After opening, the store's business gradually got on track.
However, she couldn't always make sponge cakes; she would eventually get tired of them. Xu Zhi wanted to develop new desserts, and she wanted to make the kind of cream cake that Xu Di had mentioned.
Xu Bai helped recall how to make it, and then found something that could be beaten. They tried it one by one, and finally made the butter on the afternoon of the 27th of the twelfth lunar month.
The New Year's gifts sent by the Marquis's residence also arrived on this day.
Braving wind and snow along the way, we finally arrived in Liaodong Prefecture on the afternoon of the 27th of the lunar calendar. It was a steward from the Marquis's residence who came with more than ten guards from the residence, escorting several large carts.
Upon receiving the letter, Xu Rao returned from the government office. Chen Zhaoci had already arranged for the steward and guards to rest in the front yard, and all the delivered items were carried to Chen Zhaoci's courtyard.
Chen Zhaoci was looking through the gift book when Xu Rao came in from outside, bringing with her a chill. Chen Zhaoci quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and helped Xu Rao take off her overcoat and change into casual clothes.
Chen Zhaoci placed the gift list on the table and said to Xu Rao, "Look, the gifts that my second brother and sister-in-law gave us in return are even more generous than usual."
Xu Rao took the booklet and looked at it, saying, "My second brother and sister-in-law are both very good people, and they know how to repay kindness."
Chen Zhaoci took the booklet again, flipped through it, and said, "After the New Year, I will take the children back to the capital. Then I will prepare gifts for everyone in the family. Look, this year's gifts are much more generous than in previous years. There are also gifts from the old lady for Xiao Jiu. By the way, have you read the old lady's letter? The old lady said in the letter that she knew Xiao Jiu had opened a shop, and those gifts for Xiao Jiu were to celebrate the opening of the shop."
Chen Zhaoci flipped through the booklet and said to Xu Rao, "With the old lady's gift, the madam and several other grandmothers also want to give something in return. Look, this is a separate list for Xiao Jiu. The things the old lady sent are really too valuable."
Xu Rao had already seen it and said with a smile, "Old people always like lively atmospheres. A lively home makes people happy. If the old people are willing to do it, we'll just keep them company."
Chen Zhaoci said, "After the New Year, Xiao Jiu will be going to the capital to open a branch store. Will the old lady give her another gift to celebrate? Also, Xiao Jiu's store is going to open many branches. If the old lady gives her something for every branch she opens, how can the other descendants not have opinions?"
It was rare for Chen Zhaoci to vent like this to Xu Rao. Xu Rao smiled and saw that Chen Zhaoci had said enough and his emotions had calmed down. She said, "Why don't you just have Xiao Jiu take something slightly valuable back to her grandmother? Our Liaodong Prefecture may not have much else, but ginseng is a specialty. Buy a few old ones. They'll look nice and shut people up. Wouldn't that be better?"
Chen Zhaoci was still a little unhappy and said, "You know, the old lady is just like that. She likes to join in the fun with the children. What's the fun? Her things are not just inherited by our children. There are so many children and grandchildren in the mansion. Everyone has the right to inherit. The old lady gave so much to Xiao Jiu. When Xiao Jiu's uncles, aunts, and other relatives see this, they will definitely have opinions."
Xu Rao quickly advised, "I know, I know, I know that with so many people in our family, this harmonious situation is hard-won. We can't let the old lady's momentary whim ruin this wonderful situation, can we?"
Chen Zhaoci nodded and said, "It's best if you know. Let me tell you, Xu Di has put in a lot of effort to make money for his aunts and uncles. Everyone in the mansion knows that the things the old lady has are all of the best quality. The old lady is getting old now, and to put it bluntly, she might pass away at any time. Who doesn't keep an eye on the things of the elderly?"
Xu Rao joked, "I knew you wouldn't be watching."
Chen Zhaoci scolded, "Go away, I'm telling you seriously. We need to be more careful in the future. I know that the old lady is worried about you because you suffered so much since you were a child, so she pays more attention to our family. But the people living in the mansion are all the old lady's children and grandchildren. Even if we have suffered some grievances in the past, everyone is only looking at the present. When the time comes, we can't let some things damage the family's reputation."
Xu Rao exclaimed, "People say that when you marry, you should marry a virtuous woman. Now I understand. A wise and open-minded person like you can see things so clearly and remain so clear-headed when faced with good things. It's not something that ordinary people can do."
Chen Zhaoci rolled her eyes at Xu Rao and said, "Don't flatter me. I don't lack those things either. Our family, even though we're away now, we know in our hearts that with Xu Di around, we'll never lack money."
Xu Rao held Chen Zhaoci's hand and said, "I'll listen to you. Once you get back to the manor, just explain this matter to the old lady."
Chen Zhaoci then put down the gift book in his hand, picked up the perpetual calendar on the kang table, flipped through it for a while, and said, "I think we should go to the capital after the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. Xu Di will take the imperial examination in March. If we go earlier, his excitement will have worn off and he can take the exam well."
Xu Rao took the perpetual calendar from Chen Zhaoci's hand and looked at it, saying, "In that case, after the New Year we need to prepare the things you take back to the capital. Everything else is fine, but you should ask Xiao Jiu and the others tomorrow whether Xiao Jiu wants to take them all or just some of them."
Chen Zhaoci nodded and said, "If we're bringing everyone back, I think we should clean up the house that Xiao Jiu brought as part of her dowry. But then again, I'll write a letter to the capital and ask my sister-in-law to help arrange for someone to clean it up. Whether we bring people back or not, can we still let them stay at the Marquis's mansion?"
With something on her mind, Chen Zhaoci got up early the next day, ate a quick breakfast, and went to find Xu Zhi, who was so busy she barely had time to breathe, to ask her about her plans.
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