With the manpower available, what kind of pastries should be sold in this shop is another problem.
Among the four orchids I bought, there was one orchid named Qingzhu who was a cook. She could make sugar cookies and jujube cakes, but these snacks were not unusual. Qingzhu made The taste is just mediocre, not enough to support a pastry shop.
"Go buy some hawthorn and brown sugar, and I'll teach Qingzhu how to make candied haws." Li Changan thought for a while and quickly found an easy dessert.
Candied haws appeared in the Song Dynasty. At this time, there is no such snack that has lasted for thousands of years.
"Candied haws, do you have to use gourds to make cakes? And what kind of sugar is this rock candy?" Qingzhu asked in a low voice, pinching the corner of her clothes.
She only thought that her new master was a young lady from a wealthy family, so although she spoke cautiously, she was not too reserved.
"You'll know after a while," Li Changan said.
This place is not far from Dongshi, and Li Changan quickly bought what he wanted.
Then Li Changan directed Qingzhu to put it on the pot, add a ladle of water, then add two ladles of brown sugar and water into the pot, and cook over low heat until it bubbles out.
The sugar water quickly boils into caramel color. It is much easier to boil brown sugar into caramel color than rock sugar.
"Take a chopstick and dip it in it, then put it in cold water and run it through again."
Qingzhu did as he was told, leaving a glistening icing on the chopsticks, which meant that it had been cooked for enough time.
The stove in the back kitchen of this shop is for adults. Li Changan is now just half a head taller than the stove. He can only direct Qingzhu to work by stepping on a crescent moon stool.
At this time, another Hu Ji had also threaded the washed hawthorns onto bamboo sticks.
Li Changan directed Qingzhu to quickly wrap the hawthorns in sugar. After a moment, the candied haws, which were slightly brownish-red but still crystal clear, were neatly placed on the porcelain plate. The crystal clear sugar coating wrapped the bright red hawthorns, which was very beautiful.
"It's like a gourd on a string. No wonder the little lady named it the candied haws." The waiters in the shop all gathered around the candied haws in admiration.
Even the guards who had been following Li Changan couldn't help but take a look.
"How about a taste?" Li Changan had already picked up a bunch as he spoke.
Take a bite and the sweet and sour taste explodes on your tongue.
It's not as delicious as the ones she made in the palace before.
After all, the sugar and hawthorns sent to the palace as tribute were of the best quality, but what was used today was just ordinary brown sugar and hawthorns bought from the East.
It was the first time for the others to eat the sweet and sour candied haws, and they all gave thumbs up.
"This old man has lived for fifty years, and this is the first time he has eaten such delicious cakes." Du Zheng and Du Qing, two old men, praised Li Changan to the best of his ability.
The few Hu Ji and servants who had just been brought back were stupid and could only nod their heads in agreement with the words of the two old servants.
However, even if there is an element of "my wife is beautiful to me, I am private", this candied haws of sugar is indeed a new thing in today's Tang Dynasty.
At present, most of the dim sum in Datang Dynasty are fried and steamed. The most famous Jushengnu, which is fried twists with honey, and Crystal Dragon and Phoenix Cake, which is glutinous rice and jujube cake, both have a lot of sugar added. Delicious, but eating too much will make you tired. This candied haws is different. The sweet and sour hawthorn itself is coated with a thin layer of sugar. The sourness of the hawthorn just balances the sweetness of the sugar coating. The sweetness of the sugar coating prevents the hawthorn from being sour, making it sweet and sour but not greasy.
Du Zheng and Du Qing have been the shopkeepers of pastry shops for many years. After eating only one candied haws, they can tell that this novel pastry will be a hot seller.
"I don't understand the business of buying and selling, just watch it." Li Changan has no intention of forcing herself to become "the number one businesswoman in Chang'an", and her main purpose of opening a shop is not to make money - at least the main purpose of this pastry shop is The purpose is not to make money.
"I also have a house in Xuanyangfang. Qingzhu and Abai stay in the shop to entertain guests. Liuli and Jade will follow me at home to take care of the housework." Li Changan quietly looked at the figures of the four Hu Ji. The appearance took away the two Hu Ji who she thought looked more similar.
Li Changan does have a house, which was given to her by Cao Yenaji. At that time, Cao Yenaji originally only performed dances for Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, but unexpectedly, she was kept in Chang'an by the emperor because of Hu Xuan's dancing so well. Cao Yenaji's father, her grandfather, did not dare to resist the emperor. His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty could only reluctantly leave his cherished daughter in Chang'an. It’s just that he didn’t know that the concubines of the Tang Dynasty could not leave the palace after entering the palace. He thought that the wives and concubines of the leaders of the Tang Dynasty and the Hu people could move around at will, so he spent a lot of money to buy a house for his daughter in Xuanyangfang before leaving Chang’an. Such a house.
Half a year ago, when Li Changan left the palace for the first time, Cao Yenaji took out the key from her arms, and took out the title deed of the house from the bottom of the dressing box, leaving the property that her father left to her. The house was passed on to her daughter.
This is one of the few properties that Cao Yenaji can give to her daughter.
"You will live here in the future." Li Changan brought the two Hu Ji to the house, "By the way, are you literate?"
"Able to read." Hu Ji, named Hong Ling, spoke softly, "The person who brought us to Chang'an taught us how to read. He said that only by knowing how to read can we sell for a good price."
Most people who can afford to buy an Orchid are children of the rich and powerful. Everyone in the Tang Dynasty is good at literature, especially the powerful, who are good at poetry and opera. If you buy a beautiful Orchid, but the Orchid cannot read a word, wouldn't it be a great disgrace?
"Since you have come to my place, you should live well." Li Changan was silent for a while, "As long as you work hard, I will not sell you or transfer you to others."
The two Hu Ji looked grateful and thanked them repeatedly.
Because of the huge demand for singing and dancing in the Tang Dynasty, countless beautiful Hu girls were transported from the Western Regions to Chang'an. They were either captured slaves, daughters of poor families, or sisters and daughters of profit-driven businessmen. They were forced to learn singing and dancing instruments and Chinese, and were sent to Chang'an from outside the customs to enter a restaurant. When they got older, they were taken back by their employers to be concubines or kicked out of the restaurant to fend for themselves.
However, even if they are likely to be in a miserable situation when they get old, Chang'an, which is highly open, is the only place where Hu Ji can give full play to their talents. As long as they work hard, there is no problem in supporting themselves, which is better than their hometown where they can't even eat. Too much.
It was really not easy to have a stable place to stay. The two finally chose the smallest servant room in the backyard as their residence, and then began to clean the house diligently, as if they could clean the house with just their two feet. It’s like people cleaning this huge house.
Li Changan didn't let them work for too long. She took the two of them out, walked around three streets, and then passed through an alley before arriving at the gate of Gubenzhai.
"Someone else will do the cleaning at home. Since you two are literate, come and help me with other things."
It was inconvenient for Li Changan to leave the palace by herself, so she planned to have the two Hu Ji come over every day to see if they could catch the old friend with familiar handwriting.
Alas, it would be great to keep his own name, but if he insists on keeping the name of "Wei Zhuang" who was born a hundred years later, he is not afraid that Wei Zhuang's grandfather, Wei Jiansu, will come to him to ask for copyright fees.
Li Changan thought distressedly as he couldn't find anyone.
After entering the door, Li Changan first went to the counter and asked the shopkeeper if she had seen the owner of the handwriting in the past few days, but she didn't have any hope. After all, she had used a pseudonym, and she definitely didn't want others to know her identity easily.
But I never expected that the shopkeeper would greet Li Changan with a smile on his face.
"Little lady, I have found the person you are looking for!"
"It's so fast!" Li Chang'an was surprised. There are one million people in Chang'an. Even if you exclude the illiterate people, there are still tens of thousands of literati. It's no different from fishing out a pseudonymous person who deliberately hides his name from tens of thousands of people. Looking for a needle in a haystack.
She was prepared to look for him for a year and a half, but she didn't expect to find him in less than seven days.
The shopkeeper smiled and said: "It's just that this person is still unwilling to tell his real name. I see that this gentleman is very cautious. If I want to inquire further for your sister, I will have to spend another day myself." It’s a lot of work.”
As he spoke, he winked teasingly.
It was popular in Chang'an to catch a son-in-law by reading a poem, and it was common for a woman to take the initiative to take action if she felt that a scholar's poems were good.
It seems that the old shopkeeper thought that Mingyue was her elder sister and thought that they were attracted by this person's literary talent. Therefore, he also wanted to connect talented people and beautiful women, so he paid special attention to the news about this "Wei Zhuang".
As the shopkeeper spoke, he took out a page of paper from the counter. There were still familiar traces on the paper, but only half a sentence was written on it.
"The world is thin and human nature is evil - Wan."
The shopkeeper shook his head and recited this sentence, stroking his beard and shaking his head: "I just don't know whether this euphemism is the pseudonym of this handsome gentleman or a close friend."
"It should be a pseudonym." Li Changan winked and wrote lightly.
"The Hairpin-headed Phoenix" by Tang Wan.
It seems that things are not going well for the old friend.
"I asked him his real name, but he refused to tell me. I had to provoke him and asked him if he was Jingzhao Wei. He denied it, and then said that Wei Zhuang was just a pseudonym, and his real name was Shen."
"Does the shopkeeper know where he lives?" Li Changan asked again.
The shopkeeper shook his head: "I didn't ask, but since I came to study on foot here, I guess I live not far away."
Li Changan was already satisfied.
After returning, Li Changan told Hong Ling: "You two should pay attention to find out if there are any people with the surname Shen around you."
Just two miles away, there is a small courtyard.
The willow trees in the courtyard have turned yellow and their leaves are blowing in the air and falling in the wind. Several literati wearing half-worn robes are drinking in the courtyard. The wine in the cups is a little turbid, and it is not good wine.
"Brother Chengzhang, if we say goodbye today, it will be three years before we meet again." One of the candidates said with a bitter look on his face and the smell of alcohol in his mouth, "We have no way out of the investment bank exams, but we also failed in the imperial examinations..."
"Brother Chengzhang, you have lived in Chang'an for a long time, why don't you find a way to become an official?"
The young man known as Cheng Zhang was holding a wine glass, but he did not drink. He seemed a bit out of place among a group of drunken losers.
He lowered his eyes and said warmly: "Today's court is not peaceful, and good opportunities are not easy to find."
"Hahaha, that's just what others say. Brother Cheng Zhang has great literary talent, and Mr. Zhang cherishes his talents the most. We have a family history with Cheng Zhang. If brother Cheng Zhang seeks a bank loan from Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang will definitely appreciate brother Cheng Zhang."
Mr. Zhang is the current Prime Minister Zhang Jiuling. He is famous for cherishing talents. Most of the literati in the Tang Dynasty who want to seek official positions like to invest in banking papers with him. If you can get Zhang Jiuling's appreciation, then Qingyun Road is just around the corner.
The young man just smiled bitterly, shook his head and drank the wine in one gulp.
What is the use of Zhang Jiuling's appreciation of him? Zhang Jiuling can hardly save himself now.
In November of Renyin... Zhongshu ordered Zhang Jiuling to be the right prime minister of Shangshu and dismissed political affairs.
Today is already the fifth day of September.
