The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 445 Collaborative Pastries
Master Wen returned on the evening of the second day of the competition, and immediately went into the baking room to work.

This busy work lasted all night.

Nobody knows where she went in the past two days.

No one knows what remedy she came up with that night.

The competition date has arrived.

Each baker in the bakery brought out their best skills: some focused on refining the recipes, some on innovating flavors, and some on creating appealing designs.
The pastries were displayed in the most prominent place in the shop, with a tasting tray next to each type of pastry. The pastries, cut into small pieces, were placed on the tray and emitted an enticing aroma.

We're just waiting for the opening time so that customers can come and enjoy our food.

Manager Sun was a fair manager. He instructed the shop assistants to recommend and sample the new products to customers fairly and impartially, and to see whose pastries the customers were willing to buy.

Tong Huaqiong was invited to the shop by Manager Sun early in the morning.

Tong Huaqiong nodded repeatedly when she saw the uniquely shaped new pastries in the prominent locations.

It seems that fair competition can stimulate people's creativity.

In the future, Peach Blossom Desserts should hold a dessert competition every year to allow those with exceptional skills to stand out.

Tong Huaqiong pointed to the flavors of the pastries and asked, "Which ones were made by Chef Wen?"

Manager Sun gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but frown.

"Master Wen has been busy in the bakery all night," Manager Sun whispered to Tong Huaqiong. "But the pastries she made haven't been served yet. I guess they're not ready yet."

Busy all night?
In other words, Master Wen was unwilling to be eliminated in this competition, so he spent the whole night preparing.

But is one night enough?

Tong Huaqiong was a little skeptical that Master Wen wasn't prepared, and felt that she was preparing some big move.

Manager Sun and Tong Huaqiong had different ideas. He felt that Master Wen was a last-minute scrambler and was destined to lose.

But this is for the best, so that when she becomes the head of the bakery, her subordinates won't be dissatisfied, and he won't have to use his managerial authority to suppress them.

He secretly hoped that Master Ji would win. Even if some people disagreed, they were a very small minority, and he didn't need to spend time suppressing the people in the bakery.

Tong Huaqiong suddenly heard a commotion coming from behind.

Tong Huaqiong turned around and saw Master Wen pushing out the snacks on a small cart.

Master Wen greeted Tong Huaqiong and Manager Sun, saying, "Boss. Manager Sun."

Tong Huaqiong's gaze fell on the trolley, where the snacks were carefully wrapped in paper, making it impossible to see what kind of snacks were inside.

The only distinguishing features are the words "Gu Anshou Green Bean Cake", "Lu Huiyuan Chestnut Pastry", "Lu Zhuangyuan Hibiscus Cake", and "Su Pingting Butterfly Pastry".

Besides butterfly cookies, mung bean cakes and chestnut cakes are the most common pastries, but their value immediately skyrockets when combined with the "An Shou" and "Hui Yuan" (a type of traditional Chinese pastry).

Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaoyang, the top scorers in the imperial examinations and the top scholar in the provincial examinations, are the two well-known figures in the prefectural city recently. One is the top scorer and the other is the top scholar. Any parent who hopes their son will succeed would not want their son to achieve good results in his studies.

As for Su Pingting, she is the most popular courtesan at Tianxiang Tower in the past six months, and the talented courtesan who caused a dispute between Young Master Xie and Gu Ruinian.

Tong Huaqiong understood; Master Wen was now involved in a co-branded business.

However, it's uncertain whether the "Lu Zhuangyuan Furong Cake" will be considered fake, since the results of the imperial examination haven't been released yet, and who knows if Lu Zhuangyuan is actually Lu Zhaoyang.

"Wang San, could you please put these pastries on the counter for me?" Master Wen said to a shop assistant with thick eyebrows and big eyes.

Master Wen originally wanted to explain a few words to Tong Huaqiong and Manager Sun, but she had other things to do, so she hurriedly went to the back of the shop to get busy.

The waiter named Wang San placed Master Wen's pastries on a separate counter.

"Wang San, give me a hand," Master Wen called out.

Tong Huaqiong looked over and saw Master Wen carrying a pile of things and hurriedly returning.

Wang San took the things from Master Wen's hands.

Tong Huaqiong picked it up and saw two signs that read "Gu Anshou Green Bean Cake", "Lu Huiyuan Chestnut Pastry", and "Su Pinting Butterfly Pastry".
The origin of the pastries is written in small print.

Tong Huaqiong found it both amusing and exasperating. She didn't know about other things, but her son did indeed love mung bean cakes, and he would eat two pieces every time he stayed up late reading. Gu Anshou's description of mung bean cakes was certainly convincing.

However, to Tong Huaqiong's surprise, Master Wen was able to persuade Gu Jingzhe to write the standee and copy for her.

Tong Huaqiong could tell at a glance that Gu Jingzhe's beautiful handwriting was his.

After the pastries and standees are arranged.

Master Wen laid out the prepared notebooks and writing materials, and then asked Manager Sun to borrow one of the shop's employees who could write.

Manager Sun also wanted to see what tricks Master Wen was preparing, and with Tong Huaqiong there, he casually pointed at Wang San and said, "You'll cooperate with Master Wen today."

Tong Huaqiong saw through Master Wen's intention and asked, "Are you planning to personally promote the pastries next?"

Master Wen smiled and nodded.

No wonder she asked Gu Taohua if attracting customers didn't necessarily depend on the flavor of the pastries.

It turns out she was planning to start with marketing.

It has to be said that Master Wen has transformed from a pastry chef to someone who considers issues from the perspective of a shop owner.

What is the purpose of studying pastry recipes?
Isn't it all for the sake of selling it?

Tong Huaqiong asked, "Then what are you going to use this paper and pen for?"

Master Wen said, "We're having an event, boss. You'll find out soon enough."

Tong Huaqiong smiled; she really wanted to see just how much of a splash Master Wen's skills could make.

Soon, Peach Blossom Dessert opened for business for the day.

The men were on high alert.

Master Wen started calling out his wares.

"The top scholar Gu loves mung bean cake; eating mung bean cake helps one become the top scholar."

"Let's try Lu Huiyuan's chestnut pastries."

"The butterfly pastries that Su Pinting of Tianxianglou loves to eat are sweet and fragrant."

An even bigger event is coming: Master Wen has launched a guessing game to see if Lu Zhaoyang can become the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Customers who purchase a piece of Lu Zhuangyuan Hibiscus Cake will be registered. Once the results of the imperial examination are announced, if Lu Zhaoyang is awarded the title of Zhuangyuan, he can enjoy a 20% discount on any pastry purchased from the shop by presenting the registration form. Furthermore, with the receipt, he can receive a piece of fragrant soap or a box of rouge as a gift at the Lu family's rouge and powder shop.

As soon as the event was announced, crowds flocked to buy Lu Zhuangyuan's Hibiscus Cake.

Many students from Wanliu Academy in the crowd shouted that Senior Brother Lu would definitely become the top scholar in this year's imperial examination.

Tong Huaqiong exclaimed, "Wow!"

No wonder Master Wen has been missing these past two days; she's been busy planning a marketing campaign.

She could recall using Lu Zhaozhao's imperial examination results to do marketing together. If Lu Zhaoyang really was the top scholar, Lu Zhaozhao would probably be willing to give him more than just rouge and scented soap.

Moreover, she was able to persuade the students of Wanliu Academy to participate in the promotional event.

Tong Huaqiong almost immediately decided in her mind who the head of the bakery would be.

It's not just the head of the bakery; Chef Wen's skills are something even the branch manager could do.

Gu Taohua said happily, "Mother, not only is Master Wen good at making pastries, but she also has great ideas for selling them. She even thought of using Third Brother and Brother Zhaoyang as a gimmick."

Tong Huaqiong said, "That's right."

Master Wen's pastries were quickly sold out.

In particular, the hibiscus cake made by the top scholar Lu was in high demand and short supply.

Finally, at the strong request of the customers, Gu Taohua personally spoke with Lu Zhaozhao and brought fifty pieces of hibiscus cake to participate in the event.

"Master Wen, how did you come up with such a trick?" Tong Huaqiong asked after closing time.

Master Wen said apologetically, "I was inspired by you, my employer."