Lan Yan carried a bag of flour to the kitchen and worked for an hour, producing five types of pastries. She looked at the two people at the table and smiled, "Try them."
Jun Yelan gazed at the exquisite pastries on the table, styles he hadn't seen before. He picked up a green bun, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly.
Seeing this, Lan Chuo picked up the layered pastry, took a bite, and said, "Not bad, flaky. This is the first time I've had anything like it." A smile spread across his face; he hadn't expected his sister to be so innovative.
"Brother, try some more," Lan Yan handed Lan Chuo a purple sweet potato cake, completely capturing her brother's attention. Then she looked at Jun Yelan, who was still eating. Didn't he have anything to say?
Jun Yelan finished his last bite. "Passable."
Lan Yan couldn't help but laugh. The man was clearly enjoying it but still playing hard to get. "Alright, since you both like them, I'll sell these tomorrow. I'll go prepare the ingredients."
She had to go to the market tomorrow, so she needed to prepare everything tonight to make the finished products first thing in the morning.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's retreating back and went to the courtyard, using the remaining wood to build a stand. Since Lan Yan would be selling pastries, she would naturally need a stand to display them, making them seem more precious.
He sat in the courtyard, sawing wood.
Lan Yan divided the ingredients into bowls, washed the flour off her hands, and then returned to her room. She discovered a dressing table had appeared, and it looked newly made.
A sound came from the door behind her. She turned and saw Jun Yelan with his sleeves rolled up, and she smiled, "Jun Yelan, thank you. I really needed one."
Jun Yelan looked at Lan Yan's bright eyes, choosing not to say his usual words, and simply nodded. He moved a step to the side and looked towards the courtyard, "Do you think this is suitable?"
"What is it?" Lan Yan curiously looked out into the courtyard and saw a stall erected, divided into two levels. The bottom had cabinets for storing pastries, and the top had small compartments for displaying them.
She had been planning to ask a carpenter to build one, but Jun Yelan had already made it, and it was exactly as she had imagined. She turned and threw herself into Jun Yelan's arms, murmuring, "Jun Yelan, you've helped me, I'm so happy."
Jun Yelan was startled; he had heard Lan Yan express her gratitude twice today. He couldn't help but reach out and rest his hand on Lan Yan's back, wanting to linger for a moment like this.
He had always been alone before, never receiving praise or thanks, and not knowing the value of his actions. But in these past few days, he had repaired the roof, built a chicken coop, and made a stand. Although these were things he had never done before, he felt a sense of peace in his heart.
He didn't know why!
Lan Yan looked up, gazing at Jun Yelan's face, illuminated by the moonlight, and said sincerely, "Jun Yelan, let's work hard together. Once we earn money, you can do whatever you want to do."
She had thought it all through. She would be responsible for earning money, and Jun Yelan could go into business, study, or even be a carpenter. She hoped Jun Yelan could always be as relaxed and unburdened as he was at this moment.
Jun Yelan's lips trembled slightly, unsure how to respond; the words were too significant. He tightened his grip on Lan Yan's back slightly, then loosened it, saying, "It's late, let's go back and rest."
"Okay." Lan Yan stepped out of Jun Yelan's embrace, a smile on her face as she walked towards the room.
Jun Yelan followed behind, a faint smile curving his lips.
The next morning, Lan Yan and Jun Yelan loaded their goods onto a cart and headed for the market. Pushing the cart required both of them, and it was tiring and inconvenient. Lan Yan decided that the first thing she would do after earning money was to buy a donkey.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's darting eyes beside him and knew she had another idea. He decided to go along with her.
Lan Yan had visited the market a few times and had a basic understanding of the place. She found an alley near the main street and saw that it was lined with stalls selling clothes and jewelry, which made her understand.
She paid to rent a stall, and together with Jun Yelan, they unloaded the stand and arranged the exquisite pastries.
People gradually passed through the alley, but none stopped at her stall.
Lan Yan was not in a hurry. She took out small portions of the pastries and called out, "Everyone, our shop is newly opened! All items are 20% off, and there are new samples to try!"
She spotted an auntie carrying a basket and smiled, "Auntie, would you like to try? The samples are free."
The auntie, seeing Lan Yan's bright smile, stopped and looked at the pastries with some doubt. "Are they really free?"
"Of course. My husband and I are doing business for the first time. Are we going to lie to you!" Lan Yan handed over a bamboo skewer, her face filled with sincerity.
The auntie took a bite and exclaimed how delicious it was. She looked at the pastries and hesitated, "I'll buy the first kind, no, the third kind."
Lan Yan took out a box from behind the counter, containing all five types of pastries. "Auntie, this is our shop's exclusive gift box, sold in limited quantities, and it has everything."
Jun Yelan, who was assisting, was also a bit surprised, wondering when Lan Yan had prepared these, but he acknowledged that the idea was excellent.
The auntie was persuaded and took out her money bag. "Alright, I'll buy a gift box. If it's good, I'll keep buying." She felt this gift box could be given as a present.
"Okay, you are our first customer. Here's a small sample." Lan Yan took another type of bun, different from the samples, and placed it in the auntie's basket. She watched the auntie leave happily.
She was about to present new items when something was handed to her. She turned and smiled at Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan suddenly felt that Lan Yan was actually quite beautiful, not stunningly so, but very comforting to look at. Coupled with her smile, he found her more beautiful than any woman he had ever met.
Was he going mad? Seeing another customer approaching, he quickly helped out.
Under Lan Yan's persuasive charm, several portions were successfully sold. Moreover, previous customers brought in other customers, and soon the area around the stall was crowded.
However, with her handling the conversations and Jun Yelan packaging and handing over items, their teamwork was seamless as they sold item after item.
There were other stalls in the alley, especially those in the corners, which were filled with envious eyes looking this way. They were also a couple selling various biscuits. The woman resentfully said, "Our biscuits aren't even sold out, this is no way to live."
The man said, "What's the rush? We'll sell them tomorrow. The customers won't be able to tell the difference anyway."
The woman continued, "I'm just upset about the wasted sugar. I should have added less, just half a spoonful. What do you think they make theirs from? Why are so many people buying?"
She looked at the pastries, licked her lips, and simultaneously wished they were her own.
"They just have a good location. Tomorrow, we'll have such good business too." The man snorted, accidentally touching a biscuit. He casually brushed off the picked-up biscuit and placed it back on top.
Meanwhile, Lan Yan's pastries were all sold out. She patted her bulging money pouch at her waist, her face beaming with a smile.
Jun Yelan beside her couldn't help but ask, "Are you that happy?"