Chapter 48 The casually bought grandmother accepted a new apprentice
The autumn rain pattered softly, smearing the old locust tree in the yard with a golden sheen. The wind blew coldly, and even the first, second, and third birds tucked up their feathers and fluttered beneath the tarpaulin.
Wei Fuqiu felt sorry for them, so she and Meng Ge'er moved the chicken coop to the corner of the corridor and planned to move it back in the spring.
She planned to raise them for retirement. Her sister said the chickens were of unknown origin, belonging to the guild leader Liu Hai, and that eating them might give her a stomachache. Everyone agreed, and Wei Fuqiu agreed. She mixed the rice bran for the chickens and patted them with a few taps.
One, Two, Three escaped the disaster because they were too ugly.
"Grandmother still hasn't agreed to Manager Shen's request. She has come to Yunlaixiang to invite you twice."
Wei Jinyun sat on the porch, washing red dates. The vendor's own trees produced round, sweet dates, sun-dried to a vibrant crimson, and they were supplied to Yun Laixiang. A large basin of dried red dates had to be cleaned, pitted, and cut into sections in preparation for today's Double Ninth Festival cake.
"If I go, who will cook for my good granddaughter?"
Wang Qiulan put the washed glutinous rice and red beans into a big pot, added some dry firewood under the stove, and poked the bottom with tongs to make glutinous rice and red bean rice for her granddaughters.
The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the day of peak yang energy. In Pingjiang Prefecture, there's a saying that "nine represents the old yang, and when yang reaches its peak, it will inevitably change." Therefore, red beans and glutinous rice are used to ward off evil spirits. Red beans dispel bad luck, while glutinous rice attracts blessings, praying for the family to be safe from disaster and enjoy peace and prosperity.
Wang Qiulan looked at the thriving shop and wished she could give all the blessings to her granddaughter.
"I can do it, Grandma. I can make wontons. After Grandma goes to the Shen family shop, I will cook wontons for my sisters."
Wei Fuling was feeding loofah and edamame on the porch. They had grown considerably from two small balls of fur, one black and one yellow.
The loofah had replaced its short, glossy fur with a smooth, black satin finish. Its ears were no longer flat, but now pointed, twitching back and forth at the mere sound of movement. Its eyes shone brightly, and as it chased falling locust leaves, its paws clattered on the ground, and its whip-like tail lashed with delight.
Edamame, however, has grown into a soft, overgrown ball of fur, its fur fluffy and soft. Its limbs are sturdy, yet it still has a certain naiveté, occasionally slipping when running fast. When it finds something delicious, it wags its furry tail and hums, then happily chases after the loofah.
Luffa has become more courageous, while Edamame is the one who hides behind. It seems that this family will rely on Luffa in the future.
“Aunt Wang’s embroidery is really beautiful. I can also cook Yun Laixiang’s meal. Please agree to it, Shopkeeper Shen. I really want the whole Pingjiang Prefecture to see Aunt Wang’s embroidery.”
When the weather was nice, Gu Xiang would help air out the quilts. The flowers and birds embroidered on their quilts looked so lifelike that they shone in the sun, as if they were about to fly out of the quilt. And the embroidered designs on the clothes of Shopkeeper Wei's sisters moved with their every move.
She had seen Aunt Wang threading a needle. A single strand of silk, usually fine enough, was split again and again, producing countless strands. She marveled at Aunt Wang's steady hands and sharp eyes. The silk looked thinner than a human hair. But Aunt Wang told her that even more skilled embroiderers could split the silk into hundreds of strands, even finer than the silk spun by Zhu'er.
Gu Xiang couldn't bear to think about threads thinner than the ones Zhu'er could spin. Wouldn't the wind blow them away and they would disappear? She ate two bowls of freshly cooked red bean glutinous rice and went to help Wei Jinyun mix the stuffing.
Shopkeeper Wei received an order for Chongyang cakes, and a huge pile of paper was piled up in front of the counter. Just the fillings needed included sesame, taro paste, sugar, and red bean.
Chongyang Cake doesn't require a large dough. Instead, glutinous rice and rice flour, mixed with water and sugar, need to be mixed into a loose dough. Then, steam it in a steamer along with the prepared fillings. So, Gu Xiang took on all the work of mixing the fillings, making it easier for Shopkeeper Wei.
Wei Jinyun tied up her arm and spread the rice flour dough sifted by Gu Xiang into a thin and even layer in the steamer.
She first took the sesame filling, scooped it with a wooden spoon and spread it on the rice noodles, pressing it gently as she spread it to prevent it from sinking into the noodles during steaming. Then she added the taro paste filling. The dense taro paste was wrapped with a faint sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance. She deliberately left some graininess to make it more chewy, and finally covered it with a layer of rice noodles.
The sugar filling should be spread thinly to prevent it from being too sweet and overpowering the taste. Finally, the red bean filling is added. The red beans are cooked until they are sticky and melt into sand once they enter your mouth.
The Double Ninth Festival cake is topped with nuts, which means "date and chestnut cake is more delicious".
She took out the prepared ingredients from the bamboo basket: round, peeled chestnuts, bright purple-red preserved grapes, halved and pitted red dates, coreless candied fruit, fragrantly roasted pine nuts, and broken walnuts.
She embedded chestnut kernels on the edge of the cake, arranged grape preserves and red dates in the middle in a small flower pattern, and finally sprinkled pine nuts, walnut kernels, and candied fruits in the gaps. Red, yellow, brown... they were embellished on the rice cake, which greatly increased one's appetite.
When everything was ready, she carefully placed the cake on the stove to steam, adding a handful of pine needles. Pingjiang Prefecture's steamed cakes often use pine needles to create a fragrant aroma. The steam, wrapped in the scent of pine needles and the sweet aroma of preserved fruit, quickly filled the kitchen.
“So sweet.”
Gu Xiang took a bite of the freshly baked Chongyang cake, breathing heavily as he swallowed, "I really love celebrating festivals."
The sesame-filled Chongyang cake, still steaming from the oven, is soft and non-sticky. The finely ground sesame seeds are fragrant and perfectly sweet. The chestnut kernels, pine nuts, and walnuts embedded in the cake are fragrant, and you can even taste the sweet and sour flavor of preserved grapes.
She likes working at Yunlaixiang the most because she can eat delicious leftovers every day.
“I like festivals, too.”
Wei Jinyun cut the remaining scraps into small pieces and placed them on a plate and handed it to the sales expert Wei Fuling.
The profit from the holiday is more than that from several days.
Chongyang cakes are best eaten warm. So, apart from wrapping the Chongyang cake gift boxes for the idle young men, the rest of the Chongyang cakes were placed on the stove, waiting for the guests to order. As for the ones in Wei Fuling's hands, they were all simmering on her small clay stove.
As soon as the shop doors opened, the idle young men were already waiting outside, having been delivering goods door to door since early morning. Unlike crispy moon cakes, Chongyang cakes are not affected by moisture. Once delivered to your door, they can be steamed again to restore their soft, sweet texture, just like freshly baked cakes.
By this time, the rain had stopped, but the autumn wind still carried a chilly wisp of rain vapor. The sweet-scented osmanthus flowers by the door had fallen onto the pebbles, and there were fewer remaining on the branches.
"Why don't I see any of the Zhou people?"
An idle man named Xiao He counted the orders in his hand and planned his route. He had an unusually large number of orders today and waited for a while at the shop door, but still hadn't seen the old acquaintance he had chatted with last time.
"He doesn't need our Yunlaixiang family."
Gu Xiang skillfully led them to sign the contract, and while paying the deposit, he kept muttering, "He can't control his eyes."
The two idle young men understood what was going on. When they looked at the contract, they saw that the wages for hiring them were two hundred and eighty coins. They were so happy that they didn't know what to do.
If you don’t want to come, then don’t come. Today they will let Manager Wei see what it means to be a little whirlwind in Pingjiang Prefecture, coming without a trace and leaving without a trace.
The idle young man hired by Wei Jinyun ran away happily. Just as she was eating a pork and sauerkraut steamed bun, another young man came to bring her wine.
The shop rarely sold chrysanthemum wine during festivals, so she bought two barrels from the wine shop. The Song Dynasty had strict regulations for selling homemade liquor, requiring a license to brew and sell liquor. Even if one wanted to brew their own liquor, they had to purchase official liquor from the government or become an agent.
Wei Fuling sat in her little room, her head bent over a book early in the morning, completely absorbed in it. Soon, she and her sister would be going to school, and she needed to learn more so as not to be looked down upon. Beside her, Meng Ge'er was practicing the new characters he had learned the day before: his name, Zhao Wenmeng.
The two of them didn't bother each other, except for the fact that Meng Ge'er would occasionally forget whether to write "Zhao" first, inside or outside, and would ask Wei Fuling to teach him. Wei Fuling wasn't annoyed, but taught him diligently like a teacher. She even gave Meng Ge'er an extra homework assignment: make two sentences using Chongyang Cake, praising it, and not saying "Chongyang Cake is so delicious." This was due in the afternoon.
Meng Ge'er kept scratching his head.
The small clay stove heats the Chongyang cakes cut into pieces, making them fragrant. Even without any calls, the colorful, sweet and fragrant cakes can attract many people.
The first person to enter the shop was Zhang Renbai. As soon as he entered the shop, he ordered five Double Ninth Festival cakes and two pots of chrysanthemum wine, and ate them with his head covered.
It was a cold, rainy day, and he wore only a single white shirt, the collar still open, revealing his neck. His hair was loose, with loose strands draping down his cheeks. A layer of weariness shrouded his brows, and a faint shadow of blue shone beneath his eyes.
Wei Jinyun put the clay stove on him. He stared at it for a while and called her, "Miss Wei, do you hate me?"
He drank a sip of chrysanthemum wine while speaking, and his excited expression seemed somewhat inconsistent with his loose clothes. There was a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
"Not really."
Wei Jinyun smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang should take better care of his health so that he can continue to take the exam next year."
She didn't say much to him, and went to entertain other guests when they arrived.
Her green shadow shimmered in his eyes. In autumn, everything withered, but she always seemed full of life.
But it’s not his, it’s not his, it’s not his.
If only my parents didn't come back, if only time could stay in summer forever...
Zhang Renbai was a little dazed. He took something out of his sleeve, and the contents scattered in the chrysanthemum wine and disappeared. He drank it all in one gulp.
The wind chimes rang and two figures came in from the doorway.
"It smells so good."
Wei Jinyun was wrapping dim sum when she heard a familiar voice calling out, "Miss Wei, we're here to get some dim sum today!"
She looked up and saw Xiao Zhang and Er Niu huddled at the door. They were dressed in clean clothes and were neatly groomed, a stark contrast to the usual summer outfits of mud-speckled short coats and men who hadn't bothered to shave.
Xiao Zhang stepped in first, just smiling innocently, "Today is Double Ninth Festival, my uncle gave us a day off, and we thought you must have Double Ninth Festival cakes, so we came here to look for them."
Erniu followed him in, his eyes circling the shop. "Look at this window, and the brick joints beside the counter. I laid them all myself. It looks so grand now, and much brighter than before."
Xiao Zhang immediately pushed him and said, "You're just trying to take credit for everything. I helped build the new beams and mixed the mud in the corners. How come you're the only one who did it?"
Erniu continued to refute, "I didn't say it was all me. Look at the carvings on the wall. I spent half the night thinking about it before carving it..."
The two of them argued back and forth, their faces turning red, but they didn't seem to be really annoyed at all.
Wei Jinyun lowered her head to wrap dim sum and had no time to spare. She used a bamboo clip to push a piece into each of their hands. "The shop you built makes me happy every day. Come on, there's an empty table over there. Xiao Gu, go and light up the clay stove."
Gu Xiang led the two of them to a small table. Xiao Zhang did not forget to turn around and glare at Erniu, while Erniu bit the Chongyang cake and smiled at him.
When they passed by Zhang Renbai, they saw that he was rosy-cheeked, yet also listless. They had no grudge against him, but they didn't like his parents very much, so they greeted him.
Zhang Renbai responded in a daze, then went back to eating the Chongyang cake, stuffing it into his mouth as if it were something random, and then his expression was dazed.
"It's not like this if I didn't pass the exam."
Xiao Zhang huddled up beside Erniu and muttered, "There are only a few successful candidates in the prefectural school this year. We'll just have to take the exam again next year."
He saw that his collar was half open, as if he was not afraid of the cold, and even the chrysanthemum wine he drank was cold.
"I don't know either."
Erniu wiped the cake stains from his hands and said, "Maybe that shopkeeper Zhang has spread rumors again... Even the vendors in Changmen know everything about him."
The snacks made by Miss Wei are so sweet and delicious.
"Some sympathy."
"Your sympathy is a fart. When Miss Wei was being scolded by his parents, he didn't say a word. Don't sit with me anymore. It's bad luck!"
At noon, Shen Wan quickly walked in, looking very energetic today. At her side, as usual, stood Shen Qiuxiang, dressed in a light pink skirt. However, standing next to her was a woman about Shen Wan's age.
Her eyes and eyebrows were gentle, and she wore a white jade hairpin in her hair. She was wearing a green cross-collared silk dress embroidered with black bamboo, and her whole body exuded a gentleness.
"Shopkeeper Wei is busy."
Chen Wan smiled at Wei Jinyun, who was greeting customers. She noticed the Chongyang cakes being brought out from the back. "Look at the steam, they must be freshly steamed. Give us three pieces, with sesame filling. Also, order a small clay oven and some of your signature dishes."
As she spoke, she turned around and patted Chen Qiuxiang's hand, "You child, you always treat me like an old lady with old arms and legs and support me. With my body, I can still walk a few steps steadily."
Chen Chuxiang obediently let go of her hand and replied softly, "I understand, Grandma."
"Let's go, Sister Shu, let's go there."
Shen Wan spoke to the woman next to her again and led her to the small table by the window, "That's my old seat."
Wei Jinyun came forward to entertain Shen Wan, brought the Chongyang cake, and joked with a smile, "Shopkeeper Shen, it seems that you came here today not only to eat Chongyang cake, but also for my grandmother, right?"
Chen Wan took a sip of tea and replied with satisfaction, "Shopkeeper Wei really understands me. You have to help me put in a few good words in front of your grandmother. I have been looking forward to her coming to Chen Ji to be an apprentice to the embroiderers."
"Don't worry."
Wei Jinyun curled her eyes. "It took Liu Xuande three visits to his thatched cottage to invite Kong Ming. You've already come three times to invite Yun Ming. My grandmother is soft-hearted to begin with, and since she appreciates your embroidery skills, she will definitely relent."
Chen Wan laughed out loud when she heard this, "That's right, such good embroidery is really rare nowadays. Your grandmother must have had talent since she was young. It's not too late to find her now."
Wei Jinyun sincerely hoped that her grandmother would go. She had long noticed her grandmother's incredible embroidery skills, so she often asked her indirectly if she wanted to open a tailoring shop. Every time she praised her grandmother's embroidery skills, her expression became extremely proud.
She had always wanted to save money to open a tailor shop for her grandmother. She had a clay pot at home, and she often threw money into it. That was the start-up capital she gave to her grandmother.
My grandmother toiled her entire life for the Wei family. She was willing to add the surname "Wei" to the shop, even though it was clearly a "Wang" shop. How could she stay in the backyard and cook for them forever? Every piece of gold deserves to shine.
"We should thank you for being my grandmother's mentor... I'll go get my grandmother for you."
Wei Jinyun turned and went into the backyard.
"Sister Shu, look at her."
Shen Wan brought the Chongyang Cake to the woman next to her and said, “No wonder he can run a good pastry shop. You are not satisfied with this sweet talker. You will see it now.”
Wu's gaze fell on Wei Jinyun, who had just turned around. She was dressed in a green gown, her hair tied up in a bun, and she exuded a refined and gentle air. Her almond-shaped eyes, clear as she spoke, their corners slightly tilted upward, brimming with smiles, were exactly the same as her granddaughter Xiangxiang had been describing.
What a capable young lady.
She reached out and picked up a piece of Chongyang cake on the table, took a small bite, and the aroma of rice mixed with the sweetness of sesame spread in her mouth. She said softly, "It's just the right sweetness. It's a good dessert. No wonder."
As she spoke, Wu's voice softened, a hint of hesitation between her words. "She's a good person, but I don't know what she's thinking about our family's strategy..."
Shen Wan immediately said, "How difficult is that? We'll know when she comes out and ask her."
"That's unacceptable."
Mrs. Wu quickly waved her hands. "How can you ask so directly? It's too rude. What if Shopkeeper Wei doesn't like Chang Ce? If we rashly ask, wouldn't it ruin her reputation? A girl's reputation is so precious, we can't be so reckless... Let me take a good look at her. She's so well-behaved and gentle, but my Chang Ce is a cold brick."
Shen Wan smiled and joked, "Since you're afraid of being reckless, then you can come by yourself next time. It's so boring to stay in the house all the time. Don't you get tired of facing Lu Heng every day? You had to drag me along on this trip with you."
Wu's cheeks flushed slightly as she continued to take a bite of Chongyang cake. "I'm just... embarrassed. I feel uneasy coming to see Shopkeeper Wei alone. And you were originally going to Yunlaixiang. We have different plans but we are on the same path."
"You."
Chen Wan tapped the back of her hand, her eyes full of smiles. "You've had this temper since you were young. You also said that Chang Ce was a cold brick, but wasn't Lu Heng cold-tempered back then? Didn't you still go around the Lu family compound every day, clinging to the wall to watch him practice with his spear, and even dragging me to climb with you, afraid of being seen and then stubbornly saying that you were just 'passing by'. You gave me a handkerchief he embroidered himself and said it was 'just bought'."
"oops!"
Mrs. Wu slapped her anxiously and quickly turned her face away. "I won't tell you anymore. This is so old and stale from so many years ago. We are so old now... You're still bringing it up. Aren't you ashamed?"
Chen Wan refused to let him go, smiling as she moved closer to her. "Why can't you tell me? What happened back then was so interesting. Besides, Chang Ce might be here soon. You might as well take a look at his attitude when he sees Manager Wei, and then pay attention to whether Manager Wei treats him warmly or distantly. Then you'll have a better idea."
Chen Chuxiang was sitting opposite, watching the two close friends talking about their youth. She was smiling from ear to ear. When she picked up a piece of dessert, she saw Tang Yin passing by the carved wooden window.
He was wearing the clothes of the prefectural school, without a folding fan, and carrying a box on his back. He looked quite respectable.
Tang Yin happened to catch her gaze and waved with a smile. She coughed lightly and looked away.
Can I still pass by Tianqing Temple when I go to the provincial school to paint and relax in autumn?
"Brother Tang, what are you laughing at?"
Zhu Zhishan saw Tang Yin was stunned, so he came up to him and asked him.
“I saw Miss Shen in a trance.”
"I'm afraid he's gone crazy painting."
Zhu Zhishan touched his forehead and asked, "Are you still going to Chenji Cloth Shop to buy clothes after school today?"
Tang Yin nodded, "I'm thinking of buying two more sets for my little Ding Dong."
Wu Sheng chuckled and said, "You need to buy a set of clothes for your raccoon slave every day, right... Forbearing love?"
"?"
As soon as Wang Qiulan emerged from the shop, Chen Wan immediately stood up to greet her, took her hand, and said warmly, "Sister, I beg you, please agree to this. Your embroidery skills, both seed embroidery and double-sided embroidery, are unmatched in all of Pingjiang Prefecture. I'll give you ten strings of cash a month, okay?"
The little rabbit on her silk ribbon seemed almost to jump out of it. Recently, she had even seen the round fans she embroidered for her granddaughters. The front featured a cluster of flowers and butterflies, while the back featured a feeding sparrow. There were many embroiderers in Pingjiang Prefecture, but few could create such fine silk and embroider with such skill.
Wang Qiulan held her hand and said, "Sister, to be honest, I really want to go. You know how to embroider and you appreciate it, and I'm happy to work with you. But as I said, I really can't let go of Jinyun. Her shop is busy and I can't leave. Besides, your cloth shop is far from here, and it's inconvenient to run back and forth."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wan frowned and pondered for a long time, then tightened her grip on Wang Qiulan's hand. "How about this? Instead of coming to my shop, I'll have the embroiderers come to learn from you. Every afternoon, I'll have them bring their materials and learn from you. You don't have to run back and forth, and you can still look after your granddaughters and the shop. Wouldn't that mean you can take care of both ends?"
Wang Qiulan waved her hands quickly, feeling somewhat guilty. "How can that be? You're paying me, but you're also asking the embroiderers to come all the way here. It's really hard on them."
"Sister, what are you talking about?"
Chen Wan smiled and shook her head. "When I was young, I learned embroidery from a master. I had to take a boat to Wujiang County and back every day. I left before dawn and dared to rush back at night. I didn't think it was hard. Now I just make them walk a few blocks, which is nothing. Besides, I have a good master like you, so how can I think it's hard?"
Wang Qiulan listened, and the worry on her face gradually dissipated. She sighed and said, "Never mind. I'm glad to be able to pass on my embroidery skills."
She never thought that she could be appreciated by others for a piece of silk ribbon. She has been embroidering for so many years, and only her granddaughters always praise her for her beautiful embroidery.
As she was talking to Shen Wan, she began to wipe away her tears.
"Hey! My dear sister, do you agree? Don't cry."
Chen Wan took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears and took Chen Qiuxiang's hand, "Qiushexiang, you must learn embroidery from Master Wang in the future. Come and salute the master!"
Wei Jinyun was greeting guests when she saw people coming over to pay their respects to their master with tea. She felt so relieved when she heard Chen Chuxiang call her "Master Wang" several times.
Wei Fuqiu came close to her, stood on tiptoe and whispered in her ear, "Sister, can I save my share of the money for grandma? I want to open a tailor shop for grandma. In the future, our Yunlaixiang will be famous, and grandma will also be famous."
Wei Jinyun saw her sincerity and rubbed her face, "Sister Qi, just wait and see."
The wind chimes at the door jingled softly, and a green figure stepped in.
Lu Lan was wearing a dark green suit, with a long sword hanging on one side of his leather belt. The hem of his clothes was neatly tucked into his boots, making him look tall and straight.
He held a few branches of autumn hibiscus in his hands, pink and white, with fine goose yellow stamens inside, and the petals were still stained with rainwater.
Shen Wan was talking to Wang Qiulan about the embroidery thread when she saw him come in. She immediately leaned over to Wu's ear and whispered, "Your husband is here!"
Mrs. Wu looked up and said, "Why are you wearing blue? Didn't you usually wear plain clothes? And... and you're smiling?"
"I happened to be passing by here on official business."
Lu Lan walked straight to Wei Jinyun at the counter and handed Qiu Furong over. The half-finger gloves were still wet, and she said casually, "Just buy it."
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Author's words: Jinyun: Opening a shop for my grandmother [glasses]
Mr. Lu: I just bought it casually [poor]
Writing about Chongyang cakes makes me hungry. I really want to eat some. The best Suzhou embroidery silk can be split into 300 strands. My wife can search for it. It's so beautiful and a part of intangible cultural heritage.
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