Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

Ye Changyan gave Liang Jingcheng a reassuring look, then turned around, picked up the wine glass, and raised it towards Li Ping. They drank it all in one gulp before listening to Ye Changyan's words.

"Just now I told you not to go all out, but there is a premise, that is, when you are not absolutely sure. But for this final, I am full of confidence, so I am willing to take a gamble. If we really lose, two thousand taels is still within our affordability. If our Guozi Tiangang team really wins the championship, then we can make a lot of money. With such risks and rewards, I am certainly willing to give it a try!"

Ye Changyan's words made Li Ping realize Ye Changyan's courage. These words also aroused Li Ping's temper, and Li Ping clapped his hands alone.

"Chang Yan, for what you just said, I will cover the two thousand taels of silver for you two. At the same time, I decided to increase the bet to one thousand taels on the Imperial College Tiangang team to win the championship. If the Wolf Knights win, I will make a small profit. If your Imperial College Tiangang team wins, I can make several thousand taels according to the current odds. The worst result is that Fenghuo Xiaoqi and Xuanjia Tieqi win, and I will only lose two thousand taels like you. For me, these two thousand taels are within my tolerance."

As soon as Li Ping finished speaking, the three people in the private room burst into laughter, picked up their wine glasses and drank them all.

Ye Changyan was about to pick up the pen to write a receipt to Li Ping, but Li Ping snatched the paper on the table away.

"Chang Yan, if you really sign this agreement for me, then you really don't consider me, Li Ping, as your friend!"

Seeing Li Ping looking at him with contempt, Ye Changyan smiled slyly.

"I treat you as a friend, so I want to write you a written agreement. People say that brothers should settle accounts clearly. This is two thousand taels, so I should write you a written agreement no matter what."

Li Ping crumpled up all the papers into a ball, raised the corners of his mouth, and said with a smug smile.

"If you really sign a written agreement for me, then I will have to sign one for you too. I see that you are so confident, maybe your Imperial College Tiangang Team will really win the championship. Then, with the written agreement, you can get ten thousand taels without paying a penny. This is really a business with no capital!"

The three of them burst into laughter again, and no one mentioned signing a document anymore as they drank and chatted.

As the former chief of the Imperial College, Mr. Cai was the first to receive the invitation personally delivered by the Director of the Imperial College, Yang Fugong. Mr. Cai gladly accepted the invitation from Yang Fugong.

Yang Fugong is a strict and principled person, far less smooth and worldly-wise than Kang Yuanping. Such a person is more suitable for teaching and educating people, but relatively speaking, he will suffer much more in officialdom than people like Kang Yuanping.

Kang Yuanping's qualifications in the Imperial College were far inferior to Yang Fugong's, but Kang Yuanping climbed to the position of Director of the Imperial College very early on. Mr. Cai knew Yang Fugong's character and conduct, and before Mr. Cai stepped down as the Chief Academician of the Imperial College, Mr. Cai promoted Yang Fugong to the position of Director.

Yang Fugong always remembered the kindness of Mr. Cai. Originally, matters like sending invitations were left to the clerks to run errands, but Yang Fugong went to Mr. Cai's house in person and delivered the invitation. Mr. Cai was naturally very pleased and invited Yang Fugong to his home for a few drinks. Yang Fugong also took the opportunity to ask Mr. Cai many questions about academic matters, and Mr. Cai answered his questions in detail one by one.

As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, there have been some changes in the odds on the handicap.

A mysterious person placed a huge bet of 20,000 taels on the Guozi Tiangang team to win the championship. In order to mitigate the risk, the dealer immediately lowered the odds of the Guozi Tiangang team to about 1 to 4.

Since the Dragon Boat Festival was the official competition day, Mr. Cai asked all his disciples to have a small gathering at the Cai Mansion in advance. Mr. Cai also called Xiao Yankai and Xiao Jingxing, father and son, to come over for the gathering.

During the dinner, everyone talked about the changes in the odds of the Guozi Tiangang team, so everyone curiously asked Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng about their confidence in winning the championship. Changyan and Liang Jingcheng were both very confident that the Guozi Tiangang team could win the championship.

Xiao Yankai and his son Xiao Jingxing immediately expressed their willingness to bet one thousand taels on the Guozi Tiangang team, which Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng were in, to win the championship.

Wang Xinkuan and Lu Ge'ang were good at gambling, so Ye Changyan's fellow brothers also placed bets. Although the amount of money bet was not as much as that of Xiao's father and son, everyone participated in it.

Under the lobbying of Wang Xinkuan and Lu Ge'ang, Mr. Cai was also dragged into the trap and paid a deposit of two hundred taels.

After the meal, the maids brought the cut watermelons. The Xiao father and son were shocked when they saw them. Although Ye Changyan’s fellow brothers knew that watermelons were planted in the experimental field of the farm, they did not expect that they could eat them so soon.

The Xiao family father and son ate the crispy and sweet watermelon, and the surprise on their faces was beyond words.

Ye Changyan moved his stool and came in front of Xiao Yankai and Xiao Jingxing, father and son, and spoke with a face like a profiteer.

"Uncle, is this watermelon delicious?"

"Not bad, not bad. It tastes great. I heard from my brother-in-law that you and Jingcheng had set up some kind of experimental plot with him. Was this watermelon grown in that experimental plot?"

Ye Changyan nodded and asked with a smile.

"Uncle, do you think that if we serve this watermelon as an after-meal fruit to every table at Yunfeng Tower, will the diners at Yunfeng Tower feel that it is worth the money?"

Xiao Yankai and Xiao Jingxing both nodded in surprise. This was a great idea. Although Yunfenglou's business was booming, if diners could eat a slice of watermelon like this after their meals, it would not only be refreshing and relieve greasiness, but also make them feel that it was good value for money. This would be a new marketing method for Yunfenglou's business.

"Chang Yan, this is a really good idea of yours. Although your sister-in-law doesn't own much shares in Yunfeng Building, I will discuss this matter with Shopkeeper Quan. He should be able to agree to it. But the price you offer cannot be too outrageous."

Xiao Jingxing thought quickly and made up his mind soon.

"Cousin, in the entire Shengjing City, apart from us, who else can provide watermelons at this time, let alone watermelons of this quality?"

Xiao Jingxing nodded, Ye Changyan raised the corner of his mouth and continued.

"I have already told the farm that on the Dragon Boat Festival, they will transport the watermelons to the racecourse and provide free tastings to the dignitaries of Shengjing who come to watch the competition. At that time, your Yunfeng Pavilion will take this opportunity to serve a plate of this to each table. I don't need to tell you the effect of that."

Xiao Jingxing's eyes lit up. The timing that Ye Changyan found for Yunfeng Tower was really great.

"But don't worry, cousin. We are all family. When the time comes, I will give you the same 60% discount as I give to the nobles in Shengjing. What do you think?"

Xiao Jingxing was smiling happily, but when he later learned the price that Ye Changyan sold to the dignitaries in Shengjing, he almost fainted with anger. Even at a 40% discount, it was still shockingly expensive.

However, due to the relatively limited output of the farm, the supply of watermelons on the farm was also limited, and many people could not buy them at all. After these people learned that Yunfenglou would give a plate of watermelon to each table of diners, they attracted more diners to Yunfenglou.

Among them were many regular customers of the three top restaurants in Shengjing, namely Fanlou, Zuixiangfang and Qiongtai Pavilion. This made Xiao Jingxing and his wife very happy, and they felt that the money earned by Ye Changyan was really worth it.