The threads only broke completely and reluctantly when the two mochi pieces were about fifteen centimeters apart.
The first sensation Li Sixin experienced upon entering his mouth was its chewy texture, followed by the soft, glutinous texture of the sticky rice and the refreshing, sweet grape flavor—sticky yet not clumpy, sweet but not cloying.
After tasting the mochi, Li Sixin nodded and put down his chopsticks. He then picked out three pieces from each type of pastry and placed them on a clean white plate. He then invited the makers who had cooked these delicious pastries to try them as well.
The others initially refused the request, then felt embarrassed, and finally reluctantly picked up their chopsticks and cups to taste the snacks made by the others.
Helan followed the others in the order of tasting, first trying the grape mochi, then the grape shortbread, followed by the grape-flavored cookies, and finally picking up a glass of grape juice to taste.
The moment the grape juice entered her mouth, Helan frowned slightly. She took another sip, and then her frown deepened.
Why does this grape juice taste worse than the mess my kids make?
She initially thought it was just her imagination, but with each sip, the sensation became more pronounced, and the distinct astringency of the grape juice made her face involuntarily scrunch up.
"Sister He, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with this grape juice? Why are you frowning after drinking it?"
The villagers responsible for making the grape juice kept a close eye on the expressions of others after tasting it. Everyone else's expressions were normal, even with a hint of a smile, but Helan's face wrinkled up as she drank it.
"Oh, it's nothing, it's nothing. This grape juice is quite delicious, haha." He Lan then realized that her expression was inappropriate and quickly tried to make amends.
"Sister He, if there's anything wrong, just say it directly. Don't hide it. You can tell from your expression that you're not satisfied!" The villager didn't let He Lan off the hook and relentlessly pressed her for answers.
"Yes, if you think it's inappropriate, just say so. It's better to say it now than to send it to Boss Xu and have it returned!"
Yes, yes.
Others chimed in, and Helan looked around at everyone before finally stammering out:
"I overcooked the jam when I was making it. My mischievous family members messed around and made a few cups of grape juice. That's pretty good, but the grape juice they made tastes a little different. It's also pretty good."
"Did you bring it over? Let us have a taste?" someone immediately chimed in as soon as the words left his mouth.
"No." Helan shook her head: "Those mischievous monkeys made it all dirty. It's fine for them to drink themselves, but how can they give it to Boss Xu to drink!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, unsure whether Helan was telling the truth or not. They stared at each other blankly, unable to make up their minds.
Ultimately, everyone's attention fell on Li Sixin, waiting for Li Sixin, Boss Xu's representative, to make a decision.
Li Sixin took out his phone to check the time, then asked, "Aunt He, how long does it take to make that grape juice you mentioned?"
"About half an hour," Helan said, not entirely sure.
"It's not even ten o'clock yet, there's still time to make it again. Why don't you go back and make one yourself, Aunt He?" Seeing the nervous look on He Lan's face, Li Sixin comforted her, "Having another way to make it gives Boss Xu another option, doesn't it?"
After being persuaded by Li Sixin and the others, Helan hesitantly nodded, and then everyone escorted her back to her home.
——————
"Mr. Xu! Stop what you're doing! Come down and have some lunch!"
Li Sixin's shout interrupted Xu An's thoughts. Xu An closed the computer and left the room with Xu Heping. They walked down the stairs to the first floor. After turning the corner, Xu An saw the uninvited guest, the village chief of Hua'an Village.
Xu An was taken aback at first, then quickly walked downstairs to the two of them and asked, "Village Chief He, what brings you here?"
"I'd like to bring you some local snacks made by the villagers," said the village chief of Hua'an Village as he lifted the cloth cover from the bamboo basket. As the exquisite snacks came into view, a hint of surprise flashed in Xu An's eyes.
Hearing the village chief of Hua'an Village's words, I thought he was bringing some local specialties from Hongshan Town, but what was in the bamboo basket were actually pastries commonly found in city bakeries.
I went to the city specifically to buy this.
No, that's unlikely. A few servings of pastries would cost at least several tens of yuan. Even if the village chief of Hua'an Village were willing to spend that money, the bakery in Hongshan Town wouldn't have pastries of that style.
Completely baffled, Xu An entered the kitchen surrounded by Li Sixin and the other man. He sat down at the table, picked up his chopsticks, took a cookie, and put it in his mouth, followed by mochi, and then milk shortbread.
Grape-flavored cookies, grape-flavored mochi, grape-filled mochi, grape-flavored shortbread, grape juice
After tasting each snack, Xu An finally discovered the trick: all the snacks and drinks were grape-flavored!
Considering that grapes are the main cash crop produced in Hua'an Village, the implications are self-evident.
Xu An's gaze involuntarily fell on Li Sixin, who was accompanying the village chief of Hua'an Village. He was 200% confident that this must have been Li Sixin's idea.
If the village chief of Hua'an Village had planned this all along, he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of staging such a spectacle of burying the grapes for his own benefit.
After tasting each one, Xu An wanted to put down his chopsticks to ask the two people for advice, but the moment he put down his chopsticks, the village chief of Hua'an Village reminded him, "Boss Xu, these two glasses of grape juice are a little different. Why don't you try the other one?"
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