Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1278 Mung Bean Cake

Shi Jia slapped her forehead. How did she end up in a dead end too?

Since the memory of improving sweet potato varieties has been sealed, she can try to improve sweet potatoes herself. Although she doesn't know the specific methods, selecting superior seeds and breeding them generation after generation is definitely the right thing to do.

And who knows, her memories might just be unlocked quietly during this process! Just like cooking.

So what's the use of just thinking? Take action!

"Thank you, Xiaohua." Shi Jia patted Wang Tiehua on the back.

"Oh? You're welcome, sister-in-law. Do you need my help?" Wang Tiehua asked, puzzled.

"Okay, when I get back tonight, I'll turn over the empty space in the yard. I'll go ask Manager Luo for some sweet potato vines," Shi Jia said.

"Okay." Wang Tiehua nodded.

As Lu Xing'er's specially hired cook and the provider of the sweet potato starch recipe, it was naturally easy for Shi Jia to get some sweet potato vines. Manager Luo agreed without hesitation and immediately sent someone to the estate to pick some.

"Thank you, Manager Luo."

"Master Li, you're too kind. By the way, the second young mistress just sent someone to say that she'd like to have some fresh food tonight," said Steward Luo.

Cooking is also a piece of cake for Shi Jia. "Great, I've been thinking about a new dish these past few days that's perfect for pregnant women."

As the weather got warmer and Lu Xing'er's pregnancy progressed, her appetite worsened, and she sometimes couldn't even eat the dishes Shi Jia cooked. Therefore, Shi Jia had to "develop" new dishes for her every now and then.

Fortunately, Shi Jia's memories related to cooking have been fully unlocked, and she has countless recipes in her mind; otherwise, she wouldn't have time to think about anything else. Just developing new dishes would be exhausting.

Not to mention figuring out how to cultivate superior varieties.

Upon hearing this, Manager Luo immediately smiled. "Really? The Second Young Madam will be very happy to hear this, and she might even eat two more bowls of rice tonight."

Shi Jia smiled as well. Lu Xing'er's pregnancy was the Wan family's first grandchild, and according to the doctor, it was very likely twins. Because of this news, Shi Jia was summoned by Madam Wang. Of course, unlike the unpleasant parting last time, Madam Wang was much more amiable this time. When Shi Jia left, he even received a reward of one hundred taels of silver.

After saying goodbye to Manager Luo, Shi Jia went to prepare the new dishes. After several months of learning, Wang Quan was now almost able to work independently, and he had mastered most of Shi Jia's recipes.

Jia was very satisfied with this, so when she left six months later, she felt more at ease.

When Wang Quan saw Shi Jia enter, he immediately greeted him with a smile. "Master, you've arrived."

"Is everything ready?" Shi Jia glanced at the prepared dishes on the table, which were neatly arranged, with the cut meat and vegetables all facing the same direction. She nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes. The sweet soup prepared for the second young mistress is also ready," Wang Quan said.

"Okay, let someone send it over." Shi Jia nodded. "Go ask Manager Luo for a few tomatoes later."

Wang Quan's eyes lit up. "Master, are you preparing new dishes?"

"Hmm, I'm going to make a tomato and pork slice soup. The second young mistress doesn't have a good appetite, and this dish is sweet and sour and can stimulate her appetite," Shi Jia said. Tomato and pork slice soup is just a common home-cooked dish, and there are similar dishes here, but the taste is quite different.

"Okay, I'll go right now!" Wang Quan happily ran out. The other cooks in the kitchen, seeing this, were filled with complicated emotions and envy. "Hmph, he's just lucky to have a good master." Someone's eyes lit up, and they brought over some pastries they had prepared beforehand, approaching Shi Jia. "Master Li, these are some pastries I made. Could you please taste them?"

Shi Jia, who was checking the food preparation, paused for a moment and turned around. The young man looked about the same age as Wang Quan, around sixteen or seventeen years old, with a round face, squinting eyes, and a somewhat shrewd appearance.

"Are you Xiao Wu?" Shi Jia asked.

"Yes, I am Wu Dezhu." The young man seemed very excited.

Wu Dezhu? Wu Dezhu? Shi Jia pursed her lips, hummed in agreement, and looked at the pastry in his hand. The pastry was pale yellow and decorated with a small leaf, making it look small and cute.

"Master Li, could you please give me some pointers?" Wu Dezhu pleaded, his face flushed. He felt all eyes were on him, his heart pounding like a drum, and he wished he could disappear into the ground.

"Hmm." Shi Jia reached out and picked up a piece of pastry, put it in her mouth. It was soft and had a moderate sweetness, but, "The dough seems to be burnt. Be careful next time."

“However, your idea is very good. With a little refinement, it should be a very good pastry recipe.” Shi Jia’s eyes showed approval.

Grind mung beans into powder, then stir-fry them over low heat until cooked. Add osmanthus flowers, honey, and the stir-fried mung bean powder, mix them together, and finally steam them over water. This last step allows the osmanthus flowers, honey, and mung bean powder to fully blend together.

Wu Dezhu opened his mouth slightly, revealing great surprise, "Thank you, Chef Li." The others in the kitchen all showed envious expressions, including He Chuan, who had previously been at odds with Shi Jia.

Six months was enough time for He Chuan to understand Shi Jia's extraordinary talent in cooking. Even if he was unconvinced, he would have to consider his own abilities.

"You're welcome, go ahead and get busy." Shi Jia waved his hand.

"Master!" Wang Quan's voice suddenly rang out, "Your tomatoes." The next second, a hint of awkwardness flashed across everyone's faces, and they all looked at Wu Dezhu.

His face flushed again, his eyes darted around, but he finally glanced at Wang Quan and said, "Okay, I'll get back to work." With that, he picked up the pastries and turned to leave.

He's provoking me! A flash of anger crossed Wang Quan's face, and his brows furrowed.

"Go wash up," Shi Jia said, then went to get an apron and hat and put them on. She washed her hands and returned to the cutting board. Wang Quan had already placed the washed tomatoes on the cutting board, and Shi Jia's usual kitchen knife was also wiped clean.

Shi Jia picked up the tomato and began slicing it into even slices, placing them on a plate for later use. She then picked up a piece of lean meat, smelled it, and frowned. The meat had a rather strong, unpleasant odor; it probably wouldn't be suitable for a light dish like tomato and meat soup!
She suddenly felt a pang of regret. How could she have forgotten to tell Prefect Wan about the castrated pig? If she had told him earlier, she might already be eating cured pork.

However, she wasn't without options. With a few strokes of the cleaver, the lean meat was sliced ​​into thin pieces, placed on a plate, and then marinated with shredded ginger, scallions, pepper, and sweet potato starch to remove any fishy smell.

"Alright, Wang Quan, it's almost time. You can start cooking now." Shi Jia washed her hands and turned to take the cutting board to wash.

But in a flash, the cutting board disappeared. Oh, it turned out Wang Quan had snatched it away. "Master, I can do it. How could I let you do such rough work?" Wang Quan quickly said.

Shi Jia was taken aback. Why did Wang Quan seem so eager today? Usually, when she washed the cutting board, he never rushed to do the work.

"It's nothing, just something I did," Shi Jia said nonchalantly.

"Master, what was Wu Dezhu doing with those pastries just now?" Wang Quan asked.

"It's nothing, I just wanted some pointers."

Guidance?!