"Of course, I'll make something even tastier than goat milk steamed buns. Just wait and see!"
"Hehe, I trust Sister Hongmei the most. I'm leaving now."
"Wait a minute, get two steamed buns for Uncle Qingshan." Zhang Hongmei put the steamed buns in a small cloth bag and handed them to Shi Tou.
"Brother Jingze, I need to go to your house to deliver this to my great-grandmother."
"Okay, let's do it together."
"Sister Er Ya, please take this back to my Third Aunt."
After Zhang Hongmei divided it up, there was less than one drawer left.
"Grandma, there's something delicious."
"Hehe, I can smell it. How come your mother can't make it taste like this?"
"I'm just good with my hands!"
"You're so shameless, don't you know any shame?"
"Who said that? I'm actually quite thin-skinned."
"Little rascal, your grandma will make you some candied hawthorns later."
"Today is a good day, everything is delicious. I'm going to learn some cooking techniques, so hurry up and try the steamed buns while they're hot, they're so good."
"Go ahead, your first wife will definitely be willing to give herself to you."
"That's right, I'm so lovable! And if I learn how to make candied hawthorn, I'll make you candied sweet potatoes."
"You can even make candied fruit? Then I'll be waiting."
"Don't worry, I can definitely make it. I just don't know if brown sugar will work?"
Zhang Hongmei had been helping Liu Changhe's family in the kitchen, and Liu Jingze was kicked out whenever he came in.
There are specific techniques to making sugar. The pot must be clean, filled with water, brought to a boil, and then the white sugar is added. Because the pot is small, two batches are planned to be made.
After the white sugar has dissolved, add the rock sugar, then simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Once the sugar syrup has thickened and is bubbling vigorously, remove the firewood and leave only a low flame. When the syrup turns slightly yellow, start dipping the skewered hawthorns one by one into the syrup pot. Then, using your wrist, slam the syrup-coated hawthorn skewers onto a wooden board. They will set in no time.
"The bottom of the red plum hot pot must be heated, but not too much, or it will burn."
Zhang Hongmei quickly filled the pot with sorghum leaves, and in no time, the whole pot of sugar was used up. The last bit of syrup left at the bottom of the pot was poured directly onto a wooden board by Liu Changhe's family. While it was still hot, they even put a thin skewer on it, saying, "Let me give you a treat and make you a sugar slice."
"Okay, okay."
Next came the second batch, this time with more than ten skewers of sour pears.
"Big sister, have you cooked these sour pears?"
"It wasn't boiled, it was steamed. Boiled food loses its flavor. It's better to steam it."
"I see, I'll remember that."
"Here you go, the sugar tablets are ready, eat them first."
"Big breast, let me eat first. Are you afraid Jingze will get jealous?"
"Little brat, I'll give you some, but I won't give him any."
"That's really how it is. Then I'll go out and eat in front of him, so he can just watch and get anxious but can't eat it."
After Zhang Hongmei finished speaking, she left the kitchen and found Liu Jingze in the study. She deliberately stood next to him, chewing on a piece of candy.
Liu Jingze was at his wit's end and found Zhang Hongmei's smug expression particularly amusing.
"A lady should not make any noise while eating."
Zhang Hongmei didn't reply, and instead looked at Liu Jingze with a rather provocative expression.
Liu Jingze just laughed, then suddenly stood up, grabbed Zhang Hongmei's hand holding the candy, pulled it over, and took a big bite. "Mmm, it's pretty good."
Zhang Hongmei was stunned. How could Liu Jingze, this elegant young man, do such a thing?
"What's wrong? Are you stupid?"
"How could you do this? This was given to me by the eldest wife."
"You're still showing off in front of me even though you don't have mine. Of course I'm tempted, and it's normal for me to want to try it. Remember, next time you have something delicious, sneak a bite."
Zhang Hongmei lost her temper and left dejectedly. She could still hear Liu Jingze's smug laughter behind her.
That's so tasteless. It's infuriating.
Upon entering the kitchen, one could see that Liu Changhe's family had already taken down all the candied hawthorns and stuck them on a bundle of straw they had made to the side.
Zhang Hongmei circled the straw bundle filled with candied hawthorns. She picked out the one with the most sugar and started eating.
It's really good, sweet and sour. The hawthorn berries are just right, not too crunchy or mushy, and the candy is crunchy and doesn't stick to your teeth.
"Auntie, is my sister Hongmei here?"
"Yes, go to the kitchen and look for it. I'm making a quilt."
"Sister Hongmei, come out here for a moment, I've gotten the goat milk back."
"Stone, come in quickly, there are candied hawthorns to eat."
"Big breasts sticky? I haven't had any for years."
Shi Tou put down the milk bucket, took the hawthorn candied hawthorn handed to him by Zhang Hongmei, took a bite and said, "It's so delicious, sweet and sour."
Liu Changhe watched the two children eating with relish and said, "Shitou, if it's delicious, just eat one skewer. I'll take some for Erya and Sanya later."
"Okay, big boobs."
Liu Changhe's family member smiled and shook their head, then plucked ten bunches of straw from the bundle; these were to be taken back to Shi Tou.
"Big breasts, there are too many."
"It's alright. I made it for you to eat. Keep it and eat it slowly. It won't melt in this cold weather."
"Great, Grandma, I'm going home. Sister Hongmei, let me help you carry it back."
"No need, just leave it there. I need to go back in a bit."
After Zhang Hongmei finished speaking, she went into the old lady's house, took out a steamed bun, and handed it to Liu Changhe's wife, saying, "Grandma, try this. It's really delicious."
"No, I'm going to the cafeteria to eat now. I'll save some for your great-grandmother."
"No, there are still many more." After saying that, she stuffed them into Liu Changhe's hands.
He took a steamed bun and went to Liu Aimin's house. "Auntie, I'm coming in."
"Come in quickly. I'm busy right now."
"Auntie, are you making a quilt?"
“Yes, you and Jingze are leaving together this year, so I need to make you a new quilt to take with you.”
"For me?"
"Yes, it'll be ready soon. Let Jingze carry it back for you."
"This quilt cover is really beautiful."
"Isn't it beautiful? This is my most treasured possession."
"You gave all of this to me? I took all of Brother Jingze's good stuff back with me, hehe."
"Auntie, have a steamed bun with red bean filling first, it's delicious."
"Okay, let's have something to eat first, then we'll go to the cafeteria for lunch."
The old lady was also very happy to see Zhang Hongmei so cheerful. Liu Jingze came out of the study and went into the kitchen, took a bunch of sour pears, and took a big bite. "Hongmei, I still think sour pears taste better."
"That's right, I haven't had a chance to eat yet. I'll have to wait a while before I eat. I've eaten too much."
"How about you take a bite and try it?"
"No, Grandma said I can eat as much as I want. You all have to come to the back."
"Okay, I'll stop eating after I finish this, I'll save it all for you."
"We should keep it. Brother Twenty-Eight and the others should be back soon. We should let them have a taste too."
"Then there aren't many left."
"I'll just try it out; it's not like I can eat it as a meal."
"I thought you must be really hungry after all that work."
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