Time flows slowly, like a gurgling stream, and half a month has slipped by in the blink of an eye. On the bustling Zhuque Street in the south of the city, the signboard of "Brothers Sugar Shop" gleams brightly in the bright sunshine, as if announcing its new birth and vibrant vitality to the world.
Jiang Xiaocai wore a brand new indigo apron. Its clean, bright color lent him a touch of rusticity and vitality. Standing at the entrance of the sugar factory, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Don't miss it if you're passing by! 'Brothers Sugar Factory' is having a grand opening today! Buy some candy and get a free exquisite sugar painting! Come and take a look, everyone!" His clear, resonant voice, like the chirping of birds in the morning, echoed through the bustling streets, drawing the attention of passersby.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Jiang Yan, holding a folding fan, strolling towards him with leisurely steps. The fan was plain white, but it was stained with a few traces of ink that had not yet dried, adding a touch of casual elegance to this simple fan. Jiang Yan coughed twice, clearing his throat, and put on a rather stylish look: "Ahem, I came here specially to show my support today. Please weigh out ten pounds of rock sugar for me."
"Grandpa, what's this..." Jiang Xiaocai had barely uttered the words when he stumbled upon the back of the fan. Written in a crooked hand, it read, "Brothers Sugar Shop, Number One in the Capital." While the handwriting wasn't exactly neat, it exuded a uniquely endearing and intimate quality. Jiang Xiaocai recognized it immediately; it was clearly Su Jinli's. He chuckled inwardly, yet he fought to suppress a smile.
Just as Jiang Xiaocai was stifling laughter, a loud noise approached from afar. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Young Marquis Su rushing over, carrying a gleaming golden "broadsword." Shockingly, this time he was carrying a real sword. The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight, frightening passersby who all stepped aside in panic, fearing they would be harmed by the sharp blade. "Make way! Make way! I'm here to protect my nephew's shop!" Young Marquis Su shouted as he thrust the broadsword against the sugar mill's entrance. A clang rang out, shaking the red silk hanging from the door frame violently, as if overwhelmed by the sudden force.
Seeing this, Wang Chengyi quickly brought out a cup of herbal tea from the shop and walked quickly to the side of Young Marquis Su with a gentle smile on his face: "Uncle, calm down. Your majestic appearance can certainly scare away bad guys, but if you scare away customers as well, Xiaocai will be worried about his money."
"Hmph, who wouldn't come?" Young Marquis Su said angrily, stuffing a mouthful of candy cake into his mouth. His cheeks instantly puffed out like a cute squirrel. He chewed the cake and mumbled, "I just ran into that kid Bao Banxian. He said if he wasn't afraid of being written into your grandmother's storybook as a villain, he would have come to buy ten pounds of brown sugar for his face!"
Young Marquis Su's words had everyone laughing so hard they were bent over. However, just then, a magnificently decorated carriage slowly pulled up in front of the sugar mill. Carved with dragons and phoenixes, and inlaid with exquisite gems, the carriage's body shone a dazzling brilliance in the sunlight, highlighting the owner's wealth and extravagance. The curtains slowly opened, and Liu's personal maid cautiously poked her head out, a timid expression on her face. "My wife...would like to ask if you have any scar-removing ointment?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the originally lively and cheerful atmosphere froze instantly, as if time had stopped at this moment. Jiang Xiaocai raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Scar removal? Wasn't Concubine Liu repenting in the Buddhist temple? Why did she suddenly want scar removal sugar paste?"
The maid's face instantly turned red, like a ripe apple. She stammered, "Madam said...she said that when Prime Minister Su scolded her last time, she accidentally hit her forehead against the altar, leaving a scar..."
"Poof!" Su Qingyao couldn't help laughing so hard that she spit out the tea she had just drunk. As she laughed, she shouted, "Serves her right! She's been made to act weak in front of everyone every day, and now she's crying loudly. Her fake crying has turned into real pain. She deserves it!"
Jiang Xiaocai's eyes rolled, and he already had an idea in mind. He calmly took out an exquisite little jar from the counter. The jar was small and exquisite, with exquisite floral patterns painted on the surface, like a carefully crafted work of art. Jiang Xiaocai looked at the maid and paused deliberately, whetting everyone's appetite: "Tell Aunt Liu that this is the rose sugar paste specially made by our sugar factory. It can not only effectively remove scars, but also make the skin as delicate as petals. However..." He stretched out his tone, "It has to be exchanged for the Western spices in her private storehouse."
After hearing this, the maid nodded quickly and left. Wang Chengyi looked at Jiang Xiaocai's quirky appearance and couldn't help but reach out and gently poke his head, his eyes full of pampering: "You, like your grandmother, have a lot of tricks and are very clever."
At that moment, a burst of joyful laughter drifted in from afar. A group of children, chirping like cheerful birds, ran over. Holding sugar paintings in their hands, their faces beaming with innocent smiles, they shouted, "Brother Jiang! Brother Wang! We want to learn how to make sugar paintings!" Jiang Xiaocai and Wang Chengyi had fulfilled their promise and used their shop profits to open a charity school dedicated to teaching children from impoverished families to read and write. In their free time, they also taught the children how to make sugar paintings, adding a lot of fun to their lives.
"Everyone, line up!" Jiang Xiaocai smiled as he picked up a spoon filled with golden syrup. In the sunlight, the syrup looked like flowing gold, shimmering with an alluring luster. As he spoke, Jiang Xiaocai slowly poured the syrup onto the slate, which then formed golden threads, gradually outlining the shape of a phoenix. "Today, I'm going to teach you how to draw a phoenix, just like the one my grandfather gave my grandmother. It's so beautiful!"
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