Since they’d been traveling by mule cart, the sun hadn’t yet set when Ye Liang entered the courtyard today.

Liu Yi and Tang Yu were sitting in the courtyard, sorting vegetables and peeling garlic. Father Ye was in the kitchen preparing dinner.

Seeing him return, Liu Yi hurriedly stood up and walked over.

There were two back baskets on the mule cart,  one filled with tofu puffs and the other with steamed buns.

But Liu Yi didn’t step forward to help Ye Liang carry the load; instead, he asked, “What did Li-ger say?” 

“He didn’t agree. He’s afraid the recipe will get out.”

Ye Liang carried the two baskets toward the kitchen.

Hearing this, Liu Yi let out a sigh: “I knew he wouldn’t agree.”

Tang Yu, standing nearby, asked curiously, “Brother Yi, what exactly did Li-ger refuse?”

“My eldest brother back home also wants to learn how to make preserved eggs. He insisted that Brother Ye ask Li-ger, and sure enough, Li-ger refused.” Liu Yi said as he walked over to Tang Yu, preparing to continue sorting the vegetables.

Since they had to get up in the middle of the night to set up their stall, they had to prepare the greens the day before. However, his words left Tang Yu momentarily stunned.

Tang Yu’s hometown was far away, and he was still unaware of the craze surrounding preserved eggs.

Liu Yi sat back down on the bench and said, “Yu’er, if your relatives back home want to learn too, you mustn’t agree under any circumstances.”

“Li-ger won’t allow it. Even though his temper has mellowed, if he really gets worked up, not even the chickens and dogs at home will have a moment’s peace. Neither our father-in-law nor my father can control him.”

Hearing this, Tang Yu was even more taken aback.

On the day he married Ye Wen, Ye Li had seemed so gentle and cheerful.

But Tang Yu had indeed heard rumors about Ye Li’s drastic change in personality, so he immediately nodded. “I know.”

“If my family really brings this up, I’ll definitely put my foot down. This isn’t just our family’s business—the two of us can’t make that call.”

Liu Yi smiled at this and nodded. “Exactly. Who are we to tell anyone what to do? My older brother even swore he wouldn’t tell a soul, but if word gets out, what can I do about it?”

“As a married ger, how much sway do I really have over my family back home?”

Though he had a mind of his own—defying his parents’ objections to marry into the Ye family—could he really keep his brothers in his birth family in check? On what grounds could he?

He couldn’t control them.

If word really got out, not only would the Ye family despise him, but Ye Li would surely come back to cause a scene. Just thinking about that situation gave him a headache.

In fact, thanks to the popularity of the tofu puffs and preserved eggs, his parents’ income had already multiplied several times over. In the past, selling pancakes for a whole day would only yield about a hundred pieces, bringing in thirty or forty wen.

Now, he can make nearly two hundred wen a day. Is that a small profit?

That’s five taels a month. It’s not much worse than his family’s situation. One must be content with what one has.

Tang Yu felt a pang of sympathy and nodded. “You’re right. Our lives are so good now. We shouldn’t go looking for trouble—otherwise, we’ll never be able to enjoy all the blessings we have.” His family’s circumstances had originally been slightly better than the Ye family’s.

But at the time, the Ye family had already started a business making tofu puffs, and he actually quite liked Ye Wen’s shy and reserved nature, so he agreed to the match.

Little did they know that after the engagement was set, preserved eggs would come into the picture. At the time of their wedding, the supply of preserved eggs was small and unremarkable.

But they quickly became a huge hit, yielding profits as high as those from the tofu puffs. At this rate, his family’s earnings this month could reach ten taels.

He and Ye Wen would take forty percent—that’s four taels.

For a rural farmer, earning four taels a month was huge! Lately, he’s been secretly delighted about it. It’s like he’s hit the jackpot.

Had the Ye family started selling preserved eggs before the engagement, this marriage might not have fallen to him. So, if his in-laws really wanted to learn how to make preserved eggs, he certainly wouldn’t teach them.

But from now on, whenever he visited his in-laws, he could afford to buy a few extra pounds of meat and a few more packets of pastries. 

Meanwhile, after Ye Li saw Ye Liang off, he locked the courtyard gate and went to Jiang Fuzheng’s house.

Now that he had turned down even his own older brother, there was no way he would let anyone else get their hands on the recipe. At first, to keep it a secret, the villagers would come to his house to make preserved eggs.

But later, there were too many preserved eggs, and his courtyard was too small to accommodate everyone.

Moreover, with every household coming over, it took up too much of his time, so he had everyone return to their own homes. This time, the method naturally became known to more people.

He felt it was necessary for Jiang Fuzheng to sound the alarm for the villagers once more.

As for the plan they’d previously agreed upon—using the preserved eggs to test the villagers’ character in order to select staff for the tofu puff workshop—that would still stand.

If Jiang Fuzheng had warned them time and again, and yet someone still let the secret slip, then they certainly couldn’t be trusted with the tofu puff business. When he arrived at Jiang Fuzheng’s house, he told him about this, and Jiang Fuzheng took it very seriously.

Now that preserved eggs were selling like hotcakes, many Fulangs and wives would bring a basket home to their parents’ homes when visiting relatives, so their families could try the novelty. If anyone happened to let the cat out of the bag, it would be the entire village’s interests that suffered.

So, as dusk fell, he had Jiang Mantang ring the gong to summon the villagers.

Once representatives from every household had gathered, he first recounted Ye Li’s refusal of his own older brother’s proposal, then, with a stern expression, warned everyone not to reveal the recipe to people from other villages—otherwise, he would truly drive them away.

Hearing this, the villagers repeatedly assured him they wouldn’t dare and swore they had no such intention.

After all, they had to scramble just to buy eggs for their own families—telling others would surely harm their own interests.

Moreover, come winter, sales of preserved eggs would inevitably drop.

If people from other villages came to compete for them, their own stock might end up going to waste.

They had to keep a close watch on one another—the construction of their grand, tiled houses, as well as the costs of their children’s education and weddings, all depended on the preserved eggs! Whoever ruined this lucrative business—which brought in five or six taels a month—would have them to answer to!

Once everyone returned home, they immediately called a family meeting. They couldn’t just remind their wives or Fulangs—what about the grandchildren? If a child were to be tricked into revealing anything, that would be a real headache!

So the children couldn’t be left out either.

Moreover, fearing that some might have short memories, these family meetings had to be held every single day. Before long, in Yezaopo, keeping the recipe a secret became just as important as making preserved eggs.

Ye Li was naturally pleased with this turn of events.

To make money and ensure the business’s longevity, the entire village had to pull together. His daily routine remained unchanged.

Every day, he made tofu, took care of the children, visited Jiang Tong’s house to check on progress, inquired about expenses, and counted his savings. The remaining twelve households also came to him one by one to settle their commission payments.

Just as he had anticipated, he received a total of six guan. Adding this to the two guan and seven hundred wen he had previously earned, his commission alone amounted to nearly nine guan. Combined with the revenue from the preserved eggs he made himself, his total earnings exceeded ten guan.

By the end of the month, Bao Beiyuan delivered his commission from the drinks, which amounted to at least two guan.

The tofu puffs and wheat flour snacks earned over a hundred wen a day, amounting to four or five taels over the course of a month.

The income from the wind chimes was negligible; this month, Jiang Tong had been busy building a house and hadn’t made many of them. But thanks to the three businesses—tofu puffs, drinks, and preserved eggs—his income for the month was nearly twenty taels!

What a huge sum of silver!

However, the expenses were no small matter either.

Setting aside Jiang Ji’s tuition and the wages for Jiang Liu, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya, he spent nearly two guan just on food. Walnut and black sesame powder cost a hundred wen per batch.

Shredded pork costs several dozen wen per purchase. That’s just for Jiang Ji’s meals at the private school.

He, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya also had to eat meat on a regular basis—at least once a week—which cost several dozen wen each time. Then there was rice, at seven wen per catty.

People in the north don’t eat rice by the palm-sized bowl—they eat at least a pound of cooked rice per meal. With his build, his appetite, and strength couldn’t compare to those of a typical man, but he could still eat half a pound.

The two little ones had hearty appetites, too. Every time he steamed rice, he’d cook two jin of raw rice; if they didn’t finish it, they’d have fried rice with eggs for the next meal. As for flour, after the wheat harvest, Jiang Dahu had sent over fifty jin of wheat.

In the past, that amount of wheat would have lasted three months.

Ordinary families wouldn’t use flour as a staple; they’d mix it into mixed-grain flour just for flavor and to make the dough stickier. But he’d long since grown tired of eating corn cakes.

Since he still had to fry dough fritters, he put the wheat away and bought only flour to eat—it was sweltering out, and he couldn’t be bothered to grind the flour himself, so he just bought it ready-made.

Flour costs seven wen per catty, the same price as rice.

On top of the staples, he usually had a small piece of fruit after meals, a little snack before meals, and an afternoon tea. All these little extras added up, and just on food alone, he spent two guan a month.

If it weren’t for the income from the preserved eggs, that food expenditure ratio would be terrifying. Fortunately, the preserved eggs were a lifesaver.

And they’ll keep bringing in a decent income for at least another two months.

So, once Jiang Ji returns from the Prefectural Capital, construction on the new house can begin.

He doesn’t plan to build much. The current courtyard holds fond memories of Jiang Ji with his father-in-law and mother-in-law, so he has no intention of tearing down these few rooms.

He plans to tear down the courtyard wall next to the vegetable garden and expand the courtyard to the west. After all, there are no neighbors to the west, so he can do whatever he wants.

As for the Warm Pavilion, his current plan is to build three rooms. However, to ensure warmth, the middle room will have no exterior door—only two interior doors connecting it to the rooms on either side.

The entire room would be fitted with a kang; once the kang was heated, the effect should be similar to underfloor heating. Of course, this was merely a concept; whether it could be realized remained to be seen.

Once Jiang Ji left for the Prefectural Capital, he would go find a craftsman to discuss the matter.

After waiting and hoping—feeling as though she might turn into a “Waiting-for-Husband Stone”—the day finally arrived when Jiang Ji returned. Jiang Ji came back at noon; by the time he reached home, Ye Li had already finished stewing the bone broth.

Ye Liang had also arrived and was squatting by the well with Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, washing watermelons. He brought two watermelons with him today.

As soon as they saw him enter the courtyard, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya let out a cheer and ran toward him: “Big Brother!” 

“Big Brother, you’re back! I missed you so much.”

Ye Li was slicing cucumbers at the cutting board. Hearing the commotion, he came out of the kitchen. Seeing the person he’d been longing for finally return, he couldn’t help but smile: “You’re back just in time. The bone broth is ready; I’ll just whip up some scrambled eggs with cucumber, and we can eat.”

Jiang Ji met his gaze, staring at him intently for a moment before finally curving his lips into a smile. “Alright, I’ll go wash my hands right away.”

That familiar smile greatly eased Ye Li’s longing. Satisfied, he returned to the kitchen with a spring in his step to continue his work. Jiang Mai jogged off to fetch water.

Jiang Ya, meanwhile, tugged at Jiang Ji’s hand, leading him toward the well: “Big Brother, come quick! Brother-in-law bought watermelons!”

Hearing this, Jiang Ji looked over at Ye Liang. When he saw the two large, bright green watermelons, he couldn’t help but say, “Big Brother, there’s no need to buy these—they’re too expensive.” These watermelons were huge; a single one cost thirty or forty wen.

“We don’t buy them often. You’re off to take the imperial exams; you should eat something nice before you leave.”

Ye Liang said with a smile.

In truth, he and Ye Wen had intended to each give Jiang Ji five hundred wen for his exam journey—now that the brothers were better off financially, they wanted Jiang Ji to eat well on his trip.

But Ye Li flatly refused, saying he didn’t need their 500 wen. With no other option, Ye Li and Ye Wen each bought a large watermelon and some pork ribs.

Now, seeing the sweat on Jiang Ji’s forehead, he knew Jiang Ji had run back again, so he said, “Go wash your face first. By the way, exactly when are you leaving for the Prefectural Capital?”

“I have to leave early the day after tomorrow,” Jiang Ji replied. “That soon?” Ye Liang asked in surprise.

“The sooner I go, the sooner I can settle in and focus on my studies,” Jiang Ji explained. Just then, Jiang Mai placed the washbasin in front of him, and he crouched down to wash his face.

Ye Liang nodded. “You’re right. There’s so much to do at home—it’s distracting. It’s better to go sooner rather than later. Now that our family’s circumstances have improved, we can spare the cost of a few days’ meals.” Jiang Ji hummed in agreement; if he stayed at home, he would definitely lose focus.

Although Ye Li was busy in the kitchen, he was still listening intently to the sounds in the courtyard. Upon hearing Jiang Ji and Ye Liang’s conversation, he sighed softly. How quickly time flies.

Their time together was far too brief.

Just then, Jiang Ji appeared at the kitchen door. He tugged at his sweat-soaked long robe. “I’m soaked in sweat. I’ll go back to my room to change first.”

Ye Li quickly put aside his melancholy and nodded. “Go ahead.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ye Liang appeared at the kitchen door, holding a watermelon. “I’m all done,” he said with a smile. “Let’s have a slice of watermelon to refresh our palates.” Jiang Ji gave a noncommittal “Hmm” and headed toward the main hall.

Ye Li had Ye Liang slice the watermelon while he carried the dining table out of the kitchen. It was hot, so they’d been eating in the courtyard lately.

He set the table under the awning. Seeing this, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya immediately went into the kitchen to help bring out the bowls, chopsticks, and the egg-and-cucumber dish. Then the two little ones stood by the stove under the awning and wouldn’t budge.

The bone broth was simmering on the stove under the awning. When Ye Li lifted the lid, a rich, aromatic scent instantly wafted out in all directions.

Ignoring the heat, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya inhaled deeply, utterly captivated by the aroma. It smelled so good!

Ye Li told them to go wash their hands. Once the two little ones had run off, Ye Li picked the flatbreads off the steamer rack and placed them in the bread basket, then scooped the pork ribs from the pot into a bowl, which he set on the dining table nearby.

By then, Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya had finished washing their hands, so he motioned for the two little ones to start gnawing on the bones. He, meanwhile, picked up a spoon and ladled soup into his bowl.

Since they were family, there weren’t many formalities. Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya happily agreed, then sat down at the table to dig in. Jiang Ji came out of the main hall after changing his clothes; Ye Liang had already placed the watermelon slices on the table.

He walked over, sat down, and picked up a slice to eat.

The rich, slightly sweet juice flowed down his throat, quenching his thirst. He finished the slice in a few bites before moving on to the bone. The large bone had been stewed for a long time; the meat was tender and fell off the bone with just a light bite.

It was almost entirely lean meat, yet not at all dry; Ye Li’s seasoning was just right. How could anyone be in a bad mood after eating such a delicacy on an empty stomach?

He glanced at Ye Li.

Ye Li was looking at him too.

Their eyes met, and they both smiled.

Ye Li swallowed the meat in his mouth and asked, “What are the names of the other examinees traveling with you? Where are they from?” He rarely asked about matters concerning the private school.

But with their parting imminent, he wanted to ask a few more questions.

Jiang Ji replied, “One of them is Shi Yi; he and I are both from Chenji’s Academy. The other three are from other private schools…”

Although only two of them were from Chenji Academy, their teacher, Master Han, was a man of public spirit and generosity; he did not turn people away simply because they were not his own students.

This time, he and the other four Tongsheng and two senior scholars had chartered four carriages.

As a major transit hub, Beiyang County had a thriving carriage rental industry, making it easy to hire vehicles.

To save expenses, the two state-sponsored Tongsheng rode in a horse-drawn carriage, while the five private Tongsheng rode in a mule-drawn cart.

The journey would take three days. They planned to depart early the day after tomorrow, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would arrive in the city by the evening of the third day.

Upon entering the city, the carriages would head straight to Master Han’s old residence. On the fourth day, they would go to the county office to submit the official document issued by the county magistrate’s office to register and verify their identities, and by the fifth day, they would be able to focus on preparing for the exam.

Meals would be handled by the Han family’s old servant; they only needed to pay, and need not worry about anything else.

“Master Han is truly kind. When you return from the Prefectural Capital, bring some gifts to his door and thank him properly,” said Ye Li. “Alright,” Jiang Ji nodded.

He had actually gone there last time.

It was just that the gift he’d brought last time was a bit meager—spicy peanuts made by his second aunt. This time, regardless of whether he passed or not, he certainly couldn’t bring homemade farm produce again.

They chatted about other things for a while, and soon, lunch was over.

Ye Liang got up to fry tofu puffs and skewered meat, while Ye Li and Jiang Ji returned to the main hall to pack their bags. The two little ones missed their big brother quite a bit and didn’t want to take their afternoon nap, so they followed the couple into the west room.

As soon as Ye Li entered the room, he opened the bottom drawer of the five-drawer chest, which contained a fair amount of money, and asked Jiang Ji to take out five strings of cash. This was the money he had set aside for Jiang Ji to take on his journey to the imperial examinations.

There was frequent trade and travel between Beiyang County and the Prefectural Capital, so there was no shortage of inns and roadside tea stalls along the way.

As long as one had silver, the journey could be managed—though given the road conditions and carriages of that era, it could hardly be called comfortable. Sufficient funds could only guarantee good food and rest at the inns.

As long as one was on the road, a bumpy ride was inevitable.

The last time Jiang Ji took the imperial exams, he slept in a dormitory-style room and ate corn cakes Liang Erxiang had made for him. At tea stalls and inns, he would ask only for a bowl of tea.

He truly scrimped wherever he could.

This time, with ample funds, he certainly couldn’t endure such hardship.

Earlier, Jiang Ji had deposited over ten taels of silver with Jiang Dahu. Ever since Ye Li promised to sponsor his education, he had been giving Jiang Dahu one guan of silver every month for the past four months.

Add to that the five guan Ye Li had sewn into his clothes, and he was in a fairly comfortable financial position this time. But as the saying goes, “Better safe than sorry”—those five guan were his last resort.

So Ye Li gave him another five guan, so he could treat himself to something nice.