Chapter 706 - Chapter 706: Identity Exposed
Chapter 706: Identity Exposed
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Everyone worked together because there was strength in numbers. Even if there were a lot of peanuts, the family could peel them quickly.
Su Binglan told Luo Jin’an, “We need to crush these peanuts. Use the food processor I made.”
“All right,” Luo Jin’an did as his wife said without question.
Su Binglan knew he could quickly crush the peanuts because he was skilled in martial arts.
Su Binglan needed wood to make a simple food processor for various fillings. Then, she could grind the peanuts by manually rotating the food processor.
One could not crush the peanuts with such an apparatus if one did not have the strength. However, Luo Jin’an could. Sure enough, he made light work of the peanuts.
Su Binglan felt a little embarrassed asking for his help. After all, Luo Jin’an was a major general, yet she asked him to do such a mundane task.
Still, Luo Jin’an did not complain. He would always silently support her and accompany her in making these delicacies. It was fine as long as his wife was happy.
After crushing the peanuts, Luo Jin’an had to crush the fried black sesame seeds. Later, Su Binglan mixed the black sesame filling.
Liu Yinyin helped by bringing the pig fat and white sugar that Su Binglan needed. She looked at her sister-in-law and asked softly, “Binglan, how do you prepare the sesame filling?”
Su Binglan smiled and stirred the black sesame seeds as she spoke, “That’s simple. Just mix the crushed sesame seeds with the pork fat and white sugar. The glutinous rice balls taste much better if we make them like this.”
As for the peanut filling, she mixed the crushed peanuts with vegetable oil and white sugar.
“You can add more sugar if you like it sweeter. Then, pour some water and stir it evenly,” Su Binglan said.
The fragrance of the peanuts and black sesame seeds wafted throughout the kitchen. After smelling the aroma, the family could not wait to eat the glutinous rice balls.
However, they knew they could only eat them on the night of the Lantern Festival. Everyone attached great importance to the New Year and the Lantern Festival.
During the Lantern Festival, families would go to the river in the evening to light lanterns. It would be warm and lively.
Su Wenzhe looked in the pot and said, “Sister, I’ve finished cooking the sweet potatoes and hawthorns.”
Su Binglan put down her basket and went to the pot to look. She said, “Yes, that’s perfect.” She poked the potatoes with her chopsticks and smiled. “Peel the sweet potatoes and mash them, Big Brother.”
“All right,” Su Wenzhe readily agreed at the thought of eating the delicious glutinous rice balls. Immediately after, he went to do as Su Binglan instructed. Su Fengmao, Shen Qiuhui, and Shen Qiuhua also helped prepare each filling.
Su Binglan wanted to make more for her granduncle and the other Su family members.
Shen Qiuhui was in an excellent mood as he felt the festive atmosphere. He was thrilled to prepare the food with the family. He knew that was why his son did not want to return to the capital.
Su Binglan checked the rice to see if she could remove it from the water. When she noticed they were not ready, leaving them to soak for a while longer.
“l can remove the rice from the water in a while. We can remove them after we finish preparing all the fillings. However, the red beans still need some time to soak.
“We still need to cook and crush them after we remove them from the water.
Only after that can we wrap them in the rice.”
Shen Qiuhua said happily, “Binglan always has a way to make things work. You made so many fillings, but I only tasted some last time. I can’t wait to taste the other fillings.”
While everyone prepared the fillings, Su Wenxiu ran into the courtyard and said, “Hey, Brother Ruozhu and Blue Eagle are here!”
Su Binglan trembled with excitement when she heard that. “Brother?!”
Lan Ruozhu could not visit the Su family during the New Year, so Su Binglan greatly missed him. Su Binglan was thrilled now that her brother had visited for the Lantern Festival.
Shen Qiuhua was still stirring the filling. When she heard that, she quickly put down her chopsticks and said, “Ruozhu and Blue Eagle are here?!”
Since Lan Ruozhu acknowledged Shen Qiuhua and Su Fengmao as his Godparents, the older couple treated him as their own. The family enjoyed his presence when he stayed with them.
Shen Qiuhua had always missed Lan Ruozhu since he left. Although he had sent letters to the family, he only felt at ease when he saw them. Lan Ruozhu also missed the Su family dearly.
Shen Qiuhua was worried last time because Lan Ruozhu was in poor health. Although Su Binglan said his health had improved, Shen Qiuhua only felt better when she saw Lan Ruozhu. After all, he was Su Binglan’s “adopted brother.’
Naturally, Shen Qiuhua hoped Lan Ruozhu would spend the holidays with the family.
Su Binglan smiled as she exchanged glances with Luo Jin’an, who nodded at her reassuringly. Immediately after, she knew she had not misheard Su
Wenxiu.
Su Binglan ran outside while Luo Jin’an walked toward the door.
Su Wenxiu repeated, “You didn’t mishear me, Mother and Father. Brother
Ruozhu and Blue Eagle came to visit!”
He was pretty fond of Lan Ruozhu. The former knew Lan Ruozhu was knowledgeable, gentle, and elegant. Lan Ruozhu was also considerate when speaking, making one feel comfortable.
The Su family was thrilled, while Shen Qiuhui was shocked. He only returned to his senses when Shen Qiuhua and Su Fengmao approached the door. Shen Qiuhui grabbed Su Fengmao!s arm and asked, “Who is that, Brother-in-law? Who is Lan Ruozhu?”
“l guess so.” Su Fengmao incorrectly responded because he did not hear Shen Qiuhui properly. He only heard the name “Ruozhu.” He was too focused on the door and did not notice what Shen Qiuhui said.
However, Shen Qiuhui’s heart pounded when he heard the man’s name. He asked again, “Brother-in-law, is it the same Lan Ruozhu as Prince Lan Ruozhu? The Prince Lan Ruozhu? Why is the prince here?”
Shen Qiuhui thought he was hallucinating and kept repeating his words loudly. The Su family heard him and turned to Shen Qiuhui in disbelief. They suspected they had misheard him.
‘Prince Lan Ruozhu? What’s going on?’
“Lan Ruozhu is the prince. Why didn’t you tell me?” Shen Qiuhui asked in a daze, “Did you want to keep it a secret?”
Shen Qiuhua approached Shen Qiuhui and tugged at his sleeve. She tried to calm herself down, asking, “Brother, do you think Ruozhu is His Highness? He’s Prince Lan Ruozhu?! I didn’t mishear you, right?”
Although she tried to calm herself down, her voice still trembled. After all, she was in disbelief. She had acknowledged Lan Ruozhu as her Godson, which meant she was the prince’s Godmother.
‘Didn’t Binglan acknowledge him as her adopted brother? Did she know he was the prince?’