After buying the materials, they withdrew.
There were too many people outside, it was a jam-packed situation.
It was better to go back and research what kind of pastries to make, and come out again next time.
Cheng Hao originally wanted to visit that old gentleman again, after all, he knew more things, but then he remembered Su Miaomiao was going to participate in making pastries.
So he chose to stay and watch over her.
Cheng Fengtai and Cheng Kaichun also readily accepted Cheng Hao's suggestion, as it was indeed a good idea; selling one's own products was better than selling others'.
Moreover,
In this unfamiliar place, it wasn't easy to get goods on credit.
Therefore,
The group returned in the same way they had come.
Su Miaomiao remembered her promise to the children. On the way, she encountered a small stall and took out a few copper coins to buy some snacks for the children, and at the same time, to explore the market and see what kind of pastries were made here.
Seeing pretty little hairpins and hair ties for boys, she bought one for each child. They weren't expensive trinkets, but they represented her thoughtfulness, and Cai shi and Xi shi felt it was a considerable expense.
They repeatedly said it wasn't necessary, that children could be raised roughly.
Su Miaomiao, however, said, "Aunt Cai, Aunt Xi, don't worry about this. I can't go back on my word, can I? It's not expensive, so please don't refuse. Oh, and would you two like to pick one too?"
As she spoke, she asked them to choose one, but how could they dare?
In the end, they could only give up.
She bought for the children.
Cheng Hao had no opinion on what Su Miaomiao wanted to buy and gave her the money readily. While she was picking out hairpins for the children, he quickly selected a few for her. Although the items displayed here were all inexpensive hair accessories, they were unique. He chose ones he thought suited her and bought them.
Su Miaomiao was used to this, as he had bought many things for her before. Unless she particularly liked something, she didn't have to worry about the trivial matters of her life. Whenever something was running out, Cheng Hao would replenish it for her, so she never lacked anything.
Cai shi and Xi shi saw the subtle unspoken actions of the young couple and couldn't help but envy them again. Looking at the two men nearby, who were discussing something unknown, they had completely given up any other thoughts and were resigned.
Su Miaomiao did not waste time buying things. She quickly chose what she wanted and left.
She was always so decisive.
Not procrastinating.
When they returned laden with goods, there was a minor commotion in the Cheng family courtyard. Seeing so much grain coming back, some for making pastries and some bought as reserve for storing and eating, instantly brought a sense of security.
Uncle Ji was overjoyed and immediately called for the servants to help carry the goods.
He then proceeded to register them.
The people below immediately got busy, all of them cheerful.
The children also gathered around to help.
They carried some small bags of seasonings to the storage rooms as best they could.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao called them over and gave each of them a small hair accessory. The children were extremely happy. The little girls liked these things the most, and their smiles were sweet. The boys were both excited and a little embarrassed.
They hadn't expected to get some too.
Su Miaomiao also shook the steamed cake-like pastries she was holding and said, "Alright, let the older brothers carry the rest of the things. You can't carry them anymore, let's go wash our hands and eat pastries!"
The children naturally cheered again, making passersby smile.
A courtyard needs children.
It becomes much livelier.
Su Miaomiao bought a moderate amount, but a wide variety, so everyone in the convoy could have a small piece, which was truly fair.
There were not a few types of pastries here, but they were still the old-fashioned kind, heavy on sugar and quite dense, like this brown sugar cake.
It was a heavy piece, much like a brown sugar steamed cake, but a bit like a failed fermentation of a steamed cake. It was dense, and the price wasn't particularly cheap, although not very expensive either, it was mid-range.
The price per jin was thirty copper coins. Ordinary city dwellers could occasionally afford to buy a piece to taste the sweetness, but for farmers, they could probably only afford to buy a piece for New Year's. It was indeed not an exorbitant price.
Cai shi and Xi shi also received a small piece. Breaking it open, it was soft and not crumbly, and particularly sweet. Both of them were reluctant to eat it.
Su Miaomiao found it to be average. It was just a simple feeling, the taste wasn't bad, but it wasn't going to be stunningly amazing.
No.
Perhaps it could be stunning.
Seeing Cai shi and Xi shi's reluctance to eat, and even wanting to save it for the children, she realized that perhaps her previous life had been too comfortable, which was why she found these old-fashioned pastries mediocre. But for those who ate coarse rice, this was a delicacy only immortals could enjoy.
Su Miaomiao felt a little uncomfortable, so she said to Cai shi and Xi shi, "Aunt Cai, Aunt Xi, don't be so formal. Everyone has some. You eat yours. When we make pastries ourselves, we won't have to worry about not having pastries to eat, will we?"
There might even be leftovers from the scraps.
Cai shi and Xi shi naturally understood Su Miaomiao's good intentions. Looking at the small piece of pastry in their hands, they finally ate it in small bites.
They truly felt happy about this.
Regardless of the hardships Xi shi had endured in the countryside, Cai shi, whose family ran a small business, did not often get to eat sweets.
And here, where males were always favored, she had few opportunities to eat sweets since childhood.
As a child at home, most sweets were given to the male grandchildren, while they, the little girls, only had to work. If they weren't starving or beaten to death, that was considered good, and they naturally dared not expect much more.
After growing up and becoming a wife, her in-laws also valued male descendants more. After they had children, their focus was on the children, and there wasn't much good food, it was all for the children, and they themselves were neglected again.
Xi shi savored the sweetness in her mouth and felt a flood of emotions. She never imagined that she had lived such a hard life even in what were considered relatively peaceful times.
Now, in these days of fleeing, she was living a life she had never dared to imagine before.
Her husband dared not bully her anymore.
She could eat her fill.
And now she could eat sweets.
Xi shi truly dared not recall her past life. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to go back.
If she had to live the old life again.
She was afraid she would really find it hard to survive. Only by experiencing it could one truly understand.
So this was how a person could live.
Cai shi also had complex feelings. She could now eat the pastries she couldn't eat before.
It wasn't that she wasn't happy.
But she felt a bit melancholic.
However, on the whole, she was still very joyful, with more yearning for future life. And she knew very well that it was this young couple in front of her who had brought about these changes. For this, she was truly grateful.
After Su Miaomiao roughly divided the pastries, she let the servants distribute them.
But they kept more for themselves.
After all, they had to taste every kind!