Chapter 57: Sending Wedding Cakes Together "I'll pull the cart, you just follow."...
Lu Heng couldn't sit still at home these two days.
Everyone around him has Yunlaixiang's meow meow sachets, except him.
His wife is a close friend of the owner of Shen's Cloth Shop, so it is understandable that she hangs a sachet, but that fellow Lu Hongcai is also one of the first ones!
Is it just because he is a teacher at the provincial school? If the provincial school needs to strengthen the physical fitness and add martial arts, then he can also apply.
There was no other way, so he had to send his attendant to buy cookies on the pre-sale day. But this attendant had been with him for decades, even since he retired. After coming to Pingjiang Prefecture and drinking tea with him all day, he had become even more lazy.
Can't even outrun a doll!
The attendant had a sad face, not knowing how to explain to the master that these people ran very fast when the time came. If they were in the military camp in the past, the Song Dynasty might have already flattened the small countries on the other side of the sea.
There was no way to grab the box, so when it was the servant's turn, he could only pick and choose, and there were only three bags left.
Lu Heng slowly ate the Meow Meow cookies with hot milk, picked out an Axue from the sachets that the servant had exchanged for and hung it on his leather belt, and found a courier to send the remaining two to his friend Su.
In his letter to his friend Su, he specifically wrote that this was the signature dish of Miss Wei who prepared the boat banquet for him.
She's a capable woman, having already earned enough money to open a shop. As for the jointly-branded dim sum, I'll eat it for now. If he wants to try it, he can visit him in Pingjiang Prefecture again, and I'll take him to try it.
Su Youren hung up a sachet of Qingniang's and sent Ali's to his brother.
The letter reads:
My brother Ziyou:
I am sending you a scented bag made of a raccoon, with soft and fragrant fur, called an A-li.
This bag is like me. When I'm not around, it will be there for you. Don't be bothered by it. Touch it like you're touching a brother. Don't throw it away!
Though I'm far away, my eyes seem glued to this bag, watching you day and night. Do your job well, but don't be too stubborn. If you come across something good, remember to grab it! Otherwise, this fragrant bag will sneak up on you at night, making you miss me!
Letter to Brother Zizhan
After Lu Heng hung the sachet, he began to stare at his grandson again, praying that he would draw a hidden one.
Since the servant couldn't outrun him, he went up himself.
When the day of the pre-sale finally arrived, he watched helplessly as three or five young ladies rushed out. When he reacted, he could only see a few pieces of silk and satin fluttering away without a trace...
Could it be that this Meow Meow cookie has also led to a fitness craze among the people of Pingjiang Prefecture?
The aroma of Yunlai persimmons wafts through the air, and the Xishan sweet persimmons are newly added to the set menu at the small clay oven. The persimmons, smoked over the charcoal fire, have an even sweeter aroma, and a single sip feels like drinking sweet syrup.
Lu Heng leaned closer to the counter and whispered, "Shopkeeper Wei, I beg you. I've been here since dawn to get those Meow Meow cookies and Meow Meow sachets, but I can't beat those swift young men. Just slip me a couple of them secretly, and I'll pay you more, and I won't tell anyone."
"This is really not possible, Mr. Lu."
Wei Jinyun smiled and replied, "I've opened this door for you today. If Aunt Zhang and Uncle Li see this tomorrow, they'll definitely say I'm biased. Who will want to support my business in the future?"
"How can you be partial? I clearly saw that Chang Ce had the best one hanging on his chest. You must have secretly saved it for him."
"You bastard, at your age, are still pestering Shopkeeper Wei? Aren't you ashamed?"
Lu Heng was still lingering at the counter. Master Lu sat down on a stool, picked up his hot tea, and glared at Lu Heng. "Chang Ce is in charge of the Inspection Office. He's always there to help the people out. When the neighbors see him hanging that hidden sachet, they want it even more. Shopkeeper Wei is just using him as a living signboard, so how can he be a private favoritism?"
"So, that's what you mean. I thought...I thought Manager Wei kept us here because he thought our family's plan was good."
Lu Heng turned around and sat down next to Master Lu, his tone falling as he spoke, "Poor Chang Ce, he must not know yet."
"Why should we feel sorry for him? There are people who are enjoying it. Forget about letting him carry the sachet. Even if he were to stand at the entrance of Yunlaixiang as a walking sign all day, he would be happy."
Master Lu slowly peeled the roasted persimmon, sniffed it, and took a big bite.
"You know? He's not your grandson."
Lu Heng glanced at him.
"How could I not know? He is you. Just tell me, when you accepted your wife's handkerchief, were you happy? Would you have kept it close to your heart on the battlefield?"
Master Lu couldn't help laughing when he thought about this.
Lu Heng married young, and his family moved to Bianjing. Once, when he was leaving for war, the emperor came to see him off. He quickly dismounted to meet him, and as he lowered his head, his handkerchief flew out of his bosom.
He stretched out his hand to take the handkerchief, and even forgot to salute the emperor. After taking the handkerchief, he muttered, "My wife, my wife gave this to me..." Fortunately, the emperor did not blame him, and praised General Lu for his deep love.
The people of the entire Bianjing city were watching and seeing them off.
Now everyone knows that although General Lu is a brave and serious man, he always wears his wife's handkerchief.
How are handkerchiefs and sachets different?
These are all from Chen Ji Cloth Shop. Maybe the silk embroidery items are made from mulberry leaves grown by the silkworms from the same tree.
"Don't bother me, Shopkeeper Wei. Your leg was hurt during the Liao campaign. Although you captured Yelu Alian alive, you were also hit by an arrow. Winter is approaching now, and the cold must be seeping into your bones. Why are you still competing with the young men? I'll have those boys from the prefectural school sort you out. They're fast, so they'll definitely be able to grab the position."
"Oh, why are you so kind today? I'm a little touched."
Lu Heng smiled and personally poured a cup of tea for Master Lu.
Master Lu glanced at him sideways and said, "Don't try to be so rude. I'm just worried that your legs might get frozen, and you'd have to go whining and looking for a doctor. It's really annoying to hear."
Wei Jinyun sat at the counter, calculating. Meow Meow Cookies had been selling for about twenty days. The daily revenue from dine-in meals must have been at least four kan (approximately 100 kan) and, if she added the monthly share from Meow Meow Cookies, she figured she could find a suitable small house nearby by next spring. She could then save enough to open up Yun Lai Xiang's second floor and expand the shop.
Buy a small house, expand the store, open a tailor shop...
Her days became more and more hopeful.
"Shopkeeper Wei, it's time for dinner!"
At noon, Gu Xiang would always howl outside, his voice deafening. He was so exhausted that he could barely walk to the kitchen, his eyes filled with longing for food that he didn't want to go back to the front hall.
"I'm still eating at the counter. The shop is crowded!"
As soon as Wei Jinyun finished speaking, Wan Wu came out from the backyard carrying a steaming small casserole. The aroma of meat mixed with the sweetness of water chestnuts filled the air.
She deftly placed the dishes and chopsticks at the corner of the counter, and brought a plate of shiny duck with dried vegetables and a plate of pickled white cabbage mixed with sesame oil.
"Manager Wei, please take a break. I've stewed some pork with water chestnuts, steamed some duck with dried vegetables that you love, and pickled some white cabbage mixed with freshly ground sesame oil. Come and try some."
"You're now responsible for the shop's daily meals, and your cooking skills are so good."
Wei Jinyun picked up a piece of water chestnut, which was soft and glutinous, full of meaty aroma. His eyebrows curved, "I have to give you a raise."
Wang Qiulan had been busy teaching various needlework techniques lately, so Wan Wu volunteered to cook a few meals. Chang Siyan, with his quick tongue, praised Wan Wu's meals with gusto. She led the praise, and Gu Xiang and Chao Jiu followed suit, finishing off every meal.
After receiving such praise, Wan Wu started to cook for everyone in different ways.
"Don't say that, Shopkeeper Wei. I just love thinking about these foods. Seeing you guys eating the food I made with smiles on your faces makes me feel warm inside. It's better than anything else."
Wan Wu paused. "My husband used to always complain about the food I cooked being too salty or too bland. How could that be? I like to make delicious food for them."
"Wanwu, if you don't come soon, Sister Xiang will pick all the meat in the pot!"
Chang Siyan's shouting came from the backyard.
"Hurry up and go! Don't you see Xiao Gu's temper? If you're any later, I'll really pick all the meat out for you."
Wei Jinyun smiled and pushed her.
Wan Wu also smiled, responded with "Hey", and quickly went to the backyard.
Wei Jinyun took another bite of the water chestnut.
This was probably Wan Wu's sense of worthiness. The more people praised her, the more cheerful she became. What's more, the food Wan Wu made was indeed delicious.
Wei Jinyun was putting some dried duck into his mouth when the wind chimes rang. He looked up and saw Lu Lan coming in.
He glanced around the shop and walked straight to the counter without hesitation. Wei Jinyun just moved slightly, and he sat down.
Lu Heng muttered behind the screen, "How can this brat sit so skillfully? It's outrageous."
Master Lu's voice followed, "He's not my grandson, why don't you ask him yourself?"
Lu Heng muttered, "He's so busy at the Inspection Office that he doesn't even have time to rest. I'm lucky enough to see him during the day, and I'm asking him this."
He didn't notice that they were having dinner, but he still came over.
Lu Heng frowned. How could that be like him?
"Lu Da..."
Wei Jinyun wanted to get up and add more tea for him, but he skillfully poured himself a bowl.
She continued eating her dried duck. "Why are you so free these past two days?"
He now frequented Yunlaixiang every day, spending considerable time there. Sometimes, when Gu Xiang was working quickly, he would leave a small table for him, and then he would smile in gratitude at Gu Xiang...
Gu Xiang understood with his legs limp that he would have to wipe the table more slowly when Lord Lu came next time.
The counter became Lu Lan's place to eat snacks and stay for a long time.
Lu Lan rested her elbows on the counter and sipped her tea. "I'm really just passing through here on a case this time."
Wei Jinyun leaned over while biting a duck leg and whispered, "What case?"
Moreover, what do you mean by really passing by this time?
Lu Lan took a bite of the cookie and said, "I can't talk about the case."
Wei Jinyun said "Oh", lowered his head to take a mouthful of rice, then raised his eyes and asked, "Have you eaten yet? There's still hot water chestnut stew in the kitchen."
"I'm not hungry, just a couple of snacks will be fine."
As Lu Lan spoke, she took out a white porcelain plate from under the counter with familiarity, found a bamboo clip, and steadily picked up two more maple leaf cookies and placed them on the plate.
His entire set of movements was smooth and flowing, as if he was at home.
"This brat, does he think Yunlaixiang is his own home? He knows where the plates and bamboo clips are even better than I do!"
Lu Heng's angry shout was immediately heard from behind the screen.
Master Lu continued to tease, "That's your fault. People are thinking about this, but you don't care about anything. Look at you, the old man, you don't care about anything."
While Wei Jinyun was eating, he flipped through the account book beside him and checked the accounts.
Lu Lan chewed a cookie and suddenly said, "Xiangxiang said you're going to send wedding cakes to the Liu family tomorrow morning?"
"Um."
Wei Jinyun nodded, "Their family needs to pay the tax, and the auspicious time chosen by divination must be early, and the wedding cake must be fresh. I have to go before dawn, it would be bad to miss the auspicious time."
This was her first wedding cake order, and there couldn't be any mistakes.
She was thinking of taking on anything in the future, including snacks for weddings, funerals, and tea and operas. As long as she could make more money, Yun Laixiang would accept anything.
"Then I'll go with you."
When Lu Lan poured the tea, she also filled hers. Her voice softened, "Is that okay?"
Wei Jinyun paused, looking up bewilderedly, "Huh?"
"It's not peaceful lately. It's not safe to go on the road before daybreak."
Lu Lan's eyes were serious. Seeing that she was about to speak, he added, "There's a deputy inspector watching over at Changmen Wharf. I've been investigating things around here these days. It's on my way."
Behind the screen, Lu Heng was prying through the cracks, his eyes wide open. He lowered his voice and said anxiously, "Old Lu! Did you see that? Did you see that?"
Master Lu ate his snacks slowly and said, "Look, the long-tailed eagle is spreading its wings."
"My son Chang Ce has always had a stern face. He rarely smiles in ten sentences. Count how many times the corners of his mouth have curled up since he walked in."
Master Lu glanced at him sideways and said, "How many times did he laugh? You know best how many times. After all, he is your grandson, not mine."
"Is this too much trouble for you? You have to get up before dawn and take a detour to accompany me."
Wei Jinyun lowered his eyes and picked at the water chestnuts in the bowl, trying to drill a hole in it with his chopsticks.
Unfortunately, the water chestnut was broken into two halves by a poke of chopsticks.
"No trouble, I get up early anyway."
"Oh well."
Wei Jinyun poked up the half piece of water chestnut.
"I'll come early tomorrow and wait for you at the entrance of Yunlaixiang."
"Um."
Wei Jinyun slowly swallowed the water chestnut, "Then I'll trouble Master Lu... Lu Lan."
Lu Lan didn't respond, but the wind chimes on the screen swayed, and he could hear his soft chuckle.
Behind the screen, Lu Heng was so excited that he almost couldn't help but stick his head out.
Mr. Lu was chewing a maple leaf cookie with a smile on his face when he suddenly felt a light pat on his shoulder.
"Aunt, you enjoyed your meal."
Lu Lantang's voice was filled with laughter and slowly fell into his ears.
Master Lu:!
The wind chimes rang, and Zhan Ziming walked in, followed by a woman.
She looked to be in her early forties, her hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, she was wearing an old skirt, and her back was slightly hunched.
Zhan Ziming walked straight to the counter and said, "Shopkeeper Wei, I want a few chestnut cakes and a bowl of Red Lotus Rejuvenating Soup for Sister Xiangping. She should be busy soon."
He turned around and saw the man still following him, and his brows immediately frowned, "I've already told you, I really haven't seen your brother Zhen Yong in the past two days, so stop following me."
Zhen Meiyou pleaded anxiously, "But the farm helper said you went to look for A-di a few days ago. I've been looking for him for days, but I really can't find anything... If you see him, tell me."
Zhan Ziming found a small table to sit down, picked up the chestnut cake that Gu Xiang had served him, took a bite, and looked gloomy. "Go to him? It's because he can't control his mouth again. The other day he was talking nonsense in front of Sister Xiang Ping. If I don't go to him to argue, am I going to watch him bully others?"
Zhen Meiyou's eyes widened in disbelief. "He, he went to see Shopkeeper Zhao again? I just told him not to go to Zhao's Cooked Food Store anymore. I even changed the person who delivered the ducks from the chicken farm to her family."
She sighed heavily, her hunched back bent even further, her eyes filled with helplessness, "Why are you so disobedient..."
Her brother couldn't control his mouth and couldn't keep secrets. If he knew something, he might just say it in a joking way.
Zhao Xiangping also quickly entered Yunlaixiang. When she saw Zhen Meiyu, she quickly stepped forward and held her hand.
She was anxious and distressed. "Sister Mei You, please don't look for Zhen Yong. Look at you. You're the same age as me, but you already have several white hairs and your face is pale from overwork. You go out early and come back late to take care of the chicken farm. Business is obviously booming, but you don't even want to buy yourself a new piece of clothing. What are you trying to do?"
Zhen Meiyu's eyes turned red and she lowered her head.
She trembled and said, "What can I do... My parents passed away early, and I only have this one brother. Apart from him, I have no other relatives. No matter how ignorant he is, I can't just ignore him..."
"You're too indulgent with him. That's why he can't control his mouth all day and says whatever he wants. Don't bother looking for him. I think he's probably drunk somewhere and fell asleep. He'll go home when he wakes up. Just focus on your chicken farm."
Zhao Xiangping reached out and ordered a pot of tea for Zhen Meiyou and poured her a bowl.
"But it's been three days! No matter how late it was in the past, he would have returned to the chicken farm."
Zhao Xiangping was about to persuade him when Zhan Ziming interrupted, "That's right. When he came to Sister Xiangping's shop three days ago, he was full of energy. How could he look so gloomy like you?"
He glanced at Zhen Meiyou's washed-out skirt and felt sorry for her. "She's dressed much better than you, wearing a brocade blouse, with a sachet and jade ring hanging from her waist. She looks so fancy that someone who didn't know her would mistake her for a young master. I'm afraid all the money from your chicken farm must have gone to him."
The tea Zhao Xiangping had poured for her was still steaming, but she didn't even touch it. After listening to what the two of them said, she just lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment.
"Never mind. I've been looking for three days anyway. A little while longer won't hurt. I'll go look for him in Wazi Lane. Maybe I can run into him."
She didn't wait for anyone to persuade her anymore and went out with a hunched back.
Wei Jinyun carried the empty plate to the backyard, but when he came back, he saw Lu Lan sleeping with her head tilted on the bench next to the counter. Even her usually tense face seemed a little softer.
How many times has he fallen asleep here with her?
She shook her head helplessly and amusedly, turned around and got a blanket from the backyard, gently draping it over his shoulders. She herself took a wicker chair nearby, moved it to the corner, curled up, and closed her eyes.
Gu Xiang had just finished cleaning up the backyard and came out. Seeing this scene, he moved a screen to block the two of them.
"Old Lu, did you see that? Does Chang Ce treat Yun Lai Xiang like his own home? No, I need to get a Meow Meow Cookie to calm down."
"Don't make noise."
Master Lu's voice was slow and full of satisfaction, "Tangtang is painting over there, I'm watching."
Wei Jinyun curled up in a rattan chair, her eyelashes trembling slightly. The sweet aroma of cookies lingered around her, and she suddenly found herself feeling a little confused.
She caught a glimpse of Lu Lan's profile with his eyes closed.
Previously I thought it was just a habit of regular customers, but now that I have calmed down and thought about it, I am surprised to find that this habit seems to have changed.
Something is wrong.
Something seemed to be wrong with her.
*
Wei Jinyun rose at the first quarter of the morning. It was so dark that even the rooster next door hadn't crowed yet. Yuanbao straightened his back from his nest, yawned vigorously, and followed behind to keep his master company.
Candles were lit in Yunlaixiang's kitchen.
Wei Jinyun had his arms tied up, and the table was already filled with soaked glutinous rice, finely sifted powdered sugar and various fillings.
The wedding cake used for paying the tribute must reflect respect and auspiciousness. As part of the food ceremony, it is used to convey blessings and show sincerity. It must be well-made in appearance and taste good.
Wei Jinyun plans to prepare five items.
Glutinous rice flour is mixed with warm water to form a smooth dough. The dough is then rolled into thin sheets and filled with jujube paste and chestnut filling. The jujube paste was cooked in a clay pot the night before, and the chestnut kernels, sweet and fragrant, are ground into the paste.
After wrapping the two kinds of fillings, the rice cakes are stacked one by one in the steamer, looking plump and pleasing. Once out of the steamer, they are gently pressed with a wooden mold engraved with words, and the neat "囍" character is printed on the rice cakes, representing good luck and happiness for the newlyweds.
Shortbreads are made to be multi-layered and crispy. Oil-dough dough is rolled out into extremely thin sheets, and each layer is evenly spread with a delicate red bean paste filling. After three layers are stacked, they are cut into diamond-shaped pieces and placed in a clay stove. When the stove is opened, the sweet aroma of the red bean paste fills the courtyard. Once baked thoroughly, the cakes are removed and the layers are separated with a gentle piecing together, symbolizing prosperity in the future.
Reunion cakes are made with sesame seeds. Crush the sesame seeds, mix them with sugar and lard to create a dense filling, then wrap them in a white rice ball, roll them into a round ball, and then roll the top with a layer of white sesame seeds. The steamed reunion cakes are round and shiny, and when you bite into them, you're filled with the rich aroma of sesame, symbolizing reunion and happiness.
She made the lactose lion before going to bed. She boiled milk and sugar until slightly thick, poured it into a small lion mold, and placed it in cotton cloth surrounded by ice to cool and solidify.
Now it is time to remove the lion from the mold, and then use red paste to carefully outline the lion's eyes and mane, and place them in pairs on the plate, making them come alive.
Wei Jinyun confirmed the cakes: eighty-eight pieces of honey cakes, sixty-six pieces of shortbread, thirty-six pieces of reunion cakes, twelve pairs of lactose lions... Each one had to be made in even numbers, implying the idea of making them in pairs.
The heat in the kitchen gradually dissipated, and Wei Jinyun took out the cooled wedding cakes one by one. She brought out several large bamboo baskets with deep bottoms, first covering the bottoms with three layers of clean coarse cloth, then sprinkled a layer of cooked rice flour on the cloth to prevent the sugar and oil from the cakes from sticking to the cloth.
She stacked five layers of cakes and cloth, until all the wedding cakes were safely in the basket. Wei Jinyun then took two pieces of thick cloth and covered the mouth of the bamboo basket tightly, then tied it tightly with a hemp rope to prevent it from getting dirty from the dust on the road.
"Little donkey, we are going to hit the road."
The donkey in the corner of the yard was curled up and dozing. She reached out and gently stroked its head. She had ordered a new cart from Carpenter Wang, and she would personally deliver any important snacks in the future.
The donkey whimpered at the touch, opened its eyes, and flicked its tail. Wei Jinyun smiled and spread the cloth on the cart again and again before carefully carrying the bamboo basket containing the wedding cake onto the cart, stuffing two pieces of soft cloth into the side of the basket to secure it.
When she opened the shop door with the donkey cart, she saw Lu Lan at a glance.
He was wearing a dark suit, with a belt of the same color tied around his waist with a sachet of sachet hanging on it, and his waist was thin and strong.
"How long have you been here?"
Wei Jinyun approached, holding the donkey's leash.
"Just arrived. Just arrived a while ago."
Lu Lan stepped forward and took the rope from her hand, adding, "The road is uneven, I'll lead the cart, and you just follow."
The two walked a short distance when a figure appeared at the door of Zhang's Stationery Store. Lu Lan turned sideways to take a look.
The sky was still covered with darkness, and the road was so quiet that only the sound of wooden carts could be heard, occasionally accompanied by the low "neigh" of a donkey.
Wei Jinyun followed Lu Lan, not knowing what to say, but just quickened his pace to catch up.
After walking for a while, the donkey's bray suddenly became louder, and it shook its head and rubbed Lu Lan's hand.
Lu Lan stopped and looked back at the donkey cart, then at Wei Jinyun. "It must be hungry. Didn't you give it some fodder this morning?"
"Ah, I was so busy making wedding cakes that I forgot about this."
Wei Jinyun patted the donkey's head and said, "Master, you are wrong. I will give you more fodder when we get back."
"You, Master..."
Lu Lan reached out and patted the donkey's neck. "I didn't give you any food, but I still let you pull the goods. Just follow me from now on. I'll provide you with plenty of fodder."
Wei Jinyun laughed at what he said and was about to retort when she saw the door of the Liu family was right in front of her.
Two servants were already waiting at the door with lanterns. When they saw the donkey cart approaching, they hurried forward to help.
After they finished moving and were paying Wei Jinyun, he looked up with a lantern and saw Lu Lan, and was shocked.
Lord Lu sent a wedding cake?
The two looked at each other, saw surprise in each other's eyes, thanked Wei Jinyun, and hurriedly slipped away with the wedding cake.
When we walked back, it was just daybreak and even the morning birds had not yet started singing. There were only a few people hurrying to work on the road.
Wei Jinyun spoke first, "How did you know the donkey was hungry? I didn't even notice."
Lu Lan held the donkey's leash, slowing down her pace. Hearing this, he glanced sideways at her and said, "It's the same with horses. When my horse Jingfan is hungry, he'll shake his head and rub against people, whining for food."
"I see."
Wei Jinyun's eyes lit up. "Is this the horse you often ride? It has shiny fur and looks beautiful and strong. It's well-cared for."
"Yes, that's it."
"So its name is Jingfan, it sounds really nice."
Lu Lan responded, her eyes falling on the donkey's gray back, "What's your donkey's name?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Then let's call him Gray Gray."
Lu Lan spoke very naturally, almost blurting out, "It sounds the same as his, to remind its owner not to forget to feed it in the future."
Wei Jinyun followed Lu Lan and refuted vigorously.
"How can you name a horse like that? Your horse is called Jingfan, which sounds majestic and nice. My donkey is called Huihui, which is too ordinary. Can't you be a little more domineering? The donkey will be sad!"
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Author's words: Jinyun: Something is wrong [chin on hand]
Lord Lu: (Nothing much to say, just secretly happy. [Pathetic]
Then let’s call him Huihui.
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