Chapter 653: Full of Curiosity
Translator: Endlessæantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fortunately, there was a large mat beside the brick bed. Chief Su had it made when he built and renovated the house. It was for everyone to gather and sit during the festival.
Moreover, the charcoal and firewood in the furnace made the family feel warm and comfortable. Everyone sat and covered themselves with blankets to discuss their changes in the past year.
“I’ll get the cake for everyone and make candied hawthorns later.”
Su Wenwu hurriedly said, “I’ll come and help!”
He had seen the cake in the afternoon and could not stop thinking about it. Therefore, he could not wait to serve the cake with his sister.
“I’ll help Binglan, too, since it’s pretty big.”
Everyone besides Shen Qiuhua and Miao Zhizhi was curious when they heard Ding Wan’s words. They wondered what the cake looked like and why it would need three people to carry it.
Everyone thought of desserts when they heard the word “cake.” Previously, Su Binglan had made a special dessert that everyone had tasted. Therefore, they felt the cake would probably be similar in shape and style.
Still, the family was full of curiosity despite their guesses. Ding Wan, Shen Qiuhua, and Miao Zhizhi smiled without a word. After all, they knew what the cake looked like.
However, no one knew how it would taste. The family recalled the fragrance from the pot and guessed it would be delicious. They could not stop thinking about the cake even while eating dumplings.
“A cream cake?”
“What’s cream?”
Shen Qiuhua explained, “It’s something Binglan developed. The cream is almost the same color as milk, but the cream is thicker. None of us have tried it before. Binglan probably used cream in the cake, hence the name.”
Even Su Fengmao and Shen Qiuhua could not wait to try the cake. Meanwhile, Shen Mohen felt more comfortable in the festive atmosphere. He thought it was much more interesting than spending the New Year in the Shen family’s mansion.
The sound of firecrackers continued to echo outside. It only quieted down for a while during dinner. It was probably because every household was busy eating. They would typically set off firecrackers again afterward.
Chief Su took out his firecrackers and said, “Let’s go outside and set these off.”
Su Fenzhang added, “You should rest while I set them off, Father.”
Chief Su insisted, “1 can still set them off even at my old age, you know?”
He was still healthy, but his sons could not bear to let him tire himself out. The family playfully fought to set off the firecrackers.
“When you were a kid, I was the one who set them off while you watched from the sidelines,” Chief Su said, “You’ve all grown up and have your own children in just a blink of an eye.”
He thought of the past and felt dazed. He felt that time had pa.s.sed too quickly.
Su Fengzhang nodded. “That’s right. We also wanted to play with firecrackers when we were children. But you always said it was dangerous and made us watch from afar.’
He remembered his father being young and active. However, Chief Su l s children had grown up and had children, and he had become old now. Su Fengzhang felt bitter-sweet when he looked at his father’s gray hair.
Fortunately, every household was well-off now, so Chief Su did not have to worry much. Su Fengzhang just wanted his parents to be happy.
“You were the eldest and had to care for your younger siblings,” Chief Su said,
“Sometimes, you couldn’t even go out to play when you wanted to.”
Su Fengzhang responded, “It was exciting to be with my younger brothers, so I didn’t need to go outside to play.”
Although he wanted to go out and play when he was younger, he had to stay home to watch his younger brothers. However, he did not mind it. After all, he had to be responsible as the eldest sibling.
Still, the kinship was mutual. Su Fengzhang was grateful to his younger brothers, especially Su Fengmao, for helping him improve his living conditions. Su Fengmao felt deeply moved by his brothers’ kindness.
At that moment, Su Fengzhang asked his father to sit on a chair beside him.
Then he went to the door with his younger siblings to set off the firecrackers.
The sky was already dark, but every household had lanterns by their doors.
The lanterns lit up the courtyards and streets, and everyone could see clearly. Everything was red, from the ground to the red paper from the firecrackers.
Su Fengzhang and Su Fengmao hung two strips of firecrackers at the door. After lighting them, the siblings ran to a distance to watch the firecrackers pop.
Soon, the sound of firecrackers echoed, making everyone laugh. At that moment, Su Binglan brought the cake to the hall, saying, “Come on,
Granduncle Su and Grandaunt Su, let’s eat the cake together.” Everyone saw the cream on the cake Su Binglan had brought in.
“T-That’s the cream cake?”
“It’s huge!’
Everyone sat up from the brick bed to look at the cake.
“This is what a cream cake is. I’ll use a small knife to cut it, and then we can eat it.”
“l see,” Grandaunt Su chuckled, “It looks lovely, Binglan.” Su Wenchi asked, ‘Cousin Binglan, can I taste the cream?”
“Yes, of course. I also added some fruit.’
Su Binglan had used the fruits she had placed in her pocket dimension. She had preserved them so they were as fresh as they came. She peeled their skin and cut them into pieces before decorating the cake with them.
Everyone looked at the cake and exclaimed.
“Let’s sing Happy New Year and eat the cake together!”
“Happy, happy, New Year! Best wishes to you! Happy, happy, smile…”
Su Binglan hummed a tune, and everyone sang along. Everyone laughed and hugged each other as they sang.
Su Binglan said, “Cut the cake, Grandaunt Su.”
The older woman chuckled as she cut the cake according to her grandniece’s instructions. Soon, everyone had a piece together and realized how delicious it was.
“Binglan wasn’t lying when she said it was soft and fragrant. I barely need to use my teeth since it melts in my mouth.” Su Wenwu took a big bite. He liked the cream on top because it was sweet.
Chief Su and Grandaunt Su were full of praise. Although they had trouble eating solid foods because of their poor teeth, they enjoyed eating the soft cake,
“It’s the most delicious thing ever. It’s different from the snacks and desserts you used to make, Binglan.”
“Yes, it’s tastier and softer than those snacks.’
Everyone praised the cake nonstop. Even Su Xuexuan, Su Xuehai, and Su Xuerui enjoyed eating it.
Su Wenwu looked at Su Binglan gratefully and said, “Thank you for cooking all this food tonight, Little Sister.”
“Don’t worry about overeating since the cake is easy to digest,” Su Binglan said..