Yun Zhiyue never expected that simply because the Director of the Imperial Academy bought five jin of braised goods to share with friends, the braised food shop would suddenly explode in popularity.
The very next day, it attracted a flood of veteran food lovers.
“Master, by the time this servant arrived, the braised food was already sold out.”
The middle-aged man beside him snorted coldly.
“Hmph. What use are you then?”
“Tomorrow, go earlier.”
“And if you still can’t buy any, then spend the night outside that braised food shop.”
The braised goods became so popular that everything sold out in less than an hour each day.
Every morning before dawn at mao hour, people already lined up outside.
Those who managed to buy some were smug with satisfaction.
Those who failed practically beat their chests in regret.
“I’m going insane!”
“I can’t buy ice cream, and now I can’t even buy braised food anymore!”
“Miss, why are you holding this rock?”
Lüliu looked puzzled.
Her young miss always collected strange things.
Now she was even playing with stones.
Yun Zhiyue froze briefly before raising the potato in front of her.
“You think this is a rock?”
Lüliu nodded seriously.
“Yes. It looks exactly like one.”
Yun Zhiyue suddenly stared thoughtfully at the potato in her hand.
Now she understood.
Every ingredient provided by the system was something this era did not possess.
“Are there any academies in the North District?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“There are three academies in North City.”
“Qingshan Academy has the most students—over several thousand.”
“Lingyun Academy has around five hundred.”
“And Huizhi Academy is the smallest, with less than one hundred students.”
East City had the Imperial Academy.
North City had Qingshan and Lingyun.
Yun Zhiyue instantly made a decision.
She would turn potatoes into snacks and specifically target academy students.
Potato chips were the simplest.
She’d start with potato chips first.
Lüliu stared blankly at the thin potato slices on the cutting board.
All right.
She had mistaken them for stones.
Once again, this was another strange ingredient discovered by her young miss.
Yun Zhiyue stood nearby directing the cooks.
“Yes, exactly like that. Now fry the potato slices.”
“Madam! Master! The young miss is making new food in the kitchen again!”
A maid hurried into Fanghua Courtyard.
Master and Madam Yun immediately exchanged glances and subconsciously swallowed.
“Come. Let’s go to the kitchen.”
By now, they trusted their daughter’s cooking abilities completely.
“Good daughter, what kind of food is this this time?”
Master Yun genuinely couldn’t tell, so he casually picked up a piece and placed it into his mouth.
Thin.
Salty.
Crispy.
After eating one piece, he instantly wanted another.
“Father, these are potato chips.”
“Tomorrow, Daughter plans to sell them at a street stall.”
That was right.
Yun Zhiyue planned to set up food stalls outside academies.
As long as she completed the system point mission, everything else could wait.
“Miss, why insist on personally running the stall?”
Lüliu held an umbrella overhead, utterly unable to understand.
Her young miss was delicate and noble.
These sorts of trivial matters should obviously be left to servants.
Yet she still came personally under the scorching heat.
Although the two stood beneath a shaded tree, Yun Zhiyue was still sweating heavily.
If she hadn’t been curious about what ancient academies looked like, she never would have come here to suffer.
It was far too hot.
Seeing the academy gates about to open, Yun Zhiyue immediately instructed the two servants nearby:
“Hurry and prepare the potato chips.”
“The students are about to be dismissed.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The two servants quickly poured piles of potato chips and fries onto the stall.
Qingshan Academy gave students half an hour of noon rest.
At that moment, large groups of students dressed in plain robes walked out together.
Most were in the prime of youth, full of vitality and energy like fresh spring bamboo shoots.
The two servants exchanged glances before immediately shouting loudly:
“Come take a look! Freshly made potato chips and fries here!”
“Free samples! Free samples!”
“If they’re not delicious, you pay nothing!”
These lines were personally taught by the young miss.
She said shouting like this would attract customers more easily.
Most Qingshan Academy students came from ordinary families.
The moment they heard the words free samples, many immediately became tempted.
After all, they usually couldn’t bear spending money on snacks.
One student stepped forward curiously.
“What are potato chips? Can we really taste them for free?”
The servant nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! Free samples.”
The student picked up one chip and placed it into his mouth.
After just two bites, his eyes lit up instantly.
“These potato chips are salty, fragrant, and crispy. Delicious!”
After finishing one piece, he immediately wanted another.
Too addictive.
Soon more students stepped forward to sample them.
Without exception, every single one declared them delicious.
Very quickly, the tiny stall became completely surrounded.
“How much? I want to buy some!”
Considering the economic conditions of North City, Yun Zhiyue intentionally set the prices low enough for ordinary students to afford.
“Honored young masters, potato chips are five copper coins per serving.”
“French fries are six copper coins per serving.”
“So cheap?!”
“Give me two servings of potato chips and one serving of fries!”
“I want some too!”
“Five servings of potato chips for me!”
The two servants became so busy sweat poured endlessly down their foreheads.
Before long, the stall was completely sold out.
Sure enough—
No matter the era, students always possessed terrifying purchasing power.
Yun Zhiyue instantly decided:
Morning sales at Qingshan Academy.
Afternoon sales at Lingyun Academy.
Double income in one day.
By the time classes ended in the evening, students immediately noticed the food stall outside.
Not because of anything else—
But because the words FREE SAMPLES were written in huge eye-catching characters above it.
This time, Yun Zhiyue didn’t go personally.
Her curiosity had already been satisfied.
〔Congratulations, Host! Today’s points gained: +1880〕
〔Total points: 1900〕
〔Please continue working hard, Host〕
“Got it.”
“Zhaoning, this is your share of the profits from Jade Delicacies Tea House.”
Yun Zhiyue handed the box to the young princess.
After opening it, Xiao Zhaoning looked shocked.
“How is there this much?”
“I only invested three thousand taels originally.”
“I never expected that after merely one month, the investment would already return its costs.”
Yun Zhiyue smiled lightly.
“The success of Jade Delicacies Tea House lies in the novelty of its food.”
Xiao Zhaoning hugged the box excitedly.
This was her very first business venture.
Even though all she contributed was money and barely helped otherwise, she still felt incredibly accomplished.
This feeling was even more satisfying than mastering whip techniques.
“These are new snacks recently developed—potato chips and fries.”
Yun Zhiyue opened the food box.
The first layer contained potato chips.
The second contained fries.
Xiao Zhaoning tasted one bite.
“This is delicious! Perfect as a snack.”
“Zhiyue, you’re so good to me. You always think of me whenever there’s something tasty.”
By now, she truly regarded Yun Zhiyue as a close confidante.
“Oh right—have you made plans for the restaurant yet?”
“When the restaurant opens, I definitely want to help. I can’t let you exhaust yourself handling everything alone.”
Yun Zhiyue thought for a moment.
Barbecue?
Hotpot?
Malatang?
Ancient times had no air conditioning.
Hotpot was impossible in summer.
Customers would already be drenched in sweat just sitting there, much less eating boiling hot broth.
Although she possessed ice, she couldn’t openly display large amounts throughout a restaurant for people to cool themselves.
Currently, no one else knew how to make ice.
And she was only a merchant’s daughter without political power.
If huge quantities of ice suddenly appeared in her restaurant, it would inevitably attract investigation.
Once winter arrived, hotpot could be launched then.
Barbecue and malatang, however, remained viable options.
“It’s already June now. The weather is extremely hot.”
“We need to carefully consider the restaurant menu.”
“But we can begin searching for a suitable building first.”
“Preferably something with three floors capable of accommodating large numbers of customers.”
Xiao Zhaoning nodded thoughtfully.
“All right. Leave the matter of finding a location to me.”
Yun Zhiyue nodded in agreement.
“Your Highness, a letter from Miss Liu.”
Cui Zhu approached with small quick steps and handed over the letter.
Xiao Zhaoning opened it and glanced through the contents.
“Sister Liu is inviting us to visit Zhenguo Temple tomorrow to offer incense.”
“Zhiyue, do you want to come?”
Zhenguo Temple?
Yun Zhiyue had never seen an ancient temple before.
After thinking briefly, she decided it might be interesting to go out and explore.
“I’ll go.”