Chapter 78 French Custard

Then comes the most easily overlooked yet crucial step – filtering.

Su Xiaonuan filtered the mixed egg and milk mixture through an extremely fine sieve at least twice to remove any possible impurities and undissolved egg strands, ensuring that the final product had the smoothest texture.

She took out the prepared heat-resistant small ceramic bowl and gently poured the filtered egg and milk mixture into it, filling it about eight-tenths full. The surface was as smooth as a pale yellow mirror.

Preheat the oven.

Baking using a water bath is key to the tenderness of French custard.

She poured hot water into the baking pan, filling it to about half the height of the ceramic pot.

Then carefully place the ceramic jar into a baking pan and put it in the oven.

What follows is a battle against time.

Low-temperature slow baking allows heat to be evenly and gently transferred to the egg and milk mixture through hot water, causing it to solidify slowly.

Su Xiaonuan stood guard by the oven as if protecting a delicate work of art, observing the changes in the egg mixture through the glass door.

The timing must be extremely precise. It's best to bake until the egg mixture is completely set, but the center is still slightly trembling. Any longer and it will be overcooked, any shorter and it will be undercooked.

While waiting to bake, the sweet aroma, a blend of rich milk, creamy egg, and elegant vanilla, began to waft out from the oven's cracks, gradually drifting towards the small garden at the entrance of the nursing home.

The group of elderly men, who had been completely absorbed in their chess game, all twitched their noses in unison.

Someone looked up, sniffed the air hard, and asked with a mixture of confusion and longing in their eyes: "Hmm? What's that smell? It smells so good?"

"It smells like... milk? And eggs? No, it smells much better than that!"

All eyes were drawn to the source of the fragrance—the silver-white stall cart and the two young women with distinctive airs standing beside it.

But the battle on the chessboard was in full swing, and a single misstep could mean the loss of the entire game. Asking them to abandon the game and come over immediately was something they were really reluctant to do. They were scratching their heads, their minds clearly no longer on the game.

Su Xiaonuan watched all of this and thought these old men were just like children who wanted candy but were too shy to ask. It was both funny and cute.

Suddenly, she had a bright idea. She turned to Zhao Liyue beside her and whispered, "Sister Yue, could you please talk to the staff at the nursing home and borrow a chess set or a Go set?"

Although Zhao Liyue was a little doubtful, seeing her confident demeanor, she nodded and turned to walk into the nursing home.

She had a cold demeanor, but after explaining her purpose, the staff saw that she didn't seem like a bad person and that she only wanted to borrow a set of chess pieces, so they quickly agreed.

Not long after, Zhao Liyue returned with a wooden chess set.

Su Xiaonuan quickly added another chair next to the simple table they had set up and arranged the chessboard.

Just as expected!

The game of chess had just been decided, and before the winner could even feel smug and the loser could even feel remorse, the old men exchanged knowing glances and then strolled over in perfect unison, seemingly casually but actually with a clear purpose.

"Hey, they have chess here too? Want to play a game?"

"Come on, Lao Zhang, that last round doesn't count, let's continue with this one!"

"What's that smell? It smells so good! Boss, what are you selling?"

Some people pretended to be attracted by the chess pieces and sat down, while others came directly for the aroma.

Su Xiaonuan immediately put on a warm yet obedient smile: "Hello, grandpas, I'm selling French steamed eggs, which are sweet and tender, perfect for afternoon tea."

"French custard? A foreign thing? Try it! Give me one!"

"It smells good, give me one too!"

"Old Li, hurry up and pay! Let's play chess and eat at the same time!"

The elderly gentlemen readily agreed, each taking a portion. Along with other people drawn by the aroma and the chess game, Su Xiaonuan's first batch of French custard eggs, which she had just baked and cooled slightly to a suitable serving temperature, was almost instantly sold out.

She was overjoyed, her hands moving quickly to pack and collect money, while also keeping an eye on the second batch in the oven.

Seeing how easily these old people could be so happy and content with just a bite to eat and a chess set, Su Xiaonuan couldn't help but think of her adoptive father.

That man who was once decisive and efficient in the police force, but at home he would "nitpick" over the TV remote control with her, and would also drag her to play chess on weekends, fuming when he lost and beaming like a child when he won.

There was a time when he also experienced such simple and pure joy.

Unfortunately, time cannot be turned back, and those warm memories can only be repeatedly savored and silently cherished now.

A fleeting, almost imperceptible sadness crossed her eyes, but it was quickly washed away by the lively scene before her.

Just as Su Xiaonuan's business was thriving and the atmosphere was harmonious, a few discordant figures suddenly emerged from the end of the queue—it was the group of little brats who had been chasing the cat earlier!

They seemed to have no idea how to write the word "queue," or if they did, they didn't care at all. They pushed their way to the front and cut in front of an old man who was about to pay.

The eleven or twelve-year-old boy who was leading the group looked up at Su Xiaonuan with his chin held high, his tone still as arrogant and self-righteous as ever: "Hey! We want to eat this! Give us one each! The money... I'll give you the money when my dad comes!" He immediately asked for credit.

All who come are guests, even the most unruly children.

Su Xiaonuan scoffed inwardly, but kept it to herself and remained calm.

While she was quickly packing food for the old man in front of her, she subtly gave Zhao Liyue a wink and whispered quickly, "Sister Yue, keep an eye on them."

Zhao Liyue nodded slightly, her gaze like the most precise scanner, taking in the expressions and movements of these children.

Su Xiaonuan worked quickly and efficiently, placing several servings of French custard in delicate little bowls into the children's hands within minutes, saying calmly, "Be careful, it's hot."

The little kids were probably seeing such exquisitely presented and temptingly smelling pastries for the first time. Their eyes widened, and they didn't care that it was hot. They couldn't wait to scoop them out with their little spoons and stuff them into their mouths.

The moment the steamed egg touched their lips, its exquisitely smooth and tender texture, along with its rich milky and eggy aroma, instantly captivated their impoverished taste buds.

The sweet yet not cloying, melt-in-your-mouth texture was something they had never experienced before.

They were like little gluttons who hadn't eaten for three days, quickly devouring their portions and even scraping the inside of the bowls until they shone.

Even after I finished eating, the lingering taste in my mouth was still making my mouth water.

The boy in the lead licked his lips, still wanting more, and even tried to cut in line to buy more!

"More! Give us one more each! No, two more!" he shouted, completely ignoring the long line of grandparents behind him.