Chapter 7
Lian
A delicious smell hung in the hallway and I was glad that I was heading to the kitchens anyway because it was making my stomach rumble.
Trying new foods could be tricky for me but the cuisine in Purple Oak was agreeing with me, even the cottage pie which I hadn't been sure that I would like.
It had been satisfyingly savoury though, and the sweet but sharp goat cheese had cut through the saltier meat so well.
I didn't want it all the time, but it was nice.
Things like that were making eating a lot less stressful than I sometimes found it.
Or maybe that was because of Pepper, who was very open to feedback and making adjustments to everyone's preferences, including mine.
It had been a while since anyone cared about ensuring my meals were satisfactory too. It was a strange feeling, and one that I didn't want to examine too closely for fear of what I might find.
I knocked before entering the kitchen and found Pepper standing by the stove with a focused expression on her face as she tended to a large pot that was creating a lot of steam and delicious smells.
"Ah, Lian. Just the person I wanted to see," she said when she saw me, smiling widely. "Are you hungry?"
"I could eat," I replied, still eyeing up her large pot. "What are you making?"
Pepper's eyes and smile got a bit wider. "It's a surprise."
Nerves sparked in my stomach. I wasn't a big fan of surprises, especially not surprise food, but I knew not to point that out. People could get really upset when I didn't react well to their surprise gestures.
Pepper had never done anything that made me suspicious of the food she served, so maybe it was worth trusting her.
Instead of prompting her more, I waited and found some reassurance in the fact that whatever she was making smelled really tasty, meaty and savoury.
While Eva had a sweet tooth, the opposite was true for me.
And this did smell delicious. Of course, smells could be deceptive when the food itself was unpleasant to chew.
Pepper lifted the lid from her pot, releasing even more steam. She nodded to herself and carefully pulled out a rack. It took me a moment to recognise what she had within because they looked a little different than what I was used to, but they were unmistakably steamed buns.
"Tadaa," Pepper said, presenting me with one on a plate. "They're probably very different from what you're used to, but this is my way of saying thank you for the cinnamon. My little brother was very happy with his rolls." She beamed in a way that left no doubt over what she was saying.
"Oh, that wasn't necessary, but thank you," I said, a little taken aback by the gesture and the pleated bun in front of me. The steamed dough looked smooth and puffed up. They weren't exactly like I'd make myself, but they looked right. "What's in it?"
"A pork belly and mushroom filling, since you said mushrooms are your favourite," she responded, grabbing a bun for herself. "I hope it's tasty. I tried the filling after I was finished making it and it tasted good then."
"Where did you learn to make them?" I asked curiously.
"I asked Hana Steeper if her family had a recipe," she responded.
"They're not from your country, but they've done a lot of travelling in that part of the world, as well as having roots in one of the neighbouring ones, so I figured it was worth asking.
Once I knew what I was supposed to do with the dough and the steaming, I was able to think up a filling for them. "
"Steeper," I repeated. "As in one of the Four Families?"
She nodded.
It was a surprise that she felt like she could just ask one of them, but maybe she told them it was for Eva and Max rather than for me.
I picked up one of the buns and slowly tore it open, letting the steam from inside escape.
The filling was glistening, and I could see the chunks of fatty pork and mushroom slices.
I didn't recognise the herbal notes in the aroma, but I hadn't tried a herb in Purple Oak that I didn't like.
My mouth watered at the thought of eating it, so even though I was a little nervous, I bit into the bun.
The dough was soft and perfectly fluffy, but the filling was the hero.
Savoury tender pork, earthy mushrooms, and a lot of garlic which paired perfectly with them both.
"This is very tasty," I said, surprised by how good it was. It wasn't like any steamed bun I had before, but it was good. Really good.
Pepper tried her own bun. "Mm, it is nice. How does it compare?"
Now that was a loaded question, but I felt comfortable answering because she seemed to actually want to know the answer and appreciate my honest opinion. "When I make my dough, it's sweeter," I said, eating a piece of the bun by itself. It tasted more yeasty, but that worked well with the filling.
"Sweeter, huh? I'll remember that for next time." She ate another bite. "And the insides?"
"Really good," I answered, having more of the bun. "Pork and mushrooms are good friends."
She chuckled. "That's a cute way of putting it."
"Is that not how you would say it?"
"I think I would say they're good together," Pepper responded.
"Together like they're getting married? Pork and mushrooms are good spouses?" I checked, wanting to get the expression right.
Pepper chuckled, but it seemed to be in amusement rather than being mocking. "I guess you could say they marry well together, yes."
I finished the steamed bun without realising it and eyed up the large pot, unable to see if there were more of them in there. Even if there were, I probably shouldn't have another, or I would spoil my appetite for later.
"Would you like another?" Pepper asked, seeming to have read my mind.
"Are there enough for me to have another?" I checked, not wanting to take any that she was planning on using for something else.
"Absolutely, I made them for you." She put another on my plate, looking pleased. "I'm glad you like them. It was fun to make them, and I'm pleased with how they came out. I think I want to make some adjustments next time, though."
"You're going to make them again?" I asked while I ate my second bun.
"Only if you would like to have them again," she responded.
"Eva would definitely like them. I'm not so sure about Max."
"I would make different fillings so he can have one without mushrooms. Maybe chicken and leek. Or cheese and ham. That's probably very unconventional," she said, sounding excited about the prospect if her smile was anything to go by.
"Then yes, Max would like it too," I said.
Pepper leaned against the counter, her arms folded in a way that showed off her strong forearms. I could tell she did a lot of kneading from how well-defined the muscles were. "But would you like to have steamed buns again?"
I finished chewing, realising I had polished off my second bun already. "If it's not too much effort, I would."
The smile breaking through on Pepper's face was perhaps the most beautiful smile she had so far. "Then I would be happy to make them again. For you. And maybe, if you're willing to, you could tell me how you make your dough and filling so that I can get them perfect."
Something in my stomach fluttered from the way she was looking at me. I usually didn't like when people stared, but there was something soft in her eyes. I didn't know why, but I wasn't against it. Just like the steamed buns, I liked it more than expected.