Laojinzǐ Mahua (Twisted Crispy Pastry)

Laojinzǐ Mahua

　　In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, in Yongning Village, Zhangying Township, Yongji County, there was a man surnamed Chen who made and sold his own twisted crispy pastries, which became well-known far and wide. People called his pastries “Laojinzǐ Mahua.” It turned out that the Laojinzǐ family was originally quite wealthy, but because he valued reputation over profit, he spent decades selling these pastries and ended up selling off all his family assets and becoming poor. The pastries he made had thick roots and even strands, were crispy and delicious, and were also very affordable, so many people bought them as snacks. Every day, he would carry two large baskets on a shoulder pole and walk from village to village, hawking his wares along the streets. One day, he encountered two yamen runners who wanted to buy all his pastries. Laojinzǐ replied, “I want to sell them to every household for everyone to enjoy; I can’t let you have them all to yourselves.” The runners got angry and kicked over his baskets, smashing the pastries. Laojinzǐ then called together a group of people who ate all the pastries. When the runners saw that no one paid after eating them, they were puzzled and reported the incident to the county magistrate. After hearing the story, the magistrate said, “This man values reputation over profit—just leave him be.” To this day, there’s still a saying in the area: “Laojinzǐ’s Mahua, Yanzi’s opera performances for weddings and funerals—whatever you eat or watch, you’ll love.” The making of Laojinzǐ Mahua has been improved through generations, with quality continuously enhanced, and it has become one of Yongji’s unique local foods. (Yuncheng)