The House of the Duke of Qi.
Aunt Zhang sipped her tea carelessly and raised her eyelids slightly, “You want to go back and take a look?”
Zhang Huai bowed, “It’s been months, my father hasn’t been heard from, I really don’t feel at ease, don’t worry aunt, I’ll go back quickly, it won’t take long.”
He had been thinking of going back for a long time, not only because he was worried about his father, but also because he didn’t have much silver left on him. If, if his father was really gone, he would have to sell the entire family fortune, he couldn’t let those guys get away with it.
“Have you ever thought about the consequences of going back?”
“Gu Yi and Song Wan Yue are in the capital now, no one will be watching me, I’ll go and return quickly, I shouldn’t attract anyone’s attention.”
“Gu Yi is in the capital, his men are still in Qingping County, are you sure you can return safely this time?”
“That’s why I want Auntie to lend me some men.”
Aunt Zhang put her tea on the table, “You think too simply, the Gu family has been entrenched in Qingping County for many years and has deep roots, even if I lend you more men, it won’t help when you get to them. If you still recognize me as your aunt, listen to me, don’t go back to Qingping County, when you enter the Ministry of Household Affairs, let the Duke of State find an opportunity to send you there in name only.”
Hearing the reluctance in her words, Zhang Huai dared not disobey, and immediately said, “My nephew will listen to my aunt.”
“The Duke of State is already making preparations, and you will be able to go to the Ministry of Household Affairs in a short time, so you can go out of the house properly in these days, and remember, bring more people with you.”
“Yes.”
……
Early the next morning, people from the Ministry of Officials arrived at the Song family’s home, and in addition to them, people from the Ministry of Military Affairs followed to escort them and ensure Song Si’s safety along the way.
Xu and Meng and Xiao Yao all came over to see them off.
When they left, Meng wanted Song Wan Yue and Gu Yi to follow them to the Xu residence.
“Let’s go over in the evening, I have to discuss the pastry shop with Sister Xiao.”
If Song Wan Yue had opened this pastry shop on her own, Meng would have stopped it, when she married in the capital, her mother’s family had bought a dozen shops in the prosperous market, she could just give a few at random, but this was a partnership between her and Xiao Yao, Meng couldn’t stop it, “Don’t be too tired, I’ll have someone make you delicious food tonight.”
These days, the people Xiao Yao had sent had already decorated the shop, and all the things needed had been built and sent over.
“Yue’er, when will your friend be here?”
Xiao Yao was a little impatient, this was her first time doing business and she was excited.
“Maybe not coming.”
Since she had set out to open the pastry shop, she had someone send a letter to the Huangcao couple, and so far the two hadn’t come, so they shouldn’t be coming.
“Then ……”
“Sister Xiao find a few handy people, I will teach them myself ……”
“Phew ……”
A carriage stopped in front of the door, the yellow cake couple carrying packages got down from the carriage and caught a glimpse of Song Wan Yue standing inside the shop, and the two of them came over quickly.
“I’m sorry Miss Song, we’re late.”
The moment she saw them, a smile appeared on Song Wan Yue’s face, “Not late, I thought you two weren’t coming.”
“That son of mine really wouldn’t let us come, we had to talk him into agreeing, thankfully we didn’t delay you.”
“You two go and rest until tomorrow ……”
“No need to wait for tomorrow, we came all the way by carriage, we are not tired, we can wash our hands and then we can work.”
The carriage was driven by people sent by Song Wangyue, and it was covered with thick mattresses, so the two of them could lie down and rest when they were tired of sitting.
Song Wangyue did not have to be polite with them, and called for Xiao Si to lead them to the house prepared for them to put down their packages, and turned her head to ask Xiao Yao, “Sister Xiao, are the things I asked you to prepare ready?”
“It was ready a long time ago.”
Xiao Yao ordered her subordinates to drive the carriage back to the house to get them, brought them and put them one by one on the case board.
Song Wangyue put on her apron, “I’m teaching you birthday cakes today, for the day of your birthday.”
Xiao Yao stood curiously to the side, watching her with rapt attention as she made the cake embryos and whipped the cream until it was made into a cake she had never seen before.
The Huangcao couple also looked dumbfounded on the side, they thought that snow maiden and iced mooncakes were already the best pastries they had ever seen, but they never thought that birthday cakes would open their eyes even more.
“This can also be made in multiple layers, or you can write the words they want on it according to the guests’ needs, and you can also make various kinds of fruits.”
Xiao Yao couldn’t look away, she could say that she had eaten all the famous pastries in this capital city, but she had never had this kind before.
“Can I, can I taste it?”
Song Wangyue smiled as she picked up a bamboo knife and cut the cake into a dozen pieces, took a plate and handed her a piece. This was better than any other kind of cake she had ever eaten, and once it was on sale, it was sure to cause a sensation.
Impatiently, she asked, “Yue’er, when are we opening?”
“In five days, when everyone in the shop is up to speed.”
Xiao Yao nodded her head and couldn’t help but take a few more bites.
The Huangcao couple also took a plate and got themselves a piece and ate it, not even bothering to praise them.
Song Wangyue smiled and put the largest piece she had cut on the plate, and once she raised her eyes to see Xiao Si, who was standing blearily at the door, she said, “Take these down and share them with everyone.”
Xiao Si replied with a smile on his face, and when Song Wan Yue went out, he came in with big strides, first took a plate and put a piece on the side, then carried it out and greeted the servants and the underlings of the Ding Guo Mansion to come and eat it.
Song Wan Yue carried the cake into Gu Yi’s room and placed it in front of him, “The biggest piece.”
Gu Yi smiled and narrowed his eyes when he heard this, he had already smelt the fragrance, but because Xiao Yao was here he did not go out, he dug a piece into his mouth, “Delicious.”
Song Wan Yue held her cheeks and watched him finish eating, seeing the cream still on the side of his mouth, she thoughtlessly took out a handkerchief and wiped it for him, “I have to go out to teach them, if you get bored in the house, go to the mansion over there.”
Gu Yi stared at her blankly.
“What’s wrong?”
Gu Yi licked her lips and sent a bit of the remaining cake out with the tip of her tongue, pointing with her finger, “There’s more.”
Song Wangyue reacted as an afterthought, pushing the paddle down on his face as she got up and walked out.
Gu Yi took the hankie down and looked in the direction of the door with a giggle, his little girl was going to grow up, just ……
The corners of his mouth slowly drooped.
Song Wangyue taught them all afternoon, the Huangcake couple and the people Xiao Yao brought with her basically learned, and when darkness fell, after sending Xiao Yao away, she carried the cake and got on the carriage with Gu Yi to go back to the Xu Mansion.