Chapter 30: Sugar Mandarin Stump Cake

Xie Changzhi’s faint blush vanished instantly, his face darkening as if smudged with charcoal.

Yet, he seemed to have learned his lesson.

His damp eyelashes fluttered, trembling like a seductive butterfly’s wings. "If younger brother wishes to go, then let him accompany you. As he said, I am merely a rough, good-for-nothing illegitimate son; how could I possibly cook anything edible? It will be enough if I don't just get in the way and cause trouble."

For once, Xie Yanzhi tore his gaze away from the basket of eggs to look at Xie Changzhi, his expression resembling that of someone who had just bitten into a rotten sunflower seed.

After Huang Xuqiu left that day, he had pondered for a long time before belatedly realizing what was wrong with that tone!

Wasn’t this the way those delicate young ladies in the capital spoke?

Back then, when those ladies spoke like that to win his favor and attention, he had found it pleasant and melodious.

Huang Xuqiu was one thing; after all, the person he wanted to impress had nothing to do with him.

But these words from Xie Changzhi were clearly aimed at him! It was a thinly veiled grievance, crying foul!

Didn’t this just make him look like a villain?

Good heavens! Xie Yanzhi was always the one framing others; this was the first time he had been outmaneuvered like this.

"Xie Changzhi!" Xie Yanzhi only had time for an angry shout before Cheng Yuan interrupted. "Stop arguing, both of you. Come inside; there is work for everyone."

Cheng Yuan walked into the kitchen first, followed closely by Xie Yanzhi, who glared at Xie Changzhi.

He warned in a low voice, "You mere illegitimate son, be careful, or I shall tell Father!"

Xie Changzhi stared at him before brushing past, causing Xie Yanzhi to stumble.

"Oh."

Xie Yanzhi, having regained his balance: ...

As they entered, they were met with the refreshing scent of oranges.

"Oranges!" Xie Yanzhi’s eyes lit up. He reached out, only to be struck by a chopstick.

"Ow!!"

Cheng Yuan glanced at him. "They’ll be useful later. No sneaking bites."

She hadn't expected Aunt Wang to have placed several oranges beneath the eggs. Since that was the case, she decided to make a mandarin orange cake.

Xie Yanzhi dared not retort and had to retreat to the side.

Cheng Yuan grabbed him and handed him the peeled orange rinds. "Don't go yet. Take these and let them dry under the eaves."

After peeling and dicing the orange segments, Cheng Yuan placed them in a bowl, added several spoonfuls of white sugar, and squeezed in the juice of half a lemon.

As Cheng Yuan stirred, Xie Yanzhi returned. He saw the half-fruit sitting to the side, revealing its yellow pulp. He sniffed—it smelled fresh and fragrant.

"Is this unwanted?"

Xie Yanzhi had never seen such a fruit, but since Cheng Yuan was using it, it couldn't be bad. Seeing her already stirring the mixture, he assumed this was just leftover material.

Why had he come to help? Naturally, to sneak some scraps!

Xie Yanzhi was ecstatic, admiring his own foresight.

Cheng Yuan glanced at him, a hint of a smile in her eyes. "Yes, that’s extra. I just finished squeezing the juice. If you want to tast—"

Before she could finish, the half-lemon was already in Xie Yanzhi's mouth.

Cheng Yuan’s pupils shrank.

"Ah!!!!"

"So sour! So sour! So sour!!!"

Xie Yanzhi spat out the lemon immediately, gagging several times. He grabbed the water Cheng Yuan handed him and took a few gulps before he finally recovered.

A look of deep resentment lingered on Cheng Yuan.

She coughed lightly and looked away.

"Cheng Yuan, let me help you. Although I am a bit clumsy, I am obedient and will never touch or eat things I don't recognize."

Xie Changzhi, who had been standing by for a long time, curled his lips slightly and took the bowl from Cheng Yuan’s hands.

Cheng Yuan replied, "Just put it in the snow pile in the backyard."

"Xie Changzhi! You definitely knew it was sour, didn't you! You are truly wicked!" Xie Yanzhi followed them to the backyard, furious.

"Hm? Such heavy snow." Cheng Yuan caught a snowflake and looked up.

Xie Yanzhi scurried back into the kitchen, busy shaking the snowflakes off his clothes.

"...A timely snow promises a good harvest." Xie Changzhi thought for a long time before finally squeezing out the phrase he had heard others say, his eyes shining.

Cheng Yuan smiled. "I hope so."

—

"You, keep stirring just like this, understand?"

"And you, don't stop. You can only stop once it turns into white foam."

After delegating the tasks to two free laborers, Cheng Yuan freed her hands.

She started chatting away. "Xie Yanzhi, where is your father?"

"My father? I don't know. He chatted with Aunt Wang’s son the day before yesterday, and he’s been cooped up in his room ever since last night."

Xie Yanzhi was a scholar with thin wrists, and before long, he was complaining that his hands were sore.

Cheng Yuan blinked. "Thank you both for your hard work. When it’s time to eat, you shall have larger portions; after all, you’ve put in the effort. It’s different from eating for free."

Xie Yanzhi’s complaints vanished instantly.

Xie Changzhi said nothing, merely quickening his pace in silence.

For a time, the only sounds in the small kitchen were Cheng Yuan’s firewood crackling and the clinking of chopsticks against porcelain bowls.

This time, the amount of batter was significant; Cheng Yuan had to find a washbasin-sized porcelain bowl just to hold it.

She covered the bowl with a small wooden lid, placed the pot lid over it, and added more fuel to the stove.

"Is that it? Egg whites stirred with yolks and flour—are you making a giant steamed bun?"

Xie Yanzhi rubbed his sore wrists, using his imagination to soothe his injured spirit.

"No." Cheng Yuan smiled, remaining silent to keep them in suspense.

She cracked a few more eggs, fished out the yolks, and added salt, vinegar, and sugar to the whites. Just as she picked up the chopsticks, Xie Changzhi pressed his hand over hers; their hands overlapped.

"Let me do it. Should I stir it the same way?"

Cheng Yuan froze for a moment, then quickly let go, shaking her head. "No, I'll do it. You’re already quite tired."

"It’s no trouble. It’s a small matter, not even half as tiring as my martial arts training used to be."

Xie Changzhi said warmly, taking the bowl and beginning to stir.

Seeing this, Cheng Yuan could only stand by, watching for the right moment to add sugar.

The two faced each other, their foreheads and hands occasionally brushing.

"Sorry," one would say, followed by "my mistake" from the other.

Xie Yanzhi stood to the side, wringing his hem and tugging at his collar.

Suddenly, a rich, sweet fragrance wafted from the pot, curling around everyone’s noses.

"Is it done?" Xie Yanzhi looked at the lid, the aroma making him itch to reach out.

Cheng Yuan stopped what she was doing and lifted the pot lid and the wooden cover.

A golden hue immediately met their eyes.

"Yellow steamed bread? It looks so fragrant!"

"Let me, Cheng Yuan. Be careful, it’s hot."

He followed her instructions to invert the bowl onto a plate. The chubby cake base was incredibly springy, looking soft and fluffy.

She breathed a sigh of relief, anticipation in her eyes. It was a success.

"Can we eat it yet?" Xie Yanzhi had already grabbed his chopsticks, ready to pounce.

Cheng Yuan grew instantly vigilant.

"Changzhi, watch him. Don't let him eat."

Cheng Yuan moved quickly to retrieve the orange jam, failing to notice the flash of wariness in Xie Yanzhi’s eyes.