Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 115: Chapter 63 Relaxing At The Foot Of Baili Mountain_2

The young wife paused, her eyes dazzled by Gu Changsheng’s smile. Seeing her like this, she stepped forward with a shy smile on her face, “Today is the Double Seven Festival, I made some flower cakes and have brought some over for you.”

Gu Changsheng glanced at her belly, which was clearly visible under her thin summer shirt, and without any pretense, she smiled and took the basket from her hands, lifting the blue cloth, her smile growing wider, “Sister-in-law Lan Cao has really skillful hands, these flower cakes are so beautifully made, look how lifelike the chicken and ducks are.”

Flattered by the praise, the young wife beamed even more brightly and warmly responded, “Mine aren’t all that good, don’t praise me so much. By the way, my home is just next to yours.” The young wife pointed to the courtyard to the east, “My name is Lan Cao, what’s yours?”

“I’m Changsheng.” Gu Changsheng covered the basket again with the cloth and held it in her arms as they began to chat about domestic affairs, “Is Sister Lan Cao expecting?”

“Yes, a little over four months now.” Lan Cao looked at Gu Changsheng bashfully, but, seeing that she was also dressed as a woman, felt a bit less shy, “Sister Changsheng, you look like a city lady. What brought you to our village to live?”

“The weather has been so hot, and I just happen to need to go up the mountain to collect some medicinal herbs. The family is taking this chance to do some renovations, so we moved here for the time being.”

...

“Sister Changsheng, you’re planning to go into the mountains?” Lan Cao looked at her with concern and shook her head, “That’s not good at all. Baili Mountain might not look like much, but it’s a tough climb, and the paths are treacherous. There are also many dangerous animals like jackals, wolves, blind bears, and such. You really shouldn’t go into the mountains!”

“Now that you mention it, I was actually hoping to ask you about something. Does anyone in the village regularly go up the mountain and knows their way around? I’m just going to look for some herbs, it shouldn’t be dangerous.” Gu Changsheng and Lan Cao, one inside the gate and the other outside, were leaning against the door frame, deep in conversation.

“Ah, you’ve come to the right person. My father-in-law and my man often go up the mountains to hunt. Autumn has just started, and my father-in-law is thinking of heading up in a few days; I can ask him for you. You mustn’t go up by yourself, it’s too risky.” Lan Cao was happy to be of help.

Gu Changsheng chatted with her for a few more moments, then Lan Cao, needing to prepare dinner, took her leave.

As soon as Lan Cao was gone, Gu Changsheng couldn’t wait to take a flower cake shaped like a little chicken out of the basket and stuff it into her mouth. Made of glutinous rice flour, the cake had a sweet filling in the belly of the chicken. Although it wasn’t exquisite, it had a full flavor of the countryside and was quite delicious.

“Son, son, come quickly, our neighbors have brought over something tasty…” Gu Changsheng called out, heading back to the table set up in the courtyard as she beckoned Little Meat Bun, who was still inside the house working on the swing.

At the mention of food, Little Meat Bun came running quickly, his body still covered with wood shavings, and Han Mo followed behind him.

Gu Changsheng gave each of them a small flower cake and, seeing Xiao Leizi also come running at the word of food, she reluctantly gave away the last one to her.

The four small flower cakes were quickly consumed by the group.

After finishing, Dong Lei inquired, still wanting more, “Wife, did these come from the neighbors?”

“Yes, they were brought by Sister Lan Cao from next door.” Gu Changsheng nodded her head.

“There’s a sweet filling inside, sugar is something ordinary families hold dear.” Dong Lei sighed.

“I was about to discuss this with you. Today is the Double Seven Festival, and since we’ve just moved in, which is a happy occasion of its own, we should send some pastries to the neighbors to get acquainted, Xiao Leizi, go make some quickly.”

Dong Lei bowed and answered, then happily skipped off toward the kitchen.

“Make plenty. They don’t have to be too fancy; just tasty will do.” Gu Changsheng added another instruction.

“Got it, wife.” Dong Lei replied from inside the kitchen, starting her pastry-making endeavor.

“Wife, aren’t you going to make some too? Making flower cakes on the Double Seven Festival means you’ll be dexterous in the coming year.” Xiao Cui came out from the house, taking the bedding off the clothesline.

“There’s a particular practice for this?” Gu Changsheng was stunned; she only knew that in modern times, Double Seven Festival was China’s Valentine’s Day.

“Yes, it’s for praying for skillfulness. By making steamed flower cake on Double Seven Festival, girls pray for craftiness and dexterity in the coming year. Tonight, it’s to be offered to the Goddess of the Moon. Lady Changsheng, you should hurry. I’ll go and make some too after a while,” Xiao Cui said as she headed back inside the house.

Gu Changsheng touched her chin and blinked several times. Then she darted towards the kitchen.

Although she seldom cooked, it didn’t mean she couldn’t.

“Lady, are you also going to steam a flower cake?” Dong Lei, who was kneading dough, asked with puzzlement as he saw Lady Changsheng entering.

The Lady Changsheng seldom entered the kitchen; truly, she was a lady who did not dabble in mundane tasks.

“What’s wrong? Can’t I?” Dong Lei’s skeptical gaze deeply provoked Gu Changsheng, who shot him a look that could kill, and snorted with her nose, “Even an amateur monk can strike the bell, you dare to look down on me. Just you wait!”

She tied her long hair in a ponytail, put on an apron, and rolled up her sleeves.

Dong Lei stopped his task and sized up his lady, clicking his tongue in amazement, “My lady, I must say, you do seem quite the part.”

“Step aside, experts show their skill with a single move. Stay aside and watch carefully,” Gu Changsheng said as she took an empty mixing bowl and began skillfully mixing flour and eggs.

Soon the doorway filled with members of the household, each craning their necks to watch. It was a rare sight to see the lady cooking!

Gu Changsheng was not just putting on a show. She filled the dough with sweet filling, shaped it with molds and swiftly placed them on the steamer.

The onlookers were flabbergasted. The lady was really skilled in the kitchen; her complete set of actions was fluid and fast. So fast!

“Come, have a taste!” Gu Changsheng held out a plate, her smile beckoning everyone to try.

“Lady, you’re truly kind,” Dong Lei, in front of the food, responded the quickest. He snatched a pentagon-shaped flower cake from the plate, not forgetting to compliment her.

“It’s my first time cooking. I wonder if it might poison someone. You all can be my guinea pigs. If you’re poisoned, I might still be able to save you,” she said.

Everyone’s hands, previously reaching out, suddenly stopped in hesitation, unsure whether to take one or not. The lady was truly…

The news reached the County Prince’s Mansion. Eunuch Yuan Bao, holding the Commandery Prince’s letter, kicked the guard who delivered the message, “You’re so careless, utterly careless! Lady Changsheng was cooking and you didn’t think to sneak some for me? I could have had someone rush it to the front lines. That way, I might not have been scolded so harshly by our master!”

The guard retreated step back, aggrieved, and couldn’t help but mutter while touching his nose, “If you would steal a piece for me to see…”

Steal something from Lady Changsheng? Wasn’t that a wild fancy? Each time he lurked around, he could feel Lady Changsheng’s barely hidden disdainful gaze, and from that look, he could decipher profound mockery!

“Besides, in this hot weather, by the time it reached the front lines, wouldn’t it be spoiled…”

“Get lost!” Eunuch Yuan Bao was caught off guard, then turned and lamented, “Why is my life so hard…”