After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Under the varied gazes of the crowd—some curious, some surprised, some dissatisfied, and some jealous—she was left with a wide range of emotions.

Although Gu Lin is an outgoing and cheerful person, he can't stand being treated like a monkey by so many people.

Knowing the young man beside him's temperament, Zheng Hao turned to Gu Lin and said softly, "The results of the prefectural examination are out. Uncle Gu, let's go back."

Desperate to escape, Gu Lin repeatedly said, "Let's go, let's go!"

He walked away quickly, only slowing down after he had disappeared from sight.

Upon returning to the inn, the innkeeper greeted them. The innkeeper, who hadn't spoken much to Gu Lin and the others in the previous ten days, smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Husband Gu, Zheng Tongsheng greets you. Our inn congratulates you on achieving first place in the prefectural examination."

It was Zheng Hao's home turf at this moment, and Gu Lin remained silent.

Zheng Hao bowed, and the innkeeper's smile became even more genuine as he said, "It is truly an honor for our inn to have the top scorer of the prefectural examination stay here. The room fees for Zheng Hao and his family before the provincial examination, as well as the room fees before the provincial examination, will be waived."

Zheng Hao raised his eyes slightly and refused, saying, "This is inappropriate."

The innkeeper smiled and said, "Scholar Zheng, please don't refuse. Although the innkeeper is a merchant, he has always respected scholars. From the very beginning, the inn has had a rule that the top scorer in the prefectural and provincial examinations will be admitted for free."

“Zheng Tongsheng, there’s no need to feel burdened. How about this, Zheng Tongsheng writes a piece of calligraphy for the shop, so that the shop can be imbued with some literary atmosphere.”

With his eyelashes slightly lowered, Zheng Hao pondered for a moment and then agreed, "Okay."

"Bring me pen and ink!"

The shopkeeper loudly instructed the waiter, who quickly ran over with a pen and ink.

After the waiter laid out the paper, Zheng Hao picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write on the Xuan paper. He did not start writing immediately, but pondered for a while before the brush tip fell.

It was lunchtime, and the inn's lobby was full of diners. They saw the newly appointed top scorer in the prefectural examination writing calligraphy and stopped eating to gather around and watch.

Black ink fell one character after another on white rice paper. Although the diners could not understand it, seeing the handsome young man in front of them writing with such a generous and composed demeanor, the noisy conversations gradually disappeared, and the inn became completely quiet.

They all stared intently at Zheng Hao in the middle.

After finishing the last stroke, Zheng Hao put down the brush and ink. The waiter immediately stepped forward, picked up the Xuan paper, and showed it to the shopkeeper.

Looking at the four characters "日升月恒" (Sun Rising, Moon Constant) on the Xuan paper, the innkeeper, though literate, did not understand their meaning.

He had waived room fees for many scholars, but those scholars inscribed poems or words of encouragement for business prosperity. The innkeeper had never seen the words "sunrise and moonrise" before.

Although he didn't understand, he didn't want to ask directly. Thinking this, the shopkeeper looked at Zheng Hao.

Zheng Hao explained, "The original meaning of 'the sun is just rising and the moon is just beginning to wax,' it can also be used to congratulate someone on their prosperous business!"

After hearing the explanation, the shopkeeper's face lit up with a smile.

He cupped his hands in greeting to Zheng Hao and said, "Professor Zheng, you are learned and knowledgeable. Our shop is grateful for your kind words!"

Then, the innkeeper, being quite perceptive, invited Zheng Hao and the other two to return to their rooms to rest, saying that he would have the waiter personally bring them food later.

Niu Qiang returned to his room, while Gu Lin went to Zheng Hao's room.

As soon as he entered, Gu Lin turned to Zheng Hao and teased, "Now that the results of the prefectural examination are out, you have even less to worry about in the academy examination."

Faced with Gu Lin's teasing words, Zheng Hao's usually calm expression softened slightly: "Thank you, Uncle Gu, for accompanying me to the prefectural city to participate in the imperial examination."

After hearing Zheng Hao's thanks, Gu Lin waved his hand and said, "I didn't help much this time. I came along because I was worried you wouldn't be able to adapt, but I got sick on the way and ended up being a burden to you."

As soon as Gu Lin finished speaking, Zheng Hao frowned and was about to say something when Gu Lin, seeing this, immediately said, "Let's not be so formal. Do you know when the academy examination is?"

Knowing that the other party was changing the subject, Zheng Hao still went along with Gu Lin's words and said, "The academy examination was originally scheduled for August, but it has been moved up this year. The academy examination will be held in seven days."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin's face showed a hint of worry. He asked Zheng Hao, "Will this affect you?"

Seeing Uncle Gu looking at him with concern in his eyes, Zheng Hao shook his head slightly and said, "It's alright, I've learned everything I needed to learn in these three years."

After hearing this, Gu Lin felt relieved, knowing that the other party always acted with discretion. "After your college entrance exam, we'll be heading back to the county town. But we haven't bought a house or shop in the prefectural city yet. You can stay at the inn and study these next few days while I go look at houses and shops."

"We've roughly decided on the shop. We'll buy the one that Kuroko took us to see at the beginning, and the house will be the one closest to the shop. What do you think?"

Gu Lin and Zheng Hao spent several days trying to buy a house and a shop that were adjacent to each other, but to no avail. So they compromised and chose two houses and shops that were not far apart.

“Okay, Uncle Gu decides,” Zheng Hao said.

Then he added a reminder: "In the next few days, Uncle Gu will take Niu Qiang with him when he goes out. The city is a mixed bag, and it's not safe for you to go out alone."

"Okay, I understand."

However, Gu Lin raised an eyebrow and looked at Zheng Hao with an ambiguous expression. Zheng Hao, feeling his gaze, asked, "What's wrong, Uncle Gu?"

Gu Lin narrowed his eyes, his expression revealing a rare shrewdness, and said, "Brother Niu is my peer, so I should call him Brother. How can you address him by his name directly?"

So that's what it was about. Zheng Hao's previously furrowed brows relaxed as he said, "Uncle Gu, you may not know this, but I've known Niu Qiang for a long time. My relationship with him isn't just that of an elder and a junior..."

At this point, Zheng Hao paused for a moment, then, as if he had thought of a more suitable description, said, "It's more like a cooperative relationship, like that between Uncle Gu and Fang Jiyue."

Of course, that was the relationship in the past; now it is one of subordination.

But fearing he might frighten Uncle Gu, Zheng Hao chose to keep it a secret.

After listening to Zheng Hao's words and understanding the unusual way he interacted with Niu Qiang, Gu Lin didn't ask any further questions.

The next day.

Gu Lin took Niu Qiang to the brokerage firm and bought a house and a shop with the manager.

On this trip to the prefectural city, Gu Lin, though poor in possessions, traveled with ample funds, bringing with him a considerable amount of silver notes.

However, after buying the shop and the house, Gu Lin's savings were almost empty.

Gu Lin's heart skipped a beat as he watched the banknotes being spent.

But thinking that money is meant to be spent, and that you have to give up something to gain something, Gu Lin barely managed to suppress his heartache.

A few days later, Zheng Hao went to participate in the academy examination. He did not ask Gu Lin to pick him up or drop him off. After the academy examination ended on the last day, he returned to the inn, washed up first, and then went to Gu Lin's room.

As Zheng Hao stepped into the room, he saw a young man sitting at the table with a frown on his face.

Zheng Hao approached and asked, "Uncle Gu, what's wrong? Did you run into any problems buying the shop and the house?"

Pressing his temples, Gu Lin said, "It's nothing. The shop and house have been bought smoothly, and the procurement of ingredients and beverages has been negotiated. But I found that the employee training is not going well."

He frowned and said to Zheng Hao, "The restaurant I opened in the prefectural city needs a lot of manpower, so I recruited many people. But these people can't be recruited as casually as they can be in the county town, so I trained them before the restaurant opened."

Zheng Hao poured a cup of chrysanthemum tea and handed it to Gu Lin, saying calmly, "Uncle Gu, your consideration is good. What happened afterward?"

Gu Lin said with some annoyance, "Those who came to apply for the job all asked to start working after the training was completed."

But how could that be? Gu Lin had a headache. If the other party was lazy or dishonest, why would he cause trouble for himself?

Seeing Gu Lin's troubled expression, Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly, a thoughtful look passing through them.

After a moment, he looked up at Gu Lin and asked, "Uncle Gu, what do you plan to do next?"

As Zheng Hao finished speaking, the young man in front of him swept away his previous dejection and became determined, saying, "They are just taking advantage of the fact that I am an outsider and don't know the place. I don't believe that only they can do the work in the prefectural city. If they are unwilling to work, I will find someone else."

Gu Lin's decision did not surprise Zheng Hao. Uncle Gu had always been like this: decisive, intelligent, and never coerced.

Then, Zheng Hao revealed his intention: "Uncle Gu, have you considered buying servants?"

"servant?"

Gu Lin frowned, a look of rejection appearing on his face.

He knew that buying and selling people was legal in this era, and many wealthy people in the county would buy one or two servants to serve them in order to show off their status. Gu Lin could do the same, but he was unwilling.

Having spent a long time with Gu Lin, Zheng Hao learned about some of the things about him that were different from ordinary people.

For example, regarding the buying and selling of servants, while others felt proud and honored to have servants to serve them, Uncle Gu was extremely opposed to it.

Gu Lin's tightly pursed lips relaxed as he said, "Servants may be slaves, but they are still human beings. Buying and selling should not exist. I can't stop others, but at least I can't do it myself."

Zheng Hao's brow twitched, and his dark eyes looked at the young man in front of him. He saw that the man's fair face was filled with hatred for the buying and selling of servants.

Even knowing the other party's aversion to the matter, Zheng Hao hadn't expected it to come to this.

Zheng Hao asked in a slightly deep voice, "Has Uncle Gu said these things outside, or in front of other people?"

Seeing Zheng Hao's expression suddenly turn serious, Gu Lin shook his head: "I only said it to you. I didn't even say it to Sister Zhao and the others."

"That's good then." Zheng Hao's expression softened slightly. He said to Gu Lin, "I know that Uncle Gu is kind and gentle and cannot bear to hurt the innocent."

“But Uncle Gu, we are not buying servants to torment them. Given your character, you will surely respect them after you buy them.”

"Uncle Gu gives them respect, jobs, money, and security of life, especially the last one, which is something they desperately want. Therefore, Uncle Gu doesn't need to feel guilty about buying servants."

Gu Lin still hadn't made up his mind and said, "I'll think about it some more."

“Okay.” Zheng Hao did not force Gu Lin.

A few days later, Gu Lin had trained the people. He simulated the opening of a restaurant and the scene of entertaining guests, and let them try to work. However, none of them performed satisfactorily.

They either didn't take the mock test seriously, or their service attitude and behavior were problematic, or they hadn't even mastered the barbecue techniques they had been trained for many days.

However, even in the face of this situation, Gu Lin still could not overcome his psychological barrier to buying and selling people.

The next day, Zheng Hao said to Gu Lin, "Uncle Gu, let's go back to the county town."

"Huh? Going back so early? Aren't we waiting for the results of the academy exam?" Gu Lin asked.

Zheng Hao said, "The results of the provincial examination will be released in ten days. At that time, a yamen runner will bring the news. We have been away from the county town for many days, so it's time for us to go back."

He said to Gu Lin, "Uncle Gu is also troubled right now. Why don't you go back and think about it carefully first?"

Gu Lin thought about it and felt that what the other person said made sense.

Since the restaurant can't open for a while, he might as well go back to the county town first and see how Sister Zhao and Xingfuju and Xingfulou are doing.

The next day, Gu Lin and his two companions checked out of their rooms and left the city in a donkey cart.

Because of Gu Lin's experience of suffering from heatstroke while traveling, Zheng Hao instructed Niu Qiang to avoid the hottest times and try to travel in the morning and afternoon when it was not so hot.

Even so, Zheng Hao didn't keep telling Niu Qiang to slow down. If they hadn't entered the city by nightfall, they would be stuck in the wilderness. It wouldn't matter if it were just him and Niu Qiang, but with Uncle Gu by their side, they would try their best to get into the city.

Thus, it took Gu Lin and his two companions two or three days longer to return to the county town than to go to the prefectural city. By the time they arrived in the county town, it was nearly evening, and the town gates were almost locked.

They hurried into the city before the guards could unload the key.

After entering the county town, Gu Lin got off the donkey cart and invited Niu Qiang, saying, "It's getting late, Brother Niu, why don't you come to my house for dinner?"

Niu Qiang was about to agree, but when he saw the young man behind Gu Lin looking at him with a cool expression, he swallowed back the words he was about to say: "Thank you for your kindness, Boss Gu, but I have family waiting for me, so I'll go back first."

After saying that, Niu Qiang turned and left without waiting for Gu Lin's response.

Seeing the other person quickly disappear into the crowd, Gu Lin was stunned for a moment, then said to Zheng Hao, "Brother Niu, it's really too much trouble for you to accompany us to the prefectural city this time."

Zheng Hao said, "Uncle Gu, don't worry, I didn't let him work for nothing, I gave him money."

Gu Lin shook his head slightly. Going out in ancient times was not as easy as it is in modern times. After going to the prefectural city a few times, he had become well-behaved.

Gu Lin said to Zheng Hao, "We've traveled a long way to the prefectural city, and Brother Niu has been incredibly kind to send us there. In a few days, please send some braised food to thank Brother Niu."

“Okay,” Zheng Hao replied.

Back home, the two received a warm welcome from Sister-in-law Zhao and Brother Yu, as well as Brother Zhao and Chen Xiaoliu.

Because they were going to the prefectural city, leaving only Brother Yu and Sister-in-law Zhao in the county town, Gu Lin was worried and instructed them to let Brother Zhao and Chen Xiaoliu come and stay.

As Zhao's wife pulled Gu Lin into the house, she said, "I didn't expect you and Zheng boy to be back. Today is truly a double celebration!"

Yu Ge'er walked beside him, with Chen Xiaoliu nervously following behind. Yu Ge'er continued Zhao Saozi's words: "It should be three happy events!"

"Indeed, indeed," Sister Zhao said with a smile.

Gu Lin asked with some confusion, "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about?"

After hearing about this double happiness and triple happiness, Gu Lin was a little confused.

One of the joys was that he and Zheng Hao had returned from the prefectural city, but what about the other two joys?