Chapter 145

As the cicada chirps in Pingkang Ward mixed with the sour, fragrant aroma of fermenting dough, Xiaotao was frowning at a ceramic basin. The pastry-figurine Huwa on her double-bun was softened and misshapen by the steam, and the abacus bead bounced into the shape of the character for "bloated" on the basin's rim: "Brother Fan! The dough has swollen bigger than Boss Liu's belly!" Zhang Yifan raised an eyebrow, and the abacus bead bounced into the character for "ferment" on the overflowing dough: "Did you forget the character for 'ferment' taught today? When fermentation goes too far, you need to add flour—" He suddenly pointed out the window. "Just right for going to the West Market to buy high-gluten wheat flour from the Sogdian merchants, and learning the character for 'gluten' along the way." Xiaotao immediately untied her apron, and the abacus bead seized the chance to roll into her pocket, licking the residual cheese sauce. In front of the Sogdian merchant's stall in the West Market, Xiaotao stared at the Persian merchant's sheep's milk cheese, her double-buns brushing against Zhang Yifan's sleeve: "Brother Fan, can we use this cheese to make 'fermented flatbread'?" The abacus bead bounced into the character for "sour" on the cheese block, causing the Persian merchant to burst into laughter: "Little lady certainly knows how to imagine! This sheep's milk cheese turns sour, and baked bread will be bitter!"