Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lin Wan wondered if Auntie Bao had done this in her original world. In her world. the steamed hilns were usuallv made with dried vegetables as fillings.
âMama Bao, did you always make steamed buns?â
âYes. I remember that when I was young, I used to make steamed buns with my mother and grandmother. Every family in the village would make their steamed buns during the new year. After I⦠left, I continued making the steamed buns anyway.â She turned to Lin Wan. âWanwan, when you were little, I made them for the New Year celebrations. I gave some to the neighbors too. Donât you remember?â
âOh?â Lin Wan had explained everything to Auntie Bao about another world. It seemed that she hadnât believed a word of it.
Auntie Bao caught herself in time. She remembered that Lin Wan had gone through something traumatic and had forgotten everything about her past. âWanwan, if you like it so much, I can make them for you every year!â
âI love them, Mama Bao. The ones I buy from the shops taste completely different. When I was young, my grandmother used to make them for me.â
After Li Yanchen went to her world, Lin Wan thought about her grandmother. However, she had done her research on parallel worlds. Her grandmother couldnât be alive in this world because she had already passed away so many years ago.
âAlright. The water is ready. Iâm going to put them in the steamer and lower them into the water,â said Auntie Bao.
Yang Ruoxi parked the car in the space next to the old house. She carried a basket of corn and dragged her father behind her. He had a bottle of grapeseed oil in his hands.
Yang Ruoxi could smell the delicious, steamed buns from the courtyard. She stood at the main door and peeked inside. The kitchen light was still on, and smoke blew up from the chimney. Auntie Bao must be cooking!
She Imocked and called for Auntie Bao. âMama Bao?â
Lin Wan was the first to hear it. âMama Bao, I think someone is calling you.â
âIâll go take a look,â said Auntie Bao. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked out of the kitchen.
Yang Ruoxi and Yang Yiren were standing outside the courtyard. Auntie Bao didnât expect the two of them to visit. She was surprised.
Yang Ruoxi couldnât tell if Auntie Bao was happy or angry.
âMama Bao, my father had some extra grapeseed oil. He planted the seeds himself,â said Yang Ruoxi hurriedly. âHe asked me if he could give you a bottle of it. I thought it would be good if it was delivered fresh.â
Yang Yiren looked at his daughter in confusion. âI thought she was here to deliver the corn. Why is she talking about grapeseed oil so suddenly?â
âYouâre too kind,â said Auntie Bao. âCome in then. I was just making steamed buns. Wanwan is here too. We can try hot steamed buns right out of the pot!â
Yang Yirenâs heart was finally at ease. âWe also brought corn. I grew them myself. We have a nice harvest this year.â He smiled.
âThank you so much,â said Auntie Bao. âCome in. Donât stand in the cold.â
Yang Ruoxi was so excited to hear that Lin Wan was also here that she dropped the basket of corn in the living room and ran into the kitchen.
âWanwan, youâre here!â
âXixi!â
They hugged each other.
âCome. Itâs warm here.â Lin Wan shifted to make room for Yang Ruoxi in front of the fire.
âYou reached today too?â asked Yang Ruoxi.
âYes. Itâs not very far, but I donât feel like driving back and forth. I am staying the night. I want to spend more time with Mama Bao,â said Lin Wan. âMama Bao went to the field the moment we arrived. He got some radishes and decided to make steamed buns. Doesnât it smell good?â
âAre these the steamed buns you were talking about in the show?â Yang Ruoxi asked.
Lin Wan had suggested making steamed buns the way they did in the 90s.
Lin Wan nodded. âYou came right on time. The steamed buns have been just put into the steamer. Heated steamed buns canât compare to fresh ones. Guess what kind of fillings the buns have?â
âShredded radish,â said Yang Ruoxi as she pointed at the bowl with the remaining fillings.
Lin Wan sighed. âI shouldâve hidden it.â
Auntie Bao invited Yang Yiren into the kitchen and poured him a cup of tea. She was busy and didnât have the time to entertain him.
âI can help,â said Yang Yiren.
âAlright.â
Lin Wan and Yang Ruoxi glanced at each other.
âDad, Wanwan, and I want to go buy something to drink. Can you help Auntie Bao?â asked Yang Ruoxi.
âYes,â said Lin Wan. âI really want to drink some⦠fizzy juice.â
The reason Auntie Bao had agreed to let him help was to see if Yang Yiren actually knew his way around the kitchen. If he did, it meant that Yang Yiren wasnât a man-baby, and he was worthy of trust.
âOh, the steam is coming out. Itâll be ready in fifteen minutes,â said Yang Yiren. His mother had taught him how to make steamed buns.
His mother made steamed buns every year even though she was old, and he always helped her. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Auntie Bao realized that Yang Yiren still had his mother. She must have taught him well.
âYou know this method of steaming buns?â
Yang Yiren nodded. âItâs how my mother likes to make steamed buns. Many people now have ready-made fillings. It doesnât taste the same.â He sighed. âXixi doesnât know how to make it. Maybe someday this method of making steamed buns will disappear.â
âI think there will always be a few people who will continue making steamed buns in this way,â said Auntie Bao. âMaybe the taste will change but steamed buns will still survive. Old Yang, Iâll pack some buns, so you can take them back for your mother. â
âMy mother will like that. Just a few days ago, she was asking me if I could help her make steamed buns this year. I didnât expect to have them today. Mum loves eating buns with porridge.â Yang Yiren smiled fondly. âNow that sheâs old and her teeth have fallen out, she canât eat steamed buns as she used to. The buns sold outside are softer and better for her teeth, but she wonât have any of that!â
âI donât like to eat the steamed buns from the stalls either. They arenât as fragrant. They forget that alkaline water is the soul of steamed buns..â