Book 9 Chapter 6 - Beauty As Fair As Jade
Sweet aroma from the pastry kitchen permeated the whole place.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at the new strange-looking cake they pan-fried with butter, both were radiant with delight. But when the former scooped up some, the cake, which aroma was so tempting, torn apart immediately. The two boys wanted to cry, but they had no tears.
They have worked hard all afternoon, but until the sun set over the western hills, they still did not have any cakes.
The most annoying thing was that Liang Qian, Big Sister Fu and Lan Gu repeatedly sent their people to urge them, adding urgency to this matter.
The good ol' cake seemed to give them more headaches than Wanwan.
Kou Zhong said, "We might as well make these cake ingredients as stuffing, wrap it in dough mixed with bean flour. After flattening it, we'll use peeled sesame seed to pick it up and evenly deep fry its egg in the wok; I guarantee it will be sweet smelling, crispy and tasty.”
Xu Ziling crossly said, "What's the difference from ‘molded flaky pastry' then? We'd better use the steamer basket; after heating the spices, it will also emit sweet aroma without compromising its natural flavor.”
This moment Lan Gu entered the kitchen. Feigning surprise look, she said, "What's that in the ladle? Are you going to make deep-fried cake, or thin porridge?”
Kou Zhong struggled hard to restrain the fire in his belly; he glowered at Lan Gu, making the latter immediately felt chill all over her body, so that she was trembling uncontrollably. Like a defeated hen she went out obediently.
Regaining his composure, Kou Zhong said, "Perhaps we should separately try pan fry, deep fry, roast, and steam, four different methods, making four different cakes. As long as there is one that that poniang [woman (derog.), b1tch; see Book 1] think it's tasty, won't we be able to redeem our face? Once I think about Lan Gu, that b1tch, I feel like we should not lose this battle.”
Xu Ziling agreed, "Let me make some deep-fried pancake with fresh savory taro flavor. You think about the other three flavors.”
This moment Xiao Juan came; the two boys hurriedly pleaded with her to get more ingredients.
By the time the two boys sat down, both mentally and physically exhausted, four different new cakes emerged.
Xiao Juan clapped and cheers. Picking the tray up, she said, "I'll take this to Fu Dajie. Mmm! Smells really good! Just by looking at them I know they sweet, crispy and tasty.”
The two boys sprang up at once. One on her left, the other on her right, they walked out with her.
Stunned, Xiao Juan halted her steps, "What are you doing?”
Kou Zhong laughed and said, "Such a precious thing, how can we not escort it personally? If someone should add any strange material to it along the way, won't we be finished?”
Xiao Juan laughed tenderly and said, "It is well covered; how could anybody play a trick? Who would have such guts? But if you want to roam around, just come with nujia [I, your servant] then.”
A shadow flashed, Liang Qian barred their way, and said crossly, "I have not tasted it, where are you taking it?”
Sticking out her silky breasts, Xiao Juan said, "This is Fu Dajie's order; as soon as it is done, I must bring it to Changzhu while it is still warm. It's none of your business.”
Obviously Liang Qian was rather afraid of Big Sister Fu; as soon he heard that, he was stunned and could only stare blankly.
Lan Gu's voice was heard from the side, "You two forgot the rules? Who gave you permission to roam around randomly?”
Xu Ziling replied indifferently, "We are people who abide by the rules, right now we have Xiao Juan Jie leading the way, how can it be regarded as roaming around randomly?”
The three people boldly marched forward, leaving the angry-until-their-faces-were-devoid-of-any-color Liang Qian and Lan Gu standing behind.
Ranch Master Shang Xiuxun's residence was called the Flying Horse Courtyard, located in the middle of the Inner Castle. It consisted of more than thirty buildings, surrounded by wind-and-fire wall all around, constructed of brick and wood.
The two boys followed Xiao Juan into the courtyard via the back door, passing through a nine-bend corridor attached to the buildings. As they walked along, their eyes feasted on garden sceneries, one seemed to be more beautiful from another. Far and near the buildings were of different heights, strewn at random among the wooded area, a picture of elegance and rustic blended in harmony.
The most unique aspect was that due to the manor's elevation, occasionally they were able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful pasture below the Flying Horse City extending endlessly into the distance. Under the dim light of the crescent moon, it looked even more serene and peaceful.
Along the way, they encountered numerous maids, servants and mansion guards; all were staring at them politely, but with Xiao Juan, a maid close to their Ranch Master, leading the way, plus the two boys were wearing pastry chef attire, everybody knew that they were the newcomers and thus nobody was giving them any trouble.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were not people who had not seen the world, but seeing the hall and the other main buildings construction, their style and raised beam type and the roof beam structure, with their fitting delicately carved eaves beam components and the gorgeously ever-changing trim of the corridors, which strengthened the sense of depth, the landscape garden lining it, has sparked the penetrating, serene feeling hidden deep within their hearts.
The three of them walked through gates and passed doors, sometimes one or two atriums and winding corridors, until finally Xiao Juan took them into a reception hall. Putting the cakes down on a round table, she said, "You sit here for a moment, I going to notify Fu Dajie.”
After Xiao Juan left, Xu Ziling sat down quietly, while Kou Zhong looked around everywhere. He looked at the western garden scenery outside the window on the other side of the room; he also looked at the structure of the buildings, as well as leaning out of the window to look at the adjacent room, which happened to be a study room.
The study room was furnished with mahogany furniture; there were Four Treasures of the Study on the table [i.e. brush, ink stick, paper and ink-stone]. Leaning against the wall was a shelf full of antique knickknacks. Under the illumination of a palace-style lantern, he could see a roll of rhyming couplet hanging on one side of the wall, on it were written ‘There is delight in the Five Confucian relationships [ruler-subject,
It was not that they did not have the courage; rather, deep down they were afraid to know the answer, especially recalling Lan Gu's loathsome look.