A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Liu Yan's eyes dimmed. "Am I wrong? I knew this couldn't be done. I don't have the ability."

Gu Xiao slowly said, "No, I believe in your abilities and have never doubted that you can do this. It's just that winter is approaching, and setting up a food stall in the county is too hard. Qianqian and I are both capable of earning money, so we don't need you to work so hard."

As Gu Xiao spoke, his gaze fell on Liu Yan's weathered hands, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

Nie Qianqian had long intended to let Liu Yan make the most of her strengths, but setting up a food stall on the roadside in the cold winter was too strenuous. What she wanted to do was to open a restaurant or even a hotel for her in the future.

Nie Qianqian: "Mom, your cooking skills are beyond question. I've told you before that my real idea is to open a restaurant in the future, but it will take some time to prepare."

Liu Yan realized that Gu Xiao and Nie Qianqian didn't distrust her, but rather felt sorry for her and didn't want her to suffer.

Opening a restaurant was something she never dared to dream of. She knew Nie Qianqian was filial and wanted to give her a better life in the future. But Qianqian was just a young apprentice medicine boy, still in her learning stage. How much silver could she earn each month?

Gu Xiao can make money, but that requires him to copy books at the library every day.

No, Gu Xiao can't copy books; he must study hard!

That day, every word spoken by the dean of Tiande Academy struck Liu Yan's heart heavily. She remembered every single word and couldn't help but think every night before going to sleep that she was the one who had delayed Gu Xiao's studies.

Nie Wenye was a good student and was pampered by his whole family. He didn't have to do any work. In winter, he could sit quietly in the heated room and read. Old Mrs. Nie was afraid that his hands would get cold, so she would change his hand warmer every hour. The best food in the house was given to Nie Wenye. The money that Nie Daqiang and Erzhuang earned from working outside was used to support Nie Wenye's studies. Even the money that Gu Xiao earned from copying books eventually ended up in Nie Wenye's pocket.

But what about Gu Xiao?

In the winter, he traveled back and forth between Qinghe Village and Fulin County in thin clothes. Even when he caught a cold, he could not stop. His right hand was not convenient, so he used his left hand to copy books. When he returned home, he would help her with some chores. She saw his hands trembling slightly more than once. He was already weak, but he could not eat meat. Sometimes he didn't even have a hot meal.

Nie Wenye could comfortably enjoy all of this because he was good at studying and had a chance of passing the imperial examination. But the dean said that Gu Xiao was the first person to get a perfect score and had a very high chance of passing the examination. Gu Xiao was even better than Nie Wenye. He was the one who should be the one that the whole family pinned their hopes on and cherished! Thinking of all this, her heart felt like it was being cooked in hot oil.

He had been delayed for many years in this family, and had not even passed the preliminary examination for the imperial examination. He had to catch up.

"No!" Liu Yan said loudly, which startled Gu Xiao and Nie Qianqian.

She looked at Gu Xiao with a firm gaze. "You can't keep copying books. You're a promising student, you must study hard. The Nie family can support Nie Wenye's education, and so can I. I'm not afraid of hard work or fatigue, what I'm afraid of is you wasting your talent. You go to the library to copy books and earn money, while I stay at home idly. I can't do that, my heart won't be at peace for a single day."

Gu Xiao and Nie Qianqian were both stunned. So this was the real reason why Liu Yan wanted to set up a stall.

As the elder of the family, she wanted to support Gu Xiao's education.

Nie Qianqian: "Mom, you don't need to worry about the money, I..."

Liu Yan shook her head again, "I know you still have some money left, but that money is a gift from God, and it will eventually run out. I can't just do nothing."

Gu Xiao pursed his lips, feeling a slight soreness in his chest.

He never considered Liu Yan his mother. Over the years, he never called her "mother," only addressing her respectfully as "you." But Liu Yan treated him with the loving kindness of an elder.

In the eyes of those so-called superiors, no matter how much silver Liu Yan could earn through her hard work, what did this little bit of care amount to? But Gu Xiao, having fallen from the imperial court to the common people and witnessed countless conspiracies and the coldness of human relationships over the years, knew in his heart that this kind of care was the most precious thing, priceless.

Nie Qianqian hesitated. She felt that she was more like a parent at this moment. On the one hand, she was happy that Liu Yan had changed and realized that she wanted to live by her own hands and abilities. On the other hand, she was afraid that Liu Yan would suffer, be tired, or be taken advantage of.

Liu Yan persuaded, "Qianqian, didn't you say you wanted to open a restaurant in the future? If I don't know anything and have no experience, how can I possibly run a restaurant well? Why don't you let me start from scratch now?"

Upon hearing this, Nie Qianqian felt that it made some sense. She looked at Liu Yan, whose eyes were full of anticipation as she cautiously awaited Qianqian's answer.

Nie Qianqian suddenly smiled.

Her mother has really matured; she now knows how to use a strategic retreat to persuade her in this way.

Nie Qianqian held Liu Yan's hand and said, "Okay, I agree. I believe Mother can do it."

Tuantuan then spoke up, "Grandma, let me help you! Your cooking is so delicious, everyone will definitely finish it all just like Tuantuan."

Liu Yan, Nie Qianqian, and Gu Xiao all laughed when they heard what Tuantuan said.

When the whole family is united, nothing seems so difficult, and everything can be accomplished.

Since Qianqian had agreed, Gu Xiao didn't object anymore.

Nie Qianqian: "Mother, it's no problem to cook these dishes in a restaurant, but most of them are not suitable for a food stall."

Liu Yan looked at her with suspicion. Nie Qianqian continued, "First, the cost of these dishes is not low. There are quite a few people in the county who can afford them, but they would not choose to eat at roadside food stalls. Second, making these dishes is quite labor-intensive and requires a high level of skill in cooking, which is not easy to achieve at a food stall."

Liu Yan nodded repeatedly as she listened, "Qianqian is so thoughtful. So, what should we do?"

Nie Qianqian thought for a moment, "Winter is just around the corner, and everyone will definitely want to eat something warm to keep warm when they eat at the food stalls."

Liu Yan: "Then why not go sell noodles?" She's pretty good at cooking noodles.

Nie Qianqian shook her head, "Noodle shops are everywhere, they have no competitive advantage. If we're going to sell something, we should sell something that no one else has."

Nie Qianqian recalled what was most popular at roadside stalls in her previous life, "Why not sell spicy hot pot, served with some flatbread as a staple food? It's inexpensive, tastes appealing, and is perfect for winter."

Qianqian continued thinking, "One dish is too monotonous. We can also sell braised pork offal with sesame flatbread. It's hot and filling. Add a sauerkraut, vermicelli, and sliced ​​pork soup. The sauerkraut is appetizing, and it's perfect with a bowl of rice. Customers who don't eat spicy food can choose these two dishes."

"Let's start with these three things. We'll test the waters and focus on quality over quantity."

Liu Yan listened attentively. Nie Qianqian had taught her before how to clean the pig offal thoroughly, add various seasonings to remove the fishy smell and flavor, and the resulting braised offal would have no fishy smell, be fragrant, and have a rich meaty aroma. Moreover, pig offal is much cheaper than pork, so the cost is not high and more people can afford it.

The sauerkraut and glass noodle soup is sour and delicious, and it whets the appetite. The whole family loves it. She has already learned how to make it, and this dish has become a regular in our family.

Both of these dishes are very appealing, and we wouldn't have to worry about competition if we sold them elsewhere. But what exactly is this mala tang?

Liu Yan asked curiously, "Qianqian, what is this mala tang you're talking about?"

Nie Qianqian blinked. "Wait for me a moment."

Qianqian ran to the kitchen and soon returned with two steaming bowls of spicy hot pot.

Liu Yan looked at the hot pot and saw that it contained vegetables, mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and tapioca flour. The ingredients were all common and nothing special. The soup was red and smelled delicious, with a spicy aroma that made her mouth water.

Nie Qianqian pushed the two bowls toward Liu Yan and Gu Xiao, "You two have a taste."

Tuantuan stared at the two bowls of spicy hot pot, biting her lip, and then looked pitifully at Nie Qianqian.

Nie Qianqian: "This is spicy, Tuantuan can't eat it."

Tuantuan nodded sadly. His mother had said that he was still too young to eat spicy food, but he could eat it when he grew up.

Liu Yan and Gu Xiao picked up their chopsticks and took a bite; their eyes lit up.

These are all very ordinary ingredients, but I don't know what they're cooked with, but they're so fragrant, spicy, and delicious.

Liu Yan took another bite of the rice noodles and asked, "How is this spicy hot pot made?"

Nie Qianqian said with a smile, "It's very simple, you can learn it in no time. The key is the broth, my exclusive secret recipe! The first two dishes can be made at home and taken to the county. The hot pot can be made according to the customer's needs. The methods are very simple and suitable for selling at small food stalls."

Nie Qianqian silently corrected herself, saying it wasn't her exclusive recipe, but the supermarket's exclusive recipe.

Liu Yan immediately gained confidence and sincerely praised, "Qianqian, you are really amazing, you have so many ideas in your head."

"Determining the menu is only the first step. Where to sell it, who the target customers are, how much to price it, and how much ingredients to prepare each day all require further research and discussion."

Liu Yan listened even more carefully, trying her best to remember what Qianqian said.

It was she who suggested setting up a small canteen. Qianqian helped her with the planning, but in the end, she had to carry it out herself. Just knowing how to cook these three dishes wasn't enough. She needed to learn as many tricks of the trade as possible in order to truly make this small business successful and earn money.

Gu Xiao did not interrupt, but instead gazed quietly at Nie Qianqian.

When it comes to making money in business, this little money-grubber's eyes light up again. This kind of Nie Qianqian exudes a unique charm that makes people unable to help but look at her.

Gradually, a hint of inquiry appeared in his eyes.

A girl who grew up in the countryside and had never traveled far from home, who can cook unique dishes, knows how to do business, is full of wisdom and ideas, and who was weak and incompetent for the first three years, suddenly became strong and decisive.

Why, exactly?