Night.
Shi Wuxiang returned to the village beneath the starlight. From afar, he saw the glow of a torch and knew Yuan Zhao had come out to meet him again. Even through his clothes, the mosquitoes could bite—yet he still did not bother to hide from them.
“A-Xiang!” Yuan Zhao waved energetically, hopping in place.
“So happy?” Shi Wuxiang could not help but smile as well. “Business went well today?”
Yuan Zhao’s voice was bright with excitement. “You already know? You scholars really do have sharp minds—you must have known all along your idea would make money! Your brain works so well! I will take good care of you from now on and not let you faint anymore!”
Hidden by the darkness, Shi Wuxiang’s eyes curved slightly. He lowered his gaze toward Yuan Zhao. “Oh? If this did not make money, would you just let me faint whenever I pleased?”
“You know that is not true!” Yuan Zhao huffed. “Now guess how much we made today! Go on, guess!”
“Let’s talk when we get home.” Shi Wuxiang draped an arm over his shoulder, leaning some of his weight onto him. “Why are you not supporting me properly? I am about to faint right now.”
He had been speaking perfectly fine just moments ago—there was no way he would suddenly faint. It was obvious he was teasing on purpose.
But Yuan Zhao did not expose him. He was a very, very good ge’er, much more sensible than Shi Wuxiang—he was very good at taking care of people!
The two supported each other all the way home. The other rooms were dark, but faint voices could be heard—likely Shi Qingyue telling a story.
Yuan Zhao used the remaining batter to make flatbreads, spreading sauce on them but not wrapping anything inside. There was also a bowl of cold noodles with chili oil and shredded cucumber, refreshing to eat.
After they settled onto the bed, Yuan Zhao hugged a wooden box and sat down, patting the space beside him for Shi Wuxiang to join.
His eyes curved in a smile, his youthful innocence still evident—only then did he look like a boy in his teens.
“Now guess!” He was still hung up on it.
“After costs… five hundred wen?” Shi Wuxiang was not very familiar with purchasing power at this time. After all, the gap between rich and poor had always existed, and careful budgeting versus lavish spending led to different calculations.
Yuan Zhao frowned, looking at him with dissatisfaction. “You really have no sense of your own business! Forget it, I am not letting you guess anymore—if you keep guessing wrong, I will just get mad! We counted it already—one thousand one hundred and fifty!”
Over one tael—that was no small amount, especially for a small business built on small earnings.
It seemed that people in town were quite willing to spend. If it were villagers, they would not bear to spend ten wen on a wrap.
“Even after costs, we still made a profit!” Yuan Zhao was very pleased.
He had never imagined earning this much in a single day before! This was all thanks to A-Xiang!
Shi Wuxiang helped him sort and string the copper coins, speaking gently, “You contributed more. It was hard work for you and Yuan Ge’er. I also bought some mung beans—tomorrow morning we can cook them and take them to town to sell.”
“Okay!” Yuan Zhao responded readily. “I will bring some cucumbers too, and we can wrap them inside. The ones we grow at home cost nothing—anything we sell is pure profit!”
“Good.” Shi Wuxiang gestured for him to put away the money. “From now on, use loose coins when buying things. If you run out, then break the strings.”
Yuan Zhao nodded obediently, put the money away, and lay down.
He was exhausted. Not long after lying down, he fell asleep, his breathing soft beside him. Shi Wuxiang was soon lulled by it as well, turning over and drifting off.
The realization that each wrap sold turned into solid copper coins filled Yuan Zhao with delight.
He worked with even more energy at the stall. He and Yuan Yuan arrived early; while preparing, the street was still mostly empty. But as they worked, people gradually began lining up.
“Boss, make me two—everything included!”
“Can you even finish two?”
“What do you know? I will take them home for my wife and kids. Pair it with some hot soup—nothing better!”
Soup?
Yuan Yuan glanced at his brother, who was making the wraps, then mustered the courage to say, “We have soup here too…”
“Oh? Little boss, what kind of soup?”
“Mung bean soup—cooling, sweet, with sugar!” Yuan Yuan quickly showed them the bucket.
The moment the lid was lifted, a refreshing sweetness filled the air. The color alone looked cooling and delicious—of course one had to try a bowl!
“How much?”
“One wen per bowl!” Yuan Yuan replied crisply.
Seeing him respond so smoothly, no longer as timid as before, Yuan Zhao felt that doing business was not bad at all—it built courage and sharpened one’s tongue.
There were many customers clustered around the stall. The commotion even attracted patrolling yamen runners.
“What is going on here? Why is everyone gathered?”
“Is that Scholar Shi’s husband?”
The ones patrolling were Zhang Dacheng and Wu Nian, long-time partners. They had not expected to see Shi’s spouse running a stall.
Yuan Zhao glanced up briefly. “Gentlemen, please wait a moment!”
He sped up his work, then told the next customer, “Please wait a bit—I will make theirs first.”
“Ah, of course…”
Common folk did not contend with officials—they would just wait.
Zhang Dacheng and Wu Nian quickly refused, “No need, no need—we are just checking. Please continue your business.”
Yuan Zhao said, “It will be quick. You took care of A-Xiang before—I cannot have you patrolling on empty stomachs.”
He quickly made two fully loaded wraps. They were so generously filled that the two men were stunned. When they tried to pay, Yuan Zhao stopped them—maintaining good relations with officials was important.
They accepted the gesture, exchanged thanks, and left.
Customers, seeing his good relationship with the yamen runners, began asking questions. Some even picked up from their words that he was already married and could not resist gossiping.
Yuan Zhao only smiled and responded vaguely, saying nothing he did not wish to share.
Even though A-Xiang said it did not matter if everyone knew, he did not want strange looks. Those who should know would know eventually—there was no need to announce it.
“Can we fill water flasks with this mung bean soup?”
“Yes,” Yuan Zhao replied. “One wen to fill it up.”
“Alright—five wraps, and fill these five flasks!”
“Coming right up!”
While preparing their order, Yuan Zhao chatted, “What kind of work do you do?”
“We build houses—hard-earned money,” the man said, wiping sweat.
“How much does it cost to build one? Could twenty taels build a brick house in the countryside?”
“That depends on size. A town-style brick house would cost more than twenty taels, but a large rural house would not—at most fifteen, even with the cost of tiles.”
If one had connections, tiles could be cheaper still.
Yuan Zhao nodded thoughtfully. “You must earn at least a hundred wen a day?”
“Not that much,” the man laughed. “Why ask? Planning to build a house?”
Yuan Zhao did not answer directly, only asked where they were based.
The man understood and quickly gave directions, saying they could be found anytime.
Yuan Zhao agreed with a smile—he would discuss it with A-Xiang later.
Business was booming. People bought in groups, and the money box filled quickly.
He was glad he had prepared plenty of filling—otherwise it would have run out quickly.
Customers came in waves. The more crowded the stall, the more people joined the line. Yuan Zhao worked continuously, barely even finding time to drink water.
The fire beneath the griddle radiated heat; even in the early morning, his clothes were soaked with sweat. Yuan Yuan fanned him, but the breeze carried heat as well.
“Brother, have some mung bean soup!” Yuan Yuan poured some into a bamboo tube and held it up. “It is really good!”
Yuan Zhao flicked his forehead with a curled finger. “I made this myself, of course it tastes good. Drink another bowl—do not get heatstroke.”
Yuan Yuan nodded obediently. Heatstroke meant medicine, and medicine cost far more than mung bean soup—he understood that much clearly.
As the number of customers gradually thinned, Yuan Zhao finally had a bit of free time. He drank mung bean soup while chatting with Yuan Yuan.
Inside Xiangxiang Restaurant.
Most of the customers coming in were holding strange-looking flatbreads. They were clearly not stuffed buns, yet they were packed with fillings—just a glance showed meat, vegetables, and crisp shredded cucumbers.
Some uninformed diners thought it was a new dish from the restaurant and immediately called for a server to bring them the same thing.
The server said awkwardly, “That is not from our kitchen. How about I ask where they bought it and get one for you?”
Before he could even ask, a nearby customer holding a wrap spoke up, “It is at the entrance of West Alley—a young ge’er is selling them. If you want one, go quickly. If you are late, there will be none left!”
“Exactly! I went late yesterday and there was only batter left—and it was not even noon yet!”
“Get me one too while you are at it!”
The server quickly agreed. Their restaurant did not forbid outside food, and these customers were still eating there, so fulfilling such requests was only natural.
Just as the server was about to leave, Zhang Xiang called down from upstairs, “Liuzi, bring me one too, please.”
“Got it!”
After handing his duties off to another server, Liuzi took the copper coins and headed toward West Alley.
He had expected it to be hard to find, but one glance showed a stall surrounded by a crowd—this had to be it. He hurried over.
Unable to squeeze in, he raised his voice, “Six wraps! Fill them with everything!”
“Understood—please line up,” Yuan Zhao replied while working. No matter how large the order, the customers in front of him came first.
Liuzi had worked at the restaurant for a long time and recognized most of the people in town. This stall was new—even he had not heard of it. But the stall owner’s voice sounded strangely familiar.
He soon found out why.
“Zhao ge’er?! It is actually you running a stall? Incredible—your business is booming! The customers and even the accountant at our restaurant want some, so they sent me to buy them.”
“I will make them right away,” Yuan Zhao said, then paused. “Even your accountant likes them?”
“Seems so. He specifically asked me to get them—he must like them,” Liuzi said.
Yuan Zhao grinned foolishly.
Even if A-Xiang did not say it, he must be very satisfied with his cooking!
“Then I will put extra filling for your accountant!” Yuan Zhao carefully added more ingredients—A-Xiang needed to eat more!
“Well then, I will thank Mister Zhang on your behalf!”
“…Mister Zhang?” Yuan Zhao blinked in surprise.
“Yes, it was Mister Zhang who asked for them. He usually eats before coming in, but maybe he was hungry today.”
Yuan Zhao silently paused, though even so, the portion was still more generous than usual. He was not petty enough to take anything back. After finishing, he handed them over.
“Thanks for making the trip—I still have batter left. Wait a moment, I will make one for you too!”
Liuzi’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I could not possibly…” he said, but his feet did not move an inch, his gaze fixed eagerly on the food.
Yuan Zhao quickly made him a full wrap. Liuzi left happily with his bundle, promising to spread the word.
Back at the restaurant, Liuzi handed out the wraps and then went upstairs to knock on the accountant’s study door.
“So fragrant!” Zhang Xiang held the wrap up and inhaled deeply. “I heard yesterday that they were delicious, but the stall was gone by the time I went. Today I finally got one!”
Liuzi laughed. “The stall owner even added extra filling when he heard it was for you! You will not have to rush in the future—and actually, we all know the stall owner!”
“Really? Who is it?” Zhang Xiang perked up.
Liuzi smiled and looked toward Shi Wuxiang. “He is from the same village as Mister Shi—Zhao ge’er—”
“He is my husband,” Shi Wuxiang interrupted. Seeing their surprise, he explained, “We married in the village. He is thin-skinned, so to avoid teasing, I kept it quiet.”
“Heavens!” Zhang Xiang exclaimed. “Such a joyous occasion and you did not tell us!”
“No wonder you suddenly wrote that food recipe before—was it for these wraps?” Wen Hao asked.
Shi Wuxiang nodded slightly. “He wanted to start a business and earn money. That is a good thing—I should support him.”
He spoke openly and uprightly, expressing a way of thinking they could not quite understand. In their minds, a wife or husband taken into the household should manage the home, while earning money was the man’s responsibility.
But every family had its own way of living. As long as life was good, no one could say it was wrong.
“Well then, have him make me one every other day and send it over?” Zhang Xiang took a big bite. It was hearty, fragrant, crisp, and even had meat. “Delicious! Brother Wen, you should try it too!”
“I already did this morning,” Wen Hao replied.
Yuan Zhao’s wraps were selling so well that they overshadowed the nearby bun and flatbread stalls. The other vendors often looked at him with envy, though none dared cause trouble.
After all, he was on good terms with the yamen runners—who would dare stir up problems?
The vendor selling meat soup and sweet drinks nearby, however, quite liked him—after eating a wrap, who would not want some soup?
Later, Zhao San delivered another batch of eggs. This time Yuan Zhao bought more—market day was coming, and the town would be packed.
He had to make as much money as possible then. Combined with A-Xiang’s monthly wages, they could finally build a house!
Just as he was setting up his stall, sighs rose around him.
“I heard the town is going to start charging fees. We will have to pay rent for these spots.”
“What do you mean? Have not these spaces always been free for us? No fighting, no crowding—why suddenly change it?”
“That is just what I heard. They say it is too messy here—maybe the officials want to clean things up.”
Yuan Zhao inevitably overheard. The words made it impossible not to read between the lines.
He was the only new vendor recently—and now this happened. It sounded very much like they were blaming his stall.
Worse still, several vendors glanced his way in agreement.
Yuan Yuan, even more sensitive, immediately hid behind him. Those subtle looks made him feel like they might be struck at any moment—just like before, when they lived with their second uncle’s family.
“Do not be afraid,” Yuan Zhao murmured. “It has nothing to do with us. This is decided by the officials—we will have A-Xiang ask about it later.”
“Brother… is it because of us?” Yuan Yuan asked softly.
Yuan Zhao shook his head. “Of course not. There are so many stalls—everyone wants to make money. A little disorder is normal.”
“This has not even been confirmed yet—do not talk nonsense. Even if it is true, it is the officials’ decision.”
“Exactly—let us wait and see.”
Deep down, they all understood. Whether things were truly chaotic had nothing to do with one stall.
But no one wanted to say it aloud.
Yuan Zhao felt uneasy. He even messed up several wraps that morning.
Only when the yamen runners approached did his wavering heart finally settle.
Whatever would come, would come.
“Starting from the next market day, this street will be reorganized. There will be designated areas for stalls. Anyone who continues will need to pay monthly rent.”
The officers were unfamiliar, but they had been briefed—especially about the wrap stall run by a scholar’s husband, someone not to be slighted.
Normally, people feared officials. But with their livelihoods at stake, they could not hold back.
“Sir, what is going on? Why are fees suddenly being collected? Did something happen?”
“We heard it is because things are too messy—but we have always been orderly! Could it be certain stalls causing trouble for the rest of us?” the noodle vendor asked pointedly.
Now that the fees were real, it felt like their livelihoods were being cut off.
And so, one by one, their gazes toward Yuan Zhao changed.
The yamen runners, used to dealing with people like this, had no interest in arguing. Relations between officials and commoners were already tense—they did not want to make things worse over this.
The yamen runner cut them off directly. “Stop talking nonsense! A noodle stall owner in town reported to the clerk, saying the streets and alleyways were too messy and asked the magistrate to do something about it!”
“What?!”
The moment those words came out, the other vendors immediately understood. That old man had clearly grown jealous of how much the wrap stall was earning, but since he had no proper excuse to make trouble, he resorted to this kind of spiteful move—dragging everyone down with him.
“You old man, that is just shameless! We are all trying to make a living—why would you cut off everyone’s livelihood like this?”
“Are you just looking for trouble? If you are jealous, then go earn money yourself! Why be so narrow-minded?”
“W-What about the rent? How much do we have to pay each month? Sir, we are all small vendors—please do not make it too high! It is not easy for us to earn money!”
The yamen runner frowned and barked, “Enough noise! Two hundred wen per month! If you want to keep your stall, come get a permit from me now. No permit, no stall!”
Yuan Zhao immediately jogged over with a smile. “Sir, I will take one.”
“Here. Do not lose it. You will need to show it during inspections.” The runner handed him a wooden token. “And please pass along our greetings to Scholar Shi.”
“Ah… yes, I will.” Yuan Zhao quickly agreed.
In the end, it was all thanks to A-Xiang’s reputation. Studying really was a good path—too bad ge’er could not sit for the examinations, otherwise he would definitely send Yuan Yuan to school.
All the vendors collected their permits—including the old noodle seller. After all, they still needed to make a living.
But he was not spared the resentment. His actions had caused everyone to lose two hundred wen a month—no small matter.
In the past, Yuan Zhao would have been heartbroken to part with two hundred wen. But now that he could earn steadily, it seemed acceptable in comparison.
Once the yamen runners left, customers who had been hesitant quickly gathered again.
“Boss, you have to keep this stall going! My family waits for your wraps every morning! Add a little extra vegetables for me!”
Yuan Zhao smiled and agreed one by one. Of course he would keep the stall going. Once A-Yue and Ranran sorted out their feelings, they might even earn more money.
Just thinking about it filled him with anticipation.