Chapter 104: I Want This Recipe
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Not long after that, Old Mister Wang arrived with four students.
“Haha, sorry for the abrupt visit, girl.”
“We’re all family. No need to be polite. Please have a taste.”
“We’re heading back to the Capital the day after tomorrow for the festival. We’ll be back on August 18th.”
“I’ve prepared some mooncakes for you when you leave.”
“Must have! Your pastries are delicious. I think they’re even better than those in the Capital.’
“I use better ingredients.”
As evening approached, they all gathered at Qiao Mai’s courtyard for dinner. Due to the hot weather, they had cold noodles for dinner, and although there were no vegetables. everyone enjoyed it. with some even having second servings.
The next day, Qiao Mai used her spatial tools to whip cream.
She also baked many egg cakes, following the tutorials she had found online.
It took her five tries to get them right.
Yue Hong and Yue Xia ate the first five cakes. Though they didn’t look great, they tasted delicious. Qiao Mai only let Ling’er have a taste when she baked the sixth cake.
Children loved this kind of taste.
Her craftsmanship is excellent. She made various cream cakes, had Yuexia carry them on a tray, and delivered them to the other courtyards as soon as they were ready.
Old Mistress Wang tasted one and loved it. She ate the whole piece in one go.
When the children saw such beautiful cakes, they instantly lost interest in studying and started eating.
Even Old Mister Wang and Yuan Jiaqi ate and praised them.
Qiao Mai also sent a few large pieces to the embroidery shop, not missing out on Mayor Qian.
After Mayor Qian took the first bite, he immediately got up and went to the Qiao family. After paying his respects to Old Mister Wang, he asked Yuan Jiaqi to take him to the main courtyard.
When he saw the various cream cakes on the table, Mayor Qian pointed and said, “Girl, I want this recipe.”
“Price?”
“What do you say?”
“Two thousand taels, no less. These can’t be left overnight in hot weather and must be consumed immediately. In winter, they can only be kept for three days.”
“Deal. Write the recipe, quickly.”
Qiao Mai reluctantly put down her work, took a pen and paper, and wrote five sheets in one go.
“It’s quite comprehensive. A pastry chef can understand it at a glance.”
Mayor Qian looked at the recipe and immediately took two thousand taels of silver notes from his pocket and handed them to her. Then he sniffed.
“Did you make anything else?” “Yes, I’m baking egg tarts.”
“Do you have any ready?”
“These are for the children. It is suitable for people of all ages.”
“I want the recipe for that as well.”
Qiao Mai smiled. “Why don’t you try it? Is it delicious?”
“I trust you. Everything you make is delicious.”
With a snap, he handed her another two thousand taels of silver notes.
“Is this enough?”
“Yeah. ”
Qiao Mai wrote another recipe while Yuan Jiaqi watched with envy. In a short while, his wife had earned four thousand taels of silver.
After receiving the recipes, Mayor Qian finally sat quietly, eagerly looking at the oven.
The first batch of egg tarts was ready. After letting them cool for a while, Qiao Mai gave one to Mayor Qian and one to Yuan Jiaqi.
“Try the first batch. I don’t have much experience, so I don’t know if it’s good.” When the two took the first bite, their eyes lit up.
“It’s delicious! The outer layer is crispy, and the inside is tender with a unique texture. It’s so delicious. If any child doesn’t like to eat rice, this can be its substitute. It’s so delicious.”
Qiao Mai also took a bite. “It’s not bad. Next time, I can set a shorter time.”
Then, she baked the second batch. Mayor Qian, who had no self-control, ate one after another, finishing the entire batch by himself.
Finally, he patted his stomach and said comfortably, “So delicious! Bless my Qian family. We’re definitely going to prosper now. Madam Qiao, I’m benefiting from your success. Thank you.”
“Humph.’
“Old Mister Wang is going home to celebrate the festival tomorrow. Would you like to have dinner at my house tonight and accompany him?”
“Of course. I’ve known Old Mister Wang for a long time, and we have a good relationship.”
“Let bygones be bygones. That’s all in the past.”
As Qiao Mai chatted with Mayor Qian, she continued to bake egg tarts. On that day, she made cream cakes and egg tarts and even baked two batches of bread. After they came out of the oven and cooled down, she sliced them with a knife.
Mayor Qian, who was quite curious, reached out and took a slice.
“It’s better than steamed buns.”
Qiao Mai smiled, placed two lettuce leaves on the bread, fried an egg, added a homemade luncheon meat slice, and then spread secret sauce before handing it to him.
Mayor Qian, who was almost full, eagerly took it and dug in.
“Wow, this taste! I want the recipe.”
“I’m not selling it.”
“Why?”
“The luncheon meat in the middle is from a large recipe. Those two recipes are enough for your Qian family to make a fortune. I’m not selling this one.”
“I really want to buy it.”
“I’m not selling it; this is the food I make for my children, exclusive to my Qiao family.”
“You’re rejecting money?”
“Yes!”
Mayor Qian was defeated. Yuan Jiaqi laughed secretly, putting his fist near his mouth.
“If you don’t sell it, I’m leaving.”
“I’m not sending you off!”
“Weren’t you going to let me have dinner at your place?”
“I changed my mind; you’ve eaten enough. What else do you need to eat? Jiaqi, escort our guest!”
Yuan Jiaqi looked at Mayor Qian, who suffered a loss. After escorting him back, he found a place with no one around and burst into laughter.
Today, the three dishes Qiao Mai made were all well-received by her family. Everyone at home got a share, allowing them to enjoy a delicious meal.
The two kitchen maids begged her for a long time, but in the end, Qiao Mai only taught them the last recipe.
She can’t teach them the recipe she sold.
Even with the recipe sold to the Wang family, Qiao Mai only taught what she thought was teachable, leaving out what she thought wasn’t.
The next day, the Wang family returned to the Capital. Qiao Mai had someone pack two boxes of mooncakes for them.
Before dawn, she made an extra-large round cream cake for Wang Jiaru and put it in a wooden box.
Wang Zihan’s eyes lit up when he saw it. He held onto the box and said he would eat it with his sister when they returned.
Qiao Mai also packed various fruits and vegetables, picking the rare ones and putting them in a box.
The old couple were overjoyed, especially Old Mistress Wang. She held Qiao Mai’s hand and didn’t want to leave, fearing there would be no one to take care of the small animals after she left.
During this time, she had developed feelings for them, and she would pick quail eggs, chicken eggs, duck eggs, and goose eggs whenever she had free time.
Qiao Mai also thanked her for the help. She gave them a box of eggs when they left. Old Mistress Wang really liked Qiao Mai’s character and demeanor.
The Lu family didn’t go to their shop to send them off. They truly appreciated how well Old Mistress Wang had treated Xin’er during this time. They sent them off with genuine goodwill.
Watching the carriage recede into the distance, Xin’er finally raised her wrist. “Mother, Master, Old Mistress Wang gave me a jade bracelet.”
Lu Sanniang hurriedly grabbed her hand and took a look. “Oh my, this bracelet is not cheap.”
Qiao Mai glanced at her. “If it’s given to Xin’er, she should keep it. During this time, serve Old Mistress Wang well. Her teachings are better than what you’ve learned over the years.”
“I understand, Master.”
As for Xinyi, she looked on with envy, and Qiao Mai playfully patted her nose. “Later, when you’re engaged, Master will also give you a jade bracelet.”
“Hehe, it’s my sister’s good fortune to receive this jade bracelet. I’ll have my own good fortune in the future.”
“That’s right, you can admire, but you mustn’t be jealous. Everyone has their own fate, and you can’t force it.”
“You look like a master from a temple.”
“Amitabha!”
“Haha!”
Watching Qiao Mai occasionally jest, Lu Sanniang suddenly realized she had only just turned seventeen after the New Year.
She unintentionally glanced at Yuan Jiaqi and saw that he was secretly looking at Qiao Mai, his gaze resembling someone looking at a beloved person. Could it be that he had feelings for her?
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