Chapter 132 Little Chestnut Cake is shocked!
Seeing that Ning Jia hadn't responded for a while, Zhou Chi quickly sent another message:
[Is this Master Ning Ran... really you?]
Ning Jia was still in a state of utter bewilderment, her mind a complete mess, and she didn't know how to answer Zhou Chi's question.
Answering "yes" is definitely not appropriate, and answering "no" doesn't seem quite right either?
After hesitating for a moment, she simply replied with a "shrugging little man" emoji:
[[Shrugs emoji.jpg] This is a long story...]
Zhou Chi was silent for a moment, then replied with an "Ugly dog understands" emoji, and then suddenly there was no reply.
Seeing that Zhou Chi hadn't replied, Ning Jia assumed he had lost signal again. She got up in a daze and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee to calm herself down. After finishing the coffee, her mind calmed down, and she began to seriously recall what had just happened.
Ning Jia was so shocked because the "art exhibit" that Zhou Chi had just sent her was the straw mat she had sold to a middle-aged female customer when she went out to set up a stall during the Dragon Boat Festival!
The middle-aged female customer was described by the market's management as some kind of big shot.
She wasn't sure if the other party was a big shot, but he was certainly very generous. He gave her 20,000 yuan for the straw mat on the spot, saying that the price was too low.
Later, when the female customer's assistant came to pick up the goods, she specifically asked Ning Jia's name before leaving, saying that if the work were exhibited in the future, the author would be credited. However, Ning Jia did not take it seriously at the time and casually made up a name, "Ning Ran".
To everyone's surprise, the other party actually used the name "Ning Ran" to exhibit the straw mats made by the little people...
As for that middle-aged female customer who seemed to be a big shot, what was her name again?
At this point, Ning Jia couldn't remember what the other person looked like at all, let alone their name. She wanted to ask Zhou Chi, but the message she sent sank without a trace, receiving no reply.
This guy always replies to messages instantly, what's wrong with him today?
Ning Jia was really anxious. After hesitating for a moment, she simply opened her phone's photo album and searched through the densely packed photos for a long time before finally finding a photo of a business card among the various photos of sachets.
Ning Jia immediately perked up. She knew it! She should have taken a backup photo!
She quickly clicked on the photo to enlarge it and examine it closely:
This is a very simple business card with a white background and black text, containing only one line of basic personal information:
"Art collector Zhou Weiran."
Zhou Weiran? Oh right, that seems to be the name.
Or, let's search for information about this person online first...
Ning Jia was just about to type in the search box when she suddenly stopped.
Wait, this person... also has the surname Zhou?
Ning Jia narrowed her eyes slightly and quickly began her internal deduction:
She remembered that Zhou Chi had mentioned his major before. Although she couldn't recall the full name, it was indeed related to art.
And Zhou Chi, coincidentally, has an aunt who works in the arts and has a wide network of connections.
Whether you look at the surname or the age...
This Zhou Weiran is very likely Zhou Chi's legendary, incredibly powerful aunt.
...Could it really be such a coincidence?!
But if that weren't the case, why would Zhou Chi suddenly send her that photo?
Ning Jia thought about it more and more and felt that this was indeed the case. Just as she was immersed in a new wave of shock, Zhou Chi finally sent a new message:
Sorry, I was busy and didn't check my phone.
It's not convenient to discuss this exhibit via WeChat. Could we meet in person later to talk about it?
Ning Jia quickly replied with "OK" and hurriedly left the kitchen, wanting to discuss the matter with the little ones.
But when she looked up, the living room was completely silent, not a soul in sight.
She then remembered that at this time every day, the little ones would have already gone back to their rooms and begun their long afternoon nap.
Ning Jia hesitated at the bedroom door for a few minutes, thinking that Zhou Chi would be here in a while, so she might as well take a nap first.
But at this moment, her brain was in a very excited state, and she couldn't fall asleep at all.
She went back to the kitchen, put on an apron, set up her phone, and started preparing afternoon tea snacks in advance.
...
Autumn is the perfect time to eat chestnuts. Ning Fang just sent me a lot of fresh chestnut kernels from her hometown, which are perfect for making desserts.
Looking at the plump and round chestnuts, Ning Jia quickly came up with an idea. She washed the chestnut kernels and put them in a pot to steam. While waiting for the chestnuts to steam, she quickly made the water-oil dough and the oil pastry, wrapped them in plastic wrap and let them rise.
By this time, the chestnuts in the pot should be almost cooked. Pour them out and let them cool. Put them in a blender, add some sugar and oil, and grind them into powder to make a crumbly chestnut filling.
Continue kneading the dough, then completely wrap the oil-based dough with the water-oil dough. Gently roll it into a large, thin sheet, roll it up, cut it into small pieces, roll each piece into a small sheet, fill it with the prepared chestnut filling, and press it into a small round shape. A chestnut cake is now ready.
To make it easier for the little people to enter, Ning Jia specially made each pancake about the size of a one-yuan coin.
The dough is so small that you can barely feel it in the palm of your hand. You can only use a small spoon to scoop a small ball of chestnut filling, pile it on top little by little, and then slowly shape it by hand.
But this level of difficulty is a piece of cake for Ning Jia, the senior chef of the Little People's Canteen.
She even somewhat enjoys this kind of delicate handicraft, after all, it's the only area where she's not clumsy with her hands.
Ning Jia deftly placed the filling, shaped the dough, and set the shape of the pastry with her fingertips. In no time, she had turned the tiny dough pieces into miniature round pastries about the size of a 50-cent coin.
Ning Jia held the baking tray and placed the small round cakes on it one by one. The baking tray, which usually seemed too small, looked much larger next to the chestnut cakes, which were as small as bean cakes.
Ning Jia placed dozens of mini chestnut cakes on the baking tray in one go, and even slightly adjusted the position of some of the small round cakes to prevent them from falling into the gaps in the baking tray.
Then, the tightly packed little pancakes were placed into the air fryer to begin preheating.
Just as Ning Jia finished setting the baking time, Zhou Chi's message arrived:
He was almost at the door.
Ning Jia hurriedly untied her apron, tiptoed out of the room, and went to open the door for Zhou Chi.
...
Speaking of which, it's been a while since Zhou Chi last delivered the chocolate cake.
As soon as Ning Jia opened the door, she found Zhou Chi already standing there. The two met unexpectedly, and Zhou Chi was stunned.
He quickly realized his lapse in composure and greeted her casually:
"haven't seen you for a long time."
Ning Jia laughed and said, "It hasn't been long. It's getting windy outside. Let's go inside and talk."
She had also noticed that Zhou Chi was acting strangely today, but assumed he was just as shocked by the coincidence, so she quickly invited him inside to chat.
As the two walked from the yard to the gate, Ning Jia suddenly remembered something and took out a pair of slippers. "These are new; I bought them especially for you."
Since she put cotton cushions in her house, she has prepared a pair of slippers for everyone who might visit, such as Liu Yue.
Zhou Chi, unaware of the inside story, brightened up, said "thank you," immediately changed into the men's slippers, and followed Ning Jia into the house.
When he entered the living room, he found that the house seemed to have changed a lot. Not only were there soft cushions all over the floor, but there were also blankets on the sofa and the windowsill... In short, there was a fluffy and warm feeling everywhere.
"What's going on at home..."
Just as he was about to ask, Ning Jia gently pulled his arm, pointed to the closed door of the second bedroom, and made a "shh" gesture.
"The little people are all sleeping."
Ning Jia spoke to Zhou Chi in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper.
Zhou Chi blushed and nodded somewhat awkwardly, letting Ning Jia pull his arm through his hoodie as he obediently followed her into the kitchen.
"Let's talk here, so it won't disturb their rest."
Ning Jia regained her normal volume and explained that the dwarf race needed more sleep. Only after she finished speaking did she realize she was still holding Zhou Chi's hand, her face flushed, and she quickly let go.
"Sorry, I'm strong, did I hurt you?"
Zhou Chi was blushing and almost choked on his words. He shook his head speechlessly, then, remembering the purpose of his trip, his expression gradually returned to normal.
Ning Jia invited Zhou Chi to sit down at the dining table. "You go first, I'll make the coffee."
...
Zhou Chi sat at the dining table and briefly explained the whole story, glancing furtively at Ning Jia standing in front of the kitchen counter as he spoke.
Although the afternoon sun didn't shine into the kitchen, it still bathed the small space in a golden light. Ning Jia stood in this gentle light, her head slightly bowed as she carefully poured water into the filter paper, circle by circle. Her relaxed and carefree posture was indescribably beautiful.
As the aroma of coffee filled the air, Zhou Chi detected another warm and sweet scent within it. He suddenly stopped narrating and asked:
"Are you making... chestnut snacks?"
"Hmm, chestnut cakes, afternoon tea for the little ones."
Just then, the air fryer beeped. Ning Jia opened the lid, and instantly, the sweet aroma of chestnuts wafted out. Ning Jia quickly flipped the small round cakes over and then closed the lid to continue baking.
She placed two cups of coffee on the table, pushing the prettier cup towards Zhou Chi, while she picked up the plain white porcelain cup, took a sip, and glanced at the young man who seemed lost in thought:
"Why did you stop talking?"
"……oh."
The sweet aroma of chestnuts, the rich fragrance of coffee, and the aura emanating from the person in front of me—all these elements intertwine to create an atmosphere that is so warm and comfortable that it lightens one's heart.
Zhou Chi reluctantly snapped out of his reverie, holding the prettier cup. He glanced at the ordinary porcelain cup in Ning Jia's hand, and for some reason, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up. He quickly lowered his head and took a sip of the perfectly warm coffee to suppress the smile on his lips before continuing to speak.
After Ning Jia exchanged her information, and the two carefully confirmed it, Ning Jia was immediately overjoyed:
Wow, I actually guessed right!
It turns out that Zhou Weiran really is Zhou Chi's aunt.
Zhou Chi laughed and said:
"My visit this time was actually at my aunt's request. After she found out that I knew you, she asked me to run errands for her and pass on a message."
“My aunt said that the painting ‘Spring’ at the exhibition has already been bought, but the buyer said they also want to commission another one called ‘Autumn’, and asked me to ask you if you would be willing?”
Zhou Chi said somewhat embarrassedly:
“My aunt also said that the painting ‘Spring’ sold for 180,000 yuan, and once it was sold, the difference in price would definitely not be refunded to you. But for the painting ‘Autumn’ that you ordered later, the other party was willing to pay 200,000 yuan to buy it. The gallery takes a 30% cut, which means that in the end, you will receive 140,000 yuan.”
Ning Jia nearly choked on her coffee. "Fourteen thousand?"
No wonder so many people want to get into the art world; the money they make is just too fast!
Seeing Ning Jia remain silent, Zhou Chi asked somewhat nervously:
"Do you think it's too little? I also think that it must have taken a lot of effort for you to create such a vibrant piece! But the gallery's 30% commission is already the minimum. How about I go back and have them raise the price with the buyer?"
That's not what I meant...
Zhou Chi said very seriously:
"Don't be modest, I really think that piece is exceptionally good, completely natural, without any trace of artifice, a true work of genius!"
Seeing how sincere Zhou Chi was, Ning Jia, though reluctant, still had to interrupt:
"Thank you for the compliment, but that piece wasn't made by me; it was made by the dwarves."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Zhou Chi nodded, then his eyes widened in shock:
"Huh???"
Ning Jia started by talking about a straw mat in a bamboo basket, and then went on to tell how Zhou Weiran bought the straw mat 2.0 at the market, explaining the true origin of "Spring".
Zhou Chi immediately felt embarrassed, "Sorry, I made a mistake..."
Ning Jia chuckled:
"Comrade Zhou Chi, think about it carefully. I can't even make a sachet, how could I possibly create such an exquisite work of art?"
Zhou Chi was speechless for a moment, and after a long while he finally said:
"...But your cooking skills are truly amazing! Cooking is, in a sense, almost like creating a work of art..."
Goodness, he actually managed to make sense of the logic in this again.
Ning Jia chuckled for a moment, then thought for a moment and said:
"In short, I can't make the decision on this matter. I'll ask the little people what they think when they wake up. The final decision rests with them."
"Of course."
Zhou Chi nodded in deep agreement, "Then I'll wait for your news."
Before leaving, Ning Jia handed Zhou Chi a paper bag containing several sleep-aid sachets.
"This was specially made for you by the Lilliputians; it's a limited edition and not available to the public."
Zhou Chi accepted the gift with a smile, then stole a glance at Ning Jia before walking away somewhat dejectedly, amidst the aroma of chestnut cakes wafting from the kitchen.
Ning Jia, however, was completely unaware of this.
After seeing the person off, she quickly went to the kitchen to bake a second batch of chestnut cakes and took a picture of the cute mini chestnut cakes that had already been baked.
She's decided; she'll name this mini chestnut cake "Little Chestnut Cake".
After the photoshoot, she picked up a small chestnut cake with great interest, intending to taste it, but she couldn't bring herself to eat it, so she simply threw it into her mouth.
It's such a tiny cookie! It's like eating a piece of candy!
Ning Jia carefully chewed the small chestnut cake in her mouth. Although it was a bit small, the taste was unbeatable. It was fragrant, crispy, soft, sweet, and not greasy at all. It was absolutely delicious!
...
When the little people woke up one by one, the house was filled with the aroma of chestnut cakes.
They sniffed the sweet, blissful air, climbed onto the coffee table with anticipation, and were immediately captivated by the small round cakes on the plate!
My goodness, these round, golden-yellow little cakes look so tempting, and they can be held in one small hand. They're the perfect snack for little people!
Xingxing carefully picked up a small chestnut cake, looking at it as she spoke to Guoguo:
"Look at this little snack, it looks so cute."
While larger pastries are fine too, small pastries are always especially cute.
Guoguo eagerly took a bite of the chestnut cake in her hand and quickly said to Xingxing:
"This is absolutely delicious, Xingxing, you have to eat it!"
Everyone was happily eating snacks, drinking brown sugar roasted milk, and discussing what they would do after the "holiday" when Ning Jia suddenly announced some big news.
140,000? That's a lot, a lot, a lot of money!
Xuecao was so excited that she forgot to eat her snacks and quickly said:
"It's just a straw mat, of course we'll make it, we definitely will."
Ning Jia chuckled and corrected her:
"Strictly speaking, it can no longer be called a straw mat; it should be called a work of art."
Moreover, it's a type of artwork that can make a lot of money.
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Author's Note: Happy December! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]
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