Chapter 26： A New Year's Gift for Mr. Fan

Chapter 26 A New Year’s Gift for Mr. Fan

The younger brother Su Chengzhi fell asleep. Yang Siniang didn't dare to say anything for fear of waking him up, so she asked Su Ruojin to go out to play.

"No, I want to watch over my little brother." Su Ruojin said in a low voice, "How about you go back first, and when my mother is free, I will go and play with you."

Yang Siniang didn't have enough fun and refused to leave. There was no other way. Su Ruojin could only take a lollipop to coax her, "If I'm free this afternoon, I'll go and play with you!"

In the past, Yang Siniang would always snort and call her a liar. She said ten times that she would go play in the afternoon, but she probably only went once or twice. But today, she was really attracted by the beautiful lollipop. Her small round eyes were full of surprise: "Oh my god." Ah, Ah Jin, this little white rabbit is so pretty!”

He has a round face with a pair of cute long ears, separated by the nose. The upper half of the round face and ears are pink, the lower part to the chin is white, the eyes, triangular mouth and beard are black, and the whole face is white. The lollipop looks pink and plump, and that little lady doesn’t like it.

The most indispensable thing for making candied haws in the Su family is sugar. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, so Su Ruojin made some fruit candies and lollipops, some of which she kept for herself to eat, and some of which she gave to relatives and friends.

The fruit candies are not shaped, but they are made in several colors, such as red, green, pink, yellow and other crystal colors. One by one, they are wrapped in oil paper. They are so clear and beautiful that you won’t want to eat them; the lollipops are made in cartoon versions. The twelve zodiac signs have simple lines and bright colors. They are cute and cute in the hand. They can be kept as treasures but reluctant to eat.

When they made it the night before yesterday, the two brothers of the Su family were so curious that they wanted to hug it to sleep. Su Ruojin was so happy that she quickly told them that sugar will melt when exposed to heat. If they really don't want to eat it, they should keep it in a cold place for a few more days.

Yang Siniang grabbed the lollipop and ran out. She wanted to show off her beautiful and cute little bunny candy to everyone. Now the most dazzling little lady in Osmanthus Alley is Yang Birong!

Su Ruojin didn't know that the little kid showing off with a lollipop became a scene in Osmanthus Alley. The younger brother fell asleep, so she had something to do to coax Yang Siniang away.

After leaving her parents' bedroom, she quickly went to the study and told Su Dalang, "Brother, help me look after my little brother. I'm going to the kitchen to see how my mother's face is doing."

Su Dalang, who had helped with housework as a helper, was very puzzled as to why he had to wash noodles. He had heard of kneading, kneading, and frying noodles, but he had never heard of washing noodles. Is there such fine powder left after washing?

But he didn't show it on his face, and nodded like a little adult, letting his sister go about her business without worries. He picked up the book and went to his parents' room to read and watch his little brother.

Su Sanlang and Cheng Yingzhen were in the kitchen, and their daughter asked her to wash the flour. Cheng Yingzhen had never heard that flour had to be washed since she was a child. If it hadn't been for the fried dough sticks and steamed dumplings, her daughter would have been beaten by her.

“Mother…mother…have you washed your face?”

Cheng Yingzhen's waist was so tired that she could hardly straighten up. "Come and see..." She didn't know how the washing went, but she was just confused.

Su Ruojin took a look and saw that the heat was not enough, and there was still gluten. If she hadn't been small and weak, she would have wanted to rub it with her own hands. Seeing her mother's sad face, she puffed up her little mouth in embarrassment, "Not yet... not qualified... "

Su Yanli was folding paper bags next door. When he heard his daughter's voice, he said to Feng Wangtian who was pressing the hawthorn slices, "I'll go over there."

"Official, you go and do your work. I did this job easily." Facing the young official, Feng Wangtian was always cautious. He always felt that there was a hill pressing down on him, and he wished that the official would not take advantage of him. Hands, he felt at ease when he had to do all these tasks alone.

Su Yanli nodded and left.

Feng Wangtian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and instantly felt at ease. He subconsciously walked towards the door and looked towards the kitchen. He then remembered what the young lady who left with the lollipop said. I don’t know what kind of servant Su Daguan was looking for. , if possible... He was stunned for a while, and suddenly woke up, hey, hurry up and work. If you make more, you can sell it for more money, and he flattened the slices with a pair of hands.

In the kitchen, Su Yanli washed her hands and followed her daughter's instructions to scrub the flour vigorously. She did not stop until her daughter was satisfied.

After washing, the flour was precipitated and dried... It was already past the New Year when it turned into flour. It was about to celebrate the New Year, and the New Year's gift for Mr. Fan was not ready yet. Cheng Yingzhen was anxious: "Otherwise, just in time Four things to buy outside?”

“Mom, I’ve made the other three items, except for the last cake.”

Cheng Yingzhen always felt that the gifts prepared by her daughter were too few and she couldn't handle them. "Why don't we buy a large leg of lamb, go to Fangweizhai to get two boxes of snacks, and buy some fine wine?" She looked towards Husband, "Guanren, what do you think?"

Su Yanli smiled slightly and said, "Ajin has prepared three items, only the last box is missing..."

Su Ruojin continued: "Crystal Osmanthus Cake."

When everyone saw the crystal clear finished product, they were all stunned.

Cheng Yingzhen thought it was troublesome when making it, but even in the uncle's house, she had never seen such exquisite cakes: "The flour has become transparent, and the golden honey and osmanthus inside can be clearly seen. It is simply too delicate."

Su Ruojin raised her chin proudly, "That's why we need to wash the flour."

Separate the gluten in the flour from other substances, turn the gluten into gluten, and the rest is Chengfen. Chengfen is also called Chengmian, Tingfen, and wheat starch. It is the secret to making various snacks and making them transparent and crystal clear. .

The four gifts were placed on the table of the Eight Immortals. Cheng Yingzhen was still a little unsure, "Will the officials look too small?"

Su Yanli smiled: "Master Fan is the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He has never seen anything before. What we are giving is not high or low, but something novel."

“What if Mr. Fan doesn’t like this novelty?”

Su Ruojin spread her hands: "Anyway, dad doesn't have any banknotes or treasures to give away, so the farewell is the same."

How could this kid belittle Master Fan like this?

Su Yanli stretched out his hand and tapped the melon seeds on his daughter's forehead, "Officials in court, please don't talk nonsense."

"Yes, Dad." Su Ruojin grinned, showing her small white teeth, "Dad, when are you going to pay back the money for Mr. Fan and give him the gift?"

Su Yanli replied, "I asked Shutong to send the greeting card to Mr. Fan's house two days ago, so let's do it tomorrow!"

“Tomorrow, the breakfast stall will be closed. Let Brother Ershi go to the temple to set up a stall for Uncle Shu and Tong. He will just send you there.”

Su Yanli thought the same way. It didn't matter what he did at home, no one would see him anyway, but when he went out, especially to pay homage to a superior, he still had to have a servant by his side, otherwise an eighth-grade official would be too shameless. These customs are inevitable when you are born in the world and become an official.

Su Yanli likes to touch her daughter’s furry little head. “Do you want to go with dad?”

Su Ruojin shook her head: "No, I made an appointment with Ah Rong. If the weather is good tomorrow, I will play shuttlecock with her in the alley."

As the Chinese New Year approaches, adults become busier, but children have more free time to play wildly. As a six-year-old lady, Su Ruojin is ready to enjoy her childhood and does not want to deal with the sophistication of the officialdom.

On the second day of the twelfth lunar month, the twenty-sixth day, Su Yanli was dressed new, and Shu Tong took the mule and sent him to Fan Mansion.

Cheng Yingzhen stood under the corridor. It wasn't until her husband left the courtyard that she said worriedly: "I wonder if your father can see Mr. Fan?"

(End of this chapter)