After washing the medicinal herbs, they prepared to slice them.
Chen Lin picked up a specialized herb-cutting knife and handed it to Qin Churan.
Qin Churan took the knife.
Tap, tap, tap, tap-
The blade rose and fell. The century-old wild ginseng was cut into thin, even slices.
Qin Chuxia grabbed a kitchen knife and waved it over the fleeceflower root.
"I bet I can cut faster than you!"
The blade slipped.
"Ah!" Qin Chuxia cried out.
The edge skimmed across her index fingernail, narrowly missing her flesh.
Chen Lin got up and walked over.
"That's not how you hold a knife."
He stood just behind her to one side, reached out with his right hand, and covered the back of her knife hand.
"Keep your thumb tucked in and press your index finger against the spine. Use your wrist, not brute force."
Guiding her hand, Chen Lin cut off a slice of fleeceflower root.
They were standing extremely close.
His breath brushed Qin Chuxia's ear as he spoke.
Qin Chuxia took the opportunity to lean back, pressing her back against his arm.
Beside them.
Watching their overlapping hands, Qin Churan abruptly raised her herb-cutting knife.
Bang!
The spine of the blade slammed into the chopping board, sending wood chips flying.
Chen Lin glanced at her. "What did that chopping board ever do to you?"
Qin Churan stared at the herbs in her hand, her expression icy. "The blade's dull. I was testing it."
An hour later, all the herbs had been sliced.
Chen Lin set up a large iron pot in the backyard, poured in spirit spring water, and lit the firewood.
The water soon boiled.
Chen Lin added the sliced herbs to the pot in order.
"Ginseng and Solomon's seal first, to lock in their medicinal potency. Then