The Jiuzhen Store had only two storefronts total, which also had to be divided into a kitchen and warehouse, leaving only one storefront that could be used to display pastries.
The furnishings inside were even simpler. Three rows of wooden cabinets lined the walls, with various kinds of pastries arranged on top.
Sugar-coated chestnut balls, peach turnovers and other pastries that tasted better when cooled were placed on the left side when entering, while glutinous rice red bean cakes and other pastries that pursued freshness and warmth were on the right side.
The middle was rather unique - aside from a single serving of Zhao Family's sweet chestnut and lotus seed pastry, there was nothing around it, appearing conspicuously empty.
Together with the large words written below, it was eye-catching to the extreme.
Many customers who came into the store couldn't help but glance over a couple times, before going to buy their favorite pastries.
Yet no one asked about it.
In the back kitchen, Zhang Xianglian wore a worried look on her face. "We've been open for half an incense stick worth of time, yet everyone only looks without asking. This won't do."
If no one asked, Jiang Sheng would not get a chance to answer.
If she didn't get to answer, she wouldn't get to advertise the family name pastries, making all her hard work over this period meaningless.
Jiang Sheng was much calmer, casually asking, "Auntie, don't worry. Think about under what kind of circumstances would you see something novel, yet restrain yourself from asking about it?"
Zhang Xianglian was startled for a moment, before stuttering, "When...when you can't afford it."
There it was.
It was only recently that Jiang Sheng realized that when you were desperate or stubborn over something, looking at it from another perspective might lead to new discoveries.
Take the sweet chestnut lotus seed pastry in front of them for example. The citizens who only dared to peek but not ask had obviously guessed at its high price. Because they were too embarrassed over their empty pockets to inquire, it was equivalent to filtering out unsuitable customers.
After another half an incense stick's time, long lines started forming in front of the sugar-coated chestnut station. Errand boys from various households were mixed among them, exhausting themselves on behalf of their masters.
Jiang Sheng keenly spotted Zhao Yuan among the crowd. She quickly reviewed the pose she had painstakingly practiced before standing at the entrance of the Jiuzhen Store, waiting.
The moment Zhao Yuan stepped in, she straightened her back, bent down to curtsy and greeted, "Greetings to Young Master Zhao. The Jiuzhen Store welcomes Young Master Zhao."
She gave Zhao Yuan a huge fright. His first reaction was to try and help her stand. "Don't, don't do that to me. If Brother Xu sees I'll have a hard time explaining."
Jiang Sheng gave a little cough and threw him a look.
Although Zhao Yuan didn't understand, he at least retracted his outstretched hand.
"Young Master Zhao, the custom pastry you ordered a few days ago is freshly made. Please take a look and see if you are satisfied." Jiang Sheng spoke slowly and clearly, striving to let every eavesdropping citizen hear it loud and clear.
It was a pity there was no transparent oiled paper. No matter how beautiful a pastry looked, it could only be wrapped in yellow greaseproof paper.
Luckily the earlier novelty was sufficient. Zhao Yuan had just exited the Jiuzhen Store with the pastry when a familiar face approached to chat. He returned the favor by boastfully showing off.
Zhang Xianglian was extremely delighted. "It really wasn't in vain for us to give out the first serving of pastry for free."
Auntie was far too easily satisfied.
Jiang Sheng tilted her head to look. As she revealed a smile, pride also emerged from the depths of her eyes.
Things had just begun. Relying solely on Zhao Yuan alone wouldn't achieve the desired results.
After an intense discussion with Fifth Young Master, Jiang Sheng had also set up a contingency plan.
She turned her head and signaled at Little Chirpy in the crowd. The kid who was in on it immediately jumped out and shouted, "What pastry did the Zhao family young master buy just now? Get me one too!"
"Me too, I want one too!" This one wasn't a plant.
Jiang Sheng was startled for a moment before reacting swiftly. She loudly explained, "Esteemed customer, the pastry Young Master Zhao took just now was a custom order specially for the Zhao household. We do not sell it to others."
"Then what do we do if we want one too?" The plant kid performed his duty diligently.
"That's right, how do we buy one then?" The fake customer chimed in.
Jiang Sheng gave a faint smile. Ignoring her plump figure, she exhibited a grace befitting young ladies from prestigious families. "Of course you can place a custom order. Any custom ordered pastry is unique, we won't sell the same one to anyone else."
The errand boys in the chestnut line started making a fuss. Even the ordinary citizens' eyes were wide open.
Pastries in the world that were one of a kind, now that was something unprecedented and unheard of!
If one had to get to the bottom of this, probably only the Emperor could eat truly unique pastries.
Thinking this way, spending a bit of silver to enjoy an emperor's treatment didn't sound too bad at all.
Just as everyone was whispering about it, a youth with a fan sauntered in arrogantly. With a casual flick of his fan, he cut a graceful figure. "I'm here to place a custom order as well, for this one of a kind pastry in the world."
It was the fake customer's voice.
Jiang Sheng subtly glanced at the corner diagonally across the storefront. The real plant had already gotten money from Young Master Chang and swaggered off.
The fake customer, oh no, the young master was still posing with the fan despite the harsh winter cold, typical of foppish young masters from prestigious Fengjing houses.
In any case, customers were to be respected.
Jiang Sheng immediately stepped forward and asked deferentially, "What design and inscribed name does this young master want?"
"Any design is fine, engrave the Jiang surname," the youth casually spoke. Upon hearing this, the gazes of the surrounding citizens changed.
The Jiang Family!
The prestigious Jiang Family of Fengjing actually came to the Jiuzhen Store to custom order a pastry too.
While Jiang Sheng was astonished, she also realized this was the best publicity opportunity. She swiftly agreed, "Please return in three days to collect it, Young Master Jiang."
The young master arrogantly nodded before swaggering off with a flick of his sleeve.
With Young Master Zhao Yuan of the Zhao Family taking a pastry earlier, and now the Young Master of the Jiang Family placing an order, the custom family name pastries of the Jiuzhen Store became the talk of the town in that very instant.
As Jiang Sheng was feeling excited, she busied herself by selecting a lotus flower illustration with a majestic rendering of the character "Jiang" filled with soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes before passing it to the carpenter.
It was precisely because she was occupied that she did not see the young master walk to a corner after leaving and close his fan with a snap when he arrived before another young master in moonwhite robes.
"The pastry order has been placed," he said. "I just don't quite understand why Eldest Brother wanted to order this ridiculous pastry. It's not as if the Jiang Family lacks famous pastry chefs."
"Most importantly, why didn't Eldest Brother go himself and had to send me instead?"
