"Well, it's delicious indeed." The emperor said with a smile, "I didn't expect that the candied haws from Jiangnan would taste so good." The emperor's smile became brighter, as if he had returned to his carefree childhood.
Su Jinli felt a warm feeling in her heart as she watched the emperor. She said, "If Your Majesty likes it, please come here often. The scenery by the West Lake changes with each season, and each has its own unique charm."
The emperor nodded and said, "Okay, I will come again when I am free. I want to see what interesting things your family has come up with in Jiangnan." The emperor's eyes were full of anticipation, as if he had already seen the happy times in the future with Jiang Yan's family in Jiangnan.
At this time, the waters of West Lake rippled in layers, caressed by the gentle breeze, and the sunlight shimmered on the surface, making it sparkle. Tourists continued to come and go, admiring this picturesque scenery. And the chance encounter between Jiang Yan's family and the emperor also added a unique story to this beautiful West Lake.
In the days that followed, the Jiang Yan family continued to operate their candied haws stall. Si Yan became increasingly adept at accounting, not only accurately calculating daily revenue and expenditure but also beginning to consider how to increase candied haws sales. He would observe the preferences of passing tourists and suggested that Su Jinli create some unique shapes for candied haws, such as bunnies and butterflies. These novel candied haws were an instant hit with children.
While selling her candied haws, Nianli made friends with many locals. She took them to play by the lake, sharing the sweetness of the candied haws. Her cheerful and cheerful personality, like sunshine, warmed everyone around her.
Su Jinli's craftsmanship in making candied haws is becoming increasingly sophisticated. She experiments with adding spices unique to the Jiangnan region to the icing, making the flavor even more unique. She also discusses with Jiang Yan how to expand the candied haws business, such as collaborating with local shops to bring candied haws to a wider audience.
Jiang Yan, in addition to helping out with the stall, also uses his free time to research the local customs and cultural characteristics of Jiangnan. He hopes to integrate these into their lives and businesses, making their Jiangnan life more colorful.
Since that chance encounter, the emperor often made incognito visits to West Lake in Hangzhou. He would sit at the Jiang Yan family's candied haws (tanghulu) stall, chatting with the family, savoring the delicious candied haws, and savoring this ordinary yet blissful existence. He found that here, he could temporarily put aside the tedious affairs and prestige of the palace and truly enjoy the pleasures of life.
Once, when the emperor came, he saw Siyan explaining to a customer how to use an abacus to quickly calculate accounts. The emperor watched with great interest and said, "Siyan, you are very good at using the abacus. When you grow up, you may become a great accountant."
Si Yan raised his head and said seriously, "Your Majesty, I don't want to be an accountant. I want to be a learned man like my father, and I can protect my family." The emperor laughed and said, "Good, you have ambition! I believe you can do it."
Another time, Nianli took the emperor's hand and said, "Your Majesty, I'll take you to see the secret base I discovered." Then, she led the emperor to a patch of flowers by the lake. There was a small bird's nest, with several chicks chirping inside. Nianli excitedly said, "Your Majesty, look, they're so cute!" The emperor, observing Nianli's joy, was filled with emotion. He seemed to see himself as a child, filled with curiosity about the world.
Days passed, and the Jiang Yan family's life in Jiangnan became increasingly better. Their relationship with the emperor also grew more harmonious with each interaction. The banks of West Lake in Jiangnan witnessed their happiness and growth, and also wrote a series of heartwarming and interesting stories.
Over time, Jiang Yan's family's candied haws business gradually gained local fame. Many tourists flocked to the market just to taste their unique flavor. Some businessmen even saw a business opportunity and wanted to partner with Jiang Yan to expand his candied haws into a wider market.
After careful consideration, Jiang Yan and Su Jinli decided to seize this opportunity. They discussed the details of the cooperation with the merchants and developed a detailed plan. During this process, Jiang Yan fully utilized his knowledge and wisdom, while Su Jinli relied on her exquisite craftsmanship in making candied haws to ensure the quality of the product.
Siyan and Nianli also actively participated. Siyan helped with the accounts, calculating costs and profits. His conscientious attitude earned praise from the adults. Nianli, with her lively nature, promoted their candied haws to passersby, attracting even more customers.
With the joint efforts of the family, the candied haws business flourished. They not only opened several branches in Jiangnan, but also exported their products to other regions. The Jiang Yan family's life became more and more prosperous, but they did not forget their original intention.
In their spare time, they would still visit the West Lake and reminisce about the days when they used to sell candied haws. Jiang Yan would tell Si Yan and Nian Li historical stories and life lessons, while Su Jinli would teach them poetry and songs. Nian Li and Si Yan thrived in this environment, understanding the hardships of life while also learning to cherish the happiness they had.
The emperor, watching the changes in Jiang Yan's family, felt immensely gratified. He often told those around him, "The Jiang Yan family, with their hard work and wisdom, have created a wonderful life for themselves. Their story is worth learning from for every one of us."
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