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Yue’an County—
In the early morning, the town is bustling with activity. Three horse-drawn carriages slowly stop by the roadside.
Li Zhiyuan and eight or nine scholars step down from the carriages.
“I didn’t expect Master Chen to be so kind, not only inviting us for a meal but also letting us stay for the night.”
The eight or nine people stroll down the street, chatting joyfully.
“By the way,” a handsome man walking at the front, holding a folding fan, taps it against his palm, “At this time, can we get some hot and spicy soup?”
“Yes, yes, we can! Hahaha!” The students behind him brighten up with excitement.
The spicy soup has been available in the county for about half a month and has become quite popular.
Unfortunately, they have to rush to early classes, and by the time school is over, it’s already sold out.
If they want to have some, they can either ask their families to buy it and keep it for them or wait for a rest day.
“Since it’s still early, we might just be able to get some if we go over now.”
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
The eight or nine people eagerly head towards the hot and spicy soup stall.
Li Zhiyuan, who is at the edge of the group, has a dark look on his face.
Isn’t the spicy soup from that woman, Ye Shi’s, stall?
He knows how popular it is. Even the scholars at the academy who have tried it have been praising it.
But after Jiaojiao and Zimo tried it, they told him it tasted bad, and somehow it became exaggerated to the point of being hailed as amazing.
Ye Shi’s food, he’s been eating it for fourteen years and can only describe it as dull and unremarkable. There’s no way the spicy soup could be any good.
Hmph, that woman Ye Shi is probably waiting for him to visit her stall. Going to her small spicy soup stand would be like walking right into her trap. Isn’t that just giving her a chance to flatter him?
Li Zhiyuan steps forward and says with a smile, “What’s so special about hot and spicy soup? It’s just a small street snack, nothing compared to the golden porridge at Ruyi Restaurant. Let’s go to Ruyi Restaurant instead!”
The scholars frown, displeased.
“Heh, I wonder which rich gentleman’s son you are, Zhiyuan, to look down on street snacks,” says Liu Gaosheng, a poor scholar from humble origins.
“We all think it’s delicious. It’s only you, Zhiyuan, who finds it bad. Perhaps you should look at yourself and see if something’s wrong with your taste buds,” said Tongsheng Qian Hai.
The leading man glanced at Li Zhiyuan and said gently, “We all want to have the spicy soup. If Zhiyuan doesn’t like it, he can go ahead and wait for us.”
Li Zhiyuan’s expression changed, and he quickly smiled, “No, no, I also want to eat it, it’s just… I’ve had a bit too much lately, so I was thinking of changing things up.”
The man smiled and didn’t say more.
Seeing this, the other scholars didn’t dare to say anything further.
Li Zhiyuan let out a sigh of relief.
The man’s name was Zheng Nian, the county magistrate’s brother-in-law.
With this identity, Zheng Nian could walk all over Yue’an County.
However, Zheng Nian had a gentle personality, high morals, and never engaged in any misdeeds. He was also incredibly talented—he passed the imperial exams at the age of twenty and became the top scholar.
Unfortunately, he had fallen seriously ill in recent years. If not for that, he would have likely already achieved even more.
Because of his high status and outstanding talent, Zheng Nian was the leader among the scholars at Yueyue Academy.
“We’d better hurry, or we won’t get any,” said Qian Hai.
“Such a pity it’s only available in the morning. If it were available in the evening too, that would be even better,” Zheng Nian remarked.
Li Zhiyuan was taken aback and suddenly had an idea: “That’s not difficult at all. If Brother Zheng likes it, I’ll just give you the recipe. That way, you can make it whenever you want.”
As soon as he said this, all the scholars froze, stunned.
They all knew how popular the hot and spicy soup was.
Several restaurants had tried to buy the recipe but couldn’t get it, yet Li Zhiyuan, an ordinary scholar, seemed to think he could just give it away as if it were nothing.
Zheng Nian looked at him with surprise: “Why would you say such a thing, Li?”
Li Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment before replying, “To be honest, the person who runs the stall is a close acquaintance of mine. I just need to ask for the recipe, and it’s no big deal.”
The other scholars, including Liu Gaosheng, looked stunned. Qian Hai sneered, saying, “Hmph, Li, has your brain been kicked by a donkey? This recipe is worth a lot. How could a mere acquaintance of yours just hand over someone’s livelihood for a single request?”
Liu Gaosheng added, “Be careful, you might end up biting your own tongue.”
Li Zhiyuan glanced at the two of them and sneered: “Just wait and see. Just because you don’t have the ability, doesn’t mean others don’t.”
Zheng Nian, however, didn’t approve: “Why take someone else’s means of livelihood? I wasn’t asking for the recipe, I was merely expressing a sentiment.”
Li Zhiyuan smiled, “Brother Zheng, no need to be so polite. I’m offering you the recipe because I want you to be able to enjoy fresh, hot soup whenever you want, without having to wait early in the morning. As long as you don’t share the recipe with others, it won’t be taking someone else’s means of livelihood.”
Zheng Nian thought about it for a moment and agreed with Li Zhiyuan’s reasoning.
Li Zhiyuan continued, “Rest assured, Brother Zheng, it’s a small matter. The person won’t mind.”
Seeing that Li Zhiyuan seemed so at ease, Zheng Nian smiled and nodded, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Li.”
Li Zhiyuan received a thank you from Zheng Nian, and inside, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement: “A small matter, huh? Now, let’s go eat some spicy soup!”
Although he had already become a scholar, people in the academy often said he had only passed due to luck.
Hmph, a bunch of dark-hearted people who can’t stand to see others succeed!
Before, Zheng Nian wasn’t even close to him, not even as acquaintances. It was only after he passed the imperial exams and became a scholar that he started attending some of Zheng Nian’s smaller gatherings.
Even then, he was still on the fringes.
But once he gave Zheng Nian the recipe, he’d officially be part of his inner circle.
At that moment, Li Zhiyuan was thinking that, with the right connections, he could not only attend gatherings of scholars but even those of the higher-ranking officials and gentry.
In addition, he would have the opportunity to make connections with the upper class of Yue’an County.
These connections would be invaluable for his future in the imperial exams, offering countless benefits with no downsides.
Moreover, given Zheng Nian’s gentle and considerate nature, even if he did get the recipe, it was unlikely that he would ever share it with others.
The spicy soup was so popular that the recipe could easily sell for several hundred taels.
Thinking of this, Li Zhiyuan’s chest warmed with excitement.
He wasn’t the least bit concerned about getting the recipe, because the person running the stall was Ye Shi.
Well, it didn’t matter. For Zheng Nian’s sake, he would go and meet her personally.
Once he went over, Ye Shi would probably burst into tears and rush to him.
As long as he said a few words, she would willingly hand over the secret recipe.
Additionally, he thought, he could conveniently get that jade piece from her—killing two birds with one stone.
He wasn’t worried about Ye Shi revealing that she was his ex-wife. As soon as she opened her mouth, he could shut her up with just a cold glare.
Li Zhiyuan at least understood that asking his ex-wife for the recipe wasn’t exactly a respectable act.
Liu Gaosheng and Qian Hai watched Li Zhiyuan with his confident, self-assured demeanor and couldn’t help but snort.
It seemed that Li Zhiyuan was truly playing the part of a false gentleman.
Note:
Characters
Other Characters:
Heigou – Ate poisonous roots
Heigou’s mother
Doctor Zhao
Zhao Facai – Neighbor
Village Head Ye- Sometimes Ye Lizheng (Lizheng is a title that refers to Village Head/Chief)
Ye Bajin – Village Head’s Son
Fubao – Village Head’s Grandson
Tie Niu and Zhuzi – two women who helped Caiping
Ye Bajin – Son of Ye Lijeng
Liu Decai
Baiwei Lou – Restaurant
Places:
Qinghe Village: FL’s Village
Dashu Town – Town where Qinghe Village is Located
Li Family Village
Great Zhou Dynasty
Yue’an County