Book cake is also known as cloud cake. The method is not difficult, but it requires care. Mix malt syrup and white sugar with lard and water to moisten the sugar. Then pour it into steamed cooked flour and knead and roll it evenly to fully combine the flour and malt syrup.
She, Mei Ziwei, and the other two were patiently kneading the rice flour. It was supposed to be shaped by pinching it and then ground into powder. The next step was to sift it, which was really time-consuming and laborious. Zheng Pozi put the cake dough into the earthen oven and then came to help them.
Song Anxin wanted to make a different kind of book-shaped cake with filling, so she took out some sifted cake flour and mixed it with flower juice to make a light pink color. Then she put it into a mold, using a square wooden mold to press the cake flour layer by layer... After steaming, she sprinkled some cooked powder on it, let it cool, and then sliced it. As the name suggests, the book-shaped cake should be sliced as thin and soft as paper. Song Anxin was still a bit lacking in such delicate knife skills, so she left it to Granny Zheng.
Granny Zheng's knife skills were superb. When the thin slices of cake were cut out, everyone present was amazed. The white cake on both sides was as white as snow, and pink cake was interspersed in the middle. Picking up a piece was soft and elastic, just like a pink butterfly spreading its wings. It was really beautiful.
Granny Wei exclaimed, "These pastries are so exquisite that they could only be found in the imperial palace in the capital. You are truly a woman of extraordinary talent and skill!"
Song Anxin smiled and said, "Granny Wei, don't just praise me. Granny Zheng's knife skills deserve half the credit for this appearance." She called to the others, "Everyone, don't just look at it, try it and see how it tastes."
Everyone was eager to try the book cake. They carefully picked up a small piece, and their eyes lit up as soon as they tasted it. It melted in their mouths, soft and chewy, with a perfect sweetness. It was truly delicious.
They then tried what the lady called cupcakes, something they had never seen before. They were topped with a white, snow-white substance, which the lady seemed to call cream. One bite, and the soft cake combined with the sweet, creamy cream was an experience they had never tasted before! A look of immense amazement flashed in their eyes; for a moment, they were at a loss for words to describe how delicious it was.
Song Anxin could tell from their expressions how successful she had been. Excellent, a perfect holiday gift combining Chinese and Western pastries.
These two desserts were undoubtedly favored by the whole family. Lin Fengyao's flattery was so excessive that it practically made his mother look like she was on cloud nine. Even Song Anbang and Lin Fenghe, who don't like sweets, ate more of them, but they preferred the book cake.
Of course, when Uncle Lin delivered the milk, she also had it sent to Lin Songzi and Huazi.
This is Uncle Lin's house.
After taking a bite of the cream-covered cake, Hanako's face lit up instantly. She exclaimed excitedly, "Brother, brother, it's so delicious! I've never eaten anything so delicious before!"
Lin Songzi also took a bite, and her usually sensible face couldn't help but melt as she praised, "It's delicious."
Aunt Cuiying smiled and said, "I never thought milk could be used to make such delicious food. I've never eaten such good snacks in my whole life. Fengnian's mother is really amazing."
"Sister-in-law Lin is not only capable, but also kind-hearted. She brought us such precious and delicious food, which helped our family a lot. I am so grateful to her for my health. We are afraid that we will never be able to repay her kindness in this lifetime."
The person who said this was Lin Daliang, whose health had improved day by day after more than half a year of recuperation. He could now walk around and do some simple chores at home.
Uncle Lin's usually worried face was now much more relaxed. He said, "I'll milk another bucket of milk later and send it to my wife's family in Fengnian."
The whole family agreed. They had no way to repay such a great kindness from Sister-in-law Lin, so they could only think of things in their home that Sister-in-law Lin might need and send her as much as possible.
Lin Daliang said, "Dad, I'll take it over. The doctor said that it's good for my health to move around more."
When Song Anxin received another bucket of milk from Lin Daliang, she was deeply moved by the kind and grateful heart of Uncle Lin's family.
At this moment, she and Lin Daliang were sitting in her living room. Granny Wei served them a cup of tea, and Song Anxin said gently to Lin Daliang:
"Songzi's father, don't be shy, have some hot tea first."
Lin Daliang had originally intended to leave after delivering the milk, but unexpectedly, his second sister-in-law invited him in. This was his first time sitting in this bright and grand flower hall, and he was afraid of dirtying the floor. He didn't know where to put his hands and feet. Hearing his sister-in-law call him, Lin Daliang mechanically responded. After hurriedly drinking a large mouthful of hot tea, he immediately felt warm all over. Only then did he remember to speak:
"Second sister-in-law, I just brought you some milk. You really don't need to treat me like this. It's a waste of such good tea."
Although he didn't know much about tea, he knew after taking a sip that his second sister-in-law was serving him good tea to entertain guests. He was just a country bumpkin, how could he possibly appreciate such good tea?
Song Anxin smiled and said, "We're from the same clan, we're family, how can you call it a waste? Da Liang, you look much better than before, how's your health these days?"
Lin Daliang looked so different from when she first met him. Back then, he struggled to even stand up, his face was pale and sunken, and he was as thin as a skeleton. Now, his face had color in it, and his body looked much more fleshy and not so thin anymore.
Song Anxin's words put Lin Daliang at ease, and he was no longer so nervous. He said:
"Thank you for your concern, Second Sister-in-law. The doctor said I'm better now and don't need to take any medicine. I just need to rest and recover. It's all thanks to you, Second Sister-in-law. Otherwise, I might have passed away before my parents and wouldn't have been able to fulfill my filial duties to them..."
Mentioning this, Lin Daliang, a grown man, had slightly reddened eyes. Song Anxin comforted him, saying:
"That's good. Songzi's father, you'll have plenty of opportunities to be filial in the future."
Lin Daliang composed himself and looked at Song Anxin, saying, "Second sister-in-law, you're right. Once I'm fully recovered, I'll work hard to support the family so my parents can enjoy their retirement. Second sister-in-law, I'll be going now. I'll bring you some milk tomorrow."
He then prepared to leave.
Song Anxin quickly called out to him, "Songzi's father, don't rush to leave. Actually, I called you in because I have something I want to tell you."
Lin Daliang asked, "What's wrong, Second Sister-in-law? Don't worry, I, Lin Daliang, will definitely do it for you."
Song Anxin sensed from his tone that he was willing to go through fire and water for her, so it seemed she hadn't misjudged him. Therefore, she spoke:
“Da Liang, it will probably take you a year or two to fully recover before you can work in the fields again. Farm work is heavy and tiring, and I'm afraid you won't be able to keep up even if you do it for too long after you recover.”
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