Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 219: Crispy Milk Cake (seeking monthly ticket)_i (1/2)
Chapter 223: Chapter 219: Crispy Milk Cake (seeking monthly ticket)_i
Translator: 549690339
Upon hearing this, Yingbao couldn’t help but size up the chubby Shopkeeper Chou.
He possessed a round face with a Fu Manchu moustache, eyes squinted like a Maitreya Buddha, a kind face, but a shrewd man. Astonishingly, he had taken a fancy to her older cousin.
However, her cousin was indeed getting older, and would be eighteen after the New Year. If he didn’t find a wife soon, Auntie might go mad with worry.
She tugged on her cousin’s sleeve, trying to give him a hint.
Seeing her cousin ignored her, she had to say to Shopkeeper Chou, “If I come to your house to learn how to make pastries, Uncle Chou, you really don’t mind?”
Chou Fugui laughed and said, “Miss, you jest. My neighbors also know how to make those pastries. There’s no reason to be uncomfortable about it.”
“Then I can go to your house to look.” Yingbao said with a bent-eye smile, “I can also pay a visit to Auntie Chou.”
She guessed that she couldn’t hide her intention of “stealing” the shop’s recipes from the mistress’s sharp eyes. It didn’t seem right to not mention this beforehand.
“You’re more than welcome.” Chou Fugui then eagerly looked at Jiang Cheng, “Brother Jiang, why don’t we go together?”
With no other choice, Jiang Cheng nodded his head towards Chou Fugui and said, “Then we’ll have to inconvenience you, Shopkeeper Chou.”
So, Jiang Quan stayed behind to watch the house while Jiang Cheng and his little cousin rode on Shopkeeper Chou’s donkey cart, heading to the Chou residence.
On the way, Jiang Cheng bought several packages of candied fruits as gifts.
Shopkeeper Chou didn’t stop him, he watched the young man the entire journey, smiling, and the more he watched the more he loved the sight. He thought he was just like himself when he was younger, handsome and understanding.
When they arrived at the entrance of Rongfu Pastry Shop, Yingbao and her cousin got off the carriage.
In good humor, Chou Fugui led the siblings to the back yard, not forgetting to instruct the shop assistant to choose a few pastries to send to the back yard.
“Rong’er, Rong’er! We have guests, hurry up and prepare some tea!” Even before they entered the main house, Chou Fugui started to call out.
“Coming!” A crisp response echoed and a young girl in a red dress of about fourteen or fifteen years old came from the interior room, lifting the curtain.
On catching sight of a handsome young man wearing plain robes standing in the yard, she was taken aback. She quickly covered half of her face with her sleeve and observed the newcomer covertly.
Chou Fugui laughed, “Rong’er, this is the shopkeeper of Jiang’s Specialties with whom we have business dealings. Hurry over and pay your respects.”
Only then did Chou Rong lower her sleeve and properly greeted Jiang Cheng with a bow, saying, “Shopkeeper Jiang, may you be in good health.”
Fighting the urge to flee, Jiang Cheng barely managed a return bow.
Chou Fu Gui was observing Jiang Cheng’s reaction all this while. Seeing Jiang Cheng, who didn’t even spare a glance at his own daughter, he felt both relieved and disappointed.
Did this young Master Jiang despise his own daughter?
It’s impossible. Although his daughter cannot be considered as a beauty that would overthrow cities and kingdoms, she could be regarded as a pretty young lady. Why didn’t he even lift his eyelid to look at her?
Chou Fugui could only continue, introducing Yingbao to his daughter, “This is Shopkeeper Jiang’s younger sister, named… um, what’s her name again?”
“My name is Jiang Yingbao, greetings Sister Rong.” Yingbao formally greeted Chou Rong.
Chou Rong took her hand and said with a smile, “Sister Yingbao, come sit with me in the room.”
Chou Fugui also pulled Jiang Cheng to enter the room.
Before long, the shop assistant brought a mixed box of pastries. Inside, there were several kinds of cakes and fruits, including their shop’s most famous three-flavor red bean pastry.
This red bean pastry was made with red bean paste, mung bean paste, and chestnut powder which formed three colorful fillings, the pastry was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it had a sweet taste, and it was very delicious.
Chou Rong brought some tea, personally poured tea for Jiang Cheng and Yingbao, and then sat aside to chat with Yingbao.