Chapter 1936: Tang Wenqian's Parents (Patreon)

Chapter 1936: Tang Wenqian's Parents



Time was running out, and with only a few days left, Shu Yu, along with Jiang Fengshou and others, held a meeting and immediately took action.

So, on the second day after the goods arrived, news about Lu Ji's opening spread like wildfire in the capital city.

Whether among commoners or the privileged, there were very few who remained unaware.

The storytellers in the teahouses even inserted an advertisement for sunflowers into their tales. After all, this novel flower variety had attracted everyone's attention. Describing these golden sunflowers as large as basins and tall as strong men, they became a subject of curiosity and inspired poets among scholars and young ladies. People couldn't help but grow more curious about these magical sunflowers—were they really that incredible?

Someone immediately produced a painting of a sunflower field and presented the banner that Shu Yu had placed outside Lu Ji store as a mascot for its opening. From sunflowers, the discussion expanded to sunflower seeds, then sunflower oil, and further to the health and safety oil supplied to the palace's nobles. Finally, they mentioned Lu Ji's grand opening on February 29th, offering a 10% discount for purchases over 200 coins.

Following that were street vendors carrying baskets for taste testing. With not many sunflower seeds per person—just three each—those who enjoyed the taste were encouraged to buy. The announcement for Fu Yuan Street's shop opening was greeted with fanfare.

Soon, a rumor spread among the women in the capital city: "Have you heard of Meng Yunzheng, the scholar who top in last year's case? Do you know what he ate during his exams? Instant noodles. Do you know what's remarkable about these instant noodles? You just need to soak them in hot water to eat, and they're edible even when dry. What about the taste of these instant noodles? It's just average, but they are fragrant enough to make tears flow from your mouth."

The onlookers quickly realized the truth behind this rumor, connecting the dots between Meng Yunzheng's success and the instant noodles. If you think about it, Meng Yunzheng didn't have to worry about food during the exams, which certainly contributed to his impressive performance.

However, there were no instant noodles available in the city. No problem, though—on February 29th, Lu Ji's grand opening provided affordable options.

Qi Lie happened to overhear this rumor while going out. He looked at Meng Yunzheng, who stood calmly next to him, with astonishment. "Your wife sure knows how to make the most of whatever she can. You succeeded in your exams based on your true talents, didn't you? When did instant noodles come into the picture?"

Meng Yunzheng responded with conviction, "Of course, it's relevant. These noodles are genuinely simple, and eating a piece of noodle during the exam is really invigorating."

"Alright, alright, you don't have to be so loud about it..." Qi Lie turned to see the curious bystanders nearby and rubbed his forehead. He hurriedly walked away, feeling embarrassed.

Meng Yunzheng's words inadvertently affirmed the rumor. What was originally just gossip among the women now had the endorsement of its protagonist. This injected more vigor into their discussions. Not only did they spread the story within the city, but they also shared it with relatives and friends outside the city.

Before long, it reached the lips of the people in Chenggu County.

The folks in Chenggu County didn't care whether there was a connection between passing the scholar's exam and instant noodles. All they knew was that Lu Ji was opened by County Princess.

The gentlemen and others who had fought alongside County Princess couldn't contain their excitement. They felt compelled to show their support.

Even the commoners, unable to offer much else, were able to afford the modest sum of 200 coins for the reputation of the County Princess Wen'an.