Bai Fumei in the ’70s Chapter 14
Translated by Serena Love
Proofread by Soupysuspicions
Edited by Ladyhotcomb
Chapter 14
He Songbai frowned and looked up at her. His deep, silent eyes resembled those of a lone wolf. Beads of sweat glistened on his face, highlighting his pronounced cheekbones and sun-kissed skin. His lean frame was shirtless, revealing a masculinity that was hard to ignore.
This was the young He Songbai…with muscles that were taut and strong.
A blush crept onto Zhao Lanxiang’s face, and her heart raced uncontrollably. After speaking, she made her way back to the kitchen.
He Songbai, wiping his face with his hands, watched her leave before returning his attention to the firewood. He continued chopping with a focused intensity, repeating the monotonous task with determination.
Despite his slender build, he exuded the same boundless energy characteristic of youth. Now that his stomach has seen some oil and eat, his body was slowly filling out under that dark skin.
...
Unbeknownst to Zhao Lanxiang, the two in the kitchen were devouring the noodles with an enthusiasm as if they hadn’t eaten in days.
Tang Qing, usually composed, seemed to have lost all restraint, eating as if he swallow an entire elephant. Jiang Li, too, had cast aside the restraint and shyness of a girl, forgetting for a moment her secret feelings for the boy sitting across from her.
Ugh! She now understood why Zhou Jiazhen had slurped her noodles so loudly that day, as if she had never tasted anything so delicious in her life.
Because these noodles were... simply divine!
For Jiang Li, who hadn’t enjoyed a proper meal in a month, felt that if the pinnacle of flavor was a ten, Zhao Lanxiang’s noodles would easily be a twelve. The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles silky yet firm, providing a delightful texture with each bite. The crowning touch was the crispy pork belly, its tantalizing aroma and flavor lingering with every bite. As she savored each mouthful more vigorously, Jiang Li thought to herself that she should stick with Zhao Lanxiang from now on. Otherwise, where else would she be able to eat such delicious food?
At this time, she had completely tossed the memory of the previous buns to the back of her mind as she completely immersed herself in this moment.
Finishing her large bowl of noodles with gusto, Jiang Li let out a contented burp.
She glanced at the remaining noodles in the pot and said to Zhao Lanxiang, “I want another bowl.”
Zhao Lanxiang had just taken a seat and was slowly savoring her own bowl of noodles.
Seeing that Zhao Lanxiang was ignoring her, Jiang Li gritted her teeth. However, she wasn’t upset. Her mind was still preoccupied with the delicious noodles, so she went to the pot and served herself another bowl.
Zhao Lanxiang, after swallowing a mouthful, said to Jiang Li, “Sister He and Sanya haven’t returned for dinner yet, so don’t eat too much.”
Jiang Li hummed and said, “You rarely invite me over for noodles, and yet you’re still so stingy. Fine, I get it.”
Fortunately, Zhao Lanxiang had anticipated their hunger, thinking that they hadn’t eaten anything good since arriving in the countryside. She had prepared a generous amount of noodles. Otherwise, with the appetites of both Miss Jiang Li and Prince Tang Qing, there might not have been enough left for Sister He and Sanya.
Tang Qing, having finished his bowl, slowly sipped the remaining soup and remarked, “The most nutritious part of this soup is the broth. Comrade Zhao, your soup is delicious.”
Zhao Lanxiang laughed, “Thank you for your praise.”
Having attended numerous social dinner parties with her beloved, Zhao Lanxiang’s way of speaking had taken on a more westernized flair. While many would shy away from direct praise, preferring a more modest approach, she embraced genuine compliments with grace.
Tang Qing had hoped to seize the moment and take the opportunity to ask her how to make them.
Noticing his curiosity, Zhao Lanxiang explained with a smile, “Actually, this soup isn’t anything special. If you’d like to make it over the weekend, just get some meatless pork bones from the store. Don’t worry, you can purchase them without a meat ticket for just a dime. It’s quite affordable. Simmer the bones for two to three hours, and you’ll get a broth just like to this one.”
Of course, she had added other ingredients, but she kept those to herself. While the pork belly noodles might appear simple, the broth was based on a secret recipe from a chain store in her past life, a recipe that would be worth its weight in gold in the future.
Its unique flavor made the dish even more delightful.
Tang Qing responded, “It turns out that this was the case. Your mind is ingenious, and you have a lot of knowledge in making noodles.”
Jiang Li was still working on her half bowl of noodles, slurping each bite loudly. To be honest, the noodles were truly something else. Even the nanny she had at home couldn’t match this level of culinary skill. However, due to her pride, Jiang Li wouldn’t openly praise Zhao Lanxiang’s expertise, choosing instead to quietly suck on her noodles.
Tang Qing, having had his previous question answered, asked with genuine curiosity, “Why is it that the noodles I make always turn out soft and sticky, while yours are so springy?”
Zhao Lanxiang wasn’t initially inclined to divulge her methods.
Yet, catching Jiang Li’s eager and expectant look, she softened. Clearly, missy Jiang Li was keen to learn too. No wonder she didn’t intervene in their conversation just now.
Zhao Lanxiang decided to share her secret. After all, these were just simple tips.
Finishing her noodles and sipping the last of her soup, she explained, “When making the dough, add an egg and a touch of alkaline water. Using high-quality flour also makes the noodles more elastic, which isn’t the case with other types of flour.”
Tang Qing, now content with the answer, relished the remaining soup in his bowl, ensuring not a drop was wasted.
He thought that he should lend his bicycle to Comrade Zhao more often.
He was still reminiscing about the steamed bun Zhao Lanxiang had made. The tantalizing aroma he had caught a whiff of previously had left a lasting impression. The gluttonous animal in his stomach had already been hooked. When would he be lucky enough to taste it?
Zhao Lanxiang spoke up, “Are you both full? Just leave your dishes and chopsticks here. I’ll clean up later.”
After finishing his meal, Tang Qing handed Zhao Lanxiang a food ticket. It didn’t feel right to enjoy such a good meal and freeload food.
Jiang Li had initially believed that Zhao Lanxiang’s invitation was just a ploy to curry favor with her brother and, by extension, herself. The idea of compensating Zhao Lanxiang hadn’t even entered her mind. But when she saw Tang Qing take out the food ticket, she was embarrassed to leave without paying, so she clenched her teeth and also took out a food ticket.
In the countryside, Jiang Li struggled with the bland diet of sweet potatoes and coarse rice without the usual oil and sauce. She often dined at local restaurants, quickly depleting her stash of food tickets and money. She knew she’d run out before month’s end. Thankfully, her brother, Jiang Jianjun, had sent her food tickets worth 20 pounds in his recent letter. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had any to spare.
Seeing the pain in Jiang Li’s eyes, Zhao Lanxiang gracefully declined, smiling warmly. “I invited you both to eat. If I take your food tickets now, I won’t dare be able to invite someone to eat next time. Please, head home and rest.”
After their meal, the two left the He family’s home, a mix of shame (and satisfaction). Before leaving, they cleaned the dishes and chopsticks that were on the table, expressing their gratitude to Zhao Lanxiang. Naturally, by “they,” the reference mainly refers to Tang Qing.
After sending the two away, Zhao Lanxiang felt relieved.
If she hadn’t gone to the black market to trade, her food tickets would have soon been stretched thin. How else could she have afforded to treat guests to a meal??
She pondered her next venture into the black market, contemplating her next move and potential items to sell.
A few days later, Zhao Lanxiang was struck with inspiration. She procured three pounds of mung beans from nearby farmers.
The next morning, she set to work. She soaked the vibrant green mung beans for three hours, then steamed them until they achieved a soft, waxy texture. Once cooled, she mashed them into a paste, sweetening it with some freshly bought rock sugar. This paste was then melded with dough and crafted into various delightful shapes. The result was 10 pounds of mung bean cake, neatly arranged in a three-tiered basket. The cakes emitted a tantalizing aroma, and upon tasting one, Zhao Lanxiang was pleased to find it as delightfully sweet and chewy as she had hoped.
She carefully packed the still-warm mung bean cakes into her school bag, concerned that the rough mountain path might damage her delicate pastries. To cushion the cakes, she added a layer of dried grass to the bag. As dawn approached, she planned to cycle to the city to sell her delightful mung bean cakes.
However, before she got a chance to walk out of the gate, someone stopped her.
A tall, slender man stood silently before her, his expression stern. In the dim light, his piercing, cold eyes fixed on her, his voice deep and raspy, “What are you up to, leaving so early?”
Zhao Lanxiang, feeling the warmth of the mung bean cakes in her bag, replied in a hushed tone, “I’m going to sell mung bean cakes!”
He Songbai responded, “You are not allowed to go.”
Zhao Lanxiang gripped her bag’s strap tighter, defiantly lifting her gaze to meet his, a hint of a teasing challenge in her eyes. “You can control me? Throughout my life, only my family — my parents and grandparents — have had that right. Who are you... to want to control me, eh?”
She held her head high, her voice rising slightly towards the end, her fiery eyes locked onto He Songbai’s. In the dim morning light, she couldn’t quite see his facial expression.
After a moment of silence, he removed the bag from her shoulder, stating calmly, “I’ll sell them for you.”
As he said that, he swiftly slung the schoolbag over his shoulder and mounted the bicycle. Within moments, he had ridden a dozen meters away.
Zhao Lanxiang watched in astonishment as He Songbai effectively “hijacked” her goods.
She ran after him, calling out breathlessly, “Wait!”
He Songbai stopped the bike, watching as Zhao Lanxiang pulled out a large hat from somewhere and firmly placed it on his head. She angrily said,
“There’s a bag of stove ash in the schoolbag. Use it to disguise your face when you enter the city to sell the cakes. And... the mung bean cake is priced at six cents per pound and requires a one-pound food ticket. You can also accept meat tickets, cloth tickets, industrial coupons, and soap tickets in exchange. Be careful and make sure I don’t take too much of a loss. I’ve been slaving over this mung bean cake since four in the morning.”
Don’t underestimate the price of mung bean cake because it was only six cents per pound, though it was definitely not as valuable as the fifty cents per pound duck meat. First, it’s not meat. Secondly, the mung bean cake gains weight when steamed, as it absorbs water. Moreover, the duck dish required over 30 different spices and seasonings, making it labor-intensive, whereas the mung bean cake mainly needed white sugar. If calculated carefully, the profit margin for the mung bean cakes isn’t much less than that of the duck.
He Songbai frowned as he heard this.
Zhao Lanxiang urged, “Go on, the earlier you start, the sooner you’ll sell out.”
He Songbai pedaled away, soon vanishing from Zhao Lanxiang’s view. As the sky began to brighten, the first rays of morning light scattered across the landscape. Zhao Lanxiang stood on the dew-covered grass, the moisture seeping into her shoes and socks.
Once He Songbai was out of sight, a smile tugged at Zhao Lanxiang’s lips. Although he’s a man of few words and his mouth wasn’t too sweet, he’s not too bad.
[Edit: Mung Bean Cakes video.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U2WHQFoa-8&feature=emb_title
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