Chapter 36: The County Magistrate Has Arrived

The Village head felt quite pleased. Since Hu Zhaodi would only come to his home after dinner, he could prepare even more thoroughly.

Upon returning to the village entrance, the head village got off the ox cart and handed over the severance document to Hu Zhaodi, then excitedly headed home.

Mr. Ji was driving the ox cart back home, where the three Ji brothers, their sisters-in-law, and Mrs. Ji were waiting eagerly in the yard.

Early in the morning, Mrs. Ji had told them to stay home and make the vegetable cake together, and now they were looking forward to Hu Zhaodi’s return.

As soon as Hu Zhaodi came back, the three Ji brothers rushed over to help unload the cart.

Hu Zhaodi handed two food boxes to Mrs. Ji, saying, “Auntie, please put these inside. We can heat them up together for dinner.”

Mrs. Ji received the food boxes and replied, “Okay, girl, go inside and rest a bit. Have some water.”

The eldest sister-in-law smiled and said, “Zhaodi, how do you plan to make the vegetable cake? Just tell us what to do; you just got back, so take a break first.”

Hu Zhaodi replied with a smile, “I am a bit tired. Sister-in-law, can you chop the mouse grass? Then add corn flour, soaked rice, and glutinous rice. I’ll go get some sugar.”

Fifth Sister-in-law  chimed in, “Zhaodi, you just got back; rest a bit first. I’ll go get some sugar from Mom.”

Mrs. Ji looked embarrassed and said, “What sugar do we have at home?”

Hu Zhaodi smiled and said, “I have some. I asked the owner of Fuman Building for it today, and it’s in my backpack. Sister-in-law, find a stick and smash the sugar chunks; we’ll need to put them in the wild vegetable cakes later.”

“Okay,” Sister-in-law Five replied and went to find a stick to smash the old rock candy.

In ancient times, sugar came in large blocks, and if Hu Zhaodi took out white sugar, the Ji family would surely be shocked and might even question her about it.

Fortunately, she had prepared in advance; the large piece of rock candy resembled the sugar used in ancient times, so it wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

After resting a little under the eaves, Hu Zhaodi got up to help make the wild vegetable cakes.

Sister-in-law Ji chopped the mouse grass, while Mrs. Ji added corn flour, soaked rice, and glutinous rice.

Hu Zhaodi added the smashed rock candy from Sister-in-law Five, sprinkled some water to moisten the flour, and finally mixed it all together.

Once mixed evenly, it was placed in a steamer to cook.

Since the rice and glutinous rice hadn’t been ground into flour, they had to be steamed twice.

After the first steaming, it was poured into a large basin, more water was sprinkled on, and then it was stirred before being placed back in the steamer.

Once the rice and glutinous rice were fully cooked, some of it was poured into a stone mortar. Mr. Ji and Mr. Ji San used a wooden pestle to pound it, just like making rice cakes.

The three Ji sisters-in-law had already set the table outside, wiping it clean.

When the dough was pounded enough, they took it out and placed it on the table. The three Ji brothers, Mrs. Ji, and Hu Zhaodi then set to work shaping the dough into cakes.

The three Ji brothers took turns pounding the dough; it was definitely a labor-intensive task.

Meanwhile, the kids nearby were drawn over by the delicious smell, continuously swallowing.

Hu Zhaodi smiled and pinched off a small piece of dough for each of them, saying, “Eat just a little; there will be meat later. If you fill up now, you won’t be able to eat any meat.”

“Okay,” the kids replied in unison.

They stuffed the dough into their mouths. Although it was just wild vegetable cake dough, no family would make it as generously as Hu Zhaodi did.

With both rice and glutinous rice, plus the precious addition of sugar.

How many children in Dawai Village could eat sugar?

The kids exclaimed with delight, “So tasty, sweet!”

“Wow! So sweet! I’ve never had such fragrant and sweet wild vegetable cakes before.”

“So delicious!”

Hu Zhaodi pinched off a small piece, chewed a few times, and said, “Hmm, it’s really good, just the right sweetness, soft, sticky, and fragrant. Auntie, you all should try some too.”

Mrs. Ji also pinched off a small piece and stuffed it into her mouth, constantly praising, “This is really delicious! The wild vegetable cakes we made before just filled our stomachs, but with this mouse grass cake, each bite is pure enjoyment.”

Sister-in-law Ji smiled and said, “Of course! Zhaodi was generous with the rice and glutinous rice, and she added so much sugar. I’ve never had as much sugar in my life as what Zhaodi brought out today.”

Sister-in-law Ji Five chimed in, “Zhaodi, won’t the cakes get hard when they cool down? It won’t taste good if we take them up the mountain, right?”

Hu Zhaodi laughed and replied, “Sister-in-law, they can still be eaten when taken up the mountain. If we light a fire and roast them a bit, they’ll be soft and sticky, delicious and filling.”

Ji Brother Five chuckled, “Zhaodi, then we can bring the vegetable cake when we head into the mountains tomorrow. We won’t need to rush back for lunch, saving us time.”

Hu Zhaodi nodded, “Of course, we’ll take some with us tomorrow.”

The Ji family’s yard was filled with cheerful laughter and chatter, bustling with activity.

The children finished their pieces of dough, still feeling unsatisfied, but remembering Hu Zhaodi saying there would be meat later, they managed to hold back their urge to eat more.

Hu Zhaodi pinched off a small lump of dough, kneaded it a few times, rolled it into a round shape, and then set it aside to dry in a basket.

While the women made the cakes, they chatted away. Ever since Hu Zhaodi arrived, the Ji family’s yard had become livelier.

The happiest of all were the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Ji.

Since their children had all married and started their own families, they rarely had such lively moments.

The old couple didn’t fear hard work or exhaustion; what they dreaded most was loneliness and solitude.

Suddenly, a loud commotion could be heard not far away.

Hu Zhaodi looked up and immediately smiled, urging the Ji family to stop what they were doing and go outside the yard to welcome the visitors.

The newcomers were surrounded by a group of villagers, dressed in official robes, appearing to be in their forties, with friendly smiles on their faces.

The previous Head Villager Yang Dahui looked eager to please, pointing toward Mr. Ji’s house, “Sir, the Ji family is right over there.”

The county magistrate nodded, not giving him another glance.

Hu Zhaodi led the Ji family out of the yard, kneeling to greet, “The common folk humbly welcome the county magistrate!”

The county magistrate immediately showed a warm and amiable smile, saying, “Please get up!”

“Thank you, sir!”

The county magistrate turned to Mr. Ji, “You must be Ji Kaiyang?”

Mr. Ji respectfully replied, “I am indeed Ji Kaiyang. I wonder why you have personally come here?”

“I have come today to dismiss the position of Li Zheng in Dawai Village and to appoint a new Head Village.”

Mr. Ji was taken aback upon hearing this, looking incredulously at Hu Zhaodi.

Hu Zhaodi maintained a calm smile and nodded gently at him.

Mr. Ji was bewildered. How did this girl manage it?

Just last night, she said she would help him become Li Zheng, and now the county magistrate had come personally.

This girl was incredible!

Hu Zhaodi wore a fitting smile, bending slightly in a gesture of invitation, “You’ve had a long journey, sir. Please step inside and rest for a bit.”

The county magistrate nodded appreciatively; this girl must be the Hu girl his nephew couldn’t stop praising.

Seeing the county magistrate, she was neither humble nor arrogant, behaving graciously and with poise, showing no signs of nervousness.

This girl didn’t seem like a naive village girl at all; rather, she had the demeanor of a well-bred lady, yet with more resilience than a typical gentlewoman.

She was truly a remarkable young woman.