Ding Baozhu tilted her head and saw that it was Yao Dan coming over. She had no reason to prevent others from entering, and as soon as that fragrance wafted out, Yao Dan knew that something delicious was almost ready, so she naturally gravitated toward the smell.
Ding Baozhu said with a smile, “When my father and I went to town today, we passed a stall selling yellow sparrows, so I bought two to try and cook them to satisfy a craving.”
Ding Shao was a poultry farmer, so he naturally knew that yellow sparrows were cheaper than chickens or ducks. Most people used them as a substitute to satisfy their cravings for meat, though many still couldn’t even afford the substitute.
Yao Dan understood this as well and didn’t say much more, smiling as she replied, “That’s wonderful. Your Third Uncle really enjoyed that Mustard Spicy Pork Tripe you sent over yesterday. I specifically went to see if there was any tripe for sale this morning and managed to pick out a good piece. I’m going to try making it your way.”
Actually, what Ding Shao had been so eager to tell Baozhu that day was that he had made a profit after selling his goods in town, but he had been interrupted by Yao Dan. Later, after eating the small bowl of Mustard Spicy Pork Tripe sent by Ding Baozhu, he couldn’t stop praising it. He handed over all the money he had earned just so she could go buy more tripe.
Because of this, she had bought tripe today. Having watched the entire preparation process before, she felt she could manage to replicate it.
Ding Baozhu nodded. “Then you go ahead and get busy, Third Aunt. I’ll bring the dishes out first.”
However, even after finishing the yellow sparrows, she wasn’t done yet. Or rather, the most important part was still unfinished. She took her materials and went back into the kitchen.
Entering, she found Yao Dan working quite capably; after all, Yao Dan had been cooking much longer than she had. As soon as Ding Baozhu took out the glutinous rice flour, Yao Dan saw it and asked, “Eldest Niece, are you going to make pastries too?”
While they could occasionally eat something with a bit of meat, pastries were considered an optional luxury. Unless it was the New Year, a festival, or a child begged for them, they almost never ate such things.
Had the Second Branch made some money recently?
Ding Baozhu made up a casual excuse and smiled. “I saw it in town and bought it along with everything else. My younger sisters rarely get to eat such things, so I’m making some today for them to try.”
Yao Dan didn’t say anything more after hearing this, but she felt suspicious in her heart: It seems this eldest daughter of the Second Branch has truly become a different person. Or could it be that the marriage arrangement with the Xu family is back on, and she’ll be marrying out soon?
Seeing that Yao Dan had fallen silent, Ding Baozhu began her preparation.
She first took out a small portion of the freshly ground glutinous rice flour and set it aside. She mixed the rest with starch and bean oil, stirring until she was sure there were no lumps. Then, she placed it into the pot where the rice was steaming to steam together. By the time the rice was done, the glutinous rice dough would be nearly finished as well.
Yao Dan also quickly finished cooking her family’s meal. Since there were only three people in her household, two dishes were enough, and she worked fast.
While waiting for the glutinous rice dough to cool, Ding Baozhu stir-fried the small portion of reserved glutinous rice flour until it was cooked and set it aside. Then, she began kneading the dough.
Just like kneading bread dough, she occasionally drizzled a little oil on it until it became resilient and stretchy. She continued to pull and roll it until it became a long, uniform rope of dough.
She flattened it out, wrapped it around a filling that had also been rolled into a strip, and sealed it. She then sprinkled the cooked rice flour over the top—this was the method for making Liang Gao (Cold Cakes).
Ding Baozhu made one roll with jujube paste and another with red bean filling. She found a piece of silk thread and used it to divide the rolls into equal pieces. The amount produced from half a catty of glutinous rice flour was enough to stack into a very neat pyramid.
Ding Baozhu turned the plate a few times to admire her work before carrying the two plates of Liang Gao back to the main room.
To her surprise, Ding Hong and Ding Baozhen had already returned. When they saw her carrying two plates of Liang Gao, their eyes widened. On the table, the prepared yellow sparrows were still emitting a faint heat.
Seeing this, Ding Baoqin clapped her hands in joy. “That’s great, Big Sister! You finally finished! Can I try one now?”
Liu Ping was about to go to the kitchen to serve the rice. Hearing this, she advised, “We’re eating in a moment. Eating snacks will bloat your stomach. Wait until after dinner.”
Ding Baoqin had no choice but to agree, resting her chin on the table as she continued to stare at the treats.
Ding Hong asked in surprise, “I thought you bought these in town and was wondering why you bought so many. I didn’t expect you to make them yourself!”
Cooking a meal was one thing—many girls learned to cook early on—but in their minds, pastries and similar foods were very delicate and sophisticated. Furthermore, the two plates Ding Baozhu had brought out looked at least as good as those sold in town!
Ding Baozhu smiled. “Dad, I walked around town today and saw stalls making and selling pastries on the spot. Since I had some change left over from what you gave me, I thought I’d buy some ingredients and try making them myself. I haven’t even tasted them yet. You all should try them in a bit.”
These words sounded reasonable enough, so Ding Hong didn’t think much more of it. He smiled and said, “Alright, we’ll all eat them later.”
Liu Ping brought over a bowl of coarse rice and some pickled vegetables. Having worked all day, Ding Hong had already picked up his bowl and started eating. Once he moved his chopsticks, the others followed suit.
The two yellow sparrows were quickly divided. After learning that Ding Baozhu had bought and cooked them, Ding Hong picked up a piece of the fried bird meat and put it in his mouth. He found the skin to be crispy and the meat inside extremely tender. As he chewed, a fresh, delicious juice seemed to burst out, filling his mouth with fragrance.
He smacked his lips and couldn’t help but say, “This fried bird is really suited to go with some wine…”
Liu Ping glared at him upon hearing this. “You already drank yesterday. You’re not allowed today.”
As she spoke, she placed the three bird legs into her three daughters’ bowls.
Ding Baozhen and Ding Baoqin received the ones cooked in thick sauce. Ever since eating that stir-fried tripe with sour radishes, they no longer had any doubts about the food Ding Baozhu made and started eating immediately.
The skin was coated in a thick, savory sauce and was so tender that even the bones could be chewed and swallowed. The sauce had soaked all the way into the bones, making them very flavorful. Moreover, bird meat was always firm; one bite was enough to accompany several mouthfuls of rice.
Unfortunately, they were only two small sparrows. Divided up, they were quite pitiful; each person only got one or two pieces of meat. They ended up putting the remaining sauce into their rice and mixing it, which became a new treat in itself.
The dining table was cleared like a whirlwind—they were just short of licking the plates clean.
Seeing that the main meal was finished, Ding Baozhu presented the Liang Gao.
Liang Gao was naturally meant to be served cold. If they had the means to refrigerate it for half an hour, it would be icy and delicious. However, it could also be eaten while still warm or after it had cooled to room temperature, and they certainly wouldn’t be picky.
Ding Baoqin couldn’t wait and grabbed a piece. After just one bite, the outer skin was smooth and refreshing, and the soft, delicate jujube paste squeezed out. The jujube paste had a unique fragrance, and when paired with a bit of brown sugar, it wasn’t greasy at all. Instead, it was sweet and delicious.
She said excitedly through a mouthful of food, “It’s so good! Dad, Mom, Sis, hurry and try it!”
Ding Baozhen took a piece half-doubtingly, but in the end, she couldn’t resist the lure of a pastry and took a small bite. The piece she ate had red bean filling. Although she had eaten red bean pastries before, she had never tasted a filling so dense and smooth. With a gentle press of her tongue, it melted away, carrying the clean sweetness of the red beans.
Ding Hong and Liu Ping saw their two daughters eating with even more enthusiasm than they had for dinner. They shook their heads and, for Ding Baozhu’s sake, each took a bite.
However, once they tasted it, they said with surprise, “This is so soft and not overly sweet. The flavor is really good. Did you really make this?”
“Yes, it’s the real deal!” Ding Baozhu patted her chest. She had eaten these many times before, so she was happy to leave these for them.
“When did you learn this skill? I’ve never heard you mention it before,” Liu Ping asked suspiciously.
Ding Baozhu smiled. “When I went to town with Dad today, I saw a vendor making and selling them. I watched from the side for a while and tried to make them when I got back. I’m just glad you all like them.”
Hearing that it had something to do with him, Ding Hong immediately showed his support. “Our Baozhu is just smart. If you ask me, these are good enough to be taken out and sold directly…”
Hearing the keyword, Ding Baozhu pursed her lips and then asked, “Dad, Mom, what do you think… if I actually went to sell things and did a little business?”
The voices at the table suddenly stopped. Everyone’s gaze snapped toward her, making her feel inexplicably guilty.
“Zhu’er, what is this sudden idea now?” Liu Ping asked with slight dissatisfaction, as if she knew this was just her daughter’s usual flighty nature. “Aren’t you and your father doing well with the slaughtering trade? Why are you thinking about…”
“Actually, it makes sense,” Ding Hong suddenly spoke up. “Even though Baozhu is learning from me, it really is quite inconvenient for a girl to learn this trade.”
“…Husband, she’s already started learning. Surely we can’t just stop? And if she stops, where will you find someone to pass your skills to?” Liu Ping asked, half-frowning and half-regretful. Regardless, it always came back to her not having given Ding Hong a son; otherwise, none of this would be an issue.
“Passing on the skills isn’t urgent. Even if I took an apprentice from outside, they’d have to work for free for a year or so before I’d even start teaching them. Besides, I still have my strength; I can still do this work,” Ding Hong considered.
“Furthermore, the Xu family has tacitly agreed to continue with the marriage. At the latest, they’ll be coming to fetch the bride within a month. Once she marries out, will her husband’s family allow her to go out and kill chickens and pigs with me?”
“But if she truly does some small business, it can be considered helping with the household expenses, and it’s much more suitable than being a butcher. I imagine her in-laws won’t have much to say after comparing the two. They already gossip enough; we can’t give them more ammunition.”
“And we’ve tasted Baozhu’s handiwork these past two days. I don’t know where she learned it, but this skill is definitely worth a try.”
Liu Ping wanted to say something in response, but she couldn’t find a single word. In reality, while being a butcher brought in money, the social status was low. Not only did one end up covered in filth and the smell of blood, but people also said it cultivated a ‘baleful aura’ that ruined one’s fate. Most importantly, letting Ding Baozhu follow Ding Hong to learn the trade had been an act of desperation in the first place.
Seeing that things were turning around, Ding Baozhu quickly said, “After cooking these past two days, I’ve found that I actually quite like it. Besides, we don’t even know when the Xu family is coming.”
“In the meantime, let me try doing business. I won’t make it a big operation. If I really make a profit, I can help the family, and I can add to my own dowry. Wouldn’t that be good?”
Liu Ping finally shook her head and said, “Silly child, a dowry is prepared by the parents; why would it be your turn to contribute to it? But since you want to try some business, go ahead and try.”
“But before the Xu family comes for the wedding, you have to behave yourself!”
Having received permission, Ding Baozhu smiled and agreed. She then asked, “Baozhen, Baoqin, what do you think of this Liang Gao?”
Ding Baoqin had just eaten two pieces and was about to take another when she was stopped by Ding Baozhen, otherwise she would surely get indigestion.
Right after Ding Baozhu asked, the former immediately gave a thumbs-up. “It’s delicious, of course! Big Sister, you could take the leftovers out and sell them tomorrow!”
Ding Baozhu laughed. “How can I sell leftovers? Besides, I made these for you to try. As long as you like them, it’s fine. We’ve eaten our fill today, and I can make breakfast tomorrow.”
However, at that moment, Ding Baozhen suddenly said, “I think there is one place that could be modified…”