Although she had gone fishing and returned, the afternoon meal was already prepared, so Lin Jing’s precious little fish did not end up being used for anything today.
After eating, he squatted beside the wooden basin and watched his little fish with Laifu. Laifu had poked his head over, his nose nearly touching the surface of the water.
“Does Laifu want to eat the little fish?” Lin Jing asked, pulling Laifu back a little.
“He can eat it, but it’s still too small. You can’t let him chew it directly—the fish bones might get stuck in his throat.” Lin Wu was stirring minced meat, preparing to make another batch of meat jerky.
Lin Jing tilted his head, clearly pondering something again. Then he suddenly asked, “A Wu, do little fish eat scallions and cilantro?”
Lin Wu thought about it. “They probably don’t, do they? There aren’t any scallions or cilantro in the water.”
Sure enough, when people encountered an animal they had never seen before, their first question was always, “What does it eat?”
Lin Jing found that reasonable. “Then does it eat grass?”
Lin Wu thought again, not entirely certain. “Maybe…?”
To be honest, she really had no idea what fish ate in the water besides fish food. Perhaps big fish ate little fish, and little fish ate shrimp? The small fish in the bucket was grayish and drab, and she genuinely could not tell what kind it was.
When it came to the fish and shrimp that lived in the water, her knowledge was probably no greater than five-year-old Lin Jing’s. At most, she could recognize crucian carp and such oddly shaped creatures as eels. It was the same with the flowers and grasses by the roadside—she knew absolutely nothing about their names.
She might as well leave Lin Jing and Laifu to communicate with the little fish.
Lin Wu withdrew her thoughts and began considering the business at the pancake shop.
Pancakes were a certainty, but if they could not add sausage or meat floss, what else could they put in them?
Eggs and vegetables were both possibilities. Oh, and they could add thin, crispy crackers fried until golden and crunchy. They were rather like sansi, so they were not particularly unusual.
She could not manage too many varieties. At present, they had only three and a half people at most: herself, Mrs. Sun, and Liang Peilan made three, while little Lin Jing counted as half a person. They needed people for everything—bringing firewood and tending the flames, taking payment and wrapping orders, kneading dough and frying pancakes. It would be best to start with something simple.
Just as Lin Wu was pondering this, Lin Jing suddenly went thump-thump-thump out the door. Before long, he came running back with a small handful of grass clenched in his hand, which he promptly tossed into the wooden basin.
The little fish was startled. It darted to the edge of the basin before slowly swimming back.
Lin Jing stared at it for a long while. Then, as if remembering something, he looked up and said, “A Wu, Brother Ting said he would teach me martial arts!”
Lin Wu froze. “What?”
“Brother Ting! He said he could teach me!” Lin Jing’s little face was full of excitement.
Lin Wu raised her brows slightly. She had not expected Shen Guanting to possess such a skill. But thinking about it, it was hardly surprising. The man was an excellent horseman and came from a military family. Although he now carried himself like the young master of a merchant household, his foundation should still be there.
Lin Jing’s talent was impressive too. Whenever he needed a teacher, he found one right away—and the key was that he never had to pay.
So, should she prepare a gift for Shen Guanting as a token of apprenticeship?
Forget it. He was the boy’s senior apprentice brother; looking after his junior apprentice brother was only proper.
“Then you’ll have to work hard,” Lin Wu reminded him. “Learning martial arts is nothing like learning to read and write. You’ll have to practice horse stance every day, sweat, and endure hardship. Can you handle it?”
Lin Jing nodded his little head vigorously. “I know! I can handle it!”
By the time they went to bed that night, Lin Jing was still brimming with enthusiasm about his martial arts training. His small body tossed and turned beneath the quilt, unable to feel sleepy in the slightest.
“I wonder how long I’ll have to train before I can lift a huge crock like Aunt Sun.”
Lin Wu suspected he was going to be disappointed. That refined and elegant Young Master Shen probably would not teach his Junior apprentice brother how to lift huge crocks.
“It might take some time,” Lin Wu said tactfully, steering the conversation elsewhere. “When people learn martial arts, they usually study archery and horsemanship.” Lifting huge crocks was probably beyond the syllabus.
She suddenly remembered their first meeting in Lingzhou, when Shen Guanting had ridden past on horseback. The horse’s entire body had gleamed, its smooth coat shining like satin. It was a beautiful animal, clearly no ordinary horse.
But if Lin Jing went on to learn archery and horsemanship, would they have to buy him a pony? Horses were far beyond what they could afford. A fine horse cost a hundred guan, while an ordinary one cost ten. Ten guan alone was enough to make her wince. Indeed, raising a child was a bottomless pit in every era.
Perhaps they should just stick to lifting huge crocks. A strong body was quite practical, too.
But Lin Jing had already fallen in love with the idea of something else. The moment he heard about riding horses, he sat bolt upright.
“Riding horses!”
It was clearly much more interesting to him than lifting huge crocks. After lying back down, he continued muttering for quite some time about wanting “a white one” and “the fastest one.” Only when sleepiness finally overtook him did his voice gradually fade.
Listening to his endless chatter, Lin Wu thought that, considering their family’s current circumstances, what suited them best was “riding the cheapest one.”
Truly, they should not casually associate with the children of wealthy families. Their spending habits belonged to entirely different worlds.
Early the next morning, Lin Wu pan-fried the little fish Lin Jing had caught. It was not large, and it was barely enough for one person’s breakfast.
As she flipped the fish in the pan, she could not help thinking of the grand procession they had made when they all went fishing the day before. Young Master Shen had brought three children and a little dog, along with fishing rods, a bucket, and small folding stools. They had been fully prepared and fished for nearly an hour, only to come away with one tiny fish.
Clearly, this young master was not very skilled at fishing.
Then she remembered the dejected look on his face when he had returned from fishing. So the favored son of Heaven had finally suffered a setback.
No wonder he had personally delivered such a tiny fish to their door. It turned out to be his one and only catch. If it were placed in the Jizhen Pavilion, perhaps Young Master Shen would have displayed it in an upstairs private room as a precious treasure.
After breakfast, the two of them headed to the shop again. The stove would be finished today.
Ever since they had agreed to help at the shop, Mrs. Sun and Liang Peilan had come every day. With their assistance, the remaining cleaning and arrangements went much faster.
Three days before Lin Jing was due to start school, their Shuangmu Shop finally put up its signboard and shop banner.
Looking at the signboard, Lin Wu thought that Young Master Shen really had the confidence to recommend himself. Although she knew nothing about calligraphy, even she could tell that the characters were full and solid, with clearly defined structure and strength. They were steady and dignified.
The shop banner fluttered above the storefront. Two little trees and the illustrated pancakes looked adorably plump, their colors bright and cheerful. Whenever the wind blew, the banner swayed gently, making the colors shimmer back and forth. It could be spotted from far away.
It was a pity that little Lin Jing had not started school yet. Otherwise, if he went to the academy and shouted a few words, the publicity would have been better than anything else.
Still, it did not matter. On the day before the opening, she went to the morning market as usual and told each of her regular customers that she would be moving her business into the shop.
When Second Madam Zhao heard the news, she was very reluctant to see her go.
“Oh dear, we won’t be able to see you at the morning market anymore. But don’t worry—I’ll certainly come and support you. Our children love the pastries and crisp crackers you make. Now that you’re moving into a shop, I can buy more and stock up.”
Over the past two days, Lin Wu had also familiarized her two helpers with the shop’s work procedures in advance. As for Mrs. Sun’s strength, it was truly invaluable. Carrying water jars, kneading dough, hauling things—everything was effortless for her. Once, Lin Wu had watched her lift a sack weighing over a hundred jin with one hand, without even blinking.
For a moment, Lin Wu had nearly wanted to raise her wages.
The thirteenth day of the first lunar month: an auspicious day to open for business.
At the crowing of the fifth watch, Lin Wu rose quietly. Lin Jing was still sleeping soundly under the covers, his little fists tucked beside his ears. She did not wake him. The day before, she had already spoken with Fourth Sister He and asked her to take the child along when she went to the morning market, then bring him to the shop.
After putting out some food and water for Laifu, she left.
The streets were already coming to life. The doors of the shops on either side stood wide open, while steam from boiling water and porridge drifted out from beneath the awnings, mingling with the aromas of all kinds of food. Pack carts streamed into the city gates one after another, piled high with goods. Once the sky grew a little brighter, groups of butchers would shoulder their freshly slaughtered pork and mutton to set up stalls along the roadside. Their cries would carry a long way.
As Lin Wu walked toward the shop, she went over the day’s tasks in her mind.
When she drew near, she saw that Mrs. Sun and Liang Peilan were already waiting by the door. Mrs. Sun had tied a new apron around her waist. It was made of indigo homespun and embroidered with the words “Twin Trees Cake Shop” and two little saplings. Her hair was wrapped up securely, and she looked neat and capable. Liang Peilan, standing beside her, was just as tidily dressed.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Lin Wu hurried over, taking out her key as she spoke. “Peilan, you could have come a little later. There was no need to arrive so early.”
Liang Peilan shook his head and said solemnly, “Auntie, I’m not here to help out. I’m here to work. Since I’m working, I can’t be lazy.”
Mrs. Sun said from the side, “He’s been so excited these past few days, talking nonstop about the shop opening. I couldn’t stop him. Before bed last night, he even reminded me, ‘Don’t oversleep tomorrow.’”
Embarrassed by his mother’s words, Liang Peilan scratched his head and hurried inside after them.
Lin Wu opened the door and went in to light the oil lamp. The stove had already been cleaned, with a pot set on top. The shelves were packed with supplies: flour, sugar, oil, eggs, and everything else they needed. The pots, bowls, and utensils they had bought earlier were also in place, accumulated little by little over the past few days.
No sooner had she lit the lamp than noises came from outside.
Lin Wu poked her head out and saw the peddler delivering firewood. The day before, she had arranged with the firewood and water sellers to deliver to the shop at this hour every day from then on.
Before long, the water seller arrived as well, pushing a cart loaded with several large barrels of fresh water. Mrs. Sun lent him a hand, and the heavy barrels came down as easily as if they weighed nothing.
Once the peddler pushed his empty cart away, both of the shop’s large vats were full.
After telling Mrs. Sun to knead the dough, Lin Wu took Liang Peilan out to buy the fresh ingredients they would need that day. In truth, there was not much to buy. The shop was small, and there were only a few hands to work in it, so they could make only so much.
Lin Wu had always known how to work within her means. It certainly wasn’t laziness.
After returning from the market, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
She had planned the menu in advance, and there were not many varieties. Jade Cakes were the old specialty that had started her business. Though they were troublesome to make, she still steamed two baskets of them.
The steamed buns would come in two flavors. First, she prepared taro paste buns. Since they had no purple sweet potatoes to use for coloring, she added a few drops of red yeast-water instead, producing a pale lotus-root pink that looked soft and adorably delicate. The other would be filled with bok choy and pork, a savory flavor perfect for those who did not care for sweets.
Buns alone would not be enough. The day before, she had bought some ready-made mung bean starch sheets and planned to make a few steamed pouches. They were quick and easy to prepare. Here, steamed pouches could be filled with almost anything: carp, crab roe, lotus seeds, and so on. In truth, they were made by spreading a starch sheet in a small cup, adding the filling, folding it closed, and steaming it before turning it out onto a plate. They looked like oversized crystal dumplings.
She intended to make two fillings: bok choy and pork, and taro and pork. The ingredients were already on hand. Compared with the bun fillings, these contained more diced bok choy and taro, making them lighter and fresher to eat.
Then there were the shop’s signature items—scallion pancakes. These would be fried to order, sizzling hot, lending the shop a lively, bustling air. Customers could add an egg and a crisp fried cracker. She had given the cracker a new name, “Crunch,” to distinguish it from the thin crisps she had sold before.
The shop also sold several foods prepared in advance: sesame crisps, almond crisps, and honey-glazed dried meat. All of them had been packed into paper-oil bags and arranged in neat rows on the counter.
Lin Jing’s little leaf-shaped wooden stamp had been retired and replaced with a new one. The new stamp was carved with the four characters “Twin Trees Cake Shop,” alongside two little saplings, copied from the design on the shop’s signboard.
The three of them worked for nearly an hour. The buns were steamed, and the batter for the scallion pancakes had been mixed and set beside the stove.
The sky gradually brightened, and the streets grew busier. Shouts, the rumble of cartwheels, and the murmur of conversation blended into a single lively hum.
Lin Wu pulled a string of firecrackers from beneath the counter. She planned to set them off in a moment to make the opening more festive.
She carried the firecrackers to the doorway.
Just as she stepped outside, she saw Lin Jing running toward her, with Fourth Sister He following behind.
Lin Jing ran all the way to the shop, then backed up two steps. He tilted his head back to look first at the hanging shop sign and then at the main signboard, his eyes shining.
“Our Twin Trees Cake Shop is so beautiful!” he praised sincerely.
Then, unable to wait any longer, he asked Lin Wu to tie on his little apron and headscarf. His apron was indigo as well, embroidered with the shop’s name and the two little saplings.
Once the headscarf was tied and the apron fastened, the little shop assistant looked every bit the part.
He climbed onto the raised stool inside the counter, which Lin Wu had specially prepared for him, complete with a small cushion. In the corner of the counter sat a newly made wooden box for the money.
Lin Jing pulled the box closer to himself, sat up straight, and put on a solemn little expression, looking ready for business to begin at any moment.
Fourth Sister He came over and handed Lin Wu a piece of red cloth, beaming. “Mrs. Lin, may Twin Trees Cake Shop prosper and flourish, with business booming!”
Lin Wu accepted the cloth and thanked her repeatedly.
The sunlight had already reached the roadside, spreading warmly across the shop’s signs and making the painted lettering look even brighter.
Before Lin Wu could set off the firecrackers, Second Madam Zhao arrived as well, carrying a basket of flowers.
“Congratulations on the grand opening of Twin Trees Cake Shop! May your business prosper and flourish!” Second Madam Zhao said as she handed over the basket.
It was filled to the brim with flowers of every color—red, pink, and vivid green leaves dotted with glistening dew. They were wonderfully fresh.
Lin Wu hurriedly thanked her, then turned and placed the basket on the windowsill. The blossoms opened brilliantly in the sunlight, making the shop look especially bright and elegant.
She had only just finished arranging the flowers when that familiar booming voice rang out.
“Elder Sister—we’re here!”
Tigerhead came running over, the little topknot on his head bobbing with every step.
Lin Wu looked up and saw Shen Guanting leading Sparrow and Tigerhead toward them. Shen Qi, Steward Zhou, and Little Zheng followed behind.
With so many people arriving at once, the small shop’s entrance was immediately packed. Tigerhead’s voice was particularly loud, drawing the attention of quite a few passersby.
Shen Guanting walked up and handed Lin Wu a small box. “Shopkeeper Lin, congratulations on your grand opening.”
Lin Wu opened it and saw two porcelain pixiu inside. Their lines were rounded, their bodies plump and round. At first glance, they looked less like pixiu and more like two chubby little puppies.
Lin Jing leaned over for a look. He adored them at once, picked up the box, and placed it on the counter, setting one on each side.
Lin Wu took one look and decided it was probably much the same as a lucky cat.
“Thank you, Guanting. It looks like our shop has gained two more little helpers.”
Shen Guanting smiled and nodded. “May these two little helpers devote themselves to their duties, and may Double Wood Pastry Shop prosper from this day forward—with wealth flowing in and never flowing out.”
With that, he noticed the firecrackers still sitting on the windowsill. Taking Sparrow and Tigerhead by the hand, he led them two steps back to clear the space in front of the door.
Lin Wu set the firecrackers in place and called out to everyone, “Everyone, move back a little. I’m lighting them!”
Sparrow covered her ears and retreated, while Tigerhead stretched his neck forward to watch as he backed away. Lin Jing hid behind the counter with his little ears covered.
Lin Wu lit the fuse and hurried back to the doorway.
Crackle, crackle, bang—
The firecrackers exploded, smoke billowed into the air, and scraps of red paper fluttered all over the ground.
“Good luck on the opening of Double Wood Pastry Shop!” the children shouted in unison.
The commotion drew quite a few passersby to stop and look.
Sparrow came up to the counter and asked curiously, “Sister, what are we selling at the shop today?”
“Lotus-Pink Jade Steamed Buns, mantou, douzi, and jianbing, along with thin crisps and dried meat.” As she spoke, she pointed to the wooden board outside the door.
It was a freestanding wooden frame topped with a board roughly two chi long and wide, onto which a painted sign had been pasted.
Shen Guanting had noticed it as soon as he arrived, and now he stopped to look more closely. The style of the paintings was exactly the same as that of the shop banner, so he assumed they were Lin Wu’s work as well.
There was no attempt at artistic likeness or freehand impression; she had simply painted each food item as it truly looked, yet every one of them seemed almost alive. The mantou had a round, plump peak, and beside it was half of one, cut open so that its filling could be seen clearly.
The name and price of each item were written beside its picture. Next to each price was a row of small, round copper coins. For example, beside the mantou, which cost four wen each, there were four little copper coins printed on the sign. It was clear at a glance, both cute and practical. Even someone who could not read would know how many coins to take out just by counting the small circles.
Shen Qi came over to look as well, murmuring, “Jianbing, mantou, douzi, thin crisps, dried meat… Oh, there’s quite a variety.”
There were plenty of other curious onlookers nearby, all of whom found the design of the sign fresh and unusual.
A young woman took a look and immediately asked, “Shopkeeper, those mantou look so novel. What kind of mantou is the one with the lotus-colored filling?”
Lin Wu replied, “That’s our Lotus-Pink Jade Steamed Bun. You can try some over here—there’s no charge.”
She then went beneath the awning to the bamboo table. A plain blue cloth had been spread over it. Lin Wu lifted a small cloth cover, revealing a white porcelain plate with several small pieces of mantou already cut up. Beside it lay several slender bamboo picks.
The young woman’s eyes lit up. “Oh! We can taste it for free? That’s wonderful.”
She picked up a bamboo pick, speared a small piece, and put it into her mouth. After chewing, she could not help widening her eyes.
“It’s sweet!”
These mantou tasted quite different from ordinary ones. They were lightly sweet without being cloying, and the dough was soft and fluffy, utterly unlike the rich, heavy mantou sold elsewhere. Not only did they taste good, they looked far more refined as well.
“Is this Lotus-Pink Jade Steamed Bun three wen each?”
She had noticed the three little copper coins printed beside it on the sign.
“Yes. Would you like one?” Lin Wu asked with a smile.
“Give me two.” At only three wen apiece, they cost the same as the sour-filled ones, but they were much tastier.
The moment she finished speaking, Lin Jing immediately opened the little wooden box in front of him, his small face solemn. Liang Peilan had already deftly selected two Lotus-Pink Jade Steamed Buns from the steamer, wrapped them in clean broad leaves, and handed them over.
Seeing the two children’s serious little faces, the young woman found them utterly adorable. She counted out six wen and handed the coins to Lin Jing.
Lin Jing accepted the money with one hand, counted the coins carefully one by one, and placed them in the box. When he was done, he raised his head and nodded at the woman, saying in a remarkably proper tone, “Thank you for your patronage.”
Sparrow and Tigerhead watched from the side, their eyes wide. The little headscarves and aprons made them look so impressive. Lin Jing especially looked every inch a little shopkeeper when he took the money. They were terribly envious. They wanted to be shop assistants too!
Watching this, Shen Guanting decided to give his junior apprentice brother a little more work. He turned to Lin Wu and said, “Shopkeeper Lin, give me five of each kind of mantou and douzi, and one jianbing as well. Let me see—can I add an egg and crispy topping?”
Lin Wu was selecting the buns and did not even raise her head. “Yes. Each addition costs one wen.”
“Then add both to everything.”
As soon as Sparrow and Tigerhead heard this, they began shouting, “I want some too! Me too!”
Lin Wu handed the task of picking out the goods to Liang Peilan and turned to the flat griddle. “All right, I’ll make them for you. But you’ll have to queue up and come one at a time.”
Sparrow and Tigerhead immediately obediently lined up behind Shen Guanting.
Second Madam Zhao, watching from the side, could not help laughing. “Mrs. Lin, business is doing wonderfully! If I wait any longer to place my order, I’ll have to join the back of the queue.”
That was certainly true. Though the little shop had a small storefront, it had been arranged with great elegance. The colorful paintings posted outside were bright and eye-catching, and the shop banner fluttered in the breeze. Along the entire row of shops, it was the only one so vivid and lively. Now that people were lining up in front of it, passersby kept glancing over. Some even came straight over to see what all the fuss was about.
