When Wang Gen Sheng couldn't clearly describe the specific kind of sweetness or identify the ingredients used, asking about the color was a good way to filter options.
Jujube paste is dark, coconut is white, and red bean paste is dark black. Sweet fillings are actually a direction; even in Tang Dynasty desserts, there were only a few types of sweet fillings, and fewer than we have now.
Wang Gen Sheng tried to recall and said, "It seems... it was purple."
Qin Huai: ?
Purple?
If it's purple, Qin Huai's first reaction would be rose-flavored flower cakes because rose filling, when cooked with sugar and lard, turns purple.
Could it be that Xu Nuo made flower cakes, then convinced Wang Gen Sheng that it was Red Silk Cake to make his good friends happy? After all, Red Silk Cake has better significance, being a cake bestowed by the Emperor to new scholars as a blessing for higher education.
Although Wang Gen Sheng had already graduated from university by then, it seed he didn't need any higher education.
"Uncle Wang, have you ever eaten flower cakes? Rose-flavored flower cakes," Qin Huai tentatively asked.
Wang Gen Sheng, without much thought, said directly, "Of course I have. When I first retired, my wife and I went to Spring City for a while, and I even bought her a bracelet. My wife especially loved the flower cakes there. We bought several boxes back, but after having too many, we got tired of them and ended up giving them away."
"Master Qin, do you also love flower cakes?" Only after he finished talking did Wang Gen Sheng realize what Qin Huai wanted to ask, and he quickly said, "Not flower cakes, not flower cakes."
"The filling color is quite similar, but the taste is different. My friend's Red Silk Cake tasted much better than flower cakes."
Qin Huai nodded and could basically confirm that the Red Silk Cake Xu Nuo made probably used rose flowers as the filling, just with a different recipe.
"So, what do you think is the difference between Red Silk Cake and flower cake?"
Qin Huai gave Wang Gen Sheng a point of comparison, and Wang Gen Sheng could finally talk: "It doesn't get cloying."
"Although the Red Silk Cake is quite sweet, it's not cloying at all when you eat it."
"It's the kind that feels very sweet at the first bite, but when you hold it in your mouth, it feels just right, and when swallowed, you can feel the taste sliding from your tongue down to your stomach."
"And the crust is more fragrant, although both crumble, Red Silk Cake's crumbs are more aromatic."
"And also..."
Wang Gen Sheng tried hard to recall so details that he really made an effort on but weren't very important. Although he couldn't give Qin Huai a very clear direction, at least he didn't have to search aimlessly, which was quite an overperformance.
After asking about the details of the Red Silk Cake, Qin Huai didn't leave imdiately but stayed to chat with Ouyang and Wang Gen Sheng for a while, enthusiastically showing concern for him.
Wang Gen Sheng was so touched that he wanted to imdiately change his clothes and go with Qin Huai to Yunzhong Restaurant for a taste test.
Qin Huai said there was no need to rush as Yunzhong Restaurant usually doesn't make rose-flavored snacks and doesn't keep roses on hand. Making Red Silk Cake would have to start tomorrow at the earliest.
Wang Gen Sheng promised that he would definitely be on ti in the kitchen at Yunzhong Restaurant tomorrow, no excuses.
Qin Huai asked him if he'd be running in the morning.
Wang Gen Sheng firmly stated he would run, definitely, even if Xu Tuqiang mocked him, he'd still run.
Thus, Qin Huai's mission of visiting the sick and touching side tasks was successfully completed.
Qin Huai and Ouyang left together.
Ouyang had been listening for a while, drinking two cups of hot tea, and didn't really understand, and as soon as they stepped outside, he asked Qin Huai, "Didn't Uncle Wang already have the answer? Why did he take a leave before? Red Silk Cake... sounds just like a flower cake, from what Uncle Wang described he seems to really enjoy it. His mory is so good, he can recall the taste of snacks he had so many years ago. I can't even rember the taste of things I ate three or four years ago."
"Why didn't Uncle Wang say earlier and kept himself cooped up at ho for so long?"
This is the downside of not having the script, not knowing the backstory.
Ouyang couldn't fully grasp Wang Gen Sheng's dilemma.
Qin Huai couldn't explain too much either, as theoretically, he wasn't supposed to have the script; he could only vaguely say, "Maybe because he liked it too much, the snack was too important to Uncle Wang, so he couldn't bring himself to talk about it."
Ouyang expressed that he didn't understand the mystery.
"Qin Huai, you're off today and not working, shall we go for so self-service barbecue later? I know a newly opened one, the at is particularly fresh and delicious, and the drinks and desserts are great. I heard you can eat unlimited durian."
"I just got a mbership card from my dad yesterday."
"Then there's nothing more to say, let's go!"
"Shall we bring Youyou too? She can eat a lot, and she loves durian. Most importantly, she's off today too."
"Sure, my dad's card has 5000 bucks on it!"
Qin Huai happily went to the barbecue with Ouyang.
As for An Youyou... She was originally relaxing at ho, sunbathing and watching TV, but after getting Qin Huai's call, she sprang up off the couch, left the community, found the nearest shared bike spot, and pedaled furiously to the self-service barbecue spot.
An hour and a half later, Qin Huai, An Youyou, and Ouyang were all sprawled on the chairs, each with a full belly, resembling a satiated Three-legged Golden Toad.
Even at such a ti, Ouyang didn't forget Qin Luo.
"It's just a pity that Luoluo had class today. We'll co again once Luoluo has a day off; it really tastes great," Ouyang said, finishing his sentence before going to the bathroom.
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