Chapter 343

At the moment, Zhang Man'er is sitting at the stone table in the workshop yard, on which there is a set of ordinary pen, ink, paper and inkstone.

She sticks to her brush, dips ink on the inkstone, draws on rice paper, and says to Zhang Dahai who is drying fish: "brother, the Mid Autumn Festival is coming. What's the flavor of moon cakes sold in the town?"

In fact, she didn't have to ask. In ancient times, moon cakes were a tribute to the moon at the beginning. Later, they became folk gifts to give gifts to each other and express affection.

Ordinary people don't pay much attention to it. They just regard it as a custom every year, just like eating zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival.

Businessmen here, too, didn't make moon cakes exquisitely. They just wanted to make a batch of moon cakes when the festival was coming. They didn't want to make a lot of money here.

When Zhang Man'er asked, Zhang Dahai stopped his work and sat down. After a cup of tea and moistening his throat, he talked about the kinds of moon cakes sold in the town.

There are sesame and almond moon cakes, and bean paste moon cakes. In short, the taste is very single, and the shape is just like ordinary cakes. They are round and have no pattern.

This is the moon cake that the common people eat. In a prosperous place like Beijing, people say that the moon cake is exquisitely made. Although the taste is not so peculiar, the shape is very beautiful.

Small moon cakes are engraved with some auspicious patterns and words, such as Chang'e flying to the moon, carp leaping to the dragon's gate and so on. But the selling price is very expensive. Ordinary people can't afford to buy them. They are all used by some dignitaries and rich families to give gifts to each other.

"That's about all I know." Zhang Dahai took a cup of tea and took a sip of water.

"Brother, you know a lot." Zhang Man'er boasted that the summary was in place.

After listening, she will understand the ancient moon cake market.

Eating moon cakes is a picture of artistic conception. These common people only know that they will buy some food for the festival, and they don't pay much attention to it.

If so, she will make moon cake good-looking, delicious, then not be snatched?

Zhang Dahai's words inspired her. Zhang Man'er decided to make moon cakes into several kinds of prices, which are divided into three grades: high, middle and low.

Gao's is aimed at some wealthy families in the town, no matter from the taste, or the design of moon cakes, or the packaging of boxes, all strive to be exquisite and perfect.

The medium price, less a beautiful packaging, taste is relatively less.

The most common one is for people who can afford moon cakes. The production is simple and the taste is single, but it's better than the moon cakes sold in the town.

The more I think about it, the more energetic I am. Zhang Man'er has already formed a preliminary outline in her mind. She is working hard on the Mid Autumn Festival these days.

It's the ninth day of August this year.

"Silly girl, it's like this every year. We've been eating moon cakes for more than ten years. Do you know? By the way, what do you want to do when you ask so many questions? " Zhang Dahai was puzzled in his heart. Looking at the cunning light in her eyes, he seemed to see something famous.

"Brother, you guessed right, I just want to make moon cakes and make a fortune during the Mid Autumn Festival." Zhang Man'er patted the table with a clear mind.

"If you want to sell well, you have to have a lot of flavors, and the patterns of moon cakes are beautiful." Zhang Dahai echoed.

For example, the famous pastry shops in the town make a lot of moon cakes every Mid Autumn Festival, and many people buy them, which are sold out every year.

If my sister's moon cakes are more delicious and good-looking than theirs, I'm sure she can make a lot of money.

Zhang Dahai has been in the workshop for nearly a month. From the food in the workshop and the zongzi of the Dragon Boat Festival, he has a new understanding of Zhang Man'er.

My sister is really talented in cooking. He has to give his full support.

"Brother, you're right. You see I'm getting ready." Like a treasure, Zhang Man'er picked up the drawing on the stone table and showed it to him

"Brother, you need to build an oven in this courtyard. I'm responsible for making these moon cakes. When they come out, they are completely different from others in terms of pattern, taste and production techniques. It's called characteristic. We are the only one in Qingshui town."

"Only one, that's nice, but are our moon cakes baked?" Zhang Dahai scratched his head and seemed to know nothing.

Is it like baking pancakes? The surface is crisp and golden, and the inside is full of delicious food.

"Brother, don't ask so many questions. You should build one of the ovens on the drawing. I'm going to prepare what I need. In two days, you'll be waiting to see me. "

Zhang Man'er said, "there are still some sand, stones and bricks left in the new house last time. You can go to my courtyard to get them. In short, the sooner they are built, the better."

"Yes, I understand." Zhang Dahai looked at the drawing, at a glance, according to the masonry.

He has helped the villagers build a stove, which is not difficult to see.

Seeing that Zhang Dahai is busy, Zhang Man'er continues to describe the molds of pressing moon cakes with a pen. Xue Yang has to use wood to make these molds.

She thought of several kinds of patterns, such as a beautiful and full moon, Chang'e flying to the moon, auspicious clouds, peony rich and noble, and so on. Each pattern is engraved with four small characters of Xue Ji snack.

This brand needs to be shaped a little bit. When a customer mentions the moon cake, he will know that it was made by Xueji workshop.

After determining these patterns, we need to draw them on the paper one by one, which is a little difficult.

Zhang Man'er dipped a little ink from time to time, thought it over in his mind, and then depicted it on rice paper.

The mold designed is simple and easy to carve. If it's too complex, I'm afraid it won't be so good-looking.

When Zhang Man'er was drawing carefully, he heard the women chattering about cleaning fish, cutting mustard and washing wild garlic.

"Liu's daughter-in-law, have you heard that Lao Lai, who lives in the same row with you, has married a daughter-in-law?" An aunt's eyes lit up and asked: "I heard that widow Chen stayed in the Lai's house the day before yesterday, and she didn't get married. So she asked matchmaker Li to go back and forth. She gave her a little dowry and sent her to Lao Lai's house."

"Isn't it true that widow Chen married Lao Lai?" Zhang Man'er, who was drawing a picture, opened his mouth in surprise and asked in disbelief.

She didn't hear anything about such a big thing. These two people are really low-key.

However, I couldn't help smiling when I thought of listening to the sweet words of the widow's corner with Xue Chuan that night.

What did Lao Lai say? The second marriage should be even more vigorous, which made everyone look at him with new eyes. It's just like a mouse moving. It's really a slap in the face.

"Master, you live at the entrance of this village. You're far away. You don't know it's normal. Don't mention you, many people in this village don't know. Some people saw them go in and out together, and they looked very close. Then they asked a few questions, and they realized that widow Chen was living with the old rascal. " Liu's daughter-in-law explained.