much needlework.” He took another look at the incense bead bracelet wrapped around his wrist. The dark fragrance was strong and after staying up all night, his tired mind felt a little relieved. “Cousin, you’ve already given me a lot of things.”
Yu Youyao waved her hand. “You have to accept gifts often in life to have surprises and expectations.”
Zhou Linghuai nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you, Cousin.”
Yu Youyao looked at her cousin, who was still wearing the clothes from yesterday. His clothes were wrinkled and stained with paint. “Cousin, you’ve stayed up all night and haven’t eaten breakfast, right? Hurry back to your room to wash up. Go and rest after eating. Don’t tire yourself out again.”
Upon hearing her words, Zhou Linghuai remembered that he had not eaten any rice since last night until morning. He had only just drunk a pot of water and was indeed very hungry now. He nodded. “Okay!”
“Cousin, I haven’t finished making my incense beads, so I’ll go back first!” Yu Youyao picked up her skirt and ran, afraid that she would delay her cousin’s rest.
Zhou Linghuai watched her cheerful figure disappear into the Green House. Only then did he retract his gaze and look down at the bracelet on his wrist. He raised his hand and lowered his head to smell it.
The fragrance melted and seeped into his heart.
After returning to the Jade Courtyard, Yu Youyao went to the incense room.
She packed the ten incense beads that she was going to give to her grandmother and asked Liu’er to send them to An Shou Hall.
There were only two remaining incense beads, and they were both the size of longans. Yu Youyao picked out two knots, one red and one green, and threaded the incense beads into the string. The two incense bead necklaces had a white and smaller Lantian jade bead.
Nanny Xu brought over a plate of pastries.
Yu Youyao placed one of the green string incense beads into Nanny Xu’s hand. “Nanny, the incense beads I made for the first time are very meaningful. This green string is for you. You have to wear it often. It’s good for your health.”
“I have one too?!” Nanny Xu took the incense bead necklace in a daze. For a moment, she couldn’t react. There was a green string with a longevity knot, pearl-sized white jade beads, and longan-sized wooden osmanthus incense beads.
It was a simple necklace.
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