Chapter 124: My Wife Keeps Her Word

Yuan Jiaqi watched her lift three large cloth bags, stepped forward to take them, fearing she'd be tired, but found them surprisingly light.

"What is inside?"

"These are little snacks made for the children; you can have some too. Come, everyone try."

She had Yuan Jiaqi place the bags on the table, opened and lifted the tops, revealing what was inside.

No one had ever seen popcorn, and everyone gathered around; just then, Qian Town Mayor arrived.

Everyone couldn't even speak to him, their eyes fixed on the three bags.

Qiao Mai gave each child a large bowl, scooped several handfuls for them, and let them eat to the side.

The adults watched the children eat so deliciously, hearing occasional "wah wah wah" sounds, wanting to reach out and grab a handful but fearing ridicule.

Qiao Mai grinned, "Eat up; if your hands are clean, just grab and eat. After you're done, I'll tell you what it's made of."

Without a word, Qian Town Mayor led the way, reaching out to grab a handful and eat.

"Here, it's just this pot; everyone can have a taste. If you want more, come to the Qian Town Mayor later."

Qiao Mai rolled her eyes, "Does your Qian Family Pastry Puzi have cookies?"

"Haha!"

Lu Shopkeeper stared, puffed his cheek, "My daughter is returning home; what are you here for?"

"Then let's eat first, and talk in the afternoon."

"Eh, eh, I, your subordinate, take my leave."

"Qiao Niang, if you don't sell this, then sell me a snack recipe, will you?"

Qian Town Mayor, taking the lead, picked up a piece and ate while evaluating, "Rich egg‑yolk flavor, not fishy at all, with a hint of milky aroma; crisp and the more you chew, the more fragrant. Perfect for the elderly and children, though anyone can eat it. Delicious, not bad. I'll buy the recipe; name your price."

Yuan Jiaqi and Lu Shopkeeper lowered their heads and laughed secretly; the Qian Town Mayor was crowded into silence.

So she grabbed a handful of chocolate and ate it; others, seeing her eat, asked,

"Not allowed; I only feel at ease when I see you make it."

Qiao Mai glared at him, "Don't even think about it. After the New Year, my family will stock this product; if you take the recipe away, what will I sell?"

"You should just go back; I'll prepare it and have someone deliver it to you."

Qiao Mai reluctantly wrote down the recipe; the Qian Town Mayor always carries silver notes, and the first payment was a silver note worth a thousand taels.

Qiao Mai rolled her eyes, truly not recognizing quality, counting how tasty the chocolate was.

"Your shop is practically becoming a general store."

Qin Dong Family ate a meal at the Qiao Family, spent five hundred taels of silver, and bought five furniture blueprints.

Tong Shopkeeper ate a meal at the Qiao Family, spent five hundred taels, and bought five recipes.

Niu Shopkeeper and five assistants, after tasting such delicious snacks, immediately came over.

"Why the long face? Isn't the mayor's accompaniment fine?"

"What about the egg cake?"

"What's that dark‑colored thing?"

The Qian Town Mayor narrowed his eyes, intending to shift the idea onto this.

It was so late that the Qian Town Mayor stayed; everyone ate a casual dinner in Qiao Mai's backyard, and as he left he said,

"Of course!"

"We have crisp biscuits, cakes, and also the Moon Cakes you sold us, butter cakes, and the like."

The Qian Town Mayor left; Lu Shopkeeper and Ruyi went back to rest, while Yuan Jiaqi and the children helped her clean the Keting.

"Such a hot‑tempered person."

"So, what about it? How about letting me try this afternoon?"

Yuan Jiaqi cleared his throat lightly, and the Qian Town Mayor hurriedly explained, "Don't misunderstand; I'm afraid your daughter‑in‑law might change her mind. If this recipe gets snatched, right? The consequences are beyond what I can bear."

"Deal, write the recipe quickly!"

He packed each of them a large box, "Take it home; eat when you're hungry at night."

Only then did the adults grab and eat; upon tasting, they found the flavor richly fragrant and unique.

The snow outside fell swirling, and her heart was calm beyond it; actually, egg‑yolk cookies are easy to make—if you lack butter, you can substitute with milk.

Although he didn't like sweets, this buttery sweetness was incredibly tasty; he stuffed them one after another into his mouth.

"Good fellow, came to the Qiao Family to pay New Year's respects and tossed a lot of silver here; only Qiao Niang could encounter such a thing."

The others were extremely envious, but unfortunately Qiao Mai couldn't help their shops for now; they could only watch helplessly as others left with abundant harvest, while they departed dejectedly.

Flour is mixed with egg yolk and milk to form a dough that rises; using that time, a simple mold is made, and the cookies need floral patterns on top to look good.

Everyone couldn't help but laugh; seeing the three bags were plentiful, she also set aside some for the children, ordered them to be distributed so everyone at home could try, especially Niu Shopkeeper and his crew.

"Alright, then I'll wait at your house; just like last time with the butter cake, we can make it on the spot, taste it on the spot, and trade on the spot?"

"It's made from a certain fruit, much tastier than that yellow one you ate."

"Wasn't it because you forced us?"

"Oh, then after the New Year I'll make you some cookies to sell; this thing won't spoil for half a year, it's especially tasty, comes in all flavors. You just get your silver ready when you go back."

Everyone had left, and the Qian Town Mayor urged her, "Quick, the cookies, the cookies!"

After preparing all the ingredients in the space, she finally left the space, carrying a basket of materials to the Xiaochufang.

"After the second day of the New Year, I'll teach you; for now, rest well for two days."

Niu Shopkeeper and his crew left; the Qian Town Mayor stopped working.

"Let's go, we'll all head to my Yuanzi; there's tea prepared there, you chat while I work. I can't let you just stare at rare goodies; I can't even get through the New Year properly, sigh~"

Everyone ate the meal contentedly, and they also witnessed Qiao Mai's deft skill, the concocted foods, each as delicious as the next.

After presenting the gift, she smiled and asked the Master, "Master, can these snacks be stocked in the shop?"

Qiao Mai let them sit in the Keting for a while, then went to the Chufang and baked two pots of cookies.

"Qiao Niang, you really are a money‑woman; they say you're a money tree, not at all false, and even during the New Year you can earn two thousand taels of silver."

"Hmph, snacks, snacks, all kinds of bite‑sized treats, what do you understand?"

"Alright, you two are one family, you two wear the same pair of pants."

"Listen, making money is also forced?"

"Sure, this was originally prepared for the shop."

Mayor Qian shook his head, "No!"

"This one is easy to make, I'll sell it to you for a thousand taels!"

They kept working until it was almost dusk, and the first pot of egg‑yolk cookies finally came out; Qiao Mai arranged the cookies on a plate and brought them to the Keting.

"My wife says she keeps her word, hasn't deceived anyone; only you don't believe her."

The sentence seems helpless, but actually, it also carries a hint of small pride.

After finishing what was in their hands, they went to grab the rice cake; no one went for the dark chocolate‑flavored one.

"That's great; I believe with this, the shop's business will definitely keep getting better."

"Hehe, mother, this thing called egg‑yolk cookie is really tasty."

"Thinking that way isn't impossible."

Yuan Jiaqi's face flushed red, Qiao Mai glared at him, checked the time and found it was about right, and ordered someone to deliver the meal.

They followed Qiao Mai to the Main Courtyard, took seats in the Keting, Yuehong brewed tea, laid out snacks and fruits for them to eat, Qiao Mai went back to her room to change clothes, entered the space and checked the cookie‑making method.

"Hmph, I see you're after my sister's good stuff."

Mayor Qian wasn't that he didn't trust Qiao Niang; he just wanted to linger longer at the Qiao Family, and his little glances kept drifting toward Lu Sanniang.

"Tomorrow Xin'er returns home, I'll come over too."

"You have nothing to do this New Year, you don't visit relatives, besides, you also sold goods during past New Years, right? Who would complain about having too much silver?"

"Haha!"

"Remember, when you eat, don't do it in the quilt; otherwise, you lousy one won't be able to sleep."

"Got it, mother, thank you, mother is the best mother in the world."

"Stop flattering your old mother, hurry back and rest!"

"Yes, mother!"

(End of chapter)