Chapter 308: What Did the Consort of the Heir Apparent Lose?

Yan Yu nodded, “We’ve made quite a few. Uncle even carved a mold for it. Oh, Dad, remember the thing about the mold, don’t let it slip.”

Yan Lao’er listened, feeling rather speechless. How many things have you been up to while I was away?

“What else? Just tell me everything at once, so I don’t contradict you when I’m with your uncle.”

Yan Yu lay down, pulling the quilt over herself, her little mouth chattering away.

As Yan Lao’er listened, he felt that the family couldn’t do without him. See, he’s needed everywhere.

“We need to sell the mooncakes and hunt pigs. Tomorrow morning, I’ll first go to Yongning to check the market. If they sell well, we’ll make more. If not, we’ll just fulfill the orders from the villagers.” Yan Lao’er made up his mind.

His eyelids began to droop.

In the past two days, he could count the moments he had closed his eyes. Lying on his own warm kang bed, he couldn’t resist the temptation.

In the middle of talking, he fell asleep.

The sound of snoring gradually rose.

Li Xuemei moved the quilt to the side, and Yan Yu crawled over, chuckling, and turned her father onto his side.

The snoring stopped immediately.

Yan Yu crawled back to her own bed, mission accomplished.

…

Yan Lao’er had been to Yongning City several times and was familiar enough at the city gate. He skillfully paid the copper coins, and the whole family entered the city.

Daya stayed close to her aunt, keeping her head low.

The sounds of vendors shouting and the bustling noise of the street tempted her to lift her eyes for a peek, and soon she was entranced.

The Mid-Autumn Festival^[1] is not only a symbol of reunion but also marks the end of a year of hard work for farmers, with the harvest soon approaching.

This year, Guanzhou had an especially good harvest, making the streets of Yongning even more bustling.

The shops on the street were all holding festive activities.

Red lanterns were hung up, and red paper was pasted everywhere.

The city was filled with street vendors, some selling fruits, some flowers, and some country folks bringing chicken cages to sell in the city, standing awkwardly at street corners, waiting for inquiries…

The pastry shops were crowded with people coming and going.

Outside the shop, tables were set up, and the staff were enthusiastically greeting customers, with auspicious words flowing continuously.

The mooncakes wrapped in oiled paper with red paper on top were the best sellers.

Three staff members were designated: one for shouting out, one for bringing people inside to pay and collect goods, and one specifically for serving big clients, selling mooncakes in premium wooden boxes.

What a well-organized division of labor.

And business was indeed booming.

Few bought just one set; most bought at least two, and some were clearly from wealthy families, taking away mooncakes in wooden boxes by cart.

The paper-wrapped mooncakes at the pastry shop sold for fifty qian^[2], with only four pieces inside.

That meant each mooncake cost over twelve qian.

Yan Lao’er thought for a moment and finally gritted his teeth and bought a package.

It’s not enough to know how many pieces there are; he also needed to see what their mooncakes looked like and taste them to set a price for their own.

The family found a back street and opened the package.

First, they checked the size, then the mold.

“The size is about the same. They have patterns on top, we have characters, so it’s a tie,” Yan Yu biasedly commented.

Li Xuemei offered a fair opinion, “Although there’s no writing on their mold, their red paper says ‘Good Fortune and Prosperity.’ For this good omen, people might be willing to spend a few extra qian.”

Yan Lao’er broke one piece and shared it with Li Xuemei, giving the remaining three to the children.

Yan Yu took a bite, “Hmm, there’s candied fruit.”

“This is fruit filling,” Daya whispered.

Yan Xiangheng said, “Mine’s dried fruit too.”

“Five-nut filling^[3], with candied fruit inside,” Li Xuemei added.

Yan Lao’er chuckled, “Heh, isn’t that a coincidence? It’s different from ours. Our mooncakes should sell well, but we need to cut them into small pieces for people to see and taste. The loss will be included in the cost, so we might not make much money from these mooncakes.”

He gave the three of them a heads-up.

So they wouldn’t have too high expectations and be disappointed when tallying up the accounts.

“Even a little is money! If we don’t sell mooncakes, we won’t earn a single copper coin!” Yan Yu said.

Yan Lao’er chuckled, looking at his daughter’s mindset. She’s a natural at small business!

No problem, that’s the way to think.

Can’t earn big money, don’t look down on small money, then what? Wait for pies to fall from the sky?

Yan Lao’er didn’t take them to the South Market, instead finding a residential alley to sell.

“Mooncakes, delicious and affordable, perfect for gifting to friends and family during the festival, for a full moon and family reunion!”

“Your mooncakes don’t have red paper!” a woman came over, picking fault.

“Homemade, didn’t prepare much, sorry about that. But our mooncakes are tasty and cheap, with both sweet and savory flavors. Try it, see which you like better.” Yan Lao’er said with a smile.

Li Xuemei promptly handed over the prepared tasting pieces.

With food offered to her mouth, how could she not eat?

The woman didn’t hesitate, finishing it off.

Seeing the mooncakes also had characters on them, only missing the red paper, she asked, “How much for a package?”

“Six per package, half sweet, half savory, fifty qian.”

The woman calculated in her mind, six, two more than the pastry shop!

“Alright, give me two packages.”

Yan Lao’er agreed, signaling Daya to hand them over.

He collected the money and handed it to Yan Xiangheng.

“Eldest Nephew, this is for you.” He then said to Li Xuemei, “I’ll take a few packages of mooncakes to visit some people.”

“Go ahead.” Li Xuemei nodded, “The three of us are enough.”

Yan Yu followed her father to maintain customer relations.

The mooncakes for visiting were individually wrapped, with only four pieces inside.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, those responsible for purchasing in these households were busy. Seeing him bring mooncakes was a delight, and they warmly gave Yan Yu walnuts and peanuts as snacks.

After visiting several families, Yan Yu collected a pile of various snacks and treats.

Yan Yu was overjoyed.

Yan Lao’er was even happier. The mooncakes weren’t given in vain; old customers continued to support his business, placing orders for charcoal and scented soap as well.

However, he’s a man of his word with his wife, promising a fixed monthly output.

He clearly explained that there would only be this amount each month, once sold out, that’s it.

It turned into a sort of scarcity marketing, prompting them to order two more pieces.

In the countryside Grand Market, the scented soap that didn’t sell well was just a daily consumable for these wealthy families in Yongning City.

After visiting all the households, Yan Lao’er took Yan Yu to the bustling South Market.

They didn’t buy anything, just mingled where the crowds were.

Don’t underestimate these small stalls; information spreads quickly.

As Yan Lao’er expected, the newlywed Consort of the Heir Apparent was still a hot topic, with many discussing her.

Some talked about the grand occasion when the Consort of the Heir Apparent entered the mansion, others mentioned she was from the south and not accustomed to Guanzhou’s weather, reportedly falling ill upon arrival.

Some even said the Consort of the Heir Apparent encountered a petty thief on the road, and who knows what was stolen, but it must have been valuable, or they wouldn’t have sent people searching along the way. That thief must have struck it rich…

Yan Lao’er and Yan Yu listened intently, exchanging glances.

(End of this chapter)