The wicked sister-in-law is in charge; meals include fish and shrimp.

Chapter 49 Tired and happy

However, ice is not cheap, and even if you have money, you may not be able to buy it.

He saw several large basins in the room, and wondered where they got them!

Could it be that his student's family is hiding something? Su Xian stroked his beard and frowned as he pondered.

"Master, please have a bowl of this to cool down before you eat. When you go back, please take the things we prepared for you with you."

Wen Luozhi looked at him, who seemed a little lost in thought, and spoke up. She remembered that Wen Zijin had mentioned to her that Su Xian's family loved sweets, so she had made several kinds of desserts and drinks and chilled them with ice packs.

Even when the ice pack melts after school, the contents remain cold and won't spoil.

Su Xian quickly thanked him. Now he really would have to eat and take things. It seemed he would have to buy more things when he opened for business tomorrow.

Looking at the colorful and beautifully decorated bowl in front of him, he couldn't help but ask, "Girl, what is this?" He pointed to the small black cubes in his bowl.

Before Wen Luozhi could even open her mouth, Yan Che, who was gulping down lemon water, stopped and said, "Master, that's turtle jelly. The colorful things on top are fruits." This was the first thing he ate when he sat down. It had a faint medicinal taste, but it wasn't off-putting. It was icy cold and made him feel refreshed.

There were also some fruits he had never seen before. His father often went to other places to do business and liked to bring back some rare things, including fruits, but none of them tasted as good as these.

Su Xian looked puzzled, then picked up her spoon and started eating.

The chewy and smooth herbal jelly paired with fruit leaves a refreshing and satisfying feeling in the mouth with just one bite, and he couldn't stop after just one.

Thinking about all the delicious food he still had, he only put down his spoon halfway through his meal. Wen Luozhi had already gone out to busy herself, so now there were only the teacher and student in the room.

Since it wasn't the first time they'd eaten together, no one stood on ceremony and they devoured the food in no time.

The room was incredibly cool, while outside it was sweltering, but that didn't affect the business's booming success at all.

A long line of people dressed in school uniforms had already formed outside, with some at the back urging, "Boss, hurry up! The sun is too strong!"

"Yes, your business is booming, you really need to think of something! We would have left if they hadn't said it was delicious."

"What's the rush? Let me tell you, these things are so delicious! It's worth waiting until class starts!"

One student, sweating profusely as he ate, said that when he left the academy, his mother told him that there was a newly opened shop nearby that was offering half-price dishes today.

He didn't care whether it was good or not; he just wanted to save some money, so he came to eat there. Unexpectedly, the taste was really good and the portion was huge, much better than the food stalls he used to travel a long way to eat at.

Several students, upon hearing his words, looked up and echoed, "This is already very close. If you want to go to eat, who knows how long you'll have to walk, and you'll be exposed to the sun along the way."

"Yeah, if it gets hot, I'll just buy a two-cent glass of iced water. I'll wait if I have to."

Wen Zizhou's eyes darted around, and he walked to the front of the line with a basket filled with several bamboo tubes of lemonade. "Young scholar," he said, "this refreshing sweet soup is only two coins. You won't regret buying it."

The student, who was already impatient from waiting in the heat, smiled broadly and touched the bamboo tube when he heard Wen Zizhou call him "little scholar."

The outside was icy cold with water droplets, and he thought it was just being chilled with slightly cool water and wouldn't be too cold.

Overjoyed, he took out two copper coins and handed them to Wen Zizhou, saying, "Give me one, I'll have it, it's too hot."

"Alright!" Wen Zizhou took the copper coin and handed him a bamboo tube of lemonade with a smile.

The student eagerly drank the water, and the cool, sweet and sour taste invigorated him.

"This water is really good!" he said, finishing it in a few gulps, and then bought another serving.

The people behind him saw him squint his eyes and look comfortable after drinking it, so they bought it too. The cool, sweet and sour taste was irresistible.

The baskets sold out quickly, and Wen Zi'an, being strong, simply moved the beverage table over.

Some people in line hadn't even gotten to eat when the food on the table for today's trial sale was already gone, and complaints arose from the queue.

"Boss, why is the stuff all gone when I get here?!"

One student looked sad. He had just tasted a piece of the chilled rice cake his classmate had bought and liked it very much. He was thinking of buying some more to take home and eat later because it was hot.

Wen Zi'an looked at Wen Luozhi with some helplessness. It was really frustrating that people had queued for so long only to find that their things were gone, especially in such hot weather.

It takes too long to make and solidify cold rice cakes; there's simply not enough time.

Wen Luozhi wiped the sweat from her face and glanced at the backyard. She had asked Li Chunxing to cook a big pot of plum juice to cool down because she was worried that there wouldn't be enough to sell with so many people. She figured that should be enough.

"Fourth Brother, go find your sister-in-law and get her some plum juice."

“Mmm,” Wen Zi’an readily agreed, and Wen Zizhou followed behind him to help.

There was a well in the backyard, and Li Chunxing had long ago put the plum juice in a clean bucket and placed it in the well.

The two brothers each carried a bucket out. They were out of bamboo tubes, but they had enough bowls. Wen Luozhi took a bowl, scooped it full, and walked towards the student.

"Young sir, it was our oversight today that we were not well-prepared."

"This bowl of plum juice is my apology. Tomorrow we'll officially open for business with a tent and plenty of delicious food. Please come and support us!"

Her voice was melodious and pleasant, and she had a faint smile on her face. Because of the heat, her fair cheeks were flushed with two pink blushes, which made the scholar blush slightly.

"No...it's okay, girl. I'm not afraid of the sun. Thank you." He took the bowl of plum juice from Wen Luozhi without looking directly at her.

He thought he would still come tomorrow even if there were no sunshade tents or much food.

Wen Luozhi blinked and said loudly to the people queuing behind her, "I'm so sorry everyone, please feel free to drink the plum juice today."

The student who had just finished his bowl of sour plum drink, upon hearing her words, quickly said to his classmates, "You should all try this sweet soup; it's thirst-quenching and refreshing!"

After saying that, he scooped up a bowl and gulped it down, not even bothering to eat the rice that had already been served.

Then the scene of everyone scrambling for plum juice reappeared, and Wen Zi'an went to fetch the last bucket.

By the time the plum juice in the bucket was empty, most of the people who had eaten had left.

Su Xian allowed Wen Zijin to help out for a while and go back to class later. Anyway, the child had already learned the content he was going to teach that afternoon on her own, and he had checked it out, so there was nothing to worry about.

Yan Che volunteered to stay, but Wen Zijin pushed him out of the shop, saying, "You haven't reviewed your lessons at all; you absolutely cannot miss a single lesson from the teacher."

Yan Che pouted and reluctantly followed Su Xian back to the academy.

Seeing the basket in his hand, he was no longer upset. His little sister was so kind! She even prepared a portion for him, the one who was freeloading.

He told the servant to take it back to his parents to try, and to ask them to send gifts tomorrow.

Half an hour later, the shop finally saw off the last customer.

Old Zhao and Wen Muchuan slumped in their chairs on the dam and smiled at each other.

Wen Muchuan: His sons are so capable, his wife and eldest daughter-in-law are also top-notch, his young girls are also very capable, and his daughter is his treasure!

Old Zhao: This trip was worth it. I was so excited watching the coins fall into my purse! Even though they weren't his.

Wen Zijin was almost finished tidying up the shop when Wen Luozhi grabbed him and handed him a hat. "Fifth Brother, come back to the academy after dinner tomorrow. Your studies are the most important thing."

She had her own ways of managing the shop's busy schedule, and there was no need to ask a scholar to take time out of class to help. She knew what was more important.

Wen Zijing took the hat, gently patted his head, and said, "Fifth Brother knows what he's doing. Go back now."

He could also see that his younger sister was completely different now; before, he was disappointed in her, but now he felt more heartache for her.

Inside the shop, everyone sat around the table in the small hut, eating the leftover food.

Although everyone was busy all morning, they all knew that they didn't feel tired at all after making money; on the contrary, they were excited.