Chapter 55 Illness
Half an hour later, the dough had risen, and the proprietress called everyone to start making the mooncake crusts.
“They’ve risen quite well,” she said, checking each person’s dough. “Next, we’ll knead the dough and then divide it into small portions of about 35 grams each.”
The proprietress explained while demonstrating, showing everyone the divided dough.
Next, she rolled the small dough ball into a round shape, put the pre-rolled filling inside, slowly wrapped the filling with the dough, and then gently placed it into the mold.
She specifically reminded them, "Be careful, before putting it into the mold, sprinkle a little flour inside to prevent it from sticking."
Everyone nodded and started making mooncakes following the steps taught by the proprietress. Before long, a number of finished mooncakes were laid out on the table.
Zhou Yan held up the mooncake in her hand and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Oh dear, I squeezed out the filling."
The proprietress glanced at it, smiled, and said, "You didn't seal it tightly when you packed it, but it's okay, just be more careful next time."
Zhou Yan nodded, "Yes, I'll be more careful next time."
Once they mastered the method, everyone became more and more proficient.
In just half an hour, the ten people made a lot of mooncakes.
The proprietress put the shaped mooncakes into the oven to bake, and told everyone, "After the mooncakes have set, open the oven and brush a little water on the surface of each mooncake, then brush a layer of egg yolk."
Everyone watched the proprietress intently as she worked.
Twenty minutes later, the first batch of mooncakes came out of the oven, emitting a wonderful aroma.
Su Tangtang couldn't help but say, "I really want to try it right away. This is my first time making mooncakes."
Zhou Yan excitedly exclaimed, "Me too!"
The mooncakes were still piping hot, but everyone couldn't wait and each picked one up to try.
The mooncakes made by hand tasted especially sweet, and many people ate several in a row.
After that, everyone baked all the remaining mooncakes.
In the afternoon, they took the packaged mooncakes and said goodbye to the owner and his wife with satisfaction.
-
The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Su Tangtang and Huo Yizhou went to town together in the morning and bought a fish and a chicken.
After returning, the two cooked a stir-fried chicken and a pot of boiled fish fillets. Together with the two older brothers from the photography crew, the four of them sat around the table and ate with great enjoyment. After the meal, they ate the mooncakes they had made by hand the day before, which had a unique flavor.
That evening, the production team organized a dinner for everyone. While they were eating, Su Tangtang received a call from her brother, Su Tanghao. He briefly asked about her recent situation and transferred some money to her.
Afterwards, her parents chatted with her for a few minutes, but Su Tangtang didn't dare to say much, afraid that they would realize that she was not the original "Su Tangtang".
She was actually a little worried: how should she get along with the original owner's family after the show ended and she went back? Fortunately, there was still some time before that day, and as she thought about it, she put her worries aside for the time being.
After dinner, everyone returned to their respective residences. Just as they were about to reach their doors, Gu Qingke suddenly stopped Su Tangtang and Huo Yizhou.
The two looked at him and saw Gu Qingke hand over what he was carrying.
Su Tangtang did not reach out to take it.
"Tangtang, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. This is a bag I bought for you," Gu Qingke said.
Su Tangtang was silent for a moment, but still declined, "Thank you, but no need."
Gu Qingke insisted on delivering it.
Huo Yizhou, who was standing to the side, spoke up, "She said no."
Su Tangtang glanced at Gu Qingke and said in a flat tone, "This bag costs over 100,000 yuan. You might not be able to afford it even if you work for a year."
Huo Yizhou: "..."
Su Tangtang was speechless. For Huo Yizhou, buying a hundred bags like this was no problem at all. Gu Qingke's behavior made her look like a clown in front of him.
Huo Yizhou didn't say much, only smiled contemptuously.
This laugh enraged Gu Qingke. "Don't think that just because you've hooked up with Tangtang, you can get away with it!"
Su Tangtang: "..."
Huo Yizhou gave him a cold look and said in a low voice, "Gu Qingke, you should go get your head checked."
Huo Yizhou rarely gets annoyed enough to scold someone.
Gu Qingke pointed at him angrily, "What are you pretending for!"
Shen Yingying, who was watching the commotion from a short distance away, couldn't help but smile. She was increasingly enjoying these scenes, which were even more exciting than the dramas she, as an award-winning actress, was acting in.
She had previously considered pursuing Huo Yizhou and even keeping him as a mistress, but now she felt it was unnecessary. This man was clearly poor and incredibly arrogant, which she didn't like. Now she only wanted someone who would listen to her.
Ever since she realized that Gu Qingke was a scumbag, she had completely given up on him. Such a person was not worth her love.
Her only thought now is to make Su Tangtang experience the same pain she suffered.
She didn't want Su Tangtang to have an easy time at all.
Su Tangtang used to bully her, and now she just wants to get her revenge, one debt at a time.
Su Tangtang's tone was calm but firm, "Gu Qingke, I've made myself very clear. I won't accept your things, just as I won't accept you as a person anymore."
This is a blunt and unforgiving statement.
But Gu Qingke seemed not to understand and stubbornly said, "Leave the things here with me for now, and you can take them back whenever you've thought it through."
Su Tangtang couldn't help but roll her eyes.
“The car you gave me before is still parked in my garage,” Gu Qingke continued. “From now on, I will only drive the one you gave me.”
These words instantly reminded Su Tangtang of the original owner's past sacrifices.
She couldn't help but feel sorry for the original owner. Look at the kind of person you like. If he were devoted, she would think that the original owner's love was worthwhile, but he was not devoted.
Moreover, the original owner of the car worth over a million yuan gave it away so easily, probably because he had never worried about making a living and was unaware of the cost of daily necessities.
Huo Yizhou then turned to look at Su Tangtang, his voice steady, "Make him return it when we get back."
Su Tangtang was taken aback at first, then smiled and nodded, "Okay."
She turned to Gu Qingke and said bluntly, "Remember to return the car after the show."
Gu Qingke was speechless for a moment, then glared at Huo Yizhou, "Are you sick in the head?"
Huo Yizhou responded calmly, "There's no reason why a gift that's been given out can't be taken back."
Gu Qingke was speechless once again.
He finally turned and left; if he stayed even a second longer, he was afraid he would explode with anger on the spot.
Back inside, Su Tangtang couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Gu Qingke's ashen face.
Huo Yizhou pulled her into his arms. "Is that funny?"
Su Tangtang reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, a smile still playing at the corners of her eyes. "Yeah, it is quite funny."
Huo Yizhou gave her a light bite on the lip as punishment, "You're not allowed to laugh anymore, and you're especially not allowed to laugh because of him."
Su Tangtang raised an eyebrow, "So domineering?"
Huo Yizhou nodded calmly.
Su Tangtang suppressed a laugh, "Okay, okay, I won't laugh anymore."
But as she was talking, she suddenly burst out laughing.
Huo Yizhou gently pinched her cheek. "You promised not to smile."
Su Tangtang's eyes sparkled. "I was laughing at you. How can you be so cute?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Yizhou lowered his head and kissed her lips, saying, "Not as cute as you."
As the words fell, the kiss deepened.
The two kissed more passionately than ever before.
A moment later, when they separated slightly, Su Tangtang's lips were glowing with a rosy luster. She buried her face in his chest, a little embarrassed, to hide her slightly flushed cheeks.
-
When Su Tangtang woke up the next day, it was already 10 a.m., the longest she had slept in a morning recently.
She got dressed, got out of bed, and went to the yard, where she saw Huo Yizhou bending over to spread out the corn to dry. She walked over to him and whispered, "I can't believe I slept for so long."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt her throat dry and tight, and felt a little uncomfortable. She subconsciously frowned.
Huo Yizhou keenly noticed her unusual behavior. "What's wrong?"
"My throat is a little dry," Su Tangtang cleared her throat. "It should be fine, I'll just drink some hot water later."
Huo Yizhou put down the corn in his hand and looked at her. "Make yourself a packet of cold medicine later. The temperature will drop tonight; you've probably caught a chill."
"Maybe," Su Tangtang nodded. "It is indeed a bit chilly in the village at night."
Huo Yizhou spread out the last few ears of corn, turned around and went into the house. Su Tangtang followed behind him. The four puppies that had been sunbathing in the corner had woken up at some point and were wagging their tails as they followed at her feet.
Huo Yizhou went into the room, picked up the thermos and poured water, then opened a packet of cold medicine granules, stirred it carefully, and handed it to Su Tangtang.
Su Tangtang took the cup and couldn't help but laugh, "Staring at me like that, are you afraid I won't drink it?"
“Yes,” Huo Yizhou readily admitted.
She took a small sip and laughed, "Actually, I don't really want to drink it. I don't feel sick."
Huo Yizhou said, "Having a drink will make you feel better."
As she listened to Huo Yizhou speak, the four puppies started nibbling at her trouser leg, as if they had discovered some new and interesting toy, their four little heads huddled together.
Seeing them having so much fun, Su Tangtang deliberately raised her right leg, and the two puppies were suddenly suspended in mid-air, kicking wildly but refusing to let go. She laughed out loud, "What a cute little silly dogs."
She lowered her right leg, then raised her left, and her other two legs were pulled up as well, clinging tightly to her trouser legs and refusing to let go.
Huo Yizhou watched her playful antics, a smile in his eyes. "Having fun?"
“Absolutely,” Su Tangtang said, her eyes crinkling with delight. “They’re so interesting.”
-
In the afternoon, the two went to town and bought a small corn thresher.
After returning, I got busy. The machine needed to be plugged in and kept running, and the roaring sound continued throughout the afternoon.
That evening, Su Tangtang felt weak all over and had a throbbing headache.
Huo Yizhou reached out and touched her forehead, his brows furrowing slightly. "It's a little hot."
He then took out a thermometer and handed it to her.
Su Tangtang took the thermometer and muttered softly, "It's so warm outside, how come I still caught a cold..."
Huo Yizhou explained softly, "Colds don't discriminate based on the weather."
After a while, she took out the thermometer, and Huo Yizhou took it and looked at it carefully against the light. "Thirty-eight degrees."
As he spoke, he deftly packed his coat, wallet, and flashlight. "I'll take you to the clinic."
Su Tangtang hadn't expected the fever to be so high. She glanced at the time and hesitated, "It's already nine o'clock. The village clinic should be closed, right?"
"It's alright, I'm just sorry to disturb the doctor's rest."
Su Tangtang didn't want to trouble others too much, "I should be fine after taking some fever reducer."
But Huo Yizhou had already helped her up, his tone gentle yet firm, "Let's go, let's go see to put our minds at ease."
Finally, the two walked into the village road in the darkness, using flashlights as their guide.
Sure enough, the clinic lights were off.
Huo Yizhou knocked on the door for a while before footsteps came from inside.
The door opened, and a female doctor stood in the doorway wearing a coat. Huo Yizhou said apologetically, "I'm sorry to bother you so late."
The female doctor waved her hand, "It's nothing, what's wrong?"
"I have a fever and my throat is sore," Huo Yizhou had just finished speaking.
Su Tangtang peeked out from the side and added with a nasal tone, "I'm sick."
The female doctor smiled knowingly.
The clinic was small, with a U-shaped medicine cabinet taking up most of the space. The doctor took Su Tangtang's temperature again and asked, "Would you like an injection or medicine?"
Huo Yizhou immediately chimed in, "Let's get the injection, it'll help you recover faster."
Su Tangtang's eyes widened immediately, and she quickly asked, "Is it an IV drip or... a shot in the butt?"
The doctor, without even looking up, tidied up the instruments. "Give it an injection in the buttocks; it'll bring the fever down quickly."
Su Tangtang froze instantly. She was most afraid of getting injections in her buttocks, as they were both painful and embarrassing.
Before she could even speak, Huo Yizhou nodded, "Then let's get the injection."
"I haven't agreed yet!" Su Tangtang hurriedly grabbed his sleeve.
The doctor patiently explained, "Medicine reduces fever slowly, and if the fever rises even higher overnight, it will be even more uncomfortable. Although injections hurt a little, the effect is immediate."
Su Tangtang pursed her lips and insisted, "I'd rather take my medicine."
Huo Yizhou tried to persuade her, but she grabbed his sleeve tightly, saying, "I really can't, I can't stand getting a shot in my butt."
Seeing her fearful yet stubborn expression, Huo Yizhou couldn't help but chuckle, "So you're afraid of pain?"
Su Tangtang nodded vigorously, gazing at him expectantly.
Huo Yizhou turned to the doctor and said gently, "Then prescribe some medicine first. I'll keep a close eye on her temperature tonight."
The female doctor nodded. "Okay, remember to drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest."
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