Chapter 367 New Year’s Eve Treats (3)

Ah Bing and Tang Yuan didn't talk much when they were working, and Ji Caimai was busy calculating accounts every day. Apart from the sound of moving the abacus, he rarely made any other sounds.

In addition to the new dishes that required teaching Ah Bing the same glutinous rice balls, whenever he was busy preparing three meals, the public kitchen was quiet except for the sound of preparing and chopping vegetables.

Today... seems to be no different from the past. But... Wen Mingtang, who was cutting vegetables and meat on the chopping board, suddenly stopped and subconsciously raised his head to look around: It was too quiet, and she was suddenly not used to it.

When I first entered the public kitchen, I was alone. I didn't feel like this at that time. But after being together for a long time, the word "emotion" came together day by day, and it became different.

Sighing with emotion, Wen Mingtang put down the knife and threw the vegetables he had cut into the pot. He watched the noodle soup in the pot change from calm to "gurgling" and slowly bubbling, and couldn't help but murmur. : "I hope everything goes well for them, and I hope nothing happens to Lao Yuan and the others."

As the New Year approaches, the busier the streets outside, the fewer people there are in the yamen. During the evening meal, only half of the food tables in the hall, which is usually almost empty, are filled with people.

After the evening meal, the handymen had cleaned up the public kitchen. Wen Mingtang, who had originally returned to the house, came to the public kitchen again, took out several "ovens" made after Lin Fei's "oven" and started baking. Peach blossom cakes, egg yolk cakes and other "new" pastries.

…

…

Just after the Youshi hour of the evening meal, Xu Shi arrived, and the night guard in the Yamen of Dali Temple got up to close the gate of the Yamen.

Although it is a night watch, the doors of Da Rong's various ministries are closed at night. If something happens, just tell the night watchman inside in advance and remember to leave the door open.

In addition, some yamen such as Dali Temple yamen also have drums to call people inside to open the door.

The concierge took the two days off and went back early to celebrate the New Year, so the doorman opened and closed the door. He walked to the door and closed it. Just when he was about to unbolt it, he was greeted by Lin Fei who suddenly came.

When he saw Lin Fei suddenly appearing in front of the door, the guard was startled, and just as he was about to salute, he saw Lin Fei wave his hand and said: "I'll come to the warehouse to check some files, you can just go and do your work!" "

After saying that, he walked straight towards the warehouse at the back of his head.

When he passed by the public kitchen courtyard and saw the light coming from the public kitchen courtyard, Lin Fei froze. Thinking of what Zhao You had said when he brought Mu Shi back, about Tangyuan and others going to Xianyang, he was silent for a moment and walked in.

The lights on both sides of the dining table have been turned off, but all the lights in the front kitchen and on the countertop are on, and a familiar figure is busy with his back to him.

Fragrances such as frankincense, sweetness, wheat, etc. spread out from the pot that Wen Mingtang renamed as "oven". The girl's hands were as skillful as flowers, shaping the pastries on the counter into various meaningful shapes. From time to time, I check the cookedness of various cakes in the "oven".

After Lin Fei stared at the girl's busy back for a moment, he suddenly turned around and walked out of the kitchen. After half a stick of incense, he came back again.

When he returned this time, he still had a few files in his hand. After staring at the cakes that had been "taken out of the pan" for a moment, he walked to the food table closest to the counter, sat down, and opened the files. , looked at it carefully.

Wen Mingtang was worried about Tang Yuan, Lao Yuan and the others, and was really upset, so he didn't dare to let himself have any free time to think about it. When you just focus on doing things, you can put these worries aside for the time being.

There are many types of pastries for New Year's Eve snacks. In addition to their shapes, their fillings are also different. Just by looking at the prepared fillings arranged one after another and in different colors, you can see their intentions.

Lin Fei was not keen on cakes before, but after eating her Mid-Autumn Festival moon cake gift box, Double Ninth Festival cakes and other snacks, she began to look forward to the chef's New Year's Eve snacks.

It's just that Concubine Xiangjing suddenly intervened, but fortunately there were many people who cared about this pastry as much as he did, such as Yu Jijiu and others who came forward to persuade Zhao Mengzhuo before him, and the public chef finally came out. This is a small batch of New Year's Eve treats.

Because there are a lot of fillings, each pastry tastes different, and the taste of many fillings is really "new" to Tai Wing. Therefore, Wen Mingtang also writes the taste of each pastry on the gift box. The ingredients are used so that those with dietary restrictions will not eat it.

The usual fillings such as bean paste, sesame, walnuts, date paste, etc. are just that. As for pastries with floral, fruity, and milk aromas, many of them are in love with them. Those who don’t like them won’t even touch them, so they have to write about them. bright.

The finished pastries are taken out of the "oven" and placed on the countertop, exuding a strong aroma.

Wen Mingtang took a deep breath and couldn't help but sigh: "Although it doesn't matter if these pastries are eaten cold, most of them are more delicious freshly baked!"

Lin Fei, who was flipping through the file, stopped what he was doing and took a deep breath. Unlike today's pastry chefs in Da Rong, some pastries made by Wen Mingtang also add milk and butter made from milk, so These pastries have a frankincense that is different from ordinary pastries.

Some people can't eat milk, and they will suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, but he can eat it, and he also enjoys this pastry with milk.

After sighing with emotion, Wen Mingtang picked up an egg yolk cake on the table, oh no, named it "Reunion Crispy" in the New Year's Eve snack box. When he was about to taste the finished product, he heard Lin Fei's voice came from behind: "It really smells good!"

When Wen Mingtang heard this, his expression froze. He turned around to look at Lin Fei, who had come to the public kitchen at an unknown time. He paused and couldn't help but hold his forehead: "Lin Shaoqing, you have to change your habit of making sudden noises behind your back. You often appear suddenly. It’s all shocking!”

Hearing this, Lin Fei raised his eyebrows in surprise. Immediately, he nodded calmly and said "Yeah" and said, "No need." After saying that, he turned his eyes to the cake in her hand and asked. He asked: "What is the name of this golden and round cake?"

Wen Mingtang glanced at the egg yolk cake in his hand and said, "Reunion cake."

The meaning of New Year's Eve is quite important, so it is extremely necessary to choose an "auspicious" name.

Lin Fei opened his mouth and said again: "It smells good."

Wen Mingtang: "..."

After talking about this, she couldn't do anything like waiting for herself to eat while Lin Fei watched. Not to mention, you have to taste the taste of so many cakes and whether they are cooked inside after baking before putting them in the box. She couldn't fit even one belly.

So Wen Mingtang took the knife, cut the reunion cake in his hand, handed half of it to Lin Fei, and said, "That's it... let me use Lin Shaoqing's tongue to taste the taste of these cakes." After a pause, He added, "Some of the fillings are really new, and I'm a little nervous, fearing that people won't like them."

This is really beautiful to say and there is nothing wrong with it.

Lin Fei took the pastry from her, said "Thank you", coughed dryly, and said, "Let me take a look at the pastry flavor list that comes with the box."

After eating the cakes, I had to help with some things. Not to mention... thinking about what Zhao You said about Tangyuan and others going to Xianyang, he also had something to ask her.