The Dashing Tanhua (continued)

She regretted not renting a stall earlier today, setting up a big pot, and popping popcorn on the spot.

But then I thought again, that's a high-end product, and it can't be made so down-to-earth right now, or it would undermine the pricing.

"Yeah. There are a lot of people, so go slowly."

"Good."

As soon as Gu Anqi left, Er Ya started nagging, "What's wrong with Master today?"

"What? What happened?"

"What's a grown man like him doing at a temple fair?"

"Aren't there any men on this street?" Gu Wanning asked.

But the old man doesn't like crowds.

How do you know my older brother doesn't like crowds?

Maybe he's just secretly passionate.

There's a queue to buy candied hawthorns; after all, it's Chinese New Year, and everyone's willing to spend money.

Gu Wanning, of course, wasn't short of a few coins. When it was her turn in line, she said, "Give me three large ones, how much?"

She bent down to take out money from her purse.

"Twenty-five coins for one, seventy-five coins in total," the candied hawthorn vendor said with a beaming smile.

"What?" Gu Wanning thought she had misheard.

After all, three coins can buy a meat bun, and a candied hawthorn skewer is equivalent to eight meat buns?

That doesn't make sense!

"Young lady, please don't think it's expensive. Look at this candy, it's not just a thin layer, it's quite thick!" The vendor picked up a string of candied hawthorns to show Gu Wanning, indicating that he was definitely not overcharging. "A pound of candy would have cost two hundred coins before the New Year."

That's equivalent to 200 yuan for one pound of sugar?

Why don't you just rob someone?!

Although Gu Wanning knew that sugar was expensive in ancient times, and her predecessor had never tasted sugar before returning to the Gu family, she did not know that sugar was so ridiculously expensive.

"Auntie, I don't want to eat." Thinking Gu Wanning didn't have money, Zhi Nu sensibly said, "You can just buy one and share it with Er Ya."

Gu Wanning was both amused and exasperated. "Four sticks, please."

It's exactly one string of coins.

Give two sticks to the sensible Zhi Nu!

"Okay!"

Gu Wanning took a bite of the candied hawthorn; it was sweet and sour, and indeed delicious.

Er Ya took a bite but found it too sour, so she only ate one hawthorn, gave the rest to Zhi Nu, and then took an uneaten hawthorn from Zhi Nu's hand, muttering that she would give it to her master to try later.

Zhi Nu said, "Er Ya, you eat it. I'll just have one skewer. I need to save room for the others."

"It's okay, I don't like it, you eat it. If you really don't like it, save it for your mother."

This stuff is ridiculously expensive; you can just try it, who's going to eat it as a meal?

Gu Wanning asked Er Ya, "Is sugar always this expensive?"

"It's expensive," Er Ya said. "Brown sugar is cheaper, but it's still 100 coins a pound. White sugar is 200 coins, which is the market price."

Gu Wanning took a bite of the candied hawthorn, lost in thought.

It feels like another chance to make money is beckoning to her!

Just as she was pondering this, she heard Gu Anqi call her name.

"Hey, big brother. Huh?"

Gu Wanning turned around and saw a man with Gu Anqi. He was slightly shorter than Gu Anqi, but had a handsome face, a very refined appearance, and eyes that seemed to hold stars. He also exuded righteousness.

Top-notch!

Gu Wanning wanted to take a few more glances, but alas, she had a strong desire but lacked the courage. Embarrassed, she lowered her head, but noticed the man's slender hands, with distinct knuckles and a beautiful wrist.

Hmm, isn't this person's clothing a bit too short?

Don't wear new clothes for Chinese New Year!

"Tingxiu, this is my younger sister. Gu Wanning, this is my colleague Fang Tingxiu, the Tanhua chosen by the Emperor last year, and now we work together in the Hanlin Academy."

Oh my!

So he's the Tanhua; no wonder he looked familiar.

Previously, the original owner had seen the three top-ranking men riding across the street, and Fang Tingxiu, because of her good looks, had taken a second look at her.

Unexpectedly, he was Gu Anqi's colleague.

What a small world!

Oh no, their family is truly top-tier.

"Greetings, Lord Fang," Gu Wanning said with a smile.

Er Ya: "Grandpa, grandpa, would you like some candied hawthorns? And Master Fang, come, have a taste, have a taste--"

Gu Anqi and Fang Tingxiu both politely declined her invitation.

"Your popcorn would make a great product if you sold it today," Gu Anqi said to Gu Wanning.

Gu Wanning thought to herself, "No wonder they're siblings, they thought of the same thing."

Fang Tingxiu looked at Gu Wanning with a more serious expression.

It turns out that this girl was the one who discovered the Corn.

"I just saw you spacing out, what idea are you thinking of now?" Gu Anqi asked with a smile.

"I wasn't thinking about anything, I just felt that sugar was a bit too expensive. Sugarcane isn't expensive, but sugar is so pricey."

"Making sugar is not easy," Fang Tingxiu said.

"Is Lord Fang from the South?"

Gu Anqi cleared his throat.

Gu Wanning: What, you're not even allowed to ask that?

Were people in ancient times so particular about privacy?

"I'm half Southerner," Fang Tingxiu said, seemingly unconcerned. "I often see people making sugar, so I know a little about it."

"Then I'll have to ask Lord Fang for some advice..."

It's like having a pillow delivered just when you're feeling sleepy.

"Miss, Miss," Er Ya tugged at Gu Wanning's sleeve, "Four, the person you invited has arrived. Hmm, those who weren't invited have also arrived."

Gu Wanning followed her gaze and saw the four concubines huddled up like quails, with Xu Weibei, this formidable figure, standing prominently in front of them.

What is he doing here?

Just as Gu Wanning was about to bow and greet him, she heard Gu Anqi say in a low voice, "Don't move. Tingxiu, don't go over there either, he has a bad temper."

Then he stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Marquis."

Fang Tingxiu hesitated for a moment and did not follow.

He wasn't familiar with the Marquis of Yingchuan, but Gu Anqi had taken good care of him, so he should listen to Gu Anqi.

Xu Weibei arrived excitedly, but he was displeased to see Gu Wanning talking to a man.

He became even more displeased after he realized it was Tanhua, the third-ranked scholar in the Fang Tingxiu.