Chapter 51: The Moonlight is Beautiful "The best shopkeeper Wei in the world."...

"That's not true."

Lu Lingxiang took Wei Jinyun's arm and pushed through the crowd. "They're just passing by... Don't worry, today's birthday is in my courtyard. We're all familiar people here. You don't have to be so reserved, Jinyun."

Wei Fuqiu and Wei Fuling followed their sister, looking left and right.

Wei Jinyun also noticed that the person on her left looked familiar, and the one on her right seemed familiar to her. In short, they all looked kind and approachable. Besides Elder Lu, who she knew well, all the other passersby looked familiar to her.

The servants were also neatly dressed, their silk ribbons tied in the same length and direction. They placed their hands on their chests, nodded slightly, and showed their eight teeth in a perfect manner. They shouted in unison as Wei Jinyun walked.

"Hello, Miss Wei!"

The voice was clear and regular, yet it came suddenly. Wei Jinyun stumbled and nearly dropped the lunch box in his hand.

The reception for Xiangxiang’s birthday was so grand!

After Wei Jinyun and her two sisters slowly disappeared from the corridor, the people crowded at the door spoke.

"Mom, can you take me with you next time you go to Yunlaixiang? I want to go too."

Sun stood beside Wu and quickly frowned, "How annoying, Lu Ji, you're blocking me!"

Father Lu turned around in panic and moved away. "Yu Niang, I didn't notice. How about we check again later when she comes back? Have someone in the mansion call her again. Yu Niang, please don't be angry with me."

"How can you stare at a girl like that? It would be rude to do it again."

Sun pushed her husband away, not even glancing at him. "Right now, we can still take advantage of Xiangxiang's birthday party. We can't have a closing ceremony later... Go away. I need to go have tea with my mother."

She followed Wu into the courtyard, leaving only the backs of the father and son in her sight.

Wei Jinyun was enthusiastically pulled along by Lu Lingxiang all the way.

Compared to Lu's residence, Lu's was less elaborate, with fewer servants and a smaller size. There were many flowers planted, but only one or two plots had paved flower gardens. The rest was a flat, open courtyard, with numerous wooden racks for swords, guns, bows, and crossbows.

"Finally you're here. We've been waiting for so long."

Lu Lantang, Zhou Zhuqing and others were playing dominoes at the stone table. The dominoes were piled up in a huge pile. They stared at them with slightly frowned brows, just wanting to grab a good card.

Seeing the person coming, his brows relaxed, and he picked up a card with a high point and said, "Good luck comes when Jinyun comes."

There were quite a few people in the courtyard, but most of them were people Wei Jinyun had met before. They were often brought together to Yunlaixiang for snacks. With the weather getting colder, most people didn't want to go to other places to hold tea parties, so they all met at Yunlaixiang to keep warm and have tea.

There were many sisters in the boudoir, and the disease spread from one to another, and at one point it spread from person to person.

At first, when drinking tea, he would ask Wei Jinyun to use a screen to block himself, feeling a little reserved. Later, when he saw people in the lobby playing Go, as soon as the screen was removed, he would go up to watch and queue up, wanting to play by himself.

Although it was dusk, only cold dishes were served. The others took Wei Jinyun to teach her how to play the leaf game. Zhou Zhaiyue sat alone at a small table, offering some comfort to the two teachers who had humbly come to ask for their sister's instruction before the start of school, reassuring them not to be too anxious or nervous.

Sitting next to Lu Lingxiang, Miss Liu smiled, "Miss Wei, your Yunlaixiang is really popular now. I wanted to go there at noon today, so I went a little early. But I didn't expect so many people were waiting outside. The small table by the window and the long table were all occupied. I couldn't find a single empty seat."

The other young lady, Zheng, also smiled and joined in, patting Lu Lingxiang's hand. "Thank goodness we were smart the day before yesterday. As soon as we heard you had a new product, we rushed over early. The soup tastes sweet and refreshing, and it's good for your health. I told my mother about it when I got home, and she urged me to buy more. But if I wanted to order a bowl today, it wouldn't be possible. Even the idle man wouldn't be able to deliver it in time."

"Of course not. I found out very quickly when Yunlaixiang released a new product."

Lu Lingxiang took a bite of the five-treasure sashimi and said leisurely.

After all, Second Brother would often pass by Yun Lai Xiang during his patrols. He was on official business, so he usually didn't stop in, let alone take the time to sit down and enjoy a leisurely cup of tea. He would just ask her to pack a bowl for him to take home when he got off duty.

She also asked her second brother if he could stop by to try it after work, but her second brother said he would go there all the time because he was afraid of disturbing her.

She was really helpless. Given how many times he would just glance at Tianqing Temple when he rode past it every day, she would have to crook her neck to look at him.

Wei Jinyun listened to what the two men said, took a sip of tea, and replied, "Why would I keep you waiting? If you want to come in the future, let me know in advance and I'll save you a seat. I'm thinking of hiring two more quick-handled guys. Once I recruit them, if you want that Red Lotus Rejuvenating Soup or other snacks, the shop will have time to make more. When the time comes, I'll have someone deliver it to your door, and you can just sit and wait at home, saving you the trip."

"So you don't have time to take on tea parties or banquets right now?"

Wei Jinyun nodded, "It's true that the shop cannot do without people. Business is booming recently, and we have to greet customers, for fear of making mistakes."

As he spoke, servants filed in carrying plates, filling the room with the fresh aroma of autumn. Steaming crab stuffed with oranges, the wine-steamed white fish was particularly tempting, and the honey-roasted duck had a glossy golden skin. Dishes followed one after another, all exquisite and delicious.

Zhou Zhuqing picked up her chopsticks, her eyes falling on Wei Jinyun, and then she winked at Miss Liu across from her. "Miss Wei, you said you didn't have time to take these, but someone insisted. Yanwan, quickly tell her who pulled me aside the other day and insisted that Miss Wei come to our house to make snacks?"

Miss Liu's real name is Liu Yanwan. She has known Zhou Zhuqing since childhood and has a sweet and naive personality.

After Zhou Zhuqing counted her out, she left her seat and walked a few steps to Wei Jinyun's side, holding her hand and shaking it gently, "My dear Miss Wei, my dear Shopkeeper Wei, I don't really want you to come to my house to make snacks. It's just that my eldest brother is getting engaged to his sweetheart on the eighth day of next month, and the betrothal gift list must include wine, meat, tea, and fruit."

Miss Liu's eyes were filled with anticipation. "My sister-in-law who's not yet married is very gentle and easy to get along with. My eldest brother has loved me since I was a child. I see that he's getting engaged, so I always want to help him out more, but I can't get involved in other things. But look, I know a master pastry chef."

"Na Zheng's dim sum is meant to have good meanings. I've tried a lot of dim sum, and yours is the best. It's delicious and innovative. So I was thinking, could I order the Na Zheng dim sum from you, and let my sister-in-law's family taste your good cooking skills?"

Wei Jinyun did not accept the snacks from the Song Dynasty as they were part of the betrothal gift and there could not be any mistakes.

She thought for a moment and slowly explained, "Dowry snacks are important for the betrothal. According to the custom in our Pingjiang Prefecture, we need to prepare several baskets. The honey-fried cakes should be made with kumquats and green plums to symbolize a happy marriage. The sugar cakes should be printed with the word '囍' to make them look beautiful. The steamed pastries should be layered, with red bean paste in each layer to symbolize prosperity... We also have reunion cakes and lactose lions, and everything else."

Wei Jinyun's tone was a bit more cautious. "But do all the elders in your family know about this? There are many details to pay attention to when it comes to betrothal gifts. If there are any things that don't conform to the customs and etiquette, it will cause trouble for your eldest brother's marriage, which would be bad."

“I know, I know!”

Young Lady Liu nodded quickly. "My parents and eldest brother all agree. Even my sister-in-law, who hasn't married yet, must be delighted. A while ago, eldest brother even took her to your Yunlaixiang for tea. Do you remember her? She's a girl with a small mole between her eyebrows, fair skin, and two dimples when she smiles. She's a rare beauty!"

Of course the beautiful Wei Jinyun would remember. After Liu Yanwan said this, she really remembered that there were such two people.

One autumn afternoon, the beautiful woman was standing before a table filled with Yunlaixiang signs. The man across from her, blushing all the way to his neck, sipped his tea and said innocently, "Qingniang, eat more. Eat more. I'll buy you whatever you want in the future."

The two of them sat there all afternoon, and the phrase Wei Jinyun heard most often at the counter was "Qingniang, you eat." One of them flushed and drank several pots of her tea, while the other seemed to be unable to eat anymore, but still ate most of the snacks he ordered.

Finally, Wei Jinyun gave the two of them a pot of orange peel drink to help digestion.

"Although the shop is busy, I can't let our Miss Liu down."

Wei Jinyun looked at Miss Liu's expectant eyes, smiled and nodded in agreement, "Then I will accept the snack order for the betrothal gift. After all, this is your eldest brother's lifelong event, I will prepare the ingredients in advance and follow the wedding customs of our Pingjiang Prefecture."

At that time, she had visited her great-aunt's house and inquired about the preparations for wedding cakes in Pingjiang Prefecture. Cakes were needed not only for weddings but also for dowry. She had been planning to accept orders for wedding cakes, but lately, the shop had been so busy with dine-in and orders that she hadn't had time to think about it. Now, wouldn't it be the perfect time?

Wedding cakes are also a popular snack. When these cakes are carried over in loads, everyone who comes to watch the fun will look at them. Not to mention the wedding cakes at the banquet, which are given to the guests at the end of the wedding banquet to share the joy and happiness.

If Miss Liu does a good job on this order, she will have to keep her eyes on the banquet in the future.

It would be great if everyone in Pingjiang Prefecture could eat Yunlaixiang’s snacks in the future.

"Good Shopkeeper Wei, the best Shopkeeper Wei in the world."

Miss Liu immediately beamed. She picked up a large piece of honey-roasted duck leg and put it into Wei Jinyun's bowl. She also scooped up some crab roe from the crab stuffed with oranges. "Eat more! Today's food is delicious. When I get married, you can also come and make me some betrothal snacks."

As soon as he finished speaking, Miss Zheng, who was sitting next to him, burst out laughing, almost unable to lift her chopsticks. "Oh, Yanwan, why do you need to pay the betrothal gifts? You should ask that young master Wang to come and propose marriage... Tell him that you love Yunlaixiang's dim sum the most, and that you want him to prepare all of Miss Wei's signature dim sum when he proposes marriage. See if he's in a hurry. Maybe you can enjoy it yourself without waiting for your eldest brother's eighth day of next month."

"Don't talk nonsense! Don't talk nonsense!"

Miss Liu's cheeks flushed red with shame. She frantically picked up a spoon, scooped a round meatball and stuffed it into Miss Zheng's mouth. "Shut up! Who, who said he should come to pay the tribute? It was just... just a casual mention!"

Although she spoke with a firm tone, her face was burning, as if she had secretly drunk all the Qiulubai on the table. This scene made everyone at the table laugh out loud, and the candles were lit, illuminating the lively atmosphere in the room.

Children have big eyes and small stomachs. Wei Fuqiu and Wei Fuling were full after eating for a while. During the meal, all the sisters called out to them sweetly and sang a Happy Birthday song to Lu Lingxiang that was taught by the sisters.

After their sisters chatted, the two of them played in the courtyard with Zhou Zheyue. But after a while, a servant came to the courtyard and asked if they wanted some snacks.

"We're not going to eat in Mr. Lu's yard, are we?"

Wei Fuqiu was playing with the old bow that Lu Lingxiang played with when she was a child.

The servant was stunned, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "How did you know?"

"Zhaiyue, come with us."

Wei Fuling held Zhou Zheyue's hand.

Zhou Zheyue shook her head slowly, "I'm not going... Ask me about Sister Wei then. How would I know so much?"

The servant scratched his head.

Could it be that these three children have super hearing?

The osmanthus tree in the corner of the yard was covered with fallen leaves. Mrs. Wu sat on a cushioned bamboo chair, her eyes fixed on the two children who were led in by the servants.

Wei Fuqiu wore a light green skirt embroidered with fluttering butterflies. Wei Fuling wore a light yellow short jacket with lilac trousers, a sparrow with its wings spread embroidered on the chest. Both wore their hair in buns and wore osmanthus and rabbit velvet flowers in their hair. Although they looked identical, their expressions revealed their differences.

Sun put down the tea bowl in her hand, smiled and waved to the two people, "This must be Qu Jie'er and Ling Jie'er, right? Come here quickly, auntie has some freshly peeled chestnuts."

Wei Fuqiu bowed politely and said softly, "Hello, auntie."

Wei Fuling followed suit, but couldn't help but glance at Wu at the side twice, and suddenly her eyes widened. "You, you are the aunt who went to my sister's shop with Manager Shen before. I remember you!"

Wu was amused by Wei Fuling's words and laughed out loud. She said with a hint of joking, "Sister Ling not only has a good memory, but also has such sharp eyes?"

"yes."

Wei Fuling spoke with great seriousness, gesturing with her hands. "That day, Shopkeeper Chen and you were sitting by the window. You had a cup of tea in your hand, but you kept looking over at the counter. My sister was busy using the abacus when Lord Lu brought over some beautiful autumn hibiscus flowers for her. You were staring at the flowers, almost glueing your eyes to them."

Sun turned to look at Wu, her eyes filled with surprise and curiosity. She said cheerfully, "Mother, there's more to this? Why didn't you tell me? Sister Ling, are you saying... Changce sent flowers to Miss Wei?"

"Um!"

Mrs. Wu pointed to the cluster of autumn hibiscus in full bloom in the corner of the yard. The pink and white petals made the greenery look even more vibrant. "Look, these are the ones with beautiful shapes. Your father has been taking care of them for a long time. That day, Chang Ce picked some from the backyard and took them away. When he arrived at the shop, he became reserved. He handed the flowers over and turned to leave. Apart from leaving a handful of candy in his hand, he didn't dare say a word."

"Is this true?"

Sun laughed out loud and nodded repeatedly, "That's great! Very good!"

She turned to look at Wei Fuqiu, her tone becoming increasingly warm, and she even took her hand. "Sister Qiu, tell me what your sister looked like when she accepted the flowers. Did she smile?"

As she spoke, she waved to the servant beside her and said anxiously, "Quick, go to the kitchen and get the snacks Yingniang made for Qu Jie'er and Ling Jie'er to try. Also, prepare two bowls of warm almond soup so the children won't get thirsty."

The servant quickly brought over a plate with six plump rabbit-shaped buns on it.

The white dough is kneaded into a soft ball, and two pointed rabbit ears are pinched out. Two round eyes are dotted in red on the round rabbit face, making it lively and cute.

“My two sons, Chang Ce and Xiang Xiang, loved eating it when they were kids.”

Wu brought the plate in front of the two of them and said, "Try it quickly. We'll talk while we eat."

Wei Fuqiu was pulled by Sun to sit down, her face calm. "Auntie, auntie, you asked us to come here, probably because you want to inquire about my sister, right?"

Her tone was a bit more serious. "My sister is a very kind person. She treats me, my sister, and my grandmother with all her heart. No matter how busy the shop is, she will always find ways to make us happy. But I am too young to understand what Lord Lu means to my sister. But I do know one thing. It's not easy for my sister to raise us. She absolutely cannot let anyone hurt her. If anyone makes her sad, I... I will definitely not allow it."

Sun and Wu exchanged a glance, smiled, and quickly stood up to pat her on the back. "Don't worry, Sister Qu. Although Changce is a bit tongue-tied, he's not the type to bully others. We just saw that he and your sister got along well, so we asked him some questions. It's okay, have some snacks."

Seeing that Wei Fuqiu still had some hesitation in her eyes, Madam Sun said slowly, "How could I not understand what Sister Qu is thinking? She's simply worried that if your sister gets wronged in the future, she won't have anyone to support her."

Her words became more intimate. "Don't be fooled by the fact that our Lu family has some respect in Pingjiang Prefecture now. It wasn't like this in the early days. Our elders were all down-to-earth people. They fought on horseback and made their mark. They never treated others with empty rules."

As she spoke, Madam Sun suddenly smiled. "Besides, when Aunt was young, she often worked with needlework and fabrics, thinking every day about how to do her work well and how to satisfy her customers. It's the same principle that your sister is putting so much effort into making pastries now. So Aunt understands firsthand that people who earn their living with their own hands are the most precious. How could she let them suffer even the slightest bit of abuse?"

Wei Fuqiu listened, her eyes flickering as she asked softly, "Auntie has also done...work that requires careful consideration, and has also satisfied customers?"

"Of course not!"

Sun smiled and nodded, pushing the rabbit poultry buns towards her. "Eat them while they're hot. Don't worry, no matter what your sister has to do with our family in the future, we will only hold her in our hands and cherish her, and will never let her suffer any injustice."

She leaned over and whispered to the two children, "When my aunt was young, she was an embroiderer in the Shen family."

Sun Yuyao was a famous embroiderer in Pingjiang Prefecture more than 20 years ago.

Lu Ji passed by here every day. Today he went with his mother to look at cloth, and tomorrow he went to pick the flowers raised by his father. He tried his best and used countless excuses, and finally brought his sweetheart home.

She probably knew what the child was thinking, as she had experienced it herself at that time.

The Lu family doesn't care about these things.

"Thanks."

Wei Fuqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief, and her shoulders relaxed as well. She picked up one first, and when her fingertips touched it, she couldn't help but press it gently.

She carefully broke it in two, and the golden liquid slowly flowed out, emitting a sweet fragrance mixed with a faint frankincense and heat.

She took a slow bite. The outer dough was soft and fluffy, mixed with the aroma of milk, while the inner filling was sweet, soft and delicious.

“It’s delicious.”

Wei Fuling had clearly eaten a full meal, but she still ate a rabbit bun with runny nose. "Auntie's snacks are just as delicious as my sister's."

No wonder my sister said that I have two stomachs for rice and snacks.

The two of them ate the rabbit poached buns and told Lord Lu everything about his recent situation, including the fact that the fried stinky tofu was a routine reward from the government office.

As they were talking, a servant came in with a food box and bowed to Sun, saying, "Madam, this is specially sent by the master. Please try it while it's hot."

Sun didn't even raise her eyelids, just glanced at the food box, and said with a bit of anger, "I don't want to eat it, let him keep it for himself."

Wei Fuling, who was standing by, leaned over curiously and smelled a familiar scent. "Auntie, please open it and take a look. There might be words inside!"

Unable to resist the child's constant nagging, Sun finally gave in and opened the food box. Sure enough, there was a beautiful piece of floral paper next to the cup.

Seeing this, the servant who delivered the food box quickly added, "Madam, this soup was specially ordered by the master from Yunlaixiang this afternoon. Since you were out picking out clothes for the Third Miss, the master was afraid it would get cold and lose its flavor, so he kept it simmered on a low fire on the stove in the mansion."

Sun pinched the flowery note, her fingertips lightly brushing across the handwriting on it. She pursed her lips and said nothing at first, but when she caught a glimpse of the crooked crying face at the end, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She held the flowered paper close to Wu's eyes, her tone filled with a hint of resentment, "Look at you, mother. You're already grown up, yet you're still imitating a child by drawing a crying face."

The handwriting on the flowery paper was from Lu's father - Yu Niang, the weather is cold, have a bowl of soup to warm yourself up. Lu Zeyan knows he is wrong, please go back to the yard and sleep.

The crying face at the end had round eyes dotted with ink, and two crooked tear marks drawn on it, making it look particularly funny.

Sun didn't put the flowered paper back into the food box, but folded it carefully and put it into her sleeve. She scooped a spoonful of the Red Lotus Rejuvenating Soup and tasted it.

She waved to the servant who brought the food box, her tone no longer cold, "I understand. Go back and tell the master that I have drunk the soup. Tell him not to stay in the study too late and to go back to his room early to wait."

I had barely taken a few sips of the soup when another servant came in with a tray and leaned over to say, "Madam, Madam, this is specially brought by Miss Wei. She said it's a birthday cake for the third young lady. I'd like you to try it."

The light milky-colored cake on the plate was decorated with a few bright red honey-fried cakes. When you got close, you could smell the faint aroma of milk and fruit. It looked particularly exquisite.

The cake is exceptionally soft and has a mild but non-greasy sweetness. The milky aroma mixed with the slightly sour taste of preserved fruit is really novel to eat.

When Wei Fuling and Wei Fuqiu returned to Lu Lingxiang's yard, their bellies were already round and they could not walk.

The moonlight was bright, and it was time to go home. Wei Jinyun led her sisters to the door when they saw Lu Lan, dressed in official uniform, hurriedly leaving his post.

Lu Lan's gaze lingered on her for only a moment, then he pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Lingxiang, "Birthday gift."

When the dagger was pulled out, the blade was slightly bent, looking delicate and sharp. Lu Lingxiang couldn't let it go after she took it.

Zhan Wenxing followed Lu Lan. He held the wooden box in both hands and handed it forward. "Lu, Miss Lu, I wish you a happy birthday."

"Is your hand healed again?"

Lu Lingxiang immediately frowned and pulled his left hand over to take a look.

"It's okay, just a minor injury. The medicine you gave me was very effective, and it's healed already. I'll be leaving now."

Zhan Wenxing withdrew his hand, saluted hurriedly, turned around and left.

Looking at his back, Lu Lingxiang couldn't help but smile. She turned around and shook the dagger in her hand, "Second brother, considering this dagger is so beautiful, how about I give you a reward... Do you want to be a coachman for once?"

Lu Lan's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Accompanied by the sound of horse hooves, the carriage slowly moved to Yunlaixiang's door in the moonlight.

Wei Jinyun lifted the car curtain and got out, then suddenly turned around and said, "Master Lu."

Lu Lan's hand holding the reins froze, and he turned sideways to look at her.

Wei Jinyun raised her eyes and clutched the corner of her clothes, "Qiu Furong, very beautiful."

The faint moonlight flickered in her eyes.

"Um."

The wind blew the sweet scent of osmanthus flowers past the shop entrance. Lu Lan said softly, "The moonlight tonight is also very beautiful."

Lu Lan watched her back as she walked into the shop with her sister. She didn't shake the reins until the door closed. The shadow of the carriage gradually melted into the moonlight.

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The author has something to say: Wu is the grandmother, Sun is the mother, and the grandmother's name will be mentioned later. Take your time, otherwise it will be too much. (The characters are also arranged today.

The whole family likes to say they are just passing by and picking flowers. [Rainbow fart]

Jinyun: The flowers are beautiful [rainbow fart]

Rabbit custard buns, shaped like little rabbits, were always eaten when I went to banquets when I was a kid. They were super delicious. People in Jiangsu and Zhejiang should have eaten them before.

Lord Lu: "Moonlight" is beautiful. [Poor]