The pastry Zeng Zhui brought was similar to Xu Jiang's plum blossom cake, though prepared slightly differently. It also uses a mixture of glutinous rice and rice flour, kneaded into a ball, then divided into small pieces. Filled with a filling of dried tofu and diced, lean pork, then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until cooked. Its texture is soft, glutinous, and sticky, while the filling is rich, savory, and fresh, with the delicate fragrance of the banana leaves, making it a must-try.
Lin Hongchu asked, "What kind of snack is this? I've never seen it before."
Zeng Zhui explained, "It's a delicacy from my hometown. We call it Ye'erba in southern dialect."
Xu Jiang asked, "Could these banana leaves have been cut from Mr. Du's garden again?"
Zeng Zhui said as a matter of course: "It would be a shame to use such a large banana tree in his yard just to show off his taste. It would be better to use it to make a good meal, so as not to waste this natural gift."
Xu Jiang sighed for Du Hui. The fact that this evil disciple was still able to live a good life showed that he was magnanimous.
Zeng Zhui's cooking was indeed excellent. She ate four in one gulp and felt bloated, so she quickly brewed a pot of hawthorn tea to help digestion. Zeng Zhui had come from afar, and after Lin Hongchu had stuffed her stomach with plum cakes, her mouth was dry. She picked up the teacup and gulped it down. After one cup of tea, she grimaced at the sour taste.
"Oh, I forgot to add honey." Xu Jiang quickly asked Hong Chu to get the honey jar.
"It seems I'm in trouble with your bookshop today." Zeng Zhui finally managed to suppress his sourness and said to Xu Jiang, "I'm here not only to bring you some snacks, but also to bring you a message from my teacher. He told you not to forget to settle your debts at the Imperial College."
"I've got it in mind." Xu Jiang's eyebrows were raised when this matter was mentioned. Once the money comes into the account tomorrow, he will have the money to buy paper and hire someone to start printing the second and third editions.
Lin Hongchu came out holding the honey pot and was delighted to hear this. "Boss, is this our first printing deal done?"
"Yes." Xu Jiang said to Zeng Zhui, "Please tell the gentleman that I will come to thank him in person another day."
"Okay." Zeng Zhui drank another cup of hawthorn tea for digestion, this time with honey. He stood up and was about to leave. "I have to go find Zhu Chun, so I won't stay any longer."
Xu Jiang called him and said, "Wait a moment. Since you are going, please bring the plum blossom cake to Mr. Yuan for me to thank him for the plum blossom viewing banquet last time." Then she went to the kitchen to prepare the snacks.
There were three portions in total, one each for Yuan Zuzhi and Hu Xu, and one for Du Hui. He wanted to pack one for Zeng Zhui as well, but he had just had his stomach filled with Lin Hongchu, so he quickly waved his hand and refused it.
Zeng Zhui followed him into the kitchen and saw the plum blossom cakes Xu Jiang had made. He sighed, "This is what you call plum blossom cakes. The ones made by that little hoe don't even look like plum blossoms. I wonder how a young lady like her can be so clumsy."
"Don't gossip, you have sharp ears." Xu Jiang smiled, then sighed, "Now you think she's clumsy, but if her skills really improve in the future, you'll feel bad for her. It's better to be clumsy."
My hands are clumsy because someone is hurting.
Zeng Zhui was silent for a moment, then walked out and said to Lin Hongchu, "Little Chu, pack up your plum blossom cake for me. Although it looks a bit ugly, it tastes good. I love it."
Lin Hongchu stared at him suspiciously: "Really?"
Zeng Zhui nodded, "It's more real than real gold."
Lin Hongchu shouted happily and rushed into the kitchen. She packed all the plum blossom cakes she had made into a big bag and handed it to Zeng Zhui. She was delighted and thought that her cakes were now quite good.
Xu Jiang looked at it and shook his head.
After sending Zeng Zhui away, Xu Jiang divided the plum blossom cake into several portions, kept some in the shop as snacks, gave some to the shopkeeper Wang, and asked Lin Hongchu to take some back.
Naturally, the Lou family father and son also received a lot of food. Xu Jiang packed three portions in total, so no one had to fight over anyone else's.
Xu Jiang didn't ask Lou Yunchun to accompany her to the Imperial College again. He had been so busy with official duties recently that he'd barely been to the market, so it was hard to bother him. She already knew the way, and having already met Song Xuelu and Xie Zhubu, she didn't have much to move; she could handle it all by herself.
She put the deed in her pocket, took two portions of plum cakes, and rode out on her donkey.
Riding a donkey was faster than driving an oxcart, and in just an hour, she had arrived at the gate of the Imperial College. She noticed that many merchants had come to settle their accounts that day, so she followed them to the Classics Hall.
As she was walking, she suddenly heard someone calling her from behind. When she turned around, she found that it was the owner of the paper mill.
"Manager Xu, what a coincidence! You're here to settle your accounts too?"
The abbot also came riding a donkey. When the two donkeys saw each other, they glared at each other and blew at their mouths.
The two masters were on good terms. Xu Jiang bowed to him and replied with a warm smile, "Indeed, the master of the temple also supplies paper to the Imperial College?"
"Yes, I have been providing it for two years."
"But it was Lord Lou who recommended it?"
The owner of the monastery was surprised and asked, "How did Shopkeeper Xu know this?"
"Last time I heard you say you were supplying paper to the Lou family, so I made a random guess."
"Lord Lou is easygoing and kind-hearted. A couple of years ago, seeing that my paper mill was just starting to pick up, he wanted to help, which is how this deal came about."
Lou Jing is indeed like this.
The shop owner stared at Xu Jiang for a few seconds, his heart scratching with anxiety, and asked, "Shopkeeper Xu and the young master of the Lou family..."
Xu Jiang nodded generously.
The shop owner smiled and said, "Manager Xu has good vision."
Now Xu Jiang became curious, "Aren't you afraid of him?"
"What's there to be afraid of? Like father, like son. Lord Lou has such a kind heart, so his son is sure to be good too. And I've seen him handle cases in the West Market before. He's impartial and fair, which is really admirable."
"The abbot said I have good taste, and the abbot's taste is not bad."
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