Chapter 93: Baked Pies

“Hahahaha…”

XIaoguo only stopped when her stomach was hurting. She moved away her hand that was covering her mouth. Both her mouth and hand were sore. It was too difficult trying to hold back her laughter.

At this moment, Xiaoguo heard a sound coming from inside the house. It sounded like Zhuang Zhuang was walking out. Xiaoguo quickly stood up and ran to the donkey cart. She pretended to be busy and did not enter the house.

Zhuang Zhuang had already changed into a new set of clothes. Xiaoguo looked at the kid in front of her who had transformed from a little girl back into her son. She wanted to laugh, but she couldn’t. She could only pretend that nothing had happened and tried to talk to him normally. She didn’t mention anything about him suddenly changing his clothes.

Zhuang Zhuang had been feeling uneasy. When Xiaoguo did not continue asking him about the pink outfit, he heaved a sigh of relief.

Ever since that day, Xiaoguo had not seen that pink outfit.

It was only today that Xiaoguo saw it again. Looking back at Zhuang Zhuang’s guilty expression, she knew that he didn’t wish to talk about this matter. Xiaoguo took the hint and did not mention the outfit.

Xiaoguo continued to wash the clothes with her head lowered. She seemed to have heard Zhuang Zhuang exhale behind her. She smiled and rubbed the clothes harder to hide the fact that her shoulders were trembling with laughter.

“Forget it, forget it. For the sake of the little man’s pride, I’ll put this dress back in the bottom of the cabinet after I’m done washing it…”

After drying the clothes, Zhuang Zhuang called out to Xiaoguo, saying that the fire was ready.

Xiaoguo quickly hung up the last piece of clothing and returned to the house to bring out the pies on the bamboo tray.

After putting the pies aside, she told Zhuang Zhuang to stand further away. This was because she had to take out the firewood that had been burnt into coal. She used a pair of tongs that was used during winter to pick coal, and took out all the hot burnt wood from the oven. Reaching for another wooden stick that was wrapped with old clothes, Xiaoguo shoved it into the oven and swept around the flat base to remove the ashes left behind by the burning firewood.

As soon as Xiaoguo bent down and went near the opening, a gust of hot air hit her face. Xiaoguo endured the scorching heat and swept the stick around. After it was done, she picked up the tray of pies and gave it a hard shake. The pies slid smoothly off the tray into the oven.

Xiaoguo used a self-made lid to cover up the opening of the oven to prevent any hot air from leaking out.

The firewood that she had just taken out was still warm. Xiaoguo placed them in a pit, which she had deliberately created below the oven, so that the interior could be fed with constant heat.

Without a watch, Xiaoguo could only estimate the time. After playing with Zhuang Zhuang for a while in the house, she felt that it was about time. Hence, Xiaoguo called the boy to check out the pies with her.

Zhuang Zhuang ran in front. He had his mind on the oven all this while. He kept wondering if the pies would turn out the way his mother had described.

Xiaoguo was equally anxious. This was her first time making an oven by herself. She didn’t know if it would work. It mustn’t fail!

Xiaoguo prayed fervently. Perhaps the heavens had sensed her intense emotions, so the oven didn’t fail her. The pies all turned out golden and crispy.

When Xiaoguo tried to reach for the pies, she was scalded by the heat. She hadn’t expected the oven’s interior to be so hot. This oven was too awesome.

Zhuang Zhuang did not stop exclaiming in wonder. He watched as Xiaoguo took out a pie and broke it open with both hands. A stream of oil trickled out of the pie. When the pie was pulled apart, the crispy crust broke into crumbs. The pies were made to perfection— they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Zhuang Zhuang’s saliva was at the edge of his lips. Xiaoguo looked up in amusement and saw a trace of drool dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Xiaoguo suppressed a smile and put down the pie. She reached out to wipe away the drool that was on the verge of dripping down.

“Let’s go eat!”

Xiaoguo picked up the pies. When Zhuang Zhuang heard what she said, he shouted and ran back into the house.

Zhuang Zhuang took the pie that Xiaoguo handed to him, and was about to take a bite when he suddenly remembered that he hadn’t blown on it yet. He had to, if not he could get scalded.

With that thought in mind, he moved the pie out of his mouth and blew on it.

After counting down from ten, Zhuang Zhuang took a bite. The pie exploded in his mouth, and the gravy flowed into his mouth instantly. The crunchy sounds coming from his mouth did not sound like he was eating pie.

Xiaoguo had added lard in the dough when making the flaky pie crust. Therefore with every bite, the crust was fragrant, crispy and crumbly.

“Mother, you’re too good! You’re too fat!”

Zhuang Zhuang was too busy stuffing his mouth to speak, but he didn’t stop praising Xiaoguo.

Although what Xiaoguo heard was not exactly what Zhuang Zhuang meant, she knew what he was trying to say.

She reached out and tapped his little nose. “Eat more if it’s good.”

Xiaoguo looked at Zhuang Zhuang lovingly. Her voice was unbelievably gentle.

As a mother, she just wanted her child to eat and drink well.

Zhuang Zhuang nodded at the gentle Xiaoguo. “Mother’s cooking is the best!”

Xiaoguo loved watching Zhuang Zhuang eat. His eyes were round and his mouth was stuffed. Because the food was delicious, his face was filled with satisfaction.

Xiaoguo felt that if she just watched Zhuang Zhuang eat every day, she would be full and satisfied! She wouldn’t have to eat anything at all.

Zhuang Zhuang ate quite a lot. After taking a final bite, he rubbed his stomach in satisfaction. It was so delicious that he had unconsciously eaten too much.

Xiaoguo had finished eating first. She sat at the side and watched Zhuang Zhuang eat. Xiaoguo had a small appetite and was already full after eating a small portion. Previously, her mother had mentioned before that she ate like a cat and was full after one bite.

When she saw Zhuang Zhuang taking his last bite and rubbing his stomach, she guessed that he must have eaten too much.

Before Xiaoguo could say anything, Zhuang Zhuang walked slowly into her arms, hoping that she would rub his stomach.

Zhuang Zhuang snuggled into Xiaoguo’s arms. Whenever he ate too much, it was his mother who would rub his tummy for him. He always feels better after getting a rub.

The boy, who was feeling a little bloated, whined as he leaned against Xiaoguo.

Xiaoguo was unmoved as she watched Zhuang Zhuang lean against her. Although she was on the verge of succumbing to his request, she still had to teach him a lesson. He should not overeat even when it is something he likes.

Zhuang Zhuang knew that he did wrong. He did think of his mother’s words, but this time, he really couldn’t resist the temptation. Without realizing it, he had already eaten too much.

After apologizing and pretending to be pitiful, Zhuang Zhuang finally won Xiaoguo’s hug.

Xiaoguo hugged him and rubbed his stomach with one hand. Zhuang Zhuang hummed comfortably in her arms. His mother’s hands were indeed the most magical hands in the world!

After waking up from his afternoon nap, Zhuang Zhuang went out with the cows as usual. Xiaoguo would follow him when she had nothing to do. Since there wasn’t much grass left, Xiaoguo led the donkey cart out with Zhuang Zhuang.

During this period of time, Zhuang Zhuang had been grazing the cows in the fields. Xiaoguo had mentioned that the cows and donkeys liked to eat the grain stalks.

The mother and son proceeded to the fields. Zhuang Zhuang untied the cows and let them play freely. Xiaoguo also untied the donkeys, leaving only the cart behind. She could load the corn stalks later and the donkeys could roam freely for a while.

Xiaoguo quickly finished cutting the stalks she needed. When she was done, she sat on the cart with Zhuang Zhuang.

As the mother and son talked, they looked at the cows and donkeys in the near distance. At this moment, the animals were happily feeding on the corn stalks. Zhuang Zhuang asked Xiaoguo curiously, “Mother, do you think Big Black and Little White have grown bigger again?”