Wei Jinyun arrived mere minutes after the original owner of her body had departed.

White silk hung everywhere, and the only family members left were an elderly grandmother and a pair of young sisters. Her uncles and other relatives, after shedding a few crocodile tears, had already begun arguing with flushed faces over the distribution of the family’s old tiled house.

The grandmother possessed a single-room tiled house as part of her dowry. It stood by the river in the heart of Pingjiang Fu—a bustling, vibrant area where the scents and sounds of daily life gathered.

With such a prime location, how could she possibly let it fall into the hands of others?

Wei Jinyun drove the relatives away and headed south to Pingjiang Fu. There, she cleaned the house and returned to her old profession.

One morning, the unending crackle of firecrackers filled the air.

The people of the Wu region discovered that the old house, once covered in spiderwebs, had reopened.

Standing tall and graceful with her sleeves tucked up, the young Lady Wei hung a plaque inscribed with flamboyant calligraphy: Yunlai Xiang.

Dingsheng Cake, Chunshuisheng, Yunpian Cake, Xiaoyee…

Pastries were set upon the counter, some embedded with dried fruits, others shaped like flowers, and there were even snowy-white glutinous balls, round and lustrous like jade pearls.

The people of Wu loved sweets.

Whether for weddings, birthday celebrations, visiting friends, or enjoying tea and opera, pastries were indispensable.

And the pastries from Lady Wei’s shop were sweet, soft, and fragrant with the richness of fine oils.

Whoever tasted them could not help but exclaim in delight.

The people of Wu made their living by weaving silk and fishing. With plenty of fish and rice, no one went hungry.

This prosperity was due partly to the integrity of the Prefect and partly to the efforts of Lu Lan, the official of the Xunjian Si, who caught thieves and apprehended criminals.

Official Lu was iron-faced and impartial, a man of unyielding integrity. It was said that when night watchmen passed by the Xunjian Si, they could hear endless wails from within, like the howling of ghosts.

While investigating a case, Lu Lan happened to pass by a pastry shop filled with a sweet aroma. Having a secret sweet tooth, he stepped inside.

With that one step, he ended up getting himself completely entangled.

The common folk peered around corners, whispering to one another.

“It’s like seeing a ghost! This morning, I saw Master Lu in Lady Wei’s shop, using his fists to pound dough!”

Wuya Daoren came down the mountain to check on his apprentice, only to huff and glare.

“You wicked disciple! I taught you this set of blade techniques so you could carve flowers on pastries?!”

The criminals released from prison became cautious and timid from then on.

“It’s too terrifying! He was smiling and eating crispy cakes while interrogating us! Take my advice—be law-abiding from now on!”

But the Lu Lan of their rumors was currently holding half a pastry, speaking in a soft, gentle voice.

“A-Yun, I’ve been sifting sugar powder for half a month, and I’ve even drawn the designs for the Dingsheng Cake. Won’t you give me an official status as your husband?”

Reading Guide:

1.

Female lead focuses on gourmet business; the male lead’s side involves minor cases. A sweet daily-life story featuring not just pastries, but other foods as well.

2.

Fictional Song Dynasty setting. The Wu region belongs to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area. The setting is prosperous, featuring many world-building elements.

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