Though Bao Beiyuan was an educated scholar, he wasn’t stuffy or aloof.

After returning home from private tutoring, he often helped out at his family’s noodle shop.

Thus, he felt no aversion to hawking tea drinks along the street.

Having grown accustomed to it, he felt no shame.

He had already mapped out his sales route. Upon entering the county town, he headed straight for his destination—near the Bao Family Noodle Shop.

He chose this spot because it was surrounded by neighbors. If one person bought, others would call their friends over, making it easy to break into the market.

As for whether he might run into Bao Beixing?

So what if he did?

That land wasn’t bought by Bao Beixing. Was he forbidden from going there?

He didn’t return to fight for his inheritance because he felt guilty toward his father.

He wanted to punish himself.

But toward Bao Beixing? He felt no guilt whatsoever.

He certainly wouldn’t deliberately avoid that area just because Bao Beixing was there.

What good would silent avoidance do?

Would Bao Beixing even thank him?

Absolute nonsense.

Only after leaving home did he realize how incredibly hard it was to make a living.

No one could stop him from earning money!

The entire layout of Beiyang County resembled the character “丰” (fēng). A main street ran north-south, with three bustling cross streets extending from each side.

These three cross streets then branched off into numerous winding alleys.

The Bao family’s noodle shop was located at the end of the middle cross street on the western side.

Considering the entire county, this location wasn’t remote. It connected to two small alleys, and with Father Bao’s excellent cooking skills, the noodle shop did brisk business.

Regular patrons were mostly local residents rather than passing merchants.

Many nearby households ran small businesses, much like Bao’s Noodle Shop. While not wealthy, they could afford milk tea costing over ten wen per bowl.

By the end of the third hour, the sun stood high in the sky.

As Bao Beiyuan walked along, all the shops along the street had opened.

But for leisurely shoppers, it was still too early. Only a few scattered pedestrians were visible on the entire street at this hour.

Two blocks away from Bao’s Noodle House, Bao Beiyuan cleared his throat and called out, just as he would to customers in the shop: “Drinks! Fresh milk tea! Our exclusive new concoction! Delicious and affordable!”

The teenager’s voice was clear and resonant, carrying far down the still-quiet street.

Gong Lisheng emerged from the intersection beside Bao Beiyuan, one hand carrying a bundle of scallions, the other a sack of green and red peppers. He looked up and saw Bao Beiyuan, two baskets slung over his shoulders, turning his head as he called out.

His eyes widened as he quickened his pace: “Xiao Yuan!”

Bao Beiyuan focused his gaze, then broke into a smile: “Brother Sheng!”

Gong Lisheng ran a small shop nearby selling stir-fried cold noodles. His father loved the cold noodles, while Gong Lisheng preferred their homemade noodles, so the two families interacted frequently.

Though Gong Lisheng was several years older, they got along quite well.

“What’s this… weren’t you supposed to be back at the private school with your classmates?”

Gong Lisheng approached, giving Bao Beiyuan a thorough once-over before asking curiously.

“I did go back to the private school, but I’m not studying anymore. I found a job selling tea drinks. Today’s my first day out hawking them.”

“Brother Sheng, try my tea drink. It’s our shop’s special recipe—the only one in Beiyang County. You won’t find it anywhere else.”

“We’re old acquaintances. Have a taste. It’s on the house.”

Bao Beiyuan said with a smile.

Gong Lisheng gazed at his smiling face, his own emotions tangled.

He seemed to have emerged from the grief of Old Master Bao’s passing.

But who could tell if it was just a forced smile?

Back then, Bao Beiyuan’s classmates had offered to help the lad fight for his inheritance. Several old neighbors were even willing to testify at the county yamen.

Yet this young man voluntarily relinquished such a substantial inheritance.

Sigh!

He gathered his thoughts, turned, and pointed to the jelly shop nearby. “Alright, I’ll try it. Let’s go inside—I’ll grab a bowl.”

“Alright!” Bao Beiyuan agreed with a beaming smile.

The jelly shop was a small establishment connected to a courtyard at the back. Gong Lisheng only rented the shop and one room in the rear courtyard, while the remaining rooms were occupied by other tenants, making it a sort of mixed-use courtyard.

The Gong Family Jelly Shop was an old establishment, having been in business for over thirty years.

A few years ago, Old Man Gong returned to the countryside to retire and look after his grandchildren.

The jelly shop was handed over to Gong Lisheng and his wife. The couple had mastered most of Old Man Gong’s craft, so they didn’t lose many of their regular customers.

Gong Lisheng arrived at the shopfront, unlocked the door, and gestured for Bao Beiyuan to sit down. “I’ll fetch a bowl.”

The shop was compact. Beyond the stove, only four small tables filled the space—one glance took it all in.

Bao Beiyuan set his backpack on a table and asked, “Where’s Sister Cuihua?”

“She went back to the village yesterday. She missed your nephew.” Gong Lisheng smiled as he retrieved a white porcelain bowl from the cupboard. “Here, let me try this new tea milk you mentioned.”

He placed the white porcelain bowl before Bao Beiyuan.

Bao Beiyuan unwrapped the hemp cloth covering the wine-soaked grapes and said with a smile, “You’ll definitely be satisfied.”

He opened the clay jar holding the soy milk rice cake, scooping out half a ladle of tea broth. Gong Lisheng immediately protested, “Why not fill it for me?”

“Brother Sheng, try it first. If it doesn’t suit you…”

Before he could finish, Gong Lisheng cut him off: “No need to taste it. I’ll buy it. You wouldn’t try to rip me off, would you? If I don’t like it, it’s just my taste, not your milk tea.“

Those words warmed Bao Beiyuan’s heart as if he stood under the blazing sun.

He gave a hearty nod. ”Brother Sheng, I used only the finest ingredients and a complex method. I’ll add an extra pair of rice mochi for you!”

He ladled a full scoop of tea broth into a white porcelain bowl.

Then he opened the bowl holding the rice mochi and soybean powder.

First, he placed two chopsticks full of rice mochi into the bowl. Then, using a spoon, he sprinkled a layer of soybean powder over it.

Gong Lisheng watched curiously, pointing at the rice dumplings and asking, “What’s this?”

“This is rice dumpling, my employer’s exclusive secret recipe. It’s especially delicious. Brother Sheng, try some with your chopsticks.” Bao Beiyuan handed over the white porcelain bowl.

Gong Lisheng, upon hearing this, quickly fetched another pair of chopsticks from the cupboard.

Holding the white porcelain bowl, he first sipped the tea.

Mm, rich and full-bodied, with a strong tea flavor.

Genuine ingredients—you could taste them.

Then, unable to wait, he used his chopsticks to lift a piece of rice mochi and pop it into his mouth.

Given his family’s circumstances, he’d had tangyuan before.

Previously, he’d considered the tangyuan skin the softest, most delicate part of the dish. But now, this bite made the skin feel almost hard in comparison!

His eyes widened in utter astonishment.

Bao Beiyuan didn’t miss his expression. “How is it? Surprised?” he asked with a smile.

Gong Lisheng nodded emphatically. “Your boss is quite the master! I’ve never tasted anything like this before!”

“How much is a bowl?”

“Ten wen per bowl,” Bao Beiyuan replied.

“Ten wen?!” Gong Lisheng gasped again.

It was cheaper than the drink shop!

The flavor rivals the established drink shops, and they even deliver. He remarked with a hint of admiration, “You’ve found yourself a good job, kid. You won’t go hungry from now on.”

“Brother Sheng is right. I’m truly grateful to my employer. There are still good people in this world.”

Bao Beiyuan said earnestly.

“Absolutely. There are few like Bao Beixing in this world.”

Gong Lisheng nodded toward the Bao family noodle shop with a look of disgust. “You wouldn’t believe it, but these past few days, Bao Beixing hasn’t opened until the afternoon. Sleeping in late!”

“I may not think much of him, but you know I’m truly addicted to those noodles. I get cravings if I go a few days without them.”

“But yesterday afternoon, when I went for noodles, that kid kneaded the dough so poorly! The noodles were limp and floppy—he even skimped on kneading.”

“The family fortune your parents built will be ruined by him sooner or later!”

Gong Lisheng’s tirade left Bao Beiyuan momentarily stunned.

Wait, opening late is one thing.

But not putting effort into kneading dough?

After venting, Gong Lisheng took a satisfying gulp of milk tea, feeling quite content.

He added, “Enough about him, it’s a downer. Come on, let’s go out and hawk our wares. You only brought this little bit? We’ll give the neighbors a share and be done with it.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

He tugged Bao Beiyuan toward the door.

Bao Beiyuan snapped his wandering thoughts back and agreed.

By the time Bao Beiyuan returned to the Jiang household, it was already afternoon.

Thanks to Gong Lisheng’s enthusiastic promotion, the two clay pots of drink sold out quickly.

But first, he stopped by the private school.

He ate a few vegetable buns for lunch, chatted briefly with Jiang Ji, and only then headed back to Yezaopo.

As he walked, he calculated today’s earnings.

Ye Li had instructed him to set aside a small portion for customers to sample.

For the first sale, he had to let everyone taste the flavor first.

But the neighbors felt sorry for him struggling to make ends meet alone. They refused to sample it or pay more, so Gong Lisheng only gained a small advantage—he gave them an extra chopstick of glutinous rice balls.

So today’s tea sales had all turned into cash.

Two liters of jasmine tea, totaling four jin.

Each jin sold yielded a profit of five li.

Four jin earned him two wen.

Soy milk rice dumplings had higher profit margins. He sold three liters, or twelve bundles.

Each bundle netted two wen and five li.

Twelve bunches equaled thirty wen.

Combined, the total profit was thirty-two wen.

Split evenly with Ye Li, he’d get sixteen wen.

A good omen!

This money came easily!

In the Jiang family’s small courtyard, Bao Beiyuan sat by the kitchen door, recounting the morning’s events in meticulous detail.

He chuckled, “Jasmine tea is quite popular too. The flavor rivals the tea shops’. Since I deliver it door-to-door, folks are happy to buy.”

Ye Li stood by the stove, long chopsticks in hand, stirring the tofu puffs in the pot as he remarked, “Beyond expectations.”

Who would’ve thought this poor little Bao Beiyuan had any connections at all?

But today was a special case. He instructed, “Tomorrow, try a different spot. See how other customers react. You can’t always rely on the neighbors.”

“Alright.” Bao Beiyuan agreed.

That was his plan anyway.

Though the old neighbors were well-off, they wouldn’t splurge on ten-wen bowls of milk tea every day.

He needed to scout out more spots.

Then, when he started peddling his own cart, he’d know what to expect.

Bao Beiyuan didn’t linger. Clutching a bowl of cold-marinated preserved eggs freshly made by Ye Li, he quickly left the Jiang residence.

It had been half a month since Ye Li last pickled preserved eggs.

Yesterday afternoon, he opened the jar and cracked five of them—each boasted a perfectly runny yolk.

Preserved eggs themselves are flavorless, unlike salted duck eggs that pair well with congee or vegetable buns. But such a delicacy deserved to be shared with his beloved husband. So Ye Li hastily prepared a bowl of cold-marinated eggs for Bao Beiyuan to take.

After frying the tofu puffs, when Ye Liang left, he had his take twenty eggs with him.

Five were for the Ye family to eat.

The remaining fifteen were placed at the Liu family’s pancake stall for sale.

If sales were good, he’d swiftly prepare the next batch.

Summer was the perfect season for preserved eggs. Tossed with cucumber in a cold salad, they were not only refreshing and unique but also incredibly fresh.

Ye Liang took great interest in the preserved eggs. Ye Li had mentioned they could keep for half a year without spoiling. With the constant flow of merchants passing through Baitang Town, selling them to out-of-town traders would be ideal. Given the town’s foot traffic, selling hundreds a day wouldn’t be a problem!

By then, the Ye family could earn a living from these eggs!

Since Ye Li alone couldn’t produce that many, he agreed to teach him the recipe!

Not seizing such an opportunity would be foolish.

Upon returning home, Ye Liang disregarded the late hour and immediately had Liu Yi test-make the cold-marinated eggs.

Ye Li explained the steps clearly, and he relayed them all to Liu Yi. Liu Yi used three preserved eggs for three trial runs and then produced cold-marinated preserved eggs just like Ye Li’s.

Ye Liang felt relieved. He was one step closer to making big money!

Early the next morning, Liu Yi prepared a bowl of cold-marinated preserved eggs and brought them to town along with tofu puffs, large skewers, and fried dough sticks.

The vibrant color of the preserved eggs drew immediate attention as soon as they were displayed.

As for the taste.

Since these were eggs, the cost was high. Therefore, to get a free sample, customers had to first purchase a sandwich.

But the free samples came with a catch: the egg whites had a far less appealing texture than the yolks.

To sample the yolks for free, customers had to buy three pancakes!

For this reason, when slicing the eggs, Liu Yi deliberately separated the whites from the yolks.

This sampling method was Ye Li’s idea.

Initially, both Ye Liang and Liu Yi were somewhat concerned, feeling this method imposed too many restrictions. What if someone just wanted the preserved eggs and not the pancakes?

But as it turned out, they worried needlessly.

The preserved eggs, with their amber-like appearance, were truly tempting. Those who weren’t counting pennies all wanted to taste what they were like.

Besides, at the Liu family’s pancake stall, the plain pancakes were the most basic offering—everything else was delicious.

So, a well-heeled customer promptly paid for three pancakes with fillings—the “Family Reunion” combo—eager to discover the true flavor of the preserved egg yolk.

Like century eggs, preserved eggs have a surprisingly broad appeal.

Many dislike the egg white, but few can resist the yolk.

Add Liu Yi’s masterful preparation to the mix—the uniquely smooth yolk paired with the tangy, spicy marinade—and it becomes utterly irresistible.

This well-heeled customer promptly bought up all the remaining preserved eggs.

Preserved eggs are sold individually.

Their cost consists mainly of eggs, with just a small amount of lime and sawdust.

It’s really not high.

The smaller ones go for two wen each.

The larger ones, three wen each.

This price is comparable to tea eggs—hardly high.

To make money, you need volume.

But judging by today’s turnout, the money prospects are huge!

With Ye Liang’s feedback, Ye Li felt reassured. He approached Jiang Tong to ask if he could get him some sawdust.

He wasn’t in a rush—ten days, half a month, even a few months later would be fine.

The request was too simple; Jiang Tong agreed immediately.

Not only had Ye Li done him a huge favor, but even without that, given their family ties, he would have agreed anyway.

Truth be told, he’d poured ten years into carpentry. Though he’d ended up with nothing to show for it—no real skills—he couldn’t bring himself to give it up completely.

With money in the household now, he planned to head into town to buy a few tools.

He couldn’t handle large pieces, but making stools, chairs, and the like was well within his capability.

Once he had enough pieces, he could take them to the town or county seat to sell at a low price.

He didn’t expect to make a living from this craft.

He simply couldn’t let it go.

After Ye Li visited Jiang Tong, he waited for Bao Beiyuan to return the clay pots to the Jiang household that afternoon. He then asked Bao Beiyuan to bring him some quicklime and sawdust the next day.

Jiang Tong’s sawdust was nowhere in sight. To make preserved eggs now, he’d have to buy sawdust himself.

Bao Beiyuan readily agreed.

Meanwhile, Ye Li had also collected eggs throughout the village.

This time, he planned to make five hundred preserved eggs.

At noon that day, as the bell signaling the end of class rang, the lecture hall, previously filled with the sound of reading, instantly fell silent.

Once the master announced the end of class, the hall returned to its bustling state.

Familiar students exchanged greetings, some heading to the dining hall together, others leaving the private school to fill their stomachs elsewhere.

Jiang Ji slowly gathered his books, waiting until most of the hall had emptied before rising.

Nowadays, after selling tea drinks in the morning, Bao Beiyuan would grab lunch at the private school before noon, then head straight to Yezaopo.

Thus, he was once again dining alone.

As he exited the lecture hall, preparing to head to the rear courtyard, a voice called out from the front gate connecting the front and main courtyards: “Jiang Ji, someone’s looking for you at the gate—”

Uninvited visitors were barred from entering the private school.

If it were a student’s family member, the gatekeeper would come inside to relay the message.

Someone seeking him?

Jiang Ji’s heart skipped a beat. Without a second thought, he sprinted toward the front courtyard.

Passing through the carved gate, he strode swiftly to the academy’s main entrance. He bounded up the steps, crossed the threshold, and glanced left and right. Sure enough, Ye Li stood beneath the shade of a tree by the high wall to the left of the gate, smiling brightly at him!

Her smile was radiant, brighter than the sun overhead!

His narrowed eyes instantly filled with warmth, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He hurried over. “Why are you here?”

“To buy some jars for pickling eggs, and to bring you lunch.”

Ye Li gestured to the basket on his back. ” I made braised pork belly and steamed rice.”

Jiang Ji felt warmth flood his heart at his words.

Thanks to Bao Beiyuan’s daily updates, he knew about Ye Li’s grand plans.

But Ye Li rarely came into town for business, and yet he’d gone out of his way to make braised pork belly for him!

He cared too much.

He cared far too much for him.

Overjoyed, he reached out to help Ye Li unstrap the basket while saying, “You’re so busy every day, you didn’t have to go out of your way for this.”

“I was just worried you wouldn’t spend money properly.” Ye Li set the basket on the ground and squatted down.

He pulled out a small clay pot from inside and handed it to Jiang Ji: “It’s been five days. How much have you spent?“

Jiang Ji crouched against the wall too and immediately replied, ”I buy two eggs every day for four wen. So far, I’ve spent twenty wen.“

”Really?“ Ye Li raised an eyebrow.

”Really.“ Jiang Ji held the small clay pot and said earnestly, ”I wouldn’t dare not spend it.”