Chapter 22: A Big Order

Chapter 22: A Big Order

Wei Yao had been running his pastry shop for quite some time, and he could tell from the aroma that this was something special. He tugged at the stubborn donkey, finally squeezing through the crowd gathered around the small stall. He craned his neck to look inside.

Golden, crispy-skinned steamed buns were arranged on the table, emitting a sweet wheat fragrance. The stall owner was a lovely young woman, accompanied by a chubby child. The two worked in tandem, packing the steamed buns for the customers.

The buns were clearly fresh out of the oven, with a bright color and a glossy sheen. Wei Yao's eyes gleamed as he heard the customers call her "Shen Miao," and he followed suit, calling out, "Shen Miao, I’ll have one too."

"Good day, sir! One bun costs eight coins, filled with sweet red bean paste. That will be eight coins! Please come again if you like it!"

"Uncle, please come again if you like it!" The chubby child chimed in with a sweet voice.

Wei Yao couldn't help but smile at the child's adorable call, but before he could say anything, he was pushed out by the crowd along with his donkey.

He had to step back and examine the slightly warm red bean pastry bun in his hand.

Eight coins—quite a bargain.

In his shop, many fancy pastries went for a hundred coins a box, but he had never seen anything like this. He grabbed the bun and led the donkey off, taking a bite as he walked.

His eyes lit up instantly.

The crust was crispy, followed by the soft and fluffy texture of the bun, yet with a bit of chew.

Inside was just a layer of red bean paste, but it was smooth, soft, and sweet without being cloying. He nodded approvingly as he ate, realizing how difficult it was to make red bean paste this well.

Wei Yao was a connoisseur. His shop employed two pastry chefs, but after just one bite, he felt that the decades of experience of those two masters paled in comparison to the young Shen Miao.

He devoured the bun in a few bites and wanted to go back and ask more, but the crowd was too dense, and he still had important deliveries to make. In the end, he could only turn back and give Shen Miao, who was still busy, a deep look.

He committed her appearance to memory, thinking he would return after the morning market to ask—an idea struck him: would Shen Miao be willing to come to his pastry shop to make baked goods?

Wei Yao's pastry shop was well-known, with two shops side by side on Copper Drum Lane in North Golden Beam Bridge Street. However, with more and more pastry shops popping up around him, many of his regular customers had been lured away, and his business had gradually declined. He felt powerless yet anxious.

That’s why he’d personally come out to deliver today—first, to show his seriousness, and second, to butter up the procurement managers in those deep courtyards to win back these precious customers.

But if he could sell such unique, exceptionally delicious pastries... He felt a glimmer of hope.

Wei Yao quickened his pace. Once he finished the deliveries, he would definitely return to persuade Shen Miao!

Meanwhile, Shen Miao had no idea someone wanted to recruit her. She was busy making hand-grabbed pancakes while also packing a large red bean pastry bun for an elderly woman with her grandson.

After paying, the old woman led her grandson, who clung tightly to her leg, to the side to eat. She first broke off a piece for her grandson and then hurriedly took a bite herself.

Ah, during the tasting, she had only managed to grab one piece, but now she could enjoy it properly. Hmm... not bad. The red bean paste was soft and sweet, melting in her mouth as she bit into it. The steamed bun was excellent, even for an elderly woman like her with poor teeth.

Her picky grandson had already finished a large piece and was eagerly tugging at her pants, saying, "Grandma, I want more, I want more!" The old woman broke off another piece and fed it to her grandson. The two of them ended up squatting by the bridge pier, finishing the entire bun.

Even after finishing, they were still unsatisfied, and the grandson complained that he wasn't full yet. This was the first time the child had such a hearty appetite!

The old woman was both surprised and delighted. She quickly led her grandson back to the pancake stall. However, in just that short time, the layers of red bean pastry buns that had been piled high on the table were almost gone, with only four or five left. The old woman hurriedly said, "I'll take two more!"

***

The morning market was about to end, and the sky was already bright. The minor officials in Bianjing were raising bamboo poles to extinguish the candles in the crane-shaped stone lanterns along the streets. Xie Qi had changed his clothes and was riding in a carriage with his mother, Xi, across Golden Beam Bridge to the outer city to retrieve the returned betrothal gifts from the Cui family.

After returning to Bianjing, Xie Qi had only told his parents about his cousin's serious illness, following his uncle's explanation, and kept the rest to himself. Xie's parents thought he was upset about the sudden illness and the broken engagement, so they comforted him and didn't let him worry about the arrangements for the annulment, which they handled themselves.

Today, everything was finally settled, and they were just going to collect the items.

Seeing Xie Qi's expressionless face, Xi gently comforted him, "Ninth Geer, what is meant to be will be. Since childhood, you've been plagued by misfortune—when you went to the Imperial Street to see the lanterns, they would burn; when you went to Golden Bright Lake to play, you would fall into the water; when you traveled to study, you would be cheated or robbed... You've never had a smooth time. At first, I worried, but now I've gotten used to it. Your marriage troubles don't surprise me too much, so don't take it too hard. Besides... the old servant I sent to Chenzhou reported that he saw Wan Niang, pale and thin as paper, lying in bed, clearly suffering from a serious illness. Your uncle and aunt broke off the engagement for the sake of our family's relationship, and they didn't tarnish our reputation. They even returned the betrothal gifts double, so it's a clean break. You really don't need to be upset."

Xie Qi's eyebrows twitched. Was his cousin still alive?

From the description, it seemed the child in her womb hadn't survived, but it wasn't too bad that she had lived. He would keep this secret for the rest of his life, so that his cousin might have peace in her later years.

The gloom that had lingered on his face for many days immediately dissipated, and he finally showed a faint smile. "Mother is correct."

Xie Qi's features were exceptionally well-formed, with slightly blunt eye corners and dark, full, round eyes. Therefore, whenever he relaxed and smiled, he appeared particularly gentle, exuding the demeanor of a noble gentleman.

Xi gently patted the back of his hand. As the carriage had now reached the Golden Beam Bridge and was moving slowly due to the crowd, the aromas of various foods wafted into the carriage. She blinked and tentatively asked, "I've been busy with matters today and didn't even have time for breakfast. My stomach is growling with hunger. Why don't you join me for a meal?"

Xie Qi nodded and casually replied, "Of course, I should accompany you, Mother."

Xi smiled slightly and gestured to the servant outside the carriage.

She had actually inquired with Ninth Geer's servants and learned that he had only taken a couple of bites this morning before putting down his chopsticks, which was why she made this offer.

She then instructed the servant to quickly go to the bridge market and purchase a few items, regardless of what they were, as long as they looked clean and tasted good.

The carriage moved slowly like a tortoise through the crowded street, and soon there was a tapping sound on the carriage wall. The servant handed over several packages, containing fermented glutinous rice balls, fried dumplings, pickled meat zongzi, and flatbread...

Xie Qi looked through them one by one, feeling that they all seemed a bit oily and unappetizing. However, under his mother's expectant gaze, he reluctantly chose one that looked inviting: a golden, elongated baked bun.

This was a technique he hadn't seen before.

This bun was quite different from the usual ones. It had a slightly crispy, aromatic crust on top. He had expected it to be filled with meat, but upon taking a bite, the crust was sweet, soft, and fluffy, as if he had bitten into a cloud. Inside, there was no greasy meat filling, but a refreshing and smooth red bean paste.

The sweetness of the red bean paste was perfect, neither too bland nor too sweet, complementing the crispy crust perfectly. It was unexpectedly delicious. His taste buds, which had been dormant for so long, were awakened. He took another bite, this time encountering some partially crushed bean bits, adding a bit of texture.

"Mother, this is quite good. Why don't you try some of this baked bun?" Xie Qi handed the remaining bun in the oil paper package to Xi. "I wonder which shop this is from? I've never tasted such craftsmanship before. I didn't expect a bun filled with sweet red bean paste to be so good when baked."

Xi also took a few bites and nodded repeatedly. "It is indeed good." She then lifted the curtain and asked the servant who had gone to buy breakfast, even thinking of the ongoing family ritual at home. "This baked bun is quite tasty. Which shop is it from? Go back and ask if they would be willing to make more. Did they use animal fat in the preparation? Your grandfather's memorial anniversary is approaching, and I'm worried that the vegetarian pastries for the ritual aren't good enough. Perhaps we can use this instead."

The servant smiled and replied, "It's actually someone we know! Madam, you also tasted her craftsmanship yesterday! The flatbread that Third Geer sent back yesterday was also from this shop, called Shen's Cake Shop. The young lady who makes the cakes is quite beautiful, and some even jokingly call her the 'Flatbread Beauty'!"

Xi recalled the flatbread she had eaten yesterday, which was indeed exceptionally delicious. This young lady surnamed Shen had some clever ideas, and she also smiled. "What a coincidence! Go and ask if they can make four hundred and fifty buns over the next three days?" She then instructed the servant to return immediately and inquire.

In just a few moments, Xie Qi had finished an entire baked bun with tea, making Xi even more delighted.

Ninth Geer had had little appetite since returning from Chenzhou. On the first day, he had only taken a few bites before vomiting. The doctor diagnosed him as suffering from fatigue from the journey and an imbalance in his spleen and stomach. There was no other cure for this illness except to carefully nurture him and coax him to eat more, which would help him regain his appetite. However, despite the best efforts of the Xie family's chefs, nothing had worked.

Thank goodness, the child has finally cheered up now.

"I've worried Mother, and it's my fault." Noticing Xi's gaze, Xie Qi understood everything.

He spoke with a sense of shame and stood up to bow.

Xi quickly waved her hand. "No need for formalities in the carriage. You're still young, yet you act like an old pedant or a sour scholar. I really can't stand this habit of you and your father bowing at every turn."

She came from the Xi family of Huainan, a rare military family in the Song Dynasty that had risen through military achievements and had not been purged. Thus, Xi had developed a straightforward, pragmatic, and unpretentious temperament, disliking the adherence to excessive formalities.

The Xie family's carriage finally descended the bridge and gradually moved out of the crowded throng. The coachman reattached the shafts, and the horses began to trot, quickly disappearing outside the southern city gate.

Meanwhile, Shen Miao, who was preparing to close her stall, looked at the suddenly approaching servant with surprise, as if she were looking at a moving god of wealth:

"Miss Shen, my master has tasted your baked buns and found them excellent. He sent me to ask if you could make four hundred and fifty buns in the next two or three days?"