Chapter 255 Reviewing the Scrolls

After the imperial examinations concluded, the gates of the examination hall opened, and thousands of students poured out like a tidal wave.

They looked tired, but were in high spirits, talking about nothing but the exam questions and the instant noodles the emperor had taken out in the examination hall.

"That aroma...tsk tsk, it's making my stomach rumble."

"Indeed, His Majesty ate with such relish, my mouth was practically watering."

"Consort Zhuang is truly intelligent and kind-hearted; she has come up with such a convenient and delicious dish."

"I heard it will be available in stores soon?"

"Yes, yes, I have to go buy some and try it. Don't try to take it from me!"

These students from all over the country spread the word, and the news of the instant noodles' launch quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys of Beijing, becoming the hottest topic in teahouses and alleys.

Inside the Imperial Study, Wang Degui also reported the grand occasion in the streets to Huo Lin in detail.

Huo Lin was extremely satisfied with what he heard; all his hard work had paid off.

Her reputation has already begun to take shape.

While the hype is still going strong, we need to quickly start mass production and promote it.

Huo Lin looked at the other person in the imperial study.

"Yes."

"Here." Xie Yunzhi, like a student being called on, jumped up from his chair in a start.

Huo Lin, unfazed, calmly asked, "How's your plan for the instant noodles coming along?"

Upon hearing that it was about instant noodles, Xie Yunzhi suppressed his tension and quickly reported it.

"Your Majesty, the location of the workshop has been decided, and the regulations have been drafted. As for the materials, we are negotiating long-term supply contracts with several major merchants to strive for the best cost."

"The first batch of trial samples, made according to the recipe provided by the Empress, has been produced in three batches. After being tasted by the Imperial Kitchen, the taste is stable and the storage is good."

"As for the shop location, it's in a bustling area of ​​the East Market with high foot traffic. In addition, we've contacted several reputable general stores selling goods from both the north and south to discuss consignment arrangements in order to expand sales channels..."

He spoke very quickly, but he considered every detail meticulously, which showed that he had put in a lot of effort.

Huo Lin nodded repeatedly as he listened.

This kid is really efficient, meticulous, and knows how to keep clear accounts.

Letting him handle this matter was definitely the right decision.

"Very good." Huo Lin praised, "Start the workshop as soon as possible, and do everything possible to ensure the supply of military provisions. As for the border troops, I have already issued an order that the first batch must be delivered as soon as possible."

"In addition, all instant noodles sold to the public must have uniform packaging, be labeled with the words 'Developed by Consort Zhuang', and be easily recognizable at a glance."

Xie Yunzhi nodded quickly: "Yes."

The East Market is bustling, but there are just too many people.

The thought of having to interact with so many people made Xie Yunzhi tremble.

How...how scary...

Huo Lin, completely unaware of his inner struggle, continued to instruct, "You are fully responsible for the instant noodles matter, but I have one request..."

He paused, his eyes sharpened, and his voice became resolute.

"This matter must be handled quickly and steadily. Military supplies are crucial to the stability of the border and cannot be compromised. Market sales are even more important to the convenience of the people and the abundance of the national treasury, so they must be managed carefully. I want to see it become an important source of revenue for the Great Liang!"

With money, we can train troops, build roads, and provide disaster relief...

Only then can I give her something better.

This instant noodle is his treasure trove.

Huo Lin had already begun planning to use the money he had earned to do something big.

Xie Yunzhi felt as heavy a burden on his shoulders as Mount Tai, but more than that, he felt a sense of responsibility for being trusted.

He nodded vigorously: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will do my utmost and live up to your expectations!"

A few days later, a shop quietly opened on the busiest street corner in the East Market.

On the first day the store opened, a long line formed at the door.

Well-informed merchants, curious commoners, and students who had participated in scientific expeditions all flocked to the scene upon hearing the news.

"Look, this is it."

"Consort Zhuang's instant noodles, the kind the Emperor ate in the examination hall!"

"Ten coins a pack? I'll buy some and try it."

"Give me five packs."

"I want ten packs to take home for my family to try."

Inside the shop, the manager and staff arranged by Xie Yunzhi were extremely busy.

He himself hid in the accounting room in the backyard of the shop, listening to the noise coming from the front. His palms were sweating with nervousness as he quickly moved the abacus beads, recording every income. He didn't dare to go out and look at the surging crowd.

So many people... can't breathe...

Settling accounts... settling accounts is fine...

As he calculated, he silently recited the instructions in his mind, trying to block out the noise from the front yard.

The instant noodle craze continues outside the palace, but Huo Lin has already turned his attention to another important matter.

On his large rosewood desk, piles of exam papers almost overwhelmed him.

He sat upright behind the desk, his expression focused, carefully reviewing the document.

Jiang Huan sat on a soft chair not far from him, holding a storybook in her hands, but her gaze kept drifting towards Huo Lin.

Indeed, men who are focused on their work are the most handsome.

The sheer absurdity of this exam paper is enough to nearly drown him.

Huo Lin was focused on grading the papers, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing.

Occasionally, he would encounter answers that were insightful and beautifully written.

[Hmm, this young man is quite good; his insights are unique, and he has great potential.]

This article is rich in allusions and substantial in content; the author is a pillar of society.

But more often than not, Huo Lin saw mediocre works.

What kind of nonsense is this?

The entire piece is filled with flowery language, all fluff and no substance, containing absolutely nothing of value.

[With this level of skill, they dare to participate in the imperial examination?]

He took a deep breath, resisting the urge to throw the exam paper away, and wrote down the comment: "Superficial and empty, all show and no substance."

Jiang Huan couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at his disgusted expression.

How offensive must this article be? The expression looks so pained.

Huo Lin frowned, put down the test paper, and picked up the next one.

After reading just a few lines, his face grew increasingly dark.

Is this test taker joking? Does what they wrote have absolutely nothing to do with the exam questions?

[And it's all about instant noodles. So, I ate noodles in the exam hall and he got some inspiration from it?]

He rubbed his temples, picked up his pen, and wrote: "Completely off-topic, utterly incomprehensible."

Jiang Huan wanted to laugh, so she quickly covered her face with a book, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Haha, this candidate is a real talent!

The fact that they managed to link instant noodles with exams shows how effective the Emperor's advertising campaign was.

Huo Lin glanced at her, saw how hard she was trying to suppress her laughter, shook his head helplessly, and continued reviewing the papers.

One, two, three...

Until he picked up an exceptionally clean exam paper.

Apart from the candidate's name, place of origin, and other basic information, the answer area was completely blank.