Food Intelligence King

Chapter 140 We finally got to eat something real! Aunt Tao's Little Ledger
The first baking is to set the shape of the mooncakes. The second baking involves brushing them with egg wash and baking them again to achieve the final result.

Soon, the first batch of mooncakes was baked.

Old Meng had been waiting in the shop for a long time, because he also had his own business. He went back and forth, chatting about everything under the sun, and they had started talking about the weather for the National Day holiday.

While Tony was hanging towels to dry outdoors, he asked Lao Meng for directions, and with a towel draped over his shoulder, he came in.

"Brother, I've come to get the mooncakes."

Chen Zhou smiled and said, "Just out of the oven."

Logically speaking, mooncakes should be left to rest for one or two days after baking to allow the oil to seep back into the mooncakes.

Old Meng probably understood the principle: a small amount of moisture in the filling seeps into the crust, and the oil is forced out from the inside out.

At that time, the crust will be even shinier.

This is the best way to enjoy it.

But Lao Meng didn't say that wouldn't be like weaving a cocoon around yourself!
"Hehe, have a hot one."

Chen Zhou couldn't believe that Lao Meng, who explained the principles of making syrup in such detail, wouldn't know the function of oil return.

They tacitly allowed the two neighbors to try it while it was still hot.

"Come on, come on, hurry up."

The freshly baked mooncakes are piping hot.

When the lips approached, I felt a warm temperature.

The brown crust, with its slightly rough pores, was radiating heat due to the temperature.

A fragrant aroma wafted out.

The filling has a rich, dry aroma of nuts, a hint of floral fragrance, and the refreshing scent of green plums.

Tony, with his delicate fingers raised, picked up the mooncake, blew on it twice, and finally put it in his mouth.

The crust looked firm, but it was surprisingly soft when you bit into it.

Then there's the filling.

Tony was busy eating and didn't have time to glance at the opening.

Old Meng needs to demonstrate sufficient professionalism.

So he examined it for a few seconds—the visible nut pieces were lumped together, with a few green and red specks adding a touch of color and making the meat-colored filling less monotonous.

Savor it carefully, and you'll find the nuts are fragrant and crispy, and the crust is oily and moist.

Just the right amount of sweetness

The candied fruit peel in the five-nut mooncake is the most surprising and delightful surprise.

First, it has the softest texture, but it's not sticky.

Secondly, the taste is completely different from that of ripe nuts. You can taste the aroma of roses, as well as the sweet and sour taste of green plums.

Old Meng exclaimed, "This is what a five-nut mooncake should be!"

Meng Da neither liked nor disliked the five-nut mooncake; he just couldn't resist having a couple every year.

Having eaten the mooncakes from the community canteen, he felt:
I've finally gotten to eat something real.

With each chew, the movement of the lips and teeth stirs up the mooncakes that are already mixed together in the mouth.

That sweet aroma then burst forth.

Until it fills the mouth and nasal cavity.

Tony had completely forgotten what he had said a few days ago and said again, "This five-nut mooncake is so delicious! I love five-nut mooncakes the most."

Chen Zhou reminded him, "Hey, you said before that you weren't in a hurry and would wait a bit longer, wasn't that you?"

“No,” Tony denied immediately, “My name is Zhou Yang.”

This was the first time Chen Zhou had learned Tony's real name.

Besides the two neighbors, there are many other customers in the group who have ordered mooncakes. Chen Zhou announced this in the owners' group.

Have the people who ordered today's mooncakes come and pick them up.

The list of names has been printed out. Zihan's mother was the first to arrive and helped check the list.

At noon, Ms. Lin picked up Aunt Tao Tao and brought her back, while Chen Zhou finished his business.

Three adults and one child ate lunch together.

The location was chosen by Aunt Tao Tao.

It's that upscale restaurant near the neighborhood.

The restaurant owner had even met Chen Zhou before; after all, they both did business on the same street, and he had tried the steamed buns from the community canteen. Upon seeing Chen Zhou this time, he took the initiative to invite him over:

"Our head chef is here today, try his signature dish."

Chen Zhou exchanged a few polite words with the other party.

But Lin Yiling had even ordered the food.

After the four of them sat down, Aunt Tao Tao said, "If there's anything else you'd like to eat, please add it."

She handed the menu to her younger sister. They looked at it in turn.

Four hot dishes, one cold dish, and a soup; there wasn't much else to ask for.

Chen Zhou said, "My shop makes its own five-nut mooncakes, which taste good after a couple of days. Let's try some today."

Chen Taotao didn't stand on ceremony with her aunt and ordered another dessert.

But then he turned around and started eating the mooncakes his father had made.

Aunt Tao Tao originally wanted to tell her niece not to eat too much, as there would be more good food later.

But after taking the mooncake from his younger sister, he took two bites and swallowed his words along with the mooncake.

My brother-in-law's cooking skills are really good.

Booking this restaurant was completely unnecessary. Oh well, never mind.

During the meal, the group chatted quite a bit about their parents and raising children.

Aunt Tao Tao shared her experiences and insights from the perspective of someone who has been through it all.

But before we knew it, we were caught in a question-and-answer session.

Of course, it's usually Aunt Tao who asks the questions.

Ms. Lin lowered her head, and Chen Zhou felt that his wife had already been questioned.

Lin Yiling also asked Chen Zhou about opening a shop.

Although her job wasn't very stable, the business sounded good, so Lin Yiling didn't take it to heart.

After dinner, Chen Zhou originally planned to tell Aunt Tao Tao to go home and rest first.

But Lin Yiling has a very impatient personality.

She came here as a tourist, and her itinerary was very tight.

So the family accompanied her on her trip to the seaside city.

The first place we visited was the school near the Sunshine City residential area.

"Tao Tao will be starting elementary school next year. Have you found a school yet? I remember when you first bought the house, you said you were going to build a nine-year compulsory education school?"

The couple replied, "It's finished. We've already enrolled two classes of new students. Tao Tao will be studying here."

Lin Yiling had learned about Haibin No. 2 Middle School and estimated that its affiliated school would not be too bad, but the new school was full of young people, which had its pros and cons.

She was young once too.

Then there's the hospital.

Chen Zhou pointed to his sister-in-law: "It's a top-tier hospital, but it's a traditional Chinese medicine hospital."

Lin Yiling nodded: "Don't spend all your time watching the arguments online. Traditional Chinese medicine hospitals also have modern medical methods; as long as they can cure diseases, that's fine."

Then there's the subway, and the surrounding shopping malls and farmers' markets.
Lin Yiling's trip was essentially a tour around her sister's house.

A very detailed investigation was conducted on issues related to clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

When we walked back into the residential area...

Lin Yiling called Chen Taotao over alone and walked behind her.

She asked the little girl a few math problems.

Chen Taotao's Go class lasts two hours each time, and almost an hour of that time is spent by Teacher Qi teaching her math.

Dealing with my aunt's questions was a piece of cake.

Not even a finger is needed.

Lin Yiling smiled with satisfaction. She then asked:

"What about pinyin? Have you studied English?"

"learned!"

I've learned a bit about it all; Ms. Lin even prepared the peaches last night.

The little girl just got them mixed up.

Lin Yiling made a mental note of it.

Hearing the conversation between the two people behind him, Chen Zhou turned around and looked at them, then said to his wife, Ququ:
"Why do I feel like your sister looks a bit like my junior high school dean of students?"

Ms. Lin nodded. "It already is."

She then instructed Chen Zhou, "Don't take what my sister says to heart."

Chen Zhou did speak up for his wife's sister because of the intelligence: "Actually, your sister is a good person."

Ms. Lin rolled her eyes at him: "Then you go with her."

“No,” Chen Zhou smiled, “she won’t roll her eyes halfway through.”

Elbow strike.

They went upstairs and entered the house, where they changed their shoes.

This is something that almost shouldn't be discussed further.

But after Aunt Tao Tao changed into slippers, she straightened all the shoes that the family of three had casually kicked off.

I made another note of it in my mind.

(End of this chapter)