Chapter 1137 - 1134: Brown Sugar Rice Cake

"Come on, everyone, step up with these cakes..."

Ah Qing took out the brown sugar cakes that Chen Peipei had tried making from the fridge and personally fed them to her mom, who was mixing the batter at the dining table. She gave some to her dad as well, and finally sat on a small stool at the doorstep with a plate.

Ah Qing stuffed a piece of brown sugar cake into the little fox's mouth and distributed them to the little ones at home.

The local term for brown sugar cakes is "red sugar rice cakes." However, compared to regular brown sugar rice cakes, the local version has a layer of black sesame sprinkled on top after steaming.

"Great reviews! The QQ texture is springy and doesn't stick to your teeth..." Ansheng picked up a second piece of brown sugar cake, slightly raised his head, and tasted the sweet aroma with a look of delight.

The raw materials for the brown sugar cake are cassava starch, brown sugar, and clear water, with the ratio of these three ingredients being 1:1:2.

Cassava starch and brown sugar are of equal weight, and for a sweet tooth like Ansheng, brown sugar cakes are one of the best treats among Xia Dong's New Year's specialties.

"Mmm..."

Ah Qing chewed the brown sugar cake in her mouth, somewhat reluctantly saying to Ansheng:

"Mom's version is delicious, but if Grandma were still around, you would definitely prefer her old-school brown sugar cakes..."

"One pound of cassava flour with one and a half pounds of brown sugar, mix in a can of 400ml coconut milk, that sweetness would make flies think: 'Huh? Did I just turn into a bee?'"

As Ah Qing spoke, she picked up another piece of brown sugar cake from the plate and offered it to the fox cub.

Black-chested cockroach, Shu Xiaobai, and the lion-headed goose all enjoyed the brown sugar cake with expressions of satisfaction.

After finishing one piece, the Arctic Fox smacked its lips, showing no intention of demanding more.

A springy mound of dough with a bit of sugar doesn't have much appeal to a meat-eating animal.

"What? You won't be back for the reunion dinner?"

Yu Zhenghong's surprised shout drew Ansheng and Ah Qing, who were eating pre-dinner desserts at the door, over.

"I can't help it. I had originally taken a day off, planning to go back before the New Year to pay respects to our ancestors, but just now, I've been assigned new production tasks..."

Yu Zhenghong was sitting on the sofa in the living room, having a video call with his second uncle, Yu Zhengxi.

Uncle really couldn't come back for New Year's this year, but he had planned to return for the reunion dinner.

However, the schedule was extremely tight, so basically, he'd eat the reunion dinner, offer incense to our ancestors, and have to fly back to the Imperial Capital overnight to continue working on metallography research.

Just at noon, the Security Bureau headquarters summoned all metallography researchers in the Imperial Capital for a meeting, saying there was a major breakthrough in spiritual particle metal processing.

All metallography researchers were on standby. As soon as the materials arrived, they were to process immediately and send them to the Energy Research Institute.

Uncle just came out of the meeting room and called his brother Yu Zhenghong to inform him of the change in his plan to return home.

With production tasks assigned, it's like a military order; as long as Blue Star doesn't explode, there's absolutely no chance to take leave.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Listening to Uncle's rant over the phone, Ansheng choked on the brown sugar cake, his gaze wandering as he coughed twice.

"Eat slowly, I've got plenty left! There are more steaming in the pot later..."

Seeing the little fox choke, Ah Qing raised her hand to pat the little fox's back, helping him catch his breath.

"I'm okay..." Ansheng replied, a peculiar look on his face as he glanced at the scene of Old Deng and Uncle on the phone.

The first plate of brown sugar cakes had not yet been finished when another batch was already steamed and placed in the fridge to cool.

"Xiaolan, come help out, take this batch of brown sugar cakes packed for Sister Lin to her home..."

Helping Chen Peipei with preparing New Year's goods, Ah Qing poked her head out from the kitchen, calling towards the bedroom where the little fox lay on the bed browsing its phone.

"Coming..."

In the bedroom, Ansheng stretched lazily, and slowly got off the bed.

"After delivering, come back early. We'll have dinner in about half an hour..." Ah Qing squatted, handed the eco-bag with brown sugar cakes to the little fox, and said.

"It's packed tight." Ansheng nodded confidently, lifting his tail to hook the eco-bag Ah Qing handed him, and headed towards Lin Ying's house.

After coming out of the house, Ansheng stood by the roadside, glanced around left and right, and leisurely crossed the street.

Approaching the end of the year, the village saw an increase in both unruly kids and strange cars.

"Oi~"

Seeing some kids in front of Lin Ying's house exploding manhole covers, Ansheng called out, "Be careful of the methane in the sewer, it'll blow you three sky high."

After giving his warning, Ansheng entered the garden villa using facial recognition through the copper door.

"???!"

The three kids in front of Lin Ying's house exchanged puzzled looks, then cried out loudly and ran back home.

"Mom! The village's Master Fuli can talk! The village's Master Fuli has become a spirit——"

The three kids ran back like blind flies, each clutching their parents' legs, sobbing about their encounter.

"Heh..."

Walking in the garden, Ansheng chuckled, humming a tune as he wiped his feet on the mat at the door and opened the sliding door to shout inside:

"Lin Ying, come out for afternoon tea!"

With a "whimper" from Master Fuli, he summoned Lin Ying from the bedroom upstairs.

"Master Fuli, have a seat, I'll change clothes and be right there..."

Lin Ying peeked out at the stairs, barefoot on the tiles, smilingly greeted Master Fuli.

Clearly, Lin Ying had just returned home, in the middle of changing clothes when Master Fuli came to visit.

"One cola, extra ice, and lemon, please." Sitting on the sofa, Ansheng raised his hand and gestured towards the kitchen.

The busy servants in the kitchen paused slightly at Master Fuli's spoken request, first pouring him a glass of cola and honey lemon water, placing them on the table.

"Master Fuli, you came at the right time. I was just about to send you an invitation..."

Lin Ying, now in a nightgown, sat down beside Master Fuli, picked up Huhu to weigh him, showing a faint smile and said: "I'm planning to host this year's reunion dinner banquet at the Fox Immortal Palace..."

"Master Fuli and Ah Qing, please come too! We'll eat some at home, then head to the Fox Immortal Palace for more."

Lin Ying's eyes showed anticipation as she naturally patted Master Fuli's tummy.

As if to say: I trust Master Fuli's capabilities.

"Of course, there's no problem..."

Ansheng picked up a fork from the table, speared a piece of brown sugar cake and held it to Lin Ying's mouth: "Perfect timing, Ah Qing and I haven't been to the Fox Immortal Palace or met the Nine-tailed Fox Lady yet..."

"We will definitely be on time." Ansheng said with full certainty.

"Nine-tailed Fox Lady..."

Lin Ying muttered to herself, as if recalling something, and asked:

"By the way, Master Fuli... Does Ah Qing know about you being a propitious Nine-tailed Fox of Xia Country?"

If not for mentioning the Nine-tailed Fox, Lin Ying would never have remembered that Master Fuli apparently hadn't told Ah Qing about being a propitious being of Xia Country...

At least, in Lin Ying's memory, during her usual chats with Ah Qing on WhatsApp, she never heard Ah Qing inquire about it.

"Uh..."

Ansheng's expression froze, inhaled sharply, lifted a paw to touch his face and said:

"No..."

"When walking around with Ah Qing, any spirit beast we encounter doesn't even give me room to show my strength, they just kneel neatly before I start..."

Master Fuli's different forms vary in energy consumption, though his physique's defense power remains steady, his strength might differ.

If any incident required a strike from the Nine-tails, Xia Country's spirit beasts would surely master the art of escaping through blood mist.

One punch leaves the enemies cocky, with paths crammed full till the coroner's saddened exclamations fill the air.

"Totally forgot..." Ansheng shrugged.

Lin Ying couldn't help but laugh and cry, raising her hand to rub Master Fuli's head: "As expected of Master Fuli..."