Married but Untouched! Her Soldier Husband Came Home Dumbfounded! - Chapter 35

Ye Fangfei had just finished baking her Western-style egg cakes, and the results were stunning—both in appearance and taste.

“Sister-in-law, these egg cakes are amazing! Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and the aroma… wow!”

Shen Cuijü wasn’t flattering her; these egg cakes genuinely were delicious.

“If you like them, eat as much as you want. There’s plenty here. Help me out, and in the future, you can eat these anytime,” Ye Fangfei said with a smile.

Shen Jianhua and Sun Xiujü had initially been nervous. Their daughter-in-law had never mentioned baking before, and with so much money invested in the shops, what if it flopped?

But the moment they tasted the egg cakes; all their worries vanished.

Something this good would never go unsold.

Ye Fangfei packed five portions of egg cakes, grabbed a stack of promotional flyers, and put them in her bike basket. She turned to her in-laws.

“Dad, Mom, I’ll take Cuijü to pay a few social visits. You two stay home for now; my father from my side of the family will be coming later.”

“Go ahead, we’ve got things covered here,” Shen Jianhua and Sun Xiujü said, seeing them off to the door. Once the two biked away, they returned to the backyard.

Passing by the supply store, Ye Fangfei paused, grabbed a package of egg cakes and a few flyers.

“Cuijü, wait out here. I’m going to meet a friend,” she said.

“Okay, Sister-in-law!”

Inside, Chen Qian was helping a customer with some clothes. When she saw Ye Fangfei, surprise lit her face.

Dropping the dress she’d been holding, Chen Qian walked over. “Ye Fangfei, are you here to see me?”

Ye Fangfei smiled and handed her the package. “I made some pastries. Here, try them.”

“You’re giving me things again? I feel so embarrassed,” Chen Qian sniffed. “The aroma is incredible—it must taste amazing.”

“Ye Fangfei, I didn’t know you could bake?”

“It’s a recipe passed down from our family,” Ye Fangfei explained. Then she handed her a flyer. “I opened a pastry shop and a braised meat shop on East Main Street. If you have time, come visit—I’ll treat you to some pig trotters.”

Chen Qian glanced at the flyer, astonished. “Wait… you mean Pastry House and Imperial Braised Meats on East Main Street? Your family runs them?”

“Yes, we open the day after tomorrow,” Ye Fangfei said, a little embarrassed. “My second brother came up with the names—they’re a bit exaggerated.”

“No, no, they’re perfect!” Chen Qian couldn’t help but giggle, then quickly covered her mouth, feeling she’d been rude.

Ye Fangfei tapped her shoulder gently. “Don’t explain—it’s funny to me too.”

Chen Qian shook her head. “No, really! It’s not funny. The names are just memorable. I walk past there every day, and they always catch my eye.”

She clasped Ye Fangfei’s hand warmly. “If I’d known they were yours, I’d have visited you sooner. So, the opening’s the day after tomorrow, right? I’ll switch shifts with my colleagues to come support you.”

“Won’t that mess up your work schedule? If it’s busy, you can come after work. I’ll save two pig trotters for you to take home.”

Ye Fangfei had borrowed two large iron pots from Chen Qian before; this visit was her way of returning the favor.

She hadn’t expected Chen Qian to be so loyal—hearing about the shop’s opening, she even rearranged her work schedule to support her.

“No problem. I have one day off a week, so I can come anytime,” Chen Qian said.

She took the remaining flyers from Ye Fangfei’s hand. “I’ll take these to distribute to neighbors, help promote your shop.”

“Thanks so much,” Ye Fangfei said warmly. “And tell them the first three days of opening will have a special promotion.”

“No problem.”

After leaving the supply store, Ye Fangfei headed to the Business Bureau. Shen Cuijü waited outside while she carried two packages of egg cakes in her right hand and several flyers in her left.

She knocked lightly on the door and greeted the staff with a bright smile. “Hello, everyone! Busy today?”

“Oh! Little Ye! What a surprise. Do you have time to come by today? Has your shop opened yet?” the senior official who helped her with the business license asked, smiling.

Ye Fangfei placed the two packages on the desk before responding. “Sir, the shop opens the day after tomorrow. I tested the oven today and made some egg cakes. I’d like your feedback—to see if there’s anything I should improve.”

She unwrapped the cakes, inviting the office staff to taste them.

“The inside is fluffy and dense, the outside slightly crisp—so delicate. The baking is perfectly timed,” praised a clerk named Li, giving her a thumbs-up. “Little Ye, your skills are impressive. Once your shop opens, I’ll send my wife to buy some.”

Others chimed in, praising the cakes and promising to visit the shop once it opened.

“A single compliment from the leaders gives me confidence,” Ye Fangfei said, passing each of them a flyer.

“Leaders, my shop not only has egg cakes but also pig head meat, braised intestines, trotters, and all kinds of braised dishes. If you’d like to try them, please do! I’ll give a discount as a thank-you for your guidance and help.”

“Of course! With such skills, we’ll definitely come,” they replied.

Clerk Li pulled two yuan from his pocket, and another colleague handed over two jin of food coupons. “Here, Little Ye.”

Ye Fangfei was stunned. “Leaders, what is this for? Today I only wanted feedback! You’re giving me money instead, it’s embarrassing. How could I trouble you again in the future?”

Before she finished speaking, she bolted for the door. “You guys keep working, I’ll go first!”

“Wait, Little Ye! Take the money…” they called after her, but she had already vanished.

Clerk Li turned to the senior official. “Director, what do we do? She ran too fast.”

Director Sun waved them off. “Don’t worry. Once she opens, I’ll buy some pig head meat myself and return the money to her.”

Once outside, Ye Fangfei quietly patted her chest.

Her plan had been to schmooze the officials a little, to make herself known in case she needed help later. She hadn’t expected them to be so honest that even a few egg cakes came with payment. She was shocked.

“Sister-in-law, why did you run so fast?” Shen Cuijü looked back—no one was chasing.

“Nothing, nothing, let’s go,” Ye Fangfei said, helping Cuijü onto the bike and guiding her. “Head south to the Grain Station Housing Compound. My sister’s about to give birth, let’s go check on her.”

“Got it, Sister-in-law. I’m ready.” Cuijü pedaled forward, and they sped off.