TATSD Chapter 47

“As soon as Old Master Zhang said, ‘I want you to sell the mooncakes for me,’ the drooping lids of his eyes instantly lifted, revealing a sharpness that hadn’t been there before. His whole demeanor changed, becoming commanding as he fixed his gaze on Ji Wei, as if he was certain Ji Wei couldn’t possibly refuse.

And truthfully, Ji Wei had no reason to decline. If Old Master Zhang could help him settle the matter, it would mutually benefit both sides.

Old Master Zhang had his eyes on the potential of mooncakes, and Ji Wei valued the old man’s connections. The Zhang family had businesses in several nearby towns and some in the city. If they truly partnered up, the mooncake business would be profitable—not just locally, but perhaps even in the city.

‘If Old Master Zhang truly intends to work with me, then we need to discuss the details. Would you handle the mooncake promotions yourself? If so, I could take it easy,’ Ji Wei said casually, glancing at Liu Yimian, motioning for him to leave with Zhang Mingyuan to not waste any more of his study time.

Liu Yimian obediently bid Old Master Zhang farewell and left with Zhang Mingyuan.

‘It’s not a difficult task,’ Old Master Zhang stroked his beard, eyeing Ji Wei carefully. ‘Is there anything else you haven’t told me? Spit it out.’

Indeed, there was one more thing Ji Wei hadn’t mentioned.

When he went to see Wen Xuan, the idea occurred to him: if he wanted to target the high-end market, how could mooncakes be without packaging? But packaging required printing, and it wasn’t feasible for Wen Xuan to draw every design by hand. There was no printing shop in Changliu Town, and this problem bothered Ji Wei for days. It wasn’t until he met Old Master Zhang that a solution became clear.

As expected, without connections, progress was impossible.

Ji Wei discussed the packaging issue with Old Master Zhang.

Though the Zhang family started in the rice business, they have since expanded into various trades, collaborating with different merchants.

A year ago, someone they knew had opened a candy shop and went all out with the packaging to make their product stand out. That person sought Old Master Zhang’s help to connect with a printing shop, even offering a share of the profits just to secure the deal. In the end, the brightly-colored candy wrappers hit the market and became a sensation, leaving their competitors far behind and making the shop highly successful.

This incident stirred up plenty of talk in the local area, and the candy shop soon became a go-to source for large households during festivals, securing a steady stream of loyal customers.

Old Master Zhang’s eyes glimmered as he said slowly, ‘Have you heard of the Tang Candy Shop?’

‘What?’ Ji Wei asked.

‘Your packaging idea coincides with what Manager Tang came up with. Last year, his new candy shop succeeded precisely because of this approach.’ After hearing this, Ji Wei couldn’t help but admire Manager Tang’s foresight, as it was a brilliant strategy.

What Ji Wei didn’t realize was that food packaging was already common practice in larger markets. It was only in remote places like Changliu Town that such innovations seemed novel and quickly captivated the local populace.

But Ji Wei’s packaging plan was still different. While candy wrappers were soft, he wanted hard packaging—boxes made from stiff paper, folded into shape, with six small boxes combined into one larger one. It would be the kind of mooncake gift box commonly seen in his previous life, perfect for gift-giving, both thoughtful and impressive.

After hearing Ji Wei’s idea, Old Master Zhang’s appreciation for his talent deepened.

Ji Wei had explained that his mooncakes would be divided into two categories, targeting different markets. For ordinary people, the simpler and cheaper the better. But for those with status and wealth, the priority was how presentable and prestigious the gift appeared. With Ji Wei’s plan, there was no doubt the mooncakes would sell, and they might even become a hot commodity.

‘Excellent! We’ll do as you say!’ Old Master Zhang slapped the table with enthusiasm, his spirits soaring.

Many people saw the Zhang family as wealthy and successful, but few knew that the family business had stagnated in recent years, hitting a bottleneck in its development.

Old Master Zhang’s only son was intelligent but had no interest in managing the family business, focusing instead on studying for official exams. Now a scholar, Old Master Zhang had given up on involving him in the business and had gradually handed over operations to trusted managers, spending his days in leisure around the estate.

Who would have thought that one day he’d meet a talent like Ji Wei! His endless stream of creative ideas left Old Master Zhang deeply impressed.

Old Master Zhang stroked his beard, repeatedly praising Ji Wei. When Ji Wei asked what was on his mind, he didn’t explain, just smiled kindly, like a benevolent elder.

The discussion was over, and Ji Wei was about to leave. But since he had come with Liu Yimian, there was no way he would leave him behind and head home alone.

With nothing else to do, Ji Wei sat in the hall, casually chatting with Old Master Zhang. Eventually, their conversation turned to some recent events Ji Wei had heard about.

‘My rice shop on South Street was extorted again recently. This is the third time this month.’ Old Master Zhang tapped the table, observing Ji Wei’s reaction, knowing full well that Ji Wei used to run with Liu Qing’s gang.

‘Seems like he’s desperate,’ Ji Wei said, sipping tea and casually mentioning the bet he had made with Liu Qing.

‘Word on the street is he lost some money gambling,’ Old Master Zhang remarked.

‘Is that so? No wonder he’s having such a hard time. On one side, he’s hemorrhaging money, and on the other, he’s in debt. No surprise he’s out extorting people—it’s bound to stir public anger,’ Ji Wei replied knowingly, secretly pleased.

Liu Qing had been extorting shopkeepers, sparking outrage among the merchants. One of them, braver than the rest, had fought back, and the others had joined in. After a brawl, Liu Qing left humiliated, collecting very little money and nursing a few bruises.”

This matter had become the talk of the town; it seemed everyone knew about it.

“The county office is too far away, and some people truly think they can be kings of the hill. They’re sorely mistaken,” Old Master Zhang remarked with a pointed tone, already planning when he’d meet with Lu Zhanhong to file a report.

This unruly behavior had to be curbed. If it continued, it would not only lead to financial losses but also spread fear and unease among the people.

Old Master Zhang, now elderly, had been sitting for over half an hour and could no longer endure it. He instructed a servant to take care of Ji Wei before slowly making his way back to his room, supported by a cane.

Not long after, Liu Yimian ran out, clutching a book.

From a distance, he spotted Ji Wei still sitting there and excitedly rushed over. Breathless, he raised the book in his hand and exclaimed, “Zhang Xiucai praised me for being smart—he said I have a talent for studying!”

“Why are you running? Look at you, completely out of breath,” Ji Wei gently wiped the sweat from Liu Yimian’s forehead and scolded softly, “Didn’t I say I’d wait for you? When have I ever lied to you?”

Liu Yimian clutched the book and grinned foolishly at Ji Wei.

It was the first time since coming to the Zhang household that Zhang Xiucai had praised him!

Ji Wei’s heart softened at the sight. He poked Liu Yimian’s forehead and sighed helplessly, “Alright, you’re the best. Mianmian is the smartest in the world. Let’s head home now.”

“Mhm!” Liu Yimian nodded enthusiastically, grabbing Ji Wei’s sleeve as he stood up to follow him.

After a few steps, Ji Wei realized what had happened. He glanced at the hand holding his sleeve, feeling a touch of warmth in his heart, but he said nothing.

As they left the Zhang household, both slowed their pace. Just before reaching the end of the alley, they ran into someone head-on.

When Ji Wei saw it was Sister Lin, his heart sank, and he quickly lowered his head, trying to walk past her. But Sister Lin stepped aside, blocking their way, and coldly stared at Ji Wei.

“It’s been a few days. Judging by your complexion, things must be going well for you,” she said. Sister Lin had grown noticeably thinner since the last time they met, and her delicate, willow-like figure made her even more pitiable as she stood there.

Ji Wei glanced at her before averting his gaze. He immediately understood why the original Ji Wei, as overbearing as he had been, had taken a liking to Sister Lin.

It was all a tangled mess of ill-fated relationships.

Ji Wei’s sleeve suddenly loosened.

Liu Yimian had let go of his hand and taken a step back, hiding behind Ji Wei. He timidly raised his head to look at Sister Lin.

What a beautiful woman.

Even though Liu Yimian knew she was a widow, he couldn’t help but admire her beauty.

Ji Wei reached out and pulled Liu Yimian to his side, giving him a reassuring pat on the arm. To Sister Lin, however, this gesture felt like a provocation.

“You two look so affectionate—what am I to you, then?” Sister Lin threw down her empty tofu box and rushed over, slapping Ji Wei hard across the face. “Ji! Who was it that promised to marry me? And who is it now pretending I don’t exist?”

Sister Lin’s tears flowed freely as she bombarded him with questions.

If it weren’t for his threats and sweet promises back then, how could she have ever been with him? Now that he had gotten what he wanted, he was tossing her aside, acting as if they had never met. Men were truly heartless creatures!

“Sister Lin, this situation is complicated. Why don’t we go inside and talk?” Ji Wei suggested, noticing that many neighbors had opened their doors to watch the commotion. He didn’t want this to blow up, as it wouldn’t benefit anyone, so he proposed they discuss things at her place.

“What, you’re too scared to face it now? I’m saying it right here. If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’m not going anywhere!” she shouted. After all, even if they didn’t openly acknowledge it, everyone nearby knew about their relationship. They were just pretending not to.

“Sister Lin, I was wrong back then. How about this? If you ever need help, I’ll be there for you. And when you find someone you truly want to be with, I’ll cover your dowry. How does that sound?” Ji Wei stepped closer, speaking softly, his tone full of apology. After all, he was in the wrong, and it wasn’t unreasonable for Sister Lin to be so upset.

For a woman, her reputation was everything. Even though Sister Lin was a widow, she was sensitive to the daily gossip and could no longer endure it. If she hadn’t still harbored some hope, she might have thrown herself into the well by now. She wouldn’t have come looking for Ji Wei otherwise.

How laughable it was that she had still held onto her hopes. Hearing his words, her heart finally broke.

“Fine, fine! Men, all your sweet words are nothing but lies. You’re all the same!” Sister Lin laughed bitterly, taking two steps back. Her eyes drifted upwards, staring blankly at the sky for a while, before suddenly charging forward. She slammed her head against a brick wall, leaving a large bloodstain before collapsing limply to the ground.

Liu Yimian screamed in terror, his face ashen as he watched Ji Wei rush over to cradle Sister Lin, calling her name over and over. But Sister Lin only glared at Ji Wei with hatred, her breath weakening.

“This is bad—we need to get a doctor right away!” Ji Wei quickly scooped up Sister Lin in his arms, forgetting all about Liu Yimian as he rushed towards Xinglintang, the local clinic.

He ran so fast that he was out of sight in no time.

Liu Yimian stood there for a long while, then suddenly covered his face and began to sob.