Before them lay the Nine Treasures Pavilion, which they were about to enter. Ten-year-old Jiang Sheng stared at them with wide, round eyes, looking somewhat puzzled and confused.
Behind him was Jiang Chenghuan, who turned around in anger. She was the same age but much more graceful and mature, already showing signs of growing up, and possessing the pride and poise unique to a young lady from a noble family.
Jiang Chengyuan, standing in the middle, hesitated, unsure whether to go forward or backward.
Personally, he was going to support Xiao Jiang Sheng, but Jiang Cheng Huan's outburst caught him off guard. In particular, the sight of two girls of the same age looking over made the sixteen-year-old Jiang Cheng Yuan's scalp tingle and his ears explode.
Suddenly, Jiang Chenghuan spoke up, full of grievance, "Brother, aren't you leaving?"
The emotions that had developed over more than a decade of getting along well welled up in his heart. His mother had also earnestly instructed the eldest brother to cherish his younger sister. Therefore, both in terms of sentiment and reason, Jiang Chengyuan should choose to side with Jiang Chenghuan.
So he shifted his toes slightly, turning his steps from entering the store to leaving.
Step by step, she gets further and further away from Xiao Jiangsheng and closer and closer to Jiang Chenghuan.
"I knew it, brother would never hold it against me." The younger sister looked satisfied, her eyes filled with dependence.
This made Jiang Chengyuan feel gratified, but at the same time, he felt an emptiness in his heart, as if something was collapsing.
He didn't dare turn around, afraid of seeing the disappointment in Xiao Jiang Sheng's eyes, so he kept his head down and walked away quickly.
Jiang Chenghuan followed behind, struggling to maintain the demeanor of a noble lady while avoiding falling behind.
Jiang Sheng watched this unfold, her face growing increasingly puzzled.
Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Fifth Brother, were those two being chased by a dog?"
Otherwise, why would he turn around and run away as soon as he got to the pastry shop, and at such a fast speed, with the kind of urgency where he had to hold up his belt if it fell down?
Thinking back, Jiang Sheng only mustered this much strength when fighting dogs for food.
But I've never heard of the Jiang siblings being reduced to eating dog food.
Jiang Sheng was still scratching his head.
Chang Yan, standing to the side, lowered his eyelashes, his face and voice cold, "Ignore them, they're just noble young masters and ladies from wealthy families who don't understand the hardships of life."
They constantly preach propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame, and every word they utter adheres to etiquette.
But it is they who truly insult etiquette, it is they who are truly depraved, it is they who are truly shameless—it is all of them.
Even this noblewoman from a prominent family has a ruthless streak.
They had been discussing it on the roadside for a while and reluctantly came over, but when they actually got to the shop door, they had to state their position righteously before turning around and leaving.
These few words made it seem as if Jiuzhenfang, this pastry shop, had something shameful to hide, startling several passersby who frowned and left.
Fortunately, it didn't shake the foundation of the pastry shop's business, allowing Changyan to conceal the coldness in his eyes and put on a smile again when faced with his sister's innocent doubts. "Perhaps there's a funeral in the family that needs to be attended."
A sneeze drifted on the wind, sounding like a greeting, or perhaps a curse.
Jiang Sheng didn't spend too much time on unimportant people.
She was quickly taken aback by Zhao Yuan's large and small bags, and swarmed around him like a little bee.
“Brother Zhao, you really can’t eat anymore. These things will spoil in three days at most,” Xu Mo continued to persuade him. “If you want to eat them in the future, you can come to Jiuzhenfang again. They’ll have them anytime.”
“No need, I want this much.” Zhao Yuan insisted. “This is to support Brother Xu. If you become the top scholar in the future, don’t forget me.”
Even though the imperial examination hadn't been held yet, and even though there were many successful candidates in Fengjing, Zhao Yuan was single-mindedly convinced that Xu Mo could become the top scholar. Just like among countless students, he recognized Xu Mo's exceptional talent at first glance and relentlessly pursued him as a friend.
Or like now, he's determined to leave with bags full of pastries since he came to support the event.
Xu Mo understood Zhao Yuan's stubbornness and also realized the sincerity and honesty in his character. He stopped trying to persuade him and instead clasped his hands together in front of him and slowly bowed.
"I am deeply grateful for Brother Zhao's high regard. I hope to live up to your expectations next February."
No matter what the future holds, the friends you recognize at this moment will be your friends for life.
Xu Mo raised his head, a genuine smile appearing on his handsome face. "Brother Zhao, I'll see you off."
Zhao Yuan chuckled and put his arm around his shoulder, "Don't worry, my mother loves pastries. She'll finish these in two days."
"Really?" Xu Mo raised an eyebrow.
“Really!” Zhao Yuan patted his chest. “Don’t you believe my character and my words?”
Xu Mo did not refute.
Believe it or not, in the six months that followed, a strange phenomenon appeared in Fengjing: the wife of Zhao Sheren would feel nauseous and vomit whenever she saw pastries, as if she were an old clam with a pearl in its mouth, but no matter what she did, no one could diagnose her pregnancy.
...
Three days later.
Both shops have resumed normal operations.
Traffic has definitely dropped sharply. Wenshi Medical Clinic can still maintain half of the previous number of patients, but Jiuzhenfang only has a small group of customers who are still making repeat purchases.
Zheng Ruqian said indignantly, "I used all the best ingredients and the taste is superb, so why is my clinic still less popular than Xiao Si's?"
Jiang Sheng rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
Changyan kindly reminded him, "Second brother, pastries are not a meal, and are not a necessity."
For a pastry shop like Jiuzhenfang, it's already quite an achievement to have a few dozen customers every day, and they can sell most of their dozen or so kinds of pastries, so the business is actually doing reasonably well.
However, Zheng Ruqian was too impatient and ambitious, wanting too much, so he naturally felt dissatisfied.
“Which shop in Fengjing hasn’t gradually built its reputation and fame over time?” Changyan said softly. “I understand Second Brother’s desire to make money, but you really can’t rush things in business.”
Moreover, Jiuzhenfang and the clinic are next door, and with Fourth Brother in charge, even a casual mention during a consultation will bring customers to Jiuzhenfang.
"Second brother, Xiaozhu is already recruiting female healers. In the future, when these female healers go to massage the ladies of noble families, they will also promote Jiuzhenfang." As if they were telepathically connected, Wen Zhiyun also looked up from his medical book.
The free clinic over the past few days has cured several children with dysentery, relieved more than a dozen women of their long-term illness, and even saved a young woman who was three months pregnant.
There were no exaggerated kneeling and kowtowing scenes from storybooks, nor were there young girls tearfully offering themselves in marriage, but their simple gratitude and sincere thanks still brought Wen Zhiyun satisfaction and happiness.
Even her usually slender neck, which she loves to droop, can now stand straight and hold up.
It turns out that what he always wanted was recognition.
That's all.
Night fell.
The brothers were all focused on their own tasks, waiting for their meal and for their eldest brother to return from the Imperial Academy.
However, Xu Mo did not appear until the moon rose above the willow branches.
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