Chapter 10

With money in hand, Li Hehua immediately sprang into action. Her first task was to buy the ingredients for making pastries in town.

She purchased red beans from villagers selling their wares, fresh eggs, a bag of white sugar from a shop, and a stack of oiled paper packages to wrap the pastries for customers the next day.

After finishing her shopping, she visited a specialized pastry shop in town to inquire about their prices.

This particular shop was known as the most reasonably priced in town, and Li Hehua planned to use its prices as a benchmark for her own. This way, she could ensure customers wouldn’t find her pastries too expensive.

The shop also sold red bean cakes, priced at seven wen per pound. Li Hehua observed a customer buying a pound, which contained about four cakes. This meant each cake cost roughly two wen. She made a mental note to cut her cakes into slightly larger pieces and sell them individually for two wen each, matching the price of her sponge cakes.

With her supplies secured and prices researched, Li Hehua returned home with a smile.

After everyone else had finished dinner and Madam Zhang had washed the pots and pans dry, Li Hehua finally entered the kitchen with the ingredients she had purchased. She began by kneading dough, then cracked eggs, and started steaming red beans.

Outside, the Zhang family sat in the courtyard chatting, listening to the clattering sounds from the kitchen. Madam Zhang couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer and muttered, “What on earth is she doing? Is she wasting our food?”

Zhang Qingshan was equally displeased. “Brother, this woman is truly annoying. I really don’t want to live with her.”

Zhang Tieshan remained silent, cradling Shulin and gently patting him.

Accustomed to her eldest son’s taciturn nature, Madam Zhang turned to her younger son and began discussing other topics.

But soon, a peculiar aroma wafted from the kitchen, so enticing that it made their mouths water involuntarily.

Zhang Qingshan sniffed vigorously. “Is that the smell of pastries? Did someone buy pastries? It smells amazing!”

Madam Zhang also took a deep breath. “It is pastries, but it’s different from the ones in town. It smells even better than what they sell in the shops. What kind of pastries are these?”

Zhang Qingshan stood up involuntarily, sniffing the air intently to trace the source of the enticing aroma. After a moment, he said incredulously, “Mother, doesn’t this smell like it’s coming from our house?”

Madam Zhang instinctively dismissed the idea. “Impossible. When have we ever bought pastries?”

“But Mother, it really does smell like our house,” Zhang Qingshan insisted. “It seems to be coming from the kitchen…”

Madam Zhang’s gaze darted to the kitchen, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Could that woman have bought pastries and be eating them there?

Zhang Tieshan, who had remained silent until now, spoke up. “Mother, Qingshan, sit down. It’s definitely coming from our kitchen.”

Madam Zhang and Zhang Qingshan exchanged glances before settling back into their seats.

Madam Zhang muttered under her breath, “That woman is always so lazy and gluttonous. Buying such expensive pastries… and then hiding in the kitchen to eat them alone! Marrying her into our family has been nothing but bad luck. If it weren’t for her father’s influence back then…”

“Mother!” Zhang Tieshan’s sharp rebuke cut off her words. Madam Zhang pressed her lips together and fell silent.

Zhang Qingshan glanced at his brother and then at his mother, wisely refraining from saying more. His eyes unconsciously drifted toward the kitchen, where he saw Li Hehua emerging with a plate, heading into the courtyard.

……

Li Hehua had just finished baking the red bean cakes and sponge cakes. She sliced them into neat squares, lined a basket with a clean white cloth, and set it aside for tomorrow’s early market run.

However, she had deliberately reserved four pieces of each type for the Zhang family. She had borrowed money from Zhang Tieshan for the ingredients, used their kitchen, and relied on their firewood, rice, oil, and salt. It was only right that they should taste her creations. Moreover, she wanted the children to enjoy her baking. That’s why she personally carried the plate of pastries into the courtyard.

Approaching the group, Li Hehua ignored the hostile glares from Madam Zhang and Zhang Qingshan. She placed the plate on the small square table. “These are red bean cakes and sponge cakes I just baked. They’re still warm. I brought them for you to try.”

Madam Zhang and Zhang Qingshan exchanged astonished glances. They had assumed she had bought the pastries. How could someone like Li Hehua possibly bake such fragrant and beautiful cakes? Was this some kind of trick?

Li Hehua noticed the distrust in their eyes but said nothing, pretending not to see it.

Madam Zhang harbored deep resentment toward Li Hehua. How could she possibly accept her kindness now? Even though the pastries looked incredibly tempting, she refused to give her the satisfaction. “Hmph, since when have you become so generous? I wouldn’t dare eat your food—I’m afraid you’ve poisoned it!”

Li Hehua paused, unwilling to engage. “Eat if you want,” she said calmly. “I’m going back to my room.” With that, she turned and entered the woodshed.

Oh well, she thought. I’ve done my part. If they don’t want to eat, that’s their choice. It’s not my concern.

In the courtyard, Madam Zhang and Zhang Qingshan watched Li Hehua disappear into the woodshed before turning their attention to the pastries on the table. Hesitation flickered in their eyes.

The pastries were not only beautifully presented but also emitted an irresistible aroma. They looked utterly delicious. But they had been made by that woman. Eating her food would be…

At that moment, Zhang Tieshan took a piece of sponge cake. “Mother, Qingshan, let’s eat.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhang and Zhang Qingshan exchanged glances. Without further hesitation, they each reached for a piece.

“Eat! Why wouldn’t you? That woman swindled so much money from our family. This little bit of cake is nothing. Why shouldn’t we eat it?”

The moment they took their first bites, the three of them paused slightly. Zhang Tieshan remained composed, but the disbelief in Madam Zhang and Zhang Qingshan’s eyes was unmistakable.

Zhang Qingshan chewed rapidly, glancing toward the woodshed with suspicion. “Did she make this? How could she possibly make such delicious pastries?”

Madam Zhang shared his skepticism. She knew the cakes weren’t store-bought; she’d never seen anything like these “sponge cakes” before. She recognized the red bean cakes, having eaten them before, but they had never tasted this good.

After finishing his first bite, Zhang Tieshan paused briefly, then tore off a small piece and offered it to his son, Shulin, cradled in his arms. “Shulin, have some cake.”

Shulin always responded to Zhang Tieshan’s words. He obediently opened his mouth, took the offered piece, and chewed slowly, showing no signs of rejection. Though he ate slowly, it was clear he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Zhang Tieshan couldn’t help but recall the bowl of fried dumplings from that morning. Shulin had eaten them all with the same relish, without spitting out a single bite.

When did this woman develop such cooking skills?

In the firewood shed, Li Hehua was preparing her pastries for tomorrow’s market trip. After packing, she ate a piece of cake and began her slimming yoga routine, continuing until she was drenched in sweat. Hearing no more sounds outside, she finally went to the kitchen to boil water for washing up.

……

The next morning, Li Hehua woke before dawn. After a quick wash, she set off for town. By the time she arrived, the sun was fully risen and the market was bustling with activity.

Li Hehua squatted down in a relatively clean spot, placed her basket on the ground, and lifted the white cloth covering it slightly to reveal the red bean cakes and sponge cakes inside. She then took out an oiled paper package containing smaller, bite-sized pieces—these were samples she had prepared at home for customers to taste.

Once ready, Li Hehua raised her voice and called out, “Selling sponge cakes and red bean cakes! Big, fragrant sponge cakes and red bean cakes! Free samples! Don’t buy if you don’t like them!”

Hearing Li Hehua offer free samples, many people were drawn over, especially the children. Their eyes glued to the fragrant and beautifully crafted pastries, they drooled, hopping on their toes and chanting, “I want some! I want some!”

Seeing their children’s eagerness, the adults asked, “How much are these pastries?”

“The red bean cakes and sponge cakes are two wen a piece,” Li Hehua replied.

Some balked at the price, shaking their heads. “Too expensive.”

Li Hehua smiled. “These aren’t ordinary pastries. They’re made with a secret family recipe passed down through generations. The taste is guaranteed to be top-notch, and each piece is quite substantial. Two wen is as low as I can go. Here, try one first. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to buy it.”

With that, she handed out samples to the children and adults.

As Li Hehua had anticipated, everyone who tasted the pastries loved them. The children clamored for more, and the adults, unable to resist their children’s pleas, reluctantly bought one or two pieces each.

Li Hehua stopped hawking and focused on wrapping pastries for customers and collecting payment. Drawn by the lively crowd, others gathered around and began making purchases as well.

On her first day selling, Li Hehua had been cautious, preparing only one basket of pastries. To her surprise, they sold out in less than half an hour, leaving some customers empty-handed and frustrated.

“Why did you make so few pastries? We wanted to buy some, but they’re all gone!”

Li Hehua smiled apologetically. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I underestimated the demand today. But don’t worry, I’ll be back tomorrow with more. Come by if you’d like to try them.”

Reassured by her words, many who had missed out decided to return the next day.

Li Hehua glanced at her empty basket and grinned. She picked it up and hurried to buy more red beans and eggs, preparing for tomorrow’s batch. This time, she would buy extra ingredients and bring two full baskets.

……

After finishing her shopping, Li Hehua returned home in high spirits. She rushed straight to the woodshed, bolted the door, and emptied the coins from her sleeve onto the bed. The room filled with the clattering sound of copper coins.

Li Hehua’s eyes narrowed with delight as she counted the copper coins one by one. There were fifty in total. After deducting the cost of ingredients and today’s expenses, she had thirty wen left over.

Li Hehua had never loved money as much as she did at that moment. She couldn’t resist rolling around on the bed, snuggling up with the coins.

After her excitement subsided, Li Hehua strung the coins together with a piece of string. She held them up, gazing at them reluctantly, before sighing and getting up to find Zhang Tieshan.

She intended to return the money to him; she didn’t like being in debt.

Zhang Tieshan wasn’t home. Li Hehua waited a while before spotting him returning with a bucket of water. She hurried after him, and once he had poured the water into the water vat, she handed him the coins. “Here, this is your money back.”

Zhang Tieshan glanced down at the coins offered to him, took them, and casually tucked them into his chest pocket before heading out again with the bucket.

Li Hehua didn’t mind. Now that she had repaid her debt, she felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. She returned to the woodshed, lay on the bed for a while, and waited until the rest of the Zhang family had finished dinner before resuming her baking.