Chapter 96 Building the Oven
After a busy half-day, the small oven, built according to Lu Mingyue's description, was placed in the corner of the yard.
After drying, Huo Zheng lit a fire to test the temperature. The flames shot up through the vent, and the stove quickly heated up.
Lu Mingyue held the kneaded mooncake dough and leaned closer, her eyes full of anticipation. This oven with its new method might just bake a different kind of Mid-Autumn Festival flavor.
The kneaded mooncake dough was pressed with patterns one by one, placed on an oiled iron tray, and carefully sent into the oven.
Huo Zheng squatted by the stove, adding firewood and listening to the sounds coming from inside from time to time.
Leilei and Yaoyao carried small stools and stood guard to the side, occasionally leaning forward to get a better look, only to be pushed away by Huo Zheng.
"Dad, why doesn't it smell good yet?"
Yao Yao stood on tiptoe, clinging to the edge of the stove, her little hands almost reaching inside.
Just as Lu Mingyue was about to tell her to be careful, she smelled a faint burnt smell wafting out.
"Oh no, it's overcooked!"
She quickly asked Huo Zheng to remove some firewood and then lifted the iron plate on top to peek inside.
The two mooncakes on the very edge were already burnt black, with small charred bubbles on the surface.
Once the iron pan was taken out, the burnt smell became even more pronounced.
Leilei frowned, but still reached out and picked up one that wasn't too burnt. After blowing on it to cool it down, he took a small bite: "Mom, it's soft inside, but the skin is a bit bitter."
Yao Yao also tried it, puffing out her cheeks and nodding: "It's sweet! But it's a little bitter."
Looking at the charred mooncakes, Lu Mingyue couldn't help but laugh: "We didn't get the heat right, but it's okay, there will always be times when we mess up the first time we try to bake them."
Huo Zheng smiled as he broke off the burnt parts and ate the filling inside: "The filling tastes just right. Next time, we'll reduce the firewood by half and just flip the plate a couple more times while baking."
Leilei immediately picked up his little shovel: "Dad, I'll add firewood next time. I'll add it slowly, and it definitely won't burn!"
Yao Yao also raised her hand: "I'll help watch the mooncakes, and I'll call for Mommy as soon as they start to smoke!"
The family gathered around the oven, chatting and brainstorming ways to improve the baking method. Although the mooncakes were burnt, the yard was filled with lively laughter.
The next morning, Lu Mingyue followed the method she had devised the night before.
First, a layer of thoroughly burned charcoal was laid in the oven. After the flames gradually weakened and only warm embers remained, the iron plate with the mooncake dough arranged on it was sent in. A small gap was specially left on the iron plate for ventilation.
Huo Zheng didn't go to the military camp during his rest period. Instead, he squatted by the stove to keep an eye on the temperature and occasionally poked at the charcoal in the stove with a small stick.
After finishing his meal, Lei Lei stood by the side, holding a small fan in his hand. As instructed by Lu Mingyue, he would gently fan the vent every now and then.
Yao Yao carried a small stool and sat at the gate of the courtyard, acting as a little sentry, glancing at the oven from time to time.
About fifteen minutes later, a sweet aroma wafted out of the oven. First came the faint scent of flour, followed by the rich aroma of sesame seeds and white sugar, which gradually filled the entire courtyard.
Yao Yao sniffed and immediately jumped up, shouting, "Mommy, it smells so good! Is it cooked?"
Lu Mingyue smiled and nodded, letting Huo Zheng lift the iron plate.
The mooncakes on the iron plate were all golden and plump, with clearly visible patterns on their surfaces, and the steam carrying a sweet aroma wafted out.
Leilei tiptoed closer, his eyes wide with amazement: "Mom, it's much prettier than yesterday's!"
Just then, a few soft sounds came from the courtyard gate. Lu Mingyue looked up and saw Wang's two children peering over the courtyard wall, sniffing the air.
Among them, the bolder Yating asked loudly, "Aunt Lu, are you grilling something delicious? It smells so good!"
Lu Mingyue picked up a mooncake that had just cooled down a bit and waved to them with a smile: "Come in quickly, these are freshly baked mooncakes, you can have a taste."
The two children immediately ran in cheering, bringing things with them.
Ya Ting, who was leading the way, ran up to Lu Mingyue first and handed her the lunchbox like a treasure: "Aunt Lu, my mom asked me to bring this!"
When Wang Fengmei heard that the two children were coming to play, she brought some meat pies she had made herself.
You can't just take someone's money for nothing, even if Lu Mingyue is a warm and generous person.
Lu Mingyue smiled as she took the lunchbox and opened it. Inside were four meat pies, with thin crusts, generous fillings, and a glistening sheen of oil, looking very appetizing.
"This must be from Sister Wang, isn't it?" She felt a warmth in her heart and turned to call out to the neighbor, "Sister Wang, come in and sit down!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Sister Wang walked in with a smile: "The kids told me that your mooncakes smell so good that the whole street can smell them, so I thought I'd bring some pies over. That way, I won't have to cook lunch."
As she spoke, she leaned closer to the oven and took a sniff. "Wow, these mooncakes are really well baked, even more fragrant than the ones sold at the supply and marketing cooperative!"
Lu Mingyue quickly grabbed two mooncakes that had just cooled down and stuffed them into Sister Wang's hands: "Try them, they're fresh out of the oven. The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, and we were thinking of making some mooncakes ourselves."
Wang Fengmei took a bite of the mooncake in her hand, the flaky crust falling off her fingertips, and the sweet filling melting in her mouth. Her eyes immediately lit up.
"These mooncakes are delicious! They're even better than the ones I bought at the supply and marketing cooperative last year!"
Lu Mingyue smiled and handed over a glass of warm water: "If you like it, take a few back with you. If anyone wants to learn, we can set aside some time to make them together."
Wang Fengmei immediately clapped her hands: "That's right! In previous years, before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the family compound would occasionally organize us military wives to make mooncakes together. It would be held in the compound's activity room, where everyone would bring some of their own fillings, and we could be busy all afternoon."
Huo Zheng, who was adding charcoal to the fire, chimed in, "That's a good idea. It's more lively with more people, and the children can play together."
Upon hearing this, Lei Lei immediately grabbed his friend's hand and shouted, "I want to go too! I want to teach everyone how to make crooked-eared rabbit mooncakes!" This made everyone laugh.
Wang Fengmei stood up, patted the flour off her clothes, and said, "When I get back, I'll talk to Director Wang about organizing the mooncake-making activity this year. I'll definitely invite you two then. We won't be able to do without Comrade Huo's oven-building skills!"
Lu Mingyue smiled and agreed. Watching Wang Fengmei leave with the children carrying mooncakes, she turned to Huo Zheng and said, "If we can really organize this, this Mid-Autumn Festival will be even more lively."
As soon as Wang Fengmei got home, she put down the mooncakes she was holding and went straight to Director Wang's house.
Director Wang was sitting in the yard picking vegetables when she heard her talk about organizing military spouses to make mooncakes, and she immediately made a decision.
“That’s a great idea! Mid-Autumn Festival is usually quiet in previous years because many people go back to their hometowns. This year, since it’s still early, we can take this opportunity to let everyone get together.”
After discussing it, the two decided to set the date three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival and choose the activity room in the compound as the venue. They also specifically asked Wang Fengmei to inform the wives of the soldiers to bring some fillings and tools that they had at home.
When the news reached the Lu family, Lu Mingyue was sifting flour and immediately agreed with a smile.
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