Transmigrated into the fat wife of the future prime minister

Chapter 39 Pastry Shop

Gu Yunyi had no choice but to give up, and Xu Qingmeng immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

As Gu Yunyi turned his head, he saw a young man dressed in a moon-colored brocade robe with a gentle and refined face enter the courtyard.

Gu Yunyi was puzzled and gave a scholar's bow, "May I ask who you are, brother?"

“My name is Huang Boyang. My father and Elder Shen are old friends. I often hear Elder Shen and Yunyi mention you. This time, Brother Gu has once again won the top prize. I have come here to ask Brother Gu for teachings.”

Xu Qingmeng had a good memory; she not only remembered Huang Boyang's name but also that he had come here the day before.

Huang Boyang, the second-place scholar in the county examination and the only son of the county magistrate, unexpectedly had such a deep connection with Gu Yunyi's mentor, Master Shen.

This section was not mentioned in the original book, but Shen Yunyi knew about it. She was the female lead in the original book and would become Gu Yunyi's wife in the future.

Gu Yunyi's eyes flickered slightly, and he wore a gentle smile. "So you are Young Master Huang. This way, please."

Huang Boyang agreed, his nose wrinkling slightly, wondering what the Gu family had done to make such a fragrant aroma.

Although Xu Qingmeng did not understand Huang Boyang's purpose in coming, she could not be without basic courtesy since he had already come to her door.

She quickly brewed a pot of tea.

Ever since Gu Yunyi achieved the top score in the imperial examination, he has been inundated with people coming to ask for his advice. Huang Boyang is not the first to do so, especially those neighbors who failed the exam, who visit him frequently.

Scholars value elegance and so sweet water is not appropriate to serve them. Xu Qingmeng had prepared tea at home beforehand.

Just then, the jujube paste pastries came out of the oven, so I picked some up, carefully arranged them on a plate, and sent them to the study.

Gu Yunyi and Huang Boyang were having a pleasant conversation. When Xu Qingmeng brought in tea and snacks, the two were flipping through books, chatting and laughing.

Xu Qingmeng did not linger; she put down her things and left.

The freshly baked jujube paste pastry is incredibly fragrant. Its golden-yellow crust gleams with oil, and its crispy exterior seems to crumble at the slightest touch. The sweet aroma of jujube paste fills the study, adding a touch of sweetness to the otherwise scholarly atmosphere.

Huang Boyang took a light sniff of the fragrance and smiled as he said to Gu Yunyi,

"Brother Gu, your wife's skills are truly remarkable. The aroma of this jujube paste pastry is enough to make one's mouth water. I never imagined that your wife could not only make such excellent braised dishes, but also such outstanding pastries."

Gu Yunyi smiled modestly and said, "Young Master Huang, you flatter me."

Huang Boyang couldn't wait to take a bite of the jujube paste pastry. The crispy outer layer cracked between his teeth, and the delicate sweetness of the jujube paste instantly filled his mouth.

He couldn't help but exclaim, "This delicacy is truly unparalleled! Brother Gu is a blessed man!"

Gu Yunyi smiled modestly and said, "I'm glad Brother Huang likes it."

"Of course I like it. Last night I had the pleasure of bringing back some braised food, which my father loved. My mother, on the other hand, prefers pastries and cakes, so I'm sure she'll love this jujube paste pastry as well."

Gu Yunyi pretended not to hear the implication in her words, "Today, because my younger siblings were making a fuss at home, my wife specially made these snacks to coax the children. If there is an opportunity next time, I will definitely prepare more to give to Madam Huang."

Huang Boyang chuckled to himself. He hadn't expected Gu Yunyi to respond this way, instead of flattering him by asking his wife to make some more for him to take back.

His impression of Gu Yunyi changed; he realized that Gu Yunyi was not as useless as he had thought yesterday, but rather a man who doted on his wife.

Although their conversation led them to believe that Gu Yunyi was a good match for Shen Yunyi, Shen Yunyi had no chance. After all, Gu Yunyi was already married, and given the Shen family's social standing, they would never allow Shen Yunyi to become a concubine. Xu Qingmeng, on the other hand, was unaware of what the two were discussing.

But not many people know about jujube paste pastries anymore. There aren't many jujube paste pastries made to begin with. A plate of them in the study would only cost about ten yuan.

The three children each received two pieces, and the rest was shared and eaten by everyone.

After eating the pastries made by Xu Qingmeng, Madam He sighed, "The so-called signature Poria cocos cake of this pastry shop is nothing special. It can't even compare to the mung bean cake made by Mengniang, let alone this jujube paste pastry."

Xu Qingmeng just smiled. Previously, Madam He had quite liked the Poria cocos cake.

"Sister-in-law, why don't you open a pastry shop? That way I can eat pastries every day," Yun Sheng said innocently.

Madam He was amused by Yun Sheng, "You little glutton, do you think opening a shop is so easy!"

Xu Qingmeng hadn't originally thought of it this way, but after hearing Yun Sheng's suggestion, she thought it wasn't a bad idea. "Why not open a pastry shop?"

Madam He was startled: "Opening a shop isn't that easy. Yun Sheng is just greedy. Don't listen to her."

"Mother, don't worry. I just think it's worth considering. Now that Xinting and Xun'er have arrived, they can gradually get the hang of things at the shop. Although it's busier in the morning and at noon, we have enough manpower."

“Yunyi’s education will cost a lot of money. Furthermore, Yunsheng and Yunmo should also start their studies. They are already behind other children. Rongrong is only six years old and is already preparing to start her studies. Also, the current house is a bit small. Yunyi needs a quiet environment to study. In my opinion, we should buy a larger courtyard.”

He Shi originally thought that life was getting better and better and was already very satisfied. But after hearing what Meng Niang said, she realized that what she was earning was far from enough.

"That's true, but a pastry shop isn't necessarily profitable. Look at Aunt Liu's pastry shop, it might not even earn as much as ours."

Xu Qingmeng said with a smile, "Then how much do you think Wufangzhai can earn each day?"

Ms. He clicked her tongue in surprise.

Wu Fang Zhai is a famous pastry shop in Quan County, located in the most bustling area of ​​East Street. Moreover, it is not only famous in Quan County, but I heard that it also has branches in other places.

It's said that the pastries inside are incredibly delicious, and each type is available in limited quantities. The cheapest ones cost three or four hundred coins, not to mention the most expensive ones.
Even so, the restaurant is packed with customers every day, and demand exceeds supply.

"How...how can these be compared? Wufangzhai is a century-old brand with a prestigious reputation..."

“Mother, when it comes to opening a shop, the name of an old brand is certainly valuable, but in the end, it must win with taste. If the taste is not good, even if it has the signboard of a century-old shop, it will be in vain. As long as our taste can keep people coming back, it may not be impossible.”

Looking at Xu Qingmeng's confident appearance, Madam He couldn't bear to dampen her spirits.

However, Ms. He felt that saying more at this moment would be of no use, since this was just a nascent idea.

Seeing He's reaction, Xu Qing didn't say anything more. This idea was originally just a suggestion from Yun Sheng, which she felt was quite feasible, so she mentioned it casually.

Xu Qingmeng's idea of ​​a pastry shop wasn't just about these old-fashioned pastries; she also wanted to make Western-style birthday cakes and other desserts.

Of course, these ideas were premature; Western-style pastries were virtually unheard of in this place, and she only had this idea.

In the afternoon, Xu Xinting and Xu Xun witnessed another lively scene at the Gu family's house. The scene was even more impressive than at noon, with bowls of braised food being brought out. Even though the two thought the prices were too high, they still couldn't sell any of it.

Xu Xinting thought to herself, "My aunt's cooking skills are truly amazing."

(End of this chapter)