Lan Yan and Jun Yelan walked back, she kept glancing at Jun Yelan, but Jun Yelan always smiled at her.
If her hand weren't still being held tightly, she would have thought Jun Yelan was truly fine. "Jun Yelan, I'll listen to whatever you want to say."
Jun Yelan still smiled and shook his head, "I'm just a little hungry."
"Then after we get back, I'll make you your favorite shredded chicken noodles," Lan Yan smiled. Since Jun Yelan wouldn't say, she wouldn't ask.
Jun Yelan suddenly hugged Lan Yan, burying his head in her shoulder, suppressing the unwillingness in his eyes.
Lan Yan was startled, then gently patted Jun Yelan's back, letting him know she was there.
After a long while, Jun Yelan let go of her and held her hand, "Yan'er, I'll help you start the fire."
"Okay." Lan Yan was also happy to see Jun Yelan looking much better.
Next, they both made shredded chicken noodles, ate, and slept well.
The next morning, it was the day of the results. Lan Yan wanted to go with Jun Yelan to see, but it was also the day for delivering goods to the restaurant.
Jun Yelan smiled faintly, "It's fine, I'll be back soon." He lowered his head, gently touched Lan Yan's forehead with his lips, and waved goodbye.
Lan Yan couldn't help but smile at the corners of her mouth. She walked towards the pastry shop and called for an employee to deliver to the restaurant. She accompanied him as well, needing to discuss some matters with Pei Yuan.
Pei Yuan was already waiting there. Seeing Lan Yan, he said with surprise, "Miss Lan, thanks to your ideas, my restaurant is now the best-selling in the county."
"Congratulations, Young Master Pei." Lan Yan was naturally happy, as her share would also increase. "Young Master Pei, I heard you also have some cloth shops and jewelry stores under your name. Are you interested in setting up a tea lounge?"
"This time I'm not only providing pastries, but also milk tea."
Pei Yuan smiled, "It seems Miss Lan has a new idea. I'm eager to hear about it."
Seeing his interest, Lan Yan continued, "Many women come to these shops. When they're tired and need a break, they can go to the tea lounge. After resting enough, they'll naturally browse leisurely."
"Miss Lan, you're using my premises to open a branch," Pei Yuan realized. Lan Yan's move saved shop expenses and could also promote her pastries and milk tea.
Of course, it was also beneficial to him. The new recipes alone were enough to make him profitable.
Lan Yan looked at Pei Yuan's smiling face and knew that this matter was settled. "Young Master Pei, don't you want to be the first businessman in An County? Perhaps you can go even further, even to the entire prefecture."
Pei Yuan was stunned. He had never thought of it before, but now with Lan Yan as his partner, everything seemed possible. "Miss Lan, are you planning all this for me because you want me to do something for you?"
"It's actually very simple. I want Young Master Pei to take over all of the Ming family's business." Lan Yan's expression turned serious. The Ming family had already set their sights on her, and they needed to act quickly.
Pei Yuan always felt that Lan Yan's hatred for the Ming family was much deeper than his own. "If you don't mind my saying, Miss Lan, why are you like this?"
"The Ming family hurt the person most important to me, and they will pay the price." After speaking, Lan Yan signed a new contract with Pei Yuan and left.
However, she was blocked at the entrance of the restaurant by members of the Ming family.
Old Master Ming glared at Lan Yan furiously. This woman refused to cooperate with him and instead gave all the benefits to Pei Yuan! He had stayed up all night, angered by this matter.
Ming You, hearing that Old Master Ming was going to cause trouble for Lan Yan, followed him with a limp. "Stinky Lan Yan, it's because of you that I'm in such a miserable state. You've offended our Ming family, and this matter is not over."
Lan Yan picked her ears, finding the two in front of her annoying. "Are you done talking? Get out of the way!"
Ming You shrunk his neck but stood his ground, trying to put on a show. "I won't. I heard Jun Yelan also participated in this exam. I think he'll definitely fail."
As he finished speaking, he received a punch to the eye, which swelled up red. "You!"
Lan Yan retracted her fist and blew on it. "You have no right to say anything about him!"
Ming You immediately hid behind Old Master Ming and shouted, "Father, quickly get revenge for me." With his father there, he wanted to see how this Lan Yan could act so smug!
"Don't worry, leave it to Dad." Old Master Ming had underestimated Lan Yan yesterday and was thus outsmarted by her. This time, he had deliberately brought more people, intending to seize Lan Yan's pastry shop.
Lan Yan looked at the servants in front of her and sneered, "With just these people, I'm not afraid." She shrugged and called out to the back, "Young Master Pei, can I borrow a few people?"
Young Master Pei, who was upstairs, opened the window and smiled, "Of course."
As he spoke, the restaurant's employees poured out, surrounding Lan Yan, scaring the servants into retreating.
Lan Yan curled her lips and said, "It seems your servants are no good. And you two, father and son, are even worse."
She chuckled, remembering something else. "By the way, Old Master Ming, how are your shops doing? I heard you have no customers. Does your Ming family still have anything to eat?"
She knew the Ming family was troublesome, so she had made preparations long ago. A Ming family that had lost its wealth could no longer be called the Ming family!
Old Master Ming's expression changed. How did Lan Yan know about this? It must have been Pei Yuan who told her. That's why he was so eager to get Lan Yan's pastries, but he couldn't seize them.
"To tell you the truth, I'm also acquainted with the magistrate. If you're smart, cooperate with me."
However, at this moment, the magistrate was accompanying Jun Yelan. Upon hearing this, he angrily said, "Old Master Ming, who are you acquainted with!"
Old Master Ming was puzzled and saw the magistrate looking at Jun Yelan obsequiously. "Magistrate, what are you doing?"
"This is the xiucai who just passed the exam in our county. He will soon participate in the juren examination." The magistrate said with a proud smile. This county was about to produce a top scholar.
As soon as this was said, everyone around was shocked, especially Ming You.
Lan Yan was also a little surprised. Didn't Jun Yelan participate in the Tongsheng examination!
Jun Yelan walked to Lan Yan's side and, seeing her confusion, smiled and said, "I first took the Tongsheng exam, and then I took the xiucai exam. I thought I'd tell you together."
He had said that he wanted to reach a further position and walk side by side with Lan Yan.
Lan Yan reacted and gave him a thumbs up. "Jun Yelan, you're still the best. My judgment is also good."
"Yes, without you, I wouldn't be this xiucai." Jun Yelan took Lan Yan's hand and whispered in her ear, "Now the magistrate needs my scholarly achievements, and the Ming family can't flaunt their power here anymore."
Lan Yan also said, "I have reached an agreement with Young Master Pei. The Ming family will soon go bankrupt."
The two looked at each other and smiled, understanding each other's thoughts.
Jun Yelan prepared to leave with Lan Yan.
However, Old Master Ming stared at Jun Yelan's face and finally remembered. He shouted, "You are Zhi'er's son, which means you are my son! Oh my god, my son is already a xiucai."
Jun Yelan's eyes turned cold.