陸遊《葱》“Scallions” by Lu You (1125-1210)

瓦盆麥飯伴隣翁，

黄菌青蔬放筯空。

一事尚非貧賤分，

芼羮僭用大官葱。

With whole grain rice in a clay bowl and the company of an old neighbour,

Yellow mushrooms and green vegetables vanish [as we] dive in with chopsticks.

One thing is the same for the humble [and the noble]:

Whether vegetable soup or meat soup, the grand scallion is always there.

* From Lu You 陸遊 (1125-1210), Jiannan shigao 劍南詩藁, Yingyin Wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe, 1987) edition, vol. 1162, 13.37a.

Detail of a watercolour painting depicting a vegetable seller in Canton during the 18th century

Image credit: Victoria and Albert Museum, London

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O407787/a-vegetable-seller-painting-puqua/