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Chapter 84: Cake
Actually, Xiao Jingtai, Xiao Jingyan, and Xiao Jun also wanted to help, but Xiao Yao’s hair was already so messy that they couldn’t find a place to start. They had no choice but to give up.
The next day, Tong Mingyu consulted Nanny Ruan again. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her daughter, but she needed someone else to confirm the news. When she received a definite answer, this usually strong and decisive matriarch was so overwhelmed that she looked like a child. Tears glistened on her smiling face as she covered her mouth with both hands, unable to say a single word.
“If the treatment continues as it is now, I believe that in another three to five years, even if we don’t find Dr. Lin, Ping’an’s body will fully recover.”
Tong Mingyu nodded repeatedly. Five years—no, it would soon be six years—and finally, there was hope. Her daughter would soon be free from the torment of illness, grow up like a normal girl, and even marry.
“But there’s one thing to remember: even if her body fully recovers, she must avoid extreme joy or sorrow.”
“I’ll remember, Nanny Ruan. Thank you. You’re truly a benefactor to Ping’an.”
“It’s not just my effort. The medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Sun is key. The speed of Ping’an’s recovery is a result of years of careful treatment from him.” Nanny Ruan was stating facts—Imperial Physician Sun was indeed the true hero.
“The kindness you and Imperial Physician Sun have shown us will always be remembered by our family.”
“I will do my utmost for Ping’an. Don’t forget, my future depends on her.”
“In the future, Ping’an will surely show you great filial piety. If she fails to, my husband and I will ensure your care and support.”
Nanny Ruan smiled and nodded. She believed Ping’an would grow into a grateful and loyal child.
“Nanny! Nanny! I need your guidance!” Xiao Yao burst in with her hands covered in flour.
Since the New Year was approaching, not only had the children at the academy been released for vacation, but Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan’s classes were also on pause. Xiao Yao had poured all her energy into creating new types of pastries. She hoped to complete all the preparations before the New Year so she could showcase her skills to her family during the festivities.
“What on earth have you been up to lately?” Although young girls should learn to cook, this seemed like chaos. With flour all over her, was her daughter planning to dive into a flour barrel?
“It’s a secret for now. I’ll give you all a big surprise soon!” Xiao Yao confidently replied. After several trials, she had successfully made cream. Now, all that remained was fine-tuning the ingredient ratios.
“Don’t fool around. Even if you’re on break, you must keep reading books. Don’t forget what you’ve learned.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t forget!”
Tong Mingyu exchanged a few more words with Nanny Ruan before turning to her New Year preparations, which kept her busier than anyone else in the household.
Nanny Ruan, intrigued by Xiao Yao’s experiments with new pastries, changed into fresh clothes and followed her clever yet mischievous apprentice to the kitchen to continue their culinary trials.
Normally, the team would have included the little foodie Xiao Yuan, but today she had been taken to the Yuan residence by Yuan Yutong, along with Xiao Rui, who became ecstatic at the mention of fun.
Three leisurely days passed before Xiao Yuan returned from the Yuan residence.
“Nanny Ruan! Big Sister! I missed you both so much! How’s the cake experiment going?”
Thankfully, Xiao Yao wasn’t under any illusions—her younger sister clearly wasn’t missing her but was instead craving the new treats.
“I promise you’ll get to try it during the New Year,” Xiao Yao assured her.
“Why not now? I saved room in my belly just to taste your creations!” Xiao Yuan rubbed circles on her stomach with her chubby hands, looking pitifully at Xiao Yao.
“These are my New Year gifts for everyone. Of course, I can’t bring them out now.”
“Oh, I wish tomorrow were New Year’s already!”
Finally, the New Year arrived, much to Xiao Yuan’s anticipation. The delicious feast was prepared under Qin Shi’s leadership, with help from her three daughters-in-law. Xiao Yao spent the entire afternoon in a separate kitchen.
By dinner time, alongside a table full of delectable dishes were six intricately designed plates, each holding a type of pastry that no one had seen before.
“These are my New Year gifts for everyone. Let me introduce them: fruit cake, waterless cake, cream cake, fresh milk cake, colorful cake, and fragrant cake. Please enjoy!”
“Finally, we get to feast!” Xiao Yuan quickly handed a piece to her grandparents and urged the others, “Dig in while it’s warm!”
“It smells great. Father, Mother, try it!” Tong Mingyu said, urging everyone to eat before Xiaorui’s hunger drove her to tears.
“Mmm, soft and fragrant. Delicious!”
“It melts in your mouth. Excellent!”
“So tasty!”
By the end of the meal, most of the dishes remained, but not a single crumb of cake was left. Everyone was delighted with Xiao Yao’s New Year gifts.
“We should make more to share with relatives,” suggested Xiao Jingkang, brimming with pride for his talented daughter.
“Great idea!” Qin Shi agreed. Their young granddaughter was not only beautiful but also skilled in pastry-making—surely, she would marry well in the future.
Xiao Yao hesitated. If the pastries were shared widely, so would her reputation, and she wasn’t keen on becoming the center of attention just yet.
On New Year’s Eve, the youngest grandchildren, now older, stayed up with the family. Even Nanny Ruan joined them, basking in the warm and harmonious atmosphere of the Xiao family.
On the first day of the New Year, officials and their families paid their customary respects at the palace. This year, however, everyone returned with heavy hearts.
Xiao Yao later learned that the Emperor had received reports of rampant banditry on the northwest border of Tianyu. Such grim news on a celebratory day dampened the occasion, leaving the palace festivities in disarray.
For the common people, this was not their concern. The mood of the New Year remained festive.
On the second day of the New Year, the three daughters-in-law, accompanied by their husbands, returned to their respective parents’ homes, promising to return early for Xiao Yuan’s fifth birthday celebration that evening.
Eager to bake her sister a birthday cake, Xiao Yao hurried her parents to leave after lunch at her grandfather’s home.
“Why not stay longer with your grandfather?” complained Tong Shangshu as he munched on the cake his granddaughter had made.
“Ping’an, take all these pastries with you,” said Tong’s wife. “Your grandfather will grumble regardless, so you might as well.”
“Jiabao, do you like the cake?” she asked her grandson.
“Yes!” the shy boy replied with unusual enthusiasm.
Zhang Shi, however, doubted that a five-year-old could create such pastries. She suspected this was a ploy to make the girl appear more likable. But no matter how much she disliked Ping’an, her husband and son had already taken sides with the elders.
Miumi[Translator]
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