Garden of Empress Cassia Read Online Free

face was as white as a Chinese opera singer’s. ‘Your dumpling now look like podgy little caterpillar but one day they change into beautiful butterfly like mine.’
    Mrs Lu placed the dumplings into a giant five-tiered bamboo steamer and put it on the gas stove. Soon the kitchen was filled with a delicious smell. Steam belched through the woven lid like a dragon all fired up.
    Mimi made a sign which read:
Mrs Lu’s Teahouse
    Serving
    Vegetarian Dumplings
    Healthy Herbal Soups
    Dragon Well Tea
    The Garden of Four Seasons and the Teahouse were an instant success. People viewed the garden, then went in for a refreshing cup of tea. Some neighbours met for the first time, even though they had lived in the same street for decades.
    They would say, ‘Hello, your face seems familiar. Live around here?’
    â€˜Yes. . . Tango Street,’ would be the reply.
    â€˜We’re neighbours then.’
    â€˜Well fancy that. I hear the dumplings are sensational here. Want to join me for a cuppa?’
    â€˜Why not.’
    Mimi enjoyed being a waitress, especially with Josh’s help. He made people laugh with his dazzling style of serving. As he weaved in and out of the tables with a tray of food held high in one hand above his head, he yelled, ‘
Lai le, Lai le. Food’s here.’
He said he saw it in a Chinese movie once.
    The
Wattle Valley Whisper
wrote an article all about Mimi.
Rumba Magic
    TWELVE-year-old Mimi Lu, a Wattle Valley Primary School student is a talent to watch. Mimi has drawn a garden so real on the footpath in Rumba Street that people come from all over the city to see it. ‘I call it the Garden of Four Seasons,’ Mimi said. Shopkeepers in the area say business has never been better. ‘They all want to see the garden,’ said Vic Taranto, owner of Vic’s Greengrocery. ‘It’s hard to get a park so people leave their cars at home and walk. It’s the best thing that’s happened to this little community.’ Mimi’s enterprising mother has opened Mrs Lu’s Teahouse where she serves Chinese tea and dumplings. It’s well worth a visit.
    Mr Honeybun sat at one of the tables sipping green tea from a small porcelain teacup.
    â€˜Taste sweetness in back of throat, Mr Honeybun.’ Mrs Lu set down a plate of steaming dumplings.
    He took another sip and his eyebrows shot up like two bushy possum tails.
    â€˜Yes, I can indeed,’ he said. ‘The tea is sweet.’
    â€˜My dumplings very good, you try,’ said Mrs Lu. She stood back waiting for his reaction.
    He picked up his chopsticks and chased a dumpling around the plate as if it were alive.
    â€˜You gotta stab it, Henry,’ said Alma sitting behind him on the next table. She made short thrusting motions with her hand.
    â€˜Thank you, Alma,’ he said, politely nodding. He successfully skewered the dumpling. It dribbled with juice. ‘Mm . . . delicious, Mrs Lu.’
    For the past year, Mr Honeybun had wanted to ask Alma out, but he was shy about his plastic leg. This would be the perfect occasion. Mr Honeybun turned to face her, then quickly turned back again. She was putting on her lipstick. Maybe some other time.
    Mimi saw Miss O’Dell come into the shop.
    â€˜Did you see it, the garden I mean?’ she asked excitedly. ‘The pastels are amazing . . .’
    â€˜Shhh . . .’ Miss O’Dell gently cut her off then whispered, ‘Let’s make it our secret, Mimi. Remember. . . they can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.’
    â€˜Oops. Sorry . . . I forgot.’
    â€˜I came to see if you wanted to draw a mural on the art room wall. What do you think?’
    â€˜I’d love to,’ Mimi replied. ‘When can I start?’ ‘First thing after assembly tomorrow morning.’
    Mimi didn’t dawdle to school the next day. She couldn’t believe she was allowed to