Upon hearing that Mu Yanxiu was going to complain to the eldest son of the Mu family, the servants in the kitchen dared not interfere and stood obediently to the side.
The little dumpling was put back on the stool.
The little dumpling and Mu Yanxiu exchanged a smile and began to grab the flour from the table.
Mu Yanxiu's hands were covered in flour. It was her first time working in the kitchen, and she kept moving around with great curiosity.
Mu Yanxiu glanced at the little dumpling, grinned mischievously, and slapped her flour-covered hands onto the little dumpling's face.
The little dumpling's round and cute face was instantly covered in flour, and its eyebrows and eyelashes were also dyed white.
"Oh, little niece, you actually ambushed me."
After the little dumpling finished speaking, it waved its little hand at Mu Yanxiu's face.
Mu Yanxiu shook her head to dodge, but flour still got smeared on her face and even stuck to her hair.
The two little ones were playing around, and a layer of dust suddenly rose into the air.
Mu Ran brought over some water and saw the two of them rubbing each other's faces with flour.
She immediately stopped them, saying, "Stop fooling around, this is just wasting food!"
Upon hearing Mu Ran's angry voice, Xiao Tuanzi and Mu Yanxiu immediately stopped what they were doing.
The two young men stared at Mu Ran in unison.
Mu Ran frowned and said, "Children shouldn't play with food, and they shouldn't waste food."
"There are still many people in this world who don't have enough to eat, yet you're playing around with flour. Are you good children?"
Upon hearing Mu Ran's words, both Xiao Tuanzi and Mu Yanxiu lowered their heads in shame.
"We were wrong," the two said in unison.
Mu Ran looked around and thankfully they hadn't sprinkled too much flour.
Mu Ran tidied up the countertop and floor, and then started kneading the dough.
The little dumpling and Mu Yanxiu obediently propped their heads up and watched.
Mu Ran pinched off two small dough balls and handed them to them.
"Come on, follow your sister to knead the dough. We'll put it in the steamer later, and this will be your own homemade layered cake."
Upon hearing that they would have to make things themselves, Xiao Tuanzi and Mu Yanxiu immediately became very enthusiastic and imitated Mu Ran's actions in a very serious manner.
After kneading the dough, Mu Ran asked a servant to bring two small rolling pins, and together with Xiao Tuanzi, they rolled the dough flat.
The servants watching all expressed their admiration.
"Our little princess is learning so fast."
"Yes, this is the first time I've seen Miss Xiu so quiet."
"The two of them standing together really look like little dolls from a New Year's painting."
...
As they were praised, Xiao Tuanzi and Mu Yanxiu unconsciously straightened their backs and became more focused in their work.
After placing the layered cake into the steamer, Xiao Tuanzi and Mu Yanxiu eagerly waited by the steamer for their homemade cakes to be steamed.
The little dumpling felt time was passing so slowly for the first time, and she anxiously asked Mu Ran several times if the steaming was done.
It wasn't until the twelfth time she asked that Mu Ran finally nodded and said:
"It's ready!"
She was afraid that if the little princess kept asking, her ears would get calluses.
Mu Ran took out the layered cakes that Xiao Tuanzi and Mu Yanxiu had made.
The white and tender layered cake was steamed beautifully. Although the two little children's work wasn't perfect, the shape of the layered cake was still visible.
The little dumpling, carrying the mille-feuille cake she made herself, ran happily out of the kitchen with a smile.
"I'm going to let my grandfather try it."
Upon hearing the little dumpling's words, Mu Yanxiu also picked up the mille-feuille cake and went to find her mother.
"Grandpa, grandpa!"
The old marquis was standing at the table, admiring the landscape paintings by famous artists from the previous dynasty.
Hearing his granddaughter's soft, adorable voice, he quickly turned around and said:
"Little dumpling, Grandpa is here."
The little dumpling's bangs were parted to the sides, revealing her smooth forehead, and there was still some flour on her face.
"Grandfather...this is...made by my own hands...please...try it."
The little dumpling, panting heavily, spoke to the old Marquis.
When the old marquis saw the little girl's pale face, he was startled and pointed at her, asking, "What happened to your face?"
The little dumpling handed him the layered cake.
"I just got some flour, Grandfather, please try this."
"Yes, Grandfather, have a taste."
The old lord picked up the layered cake, which his little granddaughter had made herself; he was determined to try it.
The old marquis took a bite, and his face immediately turned green.
Isn't this layered cake a bit...too salty?
His granddaughter must have added salt instead of sugar.
The little dumpling stared at him expectantly and asked, "Grandpa, Grandpa, is it delicious?"
The old lord swallowed the layered cake in his mouth with great effort and said:
"Cough cough, so...delicious!"
There's no way around it; it's something my little granddaughter made herself, so I have to say it's delicious!
The little dumpling jumped up and down happily.
"That's great, that's great! I'll make it for Grandpa more often from now on."
Watching the grandfather and grandson enjoying each other's company, Butler Zheng smiled and said:
"The little princess is amazing! She made delicious pastries on her first time cooking."
The old lord looked at Steward Zheng and handed him the remaining layered cake.
"It's delicious, you should try some too."
Steward Zheng was flattered and waved his hand, saying, "This was made by the little princess for the Marquis. It's not appropriate for me to eat it."
Old Marquis: "It's alright, you eat!"
Butler Zheng nodded and accepted the pastries.
He was laughing heartily, unaware of what was about to happen.
His smile froze on his face after taking a few bites of the mille-feuille.
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