However, Tao Wanniang would not have the opportunity to see Ling Yunzhou for the next few days. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Tao Wanniang stopped thinking about anything else and focused on making mooncakes!
Nowadays, mooncakes are also available in the market. They are made with wheat flour, maltose, and lard for the crust, and lard cubes, pine nuts, and nuts for the filling. Tao Wanniang felt that this was too monotonous. In addition to making five-nut mooncakes, she also wanted to make lotus seed paste and egg yolk mooncakes, as well as fresh meat mooncakes.
"Mother, you can make pastries too!" Little Yue'er was extremely curious when she saw Tao Wan's mother making mooncakes.
“Yes, I’m going to make mooncakes. In the past, when people in the village celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival, they would buy some mooncakes and the whole family would sit together, look at the moon, and eat them. The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, so we won’t be open for business that night,” Tao Wan’s mother said. “I make several kinds of mooncakes, and I will give some to acquaintances.”
"Mom, teach me, teach me! I love making pastries!" Little Qiao'er said with great interest, her eyes brimming with excitement.
"Sure, you can take a look first!" Tao Wanniang never kept anything to herself. She cooked because she wanted to eat delicious food. Wouldn't it be best if someone could help her cook?
The mooncakes made by Tao Wanniang were also perfectly round, symbolizing either a happy full moon or a family reunion. They came in various sizes; the smaller ones were placed on the counter for customers to take themselves, while the larger ones were packed in oil paper boxes.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, she asked her two sons to deliver mooncakes to all the dozen or so shops on the street.
She personally delivered the food to Prince Rui's residence, carrying a large food box.
This time, with the jade pendant of Prince Rui's son, the guards quickly went in to report.
"Sister Tao, you've arrived! I was just about to look for you!" It was Cheng Feng who came to pick up Tao Wanniang. As soon as they met, Cheng Feng handed Tao Wanniang a house deed. "I've bought that house in Shanhai Prefecture for you."
"How much is it? I have to pay you this money." Tao Wanniang took the house deed, and after confirming that there were no errors on it, she said seriously.
"If Sister Tao wants to return the money to the young master, she should go ask him!" Cheng Feng chuckled. "What's this? It smells sweet. Is it a pastry, not a dish?"
"Do you think I'd bring groceries to your door?" Tao Wanniang retorted. "Isn't this the Mid-Autumn Festival? I made some festive pastries. Master Cheng, I've prepared some for you too."
"Oh, there's one for me too! Thank you so much, Sister Tao!" Cheng Feng said cheerfully.
Xiao Yi was reading a book in the room when he saw Tao Wanniang coming over. He put down his book and got up to greet her.
"Sister Tao, is there something you need today?"
"It's nothing serious. It's just that it's the Mid-Autumn Festival today, so I brought you some homemade mooncakes," Tao Wanniang said, placing the food box on the table.
"Lord Cheng, this is for you," Tao Wanniang said, handing the small box on the first layer to Cheng Feng.
Cheng Feng was flattered and accepted the gift, laughing heartily. "Young Master, look, this is from Sister Tao."
"The rest are for the young master and the prince and princess. I am just a merchant's wife, and it is not appropriate for me to deliver these things to the prince and princess. I will trouble the young master to pass them on. They are just small mooncakes and have not been presented to me. Thank you for your kindness."
"Nothing can compare to the life-saving grace you gave me," Xiao Yi said with a smile, as he opened the pastries that Tao Wanniang had given him.
“This really does look like the moon in the sky. Hmm, let me try it.” Xiao Yi picked up a lotus seed paste one in front of Tao Wanniang. “Hmm, it’s really good. I’ve never eaten this before.”
"If Your Highness likes it, that's good. I made it according to the recipe for mooncakes, so let's call it mooncake. Tonight, enjoying the moon and eating mooncakes with my family is also a kind of happiness."
Tao Wanniang said, "By the way, the mansion in Shanhai Prefecture, Young Master, this money..."
"Sister Tao saved my life, so let's not talk about money. That house is Sister Tao's!" Xiao Yi said with a smile.
"This... I'm so sorry!" Tao Wanniang smiled apologetically, playing along naturally.
"When you asked me to take care of your chicks and ducklings that day, why weren't you embarrassed?" Xiao Yi teased.
Tao Wanniang smiled awkwardly, "Alright, I have nothing else of value. If I make any new dishes or pastries in the future, I'll just send some to the young master."
Seeing Tao Wanniang's immediate ease, Xiao Yi found it amusing and couldn't help but ask, "Sister Tao, your little restaurant doesn't seem quite right for selling pastries. Do you perhaps have other plans for the future?"
“When we have enough money in the future, let’s open a restaurant. We can invite storytellers and singers to sit in the hall, serve wine, pastries, and good dishes. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Tao Wanniang said leisurely. Once the business is big, she can just lie down and collect money.
Xiao Yi and Cheng Feng exchanged a glance, quite surprised by Tao Wanniang's idea.
"Sister Tao has such lofty aspirations!" Xiao Yi exclaimed in the end.
“A person should always have some ambition. It probably takes about two thousand strings of cash to open a restaurant in the capital. I have a long way to go!” Tao Wanniang said truthfully. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back now.”
"Yes, Cheng Feng, see Sister Tao out." Xiao Yi watched Tao Wanniang talk about the restaurant with calmness and longing, and couldn't help but feel impressed. This Sister Tao really has the ability to make people look at her!
After Tao Wanniang left, Xiao Yi had the remaining mooncakes sent to Princess Rui. These pastries were delicious, but they were too sweet; he guessed his mother would prefer them.
After returning to the restaurant, Tao Wanniang told her son and daughter-in-law to close it up. A notice had already been posted outside, and the remaining food in the kitchen was taken home. It would be better to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival at home!
“Mom, I’ve been learning from you for so long, and although I haven’t quite reached your level of skill, it’s much better than before. I’ll cook dinner tonight, so you can rest!” Wang Hongyu said as soon as they got home.
Tao Wanniang readily agreed, looking at Wang Hongyu with approval and saying, "Alright, you can have Da Hu light the fire for you, and you can take care of dinner."
"Mom, what should I do?" Ling Dapeng asked immediately when he saw that his brother and sister-in-law were both busy.
"You, go with your wife. She has three kids to take care of. Aren't you going to help out?"
"Okay, I'll go right away!" Ling Dapeng replied immediately, he was very happy to help his wife.
"Big sister, this place is becoming more and more welcoming!" Bai Yumei said with a smile. "Big sister, what are you planning to do?"
“What am I supposed to do? I’m tired of being in the kitchen. I’m going to change my clothes and then get some rest. It’s all about stealing a moment of leisure. Once I’m dressed, I’ll go lie down on the bed!” Tao Wan’s mother said. “You all can do as you please. But if you’re free, then you’re free. There’s no need to make yourselves work too hard.”
"Heh, elder sister, you've worked hard, go and get some rest!" Bai Yumei chuckled. All this peace and prosperity was earned by Tao Wanniang!
"Mom, you're so amazing! You can spout profound truths so easily. I'm going to read a book so I can be like you." Little Qiao'er looked at Tao Wan's mother with admiration and spoke firmly.
Tao Wanniang smiled. All her efforts were just for the sake of living a peaceful life.
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