I Can Make Zongzi

As soon as the steaming hot zongzi touched his hands, Lin Mo couldn't wait to dig in.

Fang Jun's Ah-ma's culinary skills were evident just from the appearance of the zongzi. It had five distinct corners, solid edges, and was tightly bound with a straw rope.

It still held some residual heat in his hands, clearly having been brought over right after being reheated.

However, zongzi always tasted best right out of the pot the very first time.

Lin Mo untied the knot and unwrapped the outer winter leaves. These leaves were broad and thick, making them the most common choice for wrapping zongzi.

Of course, there were other types of leaves that could be used as well.

As the leaves were peeled away, a wisp of steam carrying a fresh, leafy fragrance mixed with the rich aroma of glutinous rice drifted up and went straight into his nose.

The white, jade-like grains of glutinous rice were distinct and glistening with fat, looking so appetizing that it made one's mouth water just by looking at it.

Lin Mo had lived in the south his entire previous life, but it wasn't as if the south didn't have sweet zongzi.

There were also alkaline water zongzi meant to be dipped in white sugar here.

He wasn't opposed to sweet zongzi, which was why he couldn't quite understand the endless arguments over whether zongzi should be salty or sweet.

Just eat whatever you like. Arguing endlessly over something so trivial was purely the result of having too much free time.

Lin Mo took a bite of the zongzi. The flavor was a bit mild, but the richness of the fat was there, and he could already see the salted egg yolk.

Glutinous rice absorbed oil very well, and with enough oil, the texture became fantastic. That was why adding salted egg yolk and pork belly to meat zongzi was the best method proven over many years of testing.

Generally speaking, zongzi needed to be boiled for several hours. This way, the glutinous rice would become completely soft and sticky, the mung beans inside would turn tender and powdery, and even the wrapped pork belly would completely melt into the rice.

"How is it?" Fang Jun had been staring at him, his expression hiding a bit of anticipation and nervousness.

Lin Mo took another large bite, this time getting to the pork belly inside.

He narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. With his mouth completely stuffed, he could only nod vigorously and free up a hand to give a thumbs-up.

Only after swallowing that mouthful did he let out a breath carrying the savory aroma of meat.

"Very good. The meat is marinated perfectly and is very fragrant. The fat just melts in the mouth with a sweet and savory taste."

"Hehe, told you so." Fang Jun's face immediately lit up with joy, and he patted his chest proudly.

If nothing else, even though Fang Jun's Ah-ma might season things a bit mildly, she was very generous with the ingredients. While others might put one piece of pork belly into a zongzi, she would put in two.

"My Ah-ma is really generous with the fillings; there's actually not that much glutinous rice and mung beans."

Lin Mo nodded.

Later on, some people even liked to add a lot of salted egg yolks inside, grandiosely calling it the Seven Dragon Balls.

Lin Mo had just unwrapped the second zongzi. Before he could even take a bite, Lin Jiajun's nagging voice came from the side.

"I say, that's enough for you. Glutinous rice isn't easy to digest. If you eat two of those, your stomach is bound to feel terribly stuffed."

His brows were knitted together, looking much like a worrying old mother, but he meant well for Lin Mo.

Lin Mo took a huge bite and waved his hand while mumbling indistinctly.

"Don't worry. Others might have a problem, but I'll be fine. Let alone two, I could digest another two just the same."

Lin Jiajun clutched his own stomach with a lingering look of fear. "I can't do it. Last year during the Dragon Boat Festival, I just ate one and felt miserable for the whole afternoon."

"Little Jiajun is just too delicate."

Fang Jun chuckled from the side. He knew Lin Mo had a big appetite, which was why he had specifically prepared two.

Lin Mo shrugged indifferently.

"I'm fine. No matter how much I eat, I'll be alright."

Then, another voice rang out nearby.

"That's good! Then you can eat this one too."

Jiang Yunlu appeared beside Lin Mo's desk like a gust of wind, placing a beautifully packaged gift box on his desk as if presenting a treasure.

The gift box had gold stamping and was tied with a ribbon, looking quite expensive.

Lin Mo swept his divine sense over it; inside were six individually vacuum-sealed zongzi. The packaging bags had various flavors printed on them, but there was no commercial outer packaging.

It was clearly custom-made.

"My dad specially invited a chef from a five-star hotel to make these, specifically to gift to his business partners!"

Jiang Yunlu's cheeks were a little red, and her voice carried a hint of anticipation.

"I specifically asked him for a box to bring over for you to try."

Lin Mo glanced at the gift box, then at the expectant Jiang Yunlu, and nodded. "Then I'll give you some zongzi I wrap myself as a return gift when the time comes."

Hearing this, Jiang Yunlu's eyes lit up.

"Zongzi wrapped by you? You actually know how to wrap zongzi?"

"It's just wrapping them, it's not hard. But I'll have to wait until I go back tonight to start wrapping. I'll give them to you guys on the day we watch the dragon boat race."

"Okay, okay!" Jiang Yunlu nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at rice. "I'm not a picky eater. I'll love whatever filling you wrap!"

"I'm not picky either. I'll eat whatever you wrap."

"Holy crap, Brother Mo, you actually have this skill?"

Fang Jun also got excited and slapped Lin Mo on the back. "You have to count me in! I also want to taste the zongzi wrapped with love by my Brother Mo's own hands!"

"Get lost! Piss off."

At this moment, the class bell rang.

Everyone quickly returned to their seats, and Fang Jun also went back to his seat, still wanting to talk more.

Just as Lin Mo was about to open his textbook, his back was lightly poked with the tip of a pen.

A voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz came from behind him.

"I want to eat the zongzi you wrap too."

Lin Mo turned around and looked at Chu Miaomiao, who was sitting behind him.

She had her head lowered, her cheeks flushed, not daring to meet Lin Mo's eyes.

Lin Mo smiled.

"Don't worry, everyone who's here gets a share."

Chen Xiaoya walked into the classroom, and the originally somewhat noisy class instantly quieted down.

"Ahem, let me tell you all something. The school is holding a small zongzi-wrapping activity this afternoon. Each class has a quota of two students. Who wants to participate in this activity? Of course, you must know how to wrap zongzi."

This impromptu task made quite a few people frown.

Having students wrap zongzi meant that whether the wrapped zongzi would even be edible was a question in itself.

After all, zongzi needed to be boiled for a very long time.

Chen Xiaoya continued, "This activity is to prepare them for the orphanage in Yangcheng. It's not a competition, nor is it being judged. It's just a chance for you to show some love and care."

Hearing Chen Xiaoya's words, everyone realized what was going on.

In the past, it had always been donating books or money; wrapping zongzi was a first.

At this moment, Chu Miaomiao weakly raised her hand.

"I... I know how to wrap zongzi."

This time it was Lin Mo's turn to be surprised. He turned his head to look at Chu Miaomiao.

"You actually know how to wrap zongzi?!"

Chu Miaomiao blushed a little. "I learned how to do it in the past."

"I see."

Lin Mo also raised his hand.

"Teacher, I know how to wrap them too."

"Teacher, I know how to wrap them too."

Someone else stood up from the back.

Without even turning around, Lin Mo knew the person speaking was Huang Haoyang.

The famous simp of the class. It was said that he persistently tried to add all the girls in the class on social media every day. Jiang Yunlu and Chu Miaomiao had never accepted his requests, but he just kept trying to add them. His perseverance was truly astonishing.

However, Lin Mo just slowly stood up and glanced back at Huang Haoyang behind him.