Lin Kongping opened the door to find that it was an official messenger delivering a letter. Zi Shou had barely passed the institute exam and had become a scholar, but unfortunately, Zi Jun and Zi Xin did not pass. However, for them, it was also not easy, and they all planned to take the exam again next year. In the evening, Shen Shi prepared a big table of dishes and said: "Today, in addition to celebrating Xiao San becoming a scholar, there is another happy event. Your second aunt's restaurant has finally started making a profit, and it has slowly gained some reputation in the nearby area. Some repeat customers have come back specifically to eat white-cut chicken, and now that the weather is hot, they are all willing to eat lighter dishes. This is thanks to Qing Er's efforts. If you have any other good ideas, feel free to share them."

  "Mother, it's Second Aunt who did a good job, what are you praising me for? Second Aunt, congratulations to you. Summer is usually the off-season, the weather is hot, and there are fewer people coming out to eat. Everyone wants to stay at home and casually drink some congee or something. You're still making a profit during the off-season, so business will definitely be even better after summer," Zi Qing said.

  "Anyway, we have to thank our sister for this. Mother is right, if it weren't for the signature dish of poached chicken in white sauce, business would definitely be much worse." Chen said.

  "Second sister-in-law, I'll go eat, is there any new or good dishes for me to try? Don't come find me when it's time to cook," Zi Xi said.

  "Second sister-in-law, I've heard that when winter comes, you'll sell chicken soup. You use a clay pot to simmer it slowly and add some Chinese medicine. There must be people who will eat it. I'm recommending this so enthusiastically because I want our family's chickens to sell well too. The better your business is, the faster our chickens can sell." Zi Qing said with a smile.

  "Here we go again, how shameless! No wonder Zi Xiang laughed at you." Shen's wife glared at Zi Qing.

  Ziying suddenly thought of the many eggs and goat's milk at home, and said, "Why not use them to practice making cakes? There is also a oven in the old house on the other side of the Xiao family." Ziying thought of this and said, "Second sister, I have heard of a kind of cake made from eggs, which is very soft. However, I only know the general method, and need to practice several times to get it right. Next time I'll take you to the old house to try it out with the oven."

  Chen immediately agreed after hearing it.

  The next morning, after breakfast, Chen Shi was eager to go to the old house, and Zi Qing called Lin Kangping along. Unexpectedly, Zi Lu, Zi Shou, Zi Xi, and Zi Yu were all interested in going to take a look. Zi Qing picked up the things they needed, and a large group of people ran to the old house. The old master was startled, but Tian Shi saw this large group of people, and even brought a basket of things. He was still quite enthusiastic.

  Zhou heard that Zi Qing was going to make a new type of pastry and also came over to take a look. Zi Qing naturally couldn't refuse.

  Kokoro used to work in a cake shop in her previous life, so she roughly knows the process, but the proportion of adding goat's milk can only be explored, and it is not known whether the goat's milk that has been boiled with tea leaves will have a matcha flavor when making cakes. Of course, Kokoro just thought about it, and her craftsmanship is definitely not good enough.

  One morning. From not having sheep's milk, to one cup of sheep's milk, two cups of sheep's milk. After trying three times, Zi Qing also got fed up, the taste was naturally much worse than in her past life, and she couldn't make that honeycomb-like texture, occasionally there would be one or two that had a bit of shape, if only she could extract butter from it, maybe it would be better.

  However, they had never eaten such soft and delicate pastries before, and they all said it was quite delicious. The old man and Tianshi especially loved them. Tianshi ate two pieces in one breath, then said: "It's been a long time since I've had these little treats, nowadays we really can't afford to eat these things anymore. It's good for kids to eat too. Why don't you pack a few pieces and send them to Mumu, it's not worse than what you bought before."

  "Mother, isn't it a waste? So many dozens of eggs were spent! And my dear, what about those sheep's milk, white sugar, and honey. Zi Qing is really generous, all good things. We can't compare to you, Mother, how did you and Second Brother become estranged back then? Otherwise, you and Father could eat whatever you wanted, and we could also benefit from it." Zhou Shi sighed on the side.

  Tian glared at Zhou for a moment, then looked at Zi Qing and the others, but didn't say anything.

  Zi Qing wrapped up a few pieces and was about to have Zi Xi send them over, but Zhou Shi hastily took a few pieces to keep for Zi Quan.

  Zi Xi hadn't left yet, when Qiu Yu led Mu Mu in the door. "What's to eat? I could smell something delicious from far away. Why are there so many people today?"

  "You really have a dog's nose, we just finished cooking and you're already at the door smelling the aroma." said Zhou Shi with a smile.

  "Autumn Jade tasted it and said, 'Hmm, it's really good, fragrant and sweet, and also soft. Why don't we open a store specializing in this? It'll definitely be a good business. In the past, your auntie opened a pancake shop and was able to support a whole family. Why don't you teach me and I'll open a ready-made pastry shop? The things in the back are all still intact.'"

  "Little sister, it seems that the things in the back have already been sold to Father by Auntie, and Father has long said that the ancestral house on this side is left for your elder brother, so naturally it's mine too. So, if we're going to open a rice cake shop, it'll be us who opens it. You also know that your elder brother doesn't make much silver in a year, and now we still have to support Father and Mother. This life is really tight. We've always wanted to find a way to make a living, and this time it just so happens that Autumn Jade and Zi Qing came and said they wanted to do something new with rice cakes. I thought of this idea, so I followed them from behind to see how they did it." Madam Zhou said.

  "Eldest sister, you didn't say it out loud, did you think of that? It's not like I didn't hear you say you wanted to open a shop, and then you came up with this idea. Father said the ancestral house was given to you back then, but he didn't say the houses in the back, including the wooden house, were also yours. And what about second brother's half? Besides, father is still alive and well now, what's wrong with me borrowing something of his? It's not like it's up to you to decide what to do with father's things." Autumn Jade wasn't one to be trifled with either.

  "Hmph, you're a married-out daughter, water that's been splashed out, always running back to your mother's house to take advantage of things. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at? Don't think about following in the footsteps of Eldest Sister-in-law, using and using until you occupy the whole house, saying it was bought from Grandma, who knows what really happened? Now that we've finally returned to the Zeng family, if anyone should be using it, it should be us first. We are the rightful owners." Madam Zhou said with a huff.

  "What benefits have I taken from your family? You've been gone for five years, leaving Father and Mother at home without care for five years. And you still have the nerve to say anything else? These five years were spent by me accompanying Father and Mother, taking care of them. Second Brother's family provided the silver, I provided the labor. Although I ate at my mother's house, I also paid for the meals. Don't believe me? Ask Father and Mother. Besides, even if I did use it, I could have used half of Second Brother's share. What does it have to do with you? Are you trying to occupy this house?" Autumn Jade shouted back.

  As soon as Ziying heard this, she finally understood that the old house behind was also once owned by the Zeng family. No wonder it was so close. She didn't expect that Old Mrs. would actually sell the house to her own daughter, and no wonder her own grandmother always felt unbalanced. Perhaps she thought what she did was far more excessive than Old Mrs.. Her own son's life was clearly difficult, how could she sell the house to her relatively wealthy daughter and son-in-law, who were also on a main street, with two more rooms than Grandma's? Didn't she know that her own grandson would also need to get married and have a place to live? No. Old Mrs. must have considered this point too, which was why she insisted that the two grandsons go to school. It was said that even the cost of Father's imperial examination was paid by the Xiao family. Old Mrs.'s last words were that the Xiao family had to continue supporting Father in his studies, and when Father became capable, he would repay this kindness. Old Mrs. had found a way out for her two grandsons. Unfortunately, Father was still held back by Grandma. Ziying thought she understood the situation and couldn't help but sigh, "Good heavens! What kind of weirdos are the Zeng family's wives?"

  "Alright, you two aren't even afraid of losing face in front of your juniors. Have you asked for the opinions of Zi Qing and the others?" The old man scolded.

  Zi Qing finally got a chance to speak, and hastily said: "Grandfather, actually my second aunt was planning to open a stall in the city to sell this, so she came today to try it out. You all take your time discussing, we'll just head back first."

  Why bother, when I'm just a fool? I won't get involved in your messy affairs. Zi Qing thought to herself.

  Zi Qing and a few people returned home, telling Zeng Rui Xiang and Shen Shi about the matter. After hearing it, Shen Shi became worried again, what to do now? Whoever they agreed with would offend the other party, it's not good either way. Zeng Rui Xiang patted her hand and said: "Don't think too much for now, maybe they will argue among themselves for half a day. No one intends to take action yet, besides, I'm here, and also, Zi Qing and the others haven't even figured out the formula properly, what's there to worry about?"

  Who would have thought that after dinner that evening, Old Master and the Tian and Zhou families, including Autumn Jade, all came over together? Zi Qing's head hurt just looking at them, scolding herself for being a fool, why did she have to go find trouble when things were going well, where did this oven even come from? Hadn't she learned her lesson after all these years? Zi Qing looked at her parents with regret, fortunately Lin Kangping gave her a reassuring glance.

  Tian said: "As for what happened, I suppose you already know. We discussed it at home for half a day, and in the end, they decided that Autumn Jade would open a cake shop at home, just like Zi Qing said, and Zi Ping would open one with her mother in Anzhou City. They want to borrow some capital from you to rent a store. To be honest, I think it's better for the two families to partner up and open one together, but their personalities can't be combined. Xiang Er, just help your sister-in-law and younger sister out, so that Zi Ping's family can also live a better life."

  "Mother, this is not something I'm willing or unwilling to do, it's Zi Qing's idea. She was messing around and accidentally came up with it. Even Fangzi hasn't figured out the real method yet. She just saw that her second aunt's store wasn't doing well and was trying things out blindly. Second daughter-in-law also wanted to try selling it in her own store. Let's not interfere with the kids' business," Zeng Rui Xiang said.

  "It's like this, Auntie. My second sister wants to open her own shop. To be honest, these cakes are all made with eggs, you've all seen that, the cost is too high. How many people in our town can afford to spend several cents on a piece of cake? At first, some people might try it out of curiosity, but after a long time, it's definitely not feasible. The people in Anzhou City are relatively richer." Zi Qing said.

  "Zi Qing is right, you're all just acting on impulse without considering whether it's suitable or not. In this rural area, who can afford to eat such expensive pastries that cost several cents each? Just forget about it and don't mention it again." The old man said after thinking for a moment.

  Zhou Shi and Qiu Yu thought for a moment, and then understood. Zhou Shi saw that Qiu Yu had given up and said: "That's just as well, I'll open with Zi Ping in the city, your younger sister won't open, so be it. Anzhou City is so big, we're far away from our nephew's wife anyway, and we're not competing with them for business?"

  Zi Qing's head hurt again as soon as he heard it. Just as he was about to speak, Zeng Rui Xiang said: "Sister-in-law, whatever you want to do, just go ahead and do it. It has nothing to do with us."

  "That's good, I've been waiting for Old Two to say that. Zi Qing, your father has already agreed, so take that contract and refine it carefully, then discuss it with Eldest Sister in detail." Zhou Shi said after turning to Zeng Rui Xiang: "Second Brother, Father just said that we don't have the silver to redeem the pawnshop, how about you lend us some? When our finances are better, your sister-in-law will return it to you?"

  "Eldest sister, let's not talk about whether the recipe is good or not, or whether the money is enough or not. I only ask you, if it were you, would you be able to get Zhiping to give us her family's secret recipe and provide us with the silver to open this shop? It's not easy being a young wife either, and who knows if this recipe can even be figured out? She's still relying on this to save that small eatery, and how big is Anzhou city anyway? So, eldest sister's request, I'm afraid I cannot comply. My intention was just that it has nothing to do with us, so naturally we won't provide the recipe or the silver either." Zeng Ruixiang said.

  Zhou Shi stormed off after hearing that, while Qiu Yu saw that no one had gained an advantage and instead stayed behind to chat before leaving. It was nothing more than the old master and Tian Shi's days being much worse than before, Zhou Shi wouldn't let go of any advantage at all, etc. Zeng Rui Xiang and Shen Shi also didn't respond.

  After they left, Zi Qing and her family finally breathed a sigh of relief. Today's events were resolved relatively smoothly.

  "Dad, Mom, just now my aunt mentioned the old house we used to live in and said that when we divided the family property, Grandpa promised the ancestral house to him. But my younger aunt said that the house behind still has a wooden house that belongs half to us. From what I heard from Aunt, it seems like that also belongs to her. What's going on?" Zi Qing suddenly asked.

  "Who said it was all given to your wife? The ancestral house that your grandfather and his family lived in, which does not include this house, should be half ours. However, we also cannot go live there, what's the point of arguing over this? It's not even worth a few taels of silver."

  "Silver is not worth much, but the principle is that we should make it clear to the elderly, even if we give in to them, they should know how much sentiment is involved. Otherwise, they will be unclear and think we are just doing what we should." Zi Xi said.

  "Isn't your grandfather still alive? It's a bit inappropriate to say this in such a hurry?"

  "It's nothing now, just think about it and it'll be fine." Zi Lu said, Shen Shi also nodded in agreement.

  Chen later practiced making cakes many times on her own, and Zi Qing had to admit that she was more talented and persistent than herself. The things she made were quite similar to the real thing, and of course, they tasted even more like it.

  In mid-August, before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chen set up a separate area in the restaurant to sell cakes. The launch of the cake not only improved Chen's business but also solved part of the orange garden's egg problem. Chen wanted to give Zi Qing a share of the profits, but was firmly rejected by her.

  Zi Rong's exam results were not surprising, he failed as expected by everyone, and more importantly, by himself. So this time, he didn't become as decadent as everyone imagined, saying that he would muster up his spirit to study for another three years.