The more cowardly a person is, the more wild they are; I've driven the villainous minister craz

White Deer Academy.

Although it is located in a remote town like Huicheng County, the headmaster of the academy once served as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, and most of the well-known officials in the court today were once his students.

Bailu Academy has a long history, and its buildings are simple and magnificent.

Unlike most students, Yun Shang did not care much for food and drink. He spent most of his time in the library after class at Bailu Academy.

Zhou Shi'an went straight to the library to look for the person.

Food was not allowed inside the library, so he could only leave his pot-boiled chicken at the entrance and hurried inside to find Yun Shang.

The library of Bailu Academy holds tens of thousands of volumes of books, second only to the library of the Imperial College of Shengjing.

Zhou Shi'an pondered that Yun Shang seemed to have seen the ancient Tibetan area recently, and went straight up to the second floor to look for people.

It was lunchtime, and there weren't many students in the library. Zhou Shi'an spotted Yun Shang sitting by the window at a glance.

He was dressed in a white, cross-fronted robe issued by Bailu Academy, his hat was on properly, and there was not a single thing wrong with him.

Zhou Shi'an pursed his lips, thinking to himself that Yun Shang was as aloof and restrained as ever.

As he walked toward the window, he wondered if he would ever see Yun Shang lose his composure.

"Brother Yunshang."

Zhou Shi'an lowered his voice.

Yun Shang had noticed him as he went upstairs, but he never paid much attention to unimportant people and things, so he pretended not to see him.

When Zhou Shi'an spoke to him, he simply gave a curt "hmm".

Zhou Shi'an was already used to his aloof personality and didn't take his coldness to heart at all. He sat down next to him and said mysteriously, "Guess who I ran into at the West Market just now?"

Yun Shang's gaze remained focused on the book, showing no interest in what Zhou Shi'an was saying.

Zhou Shi'an remained unconcerned, cupping his face in his hands as if in love, and said with a silly grin, "I met a girl. She's like a fairy who came down from heaven. Her eyes are bright and lovely, and she's sunny and kind. Brother Yunshang, I think I've fallen in love with her at first sight."

"I'd like my parents to propose marriage. What do you think?"

Yun Shang initially didn't want to pay him any attention, but after hearing Zhou Shi'an's description, his mind wavered.

He glanced at Zhou Shi'an and said calmly, "Do you know who she is?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shi'an deflated like a lantern, his face filled with dejection.

He shook his head with a pained expression, "I don't know."

He said somewhat shyly, "I wanted to ask the girl's name, but I was worried that it would be too abrupt to ask her name on our first meeting, so I didn't dare to ask."

Yun Shang turned her attention back to her book, frowned and said in a low voice, "Love at first sight is nothing more than lust at first sight."

How long can your infatuation last?

Zhou Shi'an was stunned by what he said, and couldn't help but jump up and explain, "This time is different!"

“That girl’s eyes are as beautiful as the stars in the sky. I knew she was different from other girls the moment I saw her!” Zhou Shi’an’s eyes lit up. “Not only is she beautiful, but she can also make a dish like Bo Bo Chicken that I’ve never heard of before. She’s definitely not from an ordinary family!”

"If I marry her, wouldn't I be able to eat new and exotic foods every day?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Shang had completely lost interest in the girl Zhou Shi'an was talking about.

It couldn't be Yu Wan.

Yu Wan had only learned a few home-style dishes from Shen Shi, and she did them so-so. How could she suddenly create such fresh and delicious food?

Zhou Shi'an reached out and tugged at Yun Shang's sleeve, shaking it ingratiatingly, "She will definitely come again tomorrow, Brother Yun Shang. I want to write a poem for her to express my feelings, but my poetry writing skills are..."

He paused awkwardly, then looked at Yun Shang with pleading eyes, "Could you help me polish it up?"

Yun Shang did not answer.

Just when Zhou Shi'an thought he would definitely not agree, he heard him say calmly, "Hmm."

*

At noon, less than 3:45 a.m., less than 3:45 a.m., the more than 200 skewers of pot-boiled chicken that Yu Wan had prepared had already sold out.

Some students who were at the back of the line and didn't get any were so upset that they beat their chests and stomped their feet, begging her to prepare more for tomorrow.

The remaining soup in the wooden bucket was even bought back by students living nearby.

Looking at the empty wooden bucket, Yu Wan was so happy she was almost dazed.

So, that's all?

It's only been less than an hour!

Yu Wan glanced at the money box full of copper coins again, suppressed a smile, and quickly put the things away.

As I left, many vendors around me cast envious glances my way.

Many of them were jealous.

With only so many students coming out to eat, her business was booming, while other vendors' business naturally suffered.

Thinking that she couldn't afford to offend these vendors, Yu Wan bought something from each of them.

She ate lunch at a wonton stall and bought meat pies, dried bread, and other portable snacks from other stalls.

Although the vendors still didn't look too happy, they still smiled at her.

Yu Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

She's new here, and if she gets sidelined by these long-time vendors, her business will definitely be much harder.

An hour after returning to the Yun family in Shijia Village, Madam Shen heard the commotion and went out. When she saw her, her eyes lit up.

"Yu Niang, why are you back so early?"

After she finished speaking, a hint of worry flashed in her eyes as if she had thought of something.

Could it be that the goods just won't sell...?

Before Shen could voice her concerns, Yu Niang had already run up to her happily, clutching the money box, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling. "Mother-in-law, all the pot-boiled chicken we prepared is sold out, and even the soup has been bought!"

She handed the money box to Madam Shen, saying, "We sold a total of 315 copper coins. I used 15 copper coins, so we earned a full 300 copper coins today!"

Preparing the ingredients, bamboo skewers, and other supplies cost less than one hundred copper coins; the remaining two hundred copper coins were pure profit.

Upon hearing this, Madam Shen's eyes widened in surprise. "Two hundred coins in just one day?"

Yu Wan nodded happily, "Yes! Let's make some more next time, we'll definitely earn more money!"

Madam Shen was also very happy, but then, as if remembering something, the smile on her lips faded a little, and she looked at Yu Wan with heartache, "Yu Niang, this is too hard on you."

Yu Wan smiled and shook her head.

The current hardships are only temporary.

As long as she can earn enough money to redeem herself and go to Shengjing to reunite with her family, she can finally enjoy life once she becomes the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion.

Thinking of this, Yu Wan asked Madam Shen seemingly casually, "Mother-in-law, how much silver will it cost to travel from here to Shengjing?"

She lowered her eyes and smiled shyly, "I want to save up money for my husband's trip to Shengjing for the imperial examination."

Shen's eyes suddenly reddened, and she returned the money box that Yu Wan had handed to her.

“The fare from Shijia Village to Shengjing is not much, at most fifty taels, but once we enter Shengjing, there are many places where we will need money.” Madam Shen sighed softly, “It will probably cost more than a hundred taels of silver.”

Yu Wan's smile froze.

Fifty taels of silver isn't a lot?!

Even if she could earn 500 coins a day, it would take her 100 days, a full three months, to earn 50 taels of silver!

This is even under the condition that she only earns and doesn't spend!