Zhang Lin ate five qingtuan in one go. Only when he truly couldn’t eat anymore did he stop. Patting his stomach, he said, “Lady Yun, can I still have some tomorrow?”
“These qingtuan are not only soft and chewy, but also sweet. I think the last time I had sweets was when I was a child—I haven’t had any since.”
Yun Yin looked at his still-unsatisfied expression and smiled. “You can eat them whenever you like these next few days. If you’re craving something sweet, you can buy some candy tomorrow. I saw someone in town selling malt sugar—that’s very sweet too.”
“Really?” Zhang Lin looked at her expectantly.
“Of course. Malt sugar isn’t expensive—you can buy more. If there’s any left over, I can use it to make pickles.”
After chatting, Yun Yin checked the field he had just sown. “Have you planted all the seeds?”
Zhang Lin stood up and dusted himself off. “The land I cleared isn’t enough, so I planted a bit of each. Once I clear more land, I’ll plant the rest.”
Yun Yin nodded. “Alright, I understand. You’ve worked hard.”
She helped him carry water and irrigate the field. By the time they finished, the sky was already dark. Yun Yin glanced at the compost—it would take another half month before it was ready, so they couldn’t fertilize yet.
Without base fertilizer, the vegetables might not grow as well, but there was no helping it. Fortunately, the soil Zhang Lin chose was fertile enough. Applying fertilizer half a month later wouldn’t be too late.
After tidying up and eating dinner, the day passed in their busy routine.
The next two days were especially hectic for Yun Yin. Not only did she prepare the mushroom sauce promised to Luo Man, she also made extra for later use. Luo Man loved the qingtuan Yun Yin had sent and even placed an order to sell them in her shop.
Yun Yin hadn’t expected this extra business. Luo Man had originally planned to close her shop during the Cold Food Festival. In previous years, since people couldn’t light fires, everyone simply ate cold noodles at home, so there was no need to stay open.
But after tasting Yun Yin’s qingtuan, Luo Man felt it was perfect for the festival—not only to sell in town but even in the county.
Hearing this, Yun Yin realized she couldn’t possibly make that many by herself. So she brought along some freshly made bowl cakes and cold noodles to discuss a business partnership.
When she arrived in town, many food stalls had already stopped operating. The Cold Food Festival was just two days away, and people were busy preparing food in advance since no cooking would be allowed until after the festival.
In Da Zhao, the Cold Food Festival and Qingming were important occasions. Since the former came two days before the latter, they were often celebrated together. Besides eating cold food, people would visit graves and go on spring outings.
When Yun Yin arrived at Luo Man’s restaurant, she happened to run into Song Shi, who was out enjoying the countryside.
She raised an eyebrow. “Young Master Song, finally allowed out of the city?”
Song Shi smiled brightly upon seeing her. “What a coincidence, Lady Yun! We’re on break, so we came out to have some fun. What about you?”
Yun Yin handed him a food box. “Since you’re here, have some qingtuan.”
Looking at their vibrant green color, he said, “They look delicious.”
He took a bite, then closed his eyes in enjoyment. “They really are! The outer layer is soft and chewy without sticking to the teeth, with a slight bounce when you chew. The red bean filling is sweet but not cloying—very delicate.”
He praised her repeatedly. “Lady Yun, your cooking is truly excellent. This would be even better with a cup of tea.”
Just then, Luo Man arrived, laughing as she saw them discussing food. “You’re here, sister! Perfect timing—I have something to discuss with you. Zhang Lin couldn’t explain it clearly before.”
She had tea prepared over a small brazier, adding salt and ginger, and invited Yun Yin to sit.
Tea in Da Zhao was quite different from modern tea, more like the style from the Tang dynasty. As Yun Yin drank the seasoned tea, she suddenly thought milk tea might actually be popular here.
But she didn’t have the time for that now. Once she saved enough money to buy the valley, perhaps she could raise cows and make dairy products.
Pulling herself back to the present, she said, “Sister A’man, I was just about to discuss this. I brought some food for you to try—if you like them, you could sell them during the festival.”
She took out the cold noodles and bowl cakes. “Both can be eaten cold.”
The cold noodles didn’t surprise Luo Man much, but the translucent bowl cakes immediately caught her attention. She picked one up with a bamboo skewer—it trembled like amber, with red beans clearly visible inside.
She tasted it carefully. It was chewy yet soft, with the sweetness of red beans filling her mouth.
“This dessert is quite unique,” Luo Man remarked.
Yun Yin smiled. “I made red bean ones, but you can also make green bean, fruit, or even floral flavors like osmanthus or peach blossom.”
Meanwhile, Song Shi was happily eating a bowl of cold noodles. “A’man, try this! It’s refreshing, with rich sesame paste—perfectly seasoned.”
Luo Man tried it and quickly finished the bowl. “It’s good, but I prefer the qingtuan and bowl cakes.”
Seeing her interest, Yun Yin nodded. “Would you be interested in working together? I can teach you the recipes, and we can split the profits.”
“How would you divide it?” Luo Man asked.
“Thirty percent for me. Qingtuan are seasonal, but bowl cakes and cold noodles can be sold year-round.”
After thinking it over, Luo Man agreed. “Thirty percent is fair. Let’s do it.”
They went to the kitchen, where Yun Yin demonstrated how to make everything. She also taught them how to produce wheat starch, so they could make it themselves in the future.
Once the fresh batch was done, Yun Yin added, “You should order smaller bowls for the bowl cakes—these are too large.”
“I understand,” Luo Man said. “Let’s sign a contract.”
They formalized the agreement, with Song Shi acting as witness.
Later, Yun Yin brought up the bandit issue. Luo Man listened, and Song Shi chimed in, “Ah, I came to tell you that too! The county lieutenant has already captured them. You don’t need to worry.”
Relieved, Yun Yin bid farewell.
With the bandits gone, the area became safe again, and caravans resumed traveling.
Yun Yin reopened her shop and set up a sign advertising festival specials—qingtuan, bowl cakes, and cold noodles.
Travelers were drawn in by the affordable prices and enticing illustrations. Soon, she and Zhang Lin were busy serving customers.
When the Cold Food Festival arrived, while other restaurants closed, Yun Yin’s shop thrived. Her food was cheap to make and sold well, especially the bowl cakes.
By the end of the festival, everything was sold out. Many customers even asked if they could continue buying these foods afterward.
Yun Yin agreed.
After seeing off the last customers, she stretched her back and began counting a large pile of copper coins.