There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 323 Autumn Examination Meals

Li Shuchen turned around and walked to the counter, whispering, "Uncle Xu, five hundred coins a serving of fried sweet potato fries."

Manager Xu nodded to indicate that he understood.

Xiao Feng went to the kitchen to report the orders, while Li Shuchen returned to the sweet potato stall to sell his wares.

Time flies when you're busy.

After Li Shuchen finished his lunch, he served a fresh plate of food into a lunchbox, and didn't forget to add a serving of fried sweet potato fries.

Carrying it in my hand, I headed towards the flower shop.

As usual, Li Shuchen fed Ye Bingli bite by bite.

After Ye Bingli finished eating, she got up and returned to the inn to continue selling sweet potatoes.

"Sister Shuchen"

"How did Qianqian get here on such a hot day?"

Li Shuchen led Qianqian into the main hall, and Qianqian clung tightly to Li Shuchen's sleeve.

"Sister Shuchen, Qianqian is here to sell sweet potatoes."

Li Shuchen was taken aback: "Isn't it good for Qianqian to learn to read at school?"

"it is good"

"Then why are you selling sweet potatoes?"

She opened her mouth slightly, but before she could say anything, she was interrupted by another voice.

"Qianqian, what are you doing here?"

Princess Changning hurriedly entered the room.

Li Shuchen: "What happened?"

Princess Changning took a breath and said, "The head maid said Qianqian is missing. They searched the entire Aiyou Hall but couldn't find her. Thinking that she was closest to you, I rushed over to find you. Luckily, she came looking for you and was not in any danger, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do."

After listening, Li Shuchen stroked Qianqian's head and said gently, "Qianqian, it's too dangerous for you to come out alone. Next time you want to go out, remember to tell the nanny who takes care of you first, okay? Look how worried Princess Changning is about your safety."

Qianqian nodded obediently: "Princess Changning, I'm sorry. I will definitely tell Granny when I go out in the future."

Princess Changning squatted down and whispered, "Qianqian, be good. Can you tell me why we came to the inn?"

Qianqian: "Making money"

"make money?"

Princess Changning looked at Li Shuchen with a puzzled expression.

Li Shuchen explained, "Last winter, Qianqian sold roasted sweet potatoes, and I gave her five taels of silver every month."

Princess Changning: "What's the reason?"

Li Shuchen: "She wants to earn money for her younger siblings."

Princess Changning asked Qianqian again, "Don't you all receive one or two taels of silver as pocket money each month? Why do you need to earn money?"

She said earnestly, "Buy a house."

Princess Changning was taken aback upon hearing this, then looked at Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen scratched his head and said, "It's because I've said too many times at the inn that women should buy their own houses, and Qianqian took it to heart."

Princess Changning: "Wanting to buy a house is a good thing, but Qianqian is still young. She needs to learn to read and write before she starts earning money. She'll earn much more then."

Li Shuchen: "Princess Changning is right. Right now, studying is the most important thing for Qianqian. After she finishes her studies, she will definitely have a way to make money. There's no need to rush."

Qianqian watched her two older sisters trying to persuade her. Although she didn't understand the reasoning behind it, she knew in her heart that her sisters wouldn't lie to her, so she nodded and said, "I understand. Qianqian will go back to her studies now."

Li Shuchen: "My dear, let's go back with Princess Changning."

Princess Changning reached out and took Qianqian's hand, saying to Li Shuchen, "The cotton is almost ripe."

Li Shuchen: "Understood. After the autumn imperial examinations are over, I'll go with you to take a look."

Princess Changning: "Okay."

After a busy day, Li Shuchen sat in the living room, massaging his back.

"Grape, we've been busy all day, we must have earned quite a bit of silver. Quickly count how much we have!"

Grape did as instructed, pouring the money from her purse onto the table and beginning to count it.

"One coin, two coins, three coins... ten taels of silver and two hundred coins."

Upon hearing the amount, Li Shuchen looked up in shock: "How much? Nine taels of silver and two hundred cash? How much did we spend hiring the carriage and laborers?"

Grapes: "Ten taels of silver"

"What? We worked ourselves to the bone all day, and we didn't earn a single penny, we even lost eight hundred coins?"

The sky has fallen!

Grape: "Miss, to be precise, we lost two taels of silver after removing the sweet potato stall's support frame."

The sky collapsed and the earth caved in!

How could so much money be lost?

"I originally thought I would make a lot of money today, but I ended up losing two taels of silver. It seems that just buying sweet potatoes won't work."

After Li Shuchen finished speaking, he got up from the stool and went straight to the kitchen.

Cooked food cannot be sold yet, but raw food is allowed.

Start matching

First, prepare a bowl, put white rice at the bottom, then add cured meat, cucumber, carrot, chrysanthemum greens... and serve with a side dish of pickled vegetables. That makes a simple meal.

"Grape, go get a test basket."

"Yes, miss"

Grape placed the exam basket on the table.

Li Shuchen began stuffing food into the exam basket, filling it with nine days' worth of rice, meat, vegetables, and pickled vegetables.

On the second shelf, she placed nine eggs and nine pieces of fruit (two apples, three pears, and four oranges), with plenty of empty space remaining.

Li Shuchen thought for a moment and realized that cooking wouldn't be possible without seasonings, so he divided the salt, twelve-spice powder, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil into separate containers.

Even so, there's still room on the second floor for the test takers to store some miscellaneous items.

The cost of the food and the basket was about two taels of silver; she could easily sell it for three taels of silver.

Let's see how the results are tomorrow.

Li Shuchen put the prepared test basket away and said, "Grape, go upstairs to sleep. We'll fight again tomorrow."

Grape: "Let's fight again tomorrow"

August 4th

Li Shuchen placed five test baskets on the sweet potato stall, all with their lids open, revealing the first batch of food.

"Come and take a look, everyone! Our restaurant has just launched a special meal for students taking the autumn imperial examinations. It includes pearl white rice, fragrant cured pork, fresh vegetables, refreshing pickled vegetables, nutritious eggs, and juicy fresh fruit."

The program provides all the necessary meals for the nine days of the exam. Once you purchase this meal plan, you no longer need to prepare your own meals, saving you time and effort.

Furthermore, customers who purchase meals for the autumn imperial examinations will receive a free examination basket, while supplies last, first come, first served.

After Li Shuchen called out twice, a number of people gathered around the stall, staring at the food in the basket and pondering something.

"Miss Li, Miss Li"

Li Shuchen looked over at the sound and saw the Qingzhou examinees raising their hands and calling for help from the outside; he seemed unable to squeeze in.

"Please make way for the customer who wants to buy something. Could that gentleman please come forward?"

The candidate from Qingzhou touched the hair ornament on her head and stepped forward, asking, "Miss Li, how much does a serving of food for the autumn examination cost?"

Li Shuchen: "Three taels of silver, plus a test basket."

The Qingzhou examinee, fanning himself, exclaimed in surprise, "Only three taels? Miss Li is so kind! I just came from another shop, and they were charging ten taels of silver per serving!"

Moreover, it seems that my preparations are not as complete as Miss Li's. Here's what I'll do: Miss Li, you sell me a hundred portions, and I'll set up a stall and resell them at a profit. That way, I can make a good amount of money by reselling them.

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen was stunned.

Are people really that greedy? She only sells for three taels of silver, as if she's a complete fool.

She should have checked the market price first; she was too hasty.

The Qingzhou examinee placed her hand in front of the stunned Li Shuchen and waved it: "Miss Li, Miss Li, what do you think?"

Li Shuchen came to his senses and said, "Young Master, you really want a hundred meals for the Autumn Examination? You're not lying to me?"

The examinee from Qingzhou replied, "Of course, a gentleman's word is as good as his bond. Miss Li, just sell it to me."