Time was pressing.

Ye Li hadn’t had time to make pancakes for Jiang Ji.

Still, last night’s tender, savory braised pork—neither greasy nor cloying—was enough to soothe Jiang Ji’s overworked mind from the past few days.

His restless young body had also been soothed by their deeply satisfying lovemaking.

He radiated profound contentment, his gaze gentle and demeanor serene as he stood in the courtyard bathed in the morning glow. Watching him stirred Ye Li’s heart with such longing that she wanted to throw herself at him and repeat last night’s passion.

My dear husband.

His dear, dear husband!

Unfortunately, they had risen too late, and with so many tasks demanding their attention, they scarcely found a moment to be alone.

After a simple breakfast, Ye Li and Jiang Ji exchanged a hurried kiss while he counted coins in their room. Then, Jiang Ji tucked forty wen into his pocket, clutched a jar of soy milk rice mochi, and strode briskly toward the county town.

Jiang Ji jogged all the way, arriving at the private school with a quarter of an hour left before the class bell rang.

He had no time to rest, passing through the front courtyard into the main courtyard and then the back courtyard.

Before returning home last night, he had specifically instructed Bao Beiyuan to wait for him in the sleeping quarters.

Now, as he entered the rear courtyard, he spotted Bao Beiyuan leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking drowsy.

His long eyebrows furrowed slightly as he strode over and asked, “Didn’t you sleep again last night?”

The question jolted Bao Beiyuan awake, his heavy eyelids suddenly alert.

Rubbing his eyes, he straightened up and yawned, countering with a question of his own: “What’s that you’re holding?”

“Your future path.” Jiang Ji raised the clay jar in his hand.

“…What?”

Bao Beiyuan froze.

He rubbed his eyes again, scrutinizing the earthenware jar in Jiang Ji’s hands.

The jar stood about half a foot tall, plain and unremarkable. Hadn’t Jiang Ji brought pickles from home last time that he hadn’t finished yet, Bao Beiyuan would have assumed these contained pickles too.

While he pondered this, Jiang Ji had already approached him.

Jiang Ji shoved the pot into his hands. “My Fulang made this milk tea. Try some.”

“Goat milk drink?” Bao Beiyuan’s eyes widened. This was a luxury item, nearly as expensive as pork these days.

He felt genuinely touched. “Thanks, brother-in-law.”

“Just call him Brother Li.”

Jiang Ji tapped the pot with his slender fingers as he ran toward the main courtyard. “I think selling drinks has more potential than you lugging heavy loads. Grab a pair of chopsticks from the kitchen and give them a proper taste. I’m heading back to class now. We’ll chat more at lunch.”

Tall and long-legged, he moved with agile strides, leaving the back yard in just a few quick steps.

Bao Beiyuan scratched his head, cradling the small clay pot as he returned to his room.

The pot was sealed with hemp cloth. He untied the string, removed the lid, and the soy milk rice pudding revealed itself: snow-white with a hint of yellow, just like the milk tea drink from his memories.

Jiang Ji had held the pot in his hands the entire time, so it was still slightly warm.

He lifted the pot and took a sip.

Sweet and delicious.

It had a richer, creamier texture than some of the milk teas he’d tried before.

Was goat’s milk added?

Yet the tea flavor was distinct—could it be brewed directly with goat’s milk?

The pot wasn’t large, and he hadn’t eaten since morning. Gulping down several mouthfuls, he soon spotted something white at the bottom—resembling glutinous rice ball wrappers.

He remembered Jiang Ji’s advice to drink it with chopsticks.

He stood up, cradling the pot, and headed to the kitchen.

After asking the cook for a pair of chopsticks, he scooped up a piece of rice mochi from the bottom of the pot and held it up to examine it closely.

Visually, it did resemble glutinous rice dumpling skin, but tasting it revealed a difference.

Glutinous rice dumpling skin was already exceptionally soft, yet this mass was even softer and lighter. It slid down without chewing, carrying a distinct taste of goat’s milk.

What was this?

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

A morning of intense study had completely depleted the energy from the flatbread and the thick rice porridge Jiang Ji had eaten earlier.

His stomach growled.

He set down his books and strode out of the lecture hall, intending to call out to Bao Beiyuan in the courtyard to eat together.

Just then, a familiar voice called from behind him: “Jiang Ji, Brother Ji.”

He turned his head and saw Bao Beiyuan standing by the window just a few steps away.

Moreover, Bao Beiyuan no longer carried the previous listlessness; he looked much more energetic than the past couple of days.

Jiang Ji was slightly surprised. A thought struck him, and he asked, “Are you interested in that milk tea drink from this morning?”

Bao Beiyuan smiled at the question, stepping closer to give his shoulder a playful whack. “You’re sharp—you guessed it right away.”

“Then let’s head to the kitchen. We can talk over food.”

Jiang Ji breathed a sigh of relief.

A smile and genuine interest—a good sign.

For the past few days, Bao Beiyuan had been eating in the kitchen.

The food there was poor, but at least it was cheap.

The two of them carried a small willow basket filled with vegetable-stuffed buns and soup bowls, finding a corner spot.

Afterward, Jiang Ji took four wen from his robe and went to the stove to buy two boiled eggs.

He had spent half of the twenty wen Ye Li had given him last time.

A raw egg, even the smallest, costs one wen. Therefore, the boiled eggs sold in the kitchen were two wen each.

He bought one boiled egg per day, spending ten wen over five days.

This morning, Ye Li inquired about it. Learning he hadn’t spent all twenty wen, he grew angry.

That audacious husband! Right in front of Xiao Mai and Ya-ger, he pulled him aside and growled a low, menacing threat: if he didn’t spend it all this time, next time he came back, he wouldn’t let him onto the kang!

Barring any mishaps, he wouldn’t be home for another ten days.

Seeing each other only once every ten days was already agonizing enough—and now he wouldn’t let him onto the kang!

He absolutely refused to let that happen.

Spend it, he’d spend it in a flash!

From now on, he’d eat two eggs a day!

Gripping the two eggs, he returned to the corner. Sitting down, he handed one to Bao Beiyuan.

Bao Beiyuan was munching on a vegetable steamed bun. Seeing this, he immediately thanked him.

“Brother Ji is the best. These steamed buns from the kitchen are just awful.”

The vegetable steamed bun in his hand was made from cornmeal mixed with sorghum flour. The flour was coarsely ground, and paired with the slight bitterness of the wild greens, the texture was truly unpleasant.

“As long as it fills you up,” Jiang Ji said.

“True,” Bao Beiyuan agreed, lifting his vegetable bun for a big bite. Chewing, he added to Jiang Ji, “I must thank Brother Li again for his trouble. And of course, my good brother here deserves thanks too.”

“But now that the tea drink is ready, what’s the next step?”

Jiang Ji countered, “Are you willing to take this on?”

“I am. It’s better than hauling heavy loads,” Bao Beiyuan nodded.

Why had he been unable to sleep last night?

Because the road ahead was vast and uncertain.

If he truly had no heart or mind, it would be one thing. He could take a few dozen taels of silver and live in drunken oblivion, spending it all and then leaving himself to fend for himself.

But he wasn’t that sort of person.

Even when selling books, he’d been scheming for the future.

He’d always thought that as a young man, he could somehow manage to survive. But after hearing Jiang Ji’s words, he felt only a vast, foggy expanse stretching ahead, shrouded in night and mist, leaving him utterly lost.

Even carrying heavy packages had its own set of tricks and tricks. What else could he possibly do?

Thus, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep, until the crowing of roosters finally lulled him into a drowsy slumber.

Now, Jiang Ji and his husband had shown him a path. Naturally, he would seize this opportunity.

“If you’re willing, that’s good. What Brother Li means is, you try selling for a few days first. If business is decent and you’re truly committed to this, then he’ll teach you the recipe. You’ll make it yourself and sell it yourself.”

“Daily revenue split nineteen to one.”

“He takes ten percent, you take ninety percent.”

Jiang Ji explained while peeling an eggshell.

“Nineteen to one?” Bao Beiyuan’s eyes instantly widened.

“Is that too much? If you think it is, we can renegotiate.”

“No, no, no! I think Brother Li is taking too little,” Bao Beiyuan hurriedly replied.

In the food business, the recipe is the most crucial element.

Just like his family’s noodle shop, both the dough and the broth are their exclusive recipes!

It was thanks to these secret recipes that his parents could transform their small stall into the thriving noodle shop it is today.

That milk tea recipe? Brother Li provided the formula, yet he only took a ten percent cut. That was practically charity, pitying him.

His heart swelled with gratitude: “Bro, it should be three-sevenths for you.”

Jiang Ji shook his head. “He only contributed the recipe. You handle everything else. Ninety percent? Fair enough.”

Seeing Bao Beiyuan about to argue, he pressed on: “Selling this, you won’t have a shopfront at first. You’ll have to go door-to-door yourself.”

“Plus, you’ll need to rent at least one kitchen for your exclusive use, to prevent the recipe from being seen.”

“Just for the start-up, you’ll need to invest five taels of silver. How many milk teas will you have to sell to earn that five taels back?”

“That’s how it’s settled. If it really takes off later, you can give Brother Li a bit more.”

With that, he devoured the egg in two bites, then picked up the vegetable bun and began eating.

Bao Beiyuan cracked his egg on the mottled, aged wooden table and remarked, “This will definitely sell well. It tastes better than any affordable milk tea I’ve tried before.”

He’d sampled offerings from nearly every one of Beiyang County’s dozen or so beverage shops.

Setting aside various fruit wines and health teas infused with herbs or spices, let’s focus solely on milk tea.

The higher-end versions were simmered with curd, tea, flowers, and honey. Some added fruit paste, others dried fruits like goji berries or longan, and they were even served in silverware.

A single small bowl costs dozens of wen!

Ordinary folk couldn’t afford that.

The milk tea consumed by ordinary folk wasn’t that expensive, but any version containing cow’s milk, goat’s milk, and fruit paste would set you back over ten wen per bowl.

This morning’s milk tea, lacking curd cheese or dried fruits, was considered an affordable option.

Yet its flavor surpassed the budget milk tea from the beverage shops, and that dumpling-skin-like ingredient inside was fresh and delicious.

If he sold it door-to-door, it would surely be cheaper than the tea shop’s.

Affordable and tasty—with just these two qualities, it would definitely sell well.

“Let’s try selling it for a few days first. No one can say for sure right now.”

“After we eat, you go to Yezaopo and discuss this matter in detail with Ye Li. How about it?”

Jiang Ji simply said.

This profit-sharing arrangement was set by Ye Li.

It was also because relying solely on Bao Beiyuan meant limited daily production of milk tea and thus limited profit. Hence, the initial phase would involve sacrificing some profit.

Otherwise, if Bao Beiyuan toiled all day only to earn a dozen or so wen, what motivation would he have left?

He agreed with Ye Li’s decision to sacrifice profit initially. They’d test the waters with a trial sale first.

Hearing this, Bao Beiyuan felt even more touched and promptly agreed.

After lunch, the two returned to their dormitory.

Some of their dormmates went straight back to the lecture hall to study diligently.

Others chose to take a short nap.

Each person in the dormitory had their own cabinet, lined up in front of the heated bed, containing their personal belongings.

Bao Beiyuan pointed to Jiang Ji’s locker and said, “Jiang Ji, get me a hundred wen. If the negotiations go well, I’ll pick up some supplies on my way back.”

He had entrusted most of his silver to their teacher, Master Han, for safekeeping. He kept only a little over a hundred wen, which he placed in Jiang Ji’s locker along with the few copper coins Jiang Ji had.

Jiang Ji agreed, retrieved a key from his person, unlocked the chest, and first placed his own several dozen copper coins inside.

He then took out Bao Beiyuan’s string of coins: “We’ll need to buy quite a few things. Take all of it.”

That made sense.

Bao Beiyuan took the coins, then asked Jiang Ji for directions to Yezaopo. Carrying the money, he hurried out of the private school.

The school was in the southern part of town, while Yezaopo lay north of the county seat. He walked along the main street for a while, passing a candy shop before stepping inside.

Brother Li had given him a good job. On his first visit, he couldn’t possibly show up empty-handed.

After looking around the shop, he finally bought two pounds of cane sugar.

Pastries were as expensive as sugar, but a pound of pastries only yielded a few pieces, gone in no time.

But a pound of sugar would last a long time.

Besides, Brother Li needed sugar for his tea. Buying two pounds now would save Brother Li from having to buy more later.

Leaving the candy shop, he spotted a stall nearby selling windmill toys. He spent another ten wen on a large handheld windmill, as big as a palm fan.

Carrying two catties of cane sugar in one hand and clutching the large windmill in the other, he walked and inquired his way, taking nearly half an hour to find the Jiang family’s door.

Inside the Jiang family courtyard, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya had already woken up and were preparing to take some hemp rope to gather firewood.

Spotting a boy about Jiang Ji’s age peering cautiously at the gate, Jiang Mai approached and asked curiously, “Big brother, who are you looking for?”

“Excuse me, is this the Jiang Ji household?”

Bao Beiyuan inquired with a bright smile.

“My brother isn’t home. He’s gone to study.”

Jiang Ya replied, his large eyes peering at Bao Beiyuan with curiosity.

Hearing this, Bao Beiyuan’s smile grew even brighter. He waved the large windmill in his hand. “You must be Xiao Ya! I’m your big brother’s good friend, Bao Beiyuan.”

“I’ve come to see your Brother Li. I have important business to discuss.”

“Here, take this pinwheel. You and Xiao Mai can play with it.”

Bao Beiyuan spoke rapidly. Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya listened, momentarily stunned. Then Jiang Ya scampered off toward the kitchen: “Brother Li! Brother Li! Big Brother Bao is here!”

Jiang Mai snapped out of it, too. Remembering Brother Bao’s tragic story, he quickly put on a smile and pointed to the courtyard: “Brother Bao, come on in and sit down! I’ll go get you some water!”

Bao Beiyuan immediately replied, “Thanks, Xiao Mai. You’re such a good kid.”

He entered the courtyard with a hint of curiosity.

Meanwhile, Ye Li, who had been frying tofu puffs, heard the conversation in the courtyard. He quickly set down his chopsticks and emerged from the kitchen with Ye Liang.

The two parties met and exchanged warm greetings.

Upon learning that Bao Beiyuan had specially bought two pounds of sugar, Ye Li immediately said, “You came, that’s enough. No need to bring all this. You’re too polite.”

“It’s only proper. I couldn’t come empty-handed on my first visit.”

Bao Beiyuan held the glass of cool boiled water Jiang Mai had poured for him, smiling cheerfully.

“You and Jiang Ji are good friends. No need for formalities. Come, let’s talk in the kitchen. I’ve got tofu puffs frying in the pot.”

Ye Li gestured toward the kitchen.

Bao Beiyuan readily agreed, carrying the bowl to the kitchen doorway.

Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya listened curiously for a moment before grabbing some twine and dashing out the door.

Oh my gosh, Brother Li is going to be making soy milk rice mochi nonstop—that’ll burn through a ton of firewood!

They absolutely couldn’t slack off!

Truthfully, the two little ones were worrying needlessly.

Because what followed was merely a trial sale, with limited tea production each day.

According to Ye Li’s plan, over the next few days, he would prepare a clay pot of jasmine tea and soy milk rice mochi after breakfast each morning. Bao Beiyuan would then take them to the county town to sell door-to-door.

With just a few items, the two could carry them in a basket and a bag—no need for a wheelbarrow.

After selling everything, they’d split the day’s profits evenly with Bao Beiyuan.

He couldn’t let Bao Beiyuan run errands for nothing.

Hearing this, Bao Beiyuan looked surprised. “Jasmine tea too?”

“Yes, why?” Ye Li asked.

“Well… it might not sell well. It’s the most common beverage—sold not only in tea shops but also by street vendors hawking drinks.”

Bao Beiyuan explained.

“I know. We’ll price ours lower. Our main focus is the soy milk rice mochi.”

Ye Li wasn’t worried.

His plan was to have one high-volume item.

And one signature item.

If the high-volume item didn’t sell well, he’d switch the ordinary jasmine tea to Cheese Milk Cap Four Seasons Spring.

The recipe for Cheese Milk Cap Four Seasons Spring was quite complex, making it hard for others to replicate.

Bao Beiyuan thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright.”

With the weather warming up, tea should sell better than in spring or autumn.

Worst case, he’d just visit more places.

After finalizing the details, Ye Li sent Bao Beiyuan back to the county town, instructing him to return the day after tomorrow.

Tomorrow, he needed to prepare the ingredients.

The small batch Ye Liang had helped him buy last time was nearly depleted.

The next day, after selling half his tofu puffs, Ye Liang tucked some copper coins into his pocket and headed into town to buy glutinous rice, sweet potato starch, and tea leaves.

Technically, he needed to pass through the county town to reach Yezaopo. Logically, buying these items in town would be most convenient, saving him the extra twenty-mile trek.

But he knew the town like the back of his hand and was unfamiliar with the county seat. So he always bought things in town.

Arriving at the Jiang household, he handed the ingredients to Ye Li. Without pausing for a meal, Ye Li immediately carried the glutinous rice to the well to wash it.

It was hot. If he washed it clean now and let it dry all afternoon, he could grind the rice into flour by evening.

However, to achieve the smoothest texture for the rice mochi, he had to grind it over ten times before finishing.

On such a sweltering day, pushing the millstone for half an hour felt truly miserable.

On the third day, after breakfast, he first pressed the tofu, then started both the large iron pot and the stove simultaneously.

By the time Bao Beiyuan arrived, both beverages were ready.

One clay jar held jasmine green tea.

Not much—just two liters.

Another clay jar contained soy milk rice pudding, with the pudding and soybean powder served separately in bowls.

Again, not much—only three liters.

Bao Beiyuan had already purchased the wine scoops.

These wine scoops resembled long-handled ladles, like a bamboo tube tied to a wooden stick, specifically designed for scooping wine.

The wine scoops Bao Beiyuan bought were quite large. One scoop held half a jin, or 250 milliliters—the volume of a carton of pure milk.

For jasmine green tea, each scoop costs two wen.

For soy milk rice mochi, each scoop costs ten wen.

At this price, jasmine green tea barely made any profit—selling two jin only earned one wen.

When the weather turned hot, and people needed saltpeter for making ice or buying ice blocks, the profit would be even lower.

Soy milk rice mochi fares better, yielding two wen and per scoop sold.

The pricing structure primarily reflects the cost of the rice mochi.

Sweet potato starch costs thirteen wen per catty.

Glutinous rice is ten wen per catty, and Ye Li still has to grind it into flour.

Moreover, it must be cooked with goat’s milk.

Even so, this price is still lower than the milk tea sold in beverage shops.

As a transit point for southbound ships and northbound horses, Beiyang County, though called a county, is actually livelier than many Prefectural Capitals.

Such a large county town supported numerous beverage shops.

With others’ shops thriving, there was no reason his soy milk and glutinous rice cakes wouldn’t sell.

Ye Li offered Bao Beiyuan a few words of encouragement before watching him depart.

Now, all that remained was to wait for the soy milk and glutinous rice cakes to sell like hotcakes.