NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Mooncakes
The gentle summer heat had slowly given way to the crispness of autumn.
Jiang Huaiyu sat on the veranda, her fingers idly tracing the edge of her teacup while listening to her son, Tangbao, babble disconnected words. His small mouth occasionally stumbled, and he would pause, his chubby face scrunched in concentration as if trying to figure out where he'd gone wrong.
Nearby, the household bustled in quiet harmony. Madam Xu and the new maid, Zhu Zhu, were diligent and dependable. Even under Xiao Cao's occasional supervision, they maintained their tasks without a hint of defiance or slacking. Though Zhu Zhu had a tendency to nitpick, it was nothing that overshadowed her efficiency. Before long, she and Xiao Cao had formed a close bond, and Xiao Cao, once just a wide-eyed girl, now exuded the air of a proper head maid.
Xu Po carried in a pot of floral tea and a bowl of boiled peanuts. The tea was brewed from a medley of dried flowers, fragrant yet faintly bland. Jiang Huaiyu took a sip, and while the aroma pleased her, she couldn't help but long for the robust taste of proper tea leaves.
"Life feels quite leisurely these days," Jiang Huaiyu remarked, setting the cup down with a contented sigh.
"Of course! From now on, Lady Jiang's days will only grow more fortunate and smooth," Xiao Cao chirped with enthusiasm. She sat upright at her desk, diligently practicing her calligraphy under Jiang Huaiyu's watchful eye, her voice as crisp and bright as a morning apple.
Jiang Huaiyu smirked, her tone teasing. "Speaking of smooth, did the esteemed Manager Qi engage you in poetic discussions today when you brought him his lunch?"
"Wha—? Of course not!" Xiao Cao's face flushed bright red, and she waved her hands frantically. "Manager Qi is a scholarly man; why would he talk poetry with someone like me?"
Jiang Huaiyu chuckled but didn't press further. She had noticed Qi Jue's demeanor towards Xiao Cao on a few occasions—it wasn't love, not yet, but it was different. Xiao Cao, with her admiration for learned men, seemed oblivious to the subtle shifts in his expression. Jiang Huaiyu thought it better to nudge the girl gently, lest she fall into unrequited affection too hastily.
"Xiao Cao," Jiang Huaiyu mused, her eyes narrowing playfully, "how about we try making something to sell?"
"Sell? What would we make?" Xiao Cao asked, her brush pausing mid-stroke. By now, she was used to Lady Jiang's penchant for unexpected ideas. Her curiosity, however, always won out, and she tilted her head, waiting for an explanation.
"Have you ever eaten mooncakes?"
"Of course! They're sweet and delicious, but I've only had them once," Xiao Cao replied, her eyes lighting up at the memory. She paused, tilting her head again. "But Lady Jiang, mooncakes aren't very popular here in the capital."
Jiang Huaiyu tapped her chin thoughtfully. The capital, with its wealth of resources and refined tastes, wasn't easily impressed by simple pastries. Its elite favored ornate and intricate desserts over the humble, stuffed cakes found elsewhere.
"That's fine," Jiang Huaiyu said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "We'll make mooncakes, but not just any kind. You'll see—they won't be able to resist the charm of double-yolk lotus paste mooncakes!"
"Double yolk? Lotus paste?" Xiao Cao repeated, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"You'll understand soon enough. Tomorrow, have Madam Xu buy three jin of lotus seeds."
Though the Mid-Autumn Festival was still two months away, Jiang Huaiyu's longing for the sweetness of mooncakes was undeniable. Capital bakeries didn't satisfy her cravings; the pastries they offered were passable at best. And since she couldn't access the kitchens of the nobility to sample their finer creations, she would simply make her own.
"Also," Jiang Huaiyu added, "send a batch to the princess, Qin Ziqin, Manager Qi, and—oh yes, Zheng Xiaoyue in the countryside, though her delivery can wait until it's colder. We'll need some for ourselves, too. Actually, make that five jin of lotus seeds."
Madam Xu, ever efficient, nodded and made a note. "I'll leave early tomorrow, then. The lotus seeds in the western suburbs are fresh and sweet. But, Lady Jiang, they spoil quickly. Are you sure you want five jin?"
"Absolutely. If you need help carrying them, take Zhu Zhu with you. Oh, and grab some water chestnuts for dessert soup while you're at it," Jiang Huaiyu instructed, her tone as cheerful as her smile.
Madam Xu chuckled, shaking her head. "Lady Jiang, you truly are talented with these ideas. Every dish we've had since serving you has been unique. A delight, truly."
"Oh, it's not talent. Just the resourcefulness of a foodie who doesn't want to go hungry," Jiang Huaiyu quipped, resting her cheek in her palm with a grin.
…
When the mooncakes were finally delivered to the princess's palace, the Marquis's residence, Qi Jue's quarters, and even the grand estate of Jin Chong, reactions ranged from astonishment to amusement.
At the princess's residence, the elegant yet reserved Princess Linglong raised an eyebrow at the six neatly packaged mooncakes. "What is this?"
"Lady Jiang calls them 'double-yolk lotus paste mooncakes,'" her maid, Ruyi, explained.
"Mooncakes? I've seen my share of them, but I've never encountered such a name before. What's inside?" the princess asked curiously.
"The filling is made from freshly harvested lotus seeds, steamed and ground into a fine paste, then sweetened with sugar and oil. The golden centers are salted duck egg yolks," Ruyi replied, watching the princess take a tentative bite.
Princess Linglong's eyes widened slightly as the harmonious blend of sweet and savory flavors melted on her tongue. She set the pastry down after a few bites, a rare smile gracing her lips.
Meanwhile, at Jin Chong's estate, the mooncakes were initially dismissed. "What's this? Mooncakes? Feed them to the dogs," he scoffed.
To him, both people and things are divided into valuable and worthless. If it is something that can make money, the value is enough to distract him for a glance. But for pastries like mooncakes, which most people in the capital don't care about, how much time does he have to waste before he goes to see the mooncakes made by Jiang Huaiyu?
The butler also didn't say anything, and he was about to leave with the tray.
Jin Chong suddenly frowned and called out to him, "Wait, open one for me to see."
The mooncakes in his memory didn't seem to be shaped like this, and the name Shuanghuang Bailianrong sounded a bit interesting. Out of trust for Jiang Huaiyu's intelligence, Jin Chong decided to take a look.
A moment later.
Jin Chong twisted a piece and exclaimed, "The filling is sweet, but the yolk is salty. The two flavors don't clash, and Miss Jiang is really interesting. It seems that she knows a lot about food. Go ask her if she's interested in selling the recipe."
"Yes." Used to the young master's behavior of buying recipes whenever he doesn't agree, the butler calmly obeyed the order, picked up the remaining mooncakes and stored them carefully, then sent someone to negotiate with Jiang Huaiyu's family.