The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

Jiang Huaiyu shook her head in disbelief. The way some people thought money could buy everything was baffling. Waving a hand dismissively, she replied to her servant, "We're not selling, just let him go. Oh, wait—Xiao Cao, give him a mooncake before he leaves."

Thus, the messenger returning to the Jin family carried a single mooncake along with the response.

The rich flavor of lotus seed paste seemed to have stirred something nostalgic within Jiang Huaiyu. Unable to resist, she had transformed all the remaining paste into mooncakes. Without refrigeration or preservatives, they wouldn't keep long. Selling them before they spoiled was the only option.

Fortunately, the general store's business was thriving. Customers who were used to her flavorful seasonings often stopped by. Upon seeing the mooncakes on display, curiosity got the better of them, and they willingly spent six coins on a single piece. Jiang Huaiyu had been generous with the filling, making one mooncake far more satisfying than a meal for the same price.

"Note this down for me," Jiang Huaiyu said softly, "When the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, tell the bookshopkeeper on the next street to find someone to write some Mid-Autumn-themed poetry on our packaging. If the calligraphy fees are too high, I'll write them myself."

Inside the store, Qi Jue nodded and added, "These mooncakes sold out quickly. Several young servants came by asking if we had more, but we were already out."

"That's fine," Jiang Huaiyu replied nonchalantly. "The trick to selling well is creating scarcity. We'll bake another batch closer to the festival. For now, let's make them sparingly—it keeps people curious."

Qi Jue hesitated before bringing up another issue. "By the way, I heard something odd yesterday. A few restaurants seem to be serving dishes that taste like they've used our seasonings. That wouldn't be an issue, but some of them are claiming that the seasonings come from a shop on Yunshui Street. I checked it out myself and bought a few packs. The taste was nowhere near ours, but they're selling for much cheaper."

"You mean someone's leveraging our brand to promote another shop?"

Jiang Huaiyu paused her mental calculations, puzzled and mildly annoyed. While dishonest merchants weren't uncommon in Dayun, such amateurish tactics were counterproductive. Most people weren't fools—once they realized they'd been misled into buying inferior products, they'd avoid that store entirely.

"Exactly," Qi Jue confirmed. "I even visited the restaurants. They've set up signs pointing patrons toward that shop. I considered confronting them, but I thought it better to report it to you first."

"You did the right thing," Jiang Huaiyu assured him. "This isn't something we should tackle head-on."

"But won't this take customers away from us?" Qi Jue frowned, struggling to understand her calm reaction. While he was knowledgeable and ambitious, he couldn't grasp why she wasn't angrier about such blatant competition.

"How's business been these past few days?" Jiang Huaiyu asked.

"Unchanged," Qi Jue admitted after a moment.

"There's your answer," Jiang Huaiyu said, her tone even. "For those restaurants to attract customers, they need to use a lot of seasonings. That means they're buying from Jin Chong, not us. Either way, the money ends up in the same pockets. Besides," she smirked slightly, "Jin Chong is even more ruthless than I am."

Qi Jue blinked, unsure if he should laugh or be concerned.

"I don't know why those restaurants pulled this stunt," Jiang Huaiyu continued, "but if they think they can bypass Jin Chong and disrupt the seasoning business, they've underestimated him. That other shop's days are numbered, and when those restaurants try to cut ties with Jin Chong, they'll find it's not so easy."

She closed the ledger with a decisive snap and headed for the door. Before leaving, she turned back. "Keep an eye on Little Grass. She trusts you like a brother—don't let her down. Treat her like a younger sister if you don't mind."

Jiang Huaiyu wasn't blind to Little Grass's budding feelings for Qi Jue. They were immature and nebulous, but they were there. However, Qi Jue's aspirations for the imperial examinations meant his future likely lay with someone from a prominent family. Jiang Huaiyu didn't want Little Grass to get hurt, so she subtly reminded Qi Jue of his role.

Qi Jue's usually straightforward expression flickered with a rare complexity. After a long silence, he sighed deeply at the empty store. It wasn't love, but there was a faint sense of regret.

Leaving the store, Jiang Huaiyu made her way to the main street. Tangbao's first birthday was approaching, and she intended to celebrate it with a traditional zhuazhou ceremony. Despite finding such traditions frivolous in the past, raising Tangbao had changed her perspective. Now, it seemed like a meaningful milestone.

The main street was bustling with activity, as vibrant as ever. Merchants shouted to attract customers, and the occasional foreign trader with deep-set eyes and curly hair added to the cosmopolitan atmosphere.

She searched for a store called Banmen that supposedly specialized in crafting exquisite miniatures for zhuazhou ceremonies.

As she scanned the street, Jiang Huaiyu suddenly collided with someone. Startled, she stepped back and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I—oh, it's you?"

It was He Congjun, his expression as stoic as ever. He nodded curtly. "You should be more careful."

Though his tone was mild, Jiang Huaiyu sensed he'd let the collision happen. He could've easily stepped aside, but for some reason, he hadn't.

"What brings you out here?" He asked.

"I'm looking for a shop to buy zhuazhou items for my child," Jiang Huaiyu explained with a polite smile.

"You're married?" His deep voice carried a note of surprise.

"Was married," she replied smoothly. "Now divorced, raising my child alone."

It was the same line she'd practiced a dozen times, but He Congjun's reaction was inscrutable. He nodded, his gaze flickering with some unspoken thought.

He Congjun's deep, enigmatic gaze flickered briefly, as though questioning his own thoughts. At first, he had genuinely considered whether there might be something strange about her story. But then logic reasserted itself: it had only been ten months since the wedding, far too short a time for Jiang Huaiyu to have both conceived and raised a child.

"I see," he said evenly. "That shop is just ahead. I'll go with you to check it out."

His tone carried an air of quiet authority, leaving no room for refusal. Jiang Huaiyu, taken aback, watched as he walked a few steps ahead before turning back to look at her. Feeling an odd sense of pressure, she sighed internally and followed him.

Trailing behind him, Jiang Huaiyu's delicate face was tinged with confusion. What's with him? she thought. Though Dayun wasn't as restrictive about interactions between men and women as some places, there were still boundaries. A man offering to accompany her to shop for baby trinkets? That was definitely unusual.

He Congjun didn't seem to notice her reservations—or if he did, he didn't care. He was too busy thinking. He had accepted that Jiang Huaiyu had truly lost her memories. Yet, looking at her now, with eyes clear and calm like bamboo against a cloudy sky, he couldn't help but wonder what she'd experienced over the past few months. There was an air of quiet resilience about her that didn't match the timid bride he'd glimpsed before.

"Banmen has a policy," he said after a moment, his voice low and steady. "If you're looking for a full set of zhuazhou items, you need to place the order a month in advance and provide a deposit slip. Do you have one?"

Jiang Huaiyu stopped in her tracks, surprised. "You have to order a month ahead? I didn't know. In that case, never mind. I'll check out other shops instead."

"No need."

He Congjun's response was quick and firm, his dark eyes glancing her way as though studying her every move. There was a peculiar intensity to his expression, as though he were trying to piece together a puzzle.

As they walked, the atmosphere grew undeniably awkward. Jiang Huaiyu felt increasingly self-conscious. By the time they reached Banmen, her unease was almost palpable—only to be replaced by astonishment when she saw the shop.

She froze in place, her eyes widening in awe.

Banmen wasn't just a shop; it was a masterpiece. The entire building was a testament to unparalleled craftsmanship. Every beam, panel, and detail boasted intricate carvings, while the precise mortise-and-tenon joints displayed the pinnacle of woodworking artistry.

The shop itself was composed of two merged storefronts, creating a space that felt more like an art gallery than a retail establishment. Its elegant and grand design seemed more fitting for a noble's estate than a place to buy trinkets.

Is this really where I'm supposed to find children's toys? Jiang Huaiyu wondered. For a moment, she regretted not having come here earlier to commission a bed. Then, as she overheard a conversation about prices, her regret quickly evaporated.

"Three thousand taels for a canopy bed," a customer exclaimed in disbelief.

Jiang Huaiyu felt a pang of relief. "Good thing I didn't come here for furniture," she muttered under her breath. Three thousand taels? Even now, I couldn't afford that.