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

Yu Wan's smile faded, and she asked Shen Shi with a bitter expression, "Mother-in-law, why do we need so much money for the journey?"

Madam Shen sighed and led Yu Wan into the house before lowering her voice and saying, "Nowadays, His Majesty is muddle-headed and incompetent, and he also likes extravagance. The officials below are trying to find ways to send him good things in order to please him."

“But those officials are unwilling to spend their own money, so they naturally try to exploit the people.” Madam Shen’s voice was very soft. “From Shijia Village to Shengjing, the cost of the carriage is not much, but you have to pay various taxes in every county you pass along the way. Fifty taels is considered a small amount.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Wan also recalled the background of the original text.

This is a chaotic era.

The emperor was incompetent, treacherous officials held power, and exorbitant taxes were levied, leaving loyal ministers and ordinary people struggling to survive.

Under these circumstances, many people were forced to become bandits in the mountains. Therefore, the journey from Shijia Village to Shengjing required not only money but also bodyguards.

Otherwise, it would have been difficult for her to make it safely to Shengjing alone.

In the original text, the process of the original owner going to Shengjing to recognize her relatives was only mentioned briefly, so Yu Wan really did not expect that the journey to Shengjing would be so difficult.

How is this any different from Sun Wukong's journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, where he had to endure eighty-one tribulations?

The joy of earning two hundred coins was no longer enough to cheer her up. Yu Wan hung her head and sighed, "Sigh."

Why is it so difficult for her to get away from the male lead and return to Shengjing?

Shen looked at Yu Wan with deep emotion in her eyes.

This child... truly has deep feelings for Yun Shang.

She was truly thinking of Yun Shang with all her heart and soul.

That silly boy is still oblivious to his good fortune!

Madam Shen cursed her blind son in her heart, and gently comforted her daughter-in-law, "Yu Niang, you don't need to worry too much. There's always a way out. There's still a year before Yun Shang goes to the city to take the imperial examination. We'll definitely be able to save enough money."

Yu Wan remained silent.

She couldn't possibly stay at the Yun family's house for a year.

Based on the timeline in the original text, the male and female protagonists should meet around March next year, which is only about three months away.

If she stays in the Yun family, what will happen to the female lead?

You can't expect the female lead to become the male lead's mistress.

She didn't want to be used as cannon fodder prematurely.

The next morning, Yu Wan set up her stall as usual.

Neither Shen nor Yunxi were people who would sit back and reap the benefits. From preparing the ingredients to making the skewers, it was all done by the two of them. Yu Wan was only responsible for taking them to the county town to sell.

Shen didn't take the money she earned; she let Yu Wan keep it herself.

If Yun Shang weren't the male lead, Yu Wan would definitely try her best to stay in the Yun family, just because of her mother-in-law, Madam Shen, and her sister-in-law, Yun Xi.

It's a pity that Yun Shang is the male lead.

Before noon, Yu Wan arrived at the West Market.

The bailiffs managing the West Market had left her her original stall, and Yu Wan was grateful, so she gave the two of them some more skewers.

She prepared a lot today, about five or six hundred skewers. Before the students of the academy finished their classes, Yu Wan treated the stall owners at the nearby stalls to the skewers.

Because they were eating his food, they felt obligated to help him. Even though the stall owners were unhappy, they no longer showed any jealousy or envy.

At noon, students from the academy began to appear on the streets.

Unlike usual, the students were no longer wandering aimlessly, but instead rushed to a small stall with a clear purpose.

The students, who had no idea about Bobo Chicken, became curious upon seeing this and couldn't help but follow the crowd.

Then they all smelled the domineering and intense fragrance in the air.

"What kind of food is this? It smells so good it makes my mouth water!"

"You don't know yet? This new dish is called Bo Bo Chicken. It's spicy, flavorful, and you just can't stop eating it once you start!"

"Please buy less, leave some for us!"

The students were so enthusiastic that Yu Wan had to add a rule to ensure that those at the back of the line didn't miss out on food.

One person can buy a maximum of ten skewers.

In fact, most students only buy five or six skewers, and some poor students only buy one or two skewers to try. However, some students from wealthy families even have their servants buy them and take them home.

In order not to disappoint these eager students, Yu Wan had no choice but to limit the purchases.

With this new purchase limit, most students were very happy, while only a few were greatly disappointed. Among them, the student who bought her Bo Bo Chicken first yesterday had the most exaggerated expression.

Zhou Shi'an reluctantly put down the empty skewers, looked at Yu Wan, his cheeks flushed, and said, "Miss Yu, I have a big appetite, could you buy some more?"

Yu Wan turned to look at him, smiled and shook her head, refusing without hesitation, "No."

Zhou Shi'an's attention was not on her refusal. Looking at the smile on the girl's face, he felt his heart beating faster and faster, as if it was about to jump out of his chest.

He was afraid of offending her, so he only dared to glance at her for a moment before quickly looking away.

Zhou Shi'an looked at the busy girl, pursed his lips, and touched the letter in his arms.

This love poem was revised after he begged Yun Shang for a long time; it's sure to win the heart of a beauty!

Wanting to send the love poem, Zhou Shi'an didn't go far. He waited until the pot-boiled chicken in the wooden bucket was sold out before he walked over, blushing.

Yu Wan was tidying up when she saw him approaching. She stopped what she was doing and asked in confusion, "Young master, the Bobo Chicken is sold out, and the soup is gone too."

Zhou Shi'an hurriedly waved his hands, his nervousness making him somewhat incoherent, "I, no, I'm not hungry, hey, I don't want to buy Bobo Chicken, I want to give the young lady something!"

Yu Wan's gaze fell on the suspicious blush on his face.

A thought popped into my head: Could this guy be thinking of...?

Suddenly, a letter was handed to her. Yu Wan's eyelids twitched, and she was already 80% sure.

She didn't intend to accept it, but to her surprise, the student opposite her, blushing, shoved the letter into her hand and ran away before she could say anything.

Yu Wan: "..." So this is how they confess their love.

She remembered that in the original story, the male and female protagonists confirmed each other's feelings by exchanging love poems.

Receiving a love poem proves one's interest in the other person, while reciprocating with a love poem signifies one's willingness to marry them.

Thinking of this, Yu Wan instantly felt that the letter in her hand was a hot potato.

The people of Huicheng County were used to this kind of thing. When the vendors around saw this scene, they couldn't help but laugh and tease Yu Wan, "Miss Yu is so lucky. This young master is the son of the Zhou family, the richest family in Huicheng County. Judging from the appearance of young master Zhou, he must want to marry you."

Yu Wan: "..."

She's already married!

Yu Wan was so embarrassed she almost scratched her toes. Just as she was about to explain, a clear, cold voice suddenly broke into her ear.

"So it turns out that Brother Shi'an's beloved is you."

The male lead's voice was exceptionally beautiful, unforgettable once heard. Yu Wan stiffly turned her head and saw a young man in a white robe standing quietly not far away, looking at her calmly.

Who else could it be but Yun Shang!

Is this guy a ghost? How can he always appear behind her so silently!