TATSD Chapter 46

Time had flown by, and it had been over a month since Ji Wei found himself in this new world. From the start of summer to now, nearing the end of June, with the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner in a little over a month, Ji Wei couldn’t help but feel a wave of melancholy.

Saying he didn’t miss home was impossible.

Ji Wei was born into a family of pastry makers and was the youngest of four siblings, with three older sisters. The eldest was a full sixteen years older than him, already well into middle age. Their mother had passed away long ago, leaving only his aging father. Ji Wei couldn’t help but wonder how heartbroken his father and sisters must have been when, in his previous life, he left this world so young.

The thought of this weighed on him, and even though his current life was going quite well, Ji Wei couldn’t shake the feeling of gloom. Liu Yimian, who had been paying close attention to him, noticed and tried different ways to lift his spirits. Sometimes, he would constantly praise Ji Wei’s cleverness and skill, and other times he would cling to him, asking all sorts of questions, keeping Ji Wei so busy that he had no time to dwell on his feelings. Over time, the melancholy gradually faded.

Though Ji Wei’s mood improved, there was still work to be done.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival fast approaching, mooncakes were naturally next on the agenda. As a true Chinese man, what would the festival be without mooncakes?

Ji Wei first went to find Wen Xuan, asking him to draw designs for the mooncake molds according to his specifications. However, Wen Xuan had never seen mooncakes before, so the two had a hard time communicating. After spending several hours, they finally managed to produce a few designs for the mooncake molds Ji Wei needed.

The molds were intricate, requiring not only the Ji family’s emblem but also blessings for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

To make the mooncakes more visually appealing, Ji Wei, relying on his memory, designed several different styles. The mooncakes came in both square and round shapes, varying in size.

Additionally, Ji Wei worked with Wen Xuan to design a flyer to promote the mooncakes.

Wen Xuan, being a scholar, was far better at this than Ji Wei. Citing classical references effortlessly, he filled the flyer with elegant phrases. Paired with illustrations of full moons, osmanthus flowers, and fine wine, the flyer was not only poetic but also brimming with nostalgia, making Ji Wei quite satisfied.

Once he had the designs in hand, Ji Wei hurried off to find the carpenter.

“What are you doing here again? Didn’t I tell you not to come to me anymore?” Carpenter Li was working in his yard. The moment he saw Ji Wei, his face turned sour.

“I’m here to ask you to make something for me. I’ll pay for it!” As soon as Carpenter Li heard Ji Wei mention money, he let out a grunt, feeling a bit relieved.

Li’s house wasn’t far from Ji Wei’s, and over the past month, he had heard all sorts of talk about Ji Wei’s changes. The success of the Ji family business was something he had witnessed firsthand. Since Ji Wei seemed to have turned over a new leaf, Li had no reason to refuse good money. He immediately asked what Ji Wei wanted him to make.

“This is the blueprint. Just follow it,” Ji Wei said, handing over the drawings. The intricate designs made Carpenter Li frown.

Ji Wei quickly asked, “Is it too difficult?”

Carpenter Li shot him a glare. “What do you mean difficult? It’s just that the pieces are small, and the designs are complex, so it’ll take time. When do you need them?”

“No rush. Just finish them as soon as you can. I won’t need them in the next few days.”

“It’ll take at least three or four days. There’s a fair number of them too,” Carpenter Li muttered as he mentally calculated the time needed. First, he had to trace the designs, and then carve them out. Just one mold would take a couple of hours, not to mention there were five different designs.

“The price will be at least this much!” Carpenter Li held up one finger.

“One hundred wen?”

“You think that’s expensive? It’ll take me at least four or five hours!” Li snapped.

Ji Wei knew that Carpenter Li had misunderstood. As long as the molds were made well, he wouldn’t mind paying even double the amount. However, he needed five molds of each design, meaning he would need twenty-five molds in total.

“I’ll pay you five hundred wen if you can make the molds as quickly as possible. They must be sanded smooth and made from high-quality wood. If the work isn’t up to standard, it wouldn’t be worth the money. If they’re done well, I’ll check them, and if any adjustments are needed, we can make them.”

Ji Wei had brought some loose change with him. He took out one hundred wen from his pouch as a deposit and handed it to Carpenter Li.

After settling the mold order, Ji Wei didn’t return home immediately. Instead, he contacted some street thugs through the original owner’s connections.

These hooligans often roamed the four main streets. Ji Wei slipped them some money and had them spread the word about Liu Qing losing money gambling.

Though they were a bit wary of Liu Qing, money can move mountains, and since they weren’t spreading rumors, just being careful wouldn’t get them into trouble. They agreed to Ji Wei’s request and left with the money.

A few days later, the custom mooncake molds were finished, and they turned out exactly as Ji Wei had imagined. The intricate patterns were clear and precise. Satisfied, Ji Wei happily paid the remaining four hundred wen and gathered some materials to make the first batch of mooncakes.

There were four main types of mooncakes: Cantonese, Beijing, Suzhou, and Chaozhou styles. Ji Wei planned to make Cantonese-style and snow-skin mooncakes. Though the latter wasn’t a traditional type of mooncake, it had the advantage of being cost-effective, simple to make, and affordable, making it accessible to the general public.

As for Cantonese-style mooncakes, they were much more skillful to make. Even with the same ingredients, different hands could produce different flavors. The ratio of sugar to oil was extremely strict.

Ji Wei planned to hire help to make the snow-skin mooncakes, but the Cantonese-style ones would have to be made by him.

The key to making Cantonese-style mooncakes was the golden syrup. Using sugar and vinegar, it had to be simmered over low heat until it turned a translucent red, thick and sticky, with a sweet and sour taste. Properly sealed, the syrup could last for years. To save time for future batches, Ji Wei bought a large quantity of sugar and vinegar and simmered a big jar of syrup, most of which he sealed for later use.

He sifted the flour into a mixture made with lard, alkaline water, salt, and syrup, forming a dough that he let rest at room temperature. Meanwhile, he steamed the soaked red beans until they were soft, then mashed them and fried them with oil and sugar into a smooth, sweet bean paste.

The secret to good Cantonese mooncakes lies in the exact ratio of sugar and oil. A slight miscalculation could result in the crust cracking or separating from the filling.

The dough and the bean paste were rolled into balls and pressed into round shapes using molds, leaving intricate patterns on top. Finally, a layer of egg yolk wash was brushed on the surface, and when baked, the mooncakes had a thin crust with plenty of filling. They were uniformly shaped, with a reddish-brown outer skin and detailed, embossed patterns, making them appear remarkably elegant. Compared to ordinary pastries, the difference in quality was obvious.

It happened to be the day when Liu Yimian was scheduled to visit the Zhang family, so Ji Wei brought the packaged mooncakes and accompanied him.

The same servant opened the door. He smiled warmly upon seeing Liu Yimian, but when he noticed Ji Wei behind him, the smile quickly faded, and he reluctantly opened the door further.

“Aren’t you the one delivering? Why is he here again?”

“Brother Ji has some business with the Zhang family. Would you kindly make way?”

Liu Yimian, with his pleasant demeanor, sweet words, and frequent smiles, was well-liked by everyone in the Zhang household. Since the servant had a previous quarrel with Ji Wei, Liu Yimian had been extra attentive, often complimenting him or saying nice things about Ji Wei.

The servant, used to being scolded, was taken aback by the praise and grew fond of Liu Yimian. But the more he liked Liu Yimian, the more he disliked Ji Wei, thinking it unfair that a bully could have someone speak so well of him, while he, hardworking as he was, still got reprimanded regularly.

Once the two passed by, the servant grumbled under his breath.

“Seems like you get along well with him,” Ji Wei remarked casually.

Liu Yimian quickly clarified, “It’s nothing. Just a few words exchanged when he opens the door for me.”

“Why are you so nervous?” Ji Wei asked with a faint smile.

Liu Yimian fell silent and led Ji Wei to the main hall, instructing a servant to fetch Scholar Zhang. He now appeared much more composed and confident compared to his first nervous visit.

“It was the right decision to bring you here,” Ji Wei said.

“Huh? What did you say?” Liu Yimian hadn’t quite caught it.

“Nothing.”

When Zhang Mingyuan learned that Liu Yimian and Ji Wei had arrived together, he eagerly headed to the main hall.

As expected, Ji Wei had brought something delicious.

“Brother Ji, what have you brought this time?” Zhang Mingyuan hadn’t been like this before, but after getting used to Ji Wei’s gifts, he found himself eagerly anticipating them. After hearing from Liu Yimian that Ji Wei had made something new called a ‘mooncake’ for the Mid-Autumn Festival, he had been excited. Every time he read poetry or thought of the festival, the thought of mooncakes crossed his mind, and he had been eagerly awaiting Ji Wei’s arrival.

“This is called a mooncake, a special creation for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Would you like to try it, Scholar Zhang?” Ji Wei casually unwrapped one.

The first batch was filled with red bean paste, a simple flavor that required less effort. However, when Ji Wei planned to sell them in larger quantities, he intended to offer four varieties: lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk, red bean paste, sesame and peanut, and pork filling—both sweet and savory options to suit most people’s preferences.

Zhang Mingyuan’s eyes lit up at the sight of the mooncake. “This is incredibly delicate! The intricate patterns are like a work of art. You must have had a special mold made for this.” Many pastries required molds, but most were simple. This mooncake, with its embossed patterns along the edges and floral and script designs on top, was a work of craftsmanship.

Taking a bite, Zhang Mingyuan found the crust soft and fragrant, rich with the aroma of oil. The red bean paste was not overly sweet, perfectly smooth, and luscious without being cloying. Combined with the symbolic meaning of the mooncake, it stood out as a particularly unique pastry.

“This is excellent! I’ll have my father place an order before the Mid-Autumn Festival. When friends and family visit, it’ll make the perfect gift.” Zhang Mingyuan had a servant call for his father, who was strolling in the garden, and soon the elder Zhang was assisted into the main hall.

Zhang Mingyuan explained the mooncake’s concept to his father, who tasted a piece and grew intrigued. He instructed a servant to prepare tea and snacks, and then engaged Ji Wei in conversation about the mooncake.

“You plan to sell these before Mid-Autumn?”

“Yes, starting about two weeks before the festival.”

“These mooncakes aren’t cheap, I imagine. And not everyone will be familiar with them. How do you plan to sell them?” Zhang’s father, a seasoned businessman, had accumulated his family’s wealth over a lifetime and immediately pointed out the potential challenges in Ji Wei’s plan.

But Ji Wei had come prepared.

“I’ve already thought about it, sir. Please take a look at this.” Ji Wei handed over a promotional leaflet. The elder Zhang squinted at it for a while before stroking his beard in satisfaction.

“Not bad, quite a clever idea. However—”

Zhang’s father soon raised another issue: not everyone was literate, and distributing promotional leaflets could be difficult.

“The county school is certainly a good place to start, but its reach is limited,” the elder Zhang said with a kind smile. “Let me ask you: what is something that every literate person must have?”

Ji Wei pondered for a moment. “Books? Paper? Pens?”

The elder Zhang chuckled without answering, but a light bulb went off in Ji Wei’s mind. He slapped the table and stood up. “I’ve got it! Books!”

“I have an old friend who might be able to help you with this, but I have one condition.”

“Please, go ahead, sir,” Ji Wei said respectfully, bowing slightly.

Ji Wei was intelligent, but not a natural-born businessman. In certain areas, he still lacked foresight. For example, the elder Zhang had just pointed out the problem of limited distribution, something Ji Wei hadn’t yet considered. Following his advice, Ji Wei could have the promotional leaflets inserted directly into books, reaching every literate person in the area.

In an instant, this would expand his market, introducing mooncakes to a much wider audience. It was far more efficient than having Wen Xuan handwrite or illustrate individual flyers.

Realizing the brilliance of this idea, Ji Wei was filled with admiration for the elder Zhang.