Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Chapter 302: Toffee Milk Candy

Jiang Shangxian touched his nose, shy but also with a hint of pride: "My nose is very sensitive, I guarantee this medicine won't be too bitter."

Zhao Yue: .....

What on earth is there to be proud of?

"My second sister-in-law is so lucky. Miss Jiang is really thoughtful." Cui Shuhua covered her face with a sweet osmanthus wood fan painted with colorful butterflies... Oh no, it was to cover her overly arrogant smile.

But these words touched Zhao Yue's heart: "Yes, a good son and a good daughter-in-law, how can it not be considered a blessing? Now, I am just waiting for her to marry in soon and give me grandchildren."

Since it’s already been decided, let’s hope for the baby soon!

Before he was five years old, Cui Bianxu was as cute as a little dumpling. He spoke in a baby voice, and when he called her "mother", people's hearts melted.

This person, once he grows up, he won't be cute anymore...

She was actually looking forward to having grandchildren who were as thin as dough.

Cui Shuhua realized that her second sister-in-law had given up hope.

She could understand it. Since she had already accepted this daughter-in-law, she had to protect her. Otherwise, if someone found out, she would not only offend her son but also make others laugh at her.

It seems...this second sister-in-law is not that stupid after all.

Zhao Yue waited resentfully as Cui Shuhua ate her food gracefully in small sips. She felt the medicine in her mouth was becoming more and more bitter, so she simply tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

How could medicinal juice be any better if it weren't bitter? If there weren't outsiders around, her face would have wrinkled, but because Cui Shuhua was there, she had no choice but to wipe the corners of her lips with a handkerchief without changing her expression.

Just as she was sulking, a chubby little hand came to her mouth. She subconsciously leaned back a little and looked up just in time to see Jiang Shangxian's wide-open smile: "Madam, this is fennel milk candy. I made it myself. Try it. I guarantee it won't be bitter."

Only then did Zhao Yue see clearly that she was holding a milky white, square candy in her hand. She really wanted to eat it, but she still had the same reason: Cui Shuhua was there and she had to save face!

"It's just a bowl of medicine, why do you need to eat candy? You're not a child, eat it yourself." Zhao Yue felt a little embarrassed because he was afraid of the bitterness of the medicine and let his daughter-in-law, who was not yet married, feed it to his mouth.

Jiang Shangxian's greatest hobby was feeding her. He wouldn't let her refuse, so he stuffed the food into her mouth and said, "Madam, try it. It's delicious. There's nothing else like it in Chang'an. It's the only one of its kind! If you like it, I have a purse here to keep for you to enjoy."

"Well...."

Zhao Yue hadn't expected her to be so bold as to stuff it directly into her mouth. Just as she was about to scold her, a cool, milky sweetness filled the air. Instinctively, she took a bite and asked in surprise, "Soft?"

"Yes, it's made with cow's milk. It doesn't have that weird smell of goat's milk, camel's milk, or horse's milk. It tastes good, right? Hehe." Looking at her reaction, Xiao Jiang knew that this was the taste that his future mother-in-law would like!

He immediately pulled out a purse from his small cloth bag and placed it in her palm. "I'll make some more flavored candies. Bring some back next time. Madam, enjoy them slowly. My mother said that women should eat more sweets, as they are like water."

Zhao Yue stopped chewing after just a few bites, even though she really wanted to keep chewing. This was the first time she had ever eaten candy that became softer the more she chewed and had a milky aroma. What a pity...

She glanced at Cui Shuhua, who was looking at her with a smile, and immediately opened her purse to take a look. Inside were pieces of 茇蓮 toffee candies wrapped in transparent tissue paper. "Hey, what's wrapped in these? I thought I tasted something just now, but it's gone in the blink of an eye."

"Rice paper! It's made from glutinous rice flour. It's as thin as a cicada's wing and melts in water, making it perfect for wrapping candies." When Jiang Shangxian was a child, he ate White Rabbit milk candies and his favorite part was the glutinous rice paper wrapping them!

(The history of glutinous rice can be traced back to the earliest rice farming period in China. It was first recorded in oracle bone inscriptions and was called "稌". It was renamed "駫" during the Han Dynasty and "秫" after the Western Jin Dynasty.)

Zhao Yue hadn't expected this thing to be made of glutinous rice. She couldn't help but pick one up and hold it up to the light for a closer look, a smile on her face. "Child, I thought you were just clever with your hands, but I didn't expect you to be so clever with your mind as well."

Lian Huan also watched curiously. When he heard his master praising someone, he immediately said, "Only someone as smart as Miss Jiang could make something like this. Stupid servants like us couldn't even think of it."

She was Zhao Yue's personal maid, and had always been highly regarded by Zhao Yue. Her words naturally touched people's hearts, and Zhao Yue immediately beckoned her: "Come, try it too."

Perhaps because she was in a good mood and wanted to show off, she even asked Lianhuan to take the purse to let Cui Shuhua taste it.

According to her thinking, Cui Shuhua would definitely not eat it, but who knew that she not only ate it, but also directly put the whole thing into her purse: "I am eating very well. Second sister-in-law, why don't you let me have it today, and bring some more when Miss Jiang comes tomorrow?"

Cui Shuhua also likes to eat this 茇膽 milk candy. Not only is it rich in milk flavor, but it is also not too sweet. In particular, the unique coolness of 茇膽 is especially delicious.

Zhao Yue's good mood was completely gone after being outmaneuvered. She almost couldn't keep up her fake smile. She didn't want to give it to him.

She plans to chew it vigorously even after everyone leaves!

But since Cui Shuhua asked for it, it would seem stingy of her not to give it to her. After all, it was just a little candy.

Jiang Shangxian said seriously, "If Aunt likes it, I'll bring it back tomorrow. But first things first, Madam needs to take medicine tonight, and this is perfect for when she has a bitter taste in her mouth."

Zhao Yue was moved when she saw Jiang Shangxian's straight back. The feeling of being protected by someone was wonderful. She could feel her hands outside the quilt going slightly numb, and a sour feeling rose in her nose. She opened her mouth to scold him, but no sound came out - she thought her throat might not have healed yet.

In the inner house, scolding someone is not necessarily for the sake of scolding, sometimes it is also for the sake of protecting them.

It's basically like this: I've scolded this person before, you can't scold him again! If you do, it's too much!

Cui Shuhua had never thought that there was someone in the world who could speak so clearly and bluntly. For a moment she felt that she had misheard.

If it was Jiang Shangxian who spoke in a yin-yang way, she would be able to handle it with ease, but she was so serious, and her seriousness was meaningless, as if she only had one meaning when she spoke: Today's candy is for Zhao Yue, and I'll give you tomorrow's.

Cui Shuhua was a person of good manners after all. After a few breaths, she half-hid her face with her fan and said with a smile, "You kid, when you say that, it makes me sound like I'm greedy. If you say so, next time you give me something and someone else wants it, will you refuse to give it to them?"