After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 53

Spending the night in a dilapidated temple or a simple inn in the wilderness, wrapped in cold blankets, listening to the howling north wind outside, it’s hard to fall asleep.

The dry rations were frozen solid, like rocks, and needed to be warmed up with body heat before they could be swallowed. When thirsty, one would drink a sip of ice-cold water.

Horses hooves pounded through the snow and ice, making the road slippery and difficult to traverse, and everyone was on high alert.

However, no matter how harsh the conditions, whenever the night was quiet, Zhou Han would think of Lin Sang wearing that pearl earring and smiling at him in the morning light, and a fire would burn in his heart, dispelling the chill and fatigue around him.

For the home that was waiting for him to return, for the girl he had pledged his life to, he would gladly endure any hardship.

After a journey of more than half a month, the caravan finally arrived at Liangzhou, a major town in the northwest.

Although both are located in the north, Liangzhou is situated in a strategic location, serving as a gateway to the far northwest. Its scale and prosperity far surpass those of Zhou Han’s hometown, a small riverside town.

The city walls are high and thick, made of rammed earth, bearing the unique vicissitudes and sturdiness of the frontier.

At the city gate, carriages and horses rumbled and people thronged. In addition to the usual Han Chinese merchants, one could also see some border residents wearing thick fur coats with deep facial features. The air was filled with the scent of livestock, dust, and a slightly rugged atmosphere that was different from that of their hometown.

After completing the delivery of the medicinal herbs, Zhou Han had some free time, so he slowly walked around the city to observe.

He noticed that, in addition to familiar goods, the market here did indeed have some items that were not commonly seen in his hometown:

There is a type of beef and mutton jerky that is cured with coarse salt and special spices and air-dried until extremely hard. It is very chewy, exceptionally salty and fragrant, and easy to preserve for a long time.

There is also a hard, creamy cheese that looks unassuming, but a small piece can be soaked to soften it or eaten directly; it is extremely filling and keeps you full for a long time.

Zhou Han tasted a little and found the flavor strong. He thought that if he chopped it up and sprinkled it into mutton soup, or sold it as dry rations, it might be welcomed by the laborers at the dock who needed strength and had strong palates.

The sheepskin rugs and dog-skin hats here are obviously better made, with shiny fur and soft, thick leather. There is also a thick felt made of pressed wool that is waterproof and moisture-proof, but it is much cheaper than the ready-made fur coats.

If you were to buy a roll, it would be a good choice whether to use it to make your own bed, cut it up to make knee pads or mats, or even sell it to better-off families in town.

Moreover, in addition to the common spices like Sichuan peppercorns and star anise, there is also a dried wild leek flower sauce with a unique spicy aroma, and the chili powder here is also cheaper than in their area.

Zhou Han remembered Lin Sang’s meticulous attention to seasoning when making soup, and thought that taking some back for her to try might add another layer of flavor to the mutton soup, making it a unique recipe to attract customers.

These goods all bear the distinct characteristics of the northern frontier: they are practical, durable, and have relatively controllable transportation costs.

Zhou Han stood in the bustling market, his sharp eyes scanning the goods, quickly calculating their prices, weights, profit margins, and potential sales channels after they were transported back to his hometown.

He wasn’t someone who aimed too high; he only thought about practical, small-scale businesses.

He thought about buying some dried meat and felt to sell at the dock or town market; or giving the special spices to Lin Sang to develop new flavors of soup noodles… These ideas gradually became clear in his mind.

The journey was not easy, but the discovery he made made all the hard work worthwhile.

———

Meanwhile, at the dock, the rumors and gossip surrounding the Lin family’s stall were like persistent mosquitoes in the summer—not deadly, but certainly annoying.

The Lin family noticed that the unfamiliar faces who came to find fault seemed to be more frequent than before, and their words were becoming increasingly harsh, all implying that their family was “monopolizing the benefits” and “making dirty money.”

Wang and Lin Sang retorted succinctly as always, and Boss Lin also maintained a stern and intimidating expression, but they both knew in their hearts that someone must be up to no good behind the scenes.

Sure enough, a few days later, the “Yang’s Noodle Shop” that had always had slow business suddenly put up a new signboard – “Yang’s Authentic Lamb Offal Soup”. Next to it was a wooden board with crooked words that read: “Warm inside, rich and flavorful soup, five coins a bowl, all-you-can-eat flatbread!”

The news spread like wildfire.

Lamb offal soup isn’t some secret recipe; if you’re willing to invest in quality ingredients, it’s not difficult to imitate it to a degree of seven or eight tenths.

Yang Laowu’s move was a direct attack on the Lin family’s weakness—they had a shop to shelter them from the wind and rain!

In the dead of winter, who would rather huddle in the cold wind and squat by the roadside to eat a bowl of hot soup while comfortably enjoying it in a warm house? Especially when the price is the same!

In an instant, the long queue that had been in front of Xilin’s stall was visibly shortened by more than half.

The regular customers smiled apologetically at the Lin family: “Sorry, Sister-in-law Lin, it’s too cold today. Let’s go to the shop to warm up…” After saying that, they turned around and flocked to Yang’s Noodle Shop.

By the end of the day, the Lin family had left more than half of the mutton offal and flatbread they had prepared.

Looking at the barely touched ingredients, Boss Lin squatted in the corner, puffing on his pipe, his brows furrowed.

As Wang tidied up, she sighed repeatedly, her face filled with unconcealed sorrow.

Lin Sang counted the few copper coins left, but her tone remained calm: “Father, Mother, don’t get too upset. In business, it’s normal for people to imitate and for there to be competition. Let’s go back first and then discuss this further.”

Back home, the atmosphere was oppressive. Although dinner was laid out on the table as usual, no one had the heart to touch it.

Lin Song and Lin Miao also noticed that their parents and sister were in a bad mood, so they sat quietly to the side, not daring to make a fuss.

An invisible weight pressed down on everyone’s heart.

The situation did not improve in the following days. Yang’s Noodle Shop, with its indoor location, attracted away most of the customers who were afraid of the cold.

Only a handful of loyal customers who braved wind and rain remained at the Lin family’s stall, or neighbors who couldn’t bear to part with their kindness.

Seeing their once bustling stalls become deserted, and with so much of the prepared ingredients left over every day, the eldest son of the Lin family and Wang Shi either had to force themselves to eat it or painfully dispose of it, the worry on their faces grew heavier day by day.

Capital is being depleted while income is dwindling, and the business is on the verge of collapse.

In contrast, Yang’s Noodle Shop was bustling with activity. Yang Laowu stood behind the counter, looking at the diners with an undisguised smugness and sneer on his face.

He would occasionally glance deliberately in the direction of the Lin family’s stall, his eyes filled with provocation and confidence.