Chapter 289: Jade Ribbon Cake

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Herlyee Translations

In addition to the Sichuan bobo chicken, Ji Zhao made another dessert.

She crushed the boiled mung beans, added the crushed ice, and made the mung bean slush.

It was already the middle of June, and the weather was getting hotter. Eating more mung beans could clear the heat and detoxify the poison, which was beneficial to health.

Ji Zhao thought for a moment and prepared to steam some jade ribbon cakes.

“Jade Ribbon Cake?” Second Sister-in-law Shen’s eyes lit up. She hurriedly wrapped her arms around Ji Zhao’s arm and asked anxiously, “Ah Tao, the Jade Ribbon Cake you’re talking about, is it the kind of pastry from Suzhou?” “Yes.” Ji Zhao was also a little surprised. “Second Sister-in-law has eaten jade ribbon cake before?”

“Yes, I’ve tasted it.” Second Sister-in-law Shen suddenly felt a lump in her throat. “A good friend of mine from when I was young married far away to Suzhou. About five years ago, she asked someone to send a lot of things, including this Jade Ribbon Cake. However, what she didn’t know was that in the second year of her marriage, her parents died of illness…”

“Her parents passed away from illness. As their daughter, why isn’t she back?”

“Because her parents are just her adoptive parents…” Second Sister-in-law Shen shook her head, unwilling to talk about this topic anymore. “But Ah Tao, do you really know how to make jade ribbon cakes?’

‘Yes, I do.” Ji Zhao smiled firmly.

She was a descendant of the royal chef. Her culinary skills were top-notch in the 21st century! Not only had she won the gold medal of the World Cooking Competition, but she had also been a judge for the culinary competition for three consecutive years…

“The cooking method of the Jade Ribbon Cake is actually very simple. The most important thing is to grasp the amount of glutinous rice flour.” Ji Zhao took out a bag of glutinous rice flour and explained softly, “Use pure glutinous rice flour to make the cake. A layer of powder, a layer of lard, and white sugar. After picking it up, put it in the steamer and steam it. The heat has to be high and then lowered. After it’s steamed, cut it, and the jade ribbon cake is done.”

“It’s sweet and soft. It’s indeed delicious!” After tasting a piece of jade ribbon cake, Second Sister-in-law Shen immediately praised, “Ah Tao, you’re amazing! ”

“If Second Sister-in-law likes it, then eat more—”

To Ji Zhao, the happiest thing was to watch everyone eat all the delicacies she had made!

Sichuan bobo chicken, mung bean slush, and mung bean cake filled the stomachs of everyone in the Shen family.

After lunch, Shen Dashan brought Eldest Brother Shen and Second Brother Shen to his own field.

Shen Yao did not go. Instead, he went to the study.

‘What are you looking for?” When Ji Zhao walked in, Shen Yao was standing in front of the bookshelf, flipping through the books on it anxiously.

“I found it.” Shen Yao caught a glimpse of the old book that was already yellowing. Then, he looked at Ji Zhao behind him with a solemn gaze.

‘What’s wrong?”

“Zhaozhao, I’m worried about something.”

Shen Yao said with a deep gaze, “There will definitely be locusts after a long drought.”

“You mean…?’ Ji Zhao’s heart skipped a beat when she heard this.

“In the early summer of last year, the entire Great Jing Dynasty had been suffered a drought for three consecutive years. Although it finally rained later, the crops in the fields did not grow well. This year, it began to drought again…”

Shen Yao’s tone became more and more solemn. He waved the book in his hand and said in a low voice, ‘This book records many natural disasters, including the locust plague 30 years ago.”

‘When locusts pass through, not even a blade of grass will grow.” Ji Zhao also realized the seriousness of the matter and asked worriedly, “Shen Yao, shouldn’t we take precautions?”

“Prevention is better than cure?” Hearing this, Shen Yao fell into deep thought. Then, he shook his head with a bitter smile. “Although the drought situation is a little serious now, locust plagues are rare. If we really spread the news, I’m afraid it will attract unnecessary criticism.”

“But we can’t just watch as the crops in the fields are eaten up by locusts, right?” Ji Zhao said anxiously, “Why don’t we go to the village chief first? We can think of a way to get everyone to put away the crops in the fields first?’ In the face of nature, humans were really small.

Hence, Ji Zhao felt that all they could do now was think of ways to reduce their losses.

“Okay.”

At this moment, Shen Menghu was offering incense in the Earth Temple.

Ever since the Dragon Boat Festival, not only was the weather getting hotter and hotter, there was not even a thunderclap.

Most of the fields in Shanghe Village were near the tributary of the Qinghe

River, so the crops in the fields were still standing. However, when Shen Menghu went to the county a few days ago, he heard that many of the fields in the nearby villages were so dry there were cracks.

As an experienced farmer, Shen Menghu felt that the situation was not good.

This year will probably be another year of drought.

With a devout heart, Shen Menghu retracted his thoughts and inserted the incense stick in his hand into the hollowed-out three-legged incense burner. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, Shen Yao and his wife walked in.

Fifteen minutes later, after listening to the two youngster’s words, Shen Menghu fell into deep thought.

“Village Chief, according to the records in this book, the abnormal weather is a warning. There will definitely be locusts after a long drought. Although the crops in the fields are not fully ripe yet, if we harvest them now, we can at least reap 60% of the harvest.” Shen Yao pursed his lips and explained seriously, “Once the locusts pass through, I’m afraid our Shanghe Village will have no harvest.”

Shen Menghu was not in a hurry to agree. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and sized up Shen Yao for a long time. Finally, he said slowly, “Shen Yao, can you guarantee that the locusts will definitely appear?”

Shen Yao fell silent.

Yes, he couldn’t guarantee that.

“But Village Chief, even if there’s only a one in ten thousand chance of a terrifying disaster like the locust plague, shouldn’t we be prepared in advance?” Ji Zhao hurriedly explained, “1 admit that Shen Yao and I can’t guarantee that the locust plague will definitely appear, but what if?”

“Let me think about it.”

Shen Menghu did not directly accept their suggestion. Instead, he decided to hold a village meeting to ask for everyone’s opinion.

As dusk approached, the low sky in the distance was filled with resplendent sunset light. The multicolored light shot in all directions, enveloping the entire Shanghe Village in auspicious light.

Ji Zhao rested her chin on her hands and sat on the steps outside the Shen family’s courtyard. She looked at the beautiful scenery of dusk from afar, and her calm eyes were tainted with a faint layer of worry.

Shen Yao brought the cut watermelon to her, picked up a toothpick, poked a piece, and brought it to her lips.

The sweet smell of the watermelon immediately brought Ji Zhao back to her senses.

“At noon, Mother picked watermelons from the vegetable garden and placed them in the well for four hours.” Shen Yao smiled gently at her. “Eat quickly.”

Ji Zhao smiled and took a bite. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

“So sweet.”

“Eat more.’

Shen Yao continued to feed her lovingly. He liked to watch Ji Zhao eat because when Ji Zhao ate, her cheeks were puffed up like a cute pufferfish, making people want to reach out and pinch her.

That was what he thought in his heart, so he did it.

“Mmph!” Caught off guard, Ji Zhao’s face was pinched. She blinked helplessly, her eyes innocent and cute..

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