Lin Ze did not want to meddle in other people's business; he was now single-mindedly focused on living his own life well.
Contentedly, he slept soundly, embracing Zhang Xiu. In the morning, he woke up on time to the sound of roosters crowing.
First, he steamed a bowl of egg soup for his wife, heated up the water for washing his face, and then got to work on dealing with the wild boar meat he had not finished last afternoon. Yesterday, he had only cooked it briefly to prevent it from spoiling, but with the current weather, he had to handle it quickly.
Though the current days may seem mundane, mentally, it was much more relaxed than in modern times. The main reason was that when he had someone he loved, he felt a sense of purpose and direction.
Zhang Xiu was not lazy either. Not long after Lin Ze woke up, he also opened his eyes. Looking at the slightly cool bedding beside him and the aroma of firewood coming from the kitchen, he felt as if he were immersed in a jar of honey.
He never imagined, nor dared to think, that one day a man would treat him so well. There were not many men in the village who would cook and take care of their wives like this. If anyone found out, they would surely envy him.
In a shy and sweet manner, he blushed on the bed and quickly put on his clothes to help in the kitchen.
Although Lin Ze treats him well, the household matters should be taken care of by the little husband. How could he just enjoy the benefits without doing anything?
Moreover, Lin Ze was no longer the jerk who used to despise and scold him. He enjoyed looking at Lin Ze, and every moment spent together filled his heart with joy.
Since his wife cared for him and wanted to help, Lin Ze naturally had no objections.
Early in the morning, the two husbands were affectionately working together in the kitchen, exchanging loving glances. They even shared breakfast there, each taking a bite from the other's plate. Of course, it was all Lin Ze's idea, and Zhang Xiu was practically dying of embarrassment from all the affection. Fortunately, there was no one else in the house to witness it.
In the morning, He Xiangfeng came over with his two brothers to deliver the honey they had left on the mountain during their previous visit.
They were afraid that the honey would be stolen by the black bears living on the mountain at night, so the He brothers took a risk and rushed back overnight. Luckily, their family had several strong and capable brothers; otherwise, no villagers would dare to venture into the mountains in the late evening.
He Xiangfeng not only brought the honey but also a lot of wild fruits and nuts like wild berries and walnuts. There were more of them than they had picked before. It was evident that He Xiangfeng's brothers had picked some extra to share with them.
Lin Ze gladly accepted all these things he needed from He Xiangfeng without hesitation. Then, he brought up the matter of building a clay oven for baking.
"He Xiangfeng, I heard from Ah Xiu that your dad is skilled at building hearths and stoves. I want to build a clay oven for baking pastries. Could you ask your dad if he could help? We'll pay him a fair wage, so don't refuse. The design of the oven is a bit complex, and I don't want to burden my uncle. Besides, I want it done as quickly as possible…"
Lin Ze was quite knowledgeable about traditional Chinese pastries, but many of them had complex processes, and most were already available in the village.
That was why he thought of selling Western-style pastries. It would be a fresh addition to the offerings, and some of the recipes were delicious and simple, which suited their current situation with limited manpower.
As most Western-style pastries require baking, building a clay oven was necessary.
"Sure, I'll have my dad come over this afternoon."
He Xiangfeng replied and nodded in agreement.
Since Lin Ze mentioned that the requirements were complex, there was no reason for them to feel guilty about charging a reasonable amount of money. They were all not well-off, so there was no need to pretend to be affluent and haggle over such matters. If Lin Ze provided his family with an opportunity to earn money, they could repay the favor in the future.
"Come over at noon then. My dad should be here by then. He can have a drink with Uncle He. You and Luo Ger should come too. Otherwise, with a table full of men, my Ah Xiu, as a Xiao Ger, won't feel at ease. We had agreed before that I'd treat you all to a meal…"
Lin Ze understood that things should be taken step by step, and relationships should be built gradually. He had a clear understanding of this in his mind.
He Xiangfeng was not too fussy and understood that Lin Ze was skilled in cooking. He readily agreed to join them for the meal. Even if he did not eat much, he wanted Zheng Xiaoluo to enjoy a better meal. Repaying the favor could be done slowly over time.
In the morning, the two husbands continued to work busily in the kitchen.
They knew that to build good relationships, the food had to be delicious. It was a well-known saying in social circles.
The reason Lin Ze invited them for a meal had his own considerations. He was not the type to be extravagant just for the sake of face, especially since their family was not well-off at the moment, and every bit of money needed to be spent wisely.
"…As for what kind of pastries to sell, I'll consider that. Before that, you can ask Luo Ger to come over and help us make some decorative boxes for the pastries. Proper packaging is essential to sell at a good price. The people in town who are willing to spend on pastries are not poor; what they care about is cleanliness, taste, and aesthetics."
"We should also print a trademark on the pastry boxes, representing our pattern. Once we build a reputation and open a shop, it'll be much easier. We can hire a few helpers, and you'll manage the storefront. I'll support you financially while you stay at home and focus on your studies. Let's aim for success in the next provincial examination, and when I become a Juren (who passed the 2nd exam, provincial exam), my wife will be the wife of a successful scholar…"
Lin Ze cheerfully imagined their future and shared these thoughts with Zhang Xiu, giving his partner a sense of assurance.
Being a modern person, just because he adapted to the environment did not mean his thinking was also confined to traditional norms. He could pamper Zhang Xiu, but he did not want to restrict him to the confines of the backyard.
In his eyes, Zhang Xiu was no different from any man. Also, as partners, they should walk hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to go on together. A significant gap between them could be detrimental to their relationship. He did not want Zhang Xiu to worry about infidelity and anxiously wait at home like some women trapped in the inner chambers.
"But you'll have to work hard. Becoming a Juren is not an easy feat," Lin Ze added.
Zhang Xiu could not read Lin Ze's inner thoughts, but he was pleased with what Lin Ze was doing.
He was not the type to sit back and enjoy things. Now that they were husbands, if Lin Ze wanted to take the imperial examination, Zhang Xiu was more than willing to handle all the household matters. In traditional families, scholars were often supported by their entire family without any worries. Their family's current situation might not allow for such extravagance, but Zhang Xiu was content with taking care of his partner while he pursued his studies.
"Don't worry, I have full confidence now. I just need your encouragement. How about you call me 'husband' more often? Ah Xiu, I really want to hear it…"
Lin Ze was being playful as usual, easily diverting from serious matters.
Zhang Xiu could not help but find it amusing. He was completely puzzled about how to refuse when Lin Ze acted this way. Besides, Lin Ze's persistence was unwavering, and he never accepted rejection.
With a sigh, Zhang Xiu finally relented.
"Alright, alright, husband, you're shameless."
In the end, Zhang Xiu was playfully teased into calling Lin Ze "husband," and the whole room echoed with Lin Ze's laughter, delighted with the accomplishment.
By the time He Xiangfeng and the others arrived for lunch, the room was filled with an atmosphere of "happiness," making everyone who entered feel inexplicably comfortable.
When they saw the table full of delicious and generously prepared dishes, everyone's mouths watered, but they also felt guilty about potentially wasting such a feast.
Although the dishes were made from simple ingredients like pig offal, Lin Ze's cooking skills and attention to detail elevated them to a level that surpassed even the festive dishes served during the New Year.
Lin Sangui could not help but be moved once again, thinking that the excellent meal was definitely prepared because of his visit. He felt deeply touched and believed that his eldest brother cared for and cherished him the most.
Seeing the elderly Lin husband and wife (grandparents), who had come to enjoy the meal, drooling over the sumptuous spread, Lin Ze did not bother to argue with them over the food. After all, these two old folks were his true blood relatives, and he could not be as heartless with them as he was with people like Chen Shuju. He had to maintain good relations to ensure his success in the imperial examination.
So, many people in ancient times who appeared foolishly filial were actually conforming to the norms to avoid trouble and ensure a smooth path for their future.
For the sake of his own future, as long as these two did not create problems for him, Lin Ze chose to turn a blind eye. He could not afford to deal with their constant trouble-making.
In the entire Lin family, he only needed to keep his father on his side.
"Dad, let's eat. He Xiangfeng's father is here today, so you two can have a drink. I'll clean up the room this afternoon, and we've agreed that you'll stay here for half the month every month. This is all your son can do to show filial piety."
Lin Ze was a master at winning people over, and he effortlessly demonstrated this skill.
With just a few words, he managed to make Lin Sangui feel touched and almost brought to tears. His eyes turned red, and he quickly nodded.
"Yes, yes, your dad came over here. You're just like your mother, so considerate…"
Unfortunately, Rongniang had become someone else's wife, and he did not know her whereabouts or even whether she was alive. It pained Lin Sangui's heart to see their son being so obedient.
Looking at his son, who resembled his wife so much, Lin Sangui felt as if a knife were cutting through his heart. It had been like this for so many years.
Upon hearing Lin Sangui mention Jiang Rongniang, the elderly Lin couple could not help but tremble. They tried to bury their faces in their bowls, wishing they could become invisible.
They deeply regretted their foolish decision back then, driven by their infatuation with having a grandson. It led them to make the reckless choice of divorcing their daughter-in-law and bringing the wicked Chen Shuju, who posed a threat to the Lin family's bloodline, into their home.
But regrets were of no use now. The Jiang family was even more ruthless than them. They allowed their own daughter to be sold off without any concern for her life or whereabouts. They were unable to rectify the situation and bring her back. Lin Sangui often complained about them, feeling bitter and remorseful about the whole situation.
Everyone understood the past without needing to discuss it further. Bringing up such matters would only dampen the mood.
Moreover, with the delicious dishes Lin Ze prepared – such as stir-fried pig intestines, cold pig ears salad, pork and radish soup, and other unique dishes that no one had ever seen or tasted before – everyone's stomachs growled, and they thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
No one expected that dishes made from pig offal could taste so delicious. It truly showcased the vast knowledge of educated people like Lin Ze, who could come up with ways to make even the smelliest parts of a pig taste good.
Of course, the key to the dishes' success was Lin Ze's willingness to use ample oil and seasoning. The frugal villagers would not dare to be as generous as Lin Ze.
After enjoying Lin Ze's delicious meal, He Xiangfeng's father started working, and He Xiangfeng stayed to help him as well. They were hardworking people.
Lin Sangui knew that they had already hired the He brothers to help in the fields, so his absence for a while would not delay much. Since his son needed to build a clay oven for his livelihood, he was even more concerned and attentive than Lin Ze himself. Of course, he wanted to stay and help.
The elderly Lin couple did not leave either. They followed Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo to the bamboo forest to cut bamboo and assist in crafting various bamboo products.
It was not that the elderly Lin couple willingly stayed to help; it was because Lin Sangui asked them to, and they had no choice but to comply.
Due to the incident with their former daughter-in-law, they had been unable to hold their heads high in front of their son for so many years. Whenever Lin Sangui spoke, they felt powerless and could only obediently follow his instructions.
Fortunately, for dinner, Lin Ze was just as generous and cooked another delicious meal for everyone who had helped throughout the day.
After a day of hard work, the elderly Lin couple's spirits were lifted, and as they were about to leave, they looked at Lin Ze with hopeful eyes. Their faces clearly expressed:
"Grandson, let us stay and continue to work for you! We don't need wages; food will be enough!"
Of course, this lovely wish did not come true, and Lin Sangui blackened his face and scared them back to their own home.
After the elderly Lin couple left, Lin Sangui quickly changed his expression to a smiling face and happily entered the room his obedient son had prepared for him.
…
Lin Ze stayed at home for another five or six days before finally selecting the necessary equipment and deciding on the specific pastries he would sell.
Setting up a stall was not something that could be done casually; thorough preparation was crucial to success. Moreover, Lin Ze had plans to make his pastry stall famous and eventually open a shop. So, it was not just about preparing the items and selling them; there were many factors to consider.
Furthermore, using a clay oven was not as convenient as a regular oven. Lin Ze also needed to master the right temperature and adjust accordingly.
Lin Ze invited the He family, Lin Sangui, neighbors, as well as some respected elders from the clan, to his home for a taste test. After the gathering, he finally settled on the bread flavors he wanted to sell.
Yes, he decided to sell bread, and he had planned this from the beginning.
As he was setting up a small stall for now, his focus was on profitability and introducing new flavors. Selling complicated desserts, such as cakes, would not be suitable for him at the moment. Beating egg whites without a dedicated machine was possible but very tiring!
Bread, on the other hand, was different. The ingredients were simple and easy to handle. After kneading the dough, he just needed to put it into the oven, and voilà! The baked bread would expand in size, fresh and attractive to customers, who would find it worth their money.
Lin Ze decided to sell three flavors of bread for now: dried wild fruits with walnuts, savory meat floss, and jam-filled.
The first flavor was suitable for young people with good dental health, the second flavor was targeted towards the elderly, and the third flavor with jam filling was designed specifically for children. Lin Ze had considered each age group, ensuring that there would be no shortage of customers.
In any case, everyone who was invited to taste the bread by Lin Ze gave a thumbs up and expressed their genuine liking for it.
"The bread is fresh and tastes great. It's no less than what you'd find at the popular LeXianJu pastry shop in town. Dad thinks it's good. Eldest, how much are you planning to sell it for?"
Lin Sangui had some experience working in a restaurant when he was young, so he had a good sense of taste. After trying Lin Ze's bread, he felt it was worth selling.
However, the production cost was quite high. It was made from white flour, sugar, dried fruits, and the meat for the meat floss. Lin Ze used ingredients from their own farm and the nearby mountains, which did not incur additional costs. But the costs still needed to be calculated based on market prices.
"So, if I sell them cheap, there won't be any profit, and if I sell them expensive, I'm afraid people won't buy them. It's difficult to set the price.
Lin Ze has already considered this and discussed it with Zhang Xiu.
"With one cattie of flour, we can make about 13 walnut dried fruits bread, 15 savory shredded meat breads, or 20 jam-filled breads. The estimated cost per cattie is about 20 copper coins, considering the good quality ingredients we use, and the cost of other tools for our stall is also considerable…"
"That's why I plan to sell the walnut dried fruits breads and savory shredded meat breads for 6 wen each, and the jam-filled breads for 3 wen each." (wen = penny = copper coin, I think it's 1k wen = 1 tael of silver)
After doing the math, each flavor can essentially triple the cost. Lin Sangui was left in shock and thought it was too expensive.
"Can they be sold at this price? They are even more expensive than meat buns."
"No problem, all our products use high-quality ingredients. Bread is much larger in size compared to meat buns, and people will surely find it worth the price. Pastries are generally expensive, and though the villagers might hesitate, the town folks won't mind spending a few extra wens to try something new. Let's give this price a try, and if it doesn't work, we can always adjust it…"
Lin Ze was not worried at all. The spending habits of people in the town differed from those in the village due to their different living standards.
He did not think his prices were exorbitant. Selling goods involves more than just the cost of materials; it also includes labor and skill. His bread-making technique was exclusive to him, and he could earn some extra money by offering this novelty.
That was one of the reasons why he chose to make bread. Inflated food attracted customers, and though a piece of bread might be expensive, it looked substantial!
After hearing Lin Ze's explanation, Lin Sangui also agreed. The bread was indeed a bit pricey, but it was delicious and quite substantial. Those who genuinely wanted to buy it would probably be willing to bite the bullet and pay for it.
Zhang Xiu was already convinced, and he had no objections.
With all the preparations done and Lin Sangui looking after the house, Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu went to the town together to try selling their bread.
—
They had a lot of goods to be displayed in a bamboo cabinet specially woven for this purpose and they also had to buy some things they were missing when they returned home. Lin Ze borrowed Li Laofu's ox cart for this purpose.
In ancient times, transportation was the most inconvenient aspect. Even with an ox cart, the bumpy dirt roads made Lin Ze feel like his internal organs were shaking.
This once again proved his foresight. If he had tried to transport cakes or something delicate, the shaking would have caused everything to break, and he would not have been able to sell anything.
In the future, he must find a solution to this issue when the opportunity arises.
As for moving to the town, it was currently not feasible. Firstly, they did not have enough silver; secondly, engaging in trade in the town, even without being officially registered as a merchant, could easily give people the impression of being a merchant. In ancient times, there were different status of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, so they had to be careful before the imperial examination.
In this region, once merchants became prosperous, they usually bought a lot of land in the countryside, built ancestral homes, and then changed their status from merchants to farmers.
But even if one wanted to completely eliminate the impression of being a merchant family, it would still take several generations to achieve that. The complexities of household registration in this context could not be explained in just a few words.
Today was not a market day, so when Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu arrived at the marketplace, it was not too early, but they were still able to find a stall by paying a few wen.
Zhang Xiu was familiar with the market since he used to sell vegetables there. He led Lin Ze to an empty stall, situated among several other stalls selling vegetables and silk flower ornaments, which would not conflict with their business. It was a good location with plenty of passersby.
After unloading the cart, they did not rush to set up. Zhang Xiu first took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lin Ze to wipe the sweat.
Lin Ze felt incredibly happy inside and had the impulse to hug his wife and give her a kiss, but he knew his limits while being outside. He could only suppress his feelings and attentively poured a cup of honey water they had prepared at home for Zhang Xiu.
Zhang Xiu smiled and accepted the cup, his expression sweet.
The nearby vendors selling their goods smirked, guessing that they were newlyweds, as they were acting so affectionate.
"Hey, young man, what are you and your husband selling? You set up such a large stall…"
One of the vendors inquired.
The enthusiastic vendor who took the initiative to strike up a conversation was a middle-aged woman selling vegetables nearby. She was curious to see Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu with their bamboo cabinet, which was quite unusual.
With one person starting the conversation, other vendors joined in, asking:
"Yes, sir, what are you selling?"
It was not surprising that everyone was so curious. In the marketplace, most vendors simply displayed their goods in baskets or on pieces of cloth on the ground. It was rare to see someone like Lin Ze bringing so many items like this.
Except for those selling food, who would carry pots and small tables, Lin Ze did not have anything like that. The layered bamboo cabinet and two rectangular bamboo baskets piqued everyone's curiosity.
"We're selling snacks called 'bread.' It's our first time selling, and we're not sure if everyone will like it. If you don't mind, dear uncles and aunties, could you please help us by tasting it? My husband and I aren't good at talking, so if you like it, maybe you could help us spread the word later…"
Lin Ze smoothly spun a tale, pretending to be polite and inexperienced in business, aiming to treat the nearby vendors as potential customers for future business.
Zhang Xiu chuckled inwardly at Lin Ze's act, thinking he was both refined and cunning. He cooperated by cutting the bread into small pieces and offered them to the surrounding vendors to try.
"Uncles and aunties, give it a taste. This is a snack my husband came up with after reading some books. We heard it comes from overseas, and we don't have anything like it around here…"
Lin Ze had discussed this tasting promotion method with him at home, and Zhang Xiu found it to be a practical approach.
Although it might seem like a waste, Lin Ze was right. Not everyone would take advantage of free food, and it was essential to let people know that their product was delicious to make successful sales. In this case, sacrificing a little to gain customer trust was a smart move.
The surrounding vendors were not the type to take advantage of others. Initially, they were hesitant to try the bread, but when they saw how appealing the bread looked as Zhang Xiu presented it and caught a whiff of its sweet aroma, they could not resist being intrigued.
Snacks like these were quite rare in the area, not only loved by children but also highly sought after by adults.
Moreover, when they learned that it was something from overseas, curiosity grew even more. Seeing someone take the first bite, others could not help but follow suit and try it for themselves.
The result was instant approval – everyone's eyes lit up.
It was delicious!
The vendors, not skilled in elaborate praise, could only express their feelings using that one word.
The soft bread, combined with the flavors of dried fruits, shredded meat, and jam, instantly captivated these ancient people who had never seen such delicacies before. Lin Ze was not surprised. Even modern people, who were accustomed to various cuisines, would likely enjoy these flavors.
"Wow, this is called bread, right? I've never had such a delicious bun before, oh no, I mean, pastry. It's no worse than the pastries from LeXianJu…"
One straightforward person praised, speaking the truth without any flattery.
Looking over, Lin Ze had already arranged the bread from the bamboo basket onto the bamboo cabinet. The unique and appealing appearance was quite comforting.
Especially those fruit jam buns specially made for children – Lin Ze put a lot of thought into them, shaping them like rabbits and piglets, which looked incredibly cute and had a strong visual appeal.
"Sir, how much are you selling this bread for? How much for each?"
A vender asked.
As Lin Ze had expected, several vendors who had tasted the bread immediately asked about the price.
With such fresh and delicious snacks that also looked appealing, if the price was reasonable, they would consider buying some to bring home for their children. Parents and grandparents always had a common trait – they would do everything they could to provide the best for their children.
"Dear uncles and aunties, you can call me Lin Ze. This is my husband, Zhang Xiu, Xiu Ger…" Lin Ze began with introductions and then continued, "We have three flavors of bread: walnut dried fruit, shredded meat, and fruit jam. The first two are 6 wen each, and the fruit jam buns are 3 wen each."
As soon as Lin Ze finished speaking, the vendors widened their eyes and suddenly felt like they might have eaten copper coins earlier. The bread was much cheaper than they expected!
The price might be acceptable in a pastry shop, but it seemed quite expensive for a market setting.
Lin Ze remained composed and continued to explain.
"Dear uncles and aunties, please don't think the price is expensive. These bread are made from whole flour, and the ingredients inside are of the highest quality. Let's take this shredded meat bread, for example. The shredded meat is made from pure pork, and the sweetener was replaced with honey. It's wild honey specially collected from the mountains by my family, not only delicious but also nutritious."
"Meat buns in the town cost 2 wen each, but those buns are only half the size of my bread…"
As Lin Ze spoke, everyone found his explanation reasonable. They had just tasted the shredded meat bread, which indeed had a meaty taste. The dried fruits must have been made from sweet and ripe fruits, and the fruit jam bread was sweet, possibly containing quite a bit of sugar.
However, it was still a bit hard for them to spend 6 wen on a piece of snack. They could add a few more wen and have a bowl of wonton soup.
As the crowd hesitated, torn between wanting to buy and being reluctant to spend the money, they could not help but savor the lingering taste of the bread in their mouths.
Observing their hesitation, Lin Ze continued to persuade them. He stood with his hands behind his back, striking a particularly profound pose.
"Dear uncles and aunties, do you know that this bread has an extraordinary origin overseas? According to local legends, the bread recipe was bestowed by a passing Taoist master during a severe drought. He pitied the suffering people and taught them how to make bread. The locals used this rare delicacy to attract the attention of deities, which ultimately rescued the forgotten people…"
"Afterward, this bread became a sacred offering for blessings and rituals in the region. After generations of inheritance, people may not be able to replicate the exact taste that moved the immortals, but the bread made according to the ancient method is still beneficial for the body. It brings blessings and protection."
"As a result, to make this bread, the person preparing it must take a bath and offer incense. While making it, they need to recite Buddhist scriptures. The process is extremely complex, and not a single ingredient can be adulterated. It requires a great deal of effort, and if we sell it too cheaply, we'll end up losing money…"
Lin Ze continued with his nonsense, weaving a story that not only left the surrounding vendors bewildered but even made Zhang Xiu wonder if their bread was indeed a divine artifact. (Cute lil guy)
Such talk might be laughed at in the present time, but in the superstitious ancient era, it had a certain allure. The people of that time loved hearing stories, and the audience was so immersed in Lin Ze's words that nobody realized he was just making it up.
When they heard about the need to burn incense, take baths, and recite Buddhist scriptures to make the bread, their eyes widened even further.
"Mr. Lin, are you a scholar?"
A vendor finally asked, genuinely curious.
In this era, aside from monks and nuns, only scholars were expected to be knowledgeable in Buddhist scriptures. Many common folks could not even write their own names, let alone read Buddhist scriptures. The superstitious elderly women might recite a few prayers like "Amitabha Buddha, Bodhisattva bless us," but that was the extent of it.
Looking at Lin Ze's demeanor, he indeed exuded an air of scholarship, setting him apart from the average person.
"Yes, this humble one is but an ordinary scholar from the year of Yi Hai (chinese calendar, I'm not sure exactly what year it is referring to)."
Lin Ze replied with a slight smile, skillfully playing along with the impression he was creating.
"In recent years, my family's fortune has declined due to my pursuit of studies. To support my family, I decided to venture into this bread-making business. I couldn't bear to leave my father and husband behind. I chanced upon the concept of bread as a blessed food in my studies, and it was said to bring good health. So, I started this livelihood to support my family and spread the blessings of this food. It's a way to accumulate merits for my future children and make up for the expense of my many years of education, a lesson my teacher taught me…"
Lin Ze skillfully continued his story.
Selling food and claiming that it benefits the people was such a lofty nonsense; only he could manage to feign such a noble demeanor.
Everyone was taken aback. Whether bread has blessings or not, they did not know, but this Mr. Lin turned out to be a scholar.
Things made by a scholar's hands were undoubtedly precious; even if there were no blessings, there was talent!
In the eyes of ignorant commoners, anyone who had received an education was considered exceptional, and the crowd's eyes lit up instantly.
"Wow, that sounds truly magical. Then give me a piece of that dried meat floss; my son at home prefers savory flavors, and I'll bring him some blessings…" for talent!
"I'll take two as well, the ones shaped like little pigs, one for my daughter and one for my son…"
"The one with dried fruits and walnuts, please pack one for me."
Several market vendors around have become Lin Ze's first batch of customers successfully.
Lin Ze had a beaming smile on his face.
Zhang Xiu tilted his head, staring at him, trying hard to recall if he had been hoodwinked by this guy before and had not noticed.
This guy was truly skilled in talking nonsense!
…
Lin Ze was indeed skilled at talking nonsense. None of the vendors around him could escape his charm, and one by one, they handed over their money to make a purchase.
However, the price of the bread was not cheap, and many of the buyers were villagers who came to sell their goods. They were careful with their spending, so each person did not buy much, just a little to take home for their children and elders to taste.
But for most people in the town, they were more willing to spend money generously.
Almost everyone who tried the bread after the taste test ended up buying it. Many adults, accompanied by their children, were pulled over by their kids directly, especially because of the adorable fruit jam bread designed specifically for children.
The taste was just as good as the pastries from "LeXianJu," but the prices were cheaper and very affordable.
In addition to that, Lin Ze's stall was kept clean. He used bamboo tongs to handle the bread, ensuring that his hands did not touch them at all. Finally, he packaged them in small oil-paper cake boxes with the words "Love at First Sight" printed on them, making them visually appealing and not at all like the typical cheap street snacks.
The variety of pastries was fresh and exciting, and the neatly folded oil-paper cake boxes looked clever and rare. In ancient times, no one would have thought of folding paper boxes, so this novel and attractive idea appealed to people and made them like the whole presentation.
Those who could read the words on the box found it particularly amusing and exchanged meaningful glances with Zhang Xiu.
"Oh my, Love at First Sight, this sir really knows how to choose an excellent brand name…"
"Auntie, you're teasing me. My husband has worked hard since we got married, and I can only try to please him in this way. I hope that everyone who tastes our pastries will fall in love with them at first sight as well."
Lin Ze was modest in his attitude, but his words and expressions were a clear display of self-promotion.
Everyone who heard this could not stop laughing, not out of mockery, but because of the infectious happiness in his words. They had never seen anyone so shamelessly and openly express their love for their spouse.
If they were modern people, they would probably bestow him with the nickname "Proud Husband Demon"! (or flaunting husband maniac, which is someone who show off their partner excessively, feeding dog food to everyone)
Faced with the gazes and smiles directed at him from everyone, Zhang Xiu almost blushed from his face to his toes.
Lin Ze was really shameless; how could he say such things in front of everyone?
Although he felt annoyed, the feeling of being publicly acknowledged and cherished by Lin Ze indeed made him happy. No one disliked their partner introducing them to others with affection and openness.
With Lin Ze's eloquence, he could handle even the most difficult customers in the past, so dealing with the vendors at these markets was a piece of cake.
Anyone who stopped by his stall today could not help but be charmed by him and happily spend money.
He brought out 150 bread loaves to try selling, and in less than an hour, they were all sold out, earning him over six hundred wen.
Mainly, many customers came back after buying bread for their children to taste, and the kids wanted more, which turned them into repeat customers. This was why the bread sold out so quickly. The parents were willing to spend money for the sake of their children.
It was only the first day, and many people were still unaware of the bread. Once word spreaded, the daily income would undoubtedly be significant.
Zhang Xiu was ecstatic, clutching the money bag. He never expected the townspeople to be so willing to spend money. If this business could continue like this, they would not have to worry about their livelihood anymore.
…
After dealing with the customers who regretted not getting any bread, the couple packed up their belongings and had a simple bowl of clear soup noodles for lunch. Then, they headed straight to the grocery store to buy the essentials they needed for their home.
The old house did not have many belongings left, and they had been making do with what they had. They needed to buy pots, bowls, and other utensils, as the old ones were almost falling apart.
They also had to purchase flour, ingredients, tools, and oil-paper for making bread. Additionally, Lin Ze needed study materials like books, writing brushes, paper, and ink.
Due to the large quantity of items purchased, the owner of the grocery store was extremely enthusiastic. He knew that if they cooperated well, Lin Ze would become a long-term customer, buying a substantial amount of rice, flour, and cooking oil from him. The store owner readily agreed to let Lin Ze store his bamboo cabinets there.
Lin Ze initially wanted to offer some storage fees, but the owner declined, as he understood the art of doing business and knew how to keep customers happy.
They spent quite a bit of silver on various items from the grocery store, leaving Zhang Xiu feeling distressed and even Lin Ze feeling a bit extravagant.
However, there was no other way; in this era, common items like rice, flour, and cooking oil were considered valuable goods. Even ordinary copper pots, jars, bowls, and plates were not cheap and were essential for daily living. It was challenging to be frugal in such circumstances.
But, in reality, these expenses were minor compared to the cost of setting up a study.
"A copy of the "three hundred thousand" enlightenment books (as listed below, the first word of each book form this "number"), three rolls of inferior-quality paper, one block of ordinary black ink, and a book with the top answers from previous provincial exams, totaling thirteen taels and four hundred and fifty wen."
Lin Ze stood in front of the book shop's counter, listening to the shop assistant calculate the price. It took him a great deal of effort to hold back from cursing.
He now completely understood why Jianwen resorted to such cunning methods to secure the family's wealth, even scheming against his elder brother. In this ancient era, poor people really could not afford education!
With just a few books and some low-quality paper and ink, he had spent almost all the silver he had on hand. Who knew how Lin Sangui managed to scrape together enough money to support two sons' education in the past.
Fortunately, the previous owner had memorized the content of the necessary books thoroughly; otherwise, Lin Ze would probably have abandoned the idea of taking the imperial examinations. He only wanted to have an official title for protection, not to delve into the complexities of ancient knowledge that also drained his money.
"Husband, how about we don't buy the "three hundred thousand" books? If you read them aloud, I can learn from you…"
Hearing the quoted prices from the shop assistant, Zhang Xiu's heart, liver, spleen, and lungs felt like they were dripping blood. He never imagined that buying a few books would be so expensive.
The "three hundred thousand" enlightenment books were meant for Lin Ze to teach Zhang Xiu how to read, including the legendary "Three Character Classic," "Hundred Family Surnames," and "Thousand Character Classic," which were essential for beginners.
These books were already in the possession of the Lin family before, but once the two sons had memorized them, the family sold the books again to save money. It was a common practice for poor families to reuse educational materials to be frugal.
Since Lin Ze intended to teach Zhang Xiu how to read properly, he needed all the essential teaching materials.
"No, we must get all of these. Please wrap them up for us."
Lin Ze said resolutely, as he could not bear to skimp on anything for his wife, especially when it came to the materials for Zhang Xiu's education.
Furthermore, the "three hundred thousand" enlightenment books were not expensive. The real expense was the 'Collection of Winning Strategies from Previous Township Examinations' that he would use to study and analyze. With five years of high school exams and three years of mock tests, understanding the direction, outline, and difficulty of the questions was an essential rule for students! (it's a traditional, manual way to study for college exam in China)
"Alright, Xiucai, please wait a moment."
The shop assistant responded politely. He had dealt with many penniless scholars like Lin Ze and did not show any impatience. He continued to conduct his business with a good attitude.
"Oh, isn't this Brother Lin? You also bought the collection of top answers? What's this? Is Brother Lin planning to take the provincial exam this year too? Did that mysterious illness that caused you to fail last time get cured by some divine doctor?"
Just then, two young men dressed in scholar robes with square handkerchiefs wrapped around their heads entered the study.
They wore ordinary clothes and held inexpensive folding fans, indicating that they were from common families. However, their faces displayed an arrogance and a mocking expression that were not commonly seen in regular households.
Lin Ze quickly recognized who the other party was; they were former classmates from a private school, and they did not have a good relationship.
Since they were not on good terms, and the other party did not have any significant backing, Lin Ze naturally had no reservations.
With a slight smile, he directly retorted.
"Oh, it's the ones surnamed Wang and Qian. I heard that you both took the Xiucai examination a few days ago. The results should be out by now. Did you pass this time? It's been ten years since we were classmates, and I've been eagerly waiting for you both to invite me to a celebration dinner for your scholar title…"
The two young men, lacking the jade pendant that the imperial court specially issued to recognized scholars, revealed their status as unranked individuals who had yet to pass the county-level examination.
With such qualifications, they dared to mock the original owner for his frequent failures in the examinations? No matter how lacking the original owner's abilities might be, he was still a Xiucai, and it was out of the question for them to belittle him like this.
The original owner possessed exceptional talent in the past, and there were plenty of jealous classmates in the private school, these two included. However, Lin Ze did not need to care about them at all.
Unlike Lin Ze's broad-mindedness, the two young men could not handle his response and ended up losing their composure, revealing their ugly faces.
"Lin Ze, don't think that just because you became a Xiucai at a young age, you are something special. No matter how talented you are, if you have this mysterious illness that causes you to fail the exams, you'll be a useless person for the rest of your life. Yet, you still have the audacity to come to a study and delude yourself about taking the examinations. Keep on dreaming…"
"This is the person you've chosen to marry? A Xiao Ger? Well, that's fitting. Someone with your morally corrupt behavior, getting drunk and causing trouble, even intruding into young ladies' rooms, which family would dare to marry you? You're lucky to find a young man to work and support you. Lin Ze, you're truly fortunate. We envy you so much! Hahaha…"
The villagers were afraid of tarnishing the village's reputation, so they kept quiet about the recent events in the Lin family. Therefore, these two individuals still regarded Lin Ze as the "old Lin Ze," the one they used to mock for his foolishness, and they continued to ridicule and taunt him. They took pleasure in seeing the once seemingly unattainable scholar now living a less privileged life than theirs.
However, this mockery meant nothing to the current Lin Ze; it was like a gentle drizzle that could not make him feel a thing. He remained completely unaffected.
Lin Ze felt that the two individuals in front of him were as annoying as flies buzzing around. So what if they were making fun and trying to hurt him? Who wouldn't encounter such things in life?
"It's impressive how insightful you both are to recognize the value of my husband, this excellent young man. Indeed, I consider myself fortunate to have him. However, I can see that the two of you seem troubled lately. I suppose you failed the county-level examination again?"
"Ah, don't be disheartened if you can't afford the exam fees. There's always the next time, and you've been taking the examination for ten years now. A few more attempts won't make much difference. If you fall, get up from where you fell, and if you fall again, get up again from where you fell. That's how life goes…"
"But I have to say one thing, don't blame me for being straightforward. Since the two of you have been having bad luck lately and staying indoors, it's fine if it only affects yourselves. But if it starts causing trouble for others, that's really unacceptable. Fortunately, my husband brings me good fortune, allowing me to withstand such negativity. I have some matters to attend to at home, so I won't chit-chat anymore. You two take your time selecting books, but remember, don't touch the yellow-bordered books (p*rn); they are quite potent."
After saying this with a serious and instructive tone, Lin Ze picked up his belongings and left with Zhang Xiu.
He left without taking a single cloud away but left Wang and Qian standing there with faces as red as pig livers.
They wanted to curse back at Lin Ze, but he left before they could even do so. They were fuming but could only leave in a huff as well.
Today, Lin Ze's tongue was quite sharp!
—
The shop assistant watched the conflict unfold, shaking his head. He had seen many arguments like this, and the truth was that scholars were not always as noble as people often imagined; they had their share of pettiness too.
Apart from the shop assistant, another middle-aged, chubby man who was browsing the books in the corner also witnessed the scene and found it amusing.
"Hey, waiter Liu, who was that gentleman with his husband just now? I found it quite entertaining. From their argument, he seems to be a Xiucai, but I couldn't tell. Why didn't he wear his scholar's jade pendant when going out? If he has a prestigious title, others wouldn't dare to offend him too much, right…"
Li Guangcai (there's no exact translation as it's a very old title, but it should be a title referring to a businessman) walked to the counter and spoke to the shop assistant.
He often visited the bookstore to buy writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for his son. The shop assistant was familiar with him, and they chatted warmly.
"Oh, Boss Li, are you thinking of asking that scholar to be a tutor for your son again? I advise you to think twice about it. The choice of a tutor is crucial. That Xiucai doesn't have a good reputation in town, and he even offended Master Wei from the Dongguo private school. If you hire him, there won't be any other scholar in town willing to teach your son…"
"Ah, what can I do? My brat caused the previous tutor to leave again a few days ago. This time, he even got into a fight with him. Now, every scholar in town and the surrounding villages treats my house like a plague."
Li Guangcai sighed as he brought up the issue of finding a tutor for his son. As an elderly man who had a child late in life, he was delighted to have a son, but little did he know that his son would turn out to be a demanding little rascal.
"But on the other hand, that scholar just now seemed quite decent. Why does he have a bad reputation? And how did he offend Wei Master from the Dongguo private school? Wei Master is highly respected, you know."
Li Guangcai inquired curiously.
"Well, the story is quite long. That scholar's name is Lin Ze, and he used to be a well-known and talented student in town…"
With no other customers in the bookstore for the time being, waiter Liu became eager to gossip.
Li Guangcai was the owner of the East Street Silk and Satin Shop. Although not a major local figure, he had a small fortune. Seeing the other party's interest, he knew that sharing this information might bring him some rewards.
After coming out of the book store, Lin Ze could not help but sigh that the word "influence" was truly indispensable everywhere.
In the past, when the original body was young and achieved success in the imperial examination, the scene was so glorious. All the fellow students around him were full of smiles and flattery. Even the private tutors treated him with respect and had high hopes for his future.
However, who would have thought that later on, the original body fell out of favor in the examinations, and rumors spread about a strange illness called "fainting during exams." His future became hopeless, and those around him immediately turned their backs on him.
This even included the private tutor whom the original body respected. If the original body's future was still promising, perhaps the incident of trespassing into the backyard while drunk would have had a different outcome. That "highly moral and respected" teacher would probably have been eager to help him achieve greatness.
Unfortunately, it was a pity that the original body had no future ahead of him. Even if he knew there were misunderstandings, people just could not be bothered to care.
Lin Ze did not take the mockery and ridicule from earlier to heart. He had encountered such people many times before. In society, everyone judged others based on appearances and went with the wind. If he got angry every time, he would truly be driven to madness.
But for Zhang Xiu, the incident from earlier made him quite unhappy.
He cared about the present Lin Ze. How could he feel good when he saw the person he liked being mocked and ridiculed? Moreover, those people even used his identity as a Xiao Ger to mock Lin Ze, making him feel even worse.
The status of a Xiao Ger was not as high as that of a young lady. Here, anyone with money and status would not marry a Xiao Ger as the main wife unless his family background was exceptional.
Even in the village, they would try to marry a girl if possible, and only families in dire circumstances would marry a Xiao Ger.
Now that Lin Ze was considered to be down and out, Zhang Xiu could be considered worthy of being with him. However, if Lin Ze were to overcome his difficulties in the future, a talented scholar like him marrying a Xiao Ger as the main wife would undoubtedly become a subject of ridicule.
Zhang Xiu was sensitive and introspective. Today's incident in the store sounded an alarm for him. During this period, he had been charmed by Lin Ze's tenderness and kindness to the point of forgetting his own identity.
After leaving the shop, Zhang Xiu's mood was quite low, and how could Lin Ze not notice?
Lin Ze's wife, though good in every way, tended to overthink and lacked trust in him. This was not acceptable to him; it seemed that he had not provided enough sense of security for her.
He did not want to just offer comforting words; as actions spoke louder than words.
When his wife was feeling down, what better way to cheer him up than going shopping?
He would buy whatever he wanted, no matter the cost. As his husband, he could afford to be generous. Money could be earned again if it ran out, as long as his wife was happy.
Coincidentally, Lin Ze himself had never strolled through the ancient streets before, and he was quite excited about it. Though Qingshan County was not particularly wealthy, its good geographical location led to abundant harvests year after year, and the people lived comfortable lives without disasters.
Talking about the current small town, it might not be considered prosperous, but the streets were filled with various shops and vendors, making it quite lively.
However, Lin Ze, in his heart, thought of himself as a generous spender, but in reality, his purse was quite tight. So, after spending the whole afternoon browsing, he only ended up buying a few pieces of fabric and some small trinkets to cheer up Zhang Xiu.
By now, most of their savings were practically gone, leaving them with only two taels.
Zhang Xiu felt distressed and had completely set aside the incident in the book store. After all, the reality of life was right in front of them, leaving no room for whimsical thoughts.
"It's okay, Ah Xiu, we will earn it back soon. Money isn't meant to be hoarded; it's meant to be earned. Your husband will work hard…"
Zhang Xiu also knew that Lin Ze had lived a life of privilege before and had no concept of saving money. It was not entirely Lin Ze's fault for being spendthrift, but… the family's finances couldn't be left entirely in his hands.
Lin Ze had no objections to that:
"It's only right for the wife to manage the finances. However, I saw that red fabric earlier, and once we make some money, we must buy it. And red candles too, we should have a proper wedding ceremony."
A marriage without a wedding ceremony would be incomplete, and Zhang Xiu had not performed the traditional bowing to his own parents to become his wife. Lin Ze attached great importance to this.
"Sure, that sounds good."
Zhang Xiu agreed, and a beautiful smile appeared on his charming phoenix eyes.
—
Although there had been a somewhat unpleasant incident today, overall, it was a very fulfilling day.
When the villagers saw Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu returning with their cart full of packages, they were genuinely surprised. If they did not know about Lin Ze's financial situation, they would have thought that he had struck it rich.
The young people envied the things Lin Ze bought. Living separately from their parents had its perks—when you had money, you could spend it however you liked and buy whatever you desired.
The older folks, on the other hand, could not help but sigh. They knew Lin Ze was just a scholar who had not experienced the hardships of life; he only knew how to study and spend recklessly. Such extravagance might bring temporary satisfaction, but it would surely lead to difficulties in the future.
Chen Shuju and Yang Guifang, watching from the crowd, had red eyes.
Chen Shuju resented Lin Ze for taking away the family's savings, while Yang Guifang silently cursed him for being stingy and heartless. She knew he had money, yet he did not lend any to her. All his previous declarations of loving her daughter wholeheartedly were just lies. She could not believe nor accept her daughter had spent so much time and effort dealing with him.
However, both Chen Shuju and Yang Guifang could only silently harbor their resentment, not daring to speak it out loud. Recently, Lin Ze had been emotionally affected and aggressive, making him less easy to deal with than before.
Being "selfish and unreasonable", Lin Ze did not have the time or patience to care about what the villagers thought. Regardless of their opinions, he and Zhang Xiu happily carried their purchases back home.
Back at home, Lin Sangui had already prepared their meal, which consisted of cornmeal mixed with various grains and wild vegetable porridge.
Since Lin Ze had him promise to stay here for half a month, Lin Sangui did not hold back. Besides working in the fields during the day, he genuinely returned to Lin Ze's house at night. His own house was always noisy and irritating, so he leaned toward living with his eldest son.
Originally, Lin Sangui had wanted to make black wheat buns, a common dish in the village, but there was no black wheat at Lin Ze's home. The kitchen was filled with good-quality white wheat and rice, and at the very least, finely ground cornmeal.
This revelation left Lin Sangui feeling frightened and nervous. He had assumed that the good food in Lin Ze's kitchen was because they had hired someone to work for them and had to prepare food for them. Now he realized that Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu were having refined rice and flour for every meal!
In the end, Lin Sangui had no choice but to try his best to economize and made mixed wheat buns with white flour and cornmeal, along with wild vegetable rice porridge.
He also made up his mind to properly teach Lin Ze when he returned. This child was utterly clueless about managing life away from home.
However, his good intentions were destined to be disappointed. Seeing the cart full of white flour and rice, Lin Sangui felt a bit hopeless. It seemed that Lin Ze had probably used up most of the twenty taels he had taken from the family inheritance.
"Eldest son, how was business today?"
Lin Sangui hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he did not say anything about advising Lin Ze to be more thrifty. The conversation shifted to the topic of their business.
Upon entering the house and seeing the plain wild vegetable porridge with little soup left on the table, Lin Ze frowned disapprovingly. It was evident that he was not quite satisfied with the meal. Transitioning from extravagance to simplicity was challenging. It was difficult to expect a modern person to adapt quickly to the poverty of ancient times.
Fortunately, Lin Ze was filial and respectful to his elders, so he did not criticize today's dinner. Instead, he told Lin Sangui.
"Father, let me handle the cooking from now on. It's my duty as your son to take care of you. The bread sold well today, and it should be able to sustain us in the future. We don't need to cut corners in our meals. After all, Ah Xiu needs to be in good health to give birth to a healthy child, right?"
He was clearly showing disdain for the food while trying to make it sound noble and righteous!
Lin Sangui inexplicably felt the urge to kick Lin Ze, but when he looked at Zhang Xiu, who was so thin that his clothes could not even fill him properly, he could not help but admit that the brat's words made sense.
He had witnessed the life Zhang Xiu had been living since marrying into the Lin family. Now that his eldest son had come to his senses and started caring for his wife, Lin Sangui knew he had to support him.
"Alright then, from now on, it'll be only you and Zhang Xiu in the house. Our family isn't a noble one; we don't need to adhere to strict rules. Even men should cook. It's about time you learn to take care of things at home…"
Being from a poor family and not sticking to rigid traditions, Lin Sangui had a bit of a tendency of being a "son slave" and was persuaded by Lin Ze's words.
As for his son's lavish spending, he would bring it up with Zhang Xiu later. However, given his son's character, he doubted that he would listen to any advice.
But Lin Sangui was destined to be disappointed. If Zhang Xiu could have managed to control Lin Ze's spending habits, it would have happened a long time ago. That was not possible!
For Lin Ze, saving money was fine for almost everything, except when it came to food. A healthy body was the foundation for everything. He had never deprived himself of proper meals, no matter how busy he was in the past. Moreover, now that Zhang Xiu needed to take care of his health, Lin Ze was even more determined not to skimp on their food.
Embracing Zhang Xiu's frail body at night, Lin Ze's heart ached for him. Today, they spent too much money, and their savings were now exposed. Both Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu felt anxious, afraid that an emergency might arise without sufficient funds.
So after a simple meal, the two husbands immediately got busy again.
Lin Sangui did not sit idle either. He came over to help process the flour and extract the high-gluten flour specifically used for making bread. This was the key, or rather, the core element of bread-making. Without high-gluten flour, all they could make with ordinary flour was steamed buns.
This kind of critical secret could not be easily entrusted to others. However, Lin Ze trusted his father and knew that he would not favor his younger brother at the expense of the eldest, as Chen Shuju had done.
Moreover, Lin Sangui had some resentment and coldness in his heart towards Lin Jianwen, who had disrupted Lin Ze's career path. He decided it was better for his father to stay in the Lin family and support the education of his younger brother mainly out of paternal love and because they had spent so many years and money on his education. If he allowed his anger to prevent his younger brother from taking the exam, it would render all the hardships the family endured in vain.
Besides, Lin Sangui had already determined that his eldest son had no future in the civil service. Why would he easily disclose his elder son's future livelihood to others?
So, Lin Ze trusted his father's help and cooperation.
If any unexpected situation occurred and Lin Ze had misjudged the people around him, it would be a good thing to have a clear understanding of those close to him. It would be better than encountering more significant problems in the future. After all, "When the old man from the border lost his horse, how could one know that it would turn out to be a blessing?" (chinese proverb, there's a story behind this) – sometimes misfortune could turn into a blessing.
Considering that freshly baked bread tasted better, Lin Ze only kneaded the dough in the evening and prepared the dried fruit and meat floss as well as fruit jam. He would do the baking in the morning.
He had built a relatively large clay oven, capable of baking a substantial amount of bread at once, so it would not take too long in the morning.
The main concern now was transportation. They could not borrow the village leader's ox cart every day, as the farming season had yet to pass, and the oxen were crucial for village use.
Therefore, they would have to walk for some time. Once they earned some money, they would need to find a solution for transportation.
"By the way, Ah Xiu, we don't have time to make clothes. Shall we spend some extra money and have someone sew the fabric we bought? When will your mother come back? Let her help us and, by the way, I can also pay a return gift and visit your mother."
"I heard that my mother went to visit relatives. I'm not sure when she'll be back."
Zhang Xiu explained. He found it strange because as far as he knew, his mother did not have many relatives in other villages, and her health was not great, so he could not understand why she would go out.
However, he would find out when his mother returned. He wanted to tell her that Lin Ze had changed and was treating him well now, so she would not have to worry about him.
"Let's ask Aunt Zhang to do it. She is skilled at sewing, and she is the one supporting herself and her little grandson by doing laundry and sewing for the villagers. Everyone in the village goes to her for clothes," Zhang Xiu suggested.
"Then let's ask Aunt Zhang. When your mother comes back, I'll accompany you to see her," Lin Ze agreed.
Snuggled under the covers, Lin Ze held Zhang Xiu close, pinching the corner of the blanket with a contented mood. With his wife beside him, he felt no fatigue.
"Alright," Zhang Xiu replied softly.
Lin Ze smiled as he listened, and Zhang Xiu leaned against his chest, gently nuzzling his head against him. The warm and affectionate atmosphere enveloped them, bringing them even closer together.
Over the next few days, Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu's husband and wife started a busy life, working from dawn to dusk.
In the early morning, they would get up early to bake bread, and at night, they would stay busy until very late before going to sleep.
Though their schedule was quite packed, they did not feel overly tired. The main reason was that their business had just begun, and there were many trivial matters to sort out. Once things got on track, it actually became easier.
As Lin Ze had anticipated, the townspeople quickly accepted and loved their bread.
The key was the freshness and variety of the bread. With three different flavors, they catered to consumers of all ages. Not only children loved the bread, but many adults could not forget its taste once they had tried it.
The people in the town were wealthier than those in the village. While they did not buy bread every day, purchasing it every other day was still feasible.
As for the more affluent families, they did not have any reservations. They almost came to buy bread daily. Within a short time, many well-to-do ladies and young ladies in the town had developed a habit of having the bread as breakfast or afternoon tea.
Lin Ze had already anticipated all of this, as the bread business he was running followed modern business practices. He could estimate the possible scenarios he might encounter.
Among the three flavors of bread, the "Jam-filled Little Breads" sold the most because they were not only delicious and cute in appearance but also the most affordable.
Compared to the 6 wen regular bread, people could easily afford the 3 wen Jam-filled Little Breads. Buying just one could soothe a crying child at home, making it the best-selling item.
Lin Ze was delighted to see this success, and what others did not know was that the Jam-filled Little Breads, despite being cheap, actually brought him the highest profit!
Of course, the other two flavors also had many buyers, mainly among wealthier families.
Regardless of the flavor people preferred, his profits were objective and significant in the end.
Despite the limited manpower at home, Lin Ze did not plan on saturating the streets with bread. Therefore, based on the town's population, they set a limit on the number of bread they would sell each day.
They decided to sell a total of 800 loaves of bread per day, and once they were sold out, they would stop selling – a modern form of hunger marketing.
After implementing this rule, the sales of their bread noticeably increased. Previously, they would sell until the afternoon, but with the limited quantity, they could sell out by noon, which resulted in great success.
Selling 800 loaves of bread per day brought in about 2 taels of silver after deducting the costs!
Zhang Xiu wished he could spend the whole day on the street selling bread. He was willing to endure the fatigue because the business was so profitable.
However, Lin Ze needed time to study, and even half a day was already quite limited. While money was important, passing the imperial examination was even more crucial. He could not have such a narrow vision.
But the temptation of earning a few taels of silver in a day was hard to resist. Zhang Xiu felt it was a waste to sell for only half a day. Since Lin Ze could not spare more time, why not hire someone to help with the selling?
With this approach, Lin Ze could focus on studying in the morning and only be responsible for making the bread.
"This idea is feasible. However, let's take a closer look. We should wait until we are fully on track before hiring someone. The time is too short, and there might be some minor issues we haven't noticed yet. Now is the crucial time to establish our reputation and brand. Rarity makes things valuable, so we must make the people in town feel that the bread is a rare and excellent item…"
In modern times, Lin Ze had managed many projects as a project manager, and considering all aspects was a fundamental principle.
Setting up a stall to sell bread was just a temporary measure. The main goal was to create a reputation and name for themselves, preparing for the future when they could open a proper bakery.
With a bakery, they would have more stable and consistent income, and then Lin Ze could fully focus on studying without worrying about Zhang Xiu being too tired.
Zhang Xiu did not fully understand these aspects, but he trusted Lin Ze completely. Since Lin Ze had everything planned, he would follow his lead without hesitation.
—
The bread sales became prosperous, attracting the attention of other pastry vendors in the town.
As expected, the town soon witnessed imitations and followers, which was unavoidable even in modern times and certainly could not be avoided in ancient times.
However, the other pastry shops in town could only imitate the appearance of the bread since they did not know the secrets behind making it. So, Lin Ze's bread remained truly unique.
Even if someone managed to replicate the bread, Lin Ze had many other desserts in his repertoire. The constant introduction of new flavors would undoubtedly keep their brand distinct.
However, Lin Ze could not prevent others from copying the oil-paper cake boxes. There was no patent protection here, and the folding method of the paper box was not difficult to replicate.
In less than half a month, all the pastry shops in town started using oil-paper boxes to pack their light and assorted pastries, creating a packaging trend for pastries in the town.
Fortunately, Lin Ze had been prepared for this and had already given his bakery a catchy name.
No matter how others tried to copy, whenever people saw the words "Love at First Sight" printed on the oil-paper boxes, they knew it was Lin Ze's bread.
Due to the catchy name of the bakery, many young people who wanted to express their feelings or please their crushes would choose to give bread from Lin Ze's bakery as a gift.
Not only were the bread delicious, but the words "Love at First Sight" on the box were also a perfect way to subtly express affection in the reserved ancient society. It became an unspoken understanding among young people to give the "Love at First Sight" bread as a way of showing their love.
This was something Lin Ze had not anticipated. He swore that he had only wanted to amuse his wife, but he never expected to lead a trend. It just went to show that pleasing one's wife and crush was something all men around the world instinctively understand.
Monopolizing a unique business was the most profitable, and within half a month of starting the bakery, Lin Ze had recovered all the money he had previously spent.
His days were now fulfilling – setting up the stall in the morning, studying in the afternoon, and running the bakery in between.
Teaching Zhang Xiu to read was also on Lin Ze's agenda, but he did not follow the traditional approach of teaching one character at a time. Instead, he decided to use modern teaching methods, starting with teaching Zhang Xiu the phonetic alphabet.
In Lin Ze's view, the phonetic alphabet (pinyin) was undoubtedly one of the greatest modern inventions, as it could significantly improve one's reading speed.
For Zhang Xiu, who had started learning at a relatively older age, learning the phonetic alphabet was initially challenging. However, he was a diligent person and understood the immense benefits of literacy for his future. So, he studied with great dedication.
Lin Ze was very pleased with his first student, his wife. He believed that intelligence or the age of starting to learn did not matter as much as the effort put into it. He found himself liking his wife even more.
Every afternoon, while teaching Zhang Xiu the phonetic alphabet, Lin Ze would take some time to read books and mark the pronunciation on several books, including "Three Hundred Thousand". He indeed had quite a few tasks to handle.
Therefore, the original plan to accompany his wife to visit his mother returned to the village had been postponed.
Since the cloth they bought last time also included fabric for Zhang Xiu's mother's clothes, they decided to send it to Aunt Zhang's place for tailoring. They could visit her once the clothes were ready. For the first meeting with his mother-in-law, they must bring a gift to win her favor!
Lin Ze was happily making plans.
Zhang Xiu nodded vigorously in agreement. He and his mother had been living as dependents in the Zhang family, but the Zhang family members never treated them well, and they were always left out of any good things.
Even if he managed to save money, he did not dare use it to make new clothes for himself. It was rare to be able to show filial respect to his own mother, so Zhang Xiu naturally agreed with Lin Ze's plan.
After all, they all lived in the same village. When the clothes were ready, they would take them back to his mother, so she could see how well he was doing now and how much his husband valued him.
However, little did they know that while they were not in a hurry, Zhang Liumei, who had been anxiously waiting for news about her son's escape, was getting extremely impatient…
—
At the Zhang family home, dinner time was always lively and bustling, without fail, every night.
"Mom, I want to eat bread! I don't care; you have to go and buy some for me tomorrow! I want to try each flavor!"
"Son, let's wait for some time before eating those things. We don't even know if they are worth that much money. I heard they cost 6 wen each, and our family is struggling to make ends meet. Please, save some worry for me…"
"I don't care! Little Pang had some yesterday. His cousin brought them from the town, and they were even more delicious than the cakes from LeXianJu. I saw you counting money yesterday, and there were several silver ingots! You should buy them for me!"
"Shh, you little rascal! Don't shout like that; you'll attract thieves! That money is for your sister's dowry. When your future brother-in-law becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, you can have all the good things you want…"
"No, no, I don't want fancy things. I just want to eat bread! Wahh, Mom, Grandpa, I want to eat bread…"
"Alright, alright, stop crying. Your grandparents will decide."
"Yang Guifang, you stingy woman! It's just a few wen; why are you withholding it from our grandson? After our granddaughter Yinzhu gets married, won't we still have to support Jinguan (name of the brat grandson)? Now you won't even give Jinguan a few wen. Are you biased towards your daughter? If you dare to withhold from our grandson, I'll confiscate all of Yinzhu's dowry!"
"I don't see any benefits from marrying a scholar. We haven't gained anything yet, but we've already spent dozens of taels of silver. Who marries off their daughter at a loss? It's really…"
Today, it was Jin Guan's insistence on eating bread that caused another round of arguments. Although the villagers knew that Lin Ze was in the food business, they were not aware of the specific products he sold, except for Li Laofu and a few other elders who had been invited by Lin Ze to taste his creations.
The Zhang family was also unaware of Lin Ze's bakery business, but due to Jinguan's demands, the argument soon shifted to discussions about Zhang Yinzhu's wedding.
In reality, not everyone in the Zhang family was pleased with the prospect of the marriage alliance with the Lin family. While Lin Jianwen's future seemed promising, it was all only talk until it actually materialized.
Most rural folks tend to focus on immediate benefits, and who would enjoy a life of eating meager meals? Initially, the Zhang elders agreed to the marriage alliance, considering it a huge opportunity, given the apparent wealth of the Lin family.
However, as time went on, the Zhang elders began to feel resentful. Other families would receive a bride price when marrying off their daughters, but in their case, not only did they receive nothing, but they also had to give away their family assets. It was a bitter pill to swallow for anyone.
So, as the wedding date of Zhang Yinzhu approached, the Zhang family became more and more restless. Adding to the chaos, there was also their precious and spoiled grandson, Zhang Jinguan, who was always causing trouble. There was no chance of peace at home.
However, Zhang Liumei, who lived under the same roof, did not seem to be bothered or concerned at all. Since her husband passed away and she was sent back to her parents' home by her in-laws, she had seen the true colors of her maternal family.
To her parents, she was merely a means to support her elder brother, and they only took them, mother and son, in to avoid gossip and criticism from the village about their disregard for their daughter's well-being. They also wanted her to stay at home and work like a servant alongside her brother.
She could endure all of this, and she did not even hate the Zhang family. All she wanted was a place for her and her son to stay safe and secure.
However, she never expected the Zhang family to go so far as to arrange a marriage for her beloved Xiao Ger, using him as a bargaining chip. They callously pushed him into a dangerous situation.
While Zhang Yinzhu was considered important, her Xiao Ger was not important at all?!
Zhang Liumei was inherently a coward, but when it came to her son, she became strong-willed. After the incident of the arranged marriage, she completely severed her emotional ties with the Zhang family.
Although she still lived under the same roof as the Zhang family, they each minded their own business. She no longer worked in the Zhang family's fields, nor did she eat their food. Instead, she foraged for wild vegetables, collected goods from the mountains, and embroidered to sustain herself. If the Zhang family asked her for accommodation fees, she paid them, keeping the relationship clear and straightforward.
Her greatest wish now was to see her son succeed and make a name for himself. Otherwise, she would feel incredibly regretful even in death.
She blamed herself for allowing her Xiao Ger to suffer alongside her.
So, when Zheng Xiaoluo told her that Lin Ze intended to sell off her son, and Zhang Xiu was preparing to escape, she did not hesitate at all. She immediately offered her full support and did not care about traditions or proper behavior anymore.
Her son-in-law was about to sell off her Xiao Ger, so how could she still advise her baby to continue obeying family principles and being harmonious? She may be easy to bully, but she was not foolish. Therefore, as soon as Zheng Xiaoluo left after passing on the message, she started preparing for their escape.
After all, she only had her Xiao Ger, Zhang Xiu, left. Wherever he went, as his mother, she naturally had to go with him. She did not have any attachments to the village anyway.
However, after borrowing some money from a trustworthy family in a nearby village, Zhang Liumei waited and waited, but there was no news from Zhang Xiu. She grew extremely anxious.
Although she had heard that Lin Ze had changed recently, she knew him well enough. In the past, he used to mistreat and disdain her Xiao Ger Zhang Xiu. How could he possibly have a change of heart?
Could there have been an unexpected event? Otherwise, why hadn't Zhang Xiu contacted her for such a long time?
The more Zhang Liumei thought about it, the more anxious she became. She pondered for a while and made the bold decision to go and see Lin Ze's family.
As for Zheng Xiaoluo, who had originally intended to inform her about canceling the escape plan, he did not mention it temporarily because she was not in the village at the time.
Later, Zheng Xiaoluo got busy preparing for his own marriage, and seeing Zhang Xiu seemingly leading a good life made him relax his vigilance. He completely forgot about the matter.
Zhang Liumei, due to her poor health, spent most of her time at home for recuperation, and she only occasionally heard about the events happening in the village, so she was not well-informed.
After the Lin family split, she also heard about the situation, but she did not really see it for herself.
She had wanted to visit Zhang Xiu early on, but she did not have the courage to do so. In the past, "Lin Ze" did not like her meeting her son, fearing that she might say something inappropriate to Zhang Yinzhu when she went back.
Whenever she used to visit, Zhang Xiu would inevitably get beaten up that same evening, so over time, she did not dare to go anymore. Even if she wanted to see her son, she would do so secretly and discreetly.
So this time was no different. Zhang Liumei waited for several days to find an opportunity and came to the Lin family while Lin Ze was away.
These past few days, she had been so anxious that her mouth had developed blisters. Before, it was very easy to find Zhang Xiu alone, as the previous "Lin Ze" did not care about Zhang Xiu's whereabouts at all.
But now, everything was different. The current Lin Ze's mind was filled with Zhang Xiu, and he almost wished to spend twenty-four hours a day glued to his wife.
They went out together in the morning to sell bread, came back home in the afternoon to study together, and in the evening, they worked together before going to sleep – they were practically inseparable.
So, Zhang Liumei had been patiently waiting for several days to spot the opportunity when Lin Ze took Lin Sangui, who was living with them for half a month, back to his house, leaving Zhang Xiu alone at home.
—
When Zhang Liumei arrived at the door, she was filled with worry. At that moment, Zhang Xiu was inside the house, familiarizing himself with the phonetics Lin Ze had been teaching him.
In recent times, besides earning money by selling bread, the most interesting and enthusiastic thing for Zhang Xiu was learning phonetics. Lin Ze said that once he masters phonetics, he would not need further instruction and would be able to read unfamiliar characters on his own.
When it came to learning the meanings of those characters, it became much easier, making Zhang Xiu even more skilled than the students in private schools.
Zhang Xiu was not aiming to surpass the private school students; all he hoped for was to quickly learn how to read and recognize characters. This way, in the future, when others mocked Lin Ze for marrying a Xiao Ger, he could save face for his husband.
Being able to read characters, he would not be different from girls from ordinary families; knowledge was highly valued in this era.
Yes, his husband. Although Zhang Xiu teased Lin Ze by saying he still needed to test him, in his heart, he already considered Lin Ze as the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
During this time, Lin Ze has been paying attention to every detail about him, and his caring gestures were genuine and could not be faked.
From the bottom of his heart, Lin Ze truly liked him. He was not saying this to flatter himself. Whenever Zhang Xiu thought about this, it filled his heart with indescribable sweetness.
Before, there were boys in the village who showed interest in him, privately trying to court him to marry him. After all, Zhang Xiu was considered good-looking, and in terms of appearance, he was quite attractive in the village.
Back then, he felt happy knowing that someone liked him, but it did not bring the same sweetness he felt with Lin Ze.
Those boys who said they liked him were mostly drawn to him because of his appearance and because he could work on the farm. They were thinking of marrying someone who could keep them warm in bed and help with the farming.
But Lin Ze was different; he truly cherished him and treated him as the most important person in his heart.
With such a wonderful man, Zhang Xiu knows he must seize this opportunity. So, he strives to learn how to read characters properly, not to embarrass Lin Ze and to be able to confidently tell others that he was his husband!
Zhang Xiu started learning later than others, but luckily, he was intelligent, and his mind was like a blank sheet, eager to absorb new knowledge quickly.
After half a month of effort, he had basically mastered phonetics, and with further familiarization, Lin Ze would be able to teach him how to read books.
"A, o, e, i, u, v, ai, ei, ui…"
As Zhang Liumei reached the door of Lin Ze's house, she heard Zhang Xiu's voice reciting phonetics from inside.
With the strange chanting of sounds like "goose" (é /anh/) and "fish" (yu), it sounded so peculiar and like an incantation, causing Zhang Liumei's heart to tremble. She began to wonder if her son had attempted to run away and got caught by Lin Ze, resulting in him being hit and becoming delirious, spouting nonsensical words.
Thankfully, she was aware of the presence of neighbors, so she did not dare to cry in front of them. Instead, she wiped her tears and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock…
"Mom, why have you come? Come in quickly. I was planning to visit you at home in a couple of days."
Zhang Xiu said with delight as he opened the door and saw his mother. He pulled her inside while speaking.
His face showed a relaxed and joyful expression. Thanks to the good food and care during this time, he had gained some weight, and his complexion improved significantly. In short, he looked completely different from his previous emaciated, expressionless, and submissive appearance.
Although it was still the same face, Zhang Liumei almost did not recognize him. She was in a state of astonishment and confusion, while Zhang Xiu was overjoyed. After pulling her into the courtyard and seating her down, he went to fetch water, bread, and dried fruits, happily exclaiming,
"Mom, please have a drink. I added wild honey to the water. And you must try this bread; I brought you one with shredded meat, it's savory and sweet. The people in town love it…"
Although Zhang Xiu had not frequently met with Zhang Liumei since his marriage, he knew that his mother had always worried about him. She was well aware of his days in the Lin household.
So, when his mother suddenly showed up at his door, Zhang Xiu had an overwhelming desire to show her all the good things he had now, to let her know that he was living a good life.
However, in his excitement, Zhang Xiu forgot the principle that excessive enthusiasm could be perceived as a strong denial.
When Zhang Liumei saw what he brought out, instead of being delighted, she was actually frightened. Her face turned pale in an instant.
"Quick, quickly put these things away! My son, I know you're filial, but you also need to be more discreet. How dare you take these things out? If Lin Ze comes back and finds out, he'll beat you to death! Oh, my poor Ah Xiu…"
Zhang Liumei could not hold back her tears any longer and was extremely anxious seeing the items on the table.
It was one thing to secretly have some honey water, as it might not be easily noticed, but how could Zhang Xiu take out the bread for her to eat? She knew about it; it was the new pastry that Zhang Jinguan was making a fuss about at home yesterday, and she heard it was not cheap.
If Lin Ze found out about this, he would surely beat her beloved Ah Xiu to death!
Zhang Liumei's impression of Lin Ze remained from the past, and she did not believe any rumors about his changed behavior. Even if Lin Ze had started treating her son well, he would not let her Ah Xiu casually handle such valuable items at home.
Seeing his mother cry so sadly, Zhang Xiu finally realized that he had been too hasty and quickly tried to explain.
"Mom, please don't cry. I didn't steal these things, and Lin Ze won't hit me again. Things have changed now. I can handle everything at home, including the money. Lin Ze is different from before…"
"Really, truly? He let you handle all the money at home?"
Zhang Liumei did not pay attention to the earlier words, but when she heard about the money, she stopped crying and looked shocked.
She could hardly believe her ears. With Lin Ze's previous attitude of disliking her Ah Xiu, how could he entrust the household finances to him? Was the sun rising from the west today?
If Zhang Xiu had not known that Lin Ze was a different person now, he would not easily believe in "Lin Ze's" transformation either.
So he was not surprised by his mother's expression. When Lin Ze started treating him well, Zhang Xiu also felt uneasy and suspected that Lin Ze was just pretending to deceive him, waiting for the right moment to sell him off when he least expected it.
Fortunately, Zhang Xiu learned about Lin Ze's resurrection in time; otherwise, he might have run away…
"Mom, let go of the past. Lin Ze is treating me well now; he cherishes me. I want to spend my life with him. Don't worry, he is not the same person as before. Look, I've even gained weight now."
Zhang Xiu said with an unreserved smile, gesturing for Zhang Liumei to observe his appearance.
He could not tell his mother about Lin Ze's switched soul, but he wanted to show her that he was doing well. His physical changes would speak for themselves, and she would be able to gauge his well-being by observing him.
Zhang Liumei had seen these changes in her son when she entered the house. However, the shadow left by "Lin Ze" from before was just too significant, making it hard for her to change her mindset all at once.
Her son's appearance seemed okay, but she still could not easily let her guard down.
"He wouldn't be thinking of making you gain weight to sell you at a higher price, right?"
She said half-jokingly, half-seriously.
Zhang Xiu could tell what his mother was thinking just by looking at her expression; she was an open book when it came to her emotions.
Talking more would not be helpful; the best thing was to present evidence.
Zhang Xiu rolled up his sleeves, revealing the lotus-shaped red mole on his arm. Slightly blushing, he showed it to Zhang Liumei.
"Mom, we've already consummated our marriage…"
A Xiao Ger who had lost his virginity would not sell for a good price. Now his mother should believe him, right?
But unexpectedly, Zhang Liumei reacted just like she did with Zheng Xiaoluo. She immediately burst into tears.
"Uuuh, my dear Ah Xiu, how could you sleep with that scoundrel? He's only devoted to your cousin; how could you easily believe his words? He's just separated from his family and has no one to take care of him, of course, he won't let you go so easily…"
"He might just be trying to deceive you into working for him and earn money, then find an opportunity to sell you off and marry your cousin… Uuh, my poor Ah Xiu, why are you so naive? It hasn't been long; how could he suddenly have feelings for you? You can't trust a man's words…"
As a person with life experience, Zhang Liumei's thoughts were more extensive than those of a young person.
To be fair, her concerns were not entirely unfounded. When the current Lin Ze first came over, Zhang Xiu still had fresh bruises from the beatings and she had seen it a few days ago during their meeting.
Now, within less than two months, "Lin Ze" had transformed into someone who cherished Zhang Xiu, entrusted the family's finances to his wife, and acted like a good husband. It was hard not to suspect something fishy.
At that moment, Zhang Xiu could not find a way to refute his mother; what she said did make sense.
If he did not know that Lin Ze had undergone a personality change, he might have doubted too. But now… his husband really did love him!
Zhang Xiu tried his best to explain, but…
"Mom, there's no need to worry. My cousin is getting married soon, and all the family's money, land deeds, and house deeds are in my hands. If he really wanted to deceive or sell me, there's no need for such tricks. Please trust me."
"But…"
Zhang Liumei still felt uneasy and doubtful, unable to easily believe.
Just then, Lin Ze, who had finished escorting Lin Sangui, finally returned home. He held a big fish he had bought from a fellow villager on the way and happily pushed the door open.
"Ah Xiu, look at what I bought! A big fish. Tonight, I'll make sour fish stew for you… Oh, is mom here too?"
He noticed Zhang Liumei in the yard, and his eyes lit up. He immediately called her "mom" in a very natural and respectful manner.
However, the expression in Zhang Liumei's eyes, from Lin Ze's perspective, seemed like that of a hungry wolf with green eyes. She immediately shrank into a ball in fear, looking at Lin Ze with dread. She was afraid he would behave as he did in the past—angry outbursts, throwing things around, and then physically attacking Zhang Xiu.
Reflexively, Zhang Liumei pulled her son closer to her, trembling and waving her hands in panic, stuttering, "N-n-no, I-I-I didn't come…"
Although she was clearly terrified, she still tried to protect her son like a mother hen shielding her chicks. Her self-defense and denial, while being utterly afraid, amused Lin Ze. He found her naiveté and self-justification rather entertaining.
Lin Ze smiled and placed the fish he was carrying into a basin. In a playful tone, he said, "Mom, why did you suddenly come today? Did some gossipy women in the village say that I bullied Ah Xiu, and you came to take him away? That won't do. Those gossipmongers never do any good; I'll break their legs later. Ah Xiu is my wife, and I…" can not bear to see him leave…
Before he could finish his sentence, Zhang Liumei was already frightened by the words "break their legs" and ended up sitting on the ground with weak legs.
Zhang Liu Mei looked at Lin Ze as if he were a demon, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She trembled and started crying,
"Uuh, Lin, please don't break their legs! It's all my fault. If you want to hit someone, hit me, but don't hit my Ah Xiu. Uuh, my poor Ah Xiu didn't intend to run away. It was me who asked him to run. We won't run anymore, so please don't hit Ah Xiu… uuh…"
She cried as if she were singing a mournful melody.
Lin Ze's whole body was covered in goosebumps. What was wrong with his mother-in-law? He never said he would hit Ah Xiu, and now she was crying like this…
Wait a minute, what did his mother-in-law say? His wife wanted to run away?
"What did you say? You wanted Ah Xiu to run? To run away… as in escape?"
Lin Ze's expression darkened as he stared at Zhang Liumei, who was crying sorrowfully.
Lin Ze was a seemingly cultured and refined person on the surface, but inside, he was actually like a beast.
He completely lost control when he got angry…
Well, this description may be a bit exaggerated, but it was not far from the truth. Whoever crossed his limit, he did not care who they were, his temper flared up uncontrollably.
Essentially, to Zhang Liumei, he was a stranger, and his attitude towards her depended entirely on Zhang Xiu.
Initially, he was quite happy to see his mother-in-law taking the initiative to visit, but who would have thought she came to instigate his wife to run away!
You tell me, which man could tolerate such a thing happening to him?
Anyway, Lin Ze could not bear it. If his wife wanted to run away, why should he endure anything? His mood immediately turned from sunny to gloomy, and he stared at Zhang Liumei with a somewhat unfriendly expression.
This frightened Zhang Liumei, who was already quite scared. She thought Lin Ze was going to hit her. She knew that this "cultured and refined" Lin Ze was capable of violence.
"I-I-I…"
Zhang Liumei was so scared that she could not speak properly, only stuttering and trembling in her legs.
There was no choice; Lin Ze's fierce look was truly terrifying, not because of his appearance but because of his intimidating aura and gaze.
Thankfully, Zhang Xiu, who was next to them, reacted promptly. He quickly went in front of Lin Ze, trying to pacify him and earnestly wiping the sweat from Lin Ze's forehead, explaining something.
"My husband, my mother was just talking nonsense. She doesn't know how good you've been to me now. She was worried about our future after we separated from the family, so she came to check on me…"
While Zhang Xiu explained with a bitter smile, he winked at Lin Ze, trying hard to defend his mother.
Although he had not known Lin Ze for a very long time, he believed he understood him quite well. This man was not as gentle and refined as he appeared; when he lost his temper, no one could control him.
Moreover, Lin Ze's concern and attachment to him far exceeded his own imagination. Lin Ze could tolerate anything from him, but he would never tolerate the thought of him leaving.
When Lin Ze disclosed his identity to him initially, Lin Ze's domineering attitude insisted on getting a chance to date him, clearly showing how determined he was to win him over.
His husband could be gentle to the point of drowning someone, but he could also be as fierce as a wild beast.
Fortunately, when it came to him, no matter how stormy Lin Ze's mood was, he could suppress it upon hearing Zhang Xiu's voice and regain his composure.
Seeing Zhang Liumei scared like a quail, Lin Ze also realized that he had become somewhat agitated. But there was nothing he could do; the news of Zhang Xiu wanting to run away genuinely upset him, making it impossible to remain calm.
However, this mother-in-law was truly something. Everyone in the village could see how good he had been to Zhang Xiu recently, so why would she still come to take his wife away? He was not the old "Lin Ze" anymore.
But the other party was, after all, his wife's mother. She did such a confusing thing because she cared about her son. If there was anyone to blame, it should be the old "Lin Ze" who left behind a mess.
For Zhang Xiu's sake, Lin Ze comforted himself and found reasons for Zhang Liumei's mistakes.
He put away his stern expression and tried to force a smile, speaking kindly.
"Mother, I was just joking. I can't break anyone's leg, especially not yours. You are Ah Xiu's mother, and I cherish Ah Xiu the most now…"
However, his smile made Zhang Liumei tremble even more, and her face turned even paler.
"I, I, I…" she stammered.
Zhang Liumei clutched her chest, gasping for breath, looking as if she might die of fright at any moment.
Lin Ze: …
Zhang Xiu felt extremely awkward as well. His mother had always been timid, and after being scared by the old "Lin Ze" a few times before, she would become as nervous as a quail every time she saw him.
"Husband, why don't you go cook first? I'll stay and talk to my mother for a while…"
"Okay, I'll go cook then."
Lin Ze touched his nose, observing Zhang Liumei trembling like that. He figured that if he stayed a bit longer, she might really be scared to death.
He was not joking at all.
Zhang Liumei's health was already fragile due to years of hard work, and she was not very courageous. If she was scared too much, there was a 99% chance that she would pass out.
Sure enough, as soon as Lin Ze entered the kitchen with the fish, Zhang Liumei stopped trembling, and her complexion gradually returned to normal.
However, due to her fear of the old "Lin Ze," she dared not continue talking to Zhang Xiu. She was afraid of saying something wrong and causing her son to be beaten later, just as the old "Lin Ze" used to do.
She wanted to leave now, but Lin Ze did not say anything, and she did not have the courage to do so either. Besides, she was worried about her son.
Listening secretly to the sound of the kitchen knife slashing the fish and chopping vegetables, she was trembling with fear. No matter what Zhang Xiu said, she could not control her terror, and her expression was full of fear.
Zhang Xiu felt deeply heartbroken seeing his mother like this; she had become like this because of the old "Lin Ze."
With Zhang Liumei's current state, she might start trembling again when Lin Ze came out of the kitchen. It seemed unlikely that she could even have a meal with them, and the best outcome would be not fainting from fear.
However, Zhang Xiu had not seen his mother in a long time, and he was reluctant to let her leave immediately.
After some thought, Zhang Xiu took a small jar of jam and went to the neighbor's house, asking the neighbor's children to go call Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng to come over and keep his mother company. Having familiar people around would help alleviate her fear.
Coincidentally, Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng also wanted to seek Zhang Xiu's help with their marriage matters. When they heard that Lin Ze's family was having a meal together, they eagerly ran over to join in.
Though it might be embarrassing, missing the chance to have a meal at Lin Ze's place would be a true disaster, considering Lin Ze's cooking skills.
Without hesitation, they felt that Lin Ze's cooking was on par with the taste of local restaurants, and the innovative dishes even had an edge. Opening a restaurant would not be a problem at all.
Unfortunately, Lin Ze did not want the hassle of running a restaurant. Besides, he only enjoyed cooking for Zhang Xiu and had already been forced into selling pastries as a means of survival. After all, he was a scholar preparing for the imperial examination; how could he work as a chef?
So, on the rare occasion they got a chance to have a meal at Lin Ze's place, Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng insisted they would not hold back.
Of course, they could not keep freeloading every time, so when the Zheng and He couple came over, they brought some wild fruits and walnuts they had picked from the mountains. Lin Ze used these ingredients to make bread, and the thoughtful gift was very much appreciated.
For dinner, Lin Ze prepared a dish called "suancai yu"*, which was fish with pickled vegetables. The pickled vegetables had been brought by Lin Sangui before, and they were a staple in rural households, essential for cooking. The fish was purchased from a local villager during his journey, and he managed to get a large piece for just a few pennies, making it quite a good deal.
With a pot of "suancai yu" and a basin of white steamed buns as the main course, this meal in the village was truly a feast comparable to a New Year's celebration. Although Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng knew that Lin Ze's family was generous with their food, they could not help feeling nervous.
Among the whole village, only Lin Ze dared to eat like this. He had absolutely no concept of thrift.
If they did not know that Lin Ze's bread business was making good money, Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng would have surely found the courage to comment on his extravagant eating habits. Following a man who spends more than he earns, there would be no future to look forward to.
Zhang Liumei was even more surprised. She had not paid much attention to what Lin Ze's family ate, but what amazed her was that Lin Ze had actually cooked dinner himself and invited her son to join them at the table. Most importantly, he even took the initiative to serve Zhang Xiu with buns and fish.
In the past, this would have been absolutely impossible. Lin Ze never allowed Zhang Xiu to even enter the main room during meals.
Zhang Liumei was full of surprise and suspicion. Fortunately, now that Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng were there, familiar faces provided some comfort, and she was not as afraid and nervous as before. However, she only dared to pick up some of the pickled vegetables with her chopsticks, avoiding any fish or buns.
If Zhang Xiu was not present, she probably would have ended up eating only pickled vegetables tonight.
Nevertheless, even with Zhang Xiu there, she still did not dare eat too much. Every time Zhang Xiu served her a bite, she would glance at Lin Ze.
Lin Ze felt speechless being watched like that by his mother-in-law. He wanted to reassure her, but as soon as he glanced her way, Zhang Liumei would put down her chopsticks and be on guard.
He even thought of offering her a dish as a gesture of goodwill… but he decided against it. Zhang Liumei might mistake what he offered as something ominous.
Feeling helpless, Lin Ze gave up on trying to communicate with Zhang Liumei and turned to chat with Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng.
Surprisingly, his lack of attention towards her made Zhang Liumei feel relieved, and she started to eat more comfortably.
As Lin Ze observed Zhang Xiu enjoying the buns and fish, he did not say anything but occasionally reached out to offer him dishes. Seeing this, Zhang Liumei began to believe in Zhang Xiu's words from earlier.
It seemed that her son had indeed turned things around, and Lin Ze was gradually changing his mind. She regretted not letting Zhang Xiu sleep with Lin Ze sooner; if she had, Lin Ze would have settled down much earlier.
Wiping away her tears, Zhang Liumei's mind was filled with such strange thoughts.
Luckily, those were all thoughts within her mind, or else the people at the table would have surely burst out laughing and spewed their food.
Today, Zheng Xiaoluo was reminded that he forgot to discuss the cancellation of the plan with Zhang Liumei when she saw her coming over to Lin Ze's house as a "guest." However, thinking that Zhang Xiu had already informed his mother about canceling the runaway plan, Zheng Xiaoluo remained unaware of her accidentally revealing their plan.
Completely oblivious to the fact that she had spilled the beans, Zheng Xiaoluo enjoyed his meal and casually mentioned that he wanted Zhang Xiu and Lin Ze's help in preparing the sweets for the wedding banquet.
"…Ah Xiu, you also know that my father cares a lot about his reputation. He was not very supportive of my marriage with Brother Feng to begin with. If it weren't for Brother Feng's generous betrothal gifts and his good treatment of me, he would never have agreed."
"For this wedding, my father invited some of his friends from the town, and they are all well-exposed to the world. He's afraid the village-style wedding won't be up to their standards, and he'd be upset if he loses face. So,Brother Feng and I thought of entrusting the desserts for the banquet to you. If there are your family's breads on the tables, it will surely enhance the overall quality."
Zheng Xiaoluo's family had a relatively better standing in the village, as his father was a carpenter working in a furniture shop in town. He knew many people in the town and cared about maintaining a good reputation. He had always wanted to marry his Xiao Ger off to someone in town.
However, Zheng Xiaoluo was fond of He Xiangfeng, and it took a lot of effort and persuasion to convince his father to agree to their marriage.
The He family's financial situation was not as good, and they could not afford a grand wedding. But if they had Lin Ze's bread, it would greatly improve the situation. Due to the limited supply, the bread had gained a reputation of being scarce and valuable among the people in town.
Zhang Xiu was well aware of these circumstances. In the past, it was Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng who helped take care of him. Now that they needed help, he could not possibly refuse.
Zhang Xiu nodded immediately.
"No problem. Just prepare the flour and honey, and we'll help you with the rest when the time comes."
This small matter did not require any consultation with Lin Ze. To cultivate his wife's autonomy, Lin Ze entrusted most of the household matters to Zhang Xiu, intervening only in major decisions.
Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng, who had been in frequent contact with them recently, had already gotten used to this arrangement.
It was Zhang Liumei who got scared again. As soon as Zhang Xiu finished speaking, she looked nervously at Lin Ze, afraid that he might get angry at Zhang Xiu for making decisions without consulting him. Even in other households, it would not be appropriate for the wife to make such important decisions independently.
But obviously, what she considered as a "big" matter was just a small issue in Lin Ze's eyes. How could he get angry at his wife for something like this? He would be concerned even if Zhang Xiu lost a single hair, for goodness sake.
Lin Ze thought for a moment and said, "Alright, besides the bread, I'll help you prepare a few other dishes for the banquet. I'll also give you a few 'Love at First Sight' VIP cards to give to Zheng's father's friends in town. That way, he won't lose face…"
In order to please Zhang Xiu, Lin Ze naturally seized the opportunity to showcase his abilities. He was not just helping Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng; he was also supporting his wife's reputation.
Moreover, it was a good chance to advertise their products through Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng's wedding banquet.
When one wanted to earn money quickly without too much effort, what should they do? Of course, they had to make high-quality products. A thin profit margin but high sales volume suits specialized merchants, but for Lin Ze, his main focus was on stable income and saving energy.
