The next morning, the rising sun brought with it a hint of warmth.
Wen Ranran took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Wen Yiliang’s forehead. “Father, why don’t you rest for a while?” “I’m not tired,” Wen Yiliang replied, pushing the wooden cart with some effort but maintaining a relaxed expression.
He insisted on not resting and refused to switch places with her. Wen Ranran didn’t press further, silently helping to push the cart from the side to ease his burden.
They arrived relatively early today, but the locust tree where she had set up her stall yesterday was already swarming with people, packed so tightly it was nearly impassable.
Wen Ranran’s heart sank at the sight: Had they arrived too late? Had someone else taken their spot?
She stood on her tiptoes to get a better look when someone suddenly shouted, “The young lady who sold Jianbing yesterday is here!”
As soon as the words were spoken, the crowd surged forward, their faces beaming with delight.
“Finally, you’re here! I’ll take two Jianbing!”
“Step aside, I was here first!”
“What do you mean, you were first? I was clearly ahead of you in line!”
In the crowd, Zhu Zi watched as two sly-looking individuals tried to cut in line and argue heatedly. He couldn’t hold back and roared, “Neither of you were here first! We’ve been waiting since before dawn, right after finishing our shift!”
The two turned around and, seeing the group of burly laborers who toiled daily, fell silent and sheepishly moved to the back of the line. They didn’t dare argue with them, especially since the laborers had indeed arrived first.
It was Zhu Zi!
Wen Ranran heard the commotion and immediately recognized him. He wasn’t alone—the others who had been with him yesterday had also returned, along with a few unfamiliar faces. The rest of those waiting were repeat customers as well.
Dong Shu tapped his tobacco pipe against the sole of his shoe and pointed cheerfully at the newcomers. “Brought you some new customers, young lady.”
Wen Ranran smiled warmly and thanked him. “Ah! Thank you, Dong Shu!”
She swiftly set up her stall, uncovering the cloth covering the flatbreads and fillings. The enticing aroma instantly wafted through the air, making everyone’s mouths water.
“Everyone, please line up properly! There’s enough for all!”
At her call, the arguments gradually subsided, and people scrambled to form a line.
The sight of customers devouring their food and the seemingly endless queue served as living advertisements. Passersby, noticing the long line, joined in out of curiosity, wondering what kind of delicacy could attract such a crowd.
Wen Ranran watched as the line grew longer and longer. She worked so fast it seemed sparks were flying from her hands, yet the queue showed no signs of shortening.
Wen Yiliang had never seen such a scene before. He stood there in a daze, wanting to help but unable to find a way in. He could only watch as his daughter moved faster and faster, yet still struggled to keep up with the demand.
The thirty-plus flatbreads she had prepared yesterday hadn’t been enough, and today, even with over fifty portions, they still ran out. The flatbreads and fillings were quickly depleted, leaving eleven or twelve people at the back of the line empty-handed.
“My apologies, everyone! Please come back tomorrow!”
The crowd sighed in disappointment. One person who had come for two consecutive days without success shouted, “Young Lady Wen, I’ve been eagerly waiting for two days and still haven’t tasted what your Jianbing is like!”
Those nearby couldn’t help but chuckle, exchanging a few lighthearted remarks before dispersing.
Wen Yiliang, seeing his daughter packing up the stall, hurried over to help. At last, this old father could make himself useful.
As Wen Ranran tidied up while pondering what to sell that evening, she overheard Dong Shu resting under the tree pointing at Zhu Zi and saying, “Had your fill these past two days? When you work at Wazi tonight, put in some real effort! The owner of Chengji Restaurant is a straightforward and generous man. Be sharp, and you’ll earn plenty of tips.”
Zhu Zi patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Dong Shu, I’ve got strength to spare!”
Nearby, a tall, sturdy man curled his lip and sighed with complaint. “The wealthy young ladies and gentlemen, the landlords and rich merchants go there for fun, watching operas and listening to storytelling, spending money like water. Meanwhile, we sweat and toil all night just to earn a few hard-won coins. Heaven really plays favorites, doesn’t it?”
Wealthy? Young ladies and gentlemen? Landlords and rich merchants?
Wen Ranran picked out these keywords, her heart instantly stirring with excitement. Her eyes sparkled with a golden gleam, as if she could see piles of silver coins shimmering before her: if she could catch their attention, she could make a fortune!
But wealthy people had seen it all; ordinary snacks wouldn’t catch their eye. To do business with them, she needed to offer something novel.
Drinking, tea competitions with accompanying fruits, acrobatics, storytelling, puppet shows… The entertainment activities in the night market and Wazi appealed to men and women, young and old alike. So, she had to think of a snack that everyone would be willing to pay for…
Wen Ranran silently calculated in her mind, and her eyes suddenly lit up: Bo Zai Gao! She could sell Bo Zai Gao!
Soft, sticky, and sweet—a treat for all ages.
Small, delicate, and visually appealing—even the young ladies would love it!
Once she had made up her mind, her hands moved much faster.
On the way home, they returned fully loaded once again. Seeing that the vegetable buckets on the cart were empty, Shen Shi’s face brightened even more. “My Ranran is so capable!”
As she spoke, she lent a hand, and the family chatted and laughed together, making everyone in the house green with envy.
While organizing the items in the cart, Wen Ranran excitedly said to Shen Shi, “Mother, I’ve decided what to sell tonight!”
“Sell what?”
“Bo Zai Gao!”
“Bo Zai Gao?” Shen Shi repeated softly, full of curiosity. “What’s that?”
Wen Ranran brought out the ingredients for making Bo Zai Gao and placed them by the stove, smiling cheerfully. “It’s a type of small pastry. I’ll make some for you to taste later!”
Bo Zai Gao came in two varieties: traditional and modern. The traditional version was soft, sticky, and chewy, with a rich rice aroma upon tasting. The modern version often had a translucent texture, soft and springy with a fresh taste, and it looked appealing too. Wen Ranran planned to make both.
With this in mind, she first soaked the red beans and mung beans she had bought in water for later use. She cleaned the small bowls she had purchased, arranging them neatly, then took an appropriate amount of rice flour and kneaded it into a dough for a few minutes. After that, she added water and stirred until the dough completely dissolved into rice batter. She strained the batter and divided it into two portions.
Wen Ranran placed white sugar in a pot, added water, and heated it until the sugar dissolved. She then poured a small amount of the rice batter into the hot syrup to cook it, before mixing the cooked batter back into the raw batter and stirring well.
Using the same method, she made another batch of brown sugar rice batter.
The modern version was much simpler: she mixed tapioca flour and water chestnut powder evenly, added water, stirred, and strained it, then prepared the batter using the same cooked-and-raw method.
In her previous life, Wen Ranran had loved sweets. The recipe and proportions for Bo Zai Gao were something she had learned by traveling to Guangdong, sampling thirty to fifty varieties, choosing the best one, and persuading the grandmother who ran the shop to teach her.
Just before her competition, the grandmother had even called her, asking when she would return to Guangdong to enjoy Bo Zai Gao again…
Wen Ranran blinked, dispelling the damp ache in her eyes as her hands moved with increased dexterity.
In ancient times, without advanced greenhouse technology and with troublesome transportation, the variety of fruits available in the market was limited. The only fruits suitable for making Bo Zai Gao were apricots, peaches, and pears. She had also gathered some locust blossoms. Since candying them would require too much sugar, she decided to use them as garnishes to enhance the flavor.
The ancients were refined, and the elegant practice of consuming flowers was sure to attract attention.
Wen Ranran steamed the soaked mung beans and red beans, mixing them with a bit of sugar for flavor, then diced the purchased fruits and set them aside.
She had bought sixty small bowls in total—four for ten wen—and after much persuasion, the shopkeeper had given her a discount of ten wen. The expenditure of one hundred and forty wen pained her, but fortunately, the bowls could be reused.
Wen Ranran first placed the small bowls in a pot of cold water and covered it with a lid. Once the water boiled, she arranged the mung beans, red beans, fruit pieces, and locust blossoms at the bottom of the bowls, poured in the rice batter, and steamed them over high heat.
When she lifted the lid, steam swirled, filling the courtyard with the aroma of rice and the sweetness of brown sugar. Shen Shi and Wen Yiliang came over to look. They saw the small, round pastries in the bowls—some white as jade, others reddish-brown like amber, and a few exquisitely translucent ones, all exceptionally beautiful.
“Oh! They’re so lovely!” Shen Shi couldn’t stop praising. “Our Ranran’s hands are so skillful!”
Wen Yiliang glanced at Shen Shi. “Perhaps she takes after her maternal grandmother.”
Shen Shi nodded, recalling the delicate pastries her mother used to make when she was alive.
They worked busily until evening, by which time all the Bo Zai Gao were ready.
Wen Ranran picked out a few and handed them to Shen Shi. “Mother, take these to taste each variety, and give two to Grandmother and Uncle. But don’t let Grandmother eat too many—I added tapioca starch, which is hard to digest.”
Shen Shi thought for a moment and put a few back. “Your third uncle isn’t home, and I can’t eat this many. You worked so hard to make them; they should be sold!”
Keeping three or five was enough—any more might attract envy.
Wen Ranran sighed, a fierce determination burning in her heart.
Wen Ranran and Wen Yiliang arrived at the night market just as dusk fell, and the streets came alive once more.
The Cailou Huanmen stood resplendent under brilliant lights, while the Wazi echoed with the clamor of gongs and drums, interspersed with singing, storytelling, and enthusiastic cheers.
Children gathered in groups along the road, holding pinwheels or sugar figurines, laughing and chattering noisily. Young women carried flower lanterns and red paper boats, walking in small groups toward the river to release the lanterns and make wishes… Vendors on both sides of the street bustled about, selling rouge, jewelry, silk threads, and sachets on one side, and chilled fruits on the other. Pedestrians thronged the area, their voices rising in a lively cacophony, making the scene far more bustling than in the daytime.
Wen Ranran gazed at this vibrant spectacle and couldn’t help but marvel: This must be the Bianjing described in the books!
After scanning the area for a while, she finally parked her cart near the Wazi, where the foot traffic was heaviest and the passersby were wealthy idlers with money to spare.
Wen Ranran arranged the Bo Zai Gao neatly, and the exquisite, novel little pastries immediately drew a crowd.
No one could tell what the treats in the small bowls were made of, but they were translucent, shimmering under the night lights. The white petals inside glowed with a faint bluish hue, elegantly unfurling like wispy clouds and mist shrouding the mountains—ethereal and understated.
“These pastries look quite novel.”
“Indeed, how beautiful!”
“Young lady, what are these pastries called?”
Wen Ranran curved her lips into a smile, her eyes sparkling like stars. “They’re called Bo Zai Gao, five wen each.”
Wen Yiliang was taken aback. A large jianbing sold for only five wen during the day, yet these palm-sized Bo Zai Gao puddings actually cost five wen each!
He glanced around and noticed the previously smiling passersby had all lost their grins:
“Five wen? That’s rather expensive!”
“Is this your first time doing business, young lady? Such exorbitant pricing isn’t fair!”
Wen Ranran remained unflustered, smiling gently as she explained: “High-quality brown sugar is costly, and I’m running a small business. Any cheaper and I’d be losing money.”
“But it’s still too expensive…”
“The courtyard fills with locust blossom fragrance, pine nuts patter upon the steps.”
An elegant voice spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention to a refined young gentleman dressed in scholarly attire, surrounded by five or six equally cultured friends.
The young gentleman looked at the Bo Zai Gao displayed on the cart and smiled appreciatively: “Who would have thought such refined floral cuisine could be found amidst the bustle of the Wazi entertainment district.”
Seeing her target customer appear, Wen Ranran promptly promoted her wares with a beaming smile: “I picked the locust blossoms myself at noon today. Would you like to try some, sir?”
“Then give each of us two.” The young gentleman glanced back, and immediately a servant stepped forward, grabbing a handful of coins from a purse and handing them to Wen Yiliang.
Wen Yiliang looked at the small mountain of copper coins in his hand and quickly protested: “This is too much!”
The servant was very polite, squinting with an ingratiating smile: “Consider the extra as appreciation for you and the young lady’s hard work.”
Wen Ranran glanced at the pile of money, inwardly moved to tears: Being showered with money feels wonderful!
She selected one of each flavor, using a bamboo skewer to trace around the edge before lifting it out. The soft, springy pudding quivered temptingly.
Placing the Bo Zai Gao on oiled paper and handing it to the servant, Wen Ranran smiled at the gentleman: “Please come again if you enjoy them!”
The young maiden before him resembled a pear blossom reflected in water, her honeyed smile causing the young gentleman’s face to flush. He hurriedly lowered his head, afraid of being presumptuous toward the young lady.
The rice fragrance was delicately sweet. He couldn’t resist trying one – the sweetness was moderate, interwoven with the fresh scent of locust blossoms, and upon closer tasting, carried a slight tartness from the petals, creating distinct layers of flavor. The texture was soft, glutinous, and pleasantly chewy, unlike anything he’d ever tasted.
Without a word, the young man finished it in a few bites and reached for a pear-flavored one. His face lit up with amazement at the first bite. Equally soft and resilient, but with crisp, juicy pear chunks that created a more complex texture. The refreshing juice burst in his mouth, spreading sweet fragrance.
His friends, seeing this, all tried some themselves and silently finished every last bite.
Wen Ranran watched with a beaming smile: Just keep eating! One bite and none of you can speak!
“Do you have more of the pear flavor?”
“Yes!” Wen Ranran nodded cheerfully. “How many would you like?”
“Pack them all up.”
“Right away!”
As Wen Ranran happily packed the Bo Zai Gao, she suddenly overheard someone in the crowd remark:
“Eh? Isn’t that Young Master Fu Qingxu from the Fu family?”
“The Fu family? The one that runs jewelry stores? With branches everywhere?”
“That’s the one.”
Hearing the crowd identify him as the young master of the Fu family, Wen Ranran thought to herself: No wonder he’s so generous – he’s the son of a jewelry merchant!
“The Fu family is one of the wealthiest households in the capital. What fine things haven’t they seen? If Young Master Fu finds it delicious, it must be truly exceptional.”
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Those who had just been complaining about the price were now scrambling to buy.
“Give me one white mung bean flavor!”
“I want two brown sugar red bean ones!”
“I’ll take one locust flower and one peach flavor!”
…
All fifty-some puddings found owners. Wen Ranran was bustling with activity, exclaiming that Young Master Fu was the ultimate sales influencer!
Under the bright moon and sparse stars, the bustling crowd filled the entertainment district. Every beat of the drum from Wazi resonated deeply within her heart.
Wen Ranran held the heavy coin pouch, grinning from ear to ear. After deducting the twenty-some coins given to Young Master Fu as commission, these puddings had earned 275 coins in total. Subtracting the costs, the net profit came to about fifty coins.
Though the amount seemed small, the calculation included the 140 coins spent on purchasing the small bowls! These bowls could be reused in the future. If that cost was excluded, the net profit would be nearly 200 coins!
Combined with the earnings from selling jianbing in the morning, she had made almost 400 coins today—close to half a guan!
Wen Ranran looked up at the vast night sky as if she could see a fixed stall beckoning to her in the distance.
She would have a fixed stall, then open a shop, and expand step by step. She would even conquer the upscale market of West Market!
What was reaching the peak of life? Since she had done it once, she could definitely do it a second time!