Bai Jiaojiao was just holding Shen Heng's hand, but as soon as he said that, she immediately let go, moved to the other side of the kang (a heated brick bed), hugged her legs, and said aggrievedly, "Brother Heng is mean to me."

Shen Heng: "..."

How the hell would I have the guts?

Bai Jiaojiao stretched out two fingers and pinched Chen Heng's sleeve: "Brother Heng, I just want to make some snacks, it's not a big business. Look at how many people in our village haven't asked you to exchange for eggs or flour? The brigade turns a blind eye. These snacks are just eggs and flour mixed together, aren't they?"

Shen Heng was both annoyed and amused: "Where did you get this twisted logic from?"

There are indeed people in the black market who bring their own homemade goods to trade, and those with skills earn much more steadily than these middlemen.

Shen Heng was also envious, but as an orphan, where could he find a skill?

He knew Bai Jiaojiao was a good cook, and that her food might actually sell well.

But he didn't give in easily: "I said no, and that's final. If you keep pestering me, I'll beat you up!"

Bai Jiaojiao pouted and glared at Shen Heng with the fiercest expression, which only elicited a low chuckle from Shen Heng.

"why are you laughing!"

"How could I dare laugh at you? You scared me to death." Shen Heng pursed his lips, trying to suppress the corners of his mouth that were about to turn up.

Bai Jiaojiao was even angrier, but since she looked like a pale, round dough ball, her anger had no deterrent effect whatsoever; it only made Shen Heng's heart itch.

Shen Heng felt that he wouldn't be a man if he kept holding back. He leaned closer, but Bai Jiaojiao pushed him away with her hand: "Brother Heng, I'm angry with you, stay away from me!"

"You still dare to be angry with me?"

"You want to beat me up? Come on, come on! Tomorrow I'll let everyone know you hit your wife! You're a bad man!"

Shen Heng couldn't help but laugh. He pulled the flailing Bai Jiaojiao into his arms and kissed her temple, saying, "If I didn't use my hands to hit you, but something else, would you still have the nerve to tell anyone?"

"Chen Heng, you scoundrel! Let me go! Ugh..."

Bai Jiaojiao was completely powerless to fight back. She opened her mouth and bit Shen Heng's shoulder, but she didn't dare to use force. This only made Shen Heng feel as if a wave of heat was surging inside him, which made him even more determined not to let Bai Jiaojiao go.

Bai Jiaojiao looked up at the roof beam: Tired, I give up struggling.

Shen Heng restrained himself and only came once.

"Brother Heng..." Bai Jiaojiao whispered softly, her voice gentle and warm as she leaned against Shen Heng's chest, making Shen Heng's bones melt.

"Hmm?" Shen Heng felt that Bai Jiaojiao would give him her life.

"Just listen to me, let's sell it and make some money to build a big house."

Bai Jiaojiao leaned against Shen Heng's chest, acting coquettishly, and Shen Heng couldn't resist her charms at all.

At this moment, in this situation, could he still utter a single "no"?

Shen Heng's lips were pressed into a straight line. Bai Jiaojiao tilted her head back and leaned in to kiss him quickly twice, then grinned at Shen Heng.

"If Brother Heng doesn't say anything, I'll take it as Brother Heng agreeing."

Bai Jiaojiao leaned contentedly into Shen Heng's arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rubbed her face against his chest.

Now it was Shen Heng's turn to stare at the ceiling, taking a deep breath.

He's run into a scoundrel!

Good heavens, he's really screwed over by Bai Jiaojiao.

However, holding Bai Jiaojiao in his arms, Chen Heng's heart softened.

No wonder everyone wants to find a wife; it's a completely different way of life from being a bachelor.

Fine, let her be as she pleases. He'll take responsibility if anything happens.

Shen Heng's lips curled into a helpless smile: "Alright, alright, would I dare disobey you? Just so you don't go home and complain that I'm bullying you."

He wanted to hug him again, but the person in his arms struggled and pushed him away: "Brother Heng, it's hot, I don't want to hug you anymore."

Suddenly feeling an emptiness in his arms, Chen Heng was stunned.

So what is he trying to achieve?

This little girl really turns on you without warning.

"It's raining outside, why are you so hot? Come here!"

Shen Heng brought the person back, demonstrating to Bai Jiaojiao through his actions that one must give something before gaining anything.

"Brother Heng is bullying me," Bai Jiaojiao muttered, being held in Shen Heng's arms.

Shen Heng really wanted to find someone to judge the matter.

Who is bullying whom?

Because Bai Jiaojiao was so bothered by Shen Heng that she really didn't want to get out of bed, the carp that was supposed to be braised that night was instead just casually cooked with soybean paste by Shen Heng.

"Tell me, what kind of pastries should we make to sell in town? Are they even better than peach shortbread and chicken cake?"

Compared to the others in the village, Shen Heng was quite knowledgeable about the town, but when it came to snacks, he only knew two things: peach shortbread and sponge cake.

"Of course it tastes better than peach shortbread and sponge cake!"

Bai Jiaojiao had dozens of snacks she had eaten in her later life. By then, the reform and opening up had taken place, private shops had appeared on the market, and all kinds of goods were available, things that people today dare not even imagine.

"Okay, as long as you know what you're doing."

In Shen Heng's view, Bai Jiaojiao was from the city, and she was well-traveled and knowledgeable, so it was perfectly normal for her to know about some snacks that they had never seen before.

He didn't want to interfere too much; he left it entirely to Bai Jiaojiao to decide.

The next day, Bai Jiaojiao went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy soybean flour and glutinous rice flour. Soybean flour cost 15 cents per pound, and glutinous rice flour cost 20 cents. With sugar and oil, the cost of frying one pound of glutinous rice strips was about 20 cents.

Making glutinous rice strips is simple: just mix two kinds of flour together, steam them, then take them out and pound them until they have a little elasticity, then roll them into strips about the size of a finger, and dry them in the sun or air to shape them.

The final step is deep-frying. While still hot, roll it in sugar to coat it with a layer of white frost, and it's done.

The glutinous rice strips are sweet and crispy; a couple of bites and your mouth will smell delicious all day.

Shen Heng wasn't good at these things, so he moved a small stool over and sat on the side, watching with his chin propped up, like a supervisor.

"Be careful with the knife, don't chop your hand. I don't want to eat meat tonight!"

"Hey, hey, let me fry them. This oil's boiling hot, you'll get burned and scarred! Get out of the way!"

Shen Heng was acting like a child, which made Bai Jiaojiao both amused and exasperated. She was even hesitant and timid when making glutinous rice strips.

Finally, they reached the last step. Looking at the rice strips that looked like fingers, Bai Jiaojiao pinched one and put it into Chen Heng's mouth.

Shen Heng took a bite and tasted it. It was even more fragrant than peach shortbread, and not greasy at all.

"Is it delicious?" Bai Jiaojiao asked expectantly.

"tasty."

"Then Heng-ge, you should eat more!" Bai Jiaojiao brought all the plates to Shen Heng, who took them and placed them on the stove.

“These are for you women and children, I won’t eat them, you can keep them for yourself.”

This glutinous rice strip is made with flour, sugar, and plenty of oil—all good stuff. How could it not be delicious?

Shen Heng is not picky about food; he's happy as long as he's full. He feels that eating these things is a waste.

"No, that's not true! These aren't for women and children!"

Bai Jiaojiao muttered something, and Shen Heng asked her, "Then who do you think should eat it?"

Bai Jiaojiao hugged Shen Heng: "Of course it's for people who are loved."

Shen Heng looked at the smiling face in his arms and couldn't help but look away.

Someone who cares about you?

he?