Chapter 282: Birthday Cake
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The two families sat together, enjoying a harmonious meal. Naturally, when everyone’s in good spirits, whatever they eat tastes wonderful, especially since the dishes Zhou Lan made were truly delicious. Everyone couldn’t help but praise the chef’s cooking skills.
The more Zhou Lan was complimented, the higher her spirits soared. A smile almost reached the back of her ears, but she feigned humility, “It’s nothing special, just some ordinary dishes.”
Jiang Xia thought, “My mother’s smile is truly priceless.”
Jiang Chuan chuckled, delighted that his wife was receiving so much praise.
Jiang Gu thought, “I should also learn cooking from my mother to prepare such delicious meals in the future!”
Jiang Qing thought, “I love my parents as they are now.”
Toward the end of the meal, there was a surprise.
It was Jiang Qing’s birthday, and Zhou Lan had specially made a birthday cake for her. Zhou Lan, with her strong hands, whipped the cream effortlessly. Although she lacked food coloring, the cake still looked different from the various designs from the future.
She used strawberries stored in Jiang Xia’s interspace, crushing them into juice and mixing it with the cream, making the cake look pink. Due to the lack of an oven and tools, the cake’s shape was a bit off, but its taste was impeccable.
Everyone was astonished when Zhou Lan brought out the cake. Third Brother Zhang shyly asked, “What is this?”
Not just Third Brother Zhang, aside from Jiang Chuan’s family and Su Zhen, who frequently did business in the county town, no one else had ever seen a cake.
Su Zhen explained, “This is called a cake. The top layer is cream. Foreigners eat cake on their birthdays. I’ve seen it in stores in the county town. 1 never expected Auntie Zhou to know how to make one. Impressive!”
Moved by the rare treat and her mother’s efforts, Jiang Qing couldn’t help but tear up. Once the cake was set on the table, she rushed to hug her mother, tears streaming down her face.
Zhou Lan comfortingly patted Jiang Qing’s back, “Why are you crying on your birthday? You should be happy.”
Jiang Qing sobbed, “Mother, 1 am crying because 1 am so happy today!”
Once Jiang Qing had calmed down, Zhou Lan handed her a small knife to cut and share the cake with everyone.
Upon tasting, everyone was amazed, “It’s so delicious! I want another piece!”
Su Zhen sincerely commented, “I’ve had cake in the county before, and it was overly sweet and the cream was sticky, but Auntie’s Zhou cake melts in the mouth and has a rich creamy taste. It’s really delicious!”
As Zhao Wan enjoyed the cake, seeing the warmth and affection Jiang’s family showed to Jiang Qing throughout the afternoon, she let go of her past grievances and began to accept her in-laws.
The Zhang family had plenty of rooms, so it was easy to accommodate the Jiang family and Su Zhen. After a day of festivities, everyone rested, planning for the men to go hunting the next day while the women would pick wild fruits and vegetables.
At the top of the mountain, there was a persimmon grove. This season, the persimmons had ripened and could be picked as dessert after meals.
Jiang Xia couldn’t help but exclaim, the location of the Zhang family was nestled against mountains and close to water, with wild animal meat available. This lifestyle was nothing like the primitive life they had imagined. Instead, it felt more like an idyllic paradise, evoking involuntary admiration from others. It was just the beginning of autumn, but the Zhang family had already started burning charcoal. The warm Kang bed-stove made people reluctant to leave their beds during the night.
Jiang Xia remembered when the original owner was at the old Jiang’s house. During winter nights, it was too cold, so she went to seek some charcoal from Old Madam Jiang.
Old Madam Jiang’s room was warm and cozy. The moment she entered, she was greeted with warmth. In contrast, their own room was bone-chilling cold, making it impossible to sleep.
However, Old Madam Jiang scolded her and threw her out, saying that charcoal was expensive and their household wasn’t allowed to use it!
The more Jiang Xia thought about it, the angrier she became. She thought that this winter, Old Madam Jiang should taste what it’s like without any charcoal.
Moreover, Jiang Xia also noticed that even though the mountain ranges of Pushan Village and this place were both part of Grand Cloud Mountain, this location was evidently more vibrant. Compared to their barren and yellow mountains at home, this side of the mountain had a more diverse animal population and lush vegetation. No wonder the Zhang family didn’t wish to leave the mountain.
However, she had more pressing matters to attend to and couldn’t join the others in their activities..
