Chen Ji was stunned for a moment, and before he could speak, a sarcastic voice came from the side: "Tsk tsk, is this even a big deal!"
"This little wound is nothing to Old Chen! You don't know, he used to be..."
"Xu Hanli." Chen Ji's voice turned several degrees colder as he interrupted him promptly: "You've had too much to drink."
Xu Ruantang was too lazy to argue with them. "It's good that you don't faint again. If you do, I won't have the strength to take you to the city."
After she finished speaking, she was about to leave the room when Chen Ji suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm, saying, "Eat something else."
She was only wearing a shirt, and Chen Ji's hands were warm and dry. The warmth transmitted through the thin shirt made Xu Ruantang's heart skip a beat.
She looked at Chen Ji's hand, and Chen Ji seemed to realize something was wrong. He immediately let go of her hand, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his handsome face.
Xu Ruantang was already full from eating meat, but the bowl of food Chen Ji served her was quite large.
Moreover, she kept wandering around the kitchen and noticed that the person cooking didn't seem hungry at all.
Xu Ruantang used to not understand why her mother would only eat a little bit after cooking, but now she understands a little.
But Chen Ji's tone left no room for refusal. Not wanting to argue, she simply sat down and ate a little more before returning to the kitchen.
While picking wildflowers, Xu Ruantang also picked a lot of wild roses, intending to make flower cakes.
Add sugar and lard to flour, then add warm water and knead until the flour is no longer sticky. Knead it a little more, cover it, and let it rest for 20 minutes.
While she was at it, she picked the wild rose petals one by one and washed them clean in water.
In the past, the chef used rose jam directly in the shop, but when I was chatting with Xu Ruantang, he mentioned that they originally used rose petals.
With nothing else to do, she listened to her master ramble on and on.
Wash the flower petals, add white sugar, and pound them with a rolling pin until they become a sticky, juicy paste. Set the paste aside.
The idea of making flower cakes came to her when she saw wild roses. Since she didn't want to live under the same roof as Xu Hanli and Chen Ji, she decided to make them today.
Those people were laughing at her, saying that you can't eat flowers, but now she's going to show them what it means to be ignorant.
Not only are flowers edible, but they taste delicious, and she's been craving sweets lately.
Next, make the oil-based dough. Mix flour and lard in a 2:1 ratio, kneading them together until smooth. Use your palms to knead the dough continuously until the oil and flour are fully combined and the dough becomes soft.
Kneading dough, making oil paste, and pounding flower jam are all physically demanding tasks. In the process, Xu Ruantang gradually realized the benefits of having great strength.
Xu Ruantang added the stir-fried glutinous rice flour to the pounded rose petal jam, mixed it well, and then added a little honey.
With all preparations complete, Xu Ruantang began wrapping the oil-based dough with the water-based dough. First, she divided both the water-based dough and the oil-based dough into equal portions, then rolled them into small balls and arranged them neatly.
Wrap one oil-based dough with another oil-based dough, roll it out with a rolling pin, then roll them up one by one and let them rise a second time.
Finally, it was time to wrap the rose filling. After wrapping them all, Xu Ruantang could barely straighten her back.
This job looks simple, but it's actually very complicated. Xu Ruantang finally realized how difficult it is for a pastry chef. It's still better to be in school!
All of them were baked in a large pot at once, filling the air with a rich rose fragrance.
Xu Ruantang put some on a plate and gave it to Chen Ji and Xu Hanli to try.
After being brainwashed by Cai Geda, Xu Hanli now has full confidence in Xu Ruantang's cooking skills.
"You made this from wildflowers you picked?!" Xu Hanli exclaimed in disbelief.
Xu Ruantang proudly raised her chin, "Yes, it's made from wildflowers. Didn't you say wildflowers aren't edible? Try it and see if you can eat it."
Xu Hanli looked at the two round, plump cakes with crusts so crispy they crumbled at the touch, and swallowed hard.
And you know what? It smells really good!
He couldn't wait to pick one up and take a bite. It was sweet and soft, and he could even chew on large pieces of flower petals.
Xu Hanli had eaten flowers before, but the fragrance of flower petals was too strong and cloying. He had never thought that fresh flowers could be used as food.
Now made into pancakes, they have a delicate texture and a sweet and refreshing taste. I couldn't help but eat three in one go before reluctantly stopping.
Xu Hanli praised it generously, giving it a thumbs up. "Delicious! Really delicious! Comrade Xu, this is the first time in my life I've ever had such delicious pastries!"
When he ate the first one, Chen Ji also picked one up and tried it.
Chen Ji, who has never liked sweets, unknowingly finished a whole flower cake.
However, he was always reserved and wouldn't express his affection as directly as Xu Hanli, so he didn't say anything after finishing his meal.
Everyone likes to hear compliments and praise, and Xu Ruantang was no exception. She smiled at Xu Hanli and said, "I'm glad you like it. I made a lot, so you can pack some to take back with you when you leave."
As she said this, Xu Ruantang first stared at Chen Ji, since all the materials except for the flowers belonged to Chen Ji, and his comrades were also his, so naturally they had to be approved by him.
Chen Ji understood the questioning look in her eyes and nodded.
Xu Ruantang was relieved and left. She planned to send some over to Aunt Wang, who would be her business partner in the future. Besides, Aunt Wang was the person she knew best in this place.
Aunt Wang was also the best to her. Xu Ruantang's life motto was: if someone is kind to her, she should repay them three times over.
Xu Ruantang carried the flower cakes out the door, and after taking only two steps, she heard footsteps behind her. She immediately stopped and turned around to look.
It was already dark, and there were no streetlights in the countryside. Xu Ruantang vaguely saw a figure, which disappeared into the cornfield next to her in the blink of an eye.
Without thinking much, Xu Ruantang walked to Aunt Wang's door, knocked on the door, and called out "Aunt Wang" twice.
Aunt Wang came out quickly, and Xu Ruantang handed her the bowl containing the flower cakes. "Auntie, I made some flower cakes. Take them home and try them."
"Xiao Xu, your aunt doesn't have anything good to give you, you're so embarrassed."
After spending a few days with her, Aunt Wang grew to like the girl very much. She was hardworking, quick-witted, and pretty.
If this were her daughter-in-law, she would be overjoyed.
Aunt Wang couldn't help but think of her husband who died young. The two of them had wanted to have a daughter after Wang Jian, but he turned out to be unlucky.
"Auntie, don't be so polite with me. I've already told you I'll need your help in the future. If you keep being so formal, it'll make us feel distant."
Xu Ruantang smiled broadly, while Aunt Wang's eyes were a little red.
Thinking about it, she still felt that her daughter was considerate, so she quickly nodded in agreement: "Yes, Auntie won't stand on ceremony with you. If Xiao Chen needs anything, you can come to Auntie anytime. Auntie has everything here!"
"Okay." Xu Ruantang was about to leave when Aunt Wang called out to her, "Is Xiao Chen's guest staying overnight tonight?"
Xu Ruantang thought for a moment, realizing that Xu Hanli and Chen Ji had drunk so much that they couldn't leave even if they wanted to, and nodded, "Yes, that should be it."
"You only have one room, how are you going to stay?" Aunt Wang asked sincerely.
Xu Ruantang had no idea that she couldn't very well sleep in the kitchen...
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