38 Water chestnut flour cake
"Could it be that Ruyi Tower also has pastries made from water chestnuts?"
The head of Xixiang Village has been in high spirits recently. He got up early in the morning with great energy. Aunt Xiangyun rubbed her sleepy eyes and went to the toilet. As soon as she opened the door, she bumped into him. She was so scared that all her sleepiness disappeared instantly.
"Ah!" Aunt Xiangyun raised her hand and slapped him. "What are you doing standing in the yard like a land god so early in the morning? You're so silent, you scared me!"
Xixiang Lizheng turned around with a smile and straightened the hem of his coarse linen clothes: "Look at how I look today."
Aunt Xiangyun's dream of taking a nap was frightened away by him, so she naturally looked unhappy. She smirked and said:
"I wear the same clothes every day. What's so good about it..."
"Well, what do you, a woman, know?"
The Xixiang village chief was not angry. He waved at her and walked out humming a tune.
"Where are you going without having breakfast so early?" Aunt Xiangyun called him from the yard, and then went into the kitchen, only to see a bowl of hot salted eggs in the pot.
On the other side, Xixiangli was walking towards the diba happily with his hands behind his back, thinking all the way about the soft big quilt that was shipped from Yuezhou City yesterday!
Seventeen beds were delivered yesterday, and when the servant from the cloth shop left, he specifically told him to send some more today!
Not only the Xixiang village chief rose early, but also the refugees living in Diba. A few of the more capable ones had already become close friends with the Xixiang people. When they met the village chief, they spoke to him in a familiar manner and asked what everyone was thinking about:
"Village Head, why are you here? Do you have any quilts left today?"
Xixiang Lizheng smiled and said, "Eighty percent is true."
As soon as these words were spoken, the small ground dam began to boil like boiling water on the stove.
"Oh my! There really is a quilt!"
"Oh my god, I can finally get some warm sleep!"
Those who had already received their quilts yesterday also said with a smile, "I told you yesterday that the village head must be thinking of everyone!"
Xixiang Lizheng waved his hands, and everyone's voices became quieter: "You're wrong. I didn't buy these quilts. County Magistrate Ye bought them for you because she was worried everyone would be cold at night. I'm going to say something unpleasant. Everyone should remember her kindness, but you must not be heartless."
"Of course! Don't worry, headmaster!"
"Yes, don't worry."
"I would like to thank not only the county magistrate but also the village head, and even more so the people of Xixiang for helping us build the house..." Some people even shed tears as they spoke.
Xixiang Lizheng pretended to be angry: "What are you talking about? We are all from Lingnan. Isn't it just you help me, I help you, and we make a living together..."
But before he could finish his words, a "da, da, da" sound came from the ground. Everyone looked out and saw the sound of a horse pulling a cart! The quilt delivery man had arrived!
*
As for these things, Ye Yunzhao didn't know about them two days ago. She was tortured by the water chestnuts in the county government office and felt dizzy. She finally peeled the water chestnuts, but she didn't know how to make water...
In the past, the radishes were large and juicy, and it was easy to grind them into pulp on the stone slabs. However, water chestnuts are just the opposite. They are small, firm, and fragrant.
Logically speaking, it would be most convenient to throw everything into a juicer, add some water, and you can get a large bowl of juice in twenty seconds, but the reality is cruel. Ye Yunzhao didn't even have the light bulb he had been thinking about, let alone a juicer.
Or she could use a stone mortar to pound them one by one, but to make them into slurry, she had to add water while pounding, which was really inefficient. Ye Yunzhao thought about it and finally came up with a good idea - grinding them with a stone mill. However, the stone mill was too big, and going to Yuezhou City to buy one would attract too much attention. What's more, she would only use it this time. Because of this reason, Ye Yunzhao didn't think of any method for two or three days.
Until yesterday when two horse-drawn carts carrying thick quilts entered Xixiang, she felt that the matter of Fangzi could not be delayed any longer. If it was delayed any further, it would seem that she, as the county magistrate, was too untrustworthy.
At that time, it was only said that the recipe would be provided, but it did not say that one had to buy the tools himself. Ye Yunzhao took advantage of this opportunity and planned to let Chen Jingshan solve the problem. Anyway, if he liked this recipe, he had to buy the stone mill. Now it was only a matter of time.
After making the decision, Ye Yunzhao went to the warehouse to get half a bag of old glutinous rice, and put it into the small backpack together with the peeled water chestnuts. In addition, she also took the can of honey that she had received earlier, and she actually felt a bit like a warrior going to the battlefield without hesitation.
Chen Jingshan's yard in Lingnan County is so huge that it is impossible to ignore it. In addition, Ye Yunzhao went to Aunt Hu's house to get pig blood last time, so he knew the way back and forth very well.
She raised her hand and knocked on the door knocker. The vermilion door panel looked very valuable, and it was equipped with a brass door knocker, comparable to the gate of a county government office. Ye Yunzhao was in a trance for a moment.
After a while, the gate opened a crack, and a very young servant poked his head out, startled: "Ye... County Magistrate Ye, what's wrong with you..."
Before he finished speaking, Ye Yunzhao said, "I'm here to find Chen Jingshan."
The servant was now in a dilemma. Should he let her in first? But the housekeeper had instructed that anyone visiting should be announced first. But if he went to announce it first, leaving County Magistrate Ye waiting outside, it seemed a bit inappropriate...
Ye Yunzhao didn't know what he was thinking. Seeing that he didn't respond for a long time, he reminded him, "Why don't you go and pass on the message first?"
The young servant nodded. This was proposed by County Magistrate Ye, so it was not his fault.
The narrow gap disappeared, and Ye Yunzhao sat on the stepping stone somewhat bored, his mind full of how to trick Chen Jingshan into buying a stone mill.
In just a moment, the sound of hurried footsteps was getting closer and closer. Chen Jingshan's breathing became faster. The servant opened the door with a look of his own. He stepped out of the door. There was a sitting figure in front of the door:
"Why don't you come in?"
He then glanced sideways at the young servant behind him and asked, "How did you do your job? You actually let County Magistrate Ye sit on the ground and wait!"
Ye Yunzhao turned around upon hearing the voice, smiled, stood up swiftly, and brushed the dust off his butt: "Well, this is the seat I want to sit on. Let's go inside and talk."
The house is quite large. Walking through a long corridor, you will see a vast green lake stretching as far as the eye can see. Pavilions and towers by the lake are like clouds, and the rockery and flowing water seem real and illusory. Occasionally, there are the sounds of insects chirping and frogs croaking, winding and circling, which is quite interesting.
In this way, we arrived at Chen Jingshan’s study.
Along the way, Ye Yunzhao was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. She either looked at or touched everything. She could hardly imagine that there was such a place in the small Lingnan County.
Chen Jingshan noticed her surprise and said, "This is the private residence of the previous county magistrate. After he was imprisoned, I asked someone to buy it."
Ye Yunzhao suddenly understood, no wonder the design was so exquisite.
Entering the study, the window next to the desk was wide open, allowing you to see the lake.
Damn rich people!
Ye Yunzhao thought of the more than a thousand copper coins in his small wooden box, and the only can of honey in his backpack, and grimaced in regret: I should have known not to bring it.
"County Magistrate Ye, please take a seat." Chen Jingshan observed her movements carefully, raised his hand to pour a cup of tea, and gestured, "Did you come to me today because you already have a prescription?"
Ye Yunzhao turned around and sat down, moistening his throat: "I think there is a recipe."
Chen Jingshan tilted his head in confusion: "What do you mean... count as having?"
"I need a stone mill, and I also need to try out the recipe." Ye Yunzhao said concisely.
"That's easy. There's a millstone in the backyard. If you need me to help..."
"You have a stone mill at home?" She was stunned.
Chen Jingshan nodded: "Yes, the stone mill is..."
Before he could finish his words, Ye Yunzhao quickly stood up and turned to leave. Suddenly, he realized that he hadn't stood up yet, so he turned back and said, "Why are you still sitting there? Let's go to the backyard. You can show me the way, or call a maid."
Chen Jingshan was really unfamiliar with this woman who was so decisive and swift. He immediately followed her, and the two of them went to the backyard one after the other.
The stone mill in the backyard had not been used for some time. It was originally because the previous county magistrate loved to eat fresh tofu pudding, and the cook at home prepared it every day. Later, Chen Jingshan bought the house, and the stone mill was empty.
The corner room where the stone mill was located was originally a place dedicated to making tofu. It was equipped with a small stove, a stone mill, a rocking rack, and a filter barrel. Ye Yunzhao lifted the linen cloth on the stone mill and raised his hand to touch it.
The maid of the Chen family must be very diligent. Even though it has not been used for a long time, the stone mill is still as clean as new.
As Ye Yunzhao took off the backpack, he said to Chen Jingshan, "Shopkeeper Chen, could you please help me light a fire?"
Making a fire is a long story. Although she has been here for almost a month, it takes her half an hour to make a fire every time. Now that someone is asking her for help, Ye Yunzhao naturally won't be polite.
Chen Jingshan was stunned and a smile appeared on his face. He had not made a fire since he opened the shop. Although his skills were not very good, he was more than capable of fooling her. After a while, a small fire was lit in the stove.
Ye Yunzhao put the washed iron pot on the stove. After the water in the pot evaporated, she opened the cloth bag and poured all the old glutinous rice into the pot.
After she kept stirring, the white old glutinous rice turned into a burnt yellow color, and the small room was filled with the smell of burnt glutinous rice.
Ye Yunzhao rubbed his arms and instructed Chen Jingshan to pour the fried glutinous rice in the pot onto bamboo strips and shake it. The purpose was to shake off the burnt glutinous rice lumps and to cool down the fried glutinous rice.
After the glutinous rice on the bamboo strips had cooled completely, Ye Yunzhao poured them into the grinding hole on the upper fan little by little. Chen Jingshan, who was standing by, pushed the stone mill and started turning it. He turned and she released the flour. After a while, fine glutinous rice flour fell into the groove little by little.
By the time the grinding was completely finished, Chen Jingshan's forehead was already covered with sweat. Seeing his chest heaving, Ye Yunzhao specially took one of the stacked wooden stools and placed it next to him.
She turned around and said to Chen Jingshan with her back to him, "Shopkeeper Chen, you must be tired. Come sit down and have a rest."
Chen Jingshan, who was about to sit down, suddenly froze. He stood up slowly, slowed his breathing, and said calmly, "I'm not tired. Please sit down."
Ye Yunzhao was stunned. He raised his hand and pushed the motionless millstone. It looked to be about 50 to 60 centimeters in diameter, so it must weigh at least 30 kilograms. He pushed it for more than half an hour...
Not tired?
Not tired at all?
Ye Yunzhao looked back at him suspiciously: "Are you really not tired?"
"Not tired."
Ye Yunzhao recalled how he was exhausted from carrying half a basket of rotten leaves and humus a few days ago, and sighed sincerely:
"You're in great shape."
Chen Jingshan's cheeks flushed slightly when he heard this, but Ye Yunzhao didn't give him time to feel embarrassed. He stood up straight with the collected glutinous rice flour in his hand and said, "Here, the glutinous rice flour is ready."
After he took it, Ye Yunzhao took out the water chestnuts from the basket and said, "Shopkeeper Chen, have you seen water chestnuts?"
Water chestnuts can be found in the wild lakes on the mountains of Lingnan County. When Chen Jingshan and his elder brother were little, they often touched and ate them. He nodded and said, "Not only have I seen them, I've also eaten them."
"Could it be that Ruyi Tower also has pastries made from water chestnuts?" Ye Yunzhao spoke immediately.
Last time we said we had chestnut cake, could it be that this time we have water chestnut flour cake too?!
Chen Jingshan noticed her nervousness and explained, "No restaurant in the entire Yuezhou City sells pastries made with water chestnuts."
Only then did Ye Yunzhao feel relieved. He stuffed the peeled water chestnuts into the millstone eye and nodded his chin towards the millstone. He understood what he meant and started pushing the millstone willingly again.
Ye Yunzhao was not idle either. While pouring water into the grinding hole, he followed Chen Jingshan and stuffed water chestnuts into the grinding hole.
The water chestnut pulp trickled down the grooves into the wooden barrel under the millstone. Since there were not many water chestnuts, they were ground completely in less than a quarter of an hour. Ye Yunzhao then added a lot of water to the millstone eye, flushing out all the water chestnut pulp remaining in the cracks and grooves of the millstone, and letting it all flow into the wooden barrel.
Ye Yunzhao turned the bamboo strips upside down on the wooden barrel and temporarily placed the honey jar in a small wooden cabinet.
Chen Jingshan asked: "What should we do next?"
"wait."
"Wait for what? Do you need anything?"
Ye Yunzhao put on his small backpack and said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."
*
The next morning, Ye Yunzhao went to find Chen Jingshan as usual. Perhaps he had specifically instructed her to do so, and this time the servant immediately welcomed her into the yard.
She and Chen Jingshan looked at how the water chestnut pulp had settled. They saw that the bottom of the wooden barrel was white and the upper layer was clear water. Ye Yunzhao taught him to pour out the clear water and take out the water chestnut powder from the bottom. She explained while putting it on the bamboo strips:
"Dig out the settled water chestnut powder and place it on bamboo strips. The weather has been good these past two days, so I think it will be dry in two days. By the way, Shopkeeper Chen, you have to check on it regularly. If any of the powder has dried into lumps, you have to rub it out quickly."
Chen Jingshan listened attentively, taking in all the key points she explained: "I understand."
Two days later, Chen Jingshan's servant came to the county government office to look for her. When Ye Yunzhao arrived, everything was ready.
She looked at the well-equipped tools on the small stove and smiled, "Water chestnut flour cake is actually very simple and doesn't require so many ingredients. However, my cake doesn't look good. I'll ask the chefs at Ruyi Tower to come up with a solution."
She said as she made it: "Mix the water chestnut flour cake and cooked glutinous rice flour in a ratio of 3:1 and knead the dough. If you eat it with plain water, it will have the sweetness and glutinous fragrance of water chestnuts. If you use sugar water, it will taste a little sweet. I'm using sugar water today."
It was not only sugar water, but also honey sugar water. Ye Yunzhao melted a bowl of honey sugar water, and when the water temperature was right, she poured it into the ceramic basin little by little. She rubbed, pulled and folded it, and soon, the shapeless dough turned into a round and soft dough under her kneading.
The next thing was very simple. Ye Yunzhao divided the dough into small pieces, rolled them up quickly, and placed them on the steamer:
"It should be filled with some filling, like red bean paste, red bean paste, or red dates. It would also be nice to stuff it with salt and pepper peanuts to make it sweet and salty."
Ye Yunzhao smiled and said, "But let your chefs and cooks discuss these matters. They definitely understand the tastes of our customers better than I do."
Chen Jingshan also laughed and said unnaturally: "What you said is all very good."
Ye Yunzhao was not polite either. She was talking about things she had eaten before, and since she had tasted them herself, they were naturally good. "Of course."
A faint smoke drifted out of the steamer. After an incense stick, Ye Yunzhao took out the steamed water chestnut flour cake and placed it in a porcelain bowl. He pinched his ear with his burned fingers and pushed the porcelain bowl in front of Chen Jingshan with his other hand.
"How does it taste?"
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