Chapter 421 Hazelnut Pastries
After waiting for about half an hour, Longjing bought fresh milk. Lin Yuesha let the milk separate into layers, and then she had to wait a while longer.
Making butter was her secret recipe. To prevent others from learning it, Lin Yuesha took the milk into the room and bumped into Doctor Liao, who was in a hurry to leave, in the corridor.
"Doctor Liao, are you going out?"
Lin Yuesha pointed to the milk jug in her hand and said, "I've already talked to the innkeeper, so I can use the inn's kitchen. I'll make some hazelnut shortbread later, and if you come back early, I'll have a maid bring it to you."
Doctor Liao had helped the family a lot and hadn't accepted any money, so Lin Yuesha wanted to give him some small snacks, something insignificant but that would represent her goodwill.
These past few days, whenever Lin Yuesha spoke with Doctor Liao, she could always feel a malevolent gaze. When she turned her head to look, she found that the gaze had disappeared. After thinking it over, she could only think that the person was Bai Youran.
The Bai family has always been powerful and influential. Lin Yuesha never expected that Bai Youran would take a liking to Physician Liao. No wonder Physician Liao chose to travel with Ziyuan, which Bai Youran vehemently opposed.
"Miss Lin, Mr. Liao is going to visit a friend today and may be back a little late."
After Liao Langzhong finished speaking, Lin Yuesha immediately understood his meaning and nodded, saying, "Alright, then I won't bother you today. I'll save some for you, but the taste might not be as crispy tomorrow."
After saying that, Lin Yuesha went back to her room, followed closely by Bai Cha.
"Miss, what do you think is the relationship between Physician Liao and Miss Ziyuan?"
Just now, Bai Cha was in the corridor and saw the heavily powdered maid next to Zi Yuan walking with Doctor Liao, which made her a little curious.
The maid with thick rouge might be mute; she never speaks. Last time in the carriage, when her young mistress was talking to Miss Ziyuan, she couldn't hear a single word from the outer room of the carriage.
Moreover, the maid with thick powder was acting strangely, keeping her head down and remaining silent. When Bai Cha tried to start a conversation, she only received a glare that said, "You talk too much."
"In short, it wasn't a relationship between a courtesan and her patron."
Lin Yuesha picked up the hazelnuts and asked Bai Cha for help. She told Bai Cha to do more and talk less, because knowing too much is not a good thing.
"I understand. Next time you go to talk to Miss Ziyuan, could you please not take me with you?"
Bai Cha lowered her head, clearly not wanting to see the heavily made-up maid; the two were clearly at odds. Even if the other woman disdained to acknowledge her, there was no need to roll her eyes.
Bai Cha wasn't a petty person, but thinking about the attitude of the maid with thick powder, she still felt angry.
"good."
Lin Yuesha covered her mouth and laughed. She knew that maid with thick makeup. She was like a robot, with immense strength, but she didn't talk much. She shouldn't be mute.
Since they were staying in Yingcheng, they heard there was a snack street in the city. Qingxing and Qi'er went to stroll around, while Longjing ran to the backyard to look at the carriages. Only the master and servant were left chatting in the room.
Bai Cha was one of their own, so Lin Yuesha taught Bai Cha how to make butter and gave her pointers.
Find a small jar with a lid, seal the opening, and shake for about half an hour. Open the jar; the large clumps of solidified substance that appear are the cream.
Pour the separated cream into a large porcelain bowl, boil a pot of water, put the empty pot into the bowl, and then put the cream in. After the cream melts and separates into layers, the yellow fat on top is the butter.
The process wasn't difficult, but you had to keep your hands moving for half an hour without stopping, and you had to maintain a very fast speed. Bai Cha's arms ached so much that she questioned her existence.
"Miss, is this the yellow butter you're talking about?"
Bai Cha blinked, surprised that there was this in milk.
The people of the North occasionally drink milk, but most of it is sold to the young ladies and wives of wealthy families. It is said that those people bathe luxuriously in milk, and their skin is as white and rosy as a peeled egg.
"Yes, it will be fine after it cools down."
With the help of white tea, Lin Yuesha saved a lot of effort. After the butter formed a dough, she began to knead the dough.
Baking hazelnut shortbread was much simpler. Lin Yuesha went directly to the kitchen to start a fire, and the rich aroma attracted not only the innkeeper but also a group of guests.
"Miss, do you sell your hazelnut cookies?"
The innkeeper gave a fawning smile; the aroma was so enticing that the guests upstairs sent their maids to plead with her several times.
"That lady was very generous. She thought it was made by the cook at our inn, so she gave her ten taels of silver as a tip."
The shopkeeper was in a dilemma, regretting lending the kitchen to Lin Yuesha. If she didn't agree, the ten taels of silver would be wasted, and he would have to return it. It would be even more painful to not be able to spit out the fat meat he had already eaten.
"Miss, if you agree to share some cakes with that lady, how about we waive all your lodging expenses for tonight?"
The innkeeper saw that Lin Yuesha was well-dressed and had plenty of money, so offering her money as a bribe would seem a bit vulgar. He suggested waiving the accommodation fee, which would benefit both sides.
"All right."
Lin Yuesha made hazelnut shortbread mainly to find people to try it. Since someone wanted to buy it, it was delicious and fragrant.
In modern times, if you pass by a pastry shop and smell the aroma of cream, it can always tempt a few hungry people to go inside.
There wasn't much more, so Lin Yuesha set aside a small dish, about ten pieces, and handed it to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper smelled it and swallowed hard. The hazelnut shortbread was golden in color and had a milky aroma. The shopkeeper couldn't resist wanting to try it. However, he had accepted a bribe from that lady, and in the end, his conscience bothered him. He delivered it to the lady's room intact.
Lin Yuesha brought some snacks to see Doctor Yan. Yan Yan ate one without saying a word.
"Sister Yan, I can make many pastries with this flavor. Do you think they can sell in the capital?"
The more exquisite the presentation, the higher the price naturally becomes. The lady living in the No. 1 room upstairs gave a generous tip of ten taels of silver, but I wonder if she was satisfied after tasting it.
Yan Yan didn't answer, but picked up another piece and put it in her mouth, saying vaguely, "I ate it too fast just now, and I haven't tasted it yet."
So, using the same excuse, Dr. Yan ate the whole plate.
Lin Yuesha: ...
Some were given to that lady, and that was all that was left. Doctor Yan ate it all. Lin Yuesha promised to leave some for Doctor Liao and Ziyuan respectively, but she was destined to break her promise.
Lin Yuesha was surprised that the butter-making process went so smoothly on her first try. She wanted to try a piece, but before she could even put it in her mouth, it was too late.
"Sister Yan, aren't those hazelnut cookies too sweet?"
Lin Yuesha's eager gaze made Yan Yan feel very embarrassed, because the hazelnut pastry was so delicious that she couldn't resist.
"Shall we make some more?"
Yan Yan suggested that she could contribute her labor, and then she could get some more food from her. She hadn't had enough.
The hazelnut shortbread, with its milky aroma, was the most delicious pastry she had ever tasted in the capital. Its appearance was exquisite, and if it were sold in a shop, it would definitely be snapped up.
"Then when Qingxing comes back, let her go buy milk."
Lin Yuesha wanted to make more to take on the road, but after tonight, she gave up on the small oven because it was too heavy.
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