W Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Steamed Buns

In the evening, the old dough starter had fermented nicely.

In the meantime, Ling Xing had filtered the wood ash solution he had prepared earlier multiple times.

Ling Xing took the dough starter and lye solution to prepare the dough. When he poured out the flour, Shen Lai stood beside him, staring eagerly at the earthenware basin filled with flour.

Ling Xing said with a smile, “Little Five, on your birthday, no matter what, your brother-husband will make you a bowl of good noodles to eat. So today, I won’t save any of this flour. I’m going to make steamed buns andmantou, a type of steamed bun, and everyone can try them together, okay?”

Shen Lai was already prepared that he definitely wouldn’t have noodles to eat on his birthday. He didn’t expect Ling Xing to not only remember but also promise him.

This made Shen Lai’s nose feel a little sore, and he hugged Ling Xing and rubbed against him, “Brother-husband, you’re really too good!”

“Alright, don’t delay your brother-husband from working. Come down quickly.”

Xu Youfang smiled and pulled Shen Lai off Ling Xing, not letting Shen Lai watch the detailed process.

The dough needed to ferment for a while. It could be steamed tonight, but it definitely wouldn’t be ready for dinner.

After eating the flour paste, there wasn’t much work to do at home. Shen Chengshan and Shen Gui helped Shen Hui make steaming racks together.

Cao Manyue took the two children to clean the house, and Xu Youfang stuffed a winnowing basket of soybeans to Shen Lai, asking him to pick out the bad ones.

Ling Xing was preparing the tofu filling, chopping the tofu into small pieces, filling a little over half of an earthenware basin.

There weren’t many seasonings at home, not even scallions. He hadn’t started planting them yet.

There was only coarse salt and a little bit of lard.

Ling Xing re-ground the coarse salt to make it finer and added it to the tofu, along with a little lard, and mixed it well.

At least it would have some flavor.

The dough had fermented for an hour. When he lifted the cloth, it was more than twice the original size.

Xu Youfang on the side watched in surprise.

“How did this dough get bigger on its own?”

Shen Lai felt curious and also came over to take a look, “Brother-husband, could it be that you know immortal magic?”

Ling Xing moved the dough onto the kneading board, sprinkling flour on it, specially reserved for this purpose, to prevent the dough from sticking.

“It’s because I added the dough starter. As long as it’s dough, adding it will make it bigger.”

After explaining it to the two of them, Ling Xing began to knead the dough.

Xu Youfang and Shen Lai understood that it was the dough and wood ash water from last night that made the dough grow bigger on its own.

But they were still amazed in their hearts. They didn’t expect that wood ash water to actually be useful. When they first saw Ling Xing soaking the wood ash water, saying that it would be used to make steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun, she was still worried that these steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun wouldn’t be edible.

But now, the dough not only grew bigger but also seemed to have become a lot whiter, as if half of refined white flour had been mixed in. In that case, how much flour would be saved? Customers would definitely like it when selling.

At this moment, Xu Youfang was already beginning to feel that this business had potential, instead of supporting Ling Xing solely to make amends, and agreeing to take care of Ling Xing for Shen Hai’s sake, like before.

Ling Xing worked quickly, sooncuō, to twist or rub with the hands the dough into a long strip and divided it into evenly sized dough portions.

Then, using the Shen family’s homemade rolling pin, he slightly rolled them out and wrapped the buns.

After using up the filling, the remaining dough was directly rolled into mantou, a type of steamed bun.

The family had bamboo slats, specially placed in earthenware pots to hold things for steaming.

Iron pots existed before the dynasty, but due to the war, the imperial court strictly controlled iron. In recent years, it had loosened a lot, and ordinary people could add iron implements again.

But the Shen family was poor and had no money to buy iron pots, so they could only use earthenware pots.

This pot could also be used, but you had to be careful when using it. The fire couldn’t be too big. And you couldn’t add cold water to a hot pot, otherwise, a big hole could leak in the bottom of the pot.

Ling Xing knew how to cook with iron pots, but not earthenware pots.

In case he burned the family’s only earthenware pot, Xu Youfang would be in charge of the fire.

The bamboo slats were filled with steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun, which were round and looked especially beautiful.

Shen Lai had wanted to try his hand earlier, but he knew his hands were clumsy and didn’t want to ruin the flour, so he just thought about it in his heart.

After covering it with a large bamboo-woven pot lid, Ling Xing went to the water tank to fetch water and wash his hands.

Earthenware pots conduct heat slowly, and the fire was small, so the cooking speed was naturally slower.

After washing his hands, Ling Xing stayed by the pot, occasionally lifting the lid to check the condition of the steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun inside.

At the same time, he also kept track of how long it would take to steam well using an earthenware pot.

After about half an hour, when Ling Xing lifted the lid again, a bright smile appeared on his face, “It’s done! It’s ready to come out of the pot!”

Xu Youfang removed the firewood, extinguishing the unburned wood and piling it aside.

Ling Xing used chopsticks to pick up the steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun. Because there was no hemp clothdiàn, a pad on the bamboo slats, the bottoms were sticky with the bamboo slats.

When he picked them up, the outer skin was torn to some extent.

Fortunately, this was for the family to eat, so a little tear in the skin didn’t matter.

If they were to be sold, it would be best to avoid this as much as possible.

Ever since the pot lid was lifted, Shen Lai’s eyes and nose had been stuck to the pot.

How could this white, plump thing, full of wheat aroma, look and smell so delicious!

The flour looked a little grayish before, but after it was made, it wasn’t as gray as it looked. It was still relatively white, but it was definitely not as white as refined white flour.

But that didn’t prevent the pure wheat aroma. The kitchen was now full of steaming wheat aroma.

Xu Youfang’s gaze fell on the steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun in the pot, and her face was also full of joy. Not to mention how it tasted, it looked very good.

It was much whiter than ordinary wheat flour steamed buns, and the wheat aroma was also very strong.

Xu Youfang was becoming increasingly convinced that Ling Xing could really do this business well, instead of supporting Ling Xing solely to make amends and agreeing to take care of Ling Xing for Shen Hai’s sake, like before.

After the steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun had cooled slightly, she asked Shen Lai to call people to the kitchen to taste the flavor while it was still hot.

If the taste was also good, maybe this business could really be done.

Ling Xing picked up a large earthenware basin of steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun. There weren’t many mantou, a type of steamed bun, only three, medium-sized.

There were thirteen steamed buns, which were very large. The main reason was that the filling was sufficient, and the flour had good extensibility, so none of them had broken skin or exposed filling.

Shen Lai was eager to eat delicious food and couldn’t sit still long ago. At this moment, after hearing Xu Youfang’s words, he quickly ran out of the kitchen to call people.

Before long, the kitchen was crowded with people.

The room was still warm from steaming the mantou, a type of steamed bun and buns, and it was even warmer after more people came in.

Ling Xing divided one steamed bun for each person, leaving four aside.

There were only three mantou, a type of steamed bun, so each person could only break off a little to taste the flavor.

The Shen family members each held a large steamed bun and a small piece of mantou, a type of steamed bun that wasn’t enough for two bites. After Shen Chengshan started eating, the family also lowered their heads to eat.

Shen Xiaochun and Shen Xiaxia had never eaten such good things. When the soft steamed buns were placed in their hands, they were a little afraid to take them.

This was a good thing made of good flour. Could they really get a whole one?

The two children’s first reaction was not happiness, but a little nervous and uneasy as they looked at Cao Manyue.

After seeing Cao Manyue nod, they realized they could be happy.

When they bit into the steamed bun and tasted the flavor, they couldn’t stop. They didn’t care that the filling was still hot and couldn’t stop eating.

Compared to the two children, Shen Lai’s eating appearance was completely like a puppy pouncing on food, very fierce.

He hummed as he ate. You had to listen carefully to understand that he was saying it was delicious in a mumble.

Shen Gui wasn’t much better. Although he was a golden and jade noble young master before the age of three, he had no memory of it.

In his memory, the best thing he ate was maltose.

Later, he couldn’t even eat that.

The dough was soft because of fermentation. If you chewed the dough more, you could even taste some sweetness.

He only regretted that there were too few steamed buns. One was not enough to satisfy his craving, but instead aroused morechán, greedy worms.

After taking a couple of bites, Cao Manyue also liked it very much. But she didn’t eat any more but gave the rest to the two children and Shen Gui to share.

Shen Gui really liked to eat. He couldn’t resist a little temptation.

He accepted the little bit that Cao Manyue gave him.

There was no way, he waschán, greedy.

But after biting half of it, Shen Gui stuffed the rest back to Cao Manyue, “Wife, you eat it.”

Cao Manyue had a smile on her face and looked up a little embarrassedly. Seeing that no one was watching her, she took the little steamed bun from Shen Gui’s hand.

mantou, a type of steamed bun didn’t have any filling, but because it was soft enough, and the texture was tight and dense, it was a little sweet when chewed dry, and it was also very popular.

Xu Youfang and Shen Chengshan had eaten good things, but they had to say that these steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun were not worse than the good things they used to eat.

Especially this dough, they didn’t know that the dough could be so soft.

When Ling Xing asked about the taste one by one, everyone praised him in unison.

At first, they didn’t really look forward to this business, but now they all believed that the business could really be done well.

Shen Hui didn’t say much. He was mixed in with the crowd and didn’t speak. Ling Xing glanced at him.

Shen Hui felt someone looking at him, raised his eyes coldly, and when he saw Ling Xing’s smiling appearance, he withdrew his gaze.

When eating the steamed buns, Ling Xing saw that Shen Hui finished eating them in two bites.

He ate very quickly, and the mantou, a type of steamed bun were the same. He swallowed them whole, and he probably didn’t taste the flavor at all when he swallowed them.

It would be strange if he could say the taste and give feedback.

After getting unanimous approval from the other members of the Shen family, Ling Xing’s pressure in his heart also lessened.

He was actually a little afraid that these would not suit the tastes of the ancients. The Shen family’s liking was not fake, good was good.

After eating, it wasn’t early, and the family prepared to go back to sleep.

If they dragged it on any longer, they would burn a lot of lamp oil, and they were reluctant to waste that lamp oil money.

Ling Xing didn’t eat his steamed bun. He specially walked beside Shen Hui, secretly stuffed it into his hand, and whispered, “Thank you for selling your hair to help me raise money. By the way, you should eat slower. Eating too fast will hurt your body, and your stomach will break down.”

After saying that, he raised his foot and quickly left, yawning and going to sleep.

Shen Hui looked at the white and plump steamed bun in his palm and stared at Ling Xing’s back again.

“Hey? Second brother, didn’t you eat your steamed bun? Can you give me a little bit to eat?”

Shen Lai, by the moonlight, caught sight of the steamed bun in Shen Hui’s hand at a glance.

Shen Hui withdrew his gaze and stuffed the steamed bun into his mouth in front of Shen Lai, raising his eyebrows, “My steamed bun, I won’t give it to anyone else to eat.”

Shen Lai looked at Shen Hui chewing the steamed bun, swallowing saliva chán, greedyly.

But he didn’t really think he could get something to eat from his second brother’s hands. His second brother was actually very generous, but he was also very protective of his food.

Simply put, unless it was something his second brother didn’t want, he would let anyone take it, no matter how precious it was.

If it was something that his second brother wanted, then no matter how lowly it was, others would never want to take it from his hands.

The steamed bun was so delicious, so it was normal for his second brother to protect his food.

There were still four steamed buns in the wooden cabinet. No matter what, he would definitely be able to eat another bite tomorrow.

Therefore, after confirming that his second brother wouldn’t give it to him, Shen Lai didn’t pester him, sucked in a mouthful of saliva, pouted, and turned around and ran away.

The aroma of that steamed bun was still enticing him, he couldn’t stay any longer.

If he couldn’t control himself and went up to grab it, his second brother wouldqiàn, to embed him into the wall.

The next morning, after Ling Xing got up, he found that Shen Chengshan and the others hadn’t left.

The people in the kitchen were sitting neatly, and it seemed like they had something to say.

Ling Xing sat next to Shen Lai. Shen Chengshan coughed and showed the aura of the head of the family, “Today, I want to talk to you about how our family will live in the future.”

Parents are alive, don’t divide the family.

This was an iron law.

But if a family really couldn’t live together, they could build a courtyard wall and separate it slightly.

But it was not possible to build a separate house and live alone.

After Shen Chengshan and Xu Youfang ate the steamed buns and mantou, a type of steamed bun made by Ling Xing yesterday, they knew that Ling Xing was really capable.

Earlier, Shen Hui, as a member of the Shen family, gave Ling Xing 800 cash. But they couldn’t let Ling Xing’s business completely belong to the Shen family because of these 800 cash.

Shen Chengshan continued, “In the past, because we had to treat eldest son’s illness, the family’s money was used in one place. Now that eldest son has passed away, your mother and I have discussed it, and everyone can save some money for themselves or for their own small family.”

“You don’t have to hand over any money you earn outside. The output of the family’s fields will be used for public use, managed by your mother, and will not be privately divided among you.”

These words made Cao Manyue’s eyes sparkle. There was a busy season every year, but there was also a slack season.

She could find work to do outside during the slack season, and how much she earned would be her own. She could save money in her hands too!

Listening to Shen Chengshan’s words, Ling Xing knew that there was a reason why he was saying these things today.

When he was talking about doing business, he had already decided to count this business as the Shen family’s.

Anyway, it would ultimately improve his living conditions.

And he also needed the protection of the Shen family.

Now, the Shen family was telling him that they didn’t want his business, but they were still a family.

Ling Xing suddenly felt that God was not bad to him either. Although his current ge’er (a third gender in the ancient society) status had many restrictions due to the times.

But fortunately, he met the Shen family.