Crisis strikes

Fine wheat flour is poured into a celadon bowl, mixed with freshly ground glutinous rice flour, and then carefully mixed with well water. With delicate fingers kneading, the dough gradually becomes as lustrous and shiny as mutton fat jade. It is then covered with a damp kudzu cloth and left to rest.

Once fermented, divide the dough into small portions, roll them out, spread lotus seed paste or red bean paste on top, fold them into layers, brush them with clear corn oil, and put them into a sesame cake oven to bake slowly over low heat.

At this time, take another piece of dough and roll it into the size of a longan seed. Heat the oil until it is scalding hot. When you see it float to the surface, quickly scoop it out and roll it into the sugar frosting ground in the stone mortar while it is still hot. The sugar frosting solidifies like amber when heated, with a crisp shell and a fluffy texture like new cotton wool. Inside, there are thousands of snow-capped mountains intertwined, making it soft, glutinous and delicious.

The pastries in the oven over there are also beautiful, fragrant and crispy, with golden chrysanthemum and snow-white stamens. The layers are distinct, with hints of lotus seed paste and red bean paste.

The peas over there have already been simmered over a low flame until tender. They are then strained, poured into a shallow dish, and topped with melted cane sugar. The mixture is stirred well and left to cool in well water. It will solidify by tomorrow morning, at which point it can be cut into square or diamond-shaped pieces.

The glutinous rice paste is strained and mixed with the pickled osmanthus sugar. It is then poured layer by layer into a bamboo steamer and heated over a high flame until white steam fills the air. When the steamer is lifted, you can see the solidified fat adorned with gold, and the rich aroma of osmanthus wafts out. When you cut it with a knife, it is as soft as a cloud, which is extremely tempting.

After finishing all this, it was so late that even the moon was dozing off, but Gu Heng still stayed with her, even though he was so sleepy that his head was bobbing up and down like a chicken pecking at rice.

"It's been hard for you to stay with me for so long, go to sleep now." Pei Qingwu nudged him, then brought him some warm milk from the stove and said affectionately, "Drink some warm milk before you go to sleep, you'll sleep soundly."

"Um……"

The next day, Pei Qingwu didn't rush to visit Master Zhang. It would be too impolite to disturb someone's sleep so early in the morning. He simply sold pastries at the counter first, taking Qian Tao with him so that she could familiarize herself with the business.

After leaving Zuiyue Tower, Qiantao dressed much more simply, wearing only a light pink cotton ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair tied up with only two small silver hairpins, and a pearl flower made of rice beads pressed down at her temple. She looked like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice.

Pei Qingwu's appearance was actually quite good, but her beauty was not the kind of striking, dazzling beauty that Qian Tao possessed. Instead, she was gentle and graceful, with a soft and full oval face, skin as white and translucent as fresh snow, and a gentle smile that often graced her lips, like a gentle stream in the mountains or the clear sky after a rain, bright but not dazzling.

The two pretty young ladies standing behind the counter were like living advertisements.

The number of customers was quite high in the morning. Pei Qingwu wanted to give Qian Tao some training, so whenever a customer arrived, he would ask her to come forward and try to introduce the place.

"This is our family's signature Dragon Beard Candy, a specialty that started the business. We take molten malt sugar, coat it with glutinous rice flour, and pull it into strands that look like snowdrifts. When you bite into it, you'll find thousands of strands, a soft and chewy core like fresh cotton, sweet and melts in your mouth without sticking to your teeth. As the saying goes, 'Its interior is entangled with thousands of snow-capped mountains.' It's both crisp and chewy, and unique in Qinzhou City."

"This is Yuxu cake, made with a secret recipe of osmanthus-infused glutinous rice batter. It's steamed layer by layer until it's cooked to perfection, which gives it this texture. Look how soft it is, like a cloud. The sweetness comes entirely from the finest cane sugar and osmanthus honey, making it refreshingly sweet without being cloying. Every bite is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, and it soothes your throat. It's perfect with a cup of tea. This is the first batch that came out of the steamer this morning, and it's just the right amount of soft and chewy. You can try it first."

Qian Tao was a little reserved at first and her voice was not very open, but she quickly found her rhythm. After all, she had the wit and skill to deal with guests from all directions in Zuiyue Tower. As she spoke, she gradually got into the swing of things, her voice was soft and her tone was light.

"All the pastries in our Sushan Market are made with Master Pei's secret recipe. They can only be found here, and you can't buy them anywhere else no matter how much money you spend. Even Lady Zhao, the daughter of the Prefect of Qinzhou, thinks they are delicious."

Fresh, delicious, and favored by the wealthy and powerful—people always have this mentality that if they've used and eaten the same things as the nobles, they're no different from them. Qian Tao is quite adept at exploiting this mentality, putting all her effort into emptying her customers' wallets.

Pei Qingwu watched from the side and thought Qian Tao was quite nice. He then asked Gu Heng and Yin Lan to watch the shop and went to Zhang Jian's house.

Zhang Jian's house wasn't very close to Anyefang, and fearing the pastries would lose their flavor, Pei Qingwu splurged and hired a carriage to go there.

Before retiring from officialdom, he was merely an official in the Qin Prefecture government. He was an upright man, so his home was not luxurious; it was just a small courtyard with only an old woman with gray hair guarding the door. She led Pei Qingwu inside.

The courtyard was simply furnished, perfectly reflecting the refined tastes of scholars. In one corner of the square courtyard, a small flower bed was built with blue bricks and planted with several slender bamboos, which were elegant and graceful. In another corner, a simple wooden frame was set up, on which several yellowed and curled books and a few manuscripts bound with fine hemp rope were laid out to dry.

The door to the main hall was open, with a worn-out thin bamboo curtain hanging behind it. You could vaguely see the empty hall inside. It wasn't very big, with only an old square table worn smooth and shiny and an equally old round-backed chair. The armrests were oily and smooth. A landscape painting hung on the wall, with elegant ink splashes and light brushstrokes. On the table was a set of white porcelain tea set, and the edge of the tea tray seemed to have a small chip.

A faint, bitter herbal aroma wafted through the air, seemingly coming from the kitchen.

"Is Old Assistant Zhang sick? Why are you taking medicine?" Pei Qingwu couldn't help but ask.

"Oh, it's just that I'm getting old, and my health isn't what it used to be. I'm just taking herbal medicine to maintain my health," the old woman replied.

After leading Pei Qingwu into the main hall, Zhang Jian and his wife came out to greet them upon hearing the commotion.

Just as when we first met, Master Zhang was still the same, with half-white hair and beard, a slender figure, wearing a faded indigo round-necked robe, and full of vigor, his eyes still revealing the clarity and insight of a scholar.

Madam Zhang, on the other hand, had a kind and gentle face, wore a simple ochre-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was neatly combed.

"Madam Pei has arrived, please have a seat." Zhang Jian's voice was gentle, with a slight hoarseness.

Pei Qingwu quickly curtsied and said, "Junior Pei Qingwu greets Lord Zhang and Madam Zhang. It has been a long time since I last visited you, which is truly impolite. Today, I have prepared some simple homemade snacks as a token of my appreciation. I hope you will not find them offensive."

As she spoke, she presented the carefully wrapped box of pastries. The lid was slightly ajar, and a faint aroma of sweet pastries and the delicate fragrance of osmanthus wafted out.

Madam Zhang accepted it with a smile: "My dear wife, you are so thoughtful. This smell is so tempting!"

The old maid served tea, and the main hall was immediately filled with the slightly astringent aroma of aged tea and the sweet fragrance of fresh pastries.

After everyone took their seats, Zhang Jian sipped his tea and asked with concern, "I heard that after you established your own household, you opened this Sushan Market. It must have been quite an achievement. Has that guy from before... come back to cause trouble again?"

He was referring to Pei Qingwu's troublesome ex-husband's family.

Pei Qingwu shook his head slightly and said gently, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Zhang. Since the government's judgment, they have no reason to be resentful and dare not act recklessly anymore. Now they are running their pastry shop and their lives are peaceful and stable."

"That's good." Zhang Jian nodded, his eyes filled with approval: "Women who engage in commerce have to show their faces in public, and I can imagine the difficulties they face. It is truly rare for a lady to have such ambition and skill."

"I dare not accept such praise from Lord Zhang." Pei Qingwu bowed and said, "If it weren't for Lord Zhang's righteous words and upholding justice that day, how could I be where I am today? I will always remember this kindness and gratitude and never forget it."

Zhang Jian waved his hand and sighed, "It was just a small favor, my wife, you don't need to mention it. Seeing how self-reliant you are now, I am very pleased."

After exchanging a few words about the trivial matters in the shop, Pei Qingwu recalled Zhao Xu, whom he had met that night. With a slight stirring in his heart, he naturally steered the conversation, saying, "It was quite a coincidence. A few nights ago, I accidentally bumped into a seriously injured young man being chased by someone. Fortunately, he was lucky enough to survive and was not captured by his enemies."

"Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Jian and his wife were both surprised. "Do you know which family's young master it was? Is he alright now?"

Pei Qingwu shook his head, his face showing a just-right mix of confusion and lingering fear: "At the time, saving lives was the priority, so I didn't ask any questions in detail. After the person woke up, he only thanked me and left in a hurry without revealing his name or background. But judging from his demeanor, he didn't seem like an ordinary person. However, the fact that he was so badly injured and appeared in the depths of the alley at midnight is really strange. Lord Zhang, you have been in the government office for many years and have seen a lot. Do you know if there has been any news in the city lately?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian frowned slightly, his knuckles unconsciously tapping lightly twice on the worn, shiny old tabletop, lost in thought.

After a moment, he seemed to think of something and asked in a low voice, "Is that young man quite handsome, yet his brows carry an air of unruliness?"

Pei Qingwu's heart stirred slightly, but he only pretended to recall: "Indeed, as Master Zhang said, he has an extraordinary bearing. However, I was seriously injured and in a sorry state at the time, so I couldn't see him clearly. Could it be that Master Zhang knows this person?"

Zhang Jian snorted lightly, with a knowing yet helpless smile: "If I'm not mistaken, the person my wife saved is most likely Zhao Xu, the most troublesome eldest son of the Zhao family in Qin Prefecture."

"He's actually the son of Governor Zhao?!" Pei Qingwu exclaimed, feigning surprise.

“Not bad.” Zhang Jian took another sip of tea and said slowly, “This eldest son of the Zhao family is quite a headache for Magistrate Zhao. The magistrate hopes that he will study hard, take the imperial examination, and gain fame and glory for his family. However, this boy has loved archery and horsemanship since he was a child. He has a strong personality and, a few years ago, he even went to join the army without telling his family. I heard that he has made a name for himself in the Longyou Army. With his courage and fighting spirit and some family background, he has become a sixth-rank military officer under the Longyou Army Commander at a young age, leading a battalion of soldiers.”

"Lord Zhao was both pleased and annoyed. He was pleased that his son had finally made something of himself, but annoyed that he had ultimately chosen the path of a warrior, deviating from his expectations. This time, he was suddenly seriously injured and sneaked back to Qinzhou..." Zhang Jian frowned again and lowered his voice: "I'm afraid this is no small matter. Most likely, there was a blunder in a secret military mission, or he offended a ruthless person and was ambushed. It's fate that my wife saved him, but we shouldn't make a fuss about it, lest we get into unnecessary trouble."

Pei Qingwu's heart was filled with turmoil, but he maintained his composure and quickly replied, "Thank you for your advice, Master Zhang! I understand the importance of this matter and will keep it a secret."

As they were talking, Zhang Jian suddenly coughed softly. Madam Zhang quickly patted his back and handed him some warm water.

The old woman quickly brought over a small bowl of freshly brewed medicinal soup from the kitchen, the bitter taste of which had intensified.

"What about Zhang Gong's health..." Pei Qingwu asked with concern.

"It's nothing, just an old ailment." Zhang Jian drank his medicine, took a breath, and waved his hand. "When you get old, your blood and energy are inevitably depleted. It's just a minor cold. My wife doesn't need to worry about it."

Seeing Zhang Jian's tired expression, Pei Qingwu tactfully got up to take his leave: "Please rest well, Mr. Zhang and Madam. I will come to visit you another day."

Madam Zhang, supporting her husband, smiled and said, "My dear wife, please take care. We must try these snacks. Be careful on your journey."

Pei Qingwu bowed again, and the old woman respectfully saw him out of the courtyard.

When she returned to the shop, it was already lunchtime. Following Pei Qingwu's instructions and their usual practice, Sushan Market was temporarily closed. In the back kitchen, Yinlan pondered what to make for lunch.

"The boss is back?" Gu Heng saw her from afar and quickly stood up to say, his words revealing a hint of joy.

"The roads have been difficult to travel these past few days. Is the horse still running smoothly since the master took the carriage?" Yinlan asked.

Pei Qingwu laughed: "Don't exaggerate, I'm back now... Hmm, it smells so good, Yinlan, what are you planning to cook?"

Yin Lan was pouring sifted wheat flour into the earthenware basin, slowly adding water as she stirred it with her fingers, saying, "It's cold, so I was thinking of making something warm. Sesame seed cakes and mutton and cabbage soup would be nice."

Pei Qingwu nodded in approval, saying, "It sounds so comforting."

Then, smiling, she turned to Qiantao and asked, "How was your day? Are you tired?"

Qian Tao's eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were flushed with a healthy rosy glow from her busy work: "Not tired at all! It's much more comfortable than at Zuiyuelou. The customers are also very friendly. It's just that my throat was a little tight when I first started introducing the dishes, but then I imitated what the owner said and thought about how delicious the snacks were, so my words flowed smoothly and my voice became louder."

As they spoke, the sesame seeds were roasted until fragrant, crushed, mixed with salt and pepper, and kneaded into the risen dough. The dough was then rolled out and spun into a round cake. First, a crispy crust was formed on a griddle, then the cake was placed next to the stove and baked in the residual heat until it was cooked through, with each layer becoming crispy and bursting open.

After simmering the mutton bone broth for half a day, skimming off the surface oil, I finely shredded tender cabbage hearts that had been blanched in well water, added them to the boiling broth for a short simmer, sprinkled in some chopped coriander, and added a few drops of freshly pressed sesame oil.

Before long, Yinlan served the food.

The golden, glistening sesame seed cakes are layered on top of each other, the steam carrying the aroma of salt, pepper and sesame. With a gentle break, the crispy crust falls off, revealing a chewy, soft dough inside.

The milky white broth is topped with emerald green vegetable shreds and bright green cilantro, the rich flavor of the mutton and the sweetness of the vegetables blend together in one pot, instantly dispelling most of the chill.

Everyone sat around, enjoying soup and fragrant pancakes in the warm and cozy backyard.

After the meal, Qiantao took out a red paper slip from her sleeve: "Master, a well-dressed lady came today to order some pastries for her husband who is about to marry a bride. She said they would be for the wedding banquet and should look festive and auspicious. This is the odd number of pastries she left and the deposit."

Pei Qingwu took the order, glanced at it, and pondered for a moment, his mind instantly filled with countless exquisite pastry designs from later generations.

It needs to conform to Tang Dynasty aesthetics, while also being festive and novel...

After a moment of thought, his eyes gradually brightened, and he picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began to sketch on the back of the form.

"Nine is the ultimate number, so let's take the meaning of 'long-lasting' and decide on nine kinds of desserts."

"Firstly, the flaky pastry is filled with red bean paste and imprinted with peony patterns, symbolizing harmony and love."

"Secondly, glutinous rice wrapped in lotus seed paste, rolled with rouge and red yeast rice powder, symbolizes a pair of lotus flowers in perfect harmony."

"Thirdly, the white flaky pastry is wrapped with jujube paste and topped with gold leaf, which is called a golden and jade marriage."

"Fourth, the two-colored glutinous rice dumplings, with red bean paste and lotus seed paste intertwined, symbolize the harmonious union of phoenix and dragon."

Fifth, fresh fruit pieces are wrapped in glutinous rice skin and sprinkled with icing sugar, resembling snowflakes with pearls in them.

"Sixth, steamed cakes made with lilies and lotus seeds, cut into diamond shapes, symbolize a harmonious union lasting a hundred years."

"Seventh, walnut and sesame brittle, which is wrapped in melted maltose and shaped into small acacia fruit."

"Eighth, milk-flavored shortbread, sandwiched with a thin layer of honey-soaked osmanthus jelly, is called 'plucking osmanthus from the moon palace'."

"Ninth, the flaky pastry is layered and stacked, with a molten egg yolk filling inside, resembling a beautiful flower and a full moon."

Pei Qingwu finished speaking in one breath, and Qian Tao listened with rapt attention, quickly taking notes.

In the following days, the kitchen at Sushan Xiaoji was even busier.

The intricate peony pattern is pressed out by a carved jujube wood mold, the rouge color of the glutinous rice skin is vibrant and luscious, gold leaf is carefully applied, and the runny egg yolk is steamed to perfection, trembling and solidified in the golden flaky crust...

Pei Qingwu personally oversaw the process, striving for meticulous craftsmanship.

A few days later, the woman who ordered the snacks arrived as promised.

Lifting the lid of the vermilion lacquered food box, nine colorful pastries gleamed brilliantly: the bright red peony was exquisite, the golden jade dumplings were rich and noble, the two-colored dumplings were harmonious, and the molten egg yolk pastry was as round as the moon...

The woman stared at the pastries intently, praising them repeatedly with delight: "Madam Pei, what a clever idea! I've never seen such exquisite and festive pastries in all my years. My new bride will surely be delighted, and the banquet will be much more impressive! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness!"

After readily paying the remaining balance, they happily left with the food box in their hands.

As evening approached, the evening drum sounded, the gates of the neighborhood were about to close, and the streets were deserted.

Just as the Sushan market was closing and Gu Heng was putting away the signboard at the entrance, he suddenly heard a commotion and wailing not far away, growing louder as it approached.

The woman who had been beaming with joy during the day was now disheveled, tears streaming down her face, being carried by two burly men as she staggered towards them.

Afterwards, four servants carried a door panel, on which lay a person covered with a white cloth, revealing only a pair of feet wearing brand-new black boots.

Following behind were about a dozen burly servants wielding clubs, looking menacing.

"You heartless wicked woman! Give me back my son's life!" The woman rushed to the shop entrance, pounding her chest and stamping her feet, her voice trembling with grief: "My son ate your pastries, and this perfectly healthy groom, right after the wedding ceremony, just...he collapsed, vomiting blood! You bastards! You will pay for my son's life!"

The door slammed heavily to the ground with a loud bang. The burly man who seemed to be the leader suddenly pulled back a corner of the white cloth covering the corpse, revealing the deceased's swollen, bluish-purple face and black lips, a gruesome sight.

He pointed at the corpse and roared at Pei Qingwu and the others who had come out in alarm: "Look carefully! This is my master's young master! He just ate the pastries your family sent today, and died of poisoning before even consummating the marriage! The evidence is conclusive!"

"The remaining pastries are still here! Your shop must have used unclean things, or you were trying to kill me! If you don't give my mistress an explanation today, I'll smash up your black shop and have you arrested and executed!"