Transmigrated as a Peasant Baby Who is Pampered by All-Chapter 434 - 267: The Small Restaurant (Part 2)

Even though only those who have passed the county examination are their main escort targets, after all, they are all scholars. What if others pass as well?

So, although the talk is about escorting those twenty or so candidates, it’s just because the daily basic expenses for these twenty or so people are covered by the government office, while the rest have to handle their own food and accommodation.

However, safety is still a major concern for the office. As long as they travel with the escorting government officials, as long as the officials wear their uniforms, everyone can be safe.

Setting off in early July, the journey was extremely hot, with occasional heavy rain, sometimes at midnight, sometimes while on the road, sometimes during cooking.

This July journey is indeed more grueling than the harsh winter. At least the winter has less rain and isn’t this hot. Over time, even Xiao Mi and Wei Ziang wilted, let alone others.

The pace gradually slowed down, not only for people and the frail scholars but even for the strong government officials and the tall, robust horses, who were not as spirited as they were at the start.

According to Team Leader Chen, this year is considered good.

On the road in previous years, if encountered in summer, except for those well-prepared wealthy children, nine out of ten other people would suffer from heatstroke. They hadn’t even reached Fuzhou City yet and would have already suffered a lot.

This year, because of the fragrant dragon herb, Jiang Hu generously distributed some to everyone every day, vastly improving the situation.

During the journey, when Xiao Mi and Wei Ziang were hunting, they discovered several clumps of wild Agastache and mint. They used clay to make an earthen pot, dried them, and transplanted two plants.

Initially, everyone thought, in this scorching heat and constant traveling under the sun, the transplanted mint and Agastache wouldn’t survive.

Unexpectedly, the two plants not only survived but also thrived beyond expectation.

Starting from July 1st, by the time they arrived in Fuzhou, it was already the 26th.

No wonder they had to set out early; a journey originally estimated to take twenty days took six days longer.

Now, there were only fourteen days left until the provincial examination.

These fourteen days were both a time for scholars to rest and their last opportunity to consolidate their studies.

The person sent by the Liu family estimated the timing and had been waiting at the city gate for days, then directly took Jiang’s party to the small courtyard they rented in advance.

Team Leader Chen took the other scholars to the place specifically arranged for scholars in Fuzhou, which, although not great, spared them the trouble of finding a place themselves.

Moreover, other scholars who did not receive a recommendation could also stay at a low cost.

The person sent by the Liu family was actually an acquaintance, Manager Wang Fu, who previously collected goods going and coming from Lai Fu’an Village.

It’s said that Manager Wang Fu was actually brought in by Madam Liu’s family. Madam Liu’s maiden name is Wang. Her family, being merchants for generations, brought several shops as dowry when she got married.

Wang Fu was a family servant child of the Wang family.

Family servant child means his parents were servants under a life contract with the main family, and the children born to them were also servants by registration, essentially family servant children.

Growing up in the Wang family and with his parents performing well, Wang Fu learned business skills and now became a manager in his own right.

If in the future there’s an opportunity to get a release from the life contract, he could return to good standing with his descendants.

The main family holds the power of life and death over servants with life contracts, so they are very loyal, fulfilling tasks assigned by the main family diligently and meticulously."

For the past half a year, Wang Fu had been in Fuzhou. The Madam wanted to expand the business into Fuzhou. Not trusting others, she let him come to explore the path.

After spending half a year, and achieving some minor accomplishments, he learned that the young master, oh no, now the second young master and the Jiang family were all coming to Fuzhou, so he calculated the timing to wait at the city gate.

"With the provincial exam approaching, all the scholars from the nearby county towns have arrived, hundreds of them, and there are almost no vacant courtyards left in Fuzhou City."

Everyone was nearly sick of riding carriages, and now that they had finally arrived, they all climbed down to walk, so Wang Fu had someone take the carriages away and led the rest to walk back.

"Previously, the Madam wrote a letter, and we happened to have a courtyard behind our shop, although it’s not big, it should be sufficient for staying, and it’s conveniently near the market for easy shopping."

"The most important thing is convenience. Living in your own place, there are not so many taboos."

Wang Fu was tall and thin. Although a businessman, he didn’t seem cunning or crafty, his demeanor gentle, giving an impression of calmness and poise in all situations.

It’s no wonder Madam Liu let him take the lead; such a person naturally inspires trust in others.

As they walked, Wang Fu introduced various aspects of the street, which restaurants had good business, which shops secretly backed by big shots, or which family’s cosmetics were excellent, whose gold and silver jewelry was popular, etc.

It was evident that although he had not been here long, he was serious about his work, and at least had a preliminary understanding of the apparent commercial chain.

Soon, Wang Fu led everyone to a slightly remote street.

"For us newcomers, it’s not good to stand out too much, so we temporarily only opened a small restaurant, priced cheaply, specifically catering to workers in the vicinity."

Wang Fu pointed to a city gate in the distance, with an endless flow of carriages and goods.

"Goods usually enter Fuzhou through this side, requiring some workers for carrying. Opening a small eatery here wouldn’t draw much attention."

Being outsiders, if they made a grand entrance, they would be suppressed by other shops in no time.

Finding a place to settle first, then slowly seeking opportunities to expand their business, making steady progress, is the plan the Madam gave.

As he spoke, they arrived at the small restaurant Wang Fu mentioned, and Xiao Mi opened his mouth wide in surprise.

"Such a big small restaurant!"

A two-story building, at least one hundred square meters, no less!