Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 82
Translated by Serena Love
Edited by Azure
Chapter 82: Shumai Pocket
After dinner, one read and wrote, the other prepared ingredients. As the night deepened, they each took a bath and went to bed.
Jiang Shuyao, her mind still occupied with Lin-shi's letter and the conversation that awaited them tomorrow, felt a dull ache in her head. Soon, sleepiness overtook her.
But in the midst of her dream, she suddenly felt something in her hand.
She woke up abruptly, still in a dazed state, and instinctively reached out. Why was there... a hand?
Jiang Shuyao blinked, her mind clearing, and then it hit her. The sleepiness vanished, leaving her feeling a mix of helplessness and amusement.
Since Xie Xun and Jiang Shuyao had begun holding hands, they quietly clasped each other's hands every night as they slept. This, however, was quite...
She withdrew her hand, causing Xie Xun to startle. He had thought she was asleep when he dared to gently take her hand, but little did he know she had been awake.
Sensing that something had perhaps irritated her today, he realized it was not the right time for such intimacy. He whispered, "Sorry."
Jiang Shuyao, silent in response, grabbed his hand and pulled it back in front of her.
Xie Xun had been practicing calligraphy all year-round. His hand had distinctive knuckles and long fingers. Because of his sword practice and pen use, there is a thin layer of calluses on his fingers. His hands complemented his clear face beautifully.
She took his hand and rubbed it and said, "What's the matter with you? You only know holding hands and holding hands, don't you want to do something else?"
Xie Xun said in surprise, "What else can I do?"
Jiang Shuyao: Do you know that the thing I hate from you the most is you are like a wood!
She turned over, propped up her upper body, and moved her head closer to Xie Xun's face.
The moonlight was hazy like gauze, and Jiang Shuyao could see Xie Xun's eyes widened slightly. His long, clear eyes overflowed with surprise.
"It's okay."
Her mind swirled, and she lowered her head to press her lips to his.
Xie Xun's mind erupted in a roar, his thoughts completely blank. Half of his body stiffened in shock, and he had no idea how to respond.
It wasn't until later that he realized the warm, soft touch of her lips lingering on his.
Jiang Shuyao rolled over to her side, pulling the quilt around her. She pretended to be "unwell," closing her eyes comfortably, preparing to sleep.
Suddenly, a refreshing cold fragrance filled the air, bringing with it an undeniable sense of pressure.
Opening his eyes, Xie Xun followed her posture and propped his body on top of her.
His hair was cold, and it hung down gently with his movements, sliding across her cheeks, causing a tickling feeling.
Xie Xun was cold-faced most of the time, but at this moment, he looked extremely distant and deserted, as if he couldn't get close. His thick eyelashes concealed the shattered light under his eyes, and he looked at her with his mouth closed.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Shuyao was completely awake. She seemed to have done something terrible just now.
Xie Xun gasped very lightly, which was very obvious in the quiet room.
Like a feather scratching her ears, Jiang Shuyao felt a thin, tiny electric current passing through her brain.
He said, "Can we do it again?"
Even in that moment, his voice remained calm, like spring water flowing over rocks, growing even more melodious with each passing second.
How could someone ask such a question in this tone of voice? Jiang Shuyao swallowed, not knowing how to answer.
She remained silent, but Xie Xun waited patiently. The cold fragrance of his presence seeped into her senses, a blend of fresh greenery and ink, enveloping her entirely.
The silence around them deepened, leaving only the ringing in her ears. Jiang Shuyao clenched her hand tightly, her fingertips pressing into her palm. With a soft, almost hushed voice, she whispered, "Yeah."
The sound was faint, but Xie Xun heard it clearly.
He got the answer he wanted and moved closer to her slightly. The movements were very slow and stiff. When he got closer, he paused, and then he got closer again and again. It seemed that he couldn't find a suitable posture, and he was afraid that he could not stand it if he got too close.
He felt her nose touching his. It was sweet and soft, wrapped around the tip of his nose, making him feel like he was floating.
He moved closer, their noses brushing gently. Gathering his courage, he pressed his lips to hers tentatively. This time, the sensation was more intense than before. Her lips were incredibly soft, and the warmth surprised him. A jolt of electricity shot through the spot where they connected, coursing from his scalp down to his limbs in a rush of heat.
Perhaps his position was too overwhelming, as Jiang Shuyao shuddered involuntarily, struggling to control her breath. She panted lightly.
The chaotic and rapid heat puffed on the tip of his nose, making Xie Xun instantly lost in the warm fragrance. He was also panting a little and instinctively and gently pressed her lower lip again.
A strange sensation rose from her lower lip, and Jiang Shuyao let out a shameful "un" sound while her whole body was shaking. She quickly pushed Xie Xun away with a soft hand.
Her strength was so small. How can she push Xie Xun away?
But Xie Xun felt her movement. He quickly stood up and looked at her anxiously.
Jiang Shuyao said nothing, but Xie Xun panicked first.
He hurriedly said, "Sorry," then quickly returned to his side and lay down stiffly.
Jiang Shuyao blushed so red to the point of bleeding. She wrapped herself with the quilt and turned to face the wall without speaking.
Xie Xun was afraid of her anger and did not dare to ask, so he could only wait quietly. He struggled with this kind of fear and anxiety all night, and when he finally fell asleep, there was only a soft sweetness in his dream.
The next day, when Xie Xun woke up, it was still dark. He subconsciously turned his head to her side of the bed, but he didn't see Jiang Shuyao's sleepy eyes. He saw nothing but emptiness.
He woke up instantly from his sleep. He got up from the bed, opened the quilt, put on his shoes and robe, and walked out hurriedly.
He moved too much, and Bai Zhi, who was cleaning up outside, was taken aback. She quickly saluted, "Third Master."
"Where is the madam?" Xie Xun asked.
"Madam got up early and said that she couldn't sleep, so she got up to make breakfast."
Xie Xun was taken aback for a moment and found that he was completely overthinking it. His energy was exhausted. He walked back to the inner room, dressed and combed his hair.
Early in the morning, both of them were weird. Bai Zhi couldn't think of a reason, so she didn't want to say anything. She continued to wipe the teapot on the table.
Jiang Shuyao woke up early today, and when she looked at Xie Xun, she thought of what happened last night. Her sleepiness disappeared instantly, and she got up and went to the small kitchen.
Jiang Shuyao and Lin-shi were both neat and non-procrastinating people. Since they came up with the idea of a breakfast stall, they had set a good day for opening. One was busy buying flours and choosing a cook, and the other was busy thinking about food, hoping not to delay the other party's progress.
When it came to breakfast, in addition to porridge and pastries, Jiang Shuyao also thought of the "breakfast capital" of Wuhan, where one could find Sanxian Bean Curd, Hot Dry Noodles, and Shumai wrapped in pancakes.
She woke up early that day and began preparing the pancakes and Shumai she had planned to make for breakfast.
Shumai wrapped in pancakes was a wonderful combination. The pancake was crispy and fragrant, while the Shumai inside was soft and sweet, offering a satisfying burst of flavor with each bite. One pancake could easily hold four Shumai, making it a hearty, calorie-rich breakfast that was filling enough to start the day.
After sautéing meat cubes and shiitake mushrooms in oil until fragrant, she added a touch of fresh soybean paste and mixed it with the steamed glutinous rice. The translucent, semi-creamy broth was then poured in, followed by a sprinkle of pepper and chopped green onion. The filling for the Shumai was ready. The Shumai skin was rolled out thin, and a large spoonful of stuffing was placed in the center. The edges were squeezed together from the bottom, forming a small bag, round in shape, with the top opening up like a blooming flower.
She took out the dough that had fermented overnight, rolling it into a round shape. Starting the wok, she heated up the oil, waiting for it to reach the perfect temperature. Once it was ready, she added the dough, and with a satisfying crackle, oily bubbles surrounded the dough. As she poured in more oil, the dough seemed to inflate, gradually bulging and swelling until it transformed into a large, golden, and round oil cake.
At that moment, Xie Xun entered. The scent of frying oil filled the air, and he raised an eyebrow, wondering aloud, "Is this breakfast? It wouldn’t be ideal to start the day with something so heavy on the oil."
Jiang Shuyao ignored him, focusing intently on the task at hand. She had to stuff the fried pancake quickly; if it cooled down, it would break at the touch, making it difficult to cut.
After slicing through the swollen pancake, a sufficiently large cavity formed inside the crispy crust. She swiftly picked up the Shumai, stuffing them into the cake—one, two, three, four. Once all four were nestled inside, she turned to address Xie Xun.
"Isn’t the duck meat pastry oily?" she asked. "Shumai wrapped in pancake uses oil, but the taste isn’t oily at all. Besides, it’s very filling. You won’t have to worry about being hungry before lunch."
After wrapping it in oil paper, she handed the Shumai wrapped in pancakes to Xie Xun. "You can taste it," she said. "If the flavor and ingredients are suitable, we can sell it. If it’s not, I’ll change it. Anyway, I made it as a test this morning."
Xie Xun automatically disregarded the word "test" and eagerly received the Shumai wrapped in pancakes. His eyes shone with excitement. This was the kind of morning meal he had been waiting for, a joy to begin the day.
The golden pancake was large, stuffed with Shumai. The Shumai was white, tender, and smooth, its skin incredibly thin and transparent. The swollen pancake seemed on the verge of bursting, the soft interior visible through its delicate exterior. A faint scent of oil filled the air, occasionally mingling with the sweetness of the Shumai. Warmth radiated from it, and as soon as the aroma reached his nose, the initial concern about the oiliness faded away entirely.
He opened his mouth and took a bite. With a sharp "crack," the crust shattered. The constant crisp sound accompanied the glutinous Shumai being bitten open, releasing the sweet and mellow broth that overflowed. The hot aroma lingered on the tip of his tongue. Without thinking, he slurped up the broth, the Shumai, and broken pie crust, all at once, chewing it down with his mouth full. He was careful not to let everything fall out.
The Shumai was incredibly tender, its skin delicate and thin. The glutinous rice was soft, soaked in the flavorful broth. The diced meat's savory aroma melded perfectly with the rich peppery taste, creating a sticky, lustrous filling. The broth was fresh, with a subtle hint of sweetness, while the peppery finish cut through the pancake's greasiness, leaving only a lingering, light oily fragrance.
The pancake was crispy and oily, the glutinous rice soft, the diced meat rich in flavor, and the broth sweet and mellow. All the warmth gathered together, instantly waking him up for the morning.
The outer skin of the oil cake was crisp. Once the Shumai was bitten open, the broth overflowed and softened the inner layer of the pancake, making it slightly chewy. The three textures—waxy, soft, and crispy—blended perfectly together.
In the morning, eating plain porridge and vegetable dishes felt comfortable in the stomach, but pancakes and Shumai satisfied both the stomach and the mouth. The pancake-wrapped Shumai required a hearty bite—a true bite—where the pancake's aroma and the rich taste of the Shumai blended together in perfect harmony. It was pure delight.
"Do you think it can be sold in a breakfast shop?" Jiang Shuyao asked while frying the next pancake.
Xie Xun, still with a large mouthful in his mouth and cheeks bulging like a hamster with a "flower of Gaoling" skin, nodded eagerly and said, "Yes."
[T/N: The "Flower of Gaoling" is a metaphor for beautiful things that can only be seen from a distance and cannot be touched. Beautiful things that can only long for but out of reach.
Jiang Shuyao continued filling another pancake with Shumai, planning to enjoy it herself.
Xie Xun spoke up, "Although one is enough, one more will do. Thank you."
Jiang Shuyao: ...
She felt too embarrassed to explain and simply reminded Xie Xun to eat it right away, not to keep it for later. Then, she handed him the Shumai wrapped in pancake.
Xie Xun happily took it, grabbed one in one hand, and rode a horse in the direction of the palace.
On the way, he ran into Li Fu and Guan Ying, who bought steamed buns in Jiusi Alley, and also Lin Cheng, who bought duck meat biscuits at Changjiekou. The four of them gathered together and drove their horses to the palace.
As a person holding a bulging pancake-wrapped Shumai in one hand, Xie Xun is particularly prominent among the four.
The point is it looked so delicious even if they were full.
The pancake sounded crusty and crispy, but no one knew what it was. It seemed that some soup was squeezed inside the pancake. They could hear Xie Xun chewing from a wide distance. The texture sounds were sticky, soft but crunchy.
As an official of the East Palace, asking for food on the street is too unsightly! ——Lin Cheng took a bite of duck meat pastry, tears of envy slipped from the corner of his eyes.
Isn't it time to talk to my mother about the idea of proposing marriage to the Lin family's daughter? ——Guan Ying took a bite of the bun... Hey, how come it was all doughy.
Slurp, slurp, slurp—Li Fu couldn't think about anything, but he was greedy.
Hoho, until the day when the Lin family's breakfast shop opened, I would be the most dazzling in the entire East Palace—Xie Xun smugly stuffed his mouth... seemed a little arrogant.
—
[T/N: Btw, I just had cereal for breakfast today (and joining the East Palace envious ranks) ToT]
Famous foods from Wuhan:
Sanxian Bean Curd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEKs09Ks1qY
Sanxian Bean Curd is a famous snack in Wuhan and one of the main breakfast foods for the Wuhan people. It was originally a special holiday delicacy made by the people of Wuhan for New Year and New Year's Eve, but later it became a common breakfast. The outer layer is made from glutinous rice and bean curd. The color is golden and translucent, bright and eye-catching, the skin is thin and soft. The fried bean curd skin is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The fillings could be made from eggs, shrimp, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and meat. It is famous for its unique flavor.
Hot Dry Noodle (see chapter 43 for more details) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiRNT6T9JcQ
What most westerners know is shumai (or Shao Mai, or Siu Mai, or Siomay), as are usually the shrimp wrapped dumplings served in dim sum restaurants. But in this chapter, it’s more correct to call it 烧麦, or Saomai/Saomei is actually just boiled dumplings. And it’s not pancakes either, it's a big fried dough bun. (explanation was amended by Pure)
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