Chapter 78: The Four Famous Pastries

Han Jun and Li Cai both shook their heads, refusing to drink, and Zhang Yan declined as well. Yet Jiang Qinqin was eager and encouraged them, "Let’s have some spirits, then. It’s so cold out—drinking helps keep warm."

"No, there’s just a few of us. Why drink spirits?" Zhang Yan hurriedly stopped her and glared at Zhang Tan. "If you drink and Mom finds out, she’ll beat you. Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?"

Confronted with Zhang Yan exposing his past, Zhang Tan shrugged, "Big sister, keep up with the times, will you? Don’t look at things with outdated views. I drink a little with Dad when I go home now. Mom’s ban on alcohol for me has been lifted."

Zhang Yan was half doubtful, "Mom actually lets you drink?"

"Why is that strange? I earn my own living now. What’s wrong with having a little drink?" Zhang Tan explained.

Jiang Qinqin interjected, "Exactly, Yan. Your brother’s a famous writer now, he’ll have plenty of social events in the future. Drinking is natural. Don’t be so strict."

Zhang Yan rolled her eyes at Jiang Qinqin and continued questioning Zhang Tan, "You’re only fifteen, remember? Underage, you shouldn’t drink. How could Dad and Mom let you? I don’t believe it."

"Hey, I’ll be sixteen after New Year’s, you know? Once you turn sixteen, you can be held criminally responsible. Even the Criminal Law recognizes I’m responsible for myself. What’s wrong with a little drink?" Before Zhang Yan could retort, Zhang Tan turned to the waitress, "Bring us a bottle of Wuliangye, please."

He then turned to the girls, "Watch the ordering, please."

"We’re fine with anything, you go ahead," Li Cai said politely.

Unable to stop Zhang Tan from drinking, Zhang Yan began to fret about the wine he’d ordered, "Do you even know how expensive Wuliangye is?"

"Relax, big sister. I’m not short on money. It’s rare to share a meal with your classmates. Let’s just enjoy ourselves, right? Sister Li won’t order, how about you, big sister?"

Zhang Yan, a little annoyed, said, "Whatever, I don’t mind."

Zhang Tan handed the menu to Jiang Qinqin, "Sister Jiang, such a heavy responsibility, could you handle it?"

Jiang Qinqin was not shy at all. She took the menu smoothly, flipped it open with familiarity, and smiled, "They’re all ladies, a bit shy. I love being treated. Famous writer, I won’t hold back."

She really didn’t hold back, ordering six or seven dishes in one go, a mix of meat, vegetables, and soup.

After ordering, she added with little sincerity, "Is this too much?"

"Too much? Not at all," Zhang Tan quoted a classic, then took the menu and added a few more substantial dishes before handing it back to the waitress.

Li Cai and Han Jun looked on and quickly said, "That’s way too much, we won’t finish it."

Zhang Tan continued quoting, "Confucius said: ‘Too much? Not at all.’"

His character was like this; he loved to show off. Clearly, five or six dishes would suffice, but he insisted on ordering a whole table’s worth, as if that was the only way to show he was now someone impressive. That was the mindset of most nouveau riche, though Zhang Tan hadn’t quite reached that level. Even when he had no money, he had the same attitude.

He was known for caring about appearances.

But soon enough, his big sister exposed him mercilessly. Zhang Yan complained he was too wasteful, and added, "Do you even know what ‘Too much? Not at all’ means? You think it’s ‘Is it too much? Not at all?’ That’s a misinterpretation from the story of Kong Yiji. Confucius actually meant a gentleman’s talent doesn’t need to be excessive; the meaning is the opposite!"

Zhang Tan was stunned, "Oh, really?"

"You’re such a Kong Yiji yourself."

...

Kong Yiji covered his fennel beans with his five fingers, telling the children who wanted some, "Too much? Not at all."

This was from a language class, a story in Lu Xun’s novel "Kong Yiji," a satire of society. That phrase was Lu Xun’s jab at Kong Yiji—he loved reading but never sought true understanding and could never pass the scholar’s exam.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Tan had become a Kong Yiji himself.

Taking things at face value, never digging deeper.

But he was experienced enough; he laughed and brushed off the awkwardness, not only keeping his image intact but using the amusing moment to liven up the atmosphere.

Lunch was a delight.

Though the drinking was less so—the bottle of Wuliangye wasn’t finished, half remained, mainly because Zhang Yan, Han Jun, and Li Cai barely drank, leaving Zhang Tan and Jiang Qinqin with little enthusiasm. Still, the meal was happy, and Zhang Tan managed to show off a bit.

Two hundred words per thousand, ten thousand a month, published books, the traditional edition selling more than thirty thousand copies, earning over a hundred thousand in royalties.

For students from ordinary families, this was a huge shock. After Zhang Tan finished speaking, he sensed the awe from the four girls. Especially Jiang Qinqin—she’d always joked about Zhang Tan being a famous writer, but it was just a joke. She hadn’t expected he really was a writer—and a lucrative one.

The money Zhang Tan earned in half a year was many times the salary of the average person in several years.

"Yan, I’m starting to envy you. If only I had a brother like that—never have to worry about food or drink again," Jiang Qinqin said with a touch of jealousy, pulling Zhang Yan aside as Zhang Tan went to pay.

Zhang Yan replied grumpily, "I have hands and feet—I don’t need my brother to support me."

Jiang Qinqin hugged Zhang Yan, "How about you give your brother to me?"

Zhang Yan broke free and rolled her eyes, "He’s still young. Keep your longing looks to yourself, don’t corrupt him."

"You’re so stingy! Cai, Jun, isn’t Yan stingy? Her brother is so generous and outgoing, yet she ended up such a stingy sister."

Li Cai smiled and suddenly said, "I feel like Yan, you’re not even as mature as your brother—he seems more like an adult."

"I feel it too! Zhang Tan is so mature, is he really only fifteen? He doesn’t seem like it at all," Han Jun nodded vigorously.

"Not just you, I feel it too. Zhang Tan wasn’t like this before—he’s changed so much." Zhang Yan recalled Zhang Tan’s recent behavior—helping the family run an internet café, bringing money to her at school, publishing novels, all these things amazed her.

Just as Li Cai said, Zhang Tan acted like an adult.

Zhang Yan felt a sense of unfamiliarity, but also thought it was a good change. At least, the old Zhang Tan was an annoying little brat, but now he could take care of others.

"It feels pretty good."

...

Eating wasn’t the goal, just incidental. Zhang Tan planned to take his big sister around Hefei and discuss what to buy to bring home. In previous years, the family was so strapped for cash that New Year’s was always far less festive than others—fireworks were bought sparingly.

In his memory, the first year Dad lost his job, they couldn’t even afford the traditional firecrackers for opening the house.

This year, Zhang Tan wanted to make sure his family celebrated in style.

Pastries, melon seeds, candies—only the best. Candies would be Xu Fu Ji, chocolate Dove, melon seeds Qiaqia. And his old favorite, the four famous Hefei pastries the family never splurged on. Hefei had four renowned pastries: sesame cakes, baked cakes, golden inch cakes, and white cut cakes—a unique local tradition.

"Big sister, it’s sad to think that we couldn’t even afford our hometown’s specialties before," Zhang Tan said, carrying a big bag of the four famous pastries.

Zhang Yan was equally moved, "Not just our family—how many rural families could afford them?"

"Yeah, this year we’ll eat to our heart’s content! And from now on, the house will never lack good food and drink!" Zhang Tan laughed, feeling that being reborn was truly wonderful.