The meal was enjoyed by both host and guests. After the meal, Xiao Yunying brewed some snow pear Pu'er tea and served it to the main table first. Then, she carried four cups on a tray and stood at the door, calling out, "Ling Qi, come and serve the tea."
Ling Qi ran over excitedly: "Thank you, Miss Xiao."
"Don't be so polite. Go to the kitchen to get more water after you're done drinking. It's in a big iron kettle."
"Ling Qi understands."
Xiao Yunying returned to her seat, while Madam Chen was carefully examining the mug in her hand: "Miss Xiao's mug is quite novel, it has a handle like a teapot."
Xiao Yunying replied with a smile, "I have thin skin and thick flesh and can't stand the heat, so I can't hold a teacup or tea bowl properly. So I came up with a way to draw up the design and make this kind of large-diameter cup with a handle. It's so much more enjoyable to drink tea from here."
Madam Chen was amused by Xiao Yunying's words: "What kind of girl says she has thin skin and thick flesh?"
"Madam Chen has never seen what I looked like before. I was very fat, with a round face like a white steamed bun. I only recently lost weight."
Madam Chen shook her head: "It's not good for a woman to be too thin. She looks like skin and bones, which is uncomfortable. Miss Xiao is just right. She can hold onto good fortune and is more likely to give birth."
Xiao Yunying thought she had misheard: "What?"
Isn't Madam Chen's way of praising someone a bit too off-topic? Why did she bring up childbirth?
Madam Chen noticed the gaze directed at her son and quickly tried to salvage the situation: "I meant, Miss Xiao, don't rush into losing weight and harm your health."
"No, losing weight is for the sake of health. The doctor said that being too fat is bad for your health."
Madam Chen responded twice and took a sip of tea.
"The tea is good, but does it taste like pear?"
Xiao Yunying explained, "It's not a good tea, just ordinary Pu'er tea. Dried pears have been used to add a little fruity aroma and sweetness. It's barely presentable enough to serve guests."
"Was it Miss Xiao's idea to brew tea with fruit?"
"Just something I thought of. If Madam Chen doesn't mind, I have some more. I'll take some back with me later."
Chen Yuanyao hurriedly said, "Sister Yunying, I want some too. Could you give me more of the peach oolong tea from last time?"
Madam Chen's face darkened slightly: "Yuan Yao, how can you be so rude as to ask someone for something?"
Chen Yuanyao said with a slightly aggrieved tone, "It's not what I wanted. My grandmother insisted that I bring some fruit tea back with me."
Chen Yuanxuan said, "Mother, what my second sister said is true. Grandmother took all my peach tea away."
Mrs. Chen: ...
Xiao Yunying quickly said, "Madam Chen, please don't mention Yuan Yao. If Old Madam Chen likes to drink it, please take more back. Fruit tea is not a valuable thing, and I have plenty here."
Madam Chen's cheeks flushed slightly. She never expected it was her mother-in-law who wanted it, and she could only awkwardly continue along with Xiao Yunying's words:
"Thank you very much, Miss Xiao."
After chatting for a while in the waiting room, Madam Chen asked why her son had come today. Chen Yuancheng told her about the vegetable greenhouse, and Madam Chen said she wanted to go and take a look at it.
Leading the group through the back door to the vegetable greenhouse, Mrs. Chen surveyed the yard and pointed to the empty land enclosed by stones along the wall, asking:
Why aren't these places paved with flagstones and pebbles like other places?
Xiao Yunying said, "I plan to plant some bamboo in the empty spaces to decorate the yard."
Luo Xin, the little tail following behind her, asked in confusion, "Mother, didn't you say you were going to plant flowers, colorful flowers?"
Her mother had already explained everything to her, so why did she want to switch to planting bamboo? She knew bamboo; bamboo tubes weren't pretty at all.
Xiao Yunying stroked the little girl's head: "Mother forgot to tell you, we just dug a well. Everyone says that it's auspicious for people with wells to plant bamboo, bringing wealth and good fortune. If you like flowers, how about I clear a plot of land for you to plant flowers under the outer wall in the backyard?"
Luo Xin was an easy-going girl; she nodded without saying anything.
Xiao Yunying handed the key to Chen Yuancheng at the back door:
"Take your mother to have a look. Just insert the key into the lock and turn it to unlock it. Remember to lock it when you come out. I'm not going. I'll make you some dessert."
He went back to the kitchen, took out a few pears, peeled and cored them, cut them into chunks, washed the snow fungus, tore it into small pieces, put it into an earthenware pot, added an appropriate amount of rock sugar, and simmered it over low heat.
Luo Xin asked curiously, "Mother, what are these white flowers?"
"This isn't a flower, it's soaked snow fungus."
"Is it tasty?"
Xiao Yunying thought about it carefully and realized that she had never made snow fungus for the children.
"It's delicious. Xin'er, have some more when it's done."
"Mother, eat more too."
"Okay, Mother is going to bake some pastries in the kiln in a little while. Have your second brother help Mother start the fire first."
"Xin'er will go right away."
Xiao Yunying coaxed Luo Xin away and took out the milk from the supermarket, which had been poured into a small bowl in advance and cooled down after steaming for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
Add an appropriate amount of sugar to the egg whites and gently stir until well combined. Remember not to make the egg whites foam.
Use chopsticks to poke a small hole in the milk skin near the edge of the bowl, pour the milk into the egg white, and stir well.
Filter the milk through a fine sieve, then pour the milk into the bowl along the small holes in the milk skin, keeping it close to the side of the bowl. The milk skin will float to the top.
Wrap it in plastic wrap, poke a small hole in it, steam it over water for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, and let it cool naturally until it solidifies into double-skin milk.
"Luo Chen, please keep an eye on the fire for me. After a cup of tea, open the steamer for the double-skin milk and put it on the table to cool. Be careful not to burn yourself."
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