Chapter 33: Too Good at It

Chapter 33: Too Good at It

Si Jing was a true foodie, which was why he had organized the Hundred Flavors Tasting. He had always been optimistic about Du Yunse and was naturally willing to help with this interesting little favor.

After Si Jing agreed, Du Yunse instructed the servants to go outside Mingfeng Terrace, a famous dining spot, to find Shu Wu and bring in the nine small jars of spicy fermented tofu.

When Qiu Huanian bought the jars, he specifically chose the slightly more expensive but more exquisitely crafted small jars. The palm-sized black pottery jars were sealed with long labels, printed with simple yet vivid images of fermented tofu, chili peppers, spices, and the elegant and steady characters "Qiu's Brand Spicy Fermented Tofu," giving them a rustic appeal.

Si Jing recognized that the characters "Qiu's Brand Spicy Fermented Tofu" were written by Du Yunse and smiled, saying, "These labels are quite interesting. It's rare to see so many things drawn on them."

Although there were many illustrations on the labels, they were not messy. They were arranged in an orderly fashion around the characters, allowing one to immediately see what was inside the jars. The visual associations of chili peppers, spices, and fermented tofu created a desire to taste them.

Du Yunse chuckled lightly, "This was all my husband's idea."

"..." For some reason, Si Jing suddenly felt a bit of a sour taste in his mouth.

He knew that Du Yunse and his young husband were deeply affectionate. During the Dragon Boat Festival poetry competition, Du Yunse had even chosen a hairpin for his husband over ancient books as a prize. But even so, there was no need to constantly bring it up and bask in the glory.

It made Si Jing somewhat curious about what kind of person Du Yunse's husband was.

The nine jars of spicy fermented tofu were brought up, and Si Jing first kept one for himself. Then he gave one each to the three newly minted scholars who had written better poems for the dish "Phoenix Resting on Rosy Clouds," a delicately crafted dish. The remaining five jars were not given to those who had asked Du Yunse for the recipe but to five people who were more knowledgeable about food.

"Once the results of today's Hundred Flavors Tasting spread, everyone in Xiangping Prefecture will be eager to taste 'Phoenix Resting on Rosy Clouds.' Take these jars of spicy fermented tofu back with you, and thanks to Du, the academy exam top scorer, enjoy them while they're fresh."

...

Just past 9 PM, during the quiet hours, Du Yunse finally returned to the Shu residence. Shu Wu went back to the inn on his own, and the Huang sisters stayed to catch up with old acquaintances. Du Yunse quietly entered the courtyard through the small gate in the southwest corner and saw that the three main rooms still had dim candlelight burning.

Du Yunse pushed the door open and saw Qiu Huanian sitting half-upright on the kang, a traditional heated bed, draped in clothes, with his long hair hanging down, yawning slowly like a little cat, covering his face.

Du Yunse stepped forward to gather his hair, the smooth strands sliding through his fingers, "Why aren't you sleeping properly?"

Qiu Huanian blinked his eyes, which were glistening with tears from yawning, "You're back? I slept almost the whole day, so I really couldn't sleep at night. I figured you'd be back soon, so I got up and lit a candle to wait for you."

Qiu Huanian pushed Du Yunse to plead, the dim candlelight reflecting on his radiant smile, "Tell me about the Hundred Flavors Tasting. I was so bored today."

Du Yunse's eyes suddenly softened. He took off his outer clothes, boiled a pot of water on the small stove that Zheng Yiwan had specially brought over, and patiently and earnestly recounted everything that had happened at the Hundred Flavors Tasting that day.

After hearing about the incident involving Du Yunjing's family, Qiu Huanian sighed, "Three provincial-level imperial exams, a full ten years. I wonder if Du Yunjing's temperament can endure it."

This punishment sounded extremely severe, but in reality, it was not as damaging as Feng Mingjun's comment of "not fit for great use."

The provincial-level imperial exam was a crucial hurdle on the ancient imperial examination path. Passing the provincial exam as a scholar would grant one the status of a provincial scholar, with the right to receive land, tax exemptions, and the qualification to become an official, officially entering the bureaucratic class. The conditions were appealing, but the probability of passing was extremely low. Many scholars wasted their entire lives without necessarily passing the provincial exam.

In the middle school text "Fan Jin Passes the Provincial Exam," Fan Jin was fifty-four years old when he passed. This shows the difficulty. Qiu Huanian remembered a cold statistical fact he had seen in modern times: the average age of provincial scholars in the Ming Dynasty was in their thirties. Even ten years later, Du Yunjing would still be below this average age. Given his barely passing level in the academy exam, even if he participated in the next three provincial exams, the likelihood of passing was extremely low.

Du Yunjing already had the title of a scholar. He could study at the county school without paying tuition, and if he performed well, he could become a state-supported scholar, receiving a bushel of white rice each month, worth one tael of silver, enough to live comfortably and focus on his studies. If he could turn shame into motivation and dedicate himself to his studies, after ten years of hard work, he might still pass the provincial exam and emerge from the shadows.

Even if he felt that ten years was too long and didn't want to waste so much time, with the status of a scholar, he could open a private school in the countryside or work as a private tutor or erudite guest in a wealthy household to make a living and save money.

It could be said that Feng Mingjun still left a path for Du Yunjing. But judging from Du Yunjing's past behavior, if his temperament could have allowed him to take these paths, he wouldn't have ended up where he was today.

Du Yunse was not interested in what choices Du Yunjing would make in the future. He only cared about Qiu Huanian, "Are you happy, Brother Hua?"

Qiu Huanian was momentarily stunned, then laughed, "What goes around comes around. Of course, I'm happy. I didn't expect that the final blow to Du Yunjing would come from Li Guer. This family will have plenty of drama in the future."

Zhao must now be wishing she could tear apart Li Guer, who ruined her son's future. But with Feng Mingjun presiding over the matchmaking, she not only couldn't touch Li Guer but also had to hold her nose and properly marry her into the family.

"When I was in the village, I twice saw Li Guer returning from the mountain trail carrying something. I even reminded Wei Liuhua to be careful. Now it seems there was indeed something shady. The Zhao family's daytime lethargy and Du Yunjing's sudden savage outburst were probably related to what she had in her hands."

As the one directly involved, Du Yunjing would surely suspect this matter, but Li Guer must have already destroyed the evidence. Feng Mingjun made a point to say that Li Guer is a virtuous woman, urging Du Yunjing to treat her well. As long as Du Yunjing has even a shred of sense left, he wouldn't dare to oppose the examination commissioner at this time.

However, life is lived privately, and over time, with mountains high and roads long, Zhao and Du Yunjing will have plenty of ways to vent their grievances. I wonder if Li Guer will regret her choice by then.

This bunch of villains scheming and tormenting each other is truly poetic justice.

The water on the stove came to a boil, and Du Yunse got up to pour Qiu Huanian a cup of lukewarm water. Qiu Huanian cradled the cup in both hands, taking slow sips, his cold fingertips gradually warming up.

After explaining why Du Yunjing was reprimanded by the examination commissioner, Du Yunse didn't dwell on these disheartening matters and began to talk about the various dishes at the taste test and the amusing incidents that occurred as the guests sampled the dishes.

Du Yunse knew Brother Hua loved hearing about these things and had specifically observed and remembered noteworthy events at the taste test, even organizing his words in advance. Qiu Huanian listened with eyes sparkling, his spirits lifting considerably.

"Auntie took first place at this taste test, truly deserving after the sisters' earnest preparations. Who would've thought, you're pretty impressive," Qiu Huanian teased.

Du Yunse smiled faintly, "What do you mean by 'impressive'?"

Uh... Qiu Huanian was at a loss for words.

After traveling back in time to ancient China, to make communication easier and avoid being seen as odd, he had been trying to swap out some modern phrases for more period-appropriate ones.

But when alone with Du Yunse, he often let his guard down and forgot this, accidentally letting slip some 'weird phrases.'

When Du Yunse directly questioned him, Qiu Huanian didn't feel guilty and retorted confidently, "Aren't you a genius? Can't you just figure it out? Some things lose their magic when explained."

Du Yunse nodded, took the empty cup, and set it aside, his thumb brushing against Qiu Huanian's moist lips, "Is this also a form of 'impressive'? Did I get it right?"

Qiu Huanian's face turned bright red, his mouth opening and closing without forming complete words, "You, you..."

He realized that just as he got more playful and relaxed around Du Yunse, Du Yunse also revealed a side completely different from his usual demeanor when they were alone.

This guy could be quite mischievous at times!

Qiu Huanian didn't want to talk to him anymore, took off the draped outer garment, and slipped into the bed, only revealing a round and attractive back of his head.

Du Yunse chuckled softly, went over to unearth Qiu Huanian's face from the blanket, his fingers touching the smooth, jade-like skin, his eyes darkening slightly.

"Don't smother yourself, you're still recovering, poor breathing isn't good for your health," he said hoarsely.

Qiu Huanian hid his burning ears under the blanket, revealing a pair of beautiful eyes, and softly hummed in agreement.

Du Yunse washed up and tidied, blew out the candle, and the two still slept an arm's length apart.

Qiu Huanian asked in detail about the fermented tofu he hadn't fully explained earlier, "How many families wanted to buy the red fermented tofu recipe, and what prices did they offer?"

"Three were genuinely interested, offering around fifty taels of silver each. Besides, there were some who wanted to use the purchase of the recipe as a pretext to send lavish gifts and establish connections, all of whom I temporarily declined."

"Fifty taels, that's enough to buy a decent one-courtyard house in the prefecture city."

Qiu Huanian had inquired about the prices in Xiangping Prefecture these past few days. In a good location, a one-courtyard house was worth about fifty taels of silver, while a two-courtyard house with a side yard like the Shu residence would cost one hundred and eighty taels.

This price was quite good. Without the first-place "Phoenix Nestling in Rosy Clouds" at the taste test and without Du Yunse's reputation as the new top scholar, the red fermented tofu recipe, no matter how good, might not have fetched such a price.

But Qiu Huanian had other ideas.

"What are the backgrounds of the three genuinely interested buyers?"

"Two are merchants with large restaurants in their businesses, and one you know, Zhu Jingcheng, the elder brother of Zhu Jingwei."

Qiu Huanian remembered this pair of brothers he met during the Dragon Boat Festival outing, "Does his family also run a restaurant?"

"The Zhu family mainly runs businesses in bookstores, fabrics, and porcelain, having been passed down through five generations, amassing substantial wealth, making them one of the most prominent families in Xiangping Prefecture," Du Yunse continued. "Actually, Zhu Jingcheng also hopes to use the purchase of the recipe as a way to build connections, but he is smarter and more patient, understanding that going too far is just as bad as not going far enough, so he only offered the same price as the other two who genuinely wanted to buy the recipe."

Qiu Huanian laughed, "It sounds like you think highly of him."

"He handles matters with care and steadiness, doesn’t flatter the powerful or look down on the weak, and knows how to assess the situation and act accordingly. His conversations show a deep and wide-ranging knowledge. If not for his merchant background holding him back, he could have gone far in the imperial exams."

Qiu Huanian nodded while pondering, "You’re going to enter the government in the future, so it’s best not to take any risks with your reputation. You shouldn’t get too involved with people who come bearing lavish gifts. There’s no such thing as a free lunch; it’ll come back to bite you eventually."

These families with shady backgrounds offering lavish gifts naturally have their eyes on the prospects of Du Yunse, the young top scholar, seeing potential benefits. While it feels good to take the money now, if in the future they let these people commit crimes under Du Yunse’s name without realizing it, there’d be no way to defend yourself and no one to turn to.

Du Yunse remained silent. He knew exactly what Brother Hua was talking about, but after learning that his young husband’s health was so fragile that it needed expensive medicines to slowly recover, Du Yunse's originally firm principles began to waver.

He was afraid that Brother Hua might not wait that long, afraid that he would miss the best opportunity and regret it for life.

The once calm and deep river began to churn with rapid waves, crashing against hidden rocks.

In the dim moonlight, Du Yunse felt a soft hand reach over and gently take his. The other person squeezed his knuckles, seemingly finding it amusing, and then scratched his palm with fingertips.

Du Yunse's heart itched, and his large hand directly grasped the mischievous little hand.

The hand’s owner playfully accused him first, "I want to talk about serious matters, don't mess around."

Du Yunse pulled the hand to his lips, not allowing any struggle, "Brother Hua, continue, I'm listening."

Du Yunse’s warm breath brushed against his skin, reminding Qiu Huanian how close his hand was to the other's lips. In the darkness, Qiu Huanian's face turned red, and he cleared his throat, gathering his thoughts, which had scattered because of his racing heart.

"I've also seen the prescription Old Physician Gu prescribed. He said that the later expensive prescriptions are not urgent to take. The initial nurturing prescription costs one qian of silver (about 3.7 grams of silver) per dose, one dose a day, so it would only cost three taels of silver a month. It sounds like a lot, but actually, when calculated carefully, the money we make from selling Sorghum Candy and red fermented tofu is more than enough."

"Even if it's not enough, the difference isn't much, and we can always find a way."

In the darkness, Qiu Huanian's voice was gentle and pleasant, drifting into Du Yunse's ears, vibrating his heart.

"When I plant cotton, I focus on nurturing the seedlings when it’s time, and transplanting when it’s time to transplant. I don't rush to plow the land before the seedlings are ready, which would only result in poorly nurtured seedlings and poorly grown cotton."

"The same principle applies to you now. Although I don't understand the imperial examinations or the officialdom, I know that life is like farming. You should do the right thing at the right time, and never rush to pull the seedlings to make them grow faster, as that would only result in no harvest."

Qiu Huanian could feel that after his health issues erupted, although Du Yunse appeared calm and composed on the surface, his state of mind was no longer peaceful and had begun to secretly grow anxious.

While he felt warm-hearted about this, he also knew it was not a desirable state.

Having lived two lives and gone through many ups and downs, Qiu Huanian, in some aspects, could not compare to Du Yunse, a one-in-a-million genius, but in other aspects, he could see more clearly than Du Yunse.

After all, not everyone has the guts to give up a high-paying job at a big company and return to the countryside to start over when life doesn't go as desired.

Although Qiu Huanian couldn't cite his previous life's example, he still used sincerity and vivid metaphors to tell Du Yunse—don't rush, I will accompany you to take it slow.

In the night, Qiu Huanian smiled and actively held Du Yunse's hand that was gripping his own, "You’re like a thriving crop with great potential. I will accompany you until the day when the golden grains are fragrant and the granaries are full."

Something hard in Du Yunse's heart quietly melted completely, turning into a small, shimmering pond surrounded by lush green seedlings, sweet fruits, and blooming flowers. The silent vitality from Qiu Huanian gradually transformed this place, and he savored it willingly.

"Sleep, you've also had a tiring day. We'll continue to strive hard tomorrow morning."

In the hazy moonlight, the two maintained a restrained yet intimate distance, falling into a tranquil sleep, their hands still clasped together.

...

Meanwhile, not far from the Shu residence in Sweet Water Alley, the rented house of Du Yunjing's family remained in chaos.

The luggage of Du Yunjing's family had been indiscriminately stuffed into bags by the servants and thrown into the yard. Du Baoquan covered his face, sighing every few seconds, while Li Guer wept incessantly with disheveled hair. Du Yunjing stood in the yard, staring at the dark sky as if he had lost his soul.

"We paid three taels of silver upfront! We agreed to stay for two months, and there are still more than ten days left. What gives you the right to kick us out?!" Zhao shouted defiantly in the outer courtyard.

The old woman, who had been ordered by the landlord to evict the family, sneered, "How dare you even ask! You brought your own dirty laundry into someone else's home, even alarming the officials and the examination commissioner. Who would dare keep you? We’re a respectable family, and we can't accommodate someone like you. Gather your stuff and leave right now!"

After saying this, the old woman directed the maids and servants to drag Zhao out. Zhao cried and screamed, making a scene, while Fu Bao charged at the servants, kicking and punching them, causing such a commotion that neighbors from nearby houses came to inquire about the situation.

The landlord, in the inner courtyard, grew more irritated as he listened to the commotion outside.

He had rented the outer rooms to Zhao's family not for the money but because his own child was about to start schooling. He had hoped that having a scholar living in the courtyard would bring some scholarly influence.

He never expected to end up with such a troublemaker—someone who carried on scandalously with his own cousin and was publicly deemed "unfit for great use" by the examination commissioner!

Today, officials had come to the house several times, making such a scene that all the neighbors knew about it. He was utterly humiliated!

"She's demanding money, isn't she? Give them back the full rent. I don’t even want this dirty money! Get them out immediately!" the landlord angrily ordered.

The servants, having received their orders, quickly acted. The old woman went to fetch the three taels of silver and flung it right in Zhao's face. Zhao scrambled to pick it up, and two maids seized the opportunity to drag her from behind and throw her out the gate.

The old woman covered Fu Bao's mouth, silencing the foul-mouthed brat, and then lifted him up and tossed him out as well. Fu Bao's chubby body rolled twice on the ground, leaving him dazed and seeing stars.

"Our master is kind enough to refund the rent in full. Keep yelling, and we’ll haul you off to the authorities for trespassing and causing a scene!"

"You’ve dragged officials to our doorstep. While the master hasn't changed his mind, I suggest you leave quickly, or this matter won't end so easily!"

Hearing this, Zhao and the others began to feel afraid. Today, they’d seen firsthand the power of the officials. Just a few words from them had sent the family, who had once been on the path to becoming scholars, tumbling from heaven to being thrown out on the streets.

Zhao, clueless, didn’t grasp how the commissioner’s words would ruin her son’s future. Her focus was on the commissioner's attempt to arrange a marriage between her son and Li Guer.

What decent woman? What grievance? Li Guer was just a temptress! Her son was meant to become a future provincial scholar, destined to marry the daughter of a county school teacher. How could he be associated with a poor, lowly woman like Li Guer?

If only she hadn’t been after the dowry she could get by marrying off Li Guer, she would have driven her out when she first came seeking refuge, letting her starve to death outside!

With the full rent refunded, Zhao had no fight left in her. They were strangers in the city, at the mercy of others, so it was better to return to Du Village as soon as possible and deal with that wretched Li Guer.

Zhao fell silent, and the servants quickly tossed their belongings out, urging Du Baoquan and the others still in the outer courtyard to leave.

Du Yunjing stumbled out alone, clinging to what little dignity he had left. As he reached the gate, his foot suddenly caught on something in the dark, and he tripped, falling face-first onto the ground, his mouth full of blood, his nose burning with pain.

The servant who had been bullied by Du Yunjing earlier pulled his foot back and chuckled softly, saying, "Serves you right!"

Furious, Du Yunjing scrambled up and spun around, only to see the gate of the house slam shut in front of him, the sound of the bolt locking echoing clearly in the night.

Du Yunjing heard countless whispers and mocking laughter around him. He staggered in circles, but the quiet, empty street clearly showed only his disheveled family.

Du Yunjing began to laugh, his laughter increasingly resembling sobs. He didn't understand, he truly didn't understand, how things had come to this.

He was clearly more talented than Du Yunse, a prodigy bound for greatness. How could Examination Commissioner Feng Mingjun say he was unfit for great use? Was it just because he didn't have a well-connected mentor like Du Yunse?

Why was he, a brilliant scholar, schemed against by a vile, ignorant country woman, thrown out of his rented house in the middle of the night like a stray dog with nowhere to go? Meanwhile, Du Yunse was basking in glory as the top scholar at Mingfeng Academy, returning home to a beautiful woman in his arms?

He couldn't accept it, he refused to!

"Yunjing, Yunjing, where do we go now?" Zhao, startled by her son's reaction, suddenly felt lost and tremblingly came over to ask him.

If Fu Bao was the apple of her eye, then her eldest son, who had been clever and promising since childhood, was her lifeline. She was counting on him to succeed and bring her into the city to enjoy a life of luxury!

As for Du Baoquan and his eldest son Du Yunhu from his first marriage, in Zhao's mind, they were just outsiders who could work. Once her son made it big, she would immediately divide the family and kick them out.

Du Yunjing took a few deep breaths, gradually calming down. Feng Mingjun was clearly biased in favor of Du Yunse. Today, he had reprimanded Du Yunjing twice, each time with harsher words. There was an eighty percent chance that Du Yunse, harboring resentment, had played a role in this.

He currently lacks the ability to contend with a high-ranking official like the examination commissioner of a prefecture, but Feng Mingjun won't stay in Liaozhou as the examination commissioner forever. Du Yunse's mentor offended the emperor and is still under house arrest; who knows when he might face complete ruin, leaving Du Yunse with no one to rely on...

He still has a chance, still has a chance...

"The city gates won't open at night, so let's find an inn to stay at and hire a carriage back to Zhang County tomorrow," Du Yunjing said with a gloomy expression.

Zhao's face lit up with joy as her son returned to normal. "Good, good, let's go now. We won't bother with these ungrateful dogs who collected our rent and then turned their backs on us."

Zhao told Du Baoquan to pack up all the luggage. Li Guer came over to pick up her own things and grabbed some others too, staying silent and not leaving even though Zhao taunted and mocked her.

Zhao, fearing that staying outside might lead to more trouble, had no choice but to tolerate her for the time being and allowed her to leave with them.

...

The next day, Qiu Huanian woke up from a beautiful dream to find the sun already high in the sky. He lay lazily on the soft bedding, stretching and thinking how fast one can "go soft." Just a few days without work, and his biological clock had already shifted back to a leisurely mode.

Huang Daniang, who had taken first place in the Hundred Flavors Competition the day before, was in high spirits. She and her sister had gone out early to buy the freshest meat and vegetables to prepare a feast at the Shu household to celebrate.

Qiu Huanian, lying on the kang in the courtyard, could smell the rich aroma of food wafting in through the open doors and windows.

Hearing Qiu Huanian stir, Du Yunse got up from the desk and brought him a cup of warm water.

Qiu Huanian drank the water, marveling at his "spoiled" life of being waited on by a handsome man, and got up from the kang.

"What's happening in the main courtyard? It smells amazing."

"The sisters are preparing a small feast for lunch, just for us. No need to rush getting up."

"I've slept too long; I need to get up and move around, or I'll get stiff."

After getting dressed, Qiu Huanian went to the kitchen in the main courtyard, where the sisters greeted him with smiles.

"Brother Hua, don't stand here; there's a draft by the door. Go sit over there."

"If you're hungry, have some steamed dumplings Shu Wu brought this morning to tide you over. The meal will be ready by noon, and we'll start eating when Hua Cai and Yi Wan get back."

Qiu Huanian was gently ushered to the table by the Huang sisters. After fainting suddenly yesterday, everyone in the house now treated him like a porcelain doll, afraid he might be blown away by the wind or hurt just by standing too long.

"I thought you, Auntie, would be swamped today after winning first place in the Hundred Flavors Competition. I didn't expect you to have time to whip up a feast at home."

Huang Daniang laughed, "Many restaurant managers and owners wanted to hire me as their head chef, but I've been through this before, several years ago. This time, I turned them all down."

Qiu Huanian caught something in her tone, "Auntie, you're not planning to stay in Xiangping Prefecture?"

Qiu Huanian knew that the Huang sisters had some troubles in Zhang County and thought that Huang Daniang's full participation in the Hundred Flavors Competition was an attempt to move back to Xiangping Prefecture with her sister.

Huang Daniang, chopping vegetables swiftly, said, "I plan to stay, but this time I don't want to be a head chef at a restaurant."

"I've saved up some money over the years, and after selling everything in Zhang County, it's almost enough to open a small eatery in the city. I want to earn money for myself from now on."

Huang Daniang smiled, "I originally thought it was a bit risky, but thanks to your red fermented tofu and Du Gongzi's help last night, I won first place in the Hundred Flavors Competition. With this title, I'm not worried about the eatery not succeeding in Xiangping Prefecture."

"I went out for a walk this morning, and many people in the food business are talking about the 'Colorful Phoenix Lying in Rosy Clouds' that won last night and the red fermented tofu used in it. Brother Hua, if you sell the recipe for the red fermented tofu, you could make a fortune."

Qiu Huanian nodded with a smile, but he hadn't fully decided whether to sell the recipe or how exactly to sell it.

Last night at the Hundred Flavors Competition, Du Yunse asked the prefect, Si Jing, to distribute the nine jars of red fermented tofu, adding another layer of prestige to the Qiu's red fermented tofu.

The prefect is the highest official in a prefecture, and Si Jing, as the prefect of Xiangping Prefecture, is a living endorsement. By distributing the red fermented tofu to the new scholars who composed poems for the "Colorful Phoenix Lying in Rosy Clouds," the new scholars felt that this was the prefect's recognition of their poetic works, taking pride in it; distributing it to others, they also saw it as proof of their close relationship with the prefect.

Therefore, those who received the red fermented tofu would surely invite their relatives and friends to taste it, showcasing the red fermented tofu distributed by the prefectural magistrate. Those who tasted it would also spread the word, making the effect dozens of times stronger than if Du Yunse had chosen to give it to some people himself.

Within a few days, Qiu's red fermented tofu should start gaining a reputation in Xiangping Prefecture.

Qiu Huanian thought he could bump up the price of his recipe to sixty taels, but he wasn’t keen on a one-time sale.

Compared to Zhang County, where the living standards of residents are limited, a prefecture like Xiangping is the best place to sell red fermented tofu at a wholesale price of 70 wen per jin. Given the current momentum, red fermented tofu is bound to make a splash in the market in Xiangping. Over time, this one-of-a-kind secret recipe, impossible for others to copy, could bring in way more than sixty taels.

If Qiu Huanian had the cash, the connections, and some reliable folks to back him up, he could even set up his own red fermented tofu shop in Xiangping and handle the business himself.

Unfortunately, he had none of these. Besides lacking capital, there were only four people in his family to help. Du Yunse was busy with the imperial exams, Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng were just kids, and Qiu Huanian’s health was shaky—there was no way he could handle it all.

So, his least appealing option was to find someone willing to buy the recipe at a fair price.

However, after discussing with Du Yunse last night about Zhu Jingcheng, the firstborn grandson of the Zhu family in Xiangping, Qiu Huanian had a new idea.

Given the Zhu family's financial strength and business scope, they wouldn’t have much interest in a red fermented tofu recipe. Zhu Jingcheng wanted to buy the recipe as a way to get closer to Du Yunse, who saw him as trustworthy. Qiu Huanian also liked the Zhu brothers, so he figured he’d give the "technical equity" model a shot.

Getting fifty or sixty taels at once was indeed very tempting, but a steady stream of income was more stable and valuable. Du Yunse needed to focus on the imperial examinations, his illness required constant medical expenses, and the family needed to live well. Qiu Huanian had to think ahead and lock in more long-term income sources.

The Zhu family, with their deep pockets, wouldn’t get greedy over a slice of the red fermented tofu shop’s profits. Plus, their reputation was solid, and their heirs were upstanding. They were the ideal partners.

Zhu Jingcheng had made a friendly gesture in a suitable manner, and Qiu Huanian thought he could accept it in a different way. With a written contract in place, their future partnership would be solid, and no one could spread rumors.

Qiu Huanian ran his plan by Du Yunse, who was all for it. Using the recipe as an investment would take some pressure off Brother Hua.

After lunch with the Shu family and the Huang sisters, Du Yunse responded to Zhu Jingcheng’s invite, asking him to discuss the red fermented tofu recipe in detail.

Zhu Jingcheng gladly accepted the invitation. To have more topics for conversation, he brought along his younger brother Zhu Jingwei, who had been moping around the study at home. Zhu Jingwei was thrilled, practically bouncing on his feet.

They met at a bookstore near the exam hall, another one of the Zhu family’s ventures. The first floor sold various leisure and miscellaneous books, while the second floor stocked classics, history, and examination books. The backyard was set up as a tea room, elegantly decorated, often used by scholars for casual discussions and poetry gatherings.

Even though the Zhu family’s merchant status barred their descendants from the imperial exams, they’d built their wealth through bookstores and weren’t your average merchants. Generation after generation, the family heads had prioritized education. Even Zhu Jingwei, the pampered youngest grandson, had to drag himself to the study every day.

Because of this, the Zhu family had always been very generous to scholars preparing for the imperial examinations. Zhu Jingcheng's repeated attempts to befriend Du Yunse were not only due to his potential but also influenced by his upbringing.

Compared to his elder brother's sophistication and steadiness, Zhu Jingwei was much more impulsive. Waving his fan, he exclaimed as soon as he entered, "Why are we coming to this uncomfortable place? I say we should go to Chunyi Tower, set up a feast, call a few beauties to accompany us, listen to some music, and celebrate properly. Brother, you're too stingy!"

Qiu Huanian, sitting on a cushion flipping through a collection of essays in the tea room, looked up and smiled, "Chunyi Tower? Is it fun?"

"Uh—" Zhu Jingwei didn't expect to see Qiu Huanian here. The beautiful young man's smiling eyes and natural expression made Zhu Jingwei blush.

If he had known Qiu Huanian was here, he wouldn't have dared to say such things. Now, he had offended someone right from the start, and Du Yunse's face was turning dark!

It was rumored that Du Yunse, the top candidate in this year's academy exam, was a devoted lover, cherishing his husband like a treasure. Zhu Jingwei had witnessed this firsthand. His abrupt mention of something inappropriate in front of a young man, even if Qiu Huanian didn't seem to mind, would surely displease Du Yunse.

Zhu Jingcheng, accustomed to his brother's nature, sighed inwardly and stepped forward to apologize.

Qiu Huanian waved his hand with a smile and winked at Du Yunse, signaling him not to be upset. He was just curious and asked casually!

Zhu Jingcheng saw all this and realized even more deeply how strong the couple's bond was. He thought of his own forced marriage and felt a twinge of envy.

After a few casual chats, they discussed the red fermented tofu recipe. Qiu Huanian proposed the idea of technical equity. Before Zhu Jingcheng could say anything, Zhu Jingwei couldn't hold back.

"I've never heard of doing business like this, using a recipe as capital to share profits... Brother Hua, how did you come up with this!"

Qiu Huanian smiled, "A recipe can be sold for money, so naturally, it can also be used as capital. It's not hard to think of, but few people do it. After all, it's not as tangible as real money, and it could cause trouble if things get unclear later. I trust the Zhu family's reputation and consider you friends, so I proposed this method."

Zhu Jingwei, simple-minded and feeling guilty for his earlier slip, immediately agreed, "Brother Hua, since you've said so, how could we refuse? Right, brother?"

After all, Big Brother isn't really serious about the red fermented tofu business, so agreeing to this novel idea shouldn't be a problem!

Zhu Jingcheng looked at his younger brother and smiled slightly, "Brother Hua wants to invest in opening a red fermented tofu workshop. Our family doesn't have this kind of venture, so why don't you take charge of it?"

"Me?" Zhu Jingwei didn't expect this matter to end up being his responsibility.

He was already struggling with his daily studies and didn't want to take on a task that would keep him so busy he couldn't even touch the ground, like his brother who often couldn't return home for several days!

"I oversee many of the family's enterprises and don't have much energy to spare for the red fermented tofu workshop. I wouldn't entrust this to anyone else. Jingwei, you don't have much on your plate and are friends with Mr. Du and them, wouldn't you be the best candidate?"

"This, this—" Zhu Jingwei stammered.

Zhu Jingcheng didn't give him a chance to refuse, "To put it bluntly, this is something you agreed to, and you should make an effort, lest mother keeps nagging about how you're not getting any younger but still don't understand practical matters."

As the eldest brother, Zhu Jingcheng was deeply worried about his younger brother, who wasn't a bad person but had all the traits of a spoiled brat. Although the Zhu family was large and prosperous, it was also rife with gossip. The various branches of the family appeared affectionate on the surface, but there were many hidden conflicts. When Zhu Jingwei was younger, he could rely on the elders' favor to idle around and live a carefree life, but if he continued to be so clueless, he would inevitably face consequences.

Mother often expressed her concerns to him, urging him to find some practical tasks for his younger brother. Zhu Jingcheng also wanted to train his brother, but unfortunately, Zhu Jingwei himself was unwilling, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Now, with the matter of the red fermented tofu workshop, it was the perfect opportunity to give his brother a task that he would have to take seriously. Qiu Huanian was investing with the recipe, sharing profits based on the workshop's revenue. Zhu Jingwei, who valued face and loyalty, wouldn't mess things up after taking over. With a few words of praise, he might even take the initiative to learn.

Although the red fermented tofu business was small, it was just right for Zhu Jingwei to gain experience. Firstly, his abilities weren't yet suited for large-scale business. Secondly, red fermented tofu was outside the Zhu family's traditional industries, so there was no fear of interference or sabotage from other branches.

Qiu Huanian saw through Zhu Jingcheng's well-meaning intentions as an elder brother and smiled, adding the final push to Zhu Jingwei's hesitation, "Jingwei is the eldest grandson of the Zhu family, surely he's capable in business. With you in charge of the red fermented tofu workshop, I can be completely at ease."

Zhu Jingwei felt a warm comfort in his heart upon hearing this. He wasn't truly indifferent to the voices that criticized him for being uneducated and spoiled, but on one hand, he was naturally lazy and afraid of being busy, and on the other, he had long since convinced himself that he had no talent, so he simply turned a deaf ear and continued to muddle through.

Now, a friend said he trusted him and was confident in his abilities, which stirred a sense of ambition in Zhu Jingwei, who had been put on the spot.

"Alright, I'll take care of this!"

Even if he didn't know how, he could always ask his brother, his mother, or his sister-in-law! With the Zhu family backing him, who would go it alone?

...

Meanwhile, at the gates of Xiangping Prefecture, Du Yunjing's family finally managed to hire a carriage willing to take them back to Zhang County.

"From Zhang County to Xiangping Prefecture, a carriage costs three qian of silver, but from Xiangping Prefecture to Zhang County, it's four qian of silver, isn't that robbery!" Zhao complained heartily.

The coachman, with sharp ears, said indifferently, "I advise you to be more open-minded. You five people hiring my carriage, four qian of silver is already cheap. The carriage bureau is even worried about overworking the horse."

Having suffered a big loss in the prefecture city, Zhao wasn't as willing to spend money as she was on the way here. She insisted on hiring only one carriage, squeezing five people together to return to Zhang County. They had to visit several carriage bureaus before finding one willing to take the order for four qian of silver, delaying until now.

"Enough! Get on the carriage and let's go, or we'll have to spend the night in the wilderness after dark!" the coachman urged.

Zhao and the others got on the carriage. The cramped carriage was filled with five people, so crowded that they couldn't even stretch their legs. Fu Bao was jumping around and making a fuss. Zhao, thinking about having to squeeze in such a carriage for three days and two nights, was furious.

She had originally wanted to leave Li Guer directly in the prefecture city, but Li Guer had become clever this time, directly stating that she and Du Yunjing were a couple matched by the examination commissioner himself. If Zhao dared not take her along, she would make a scene at the government office. Zhao had no choice but to let this annoying woman continue to take up space.

Once they returned to Du Village in Zhang County, she would definitely make Li Guer pay!

After the five of them got on the carriage and sat down, the coachman raised his whip, and the carriage began to sway forward. Before Zhao and the others could even catch their breath, the carriage suddenly came to a halt again.

Fu Bao, who had been moving around, lost his balance and bumped into Du Yunjing's injured nose. Du Yunjing, in pain, looked terrifyingly gloomy, his red eyes as if ready to devour someone. Fu Bao, who had grown up in a pampered environment, had never seen such an expression before and immediately wanted to cry out loudly, asking his mother to stand up for him.

Chaos ensued inside the carriage, while outside, the coachman looked at the servants blocking the horse and inwardly cursed his bad luck. He had been a coachman in Xiangping Prefecture for many years, transporting countless people, and his eyes were sharp. These servants' clothing and demeanor were not ordinary; their master must be someone of high status.

"Gentlemen, which noble family do you serve? What instructions do you have for me?"

The leading servant, dressed as a steward, smiled, "Don't be nervous, we are from the household of Commissioner Feng. This matter has nothing to do with you, you can leave shortly."

"It's just that the people in your carriage still have unfinished business ordered by the commissioner, which is why we waited at the city gate to stop your carriage."

Fu Bao, who had been crying loudly, had his mouth tightly covered. Du Yunjing's eyes were nearly mad, his grip so strong that Fu Bao instantly couldn't breathe and his face turned purple.