But the old woman got even angrier when she saw him. She picked up a rolling pin and threatened to hit him: "Why are you crying? This is bad luck on a holiday!"
Gao Zhiqiang was woken up by the noise outside. Rubbing his eyes, he shouted impatiently, "What's the commotion so early in the morning? Can't you let me sleep?"
The old woman's expression changed immediately, and she smiled apologetically: "Son, sleep a little longer, the dumplings will be ready soon!"
He turned around and glared at Lin Yaqin fiercely, "What are you standing there for? Go boil some water!"
Lin Yaqin lowered her head and numbly added firewood to the stove.
The firelight reflected on her red and swollen hands, and tears fell into the ashes. For the first time, she remembered Li Guifang's kindness!
But this thought was fleeting!
Looking at the raging fire in the stove, the fire in my heart also surged up!
If Li Guifang hadn't disliked her, was trying to sow discord between them, and hadn't given Li Mingyuan money to come to Beijing for graduate studies, would she have been so desperate as to follow Gao Zhiqiang to Beijing?
She also resented Li Mingyuan. He came from a poor slum, yet he had the nerve to call himself a city dweller and try to emulate her?
If he hadn't been such a loser, and hadn't used sweet words to trick her into marrying him, perhaps Lin Yaqin would have already lived a life of luxury.
If he hadn't been such a coward that he didn't even dare to steal Li Guifang's passbook, they would have taken the money and lived a carefree life in Beijing!
How could Lin Yaqin end up in this state!!!
——
But human beings’ joys and sorrows are not shared. Li Guifang, who was far away in Ji City, had no idea that someone in Beijing City was still thinking about her!
She is so happy!
Ever since she made a 20-inch three-layer pagoda-shaped giant cake for the flour mill on the winter solstice, her Guifangzhai business has been booming again!
But eight out of ten orders specifically asked for cakes made by her, Li Guifang!
"Master Li, for my grandfather's 70th birthday, I want the one you made with the peony flower. We can just have a smaller one at home, the eight-inch one!"
"Sister Fang, my daughter's wedding, you have to personally take charge!"
Having so many orders isn't necessarily a good thing! This has really exhausted Li Guifang!
I have to get up before dawn every day to mix the cream, and still be decorating cakes in the middle of the night. My arms are so sore that I can't even hold the chopsticks.
Fortunately, Li Guifang's shop was well-staffed, so she handed over the basic tasks of baking bread dough and making fruit fillings to Xie Dazui and his colleagues.
The most critical step of whipping the egg whites was given to Zhao Xiaomian, the last disciple who had signed a confidentiality agreement.
Don’t be fooled by Zhao Xiaomian’s gentle appearance, she has amazing wrist strength. She can whip egg whites and cream by stirring three bowls at a time without even taking a breath!
Li Guifang tried it several times and found that the cream she beat was more stable than that of this semi-automatic machine, with fine foam and good hold.
Moreover, Zhao Xiaomian grew up in an orphanage and was not bothered by so many relatives. She decided to choose Li Guifang as her master and devoted herself to learning from her.
Most importantly, she has a natural talent for making pastries and can master it instantly!
The simplest toast, Zhao Xiaomian’s is softer and sweeter than Dong Dongdong’s.
Li Guifang taught her how to adjust the cream ratio, and she mastered it after two tries. She could even fine-tune the syrup concentration according to the weather and humidity.
However, despite Zhao Xiaomian's help, the old customers still recognized Li Guifang's craftsmanship and insisted that she frame the flowers herself.
Li Guifang rubbed her sore shoulders and looked at the orders lined up on the chopping board, feeling both relieved and worried.
After a busy day, Master Li dragged his tired body, wrapped himself tightly in a thin jacket, and walked home panting.
The wind in the early winter night was so strong that it hurt her face. She shrank her neck and just wanted to go back quickly to fill a hot water bottle to warm her feet.
"Auntie, why are you getting off work so late?"
A voice with a Shanghai accent suddenly floated from the entrance of the alley.
Li Guifang looked up and saw a woman wrapped in a knitted shawl standing under a street light. A piece of suede high heels was visible from the hem of her cheongsam. She was holding an embroidered handkerchief in her hand and was looking at her with a smile.
Li Guifang squinted her eyes and walked closer to take a look. Oh, isn’t this Hu Meiling, the “Curly-haired Teddy” from Jijia Hutong?
This woman suddenly moved into the hutong a few years ago. She put on makeup and wore gold and silver jewelry all day long, but I never saw her work seriously.
The neighbors all said behind her back that she was either the mistress of some boss or a "smuggler".
However, Li Guifang did encounter him a few times. She had an unclear relationship with Ji Xing, the man from the Ji family whose wife had died!
Usually when they met, Hu Meiling always looked down on her, but today, the sun was setting in the east, and she actually took the initiative to greet her?
"Yes, there's a lot of work in the store." Li Guifang smiled perfunctorily, not stopping. "Ms. Hu, why are you still out so late?"
"Oh, I couldn't sleep at night, so I came out to get some fresh air."
Hu Meiling gathered her shawl, and her red nails flickered in the dim light.
"Oh~ Auntie, Nonge Cake Shop is doing really great business these days! Congratulations~"
Hu Meiling held her embroidered handkerchief and smiled, her Wu dialect sounding like honey.
"I'm so envious! Auntie, you're the best!"
She deliberately dragged out the word "lai sai" long and soft, and the waist of her cheongsam twisted with exaggerated exclamations, just like the socialite Li Guifang saw on TV later!
Li Guifang got goose bumps all over her body. She would have to cover herself with a thicker quilt when she got home tonight! Besides, there must be something fishy going on!
She simply played dumb: "It's just a way to make a living. Take your time and enjoy the breeze. I'm going home first!"
After saying that, he quickly walked around Hu Meiling and went home without looking back.
As soon as Li Guifang's figure disappeared at the entrance of the alley, the smile on Hu Meiling's face instantly collapsed.
Jiao was upset and stamped her feet, holding the handkerchief in her hand. "What a waste of time!"
But he quickly regained his enthusiasm and said, "Come again tomorrow! I don't believe I can't take down an old woman!"
Thinking about these things is like a fighting rooster, raising its neck and making "click-click" sounds!
——
Li Guifang and Li Jianghai were lying in bed, chatting about today's events, and before they knew it, they talked about Hu Meiling.
"Today is a strange day. Hu Meiling, that shrew with a green onion in her nose, actually took the initiative to greet me."
Li Jianghai was yawning, but he perked up when he heard this: "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten!
Yesterday morning when I went out, I ran into her on the corner. My goodness, she grinned at me with her bloody mouth wide open—" He lowered his voice, "That mouth was so wide open that I thought I saw her eating a child!"
"Tsk," Li Guifang curled her lips, "She didn't think that just by getting close to me, I would let her work in the store, did she?"
Li Jianghai scoffed, "Come on, look at that gold bracelet on her hand, it's wider than our counter! Short of money? Short of morals, that's almost the same!"
The two of them laughed together.
Moonlight filtered through the blue curtains outside the window, revealing Li Guifang's sudden smile. "You said...she's suddenly being so attentive. Could she be eyeing our recipe?"
Li Jianghai was so frightened that he jumped up.
"No way! Aren't you afraid of giving birth to a son without an anus?"
The two people whispered for a long time before turning off the lights!
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