Chapter 26: New Year's Gift to Mr. Fan
The younger brother Su Chengzhi fell asleep. Yang Siniang didn't dare to make a sound for fear of waking him up, so she pulled Su Ruojin out to play.
"No, I have to look after my younger brother." Su Ruojin said in a low voice, "How about you go back first, and I'll come and play with you when my mother is free."
Yang Si Niang didn't have enough fun and refused to leave. Su Ruojin had no choice but to give her a lollipop and coax her, "I'll come and play with you if I'm free this afternoon!"
In the past, Yang Si Niang would always snort and say she was a liar. She said she would go out to play in the afternoon ten times, but she would probably only go out once or twice. But today, she was really attracted by the beautiful lollipop. Her small round eyes were full of surprise: "Oh my God, Ah Jin, this little white rabbit is so beautiful!"
It has a round little face and a pair of cute long ears. The nose is the dividing line. The upper half of the round face and ears are pink, while the lower part to the chin is white. The eyes, triangular mouth and beard are black. The whole lollipop looks pink and chubby. That little girl doesn't love it.
The Su family has no shortage of sugar when making candied haws. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, so Su Ruojin made some fruit candies and lollipops, some of which she kept for her family and some of which she gave to relatives and friends.
The fruit candies are not shaped, but they come in several colors, red, green, pink, yellow and other crystal colors. They are wrapped in oil paper one by one, so crystal clear and beautiful that people are reluctant to eat them; the lollipops are made of cartoon versions of the twelve zodiac signs, with simple lines and bright colors. They are very cute in the hands and can be kept as treasures that you are reluctant to eat.
When it was made the night before, the two brothers of the Su family wanted to hold each other in their arms while sleeping. Su Ruojin was very happy and quickly told them that sugar would melt when exposed to heat, so if they really couldn't bear to eat it, they could put it in a cold place and let it sit for a few more days.
Yang Si Niang grabbed the lollipop and ran out. She wanted to show off her beautiful and cute little rabbit candy to everyone. Now, the most dazzling young lady in Guihua Lane was Yang Birong!
Su Ruojin didn't know that the little brat showing off with his lollipop had become a sight in Guihua Lane. The little brother had fallen asleep, so she coaxed Yang Si Niang away because she had something to do.
After leaving her parents' bedroom, she hurried to the study and told Su Dalang, "Brother, please help me look after me. I'm going to the kitchen to see how my mother is doing with the noodles."
Why do you have to wash the noodles? Su Dalang, who had helped with housework, was very confused. He had heard of mixing noodles, kneading noodles, and frying noodles, but he had never heard of washing noodles. How could such fine flour still exist after washing?
But he didn't show it on his face. He nodded like a little adult, telling his sister to go and do her work. He picked up his book and went to his parents' room to read while watching his younger brother.
Su Sanlang and Cheng Yingzhen were in the kitchen, and their daughter asked her to wash flour. From childhood to adulthood, Cheng Yingzhen had never heard of washing flour. If it weren't for the fried dough sticks and dumplings in front, her daughter would have been beaten by her.
"Mom...Mom...Have you finished washing your face?"
Cheng Yingzhen was so tired that she could hardly straighten her waist. "Come and take a look..." She didn't know how the wash was going. She was just confused.
Su Ruojin saw that the dough was not cooked enough and still had some gluten. If she was not so small and weak, she would have wanted to rub it herself. But when she saw her mother's complaining face, she puffed her lips in embarrassment and said, "It's still... not up to standard..."
Su Yanli was folding paper bags next door. When he heard his daughter's voice, he said to Feng Wangtian, who was pressing hawthorn slices, "I'll go over there."
"Sir, please go and do your work. I'll do this little job." When facing a young official, Feng Wangtian was always cautious. He always felt like there was a mountain pressing down on him. He hoped that the official would not help him and would feel at ease only if he did the work alone.
Su Yanli nodded and left.
Feng Wangtian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and instantly felt at ease all over. He subconsciously walked to the door and looked towards the kitchen. He remembered what the young lady who took the lollipop said. He wondered what kind of servant Mr. Su was looking for. If possible... He was stunned for a while, and suddenly came to his senses. Oh, hey, hurry up and work. The more he makes, the more money he can sell. He flattened and sliced the candies with his nimble hands.
In the kitchen, Su Yanli washed his hands and followed his daughter's instructions to rub the flour vigorously, and did not stop until his daughter was satisfied.
After washing, the flour was settled and dried... By the time it turned into flour, the Little New Year had passed. The Big New Year was approaching, and the New Year gifts for Master Fan had not yet been prepared. Cheng Yingzhen was anxious: "How about buying four things outside?"
"Mom, I have already prepared the other three items, except for this pastry."
Cheng Yingzhen always felt that the gifts her daughter prepared were too few and a bit embarrassing. "How about buying a big leg of lamb, two boxes of snacks from Fangweizhai, and some good wine?"
She looked at her husband, "Sir, what do you think?"
Su Yanli smiled slightly, "Ajin has prepared three items, only the last box is missing..."
Su Ruojin replied, "Crystal osmanthus cake."
When everyone saw the crystal clear finished product, they were stunned.
When making it, Cheng Yingzhen thought it was troublesome, but even in Bo's house, she had never seen such exquisite pastries: "How come the flour has become transparent? The golden honey and osmanthus inside can be seen clearly. It is so exquisite."
Su Ruojin raised her chin proudly, "This is why we need to wash the flour."
Separate the gluten from other substances in flour, and the gluten becomes gluten, and what remains is clarified flour, which is also called clarified flour, wheat starch, and it is the secret to making all kinds of snacks and making them transparent and crystal clear.
The four gifts were placed on the eight-immortal table. Cheng Yingzhen was still a little uncertain, "Sir, will it seem too little?"
Su Yanli smiled and said, "Lord Fan is the Minister of Personnel. He must have seen a lot of things. What we are giving you is not about the value of the gift, but about its novelty."
"What if Master Fan doesn't like this novelty?"
Su Ruojin spread her hands and said, "Dad doesn't have any banknotes or treasures to give me, so it doesn't matter what I give you."
How could this kid belittle Lord Fan like this!
Su Yanli reached out and tapped his daughter's forehead gently, "Officials appointed by the court should not speak nonsense."
"Yes, Dad." Su Ruojin grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "Dad, when are you going to pay back the money and give the festival gift to Master Fan?"
Su Yanli replied, "I asked Shu Tong to deliver the visiting card to Lord Fan's residence two days ago. Let's do it tomorrow!"
"The breakfast stall will be closed tomorrow, so let Brother Ershi take Uncle Shutong's place at the temple stall. He can take you there."
Su Yanli thought so too. It didn't matter what he did at home, since no one saw it anyway. But when he went out, especially to visit his superiors, he still had to have a servant accompanying him. Otherwise, it would be too inappropriate for an eighth-rank official. These customs were inevitable when entering the officialdom.
Su Yanli likes to touch his daughter's fluffy little head the most. "Do you want to go with Dad?"
Su Ruojin shook her head: "No, I have an appointment with Arong. Tomorrow the weather is good, I will play shuttlecock with her in the alley."
As the New Year approaches, the adults become busier, but the children have more time to play. As a six-year-old girl, Su Ruojin is ready to enjoy her childhood and doesn't want to deal with the social etiquette of officialdom.
On the next day, the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, Su Yanli dressed in new clothes, and Shu Tong led the mule to send him to Fan's house.
Cheng Yingzhen stood in the corridor until her husband left the courtyard, then she muttered worriedly, "I wonder if your father can see Lord Fan?"
(End of this chapter)
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