Jiang Bai did not expect that the entire county would fall into a frenzy for milk tea.
Even Tan Ji secretly bought four cups, not enough for himself, but also to bring one each for his wife, daughter, and son.
Zhao Yi became even more addicted, squatting by the stove every day, brewing a pot of milk tea, and then sharing a bowl with him.
He even makes his own toppings. He used to like the soft and bouncy texture of tapioca pearls, but these past few days he seems to have fallen in love with smooth and tender pudding. If Jiang Bai hadn't stopped him, he would have been eating milk tea like it was his main meal.
—Since there are oats in the ingredients, it's not impossible.
Jiang Bai now employs some women in their forties and fifties to do the work. They brew the milk tea the day before and put it in the ice cellar. The next day, the servants carry it to the shop along with the ice to sell.
The shop also has a thickened ice house as a temporary storage place for materials. It's not too cold; Jiang Bai felt it was only one or two degrees below zero. So the milk tea and toppings must be sold out as soon as possible, and anything that has been stored for more than twelve hours must be thrown away.
However, almost none of them fail to sell within twelve hours.
Occasionally, female customers will ask for their milk tea to be heated, in which case the finished product will need to be boiled. Such customers are rare, and ice is a luxury in ordinary households.
Generally speaking, the more ice added, the happier the guests are.
Jiang Bai also summarized why ancient people were more enthusiastic about milk tea than modern people: the sweetness of sugar was hard to come by normally, and even if there were some candies at home, they would be reserved for the children. Adults rarely fought with children for them, as it was embarrassing.
But adults love sweets too!
Sweetness can satisfy the taste buds, relieve low blood sugar, and release dopamine and adrenaline, making fatigue and sadness disappear.
Not to mention its icy-cold texture, it's a lifesaver in the sweltering summer.
Milk tea is such a beloved treat!
-
More than twenty days after Anle Milk Tea Shop opened, Jiang Bai met Jiang Cheng again.
Seeing the crowds inside and outside the shop, the man was so frightened that he hesitated for half an hour before daring to enter.
Jiang Bai caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye, put down the ingredients in her hand, handed the milk tea to the customer, wiped her hands on her apron, and then went out.
Jiang Cheng smiled at her, handed her an invitation, and said, "Rou Rou gave birth to a son for me. The day after tomorrow is the full moon celebration. You and your brother-in-law are welcome to come."
"Son?" Jiang Bai took the invitation and looked at the contents. The time and place were written clearly in beautiful small regular script, which was obviously Tian Rou's handwriting. She nodded, "That's good, I will go."
It wasn't that she favored boys over girls; it's just that, as the saying goes, daughters resemble their fathers and sons resemble their mothers. She probably longed for Tian Rou to have a son even more than Jiang Cheng did.
If Tian Rou can be saved, then Jiang Cheng is doomed.
Thinking of this, she was in a good mood and her attitude towards Jiang Cheng improved considerably. She said, "Bring your wife a cup of milk tea back so she can try it."
Then, he turned to the girl at the counter and instructed her, "I'll watch over things here. Go and make twenty cups of milk tea, five hot and fifteen cold. Take them away later, and the money will come from my account."
The young girl was very perceptive; fearing the guests wouldn't agree to her cutting in line, she didn't make a sound and quietly went to the back.
Jiang Cheng left carrying a wooden box.
That evening, Jiang Bai discussed with Zhao Yi at the dinner table: "Let's not just go with the two of us, let's bring the child along too."
Zhao Yi unconditionally agreed to Jiang Bai's requests. Many times, no matter what Jiang Bai said, Zhao Yi would just say yes without even listening to it.
Zhao Ping'an was still in school, and Zhao Xile came home for dinner every day. Hearing this, she asked Jiang Bai, "Did Auntie give birth to a little brother?"
“Yes,” Jiang Bai lowered his voice and answered her with a smile, “You’ll see him the day after tomorrow.”
Zhao Yi chimed in from the side, "Luckily it's a son. Tian Rou must keep a close eye on him from now on. The child must not end up like Jiang Cheng." He shared the same thought as Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai could think that way herself, but when Zhao Yi said it out loud, she rolled her eyes at him.
"So what if it's like Jiangcheng? It's still better than Zhao Lao Er and Zhao Lao San, right?"
Zhao Yi shut up after hearing this. As far as his younger brother was concerned, he and Jiang Bai were the eldest brother, let alone the second brother, and neither of them were considered the eldest.
Jiang Cheng at least married a good wife; his two younger brothers' wives were worse than each other.
Thinking of this, he sighed and began to change the subject: "Is Ping An off that day? Should we ask the teacher for leave?"
"On leave," Zhao Xile answered quickly, knowing her brother's leave time better than her parents.
Zhao Yi scooped a spoonful of rice into his mouth, then took a sip of milk tea to slurp it down. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "Then I'll pick him up and take him home tomorrow night."
Jiang Bai is busier than him now; sometimes he takes on matters related to the children.
Jiang Bai glanced at him but said nothing.
Since he offered to pick up the child, it's best not to nag and discourage him.
But she couldn't help but think to herself: At the amount of milk tea he drinks, he'll lose all his teeth before he's forty!
-
Zhao Yi and Jiang Bai, dressed in their finest attire, arrived at the Tian family's residence.
Zhao Ping'an and Zhao Xile were the first to jump down from the carriage.
They were wearing matching outfits today, both in the same color scheme, but their overall vibes were completely different.
Zhao Ping'an has started to grow taller, and his handsome features are faintly visible. His thin chest and back support a broad shoulder, and his expression is aloof. Who knows how many girls he will charm in the future? Zhao Xile has her hair tied into two little buns by Jiang Bai, held up with a pretty scarf. They sway back and forth with her head, looking incredibly cute.
Jiang Bai noticed that many little girls were pointing at Zhao Xile's head and going to find their mothers. He figured that in a few days, this way of tying a scarf into a bun would become a new fashion trend.
Old Tian, with his sharp eyes, spotted Zhao Yi and Jiang Bai first and came over with a smile to greet them: "You've arrived."
The Tian family was well-liked, and the courtyard was already crowded with people. Zhao Yi and Jiang Bai only knew Tian Laosan, so they felt a little awkward.
Tian Laosan first took out a handful of candy from his pocket and stuffed it into Zhao Ping'an and Zhao Xile's hands. Then he said to Jiang Bai, "Rou Rou has been talking about you several times, asking me to bring you over as soon as I see you."
He called over the Tian family's children and asked them to play with Zhao Ping'an and Zhao Xile. Then he led Zhao Yi and Jiang Bai into the inner room.
Although many relatives came to offer their congratulations, there were also those who were closer and those who were less so, and not everyone could see Tian Rouhe's newborn child.
The Tian family's move fully demonstrates their high regard for Jiang Bai and Zhao Yi.
Jiang Bai followed Tian Laosan inside. Zhao Yi hesitated and quietly tugged at Jiang Bai, asking, "Is it inappropriate for me to go in?"
Tian Rou had just finished her postpartum confinement period, and it was not proper for a man from outside the family to enter so abruptly.
Jiang Bai smiled and said, "Her intention was simply to see you, so what's wrong with that?"
If Jiang Bai were Tian Rou, he would have done the same thing if he had such a powerful and influential brother-in-law.
Tian Rou is an extremely intelligent person.
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