Widow Xie, Ji Xuelan, and Ji Mingfang sat shoulder to shoulder in a row, staring blankly ahead.
A rectangular wooden board hung on the wall in front of them. Ji Huan was sketching on it with a piece of charcoal that had been burned through and cooled.
"Spices with richer aromas and denser textures need to be soaked in hot water for a longer period of time. For those with less of an off-smell and a higher oil content, warm water will do. For those that release their fragrance easily, room-temperature water is fine.
Bitter-aromatic spices contain more impurities and off-smells, so they are usually soaked in white liquor, which acts as a solvent and penetrates them. This makes it easier to remove the unwanted odors.
Of course, the soaking method and duration must be handled flexibly.
