TATSD Chapter 98

Meanwhile, Ji Wei was busy training his employees. Since he had taken mooncakes off the shelves and added pork floss cakes to the menu, he had to rearrange the previous work assignments.

Taking advantage of this transition period for the new product launch, he also had to train them in making pork floss and mayonnaise.

“After the pork is steamed, just like this, use a rolling pin to pound it until the meat separates, like this…”

“The cream needs to be added after the egg yolks are well beaten, or else the sauce will turn out grainy instead of smooth…”

As Ji Wei explained, he demonstrated for the different groups. The workers, who were usually assigned rougher, more physical tasks, were mesmerized by this intricate process.

Now, there were 26 employees contracted to work in the back area. Though it was a bit crowded, everyone had clear roles, and they worked together like a well-oiled machine.

Aside from the teams handling dough and cream, Ji Wei organized the others into four groups to learn meat separation, pork floss cooking, and mayonnaise preparation.

As the boss of Wei Jue, Ji Wei could have managed to make fine pastries for the North Street shop on his own, like the daily cream cakes. But now that he was introducing pork floss cakes, he couldn’t do it all alone. As a manager, he had to think beyond just one shop and consider the multiple Zhang Family Pastry locations.

He wasn’t just a pastry chef; he was a leader.

To keep all the shops running smoothly, he needed to train workers on making cake bases. This was crucial.

Egg cakes, Ji Wei’s most complex and precise pastry, were particularly tricky to master. They looked simple, but one misstep could ruin the result.

He had handpicked two of his most experienced, diligent, and sharp-minded workers. After asking around about their character, he decided to teach them how to make the egg cakes.

It was no easy task.

Ji Wei spent an hour with them, and both were sweating from concentration, yet their egg cakes still turned out dense and deflated, looking more like something hammered flat.

“Ji, I’m just too clumsy for this,” Hong Da said, looking at the failed cake with a wry smile. “Maybe you should pick someone else?”

“Anyone would have the same challenge. You can’t rush this,” Ji Wei reassured him, patting his shoulder. “Take your time. If you can master it in three days, that’ll be a success.”

He hadn’t expected to teach them in a single day anyway.

While the two men cracked new eggs and separated the yolks from the whites, Ji Wei stood by, arms crossed, watching each move closely. “No, no, you need stiff peaks. When you lift the whisk, it should form peaks that don’t droop. Keep going!”

Hong Da redoubled his efforts, nearly overbeating the mixture, but Ji Wei stepped in just in time to correct him.

At that moment, Tian Ge lifted the curtain and hurried inside.

“Boss, the Zhang family sent someone over again.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a man carrying a pole with two baskets entered right behind him.

The Zhang family was their regular supplier, so Ji Wei allowed them to go directly to the backyard, saving him from running to the front each time.

The baskets hung from the pole, small enough that Ji Wei could glimpse something white through the bamboo weave. A black cloth covered the top, concealing the contents.

“What’s this?” Ji Wei walked over and lifted the black cloth, revealing dark brown, round objects inside the basket.

“Coconuts?” Ji Wei exclaimed in surprise.

He couldn’t believe that coconuts, which grew in the far south, had made it to this small town.

But it was late summer, prime coconut season, so perhaps Old Master Zhang had sourced them somehow.

Curious, Ji Wei counted quickly and found about ten coconuts in the baskets. Not too many, but not too few, either.

“Where did you get these?” he asked.

“I’m not sure of the details, but I heard that they were a gift to Old Master Zhang from a friend. And he sent half of them to you, Ji,” the worker said with an envious grin.

“Please thank Old Master Zhang for me. I’ll make sure to visit him soon.”

The worker nodded, taking the pole and empty baskets with him as he left.

Tian Ge helped Ji Wei carry the coconuts inside, unable to contain his curiosity. “Boss, what are these rough, dark things for? Are they edible?”

He touched one, noting the rough, spiky exterior. Judging by Ji Wei’s exchange with the Zhang family’s worker, these were somehow edible?

Ji Wei chuckled. “They’re edible. I’ll let you try some.” He picked up a knife, testing its weight, and grabbed a coconut, pressing down on the top with a sharp jab.

The shell was thick, and even with the force, the blade only wedged into the surface.

Ji Wei didn’t mind. He pulled the knife out and struck it several more times before finally making a small, uneven opening at the top, about two fingers wide.

As soon as the coconut was opened, a light, sweet aroma wafted out. It wasn’t overwhelming but subtle and enticing.

Tian Ge, who had never seen or smelled anything like this, looked amazed. He held the coconut close and took a sniff, “It smells so good! I can’t believe the juice inside is this sweet!”

“If you refrigerate it overnight, it tastes even better.” Ji Wei took two bowls and poured the coconut water out.

Each coconut was sizable, about as large as a human head. Despite their thick shells, they filled the two bowls about three-quarters full.

“Give it a try.” Ji Wei took a sip himself. Though it wasn’t chilled, it was slightly cool, refreshing, and wonderfully sweet, with a flavor distinct from milk.

Tian Ge eagerly licked the last few drops from the bowl’s edge. Just then, the worker from earlier hurried back in, looking flustered. “Ji Gongzi, I forgot to mention—this needs to be…”

“What’s wrong?” Ji Wei put down his bowl, frowning.

“The coconut has to be cracked open for drinking. I forgot to say, but it looks like you figured it out already.” The worker apologized profusely, but Ji Wei waved it off and let him go.

After Tian Ge thanked Ji Wei and left to watch over the front counter, Ji Wei took the empty coconut and smashed it open with a knife. The thick shell split into pieces, revealing the creamy white flesh inside.

The coconuts were large, and scraping out all the flesh produced quite a bit. After preparing two coconuts, Ji Wei filled a big bowl. He chopped the flesh finely, mixed it with cane sugar, and placed it in the bread oven for baking.

The oven’s high heat dried the coconut flesh and melted the sugar, making it crisp. Ji Wei took a small handful and tasted it; the roasting had intensified the coconut’s natural flavor, and the added sugar gave it a pleasant sweetness.

The rich coconut aroma spread through the backyard, distracting the workers, who stole glances at Ji Wei until he noticed and scolded them lightly, prompting them to refocus.

Hearing that the coconuts were a gift from Old Master Zhang’s friend and that the master had shared half with him, Ji Wei knew he had to express his gratitude. He decided to make a coconut dessert to please him.

With an idea in mind, he immediately started gathering ingredients. He prepared a tart crust, then combined the shredded coconut, butter, sugar, coconut water, and eggs, mixing in flour until it formed a dough.

He rolled out the crust into thin rounds, wrapped the coconut filling inside, shaped the tarts, and placed them in the oven.

Though simple to make, the aroma wafting from the baking tarts was incredibly enticing.

“That smells amazing! I’m starving!”

“It’s enough to steal a person’s soul!”

“That Ji lad sure knows a lot, coming up with new treats every day!”

“I’m so hungry I can barely knead the dough.”

Huddled together, the workers whispered to each other, careful not to let Ji Wei hear, as the scent was simply too distracting to ignore.

Once the bread oven vented out some of the smell, the coconut aroma gradually faded, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

The two coconuts yielded just enough for nine tarts, which exceeded Ji Wei’s expectations.

He didn’t wait for them to cool, picking a slightly smaller tart to taste. The crust cracked with a crisp sound, scattering crumbs, while the soft coconut filling burst with flavor, rich yet not cloying. The intense coconut taste easily outshone most pastries.

Finishing the tart in just a few bites, Ji Wei brushed off his hands, packed the remaining eight tarts into a box, and prepared to visit Old Master Zhang.

As he passed by Hong Da and his companion, he paused to inspect the freshly baked egg cakes. Compared to last time, their work had improved significantly, though the cakes were still a bit dense, with a deep crack on top.

“Much better. Next time, remember not to mix the batter too forcefully. Follow the folding technique I showed you,” Ji Wei praised them before gesturing to the table full of test cakes. “I’ll check on your next attempt when I return. You can keep these as a snack.”

Though the cakes weren’t perfect, to these workers, ingredients like milk, eggs, and sugar were rare treats, so even if the taste wasn’t ideal, they were hardly picky.

Besides, the flavor was all there, and the texture was something they couldn’t easily judge without comparison.

As soon as Ji Wei left, they eagerly scrambled for the cakes. If Tian Ge hadn’t been there to keep order, the backyard might have turned chaotic.

Walking along North Street, Ji Wei spotted the Zhang family’s carriage.

Only a handful of people from the Zhang family traveled by carriage, and since Zhang Mingyuan rarely left his residence, it was most likely Old Master Zhang inside.

The driver hadn’t noticed Ji Wei, so he called out loudly, and the driver tugged the reins, bringing the carriage to a halt.

“Is the master in the carriage?” Ji Wei asked.