When Lu heard that Lu Qiqi was going to do business again, she was also eager to try it, since the charcoal cake business could only continue until the end of the year.

After the New Year, there will be no charcoal available, and the weather will be warm, so no one will buy it anymore.

With a long-established business like a noodle shop as a precedent, Mr. Lu is very optimistic about this new type of popcorn and potato chips.

Lu Dahai said, "Then on Monday and Tuesday, Changlong and I will go with Qi Yatou. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we will still have to go to school. The thing that scholars should avoid most is getting involved with the airs of merchants."

Upon hearing what Lu Dahai said, Lu immediately gave up the idea of ​​setting up a stall.

She and Li Qingshan don't have any children yet. If they have a son in the future, their lives are getting better and better, and they will definitely send him to school. If he is ridiculed by his classmates because of this, it will be a loss.

Lu Qiqi had also heard that scholars had always looked down on merchants. They considered it an honor to enter officialdom and a disgrace to engage in commerce, feeling that merchants reeked of money.

Lu Qiqi thought this was utterly ridiculous. If there were no merchants, where would scholars buy writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones? What would they use to write poems and songs, let alone create works that would be passed down through the ages?

This is no different from eating the food in the pot while spitting into it.

However, Lu Qiqi did not refute Lu Dahai's words, but instead let the Zhou brothers choose for themselves, since they would have to walk their own path of education in the future.

She said, "You can think about this yourselves. Don't worry too much. Just speak your mind."

Without a moment's hesitation, Thursday said, "I'll go. More people means more strength. It's good to have two educated people in the family."

Thursday's words are tantamount to cutting off his own path to reading, leaving the opportunity to read for Friday and Saturday.

Hearing what Thursday said on Friday, he hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll go too. Xiao Liu is smarter than me, and he'll definitely do better in his studies than me."

Only Saturday remained silent. Lu Qiqi looked at Saturday and asked, "Saturday, what are your plans?"

On Saturday, looking Lu Qiqi in the eye with neither arrogance nor servility, he said, "I'll go."

"No!" Thursday and Friday exclaimed in unison.

On Thursday, looking anxious, he approached Saturday and said, "If we all go, how can we produce scholars? You should understand such a simple principle!"

On Saturday, a hint of shrewdness appeared in his eyes as he said, "Even sages sometimes travel incognito to investigate the lives of ordinary people. We've experienced all walks of life, know the prices of common goods, so what's wrong with setting up a stall to earn a living?!"

"As long as the school doesn't have a rule prohibiting the sons of merchants from attending, what do we have to fear?!"

Saturday's words left Thursday and Friday stunned. How could they not have thought of that? Their thoughts were shackled by worldly constraints.

After hearing what Zhou Liu said, Mrs. Lu felt that this child was destined for great things, and she became even more fond of Zhou Liu.

It's a pity that Mr. and Mrs. Zhou didn't have the chance to witness Saturday's future success!

Lu Qiqi praised with a smile, "Good awareness. You can practice making popcorn more today, and then make some more chili salt for tomorrow."

"Uncle, could you please make us a bamboo strainer and a bamboo shovel?"

Li Qingshan has always been very fond of his woodworking skills, and he feels itchy if he doesn't do it for a few days.

It was perfect that Lu Qiqi asked him for help.

So Li Qingshan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll make it for you tonight."

...

The next day, early in the morning.

Li Changlong and Zhou Yi each drove an oxcart to Qingshui Town.

Li Changlong's oxcart was loaded with corn, potatoes, a popcorn machine, firewood, a large stove, and a large pot.

On Monday, he was pulling a cart full of excited little radish heads.

Lu Qiqi rode her tall horse at the very back.

The large stove and pot were bought by Lu Qiqi from the village. In ancient times, it was not easy for people to use ironware, and they often had to go to the government office to get a certificate.

It's much easier to buy from the village; then you can just have the village chief take the documents and buy a pot.

The large group entered Qingshui Town, and Lu Qiqi set up her stall at the entrance of the West Market as usual.

She paid her taxes at the street corner, where a noodle shop sign had been displayed, and now it came in handy.

Lu Qiqi directed Zhou Yi and Li Changlong to set up the pot, and then said, "Thursday, Friday, Saturday, which of you is good at counting?"

On Thursday and Friday, they both answered, "Sixth grade."

On Friday, he said, "Little Six is ​​really good at math; even Third Brother can't out-calculate with him."

Lu Qiqi looked at the quiet little devil on Saturday and said, "Alright, stay on Saturday to do the math and collect the money. On Friday and Saturday, take the potatoes to the noodle shop to have them peeled and then bring them over."

He nodded in agreement on Saturday.

There were no objections on Thursday and Friday, and the two of them carried a small bag of potatoes to the noodle shop.

When Zhou Yizhi heard Lu Qiqi asking Liu Liu to collect the money, he felt that Lu Qiqi was too trusting and too trusting of Liu Liu.

So he said, "Miss Lu, Xiao Liu is only ten years old, I'm afraid he's not suitable for doing accounts."

On Monday, he phrased it euphemistically, but in reality, he wanted Lu Qiqi to find someone else to collect the money.

Lu Qiqi didn't give a direct affirmative answer, but instead asked Zhou Liu, "Do you think you can do it?"

“Okay,” Saturday replied succinctly.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi wanted to say a few more words, but Lu Qiqi interrupted her, saying, "Did you say on Friday that Saturday's math skills were better than Wednesday's?"

He paused for a moment on Monday, then nodded.

Friday was right; of all the brothers, Saturday was the quickest-witted and best at math.

After all, he only learned to talk on Saturday and could already count to one hundred.

The old folks in the village used to praise Zhou Liu, saying he had the brains to be a prime minister someday.

“That’s settled then,” Lu Qiqi said, not giving a definitive answer. “I’ll keep an eye on him, and if things really don’t work out, I’ll step in.”

There's nothing more to say on Monday; all I can do is burn firewood and put the lard in the pan.

Heat the pan, add lard, and the aroma will immediately fill the air.

Many people on the road stopped to see what was in the pot, but all they saw was a pot of oil and nothing else.

Out of curiosity, I took a second look.

A loud bang startled passersby.

White smoke billowed up, and instantly a fragrant aroma wafted over.

Li Changlong poured all the popcorn from the burlap sack into a tall winnowing basket.

Passersby were more interested in the bright white popcorn.

A man in a blue robe stepped forward and asked, "Young lady, what are you selling? I've never seen this before."

Lu Qiqi greeted her with a smile, "This is called popcorn, it's a new kind of snack."

After saying that, Lu Qiqi took a shovel, scooped out a few pieces, and gave them to the man in the blue robe, saying, "Try them and see if they suit your taste."

The man in the blue shirt didn't stand on ceremony; he took the popcorn with both hands and picked up a kernel to taste.

"It's delicious!" said the man in the blue robe. "Miss, how much is this new style of popcorn?"

“This is called popcorn,” Lu Qiqi said, showing the man in the blue robe the small shovel in her hand. “One shovelful costs one coin.”