"I had not heard of a tamale until I agreed to learn this style of cooking," Lan Wangji tells Magnus, as assurance. "You remain the expert. We will need masa harina, lard, water, and salt. For the sweet tamales, oil, sugar, and cinnamon." At the reminder that they will be working with lard, he tightens his ponytail again. The idea of returning to Wei Ying with his hair smelling of animal fat is intolerable.