The bakery shop finally opened.

After the Establishment Day, Shengsi went to her shop to prepare everything she needed before she could sell her products for the day. From what happened yesterday, she had almost no time to prepare goods for that night, but since she had also promised her grandfather that she would rest early, she shoved the thought away.

Before coming here, Shengsi had seen her grandfather and Chengxu and spoken about some matters regarding the stranger they had taken in, who was now residing in Grandfather Li’s room. Other than that, the sun had not even begun to rise when she arrived at the main market, which lay just behind the county yamen. Not a single shop had opened yet — excluding hers, of course.

This shop had a wooden plaque hung above the door, its calligraphy stating its name and type:

Lizhi Ju Bread Shop.

Shengsi stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, looking at the slightly dim interior. She smiled, her dimples showing, the corners of her eyes almost crinkling with a quiet spark. A day of leave, and here she was, her heart nearly leaping. This place was certainly magical to her!

She began with her morning routine: opening the windows to let in air, tidying the place, before heading to the kitchen area behind the shopfront.

It felt as though it were her first time when she looked at the clay oven. To Shengsi, it resembled the one they had at their residence, yet it was different. It was strange to see a tannur-style baking hearth.

She remembered Aunt Li saying that this design was inspired by foreign culture from the Northern Empire and did not resemble the traditional stoves of their own land. Though it was unclear how her aunt had come to know of such things, Shengsi appreciated its convenience for cooking and baking.

If she were to be honest, their zao was typically made as a clay stove with a flat surface and a firebox. It was often integrated into a kang heating system and used mainly for stir-frying and boiling, which was not how her Aunt Li had described the clay oven before her. 

It was said to serve multiple purposes.

It was a two-compartment structure, and Shengsi’s lips curved with quiet fondness at the sight of it. She had always been fascinated by how the firebox occupied the upper section, with a cooking surface above it, while beneath the firebox lay another compartment fitted with a steel door. When she approached and opened it, she thought to clean the inside, recognizing it as the baking chamber. Beneath that chamber, the structure was elevated by about two chi, which spared her from bending too low. Behind the firebox, there was also what her aunt had called a flue system.

After she cleaned it and began placing some wood before lighting the fire, Shengsi washed her hands and proceeded to her pantry to prepare the ingredients. It took a few more hours of preparation before she was finally done, after which she began baking the loaves, steaming buns, and cooking other goods to sell. By the afternoon, her three-tiered bread racks were almost fully stocked.

Meanwhile, standing in front of the bakery shop and looking at the signage was a middle-aged woman wearing a red-sleeved dress, her hair adorned with many pieces of jewelry, a basket clasped in her hands as she read, Lizhi Ju Bread Shop. As soon as she stepped inside, the bells chimed, signaling her arrival.

“Shengsi dear?” the woman’s high-pitched voice called, as the fragrance of distinct flavors filled the air, causing her lips to curve in satisfaction. “It’s Mrs. Qin!”

“Go on in, Mrs. Qin!” Shengsi politely called out from the kitchen. “I'll tend to you once I'm done here.”

Mrs. Qin walked toward a bread rack and observed how the goods were displayed, each shelf lined with black fabric. The loaves lay bare upon it, yet there was no sign of filth, while others were placed in baskets. Those in baskets had plaques indicating their types, such as the steamed buns, which were separated into three: meat, vegetable, and red bean paste.

“Hmm, I’m glad you're selling steamed buns again. It’s been a while since your shop offered these.” Mrs. Qin smiled as she took three of each from the baskets, then added three loaves to her selection. “Since you didn’t open yesterday as you usually do, I had to wait... I was wondering why you didn’t open early. This loyal customer of yours was almost impatient and grew hopeless.” She chuckled. “I thought you weren’t going to open at all, Shengsi dear!”

“Pardon me, Mrs. Qin... something came up at home, which is why I was a bit late.”

“Either way, I am your first customer!” Mrs. Qin grinned. “So it’s a win-win for both of us.”

Shengsi then came out of the kitchen, holding a tray containing the last batch of goods she would be selling, and they were baked flatbreads topped with sesame seeds. They were still emitting steam as she placed them on the opposite rack. When Mrs. Qin saw them, she almost wanted to buy them all, for the aroma was simply enticing.

“I’ll take two of those, dear.”

Shengsi paused and smiled as she approached, then handed Mrs. Qin four instead. “For good luck.”

“That’s why Lizhi Ju Bread Shop has loyal customers! The seller is generous in spirit!” Mrs. Qin praised as she placed the goods into her basket. “How about sticky rice dumplings? I remember you sell them during the summer solstice. My son has been craving some, so I’d like to buy as well.”

Shengsi led Mrs. Qin to the rack on the other side and pointed to the basket on the lower shelf, which contained several sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, before placing the flatbreads on the second rack.

“I’ll take three of these,” Mrs. Qin said, then glanced at Shengsi with a slightly creased forehead. “By the way, there’s been some rampant stealing in the market, so you have to stay alert, alright? I’m worried that thugs might come to your shop.”

Shengsi simply smiled, and attempted to fix the position of the loaves. “Don’t worry about me, Mrs. Qin. I’m not the type to be easily shaken or to cower. If they step in here, they might as well flee for their lives,” she teased.

“Oh, you silly girl!” The middle-aged woman sighed heavily. “Still, it’s best to be careful. You’re someone I care about in this town, that even my youngest asks if you’re doing well!” She shook her head. “I may be old, but I can still fight those thugs if they come. Just tell me if there are any problems. After all, your Aunt Li was very important to me.”

When Shengsi heard that, she almost lost her composure. Mrs. Qin had always been truthful and gentle. Still, hearing her mention Aunt Li so suddenly was something she was not prepared for.

Even so, Shengsi pushed the thought aside. “You were important to Aunt Li as well. As for fighting those thugs… leave them be, Mrs. Qin. I don’t want to see you get hurt...” She stopped herself before she could say more.

Mrs. Qin looked toward the rack, though it seemed she was staring into the void. “Shengsi, do you know how much this place meant to your aunt?”

Shengsi fell silent.

“When you and Chengxu were still infants, I was here when she renovated the place and turned it into a bakery.” She glanced at Shengsi, a faint glimmer in her eyes. “The name came from her and your family, Li and Zhi. That’s how important you were to her.” Mrs. Qin tightened her grip on the basket. “I was there when she wrote the will, just after you turned five... She did it here in the bakery, with you, your grandfather, me, and the other witnesses... as if she had prepared everything for you to walk your path.”

Shengsi was reminded of what the will had stated and what her aunt had intended. Aunt Li's gentle smile remained, even then though until now, she could barely grasp the full meaning behind it, from why it had been written, and why everything had been arranged so carefully.

The will named Shengsi as the heir to the bakery and all associated properties. Since she was only five at the time, it specified that Grandfather Li would manage the estate in trust until she reached the age of fifteen, marked by the hairpin ceremony.

It was signed by father and daughter, and witnessed by trusted individuals such as Mrs. Qin and other loyal customers and local merchants, whose names and seals were recorded.

When Shengsi turned fifteen, Grandfather Li held the Ji Li ceremony, publicly declaring her adulthood. He then petitioned the district magistrate to formalize the transfer. With the will, seals, witness statements, and property deeds, the court recognized Shengsi as the legal owner of Lizhi Ju Bread Shop and all inherited assets.

Mrs. Qin blinked and rubbed her temple. “I’m sorry for being so reminiscent... I’ve been bothered by not visiting her grave yesterday...”

“Aunt Li would understand, Mrs. Qin.”

She looked at Shengsi once more, her expression softening. “Look at you, a beautiful young lady who just turned eighteen two lunar months ago. Don’t change, alright?”

Shengsi didn't drop her smile. “I won’t.”

After their conversation ended, Mrs. Qin paid for the goods she bought. The loaves cost one hundred and fifty wen, at fifty wen each, while the flatbreads, steamed buns, and sticky rice dumplings totaled twenty-one wen.

Before night arrived, all her goods were sold out once more, as many customers came after Mrs. Qin. Whether it was her luck or the shop’s reputation, Shengsi could not tell. But she was glad she had baked enough for the day.

When she returned home, she had no way to evade her other responsibilities.

Not that she wanted to.

But that she was not yet used to.