The business was even more prosperous than expected.
By the time the snake hour (mid-morning) reached its third quarter, the pilgrims and tourists in front of Daxiangguo Temple had reached their first peak. The two large bamboo baskets of little breads were almost empty, with only about five or six jin of the golden apricot flavor left. He Mingyu was just considering whether she should make a quick trip home when Yingzi, with her sharp eyes, spotted a familiar figure through the bustling crowd.
It was Shitou.
He was carrying a large bamboo basket on his chest and another on his back. Perhaps because he was protecting them carefully, he was struggling through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, being pushed back a step for every three steps he took forward. His forehead was covered in a light layer of sweat, but his eyes were bright, fixed tightly on the direction of their stall.
“Sister! Brother is here!” Yingzi called out happily first.
He Mingyu hurriedly raised her hand to wave, and Shitou quickened his pace, finally squeezing to the front of the stall. He carefully set down the bamboo baskets and untied the straps.
The basket in front of him contained cherry-flavored buns that were still warm, their slightly reddish-brown skins glowing alluringly in the sunlight. The basket on his back was heavy; once he lifted the covering cotton cloth, it revealed exquisite and distinctive items underneath.
Inside were cookies shaped like lotus flowers, with petals unfolding one by one, their edges slightly curled. They were elegantly formed and a pale, warm yellow. If one looked closely, one could discover small, charred-green specks on the surface. By roasting and grinding garlic and solo garlic into powder, then mixing them with water celery leaves that had been stir-fried dry and crumbled, the cookies possessed a unique flavor profile—the familiar aroma of garlic blended with the fresh scent of water celery.
Beneath the lotus cookies lay a layer of plain cotton cloth, dividing the bamboo basket into two levels. The bottom layer consisted of ruyi cloud-patterned cookies with smooth, rounded lines, also baked to perfection. Unlike the garlic and water celery flavor, the moment the ruyi cloud-patterned cookies were revealed, an incredibly rich aroma of sesame wafted out. They were different from ordinary sesame cookies; the roasted sesame seeds and fine salt had to be crushed together, allowing the saltiness and aroma to complement each other.
“Sister, Mother made these according to your method,” Shitou said, catching his breath. He pointed to the baskets and added, “Mother said it was her first time making them herself, and she didn’t know if they would turn out well, so she told me to bring these first.”
He Mingyu picked up a lotus-shaped cookie to examine it closely. It was perfectly formed with an even color, and she could smell a mellow hint of garlic and toasted wheat. She was delighted and couldn’t help but praise, “Mother’s craftsmanship is becoming more and more skillful! To have squeezed through the crowd like this and not have broken a single one—Shitou, you also protected them very carefully.”
She cautiously poured the two types of cookies into the now-empty shallow bamboo baskets, calculating that since today was the Bathing Buddha Festival, the passersby were mostly sincere believers; lotus flowers and ruyi clouds were exactly the perfect auspicious symbols He Mingyu had carefully chosen for the vicinity of Daxiangguo Temple!
With this in mind, she placed the cookies in a way that their shapes were distinct and clear, so that the passing pilgrims could see them at a glance.
Sure enough, by the end of the snake hour, the crowd in front of the temple became even more surging. Many pilgrims who had finished offering incense strolled around, looking for satisfying food or snacks to offer to the Buddha. Because of their distinct Buddhist characteristics and unique salty-aromatic, crispy texture, He Mingyu’s cookies were particularly popular. In less than an hour, half a basket had already been sold.
Seeing that the stock was moving quickly, Shitou, being very observant, prepared to put on the empty baskets and return home to fetch more. While Yingzi was busy greeting customers, He Mingyu pulled her brother aside and counted out fifty copper coins from her purse, pressing them into his hand without room for argument.
“Shitou, on your way back, if you see a stall selling ‘Three Treasures of the Mountain,’ buy a portion for Mother,” He Mingyu instructed, her eyes filled with concern. “Mother is guarding the oven fire alone at home, and between the cutting and baking, she probably doesn’t even have time to drink a sip of water. The same goes for you; buy whatever you want to eat if you see it. No need to save money. I’ll only feel at ease once you are full.”
“Three Treasures of the Mountain” was a dish made by blanching the most tender bamboo shoots, fresh straw mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms, and tender goji berry leaves from early spring, then dressing them with a little seasoning. It was a seasonal vegetarian dish very popular in the Song Dynasty, known for its fresh, crisp, and appetizing taste. He Mingyu had already notified the Zhang father and son that they would not be providing meals for the two days of the Bathing Buddha Festival because the family was too busy, and now, thinking of her mother’s hard work, she naturally felt a pang of pity.
Shitou tucked the money into his clothes and nodded heavily. “Don’t worry, Sister, I’ll remember.” With that, he strapped on the empty baskets and turned back into the crowd. Being able to share his sister’s burdens and take care of his mother’s meals gave him a sudden sense of being “useful,” and a smile appeared on his face unconsciously.
Busy and bustling, the sun climbed past the meridian and tilted slowly toward the west before they realized it. The most chaotic period of noon gradually passed, and while there were still many pilgrims in front of Daxiangguo Temple, the crowd was finally a bit less stifling than it had been in the morning.
He Mingyu and Yingzi finally found the time to sit on the small stools behind the pushcart, rubbing their legs and feet that were sore from standing, and quickly managed their lunch. She bought a bowl of lily bulb noodles from the stall next door; white lily petals were boiled with fine noodles in a clear soup, sprinkled only with a few chopped scallions—light and filling.
Yingzi, however, was tempted by the occasional scent of oil and bought two portions of goose and duck strips. Today was the Bathing Buddha Festival, and because they were in front of Daxiangguo Temple, most of what the vendors sold was vegetarian to suit the cleanliness of Buddhist rites. However, there were a few places selling small meat snacks, mostly for common pilgrims who were not strictly vegetarian to satisfy their cravings.
These goose and duck strips were made by slicing goose or duck meat thinly, coating it in a thin batter, and frying it until golden and crispy. They were eaten dipped in salt-and-pepper seasoning or plum sauce and were quite popular with children. He Mingyu felt they were not much different from the chicken strips sold by Sun Erniang.
Yingzi ate with bulging cheeks, her eyes squinting in satisfaction. He Mingyu ate her noodles slowly while keeping an eye on the stall, her mind calculating arrangements for the afternoon.
In the afternoon, Shitou made two or three more trips, replenishing the little breads and cookies. Not long after he left following his final delivery, a familiar customer came to the stall.
It was none other than the plump woman who had been their first customer that morning. This time, she was accompanied by an older woman with a more dignified and elegant temperament. Judging by her attire and bearing, she appeared to be a matron of significant status in her household.
“Young lady, may your business flourish!” The plump woman smiled before she spoke, her gaze landing on the newly added cookies on the stall, her eyes revealing surprise. “Oh, I haven’t seen you for half a day, and you’ve added such exquisite new patterns? These lotus ones and cloud patterns are made so delicately.”
He Mingyu hurriedly stood up, her face blossoming into a sincere smile. “Thanks to your kindness, business is doing fine. These are two new types of vegetarian cookies my family is trying out. The ingredients are clean, and the flavor is light, which is just right for enjoying with tea after paying respects to the Buddha. If you don’t mind, please taste them.” As she spoke, she used clean wooden clips to take a lotus-shaped cookie and a cloud-patterned cookie, handing them to the two women.
The plump woman took them and first offered them to the older woman beside her. Both tasted them, savoring the flavor. The garlic-flavored lotus cookie was mellow and long-lasting, the saltiness just right, crispy and delicious. The sesame cloud-patterned cookie had a rich aroma, intertwined with a faint saltiness, offering a unique flavor of its own.
The older woman nodded slightly, using a handkerchief to gently dab the corner of her lips. “The savory flavor is palatable; it is crispy without being greasy. What is rare is that the appearance is also elegant and fits the occasion.” Her gaze rested on He Mingyu’s face, carrying a hint of appreciation and curiosity.
The plump woman at her side spoke up with a smile, her tone very warm. “This is my clan aunt; her maiden name is Chen. She is most compassionate and devout toward the Buddha. Today, she tasted the cherry buns made by you, young lady, and found them quite novel and to her liking.
“You are young, yet your heart is clever and your craftsmanship is excellent. I wonder, besides these, do you know how to make other vegetarian dishes? It doesn’t have to be just snacks or pastries—any vegetarian feast or tea refreshment would do, as long as it tastes good and is novel.”
Hearing this, He Mingyu’s heart skipped a beat. Her smile remained gentle and appropriate, but her mind began to race—this was a potential big client!
After a moment of contemplation, she answered in a clear voice, “To be honest with you, Madam, this is an ancestral craft. I dare not boast in front of you, but when it comes to elegant and novel vegetarian dishes, not to mention snacks and tea refreshments, I also have insights into frying, braising, and stewing. Whenever the season arrives, I can always figure out a taste that is refined and out of the ordinary.”
Madam Chen’s eyes brightened. She had originally expected this young lady to be humble and evasive like an ordinary vendor, but she had not expected her to be so calm, confident, and grounded in her speech. She could not help but take another look at her.
“Oh?” Madam Chen’s tone added a hint of genuine interest. “You are quite straightforward, young lady. I only wonder where your shop is located; I would like to properly examine your craft another day.”
He Mingyu rolled her eyes and laughed, “How could I dare to trouble you, Madam? If you are interested, just send a servant to find me in Donglizi Alley, and I will call upon you to prepare samples for you.”