Back to that day three years ago, it seemed like he could see again the narrow, cramped alley adorned with lanterns, red silk streamers hanging across the street.
The drummers were crowded at the Shen family’s door, and the atmosphere was indeed very festive.
The dowry chests and boxes were piled up in the small courtyard, and the newly made four-person sedan chair was already parked at the alley entrance.
According to tradition, the bride’s feet could not touch the ground before she left.
But Sister Shen didn’t have an elder brother, and Ji Ge’er was still young.
It was he, after the wedding had been arranged, who, as her sworn brother, carried her to the sedan chair.
Sister was in a green dress with a red veil, holding a round fan, like a light and agile swallow, resting on his back.
Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, and Gu Tusu’s eyes became hot, almost unable to stand.
To this day, he could still remember that day.
Because that day was the closest he had ever been to Sister Shen, and also the furthest.
The joyful sounds and auspicious greetings from family and friends filled the air, and as they walked the short distance, he felt as though every step was heavy, getting slower with each one.
When they reached the sedan chair, he even hesitated to let go.
It was only when the matchmaker urged him repeatedly that he finally gritted his teeth and crouched down.
Sister Shen got into the sedan, her face hidden behind the fan, and with a clear voice, she said her final two sentences:
“Gu Er Ge, thank you.”
Gu Tusu stood up, keeping his head lowered, just extending his hand to adjust her green wedding gown’s accessories.
“Ah Miao…” His voice was hoarse and trembling.
In the Song Dynasty, a woman’s private name couldn’t be casually spoken by anyone other than her parents or husband.
People usually addressed each other by titles or rankings.
But he couldn’t help it; the name he had called out in his heart countless times slipped from his lips, for the first and last time.
“If that Rong family treats you poorly, write to me, and I will support you.”
At that moment, Sister Shen froze, not yet speaking, and the matchmaker angrily pushed him aside.
“Pah, pah, pah, young man from the Gu family, on such a joyous day, why are you saying such unlucky things? The good time has come, let’s lift the sedan!”
He was shoved aside like a statue, nearly stumbling, his eyes blank as he looked at his own hand.
In his heart, he thought that once he let go, he and Sister Shen would be forever parted.
From that moment on, she would be married to someone else.
A wave of emotion surged in his chest, and as the joyous music played, he suddenly looked up, only to see the red curtains of the sedan being lifted.
Amidst the noise, Sister Shen moved the fan slightly, revealing a pair of smiling eyes, and softly called out to him:
“Gu Er Ge, I’m leaving. Take care.”
The sound of the suona rose sharply, the drums thundering, firecrackers exploded, and Sister Shen’s voice seemed to shatter and fade into the wind.
The sedan swayed and left, and the familiar, gentle eyes he had once known were concealed again by the swaying curtains.
That feeling of impulse ultimately dissipated in those eyes.
Yes, no matter what, he wished her well, a lifetime of happiness.
But in the end, nothing turned out as he had wished.
The Shen family was gone, and Sister Shen returned alone.
But once he had let go, there was no turning back.
Who told him to be so humble back then, not daring to compete with the graceful and scholarly Rong Dalang?
If only he had been braver back then…
If only he had confessed his feelings to Sister Shen…
Now… it was too late for regrets.
He looked up, exhaled a deep breath, and wiped his eyes with his hand, without lifting his head again, he turned and closed the door behind him.
After Shen Miao spoke, she felt a sense of relief.
She didn’t want to let anyone down, but sometimes she couldn’t go against her own heart, nor could she pretend.
Cooking and making food couldn’t be faked, and she believed living life was the same.
She happily swung her hands as she entered the kitchen, her hand instinctively grasping the knife handle.
She performed a perfect knife flourish out of habit, and her heart calmed down.
She didn’t want to think too much anymore.
For today’s lunch, she decided to make some delicious meat rolls!
She began chopping the meat, making the meat rolls was quite simple—after mixing flour with water and kneading the dough, it needed to rest for 15 minutes.
The meat filling was minced, seasoned with salt, oil, soy sauce, her homemade thirteen-spice powder, and chives, then mixed together.
The dough was rolled out thin, as thin as paper, then the meat filling was spread on top and rolled up layer by layer.
After cutting into sections, the rolls were steamed for about 15 minutes.
Once the meat rolls were done, they were tender and fragrant, filled with juicy meat, and could be dipped in sauce, making them even tastier!
In addition to the green onion and meat filling, the rolls could also be made with pickled vegetables, sauced meats, or spicy meat fillings.
Each variety was equally delicious, and in Shen Miao’s mind, all of them were dishes so good that one could eat them until dizzy.
Just as the rolls were placed in the steamer, Xiang Jie came, attracted by the aroma.
She had been busy at home and hadn’t noticed that, while she was talking to Gu Tusu just now, someone had actually been standing at the entrance of the alley, overhearing her entire speech about life’s fate.
In the bustling market, Xie Qi carried a large woven book box on his back, and his companion, Yan Shu, was empty-handed, patiently leading a shiny, dark donkey from Dezhou with one hand and holding a bundle of bedding and two boxes of books with the other.
The three of them and the donkey were turning off from Yangliu East Alley, entering a lively street market.
Yan Shu, feeling a bit down, asked:
“Why didn’t you stop Shen Niangzi earlier? Didn’t we come to buy egg yolk pastries to bring to the academy as a gift for Dr. Yao?”
Xie Qi hadn’t answered, lost in thought for a while, before laughing.
“My fate is in my hands, not in the heavens? It really is a good phrase, I wonder which play it’s from? In Bianjing, with so many different plays, I haven’t heard this one, maybe it’s from Jinling’s theater? I’d like to know what story it tells.”
Yan Shu, still dragging the stubborn donkey, muttered to himself.
They walked for a while before Xie Qi came to his senses and realized:
“Oh right, we haven’t bought the egg yolk pastries yet…”
Yan Shu gritted his teeth in frustration:
“…It’s too late to go back now!”
Xie Qi thought for a moment and paid a few coins to a passerby, asking him to send a letter to the Xie family.
The man, hearing it was from the Xie family in West Bell Drum Alley, nodded eagerly and agreed.
“Let Zheng Neizhi send someone to Shen Niangzi’s house to buy some and send them to the academy. Even if we go now, Shen Niangzi wouldn’t be able to make them in time.”
Xie Qi had originally not wanted anyone to know he was going to such lengths for food, but now he had no choice.
Yan Shu’s face lit up with joy, pulling on Xie Qi’s sleeve, pleading,
“Those egg yolk pastries were so delicious! After tasting them last time, I’ve been thinking about them nonstop. This time, please leave one for me! I won’t be greedy, just one is enough.”
“Has there ever been a time when I didn’t save you some food? Let’s hurry up. If we keep dawdling, we’ll see how you get back later.”
The trio walked further away.
Half an hour later, at the entrance of Yangliu East Alley, horses and carts neighed, and the residents of the alley opened their doors and windows slightly to peer out.
A well-dressed middle-aged man was standing at the Shen family’s door—wasn’t that Zheng Neizhi from the Xie family?
He was knocking on the Shen family’s door again!
Everyone became alert, and some couldn’t resist, opening their doors to watch curiously.
Shen Miao opened the door, surprised to see Zheng Neizhi.
Then, noticing the neighbors’ curious eyes, she felt a little helpless: all her grand speeches from earlier were for nothing, and now she couldn’t wash away the rumors.
But Shen Miao still greeted him properly, asking,
“What brings you here, Zheng Neizhi? Is there something important?”
Zheng Neizhi laughed heartily and said:
“Indeed, I have two good pieces of news. One, our Ninth Master specifically sent me to buy fifty more egg yolk pastries to bring to the academy as gifts for the doctors”.
“The other, my old lady had a taste of Shen Niangzi’s egg yolk pastries recently and has been craving them ever since. But the family cooks couldn’t replicate them, so my wife sent me to ask if we could buy the recipe from you to avoid running around buying them.”
It seemed that the pastries she had given to Xie Ji Ge’er had done him a big favor.
Shen Miao was taken aback for a moment, then quickly changed her expression, smiling as she opened the gate wide.
The store manager Wei had previously refused to buy her red bean rolls recipe because it was too easy to replicate, and if the competitors copied it, he’d lose everything.
But the Xie family didn’t have this concern.
Her eyes sparkled, and she warmly invited Zheng Neizhi inside:
“I see, please come in, let’s discuss this matter in detail… Ji Ge’er! Ji Ge’er! Don’t study anymore! Come make some tea for your sister”!
“ Xiang Jie! Stop playing with the chicken! You’re making it all ruffled! Go to the kitchen and get some of the cookies I just baked for guests!”
“Also make sure to wash your hands!”
The God of Wealth had come to her door again.
As for the rumors, who cared!