Qipao Marina Bond episode 3

Momotalk

M: What was the name of that coffee shop again?
S: Togenkyo.
M: Ah, that's right.
M: I wonder, what does the tea here taste like?
M: I'm looking forward to it.

At the coffee shop

M: Umu, it smells good in here.
M: I wonder what tea leaves they use.
S: You're quite an expert in terms of tea, aren't you Marina.
M: I drink quite a lot back in Red Winter.
M: We even have devices for boiling water. They're called samovars.
M: It uses the fuel stored inside it to boil water.
M: You can think of it like an electric kettle.
M: One day, I'll show what some good Red Winter-style tea tastes like!
M: It'll absolutely surpass your expectations!
M: Fumu. Shanhaijing's tea certainly has a rich aroma.
M: But it feels rather... lacking in some aspects.

Suddenly, sounds of arguing could be heard.

Shanhaijing Student A: ...so I'll cut the mooncakes, You always cut it into 8 equal parts anyway.
Shanhaijing Student B: There's nothing wrong with 8 parts. What's with your obssession with cutting it into 4?
Shanhaijing Student A: Ugh, do I have to spell this out for you again?
Shanhaijing Student A: If you cut it into quarters, you can eat it while preserving it's shape.
Shanhaijing Student B: But their texture's pretty tough. Wouldn't you have a hard time chewing if you didn't cut it into 8 piece?
Shanhaijing Student B: And the more you can switch between tea and snack, the better!
M: I wonder what they're arguing about?
S: How to divide a mooncake seems to be the topic/It looks like you're worried about it too.
M: Fumu?
Shanhaijing Student A: Isn't it difficult to cut it into 8 parts? If you mess up, you'll ruin the cake!
Shanhaijing Student B: That just means your bad with a knife!
Shanhaijing Student A: They always say that bigger is better. For now, let's just cut it into 4, and eat it in 2 settings!
Shanhaijing Student B: I don't like thinking of it like that!
Shanhaijing Student A: Ugh... we're going nowhere with this.
Shanhaijing Student B: Over there, are those foreigners?
Shanhaijing Student A: Ah, perfect! A third party can help us decide this objectively.
Shanhaijing Student B: Let's ask them how they like their mooncakes!

Thus, we were forced into their argument about mooncakes.
We couldn't really reach an easy answer either...

M: Ah, I have an idea.
S: Marina...?

Marina walked up and went over to where the argument was taking place.

M: Do excuse me.
Shanhaijing Student A: Sh-she grabbed the mooncake!
Shanhaijing Student B: And ate it in one bite...!
M: (Nom...nom...)
M: Mm. Delicious.
M: It tastes the same no matter how you eat it.
M: After all, it is the original flavour of tea and sweets that are meant to be enjoyed.
M: However, if you continue arguing over how to eat the cake, the tea will get cold
M: Perhaps one could say you're putting the cart before the horse?
S: That's a perfect description, Marina.
M: Good, there's no problems in that case!
M: Anyways, I feel as though I might've said too much.
Shanhaijing Student A: I, I see...!
Shanhaijing Student B: What we should have considered was the [essence of things]
Shanhaijing Student A: Fighting over the method of eating was pointless!
Shanhaijing Student B: That was good advice!
M: Well, if I was of help, I'm glad.
M: But I feel as though something was missing for a while now...
M: Oh yes, the jam! The type made from crushing berries!
Shanhaijing Student A: J-jam!?
Shanhaijing Student B: With tea!?
M: Of course! Tea goes perfectly with jam!
M: After a sip of tea, have a spoonful of jam! It's the best!
M: If jam is unavailable, sugar cubes will do.
M: The subtle sweetness is delicious!
Shanhaijing Student A: Wha...
Shanhaijing Student B: That is blasphemy against tea!
M: W-what!?
Shanhaijing Student A: Tea is about the taste of it's ingredients!
Shanhaijing Student B: You have to enjoy it's colour with your eyes and the sound of it pouring down the cup with your ears!
M: THAT WAS JUST HOW RED WINTER ENJOYS IT'S TEA!

The discussion of how to enjoy tea stretched onwards after that.
As expected, the tea had gone cold by the time they finished.

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Pub: 22 Feb 2025 04:58 UTC

Views: 48