Chapter 60: Roasted Sun Tart "Then I'll hold your hand, okay?"...
The Winter Solstice should be a bustling time, but the entire street around Tianqing Temple was deserted, with many shops closed and people returning home. Occasionally, a peddler selling winter jujubes would pass by carrying their loads, but they could only sell a few pounds.
With such a major incident happening under the arch bridge, many people were reluctant to come here. Even the grocery store, which usually had a booming dried fruit business during festivals, was sparsely visited. Shopkeeper Liu held a handful of candied plums and sighed loudly towards the street.
The north wind was blowing, and when Manager Liu used a chair to hold the door, he was suddenly swallowed by a large gulp of water.
This case needs to be solved quickly, otherwise after the winter solstice, the shopkeepers of the Tianqing Temple will really have to starve to death.
There was a small wooden sign at the door of Yunlaixiang that said "Closed for Business Today". It fluttered in the north wind and hit the door, making a knocking sound.
Wei Jinyun gave the shop assistants a holiday, and the four generations of grandparents and grandchildren huddled in the shop by the fire to keep warm.
“It really looks like the sun.”
Wei Fuling couldn't help but stretch out her hand, wanting to touch the skin of the snack that Wei Jinyun brought out.
"Take it back."
Wei Fuqiu grabbed her hand and pulled it back. "It's fresh out of the oven, be careful not to burn your hands. We still have two more articles to write about 'Do a Chore for Your Family.'"
Wei Fuling rubbed her head, her face darkening at the thought. "Master Zhou actually asked us to write 800 words about sweeping the floor for the family and cooking a meal... Sister Gu can pull Yun Lai Xiang's hair cleaner than our faces, and Sister Wan Wu can whip up a bunch of delicious food in the blink of an eye. How can I write about this?"
More than twenty exquisite egg tarts were neatly arranged on a plate on the long table.
The outer layer was layered and baked to a crispy crunch. The center was as yellow as the sun as Wei Fuling had described it, slightly puffed and exuding a sweet milky aroma.
"Just grab it."
Wei Jinyun reached out and took one, pinching it left and right and blowing hard. "Since Sister Ling said it looks like the sun, let's call it the Sun Tart... Try it. If it doesn't taste good, I'll try again."
Every time the elder sister makes a new dish, the two sisters are the happiest. After all, the elder sister’s cooking skills are very good. Even if the elder sister thinks the taste is not good enough and repeatedly adjusts the amount of sugar and milk to make the trial product, they think it is delicious.
Since it was her sister who spoke, she wouldn't be polite.
Wei Fuling couldn't wait to grab a sun tart and take a bite.
With a "crack", the outer pastry fell into her hand.
She squinted her eyes and took a breath. The sweetness of the tart filling immediately spread in her mouth. It was a little hot, but she mumbled, "So sweet! It's sweet egg custard!"
Wei Fuqiu took a small bite, savoring the crispy crust first, then letting the tender sweetness of the tart filling melt on her tongue. She suddenly opened her mouth, took a big bite, and sucked hard on the tender tart filling.
After she finished the whole sun tart, she said with satisfaction, "It's really delicious. Can you stick to me in the future? I'll stick to you even when I'm old."
"Sister Qi, you would also say such things!"
Wei Fuling's eyes widened as she reached for another sun tart. "That's incredible! Which side do you want to stick to? Don't try to take my spot. I've already taken it."
As she spoke, she put her arms around Wei Jinyun's waist from behind and said, "I won't move. I'm right here."
"If you don't move, your sister can't move either."
Wei Fuqiu grabbed her hand and pulled it out, "Don't get the oil in your hand on my clothes. These are new clothes that my grandmother made for me."
Now all the clothes of the three sisters are made by Wang Qiulan, becoming her living trademark.
She usually taught the embroiderers some needlework and embroidery techniques, but she did not embroider the items for sale herself. All the embroidery she did was embroidered on the clothes of the three sisters.
"You can't take my place!"
"Then sleep well with your sister tonight."
The two of them chattered non-stop, just to argue about whose "rice grains" were stickier. They brought several sun-tarts and prepared to take them to the next room for Zhao Xiangping and Meng Ge'er to try.
It was warm in the lobby of Yunlaixiang, but the north wind was still blowing hard outside.
As soon as the two of them reached the door of the shop, they saw Zhang Renbai leaning against the door frame of Zhang's Stationery Store.
The long blue cloth gown he was wearing looked thin, with the collar askew and the belt around his waist loosely tied. When the wind blew, the hem of the gown stuck to his thin body like a dead leaf.
"Brother Renbai, aren't you cold wearing so little?"
Wei Fuling asked, looking up.
Zhang Renbai slowly turned around, the corners of his mouth moved, as if he wanted to smile, but he didn't have the strength, "Brother Renbai is not cold."
The wind blew into his collar and he subconsciously shrank his shoulders.
"Brother Renbai, you are getting thinner and thinner."
Wei Fuqiu still remembers Zhang Renbai in the summer, who always combed his hair neatly and put some hair oil on it. Even when he walked, his body was very straight.
His hair was now disheveled, his face was pale and bloodless, with dark circles under his eyes. His eyes, which had once been as bright as ink, were now covered with a layer of mist.
In fact, he taught them how to write quite a few words.
Wei Fuqiu passed the plate forward. The egg tarts were still steaming. "This is the sun tart I made. Brother Renbai, please try it."
Zhang Renbai's eyes fell on the golden snack and he was stunned.
Before he could stretch out his hand, Wei Fuling had already stood on tiptoe and stuffed a piece of sun tart directly into his hand.
He took a bite, a little dazed.
The warm tart crust crisps between the teeth, and the tart filling flows along the tip of the tongue to the throat, and then slowly warms the empty stomach.
"Brother Renbai..."
Wei Fuqiu looked at him while holding the plate and suddenly said, "You are a good person, right?"
Zhang Renbai's hand holding the Sun Tart paused, and his pupils suddenly shrank.
"Sister doesn't like Brother Renbai."
Wei Fuqiu looked at his attitude and continued, "But I won't hate it."
Wei Fuling continued, shaking her feet, "We still like Brother Renbai in the summer. Back then, you always bought us peaches and loquats, and taught us how to write..."
She pointed to the small house at the entrance of Yunlaixiang and said, "The small wooden signs hanging here were all written by Brother Renbai. Even the name of the jasmine cake, 'Linglongxue', was thought up by Brother Renbai."
As he was speaking, Meng Ge'er rushed over with a large bowl, with steam coming out of the rim.
"Sister Ling, Sister Qu, hurry to my shop! My mother has made some Poria cocos and duck soup!"
He placed the large bowl on the bamboo chair next to Zhang Renbai, and the aroma of soup mixed with the medicinal fragrance of Poria Cocos wafted out. "Brother Renbai, mother said this bowl is yours."
He looked up at Zhang Renbai, frowning, "Brother Renbai, wear more clothes. Next summer, we'll go fishing for small crucian carp together. Teach Meng Ge'er how to make a nest so we can catch more small crucian carp."
Meng Ge'er finished speaking and, without waiting for Zhang Renbai's response, he grabbed Wei Fuling and Wei Fuqiu's hands and said, "Come with me to the shop! Mother is stuffing sausages and has cut some freshly steamed ones. They're shiny and super fragrant!"
Three little figures skipped and jumped towards Zhao Ji Delicatessen.
The north wind was blowing, leaving only the bowl of steaming soup and half a piece of sun tart still warm in Zhang Renbai's hand.
Zhang Renbai's mind was hazy as to what he had thought and said to her.
"Renbai, come in and have some soup. Mom added angelica and wolfberries, and a handful of walnut kernels, which are good for your brain. You'll definitely pass the imperial examination next year!"
Xu's voice came from the shop.
After hearing this, Zhang Renbai's stomach churned, as if a ball of boiling acidic water was rushing up.
He staggered, holding onto the doorframe, and vomited with a "wow." He was hunched over, the bones of his back clearly visible under his thin gown. Every time he vomited, his shoulders shook, and his face turned pale.
His eyes swept over the bowl of steaming old duck soup on the bamboo chair. He suddenly reached out, picked up the bowl of soup, and regardless of the scalding heat, tilted his head back and poured it into his mouth.
The hot soup burned his throat, so he grabbed the remaining sun tarts and swallowed them in a few gulps.
He put the empty bowl back on the chair, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, stood in the north wind for a while, closed his eyes, and then returned to the shop.
The lobby was warm. Wei Jinyun sat at the counter, calculating the bills from the previous few days, yawning and daydreaming from time to time. Wang Qiulan sat beside her, leisurely embroidering ear warmers for them.
Lu Lan stood outside Yunlaixiang with a few of his men. He glanced at the wooden board on the door that said "Closed for Business Today" and said to Wei Jinyun, who was leaning against the wall in a daze, "Then, can I come in?"
"Can!"
Wei Jinyun came back to his senses.
Lu Lan walked in first, followed by Zhan Wenxing, Jing Liulang and others. When they came in, they brought in a chill from outside.
Wei Jinyun lit the small clay stove and brought a pot of red date ginger tea.
"Shopkeeper Wei, since we're not selling snacks today, why do these smell so good?"
Zhan Wenxing sniffed.
Wei Jinyun smiled and said, "We're trying out a new drink. Would you like to be a taster... a guinea pig?"
“You can try it.”
Zhan Wenxing scratched his head and said, "What's the term for 'little white mouse'?"
"It's good enough to give you food, why bother with so much."
Jing Liulang took a big gulp from the tea bowl and rolled his eyes at Zhan Wenxing. "Eat some snacks to fill your stomach. We still need to question them later."
Lu Lan bent down and picked up Yuanbao, who was rubbing against his feet, and scratched its chin. Yuanbao curled up comfortably in his arms, and its tail hooked around his wrist.
"Yuanbao."
He stroked its head and said, "I've been busy these past two days and forgot to bring you the little loach."
Yuanbao was not angry, he just kept grumbling.
"How come you are so skilled, sir?"
Another subordinate leaned over to Zhan Wenxing and whispered.
"Learn from them all."
Zhan Wenxing drank half a pot of hot tea and said, "This is called building good relations with the people. And by the way, it also means building good relations with the people's cat slaves, dogs, donkeys, and chickens..."
"Your Excellency is truly amazing."
The subordinate took out a small notebook from his pocket and wrote down -
Build good relationships with the people’s chickens, sheep, pigs, and dogs.
When Wei Jinyun came out from the backyard carrying the freshly baked sun-tarts, the heat and sweet fragrance filled the room again.
Zhan Wenxing took a bite first. He smacked his lips while holding the tart center, breathing heavily from the heat. "So sweet and tender..."
After swallowing a mouthful, he hurriedly asked, "Manager Wei, can I bring back another one? I want to give it to my brother to try. Lord Lu was questioning him yesterday. He can't go out right now and is being watched. He must be in a bad mood. He also likes the snacks here very much and buys them for me from time to time."
Zhan Wenxing was utterly upset. How could the investigation of the case lead him to his brother? His brother would mutter to the chicken for a long time before killing it, "Don't blame me, I'm so sorry." How could he kill someone?
Although he is following Lord Lu now, he cannot ask about the case to avoid suspicion, and he has to be watched even when patrolling the streets.
I really want to catch the murderer immediately and give my brother justice!
"Of course you can. Take some back with you."
Wei Jinyun nodded. "You try to find the best flavor for Attorney Zhan. In a few days, I'll make some with persimmon puree and berries. We'll serve it after the winter solstice when the weather is coldest. Then Attorney Zhan can come to Yunlaixiang to eat it."
"good!"
Zhan Wenxing stuffed the remaining half piece into his mouth and thanked him repeatedly.
Several of his men nearby also tried it, and felt that it was worth it to drink hot tea and eat this bite after squatting in the wind for the whole morning to investigate.
Lu Lan sat at a small table with her belly full, looking down at the confessions of the merchants in front of Tianqing Temple and people who were acquaintances of Zhen Yong from yesterday to today.
Wei Jinyun handed Lu Lan a cup of freshly brewed tea. He took it and took a sip, frowning slightly. "It's so sour."
"Oh? So the Land Patrol Inspector is afraid of acid."
Wei Jinyun stood beside him and said, "You probably can't get used to the snacks I make."
"The case has not been investigated."
Lu Lan glanced down at the tea bowl and saw a few pieces of soothing jujube kernels in it.
He replied, "Call me Lu Lan, not this."
"Understood."
Wei Jinyun looked at the bloodshot eyes and asked, "You haven't slept yet."
Lu Lan raised his eyes to look at her, was silent for a moment, and responded softly, "Yeah."
Yuanbao, who was lying beside him, rubbed his wrist with his head.
"Eighteen is young, so you're not afraid of enduring it?"
"I'm used to it."
"Oh, I'm used to it."
Wei Jinyun took a piece of sun tart from the plate and handed it over, "Would you like to eat this sun tart?"
Lu Lan raised his eyes and chuckled, "Eat."
He took it and took a bite.
Wei Jinyun saw that he was still busy turning over his confession with one hand, "We also hope that Lord Lu can have a good sleep."
"You won't be able to sleep well until we catch the man. There are so many businesses in front of Tianqing Temple, and they still have to open for business."
Lu Lan swallowed the sun tart in his mouth and looked up at her. "Besides... isn't there someone who is afraid of walking at night?"
"...Then I'm not afraid anymore."
"Don't you want me to accompany you?"
"oh."
"Do you want it?"
"...It is your duty as an adult to protect the people."
*
The wind became colder after the winter solstice. The stone road in front of Tianqing Temple was empty. In the past, the hawking sounds could be heard in succession, but now only a few shops had their doors half open.
The shop owners of various shops gathered under the eaves of the grocery store owned by Manager Liu, which was the most sheltered from the wind, and sat around a small charcoal brazier, eating watermelon seeds and playing leaf games.
"I really begged the murderer!"
Shopkeeper Liu spat out the watermelon seed shell and played a domino. "Hurry up and let Lord Lu catch him. If he keeps wasting time like this, I'm going to have to pay my 30 guan rent this month with all the candied fruits I have."
"you do not say."
Shopkeeper Li from the rouge shop next door sighed and took out a copper coin to bet on the dominoes. "This bastard is deliberately trying to ruin our New Year. He's a complete psychopath and murderer!"
Zhao Xiangping was holding a domino and pondering it. When she heard this, she looked up and said, "Yes, I'm usually busy in my shop from morning till night. It's so relaxing to be away from the ground. But these past few days, I've suddenly been idle and I feel uncomfortable all over."
As soon as she finished speaking, the shopkeeper Sun who was selling rain gear opposite her curled his lips, and several shopkeepers nearby also looked at her with a bit of joking contempt.
"A Ping."
Shopkeeper Sun cracked watermelon seeds and said slowly, "Are you saying this to irritate us? We're so eager to get busy that our eyes are red!"
Meng Ge'er was holding a red rope in both hands and pulling out a fishing net.
"Sister Ling, since we're not busy right now, let's play cat's tuck a few more times."
He smiled with his face tilted back, and the little tiger hat he was wearing swayed with it.
Wei Fuling frowned, her fingers slowly turning the knot, "No way."
She glanced in Yunlaixiang's direction and sighed, "That guy hasn't been caught yet, and Yunlaixiang has no business. My sister has sighed a hundred and eighty times today, saying that even after making the Sun Tart, no one has ever found a good talent to appreciate it."
"I appreciate it, I appreciate it the most!"
When Meng Ge'er heard this, he leaned in and muttered, "Sister Wei's sun tarts are delicious. I'll buy them with my change. I'm Sister Wei's mentor!"
"Manager Wei, this is the 280th sigh you've taken today."
Gu Xiang stood beside Wei Jinyun and counted with his head.
Wei Jinyun slammed the counter with a bitter face, "Ah! There's no business, no business! How despicable, this perverted murderer! How can I guarantee you a huge profit if there's no business?"
When Gu Xiang heard the word "profitable", he also started cursing along with Wei Jinyun.
With such a hot Meow Meow Cookie, Yun Lai Xiang's business should be booming. Just as her plan to expand the store was about to come to fruition, she was blocked by this murderer.
Wei Jinyun now dreams of catching the murderer.
"Manager Wei, how about putting this here?"
Wan Wu came over holding an exquisite raccoon figurine and carefully placed it next to the vase on the counter. "It's so cute, it's pleasing to look at."
"This is the prize that the boss won for you at the sumo tournament yesterday."
Chao Jiu came over to help support the ornaments, "Come on, be happy, you don't know how many strong men the boss has defeated, it's amazing!"
Chaojiu went with Gu Xiang to participate, to help cheer her up. The boss is worthy of being the boss, he is very good at Yunlaixiang and even better at participating.
Wei Jinyun looked at the chubby raccoon figurine, and her heart warmed a little. She patted Gu Xiang on the shoulder and said, "Little Gu, I don't know how many surprises you have in store."
Gu Xiang grinned, "That's a lot!"
Chang Siyan approached with a tea bowl in hand and said confidently, "Don't worry, Shopkeeper Wei, it's all right. I'll make up a great joke about our Sun Tarts right now. I guarantee that once the case is over, the neighbors will rush over to try them."
She huddled by the counter holding a bowl of hot tea, coughing occasionally.
Seeing her like this, Wei Jinyun couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Chang, are you sick?"
Chang Siyan waved his hands quickly, coughing and laughing, "Oh, how could that be. It's just an old winter problem. I caught a cold when I was a kid, and every time it gets cold I tend to cough. It's nothing serious, it will be fine after the winter."
"How can it not be a big deal?"
Wei Jinyun retorted, "You should drink more of my Chuanbei loquat paste, one spoonful each morning and evening, mixed with warm water, and drink it. It will make you feel better."
"Shopkeeper Wei is really considerate. Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll make sure I drink diligently... and then I'll make up a story for you."
"...You don't need to drink anymore."
Although there was no business for dine-in, Wei Jinyun still wanted to make the Chen family's Baixiong dumplings. After all, they came to her specifically to order them after tasting the Liu family's wedding cakes.
They must do a good job in passing it down from household to household. Maybe in the future every household will have Yunlaixiang’s snacks on their banquet tables.
It takes half an hour to walk from Tianqing Temple to the west of the city, and the children's feast has to start at dawn and prepare the stove, so there can be no delay.
Wei Jinyun got up even earlier, waking up before the hour of Yin. The poor business in the shop prevented her from sleeping.
She fed Huihui first, then mixed rice bran for Yiersan. Yiersan was still deep in sleep when Wei Jinyun forced a meal into his mouth. He squinted his eyes and pecked at the rice bran.
After finishing all this, Wei Jinyun stood in front of the table with his arms tied and kneaded the cake until it was smooth and chewy.
The Baishuang dumplings of Pingjiang Prefecture are made salty, and the pickles in the pork are made from locally pickled Chinese mustard greens.
She soaked it in clean water to remove any saltiness, squeezed out the moisture, and minced it into small pieces. She chose pork belly with a good balance of fat and lean, cut it into small pieces, and then chopped it finely with a knife, adding a little minced ginger to remove the fishy smell.
Old Wang, the butcher who delivered the pork, took Wei Jinyun's order and came and went at a furious pace, his heart pounding. It was so dark, and something like this had happened. Even though he had slaughtered so many pigs before, he came here with trembling legs.
Shopkeeper Wei is so bold that he goes to the west of the city to deliver goods to people before dawn!
The filling of the salty dumplings must be fried in advance.
Wei Jinyun waited for the oil to heat up before adding the minced meat and stir-frying. Once the fat had been released and the aroma had spread, she added the mustard greens and began to stir-fry. She used a spatula to stir the mixture constantly, allowing the salty flavor of the mustard greens to blend with the fatty aroma of the meat.
She took the rested dough and pinched it into evenly sized pieces. She rolled it out thinly, then rounded it with her palms. She then pinched it into a dough sheet with thin edges and a thick center. She scooped a spoonful of filling into the center of the dough sheet, then gathered her fingers along the edges, pinching the dough together with the rest of her fingers. Finally, she twisted a small twist at the top, and a plump, round Baishuang dumpling was ready.
She moved swiftly, and soon the table was filled with plump, white, and fragrant baixiong dumplings. After the water in the pot boiled, the baixiong dumplings were placed on the steamer and steamed over high heat for a quarter of an hour.
Baishuang dumplings were also a festive snack, so naturally they needed a red seal. Wei Jinyun gently placed a round red seal on the top of each dumpling. The small, bright red seal stood out against the snow-white dumpling.
Finally, she carefully put the hundred baisun dumplings into a bamboo basket covered with a cloth and placed it behind Huihui.
Wei Jinyun opened the shop door, holding Huihui's hand, and saw Lu Lan standing in the cold wind.
"Why didn't you knock?" She walked over quickly, frowning, "It's so cold outside, how long have you been standing there?"
“Just arrived.”
He turned to Huihui and patted its neck gently with his palm. "Huihui, did your master feed you today?"
Huihui swung his tail and rubbed his arm with his head, making a soft "whistling" sound in his throat.
It was too dark at night and Wei Jinyun couldn't see Lu Lan's face clearly, but his voice was a little hoarse.
He probably didn't sleep well again.
Damn perverted murderer!
The sky at the time of Yin was still immersed in ink, and only the remaining lanterns hanging along the way revealed a dim light.
The north wind blew the dead branches around the wall, making a whimpering sound, and it seemed as if something invisible was grinding its teeth in the dark.
Wei Jinyun followed Lu Lan closely, holding onto the corner of the donkey cart. He couldn't help but look back after every two steps. The road behind him was empty, with no end in sight.
It was pitch black and I couldn't see anything.
"Stand in front of me."
Lu Lan suddenly stopped and moved aside to make room in front of him.
“Okay, okay!”
Wei Jinyun hurried forward and stood half a step in front of him.
As a result, the north wind blowing from behind seemed to be mostly blocked by the tall Lu Lan, and even the creepy sound of the wind became farther away.
"Lu Lan, how's the case going? If you're tired, you can come to Yunlaixiang."
Wei Jinyun spoke in a low voice in front.
"good."
Lu Lan replied, "I've almost finished checking, don't worry."
The north wind suddenly rose in volume, and Wei Jinyun grabbed Huihui's head.
"In the summer, when we go down to the river to catch bigmouthed clams, we are quite brave."
Lu Lan's voice came from behind.
Wei Jinyun whispered, "That's different. He's a liar, and now he's a perverted murderer... Besides, I have Yun Laixiang now."
Lu Lan chuckled and followed closer, "Oh? You still have a lot of money, right?"
"certainly."
The moonlight, still lingering, filtered through gaps in the clouds, illuminating the intertwined shadows of the two people on the road.
"I still have my grandmother and sister, and I have things I want to protect. Once you have something you care about, you become... less courageous. You'll think twice before doing anything."
The road to the west of the city became more and more deviated. The old walls on both sides were mottled, and the wind whistled as it passed through the alleys.
Wei Jinyun's heart was in a knot. Even though Lu Lan's back was just half a step away, she couldn't help but look back every few steps.
"So scared?"
Lu Lan stopped and walked to her side, saying with a hint of smile, "Then I'll hold your hand, okay?"
"Ahhhh?"
Wei Jinyun raised his eyes, not knowing where to put his hands, and kept waving them, "No need, no need, we..."
Lu Lan had taken off the sword from his waist.
The scabbard is completely black, with simple cloud patterns engraved on it.
"What are you thinking, Manager Wei?"
He held the scabbard out to her, his emerald eyes seeming to see the crimson tips of her ears. "Hold my knife. I'll hold you, and I won't let go."
As he drew his sword, Wei Jinyun suddenly felt that the scene looked very familiar.
Looks extremely familiar.
She gently grasped the scabbard and whispered, "That summer, when I went down to the river to catch bigmouthed croakers, was it you who pulled me out with the knife?"
The two men held the scabbards, pulled the donkey cart, and walked in the wind.
Lu Lan laughed softly, and the wind softened his laughter.
"That's right."
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Author's words: Jinyun: When did you first see me? [Glasses]
Lord Lu: Got it (although it was a knife [poor]
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