“Snatching a job.”

Cheng Yun borrowed a complete jar of maltose from Aunt Wang’s home. He used chopsticks to roll two sticks of sweet, one for Chen Yan and one for Yang Hongjin, as if he had been coaxing kids. Then he rapidly retreated into the kitchen to tinker round.

He blended the beforehand separated cream with the maltose and heated it slowly in a pot over low warmth. He held a spoon and stored stirring constantly.

After about fifteen minutes of simmering, the combination within the pot regularly thickened. Cheng Yun continued stirring for some time, and shortly the sunshine yellow combination reached a state the place it may coat and grasp on the spoon.

He poured the beforehand crushed nuts into the syrup and continued stirring. As soon as the syrup thickened additional, he turned off the warmth, poured the syrup with nuts into an oiled material, and positioned it outdoors the window to chill.

With the expertise from the primary try, Cheng Yun didn’t look forward to the nougat to chill utterly this time. Whereas it nonetheless retained a bit of heat, he introduced it again for chopping into items.

In contrast to the primary time when the nougat turned onerous and shattered upon chopping, this time the feeling resembled the nougat Cheng Yun had tasted earlier than. It was comfortable with a chewy texture, but not overly sticky.

He picked up a bit, tasted it, and located that the nougat with maltose was a bit teeth-sticking, however nonetheless acceptable., whereas the nougat with nut fragments was candy however not overwhelming, carrying a touch of milky perfume. The extra he chewed, the extra he may style its aroma.

Despite the fact that this nougat wasn’t excellent, contemplating the period, it was a novel creation. With slightly refinement, it may grow to be a superb deal with!

Having resolved this important concern, Cheng Yun fortunately reduce the remaining nougat into items. He picked up a bit and put it into Yang Hongjin’s mouth.

Yang Hongjin obediently ate it, chewed for some time, and Cheng Yun requested him the way it tasted.

As at all times, Yang Hongjin gave his assist, smacking his lips just a few occasions and saying, “Scrumptious!”

Cheng Yun felt that this man’s opinions held little worth, so he took the remaining items to the principle room for Chen Yan to style too.

Chen Yan had simply completed chopping a big radish and neatly organized the reduce items.

Cheng Yun glanced on the association and mentally labeled Chen Yan as “meticulous.” He positioned the nougat in entrance of him and stated, “Come on, take a break from what you’re doing and do this newly made nougat. Share your ideas?”

Curiously, Chen Yan picked up a bit and put it in his mouth.

The crispy and aromatic nuts, blended with the aroma of maltose, faintly carrying a touch of milk perfume. It’s a bit tough to eat at first, however as you chew, the flavour lingers and turns into increasingly satisfying.

Chen Yan’s eyes brightened, a glance of nice shock in his gaze. “It’s actually scrumptious!”

“Is there something that you just discover missing?” Primarily based on Chen Yan’s speech and look, Cheng Yun assumed he got here from a rich household. He believed Chen Yan’s opinions had been worthwhile supposing what he ate up to now will need to have been wonderful. “Is there something you suppose may very well be improved?”

Chen Yan swallowed the primary piece and blushed barely, saying, “Can I’ve one other one?”

Cheng Yun naturally agreed.

So, Chen Yan took one other piece. This time he ate extra rigorously, chewing slowly and analyzing, “It’s a bit sticky on the enamel, chewing requires some effort. Hmm… Did you add cream to it? If the milk perfume had been a bit stronger, the style is likely to be even higher.”

After ending, he ate one other one and paused earlier than including, “After all, this sweet ranks among the many finest I’ve ever had. Despite the fact that it’s a bit robust to chew, it doesn’t diminish its deliciousness.”

“What had been the candies you’ve had earlier than like?” Cheng Yun requested.

Chen Yan reminisced, “Largely particular person items of rock sugar, additionally sugar-coated haws and sugar collectible figurines. There was additionally maltose just like the one simply now, however I’ve by no means seen this type of comfortable sweet.”

His description matched Cheng Yun’s hypothesis; these had been the frequent candies bought on the streets.

As he listened, Cheng Yun contemplated the right way to enhance. He requested, “What if we added some coconut shreds or several types of nuts?”

Chen Yan thought for a second, “In comparison with melon seeds, I want almonds and peanuts. If you happen to used these two, the sweet can be extra aromatic and crispy, and I would really like it much more. As for coconut shreds…” Chen Yan thought for a second, “I personally imagine it’d have an effect on the maltose’s perfume. Mixing it with the milk perfume, the three flavors would possibly cancel one another out. However I don’t actually understand how it might end up. Nevertheless, I actually just like the style of the sweet as it’s now.”

Chen Yan used the phrase “like” a number of occasions, indicating that the nougat was at the moment successful, with room for enchancment.

Cheng Yun was happy with this analysis. He left the remaining nougat for Chen Yan to get pleasure from. He turned his head to see Yang Hongjin, who seemed considerably resentful. Cheng Yun pulled him into the kitchen and promised to make him a brand new batch. Solely then did Yang Hongjin cease sulking.

With a uncommon sense of fondness, Chen Yan took one other small piece and put aside the remaining for later enjoyment. He actually loved this sweet, not like any he had tried earlier than. He had at all times had a candy tooth since he was younger, and he related the sweetness with happiness. However concerning the previous…

He shook his head, attempting to push away such ideas.

Sounds of intermittent laughter got here from the kitchen. Though it wasn’t completely clear, it introduced a way of inexplicable consolation.

The country cottage appeared easy, but it was infused with the care of its proprietor. Chen Yan gently touched his stomach and felt lucky to have discovered this household. He was residing effectively right here and solely wished for a peaceable and protected supply of his youngster within the days to return.

After that, Cheng Yun made 4 or 5 extra makes an attempt. Every time, he obtained higher till all of the borrowed maltose was gone. This marked the top of the day’s experimentation.

With out ready-made coconut shreds available, he couldn’t take a look at the impact of including coconut to the nougat. Nevertheless, following Chen Yan’s suggestion, he lowered the quantity of maltose syrup and elevated the quantity of cream. There have been nonetheless many nuts left from his earlier preparations, so he used them to experiment as effectively.

To be able to introduce totally different textures, Cheng Yun additionally crushed just a few leftover dried plums that he had used for making bitter plum soup. He blended these with the crushed nuts to switch the dried strawberries within the strawberry-flavored nougat of later generations.

He gave the ready nougat to Chen Yan for tasting. Ultimately, those that stood out had been essentially the most fragrant with cream and those with the most important items of nuts, in addition to those with added dried plums.

These two look a bit just like the nougat that Cheng Yun had eaten. If there have been extra supplies available, he may create much more variations.

Chen Yan seemed on the a number of nougats in entrance of him and couldn’t assist however admire Cheng Yun from the underside of his coronary heart.

Within the morning, he was extraordinarily hungry, and although the bowl of porridge he had gulped down was simply plain meat porridge, the style was wonderful.

At the moment, Chen Yan thought that he was very hungry, so the porridge tasted extremely scrumptious, however now it appeared that Cheng Yun was naturally higher at cooking than others.

Chen Yan all of a sudden grew to become curious concerning the function of the radish items he was chopping. With Cheng Yun’s skillful arms, they could grow to be one other type of delicacy!

Throughout lunch, Chen Yan’s curiosity was confirmed as soon as once more.

On account of having a pregnant Ge’er at dwelling, Cheng Yun didn’t dare to prepare dinner spicy dishes anymore. After spending the morning making nougats, he didn’t have the vitality to make extra complicated dishes. So, he casually picked some greens from the yard, stir-fried a vegetarian dish, and steamed the leftover hen from the day earlier than. A easy but nutritious answer for his or her meal.

To the current Cheng Yun and Yang Hongjin, these dishes are unusual facet dishes, no higher than those at Yueqiong Tower. Nevertheless, in Chen Yan’s eyes, they had been unexpectedly scrumptious.

Up to now, he had heard from the nannies round him that farmers’ households may solely afford meat just a few occasions a 12 months. Consuming meat as soon as a month was thought-about good, and one egg may substitute for a meat dish. Households that had been barely higher off may sometimes increase their very own chickens or geese for some further protein.

The physique of a younger Ge’er isn’t as sturdy as that of a person, however males have to work within the fields because the spine of the household. Except the Ge’er is pregnant and wishes nourishment, typically, the meat dishes at dwelling are reserved for the boys throughout common occasions.

Though Chen Yan had by no means skilled a time when he couldn’t have meat to eat, he had at all times heard these tales from nannies at dwelling. After listening to them repeatedly, it created a hard and fast impression about rural males and Ge’ers in his thoughts. He even thought that he would possibly go with out meat within the close to future and that his youngster in his abdomen would endure.

Nevertheless, coming to Cheng Yun’s place, not solely did he have meat in each meal, however Cheng Yun’s cooking expertise had been additionally distinctive. Even with easy substances, he may fire up extremely scrumptious flavors. Chen Yan practically swallowed his tongue in delight.

After devouring the meals, he realized that he had proven a very enthusiastic look of starvation in entrance of outsiders. Taking a look at Cheng Yun and his husband, who had been taking a look at him in shock, Chen Yan’s face turned barely purple.

Cheng Yun was momentarily bowled over earlier than comforting him with a smile, “If it’s not sufficient, there’s extra. Take your time to eat. Though our household may not be rich, we’re snug sufficient, and your baby in your stomach gained’t go hungry.”

It could have been fantastic if Cheng Yun didn’t say something, however as quickly as he did, Chen Yan’s face turned even redder. He nodded and virtually lowered his chin to his chest.

After the meal, Chen Yan hurried to tidy up, desirous to make up for consuming a lot scrumptious meals. Nevertheless, this was normally Yang Hongjin’s job, and he was afraid of it being taken away. When he noticed Chen Yan beginning to clear up, he rapidly held onto his bowl tightly.

“Bro-Brother Yang, let me do it,” Chen Yan stated timidly when dealing with Yang Hongjin.

Nevertheless, Yang Hongjin wouldn’t budge an inch. “I did this!”

“It’s okay,” not understanding Yang Hongjin’s ideas, Chen Yan’s naive intention was to contribute one thing, “l-let me do it, you’ll be able to relaxation.”

“I gained’t!” Yang Hongjin discovered this younger Ge’er actually annoying. Not solely did he occupy his spouse’s consideration, eat his sweet, however now he even wished to grab the duty of cleansing up the dishes and chopsticks. Why didn’t his spouse throw him out already?

As Cheng Yun emerged from the kitchen, he noticed the confrontation between the 2. After listening to a few sentences, he found out what was taking place. If somebody didn’t know the context, they’d suppose they had been preventing over some valuable treasure.

He walked up and patted Chen Yan’s hand, then smiled and stated, “It’s alright, let him deal with it. He’s used to it and is afraid you’ll take credit score from him.”

“Huh?” Chen Yan seemed confused.

Then, within the subsequent second, he noticed Cheng Yun seem to reprimand however truly talking with indulgence and tolerance towards Yang Hongjin, “You, actually, preventing with others like this, isn’t that embarrassing?”

Yang Hongjin glanced at Chen Yan, lifted his chin with a triumphant air, and flippantly uttered a “hmph.”

Creator’s word:

Yang Hongjin: I really like working, working makes me comfortable.