Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Update.
"Sister, why are you chiseling this rotten wood?"
At sunset, Ji Feng came back from the big pit to discard the ashes and saw Ji Xu drilling and carving on a pear wood board under the eaves.
This two-finger-thick wooden board was carved with sixty-six small grooves. The grooves were like crescent moons on the left and right, and plum blossom petals on the top and bottom. Two words were also engraved inside.
However, Ji Feng had never read the "Jijiupian" before, and he couldn't recognize the character after thinking for a while.
"It's Ding and Sheng written backwards."
Ji Zhu said, squatting nearby and watching.
"Yes, this piece of wood is the mold for making Dingsheng cake."
Ji Xu said, everything else is easy to carve, but these two mirror-like characters "定胜" require some effort. Ji Xu had been carving them continuously for more than ten days during his free time at the stall, and now it is finally done.
"Dingsheng Cake? What good thing is it?"
Ji Feng said curiously.
Ji Xu brought a bucket containing glutinous rice flour, rice flour, and some red yeast rice powder that he had mixed in the morning. Now that it was time to let it sit, he sifted it carefully with a bamboo sieve and added some mulberry sauce.
These mulberries were picked by their children in the yard and at the street corner. There were not many, so Ji Xu bought another basket to make sauce.
However, the weather is hot now, and even the jam can only be kept for half a month at most. It will go bad if it is kept longer than that. Therefore, it is best to use rose jam to make Dingsheng cake.
However, not only were there no roses at that time, even the crabapple and osmanthus were only available in wealthy families. The nobles used them to drink tea and appreciate flowers. There were no flower petals for sale on the market, so Ji Xu used mulberry jam as a substitute.
Mix it evenly with the powder crumbs, and then sprinkle it into the thirty-six molds, adding a spoonful of date paste, oil, and sugar cubes to each. Then fill the mold with powder, scrape it flat, and sprinkle some pine nuts on it.
The filled mold is placed in an iron pot and steamed thoroughly with hot steam. When the cake is cooked, it is poured out.
Each one is cute in shape, light pink in color, with the word "Dingsheng" printed on it. The symmetrical and ancient beauty of Han Li script is very pleasing to the eye on these cakes.
"It's not only beautiful, but also delicious. It's sweet and has a pine nut aroma!"
Ji Feng tasted it and nodded repeatedly.
This was the first time I made it, and some of the flour was not compacted and the shape was not perfect, so I kept it for myself to eat at home.
Ji Xu had gained experience, so he steamed two more molds the next morning and made 72 Dingsheng cakes, each of which was perfect. He took them to Huai City to sell.
This cake is small, but looks good and is made with plenty of ingredients, including date paste filling, oil and sugar. It costs a lot of money. It is sold individually for four cents each and ten cents for a portion, with three pieces in a portion.
"Dingsheng Cake! Eating it will ensure victory in the debate. My dear, buy a piece of Dingsheng Cake to have a good omen for a successful debate."
She had a reason to make the Dingsheng cake today. She heard from the students that on the ninth and tenth day of the sixth lunar month, people in the academy would play music and chimes, and the students would discuss and debate on classics.
Even the Minister of Rites would inspect the Imperial Academy, watch the students debate, and assess the students' grades with the other doctors and counselors. The debate results would be divided into three grades: A, B, and C. This was considered an entrance exam for these students, and it affected their first impression in front of the teacher.
The students who passed by Ji Xu's stall all had their books in their hands, muttering to themselves and reciting the words of sages.
Chen Zixia, who lived near Xiuliucang in the west of the city, came to the Imperial College on foot. He had been reading by lamplight all night and had not slept the whole night. Now he still had the book in his hands. He walked in front of Ji Xu with his body hunched, his eyes almost glued to the book.
But Ji Xu was hawking: "Debate will definitely win! Debate will definitely win!"
As soon as he heard the word "debate", he felt his stomach churning and wanted to go to the toilet.
"My dear, buy me a piece of Dingsheng Cake. Look how festive and auspicious this red one is. Eat it and I hope you will win the first place in your debate with the scholars!"
"really?"
Chen Zixia of Xiliu Cang was a man who read widely and knew the chapters and sentences by heart, but when he encountered tests, his palms would sweat, he would speak incoherently, and even have stomachaches.
This was already his second year at the Imperial College. According to normal procedures, he should have graduated and been transferred to an official position somewhere. Unfortunately, he failed the exam and was delayed until the second year.
Instead, he became more afraid of the exam. When he thought about discussing classics in front of the Minister of Rites and the doctors, his tongue became tied in advance.
"This Dingsheng cake is from my hometown. The people presented it to the soldiers before they went to war. Who would have thought that after eating it, the soldiers' morale would soar and they would be invincible. Hence, it got the name Dingsheng." Ji Xu said.
"If you have such good stuff, give me ten, no, twenty!" said Chen Zixia.
"This Dingsheng cake contains glutinous rice flour. Eating too much will cause a buildup in your stomach, which is not good. My dear, have you had breakfast yet? If you have, just give me one portion to enjoy the taste. It will bring good luck and help you win the battle."
Chen Zixia shook his head and said, "I have something on my mind. I can't eat or sleep."
Ji Xu knew the number and picked out two portions for him according to his size, six in total.
"I have a small Hu bed here. My dear, you can sit here and eat before leaving. There's still time."
Chen Zixia had no appetite, but he bought it because he heard that the Dingsheng Cake could bless him. He picked up one and measured it, nodding his head in praise:
"Great calligraphy! Great calligraphy! The first stroke of the word 'Dingsheng' is like the head of a silkworm, and the last stroke is like the tail of a swallow. The strokes are vigorous and wavy. Great! Great!"
Seeing this beautiful calligraphy, he was even more convinced that the cake could help him win. He took a careful bite and nodded.
"The pine fragrance is smooth, soft and sweet, and it tastes so good!"
After finishing his meal while sitting on the bed, he seemed to have regained some strength and bowed to leave. Ji Xu stopped him and said,
"I'll teach you a breathing technique. If you feel anxious, breathe in and out to relieve yourself. Just treat others as if they were wooden sculptures or clay figures, or cabbages and radishes growing in the field."
Chen Zixia laughed and followed suit, sinking his hands to his dantian and breathing deeply. It was indeed much smoother. He bowed and said:
"Thank you, girl."
Ji Xu's Dingsheng cakes were gradually sold out today.
"May your tongue blossom like a lotus, and may you triumph in the debate!"
Every time she sold one, she would say some auspicious words, which lived up to the meaning of the Dingsheng cake.
"Auntie Cao, good morning! Have some Dingsheng Cake that I made. You've been so sad all morning and haven't been shouting your wares loudly. What's wrong?"
When he was free, Ji Xu talked to Cao Gu, who was selling pancakes across the street.
Aunt Cao said, "Thank you very much. Your cakes are very popular. However, there are only a few days left in Huai City to make them. I don't know where to set up my cake stall for the time being."
Ji Xu was shocked and asked the reason.
Cao Gu said, "This is all the fault of that Sili Xiaowei. His son is studying at the Imperial College. One morning, he was sent here by carriage. He saw that there were food stalls set up in the locust tree forest. Students gathered and said that this is..."
Cao Gu thought for a moment before she finished the eight words.
"The etiquette... the etiquette is wrong, and it violates the national code. Xu, tell me, it's just selling some prepared food, how can it be related to the national code? This huge Chang'an City will not tolerate us."
Cao Gu also came here from another place to make a living. Her husband was serving as a guard in Chang'an, so she followed him here and sold cakes to earn some money for the family. She had two children to raise at home, so it was no wonder that she looked so worried.
"That damned Si Li Xiao Wei! He opens his mouth and with just eight words, we're not allowed to work in Huai City anymore! He doesn't have to worry about the monthly rent or salary, but if he gave birth to a son with no eyes, he'll have to beg at his doorstep when he runs out of rice to cook."
Tian, who sold groceries, also heard about this and cursed the Inspector of the Capital all the way home.
Just now, five or six market officials in black uniforms came to Huai City. They originally thought they were here to drive them away, so they packed up their stalls and tried to run away, but they were stopped by the officials who rang gongs.
They said that if they were not driven away in the next few days, they would not be allowed to come again until June 15th, that is, six days later. At that time, more city officials would be sent to patrol the area morning and evening. If they were caught, not only would their belongings for food be confiscated, but they would also have to pay another fine of one gold coin. Those who could not pay the fine would be forced to do hard labor.
One gold is one catty of gold, and sixteen taels of gold is equivalent to sixty-four taels of silver!
Who could afford such a fine? The market official rang the gong in the locust tree grove to announce the news. When the vendors heard about it, they became distraught and said they would not come again.
Ji Xu also had the same plan, but there was no other way. The Inspector of the Capital was a high-ranking official, higher than the rank of Two Thousand Stone. He was responsible for investigating lawbreakers in the capital and nearby counties, including maintaining traffic order in the capital. He could even use his authority to stop the vehicles of the royal family. Even if the princess's car broke the law and drove on the Tianzi Road in the city, he could still intercept the car with a big iron hook.
He was dissatisfied with the rituals and procedures around the Imperial College and wanted to make changes, which was bound to be done.
Ji Xu thought that the cost of being caught was too high. If all the family members were fined at once, how could that be tolerated?
However, there are still six days left, and as the monk rings the bell every day, Ji Xu still sets up his stall with great enthusiasm these days, making as much money as he can, while looking for other places to go.
"Girl! Give me a Dingsheng cake!"
"I want one too!"
"I want two!"
The next morning, Ji Xu saw from afar a row of students waiting at his seat, all wanting to buy the Dingsheng cake.
"I heard that Chen Zixia from Xiuliu Cang won the first place yesterday. He has always had bad luck in failing exams. It's all because of this Dingsheng Cake of yours. Our debate sessions are all today, so come and buy your tickets." said a student who bought two tickets.
"Those who tried it yesterday and only got a C grade are regretting not buying the Dingsheng cake from the girl."
There were even rich kids who sent little boys to buy the goods and put them in the carriage.
"Girl, every time you have an exam, you have to make this Dingsheng Cake and sell it!"
A student standing in front of the stall, holding a cake and eating it, said that he also bought a portion of lotus root starch dumplings and couldn't put them down.
"With your support, I also want to continue working here for a long time. However, the city official came to inform me that I can only work until June 15th. I will have to find another job then." Ji Xu said regretfully.
Chen Zixia, who came from Xiliu Cang, was delighted and wanted to thank Ji Xu. He had just come here and heard the news. He said:
"Whose order is this? What will we do if you leave?"
I am very reluctant to leave, and some students are worried about their future:
"It's so cheap to buy and eat like this every day. If Huai City doesn't open anymore, where are we going to eat?"
"That's right. I can't even afford the food in the big market. This place is economical and close to the Imperial College."
"I see you both love Cao Gu's cakes and Li Lang's drinks, but especially Xu Nu's cakes and dumplings. I think I will never be able to leave them.
Food, sex, and love are the greatest desires of human beings. The sages also said that eating cooked food and drinking water, bending one's arms and using them as a pillow, is where happiness lies. This Huai Market is where the students eat cooked food and drink water. We must not ban it like this. Let's write to the Ministry of Rites! Keep Huai Market!"
Chen Zixia said, as if he had reproduced the demeanor of yesterday's debate. His palms were no longer sweaty, his calves no longer cramped, and his face was filled with excitement and indignation.
These poor students were moved by his words and agreed to write a letter to the Minister of Rites to stay in Huai City.
"Keep Huai City!"
"Keep Huai City!"
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