The shop was in chaos.

The old men were scolding their grandchildren, who were shrinking their necks in fear.

Fortunately, after the milk tea was served, the old rascals quieted down.

“No wonder the Princess says it’s so delicious.”

“The blend of milk and tea is perfect, it’s irresistible.”

“I still prefer the pearls inside.”

Young and old sat together and chatted happily.

Once the milk tea was finished, the war broke out again.

“Hurry back to the Guozijian!”

“If you skip school again, you can forget about studying. Go kneel at the ancestral hall for half a year!”

Li Muyun quickly mounted his horse. “Grandfather, stop scolding! We’ll go back to class right away!”

After sending off these two groups of customers, Shopkeeper Chen let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Looking at the several taels of silver on the counter, he couldn’t smile.

This was all money from the Xiangyang Marquis’s household—money going from the left pocket to the right…

However, soon after, the shop began to get more customers.

For common folk, one tael of silver could do a lot—it could last them half a year if spent carefully.

But in the capital, there was no shortage of wealthy people. For big families or even small wealthy households, one tael of silver wasn’t much.

They could afford to buy milk tea just to try it.

Those who had tried the milk tea became its promoters. Word spread, and business slowly grew.

By afternoon, even noble young ladies came in groups to drink milk tea.

Li Zhiyue put down her brush and personally went downstairs to greet them. “Miss Zhou, Miss Xu, Miss Wang… There are seats upstairs, please come up.”

Miss Zhou was somewhat surprised. “Miss Li, you’re from a noble family, yet you’re personally receiving guests?”

“What’s so strange about it?” Li Zhi Yue smiled, “This is the Li family’s business. I’m Li by surname, so it’s normal to help out at my own tea house.”

Miss Wang shook her head. “Only fallen families would let their women go out in public to manage a business.”

Li Zhiyue’s lips curled into a smile. “By your logic, is the royal family also a fallen family? After all, every year at the national banquet, the princesses personally welcome guests from distant lands.”

The group of young ladies fell silent.

Li Zhiyue still smiled. “Please, upstairs.”

Qiao Mu lowered his head as he entered to serve. “Ladies, the shop has a new black pearl milk tea with options for less sugar, medium sugar, more sugar, with ice, less ice, or served warm. Please choose.”

The weather was hot, and everyone instinctively chose ice. As for the sugar, the more the better.

Soon, the milk tea was served.

The young ladies quickly picked up their cups and let out satisfied sighs.

It was really delicious.

After a few casual exchanges, Li Zhiyue went back upstairs to continue practicing her calligraphy.

She would go downstairs to greet noblewomen when they came.

Having studied for over ten years in the modern world, her learning ability was quite strong.

Within a day, she was already able to write smooth traditional Chinese characters with a brush.

After practicing a little longer, she should be able to manage in front of others.

By evening, those who had been busy all day finally had time to meet with friends.

The popular Li Family Tea House was the best choice, and by this time, the shop was full. Even the private rooms on the second and third floors had been booked.

As night fell, around the time of the “shen” hour (about 9 pm), customers slowly started to leave.

Li Zhiyue had been practicing calligraphy all day and stretched her wrist as she walked downstairs.

Shopkeeper Chen was standing at the counter, calculating with his abacus, the clicking sound echoing.

When he finished, his eyes lit up, and he said in disbelief, “Miss, today’s earnings total 240 taels of silver! After subtracting the expenses for the old marquis and his son, we still have 215 taels!”

The shop attendants were ecstatic.

Earning 200 taels in one day was more than they used to earn in a whole year.

The tea house was saved, their jobs were secure—this was amazing!

Li Zhiyue was also overjoyed.

This was just the first day.

Many people in the capital still didn’t know about black pearl milk tea.

Business would only get better in the coming days.

After the peak period passed, they would launch new products.

Daily sales could reach 300 taels of silver, and after deducting costs, they would net 200.

That meant 6,000 taels a month!

Indeed, it was a lucrative business!

“You’ve all worked hard today. Tomorrow, we’ll add two more staff members in the back to make things easier for everyone,” Li Zhiyue said with a smile. “Shopkeeper Chen, take a few taels from the earnings and treat everyone to a good meal at the nearby restaurant. Let’s work hard from here on out. Once the business stabilizes, we’ll raise everyone’s wages.”

The staff were overjoyed, and all the fatigue they had felt disappeared in an instant.

Especially Qiao Jia and Qiao Mu.

They had never tasted anything good in their lives.

Today, they drank milk tea that only the rich could afford, and now they were going to a restaurant to eat.

A life they had never dared to dream of had become their reality.

Qiao Jia whispered, “You’re Miss Li’s person, you have to stay loyal and serve Miss for your whole life.”

Qiao Mu clenched his fists. “Don’t worry, sister, I will.”

Li Zhiyue rode in a carriage back to the Marquis’s residence.

She was so tired that she fell asleep in the carriage.

When the carriage stopped in front of the Marquis’s gate, she lifted the curtain and saw the entire family waiting at the door.

Bai Ruzhu helped her down from the carriage. “You must be exhausted. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? We’ve prepared dinner at home. Let’s eat first.”

Seeing that the dishes hadn’t been touched in the dining hall, Li Zhiyue knew her family was waiting for her to come back and eat.

It was already late in the evening, around 9 pm, which was considered quite late by ancient standards.

“What are you standing there for? Eat!” Li Suifeng picked up a lion’s head meatball and gave it to his daughter, feeling somewhat guilty. “I’ve been in the palace all day handling affairs. When I have a day off, I’ll bring my colleagues to the tea house to support you.”

“The tea house is doing great business. Father, don’t bring people to support it. Aren’t you spending our own money?” Li Zhiyue replied, “Guess how much the tea house made today?”

Li Muyun said, “When I left the Guozijian, I deliberately took a detour to check. The shop was full of customers. I estimate it made at least 5,000 taels!”

Li Zhiyue: “…”

Brother, you really have no concept of money.

Do you know how much 5,000 taels is?

In modern terms, that’s three million.

A small tea house earning three million a day?

You could almost say it’s making gold every day.

Seeing the old marquis hold up one finger, Li Zhiyue guessed he might think they earned 10,000 taels in a day.

That was absurd.

She quickly spoke, “It’s 200 taels.”

Li Muyun was in disbelief. “How can it be only that little…”

“Heh!” Bai Ruzhu laughed, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “A man who spends money is complaining about others earning too little. If you don’t pass the imperial exam, you’ll have to rely on your sister to support you. Tsk tsk, it’s rare for a big man to be supported by his little sister.”

Li Muyun’s determination was burning. “Wait and see. I’ll definitely pass the imperial exam and show you!”

After saying this, he turned and ran to the study to read.

Not even two pages in, he instinctively went to admire a painting of a beautiful woman, but the wall was bare.

There wasn’t a single painting left.

Oh well, he continued reading.