Daily life in the academy

Thanks to Bai Zhi's efforts and the enthusiasm of other waiters in the store, Ye Sanniang looked at the account book and roughly calculated that the income for this day was more than three times that of the previous day. She still had to calculate the specific amount, but this was enough to make her smile.

Originally, the working time after the night market was noon, but Ye Sanniang delayed it by half an hour and asked them to start work at the beginning of noon. Since there were no customers during this time period, it would be better to let the workers have more rest.

Bai Zhi and Ye Yanliang were so tired that they had no strength left. They wiped their faces twice and collapsed on the bed and couch respectively, falling into a deep sleep. It was not until the middle of the day when Ye Sanniang came and woke them up and fed them that they came back to life.

Seeing that Bai Zhi and Ye Yanliang were still sleepy, Ye Sanniang smiled and said:

"Since most people spent a long time at the night market yesterday, I don't think many people will come to the restaurant to eat and drink today. You two don't need to help out today. I will pay you your wages. You can rest well and go to school tomorrow."

Bai Zhi, who had been trying to keep herself spirits up, put her elbows on the table to support her head, but immediately became listless when she heard these words. She could no longer pretend.

Ye Yanliang was slightly better than her. Although he also looked tired, he still sat upright, unlike Bai Zhi who sat crookedly.

"According to what Xiaozhi said, yesterday's profit, after deducting the cost of rent, materials, and labor, was five times greater than usual. So, Xiaozhi, here's your day and a half's wages of one tael and sixty wen, and Xiaoyanliang, here's your three qian and sixty wen."

The sound of copper coins colliding was very pleasant, and Bai Zhi immediately perked up. She happily took the wages handed to her by Ye Sanniang. Together with the tips from Yan Qingchen and Mu Bailian yesterday, she earned a total of ten taels and sixty coins in two days. She carefully put all the silver into her purse and stuffed it into the lapel of her clothes. With this money, she could have a good stroll in the West Market in the afternoon.

Ye Yanliang, who was sitting next to him, was obviously making so much money for the first time. He looked at Bai Zhi with eyes full of admiration. Only then did people realize that he was just a teenager, less mature and more innocent.

"Thank you, aunt."

After collecting the silver and money, the two men thanked Ye Sanniang at the same time. The latter waved her hand nonchalantly and asked where they were going in the afternoon.

Ye Yanliang thought for a moment and said, "I want to go home first, give this money to my parents, and visit my brothers and sisters."

Originally, Bai Zhi had planned to ask Ye Yanliang to go shopping with her in the West Market, but family was the most important thing, so she changed her mind and said, "I want to go back and sleep for a while, and then go shopping in the West Market after I'm full."

Ye Yanliang: "Brother Bai, how about we meet up at the tavern later and go back to the academy together?"

Bai Zhi nodded: "Okay."

Seeing that the two of them had discussed the afternoon's itinerary and the tavern was about to open, Ye Sanniang didn't greet them anymore.

In the afternoon, around the end of the day, Bai Zhi woke up from hunger. She was only sixteen years old in this body, and it was the time for her to grow. After a good sleep, she felt refreshed. She stretched, got up quickly, got herself ready, said hello to Ye Sanniang who was guarding in the lobby, and went out to the street on her own.

It is said that the West Market is the most lively place in Sheng'an Imperial Capital. The shops and vendors are planned very reasonably. The street is about three or four meters wide, and there are special places on both sides for vendors to set up stalls. It does not affect the flow of customers to the shops on both sides of the street and adds a different flavor.

Bai Zhi passed by several jewelry shops. At first glance, she found that the accessories inside were quite exquisite, but she was a man now, and it was very awkward for her to go shopping in jewelry shops. She could only suppress her desire to buy and continued walking forward. She happened to pass by a storytelling booth. The storyteller was sitting in front of a simple desk, holding a folding fan, and telling a story with a lively expression.

"Take that day, when the renowned Prince Yan of Sheng'an City and Young Master Xiao Qingyu, the son of Princess Zhaoyue, were so enraged over their beloved that they actually fought over a prostitute called Yunxiang in Tianxiang Pavilion."

Hearing the familiar name, Bai Zhi found an empty seat and sat down to listen with great interest. Soon, four or five tables in the pavilion were full. It seemed that no matter where they were, everyone was very interested in this kind of gossip.

"Let's start with Yunxiang. She's originally from Anzhou. Because her hometown suffered a disaster, she traveled all the way north to our Sheng'an. She plays the pipa very well and is also very pretty. To support her younger siblings, she became a prostitute in Tianxiang Pavilion, selling only her art and not her body."

"Anyone who has heard Yunxiang's pipa music will be intoxicated by it, whether it's refreshing and melodious, or mournful and lingering... In short, if you have money, please go to Tianxiang Pavilion to enjoy it."

The two middle-aged men sitting at the table next to Baizhi also talked about Yunxiang.

"I've been there to listen to it, but it's nowhere near as beautiful as the storyteller's. It's just ordinary pipa music. It's not even as good as Xiao Cui's singing."

"You don't understand music, what nonsense are you talking about? Besides, Xiao Cui is clearly your lover, so what you said is unfair."

"What does this have to do with Xiao Cui being my lover? I'm just telling the truth."

"I don't feel like arguing with you."

The argument between the two went off track, and Bai Zhi turned her attention back to the storyteller.

"Half a year ago, Young Master Xiao took a liking to Yunxiang and asked her to accompany him. Yunxiang was reluctant, saying she was a courtesan who only sold her art, not her body. But Young Master Xiao was so proud of his status that he couldn't bear to see a skilled woman say no. He approached and pulled Yunxiang towards his room. Yunxiang refused to comply, so Young Master Xiao called his own servants to help restrain her. However, during the fight and excuses, they bumped into Master Yan, who had just entered Tianxiang Pavilion."

"I believe everyone knows about Prince Yan. He is notoriously cruel." The storyteller deliberately lowered his voice when he said this, as if he was afraid that Yan Qingchen would suddenly appear and hear it.

Bai Zhi thought, if he was really that vicious, every one of you storytellers would have been beaten black and blue, just like Zhang Yongan.

The storyteller coughed lightly and continued:

"Yao said that on that day, Master Yan was nearly knocked to the ground by several people. He was so angry that his hair stood on end. He grabbed Xiao Qingyu by the collar and kicked him. He was sent flying to the ground. But Master Yan was not satisfied. He rained down punches on Master Xiao. There was a chorus of wailing. The servants beside Master Xiao rushed forward to help when they saw this."

"But Prince Yan was accompanied by Mu Bailian, the son of the general, and Wenzhe, the son of the Minister of Justice. The two of them fended off the four or five servants who were trying to save their master. According to the tea drinkers who passed by Tianxiang Pavilion that day, Master Xiao was left bloodied and beaten to a pulp by Prince Yan, with one of his legs even broken. Since then, Prince Yan's reputation as a vicious villain has spread far and wide."