Making Radish Cake
Li Yanhao knew about Su Lanxiang's situation, but he didn't really care about any woman other than Su Li. So, he was unaware of how Su Lanxiang's illness was progressing.
"I don't know, don't bother me, scram!" Li Yanhao impatiently waved his hand and turned to walk far away with Xiao Yun.
Su Shimao clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and suppressed the anger from being humiliated and looked down upon.
He was determined to find out news about Su Lanxiang today, but he had to be subtle, or else he'd arouse suspicion.
After some thought, Su Shimao decided to go home and wait a few more days. After all, Su Lanxiang would eventually return home; she couldn’t stay cooped up in Su Li’s house forever.
As long as Su Lanxiang left Su Li’s house, they would have a chance to abduct her!
These past few days, Su Lanxiang had been staying at Su Li’s house, eating well and sleeping well. The young girl had grown up enduring hardships, so she wasn’t physically weak. She quickly recovered from her illness and, within days, was already hopping around the fields, playing with Yin Dou, Li Huahua, and Gu Yu.
At this moment, Su Li was in the kitchen making radish cakes for the children. Yuanbao was holding a kitchen knife, slicing the big radish into thin strips.
Su Li leaned against the rack by the stove, smiling warmly as she watched Yuanbao cut the radish.
"Yuanbao, your knife skills aren’t bad at all! You’re slicing the radish quickly and neatly, each strip distinct and evenly sized. Not bad, not bad—you’ve got the makings of a chef!" Su Li teased with a smile.
Outside the kitchen, Xiao Yun, dutiful as ever, twitched the corner of his mouth: "Madam, our general leads soldiers in battle, how could he be a chef!"
But obviously, Yuanbao took the compliment to heart, smiling with eyes nearly closed: "They say a good wife means a good husband!"
"Gross, so cheesy!" Next to him, Li Yanhao squatted peeling garlic, sticking his tongue out at the couple’s PDA until Xiao Yun covered his mouth: "Don’t disturb our masters."
Li Yanhao glared, signaling he’d stop talking if only they’d let go. Xiao Yun finally released his grip.
The radish was all sliced into thin strips, white and tender, neatly arranged in a porcelain basin. Su Li sprinkled some fine salt and mixed it evenly with chopsticks, letting it marinate for a while. The radish strips released quite a bit of water. Then she squeezed the radish strips into a ball by hand, pressing out the excess water. She placed them in another large porcelain bowl, mixed in flour, sugar, and oil evenly, then used molds to press out beautiful cake shapes. They were steamed until cooked and could be dipped in sweet rose sauce before eating!
At the kitchen door, Su Lanxiang poked her head in, watching Su Li and Yuanbao press the radish cakes, looking eager to try.
"Lanxiang, want to give it a try too?" Su Li turned back and smiled at her little cousin.
Su Lanxiang was a bit shy but obediently nodded.
"Come here, wash your hands clean." Su Li beckoned to her. Su Lanxiang grinned widely, quickly washed her hands, and stood beside Su Li.
"Here, like this, press tightly with this mold..." Su Li patiently taught Su Lanxiang, who learned quickly and soon could press radish cakes independently.
She held up a small rabbit-shaped radish cake and said, "Sister Ali, look, do my radish cakes look good?"
"Not bad, not bad, Lanxiang did very well!" Su Li nodded.
"Wife, look at the flower-shaped radish cake I pressed, isn’t it pretty?" Yuanbao also held up his radish cake seeking praise.
"Pretty, all of yours are pretty!" Su Li smiled even more, poking Yuanbao’s nose with her flour-covered finger. "You’re always like a child."
Yuanbao said in a muffled voice, "I heard that a man is always a child in front of the woman he loves."
"Ugh, gross, so cheesy!" Outside the door, Li Yanhao struggled as Xiao Yun dragged him away under his arm. "I’m not leaving, hey, I’m not leaving! Don’t cover my mouth..."