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

When Ye Changyan opened his eyes, he heard someone shouting again.

"Brother Ye, wait a minute."

Ye Changyan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a carriage galloping towards him not far behind him.

The coachman flicked his whip, and behind him, the person who was lifting the curtain and shouting at him, wasn’t he Zhong Yunfeng, the young master of Yunfeng Tower?

Ye Changyan signaled to his servant to park the ox cart on the side of the road and wait.

When the ox cart stopped steadily, Ye Changyan jumped off the cart, and soon Zhong Yunfeng's carriage caught up.

The coachman skillfully parked the carriage on the side of the road, then put the bench in place. Zhong Yunfeng stepped on the bench and got off the carriage.

When Ye Changyan was about to go forward, he saw the car curtain opened again, and a middle-aged man in luxurious clothes walked out. Zhong Yunfeng hurriedly went to support the middle-aged man.

Seeing this, Ye Changyan roughly guessed the identity of the middle-aged man. He thought that this should be the boss behind Yunfeng Tower, Zhong Yunfeng's father, Zhong Dingyi.

At the literary gathering that day, Ye Changyan gained a general understanding of Yunfeng Tower and its origins through the gossip of the scholars and students.

According to the scholars and students of the day, Zhong Yunfeng was originally a descendant of the Zhong family in Yuzhou Prefecture, and his father was the current head of the Zhong family, Zhong Dingyi.

Zhong Dingyi's cousin Zhong Dingren was appointed the fifth-rank official of Yangzhou Tongzhi. In order to support the younger generation of the clan, Zhong Dingren decided to bring five young men from the clan to his side and teach them personally.

The five chosen young men were all legitimate sons of the clan. Zhong Yunfeng was not selected because he was Zhong Dingyi's illegitimate son, no matter how talented he was.

After losing the election, Zhong Yunfeng was depressed for a while, and then he told Zhong Dingyi that he wanted to go out and start a career.

Zhong Dingyi knew that his youngest son was angry, so he suggested that the clan had bought a restaurant in Wanshou County. The previous owner of the restaurant was not doing well, so if Zhong Yunfeng was willing, he would be able to manage the restaurant.

Since then, Wanshou County has had the Yunfeng Tower.

Zhong Dingyi knew that his youngest son had resentment in his heart, but he couldn't resolve it. He could only give as much support as possible when Zhong Yunfeng was starting out. This made Yunfenglou quickly become a well-known restaurant in Wanshou County.

"Brother Ye, I finally caught up with you."

After the middle-aged man got off the car, Zhong Yunfeng walked a few steps to Ye Changyan and complained to him.

"Mr. Zhong!"

"Brother Ye, this is my father, Zhong Dingyi. Dad, this is the Ye family scholar husband, Ye Changyan, whom I mentioned to you."

Zhong Yunfeng introduced Ye Changyan and Zhong Dingyi. Ye Changyan took the lead and took two steps forward, paying respect to Zhong Dingyi as a junior.

"uncle."

"Scholar, no need to be so polite."

When Zhong Dingyi saw Ye Changyan saluting, he hurried forward to support him.

"Brother Ye, my father and I rushed back from the city early in the morning and headed straight for Shanglin Village. I didn't expect to meet you halfway."

Zhong Yunfeng took two breaths. Although he was riding in a horse-drawn carriage, he had been shouting since he found out that the person in the ox-drawn cart looked like Ye Changyan. He didn't expect that the other party didn't hear him all the way. Now that he caught up with him, he was a little out of breath.

"Brother Ye, you said the other day that you had some business to discuss with my father. I wonder if you are available now."

Zhong Yunfeng spoke frankly and stated his purpose, while Zhong Dingyi, who was standing next to him, carefully looked at the young man in front of him who seemed a little too young.

"Uncle, I did express similar thoughts to Master Zhong the other day. I should have visited you in person."

Seeing that the other party was looking at him, Ye Changyan did not hesitate and bowed to Zhong Dingyi.

"No problem, no problem. I would like to hear your thoughts, Mr. Scholar. However, with so many people coming and going on both sides of the official road, it might be inconvenient. Why don't you follow my father and I back to Yunfeng Tower to discuss the details?"

Zhong Dingyi behaved very modestly and politely. Ye Changyan originally told Zhong Yunfeng that he would visit him in five days, but he did not expect that the father and son would come directly to his door.

Considering that his yard was surrounded by people this morning, it was not surprising that the father and son of the Zhong family came to his house. Presumably, the father and son also knew about the mountain delicacy.

"Just follow your uncle's instructions. I will tell the delivery man a few words. I hope you will wait a moment."

"Scholar, please do as you please."

Ye Changyan walked towards the ox cart parked not far away, and then gave instructions to the waiter.

"Master Zheng, I have some things to do here, so I have to go back to the county town. I'd like you to help me deliver the goods, and please give my brother a message."

The clerk driving the ox cart agreed very straightforwardly. Ye Changyan explained the specific arrangements to the clerk.

"Please tell my brother to bring some fresh chicken to Yunfenglou in the county town and see if he can give Master Zheng a ride if it's convenient."

"It's convenient, it's convenient, Mr. Scholar, you are too polite."

Ye Changyan took out a handful of copper coins and handed them to the waiter, who quickly declined.

"Thank you, Master Zheng, for your help. You must accept the money for the tea."

After hearing what Ye Changyan said, the waiter didn't refuse any more. He happily took the copper coins and drove the ox cart towards Shanglin Village.

Zhong Dingyi, who was not far away, saw Ye Changyan's actions and began to secretly examine the young man in front of him in his heart.

Soon, Ye Changyan followed the Zhong family's carriage back to the county town and entered Yunfeng Tower.

Zhong Yunfeng led the group directly into the largest private room on the second floor.

Entering the private room he had visited on the day of the literary gathering again, Ye Changyan couldn't help but take a closer look.

"Scholar, please have some tea."

The waiter quickly brought tea and poured it for the people present, then quietly left. Zhong Dingyi greeted them warmly.

"Uncle, you don't have to be so polite. I am of the same generation as Master Zhong. You might as well treat me as your nephew."

Although his cousin was a fifth-rank official, he was from another branch of the Zhong family after all. And although Ye Changyan was only a scholar, he had made great achievements after all. He should address him by his status to show respect.

Unexpectedly, the other party actually took the initiative to ask him to treat him as his own son or nephew. This young man was actively trying to bring the two sides closer, and Zhong Dingyi was happy to see it happen.

"Then I have overstepped my authority, so I will just call you nephew."

"You are too polite, uncle. It is as you should."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the private room was harmonious. The three of them picked up their teacups, gestured to each other, and sipped their tea.

As time went by, the three people in the private room seemed to have forgotten their original purpose and continued to drink tea without taking the initiative to bring up the topic.

Zhong Dingyi drank tea while observing Ye Changyan. It seemed that this kid had some determination. He guessed that Ye Changyan had taken the initiative to discuss a deal with him the day before.

Judging from the commotion in the entire Wanshou County these past two days caused by the return gift he sent, which was called a mountain delicacy, this child should have had it planned out a long time ago.

Early in the morning, he and his son rushed from Yuzhou Prefecture to Wanshou County. As soon as they arrived at the county town, they heard the shopkeeper mention that early this morning, all the gentry and wealthy families in Wanshou County sent people to the Ye family, but were sent back by the child with just a few words.

According to the information we have received so far, this child is most likely waiting for a good price.