Chapter Twenty-Two: Coconut Milk Osmanthus/Red Bean Layered Water Chestnut Cake...

Zhang Yuling secretly watched her daughter eat, a smile curving her lips.

She felt this was the happiest thing in the world: the three of them sitting together to eat, and even her daughter eating obediently.

Xiaoyu picked up the bowl, finished the last sip of soup, and seemed to be in a good mood. "The soup was delicious too."

Zhang Yuling also thought the soup was delicious. She asked curiously, "What did the owner put in the soup base? It smells so good."

Liu Jiang knew that Zhang Yuling was probably worried that the soup base at Yu Ji's shop was so fragrant because it might have some kind of high-tech additive, like the spicy hot pot outside. It might taste good, and there's nothing wrong with using those seasonings, but as people get older, their digestion isn't as good, and eating such heavily seasoned food will feel uncomfortable, unlike when they were younger and could handle it as well.

But the food at this restaurant is delicious entirely because the owner uses high-quality ingredients and his cooking skills are truly excellent.

Liu Jiang said, "The broth is made by simmering pork bones, of course it's fragrant."

Zhang Yuling, like Xiaoyu, finished the last sip of soup at the bottom of her bowl. Indeed, it didn't have that strange taste. She nodded, "No wonder it's so mellow and fragrant."

The small restaurant was packed with people again.

She now felt that the small restaurant was divided into two groups of people: one group was high school students who had finished school at 5 p.m., and the other group was working professionals. Perfectly, the students finished eating and went to class, so the restaurant had seats to eat.

Grandpa Xu sat in a chair. There was a square table, just enough for his family to sit at. Xu Changxing and Zhou Gui rushed over, bringing Xu Ruian with them.

Xu Ruian usually doesn't finish his tutoring class this early, but today his mother came to pick him up early. After saying a few words to the teacher, he was taken away.

On the way back, Xu Ruian kept wondering if something had happened at home and why his mother was in such a hurry.

When they arrived at the door, Xu Ruian cautiously asked, "Mom, is there anything I can help you with today?"

Zhou Gui took off his helmet, exhaled, and said calmly, "It's okay. I'll take you to Xiaoyin's place for dinner. If we go too late, there won't be any left."

Xu Ruian: ...

I am so surprised.

Zhou Gui took Xu Ruian to a small restaurant, and the four of them sat down together to have dinner.

Yu Miaoyin was still surprised to see the whole family there, so she served the noodles to the four of them.

Xu Ruian's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "It smells so good!"

The broth, made from pork bones, has received a lot of praise; its incredibly delicious flavor is truly unmatched by any other food.

The people at the small restaurant also raved about it, saying it was so delicious.

The highest form of praise for food is to finish it.

The family of four drank all the soup, leaving only an empty bowl.

Seeing that it was getting late, Yu Miaoyin didn't feel like cooking, so she gave Xiaotangbao beef brisket noodles as well, and the two of them ate happily.

"How about I take you to the night market later?" Yu Miaoyin said to Xiao Tangbao after they finished eating.

Although Yuncheng is a small city, it has a vibrant nightlife, and the nights are cooler, so many people like to go out at night. Coincidentally, she also wanted to go out for a stroll.

For a child of this age, going out at night is a scary thing, but the thought of her older sister being there makes her feel safe.

The older sister will hold her hand and take her to many places; the older sister will protect her.

The night market in Yuncheng is managed by designated personnel, so everything is very neatly arranged. The night market is full of lively atmosphere, with a constant stream of people coming and going.

"Water chestnut cake, water chestnut cake!" a young man called out.

Yu Miaoyin especially loves these sweet and chewy pastries, and she really hasn't had them in a long time. Thinking that she could keep them in the refrigerator for breakfast after buying them, she decided to go and buy some.

"You can try it!" the boy quickly said, trying to attract customers.

The boy cut a piece for Xiaotangbao and Yu Miaoyin to taste.

It wasn't bouncy at all; on the contrary, it was a bit soft, and the texture was like eating pork. Looking at the cross-section, the layers weren't very distinct. Yu Miaoyin smiled slightly and said, "Let's come back and take a look later."

The boy hummed in agreement, and after Yu Miaoyin left, he sighed and muttered to himself, "I knew I wasn't cut out for cooking. I don't even think my cooking tastes good!"

"Does Xiaotangbao like it?" she asked. Because she can cook, she has a high sensitivity to food and can sense if there are any adjustments to the taste.

For example, this water chestnut cake has a watery bottom, which is probably due to an incorrect ratio of water to flour, and the cake itself is not firm.

Little Tangbao shook her head: "It doesn't taste good."

As she spoke, her voice suddenly became softer: "I used to love eating water chestnut cake. My mom used to make me delicious water chestnut cake all the time."

She sounded a little aggrieved. Her words seemed to say that she hadn't eaten delicious water chestnut cake in a long time since her mother left.

It was clearly a very light complaint, but Yu Miaoyin felt wronged as it fell heavily on her heart.

Yu Miaoyin squatted down, put her hand on her shoulder and said, "Isn't your older sister here? Just tell me what you want to eat and I'll make it for you."

"Didn't you say that your older sister's cooking is the best in the world?"

Little Tangbao finally smiled. Her laughter was as melodious as a flowing spring in a valley. "Okay, I want to eat delicious water chestnut cake too! Big sister, you have to make me some delicious water chestnut cake!"

Since she was going to do it anyway, Yu Miaoyin decided to make a variety of flavors. She bought several boxes of water chestnut flour and a lot of other flavorings, such as coconut milk and water chestnuts.

On their way back, the two of them were carrying large and small bags. At the mall, Yu Miaoyin bought a lot of new clothes for Xiao Tangbao. She thought Xiao Tangbao was so cute, raising her was like playing a nurturing game, and the character model was super adorable, so much fun.

Having such an adorable younger sister who calls her "sweet older sister" is just too endearing.

The two walked home under the moonlight as if taking a stroll, chatting as they went, making the distance between them seem shorter.

The clothes were all ones she had tried on before and they fit well. Yu Miaoyin removed the tags and washed the clothes, and several pretty little dresses were hung on the balcony.

Making water chestnut cake is the same whether you make a little or a big box, since the time and labor costs are about the same, plus she bought quite a lot of ingredients.

What's more, she can sell it.

Xiao Tangbao is still in school. She wants to save more money to give her a better life. She wants to give her the best of everything.

Thinking this, Yu Miaoyin took out a large, deep iron plate, perfect for steaming water chestnut cake. First, she prepared the raw batter made from water chestnut flour. In a separate pot, she cooked sugar into a caramel-colored syrup. While it was still hot, she scooped out a portion and poured it into the raw batter, quickly stirring with chopsticks to blend the hot syrup with the raw batter into a sticky, cooked batter. Then, she poured the cooked batter back into the remaining raw batter and stirred it thoroughly. The base of the raw and cooked batter was now ready.

Next, she divided the raw and cooked syrups into two portions. One portion was mixed with coconut milk and milk to create a creamy white syrup. The other portion was mixed with osmanthus honey, which she made herself. When she picked it up, it was crystal clear, with clusters of osmanthus flowers slowly flowing in the amber-colored honey. After adding the osmanthus honey, it became a golden and translucent yellow syrup. Both the yellow and white syrups were now ready.

Then it can be steamed. There is enough yellow and white paste from Yu Miaoyin. It is slowly spread on the tray layer by layer. After the layers are piled up, the sweet aroma in the room becomes stronger and stronger. The little house is like being soaked in a honey pot.

Xiao Tangbao felt like a little bee, lingering in the osmanthus grove.

"Come on, little Tangbao, try it and tell me if it's good." Yu Miaoyin dipped the knife in water, dried it, and then cut the food; it wasn't sticky at all.

Little bee Xiaotangbao felt as if she had landed in a large grove of osmanthus flowers. "It smells so good!" she sniffed.

Yu Miaoyin also cut herself a piece; the aroma of osmanthus blended with the flavor of coconut milk. One bite revealed a chewy, bouncy texture, neither too sweet nor too cloying. Even after finishing, a faint osmanthus fragrance lingered on her tongue.

Little Tangbao loved it even more, shaking her head and nodding her head in affirmation as she ate, "It's so delicious! All the food that my sister makes is delicious."

Seeing Xiaotangbao eating so happily, Yu Miaoyin also felt happy.

Yu Miaoyin used the same method to make other flavors, namely Osmanthus Coconut Milk Thousand-Layer Water Chestnut Cake, Red Bean Coconut Milk Thousand-Layer Water Chestnut Cake, and Classic Water Chestnut Cake.

Yu Miaoyin cut some and gave some to Grandma Chen, and then took some to Grandpa Xu's family.

The next morning, Yu Miaoyin carried the water chestnut cakes she had made into the shop. Each tray of water chestnut cakes was very chewy and bouncy, trembling slightly inside the tray. Just as Yu Miaoyin finished putting things away and tidying up, someone came in.

"Hello, is this where you sell water chestnut cake?" a girl said, sniffing the air as she entered the small shop, feeling enveloped by a sweet aroma.

Even though she was going to be late, she couldn't resist going into the shop to ask the owner what delicious things they were making. After all, she was already late, so she shouldn't neglect her stomach.

Yu Miaoyin nodded, "Yes, it's water chestnut cake I made. Would you like some?"

Yang Churuo looked toward the source of the strong aroma and saw plates of water chestnut cakes gleaming with a warm light. Some were translucent amber in color, some were covered with a layer of osmanthus flowers, and some were crimson red. Each one was very attractive.

"I'll order everything, just pick what you want, thank you boss. Please cut it quickly, I'm going to be late," Yang Churuo said.

"Okay." Yu Miaoyin thought that she should eat it for breakfast, so she didn't cut much. She took half a large piece, then cut it into smaller pieces, packed it in a takeout box, and handed it to her.

After receiving the water chestnut cake, Yang Churuo quickly headed towards the studio.

Although she walked very fast, she still wasted a lot of time, and when she arrived, Yang Churuo was still late.

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm so sorry, sister." Yang Churuo works in a photography studio, and the boss is a woman a few years older than her, whom Yang Churuo likes to call Sister Lu Yao.

The two usually got along well, but work is work, so Yang Churuo continued to apologize, "I'm sorry, Sister Lu Yao, I was late buying breakfast today, but the breakfast I bought today smelled really good, I'll share some with you later!"

Lu Yao thought it was a small matter, just a few minutes late, and it wasn't intentional. She smiled and said, "Okay, I won't dock your pay. I'll eat at home. You can eat by yourself. The guests will be here soon."

Yang Churuo blew her a few kisses. Thinking that the guests were about to arrive and that she had been reprimanded for being late, Yang Churuo put down the water chestnut cake and went to set up the venue.

Lu Yao Studio is a well-known photography studio in Yuncheng. Lu Yao is good at managing social media. Yang Churuo's photos are beautiful. As a female photographer, she understands girls' feelings better, and everyone likes them very much. Over time, the studio's reputation has spread. The makeup artists in the studio also create beautiful makeup looks.

Although Yuncheng is a small city, many places are perfect for taking photos, so Yuncheng's tourism industry has developed quite well.

Yang Churuo and her assistant set up the scene together. After the customer arrived, they took some photos. The customer was a minor internet celebrity who understood Yang Churuo's intentions very well. In addition, the customer also had good expressiveness, and they were very satisfied with the photos.

Chen looked at the photos with satisfaction. "Thank you, they're beautifully taken, I really like them."

Yang Churuo smiled and said, "You cooperated very well too."

She had been busy filming and hadn't felt hungry. Now that she relaxed, and because she had been squatting for a long time while filming, the moment she stood up, Yang Churuo's vision went black, she lost her balance and almost fell backward.

"Are you alright!" Lu Yao and her colleagues from the studio rushed over. Chen Yi was also startled and quickly stood up to help her.

Gradually, the blurry black shadow in front of her became clear. Lu Yao took out a few chocolates. "It's good that you're okay. Are you having low blood sugar?"

Yang Churuo took the chocolate. "It's nothing, it's an old problem. I just felt a little dizzy from standing up so suddenly."

Lu Yao was in the same situation, "It's good that you're alright."

Lu Yao glanced at the time: "It's almost lunchtime. I noticed you haven't eaten breakfast. Go have lunch. I'll let you go early this time. I'll handle the rest with the guests."

Yang Churuo finally had time to eat water chestnut cake. As soon as she opened it, a rich and sweet aroma wafted out, and she quickly picked up a piece to taste it.

The sweet, savory flavor lingers on the lips and teeth, with a slightly cool, smooth texture. The chewy cake has a subtle firmness, and as you chew, the smooth coconut flavor and the sweet osmanthus fragrance intertwine.

Osmanthus flowers are delicious, especially this particular osmanthus, which has a sweet taste with the fragrance of flowers and herbs.

The coconut milk red bean dessert is also delicious. The soft, sandy texture of the red beans contrasts beautifully with the chewy texture of the water chestnut cake, creating a rich and satisfying flavor. Another option contains chopped water chestnuts, which have a slightly crunchy texture that's very refreshing.

The three flavors of water chestnut cake taste different, but they are all delicious.

Yang Churu thought to herself, "No wonder it's the water chestnut cake I bought even though I was late. It's so delicious, it was worth it even though I was late."

She didn't pay attention when she bought it, whether the owner sold breakfast, other things, or specialized in water chestnut cake!

Chen Yi and Lu Yao were talking, and as they chatted, they both smelled a very sweet fragrance. Chen Yi lost interest in looking at the photos and asked curiously, "What smells so good?"

Lu Yao had wanted to say it for a while, but she didn't show it because of the guests.

Lu Yao led Chen Yi to Yang Chu Ruo, right where the sweet scent was emanating.

"Where did you buy this? It smells so good," Chen asked.

Yang Churuo was very generous and handed the remaining pieces to the two of them.

Chen Yi tried a red bean and coconut milk flavored drink; the red beans were soft and chewy, with a sweet red bean taste—delicious. Lu Yao ate the osmanthus flavored drink; after finishing it, a faint osmanthus fragrance lingered in her throat.

The generous Yang Churuo distributed the remaining pieces to the others, and everyone was amazed by the taste, exclaiming in surprise, "Churuo, where did you buy this?"

"I bought it from a small shop across from a high school. I didn't see the name, but the owner's cooking smells amazing. You can find the shop by the aroma!" Yang Churuo said.

Lu Yao was very curious, "At the high school gate?"

How could a small shop located near a high school make such delicious water chestnut cake?

This was Chen Yi's first time in Yuncheng. She had searched online for many recommendations of restaurants in Yuncheng and booked a number of them herself. But now, she didn't want to try any of them. She just wanted to try this restaurant!

“At the entrance of Yuncheng No.1 Middle School!” Chen Churuo said, “but I don’t know if the owner makes lunch.”

Chen Yi smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm actually hungry. I'll go check it out. If it's not open, I'll go to another restaurant."

After all, she's going back in a few days, and if she doesn't go now, she won't have another chance to eat there.