"Sister-in-law, you're awake. I just made some wontons. The shrimp meat was delivered early this morning; it's very fresh. How much do you want? I'll throw it in."

Meng Zhao remained calm, showing no sign of anything amiss. "Weren't you going to the provincial capital today? Why did you get up so early and make such a complicated breakfast?"

"Didn't my sister-in-law say she wanted to eat this? And there's still some dough left over from yesterday's kneading." He regretted it as soon as he said it. He had scared his sister-in-law yesterday, which was why she was angry. Why did he have to say this?

Meng Zhao's expression remained unchanged. "Then I'll throw it away. You should check your things again to make sure nothing is missing or broken. Things bought outside are never as convenient as things you use at home."

Shen Qinghe nodded, while Meng Zhao went to wash up first. While the water was boiling, she fried two more egg pancakes. After the wontons were cooked, she cut the egg pancakes into strips and put them on top.

Shen Qinghe made pork and shrimp wontons with thin wrappers and generous fillings. They were soft and bouncy when you bit into them. Meng Zhao also added chopped green onions and pickled mustard greens to the soup base, making the soup base very delicious.

At the dinner table, Madam Gu said with concern, "Qinghe, why don't I go to the provincial capital with you? I'm really worried about you going alone."

The other candidates had all passed the county, prefectural, and provincial examinations to become scholars and had already been to the provincial capital. However, Shen Qing had only achieved the top score in the county examination and had not participated in the first two examinations. This was his first time going to the provincial capital.

"No need, Mother. This time, not only Brother Zhou is coming, but also two of my classmates from the county school. Brother Zhou has already taken the provincial examination once, and my two classmates have also been to the provincial capital for the prefectural examination. With them looking after us, nothing will happen."

Meng Zhao finished her wontons, put down her chopsticks, and asked, "So, where are you planning to stay when you get there?"

"It's not confirmed yet. Brother Zhou said we can go to the inn first to see if there are any vacancies."

"The autumn examination is a big event. I estimate that many people who live far away have already gone there. By the time you arrive, the inn will probably be full. Besides, the inn is always noisy with people coming and going, which is not conducive to studying in peace."

Meng Zhao paused for a moment, then continued, "I suggest that once you arrive, you find a place to rent a courtyard. Even if it costs more money, it's worth it, since the provincial examination is important."

After listening, Shen Qinghe nodded: "Sister-in-law is right. I will discuss it with Brother Zhou and the others to see if we can rent a courtyard."

Seeing this, Madam Gu smiled and said to Meng Zhao, "Zhao Zhao is so thoughtful. Qing He, you must listen to your sister-in-law. If you need money, just tell your mother. Don't delay important matters to save money."

Before everyone had finished their breakfast, someone hurriedly arrived at the yamen, carrying a wooden box, saying it was a gift from the Prefect.

Upon seeing that there was only a wooden box, Meng Zhao knew that his hopes were likely to be dashed. Sure enough, when he opened it, he found only a letter of commendation and five gold ingots.

The letter contained nothing but official platitudes, praising her intelligence and how she worked for the benefit of the people. Meng Zhao glanced at it briefly and lost interest.

When Madam Gu saw the five gold ingots, her eyes lit up and she couldn't help but exclaim, "My God, they're gold!"

However, when she turned to look at Meng Zhao, she found that her expression was not good. "Zhao Zhao, aren't you happy with so much gold?"

Meng Zhao shook his head. "I wouldn't say I'm unhappy. Having money is certainly good, but this... isn't what I want right now."

Nowadays, without the support of one's family background, there are very few ways for an ordinary person to get ahead. Men still have the imperial examination as a path to success, but what about women? Even if they become extremely successful in business and amass great wealth like Xiao Youzhi, they cannot escape being exploited and extorted by officials.

Although she doesn't have as much money as those wealthy businessmen, it's enough for her needs, but she still doesn't feel very secure.

To teach the villagers how to compost, Meng Zhao often neglected her shop and did everything herself. Normally a clean person, she spent her days with filth and would take a long bath every time she came back from the village. Shen Qinghe saw all of this.

If she were truly only after money, she might as well create more new items for the Treasure Pavilion; she could earn even more money that way.

Seeing Meng Zhao's gloomy expression, Shen Qinghe felt sorry for her and said, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I will definitely come out on top in this provincial examination. I will give you whatever you want in the future."

These words sounded very nice, but Meng Zhao wasn't moved at all. What she wanted was never something given to her by others.

Although the imperial examination was difficult, it was a relatively fair path to upward mobility. She envied Shen Qinghe, envying that he was able to obtain social status honorably through the imperial examination.

But he didn't know where his own path lay yet. However, Shen Qing was about to set off for the provincial capital to participate in the provincial examination, and Meng Zhao didn't want to say too much to upset him at this time.

Suppressing his disappointment, he forced a smile and said, "Hey, what's the big deal? Five hundred taels of silver is quite a lot. I love silver the most."

Shen Qinghe could see through Meng Zhao's forced smile and secretly resolved that he must take this provincial examination more seriously.

Meng Zhao put away the gold that was delivered to her. Although she felt disappointed, she gradually felt relieved and realized that she had been too optimistic. In the real ancient history she had come across, Song Yingxing wrote "Tiangong Kaiwu" (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature), which recorded many agricultural tips and various livelihood skills in detail. It was a very practical book, but he did not receive any title or reward.

Huang Daopo improved textile tools, greatly increasing the efficiency and quality of cotton textiles. She then passed on these techniques to the people without reservation, creating the prosperity of the national cotton textile center, which lasted for hundreds of years and benefited countless people. However, she did not receive any official honors during her lifetime. It was only after her death that she was revered by later generations as the "Cotton Goddess" and the "Ancestor of the Cloth Industry." In comparison, she had nothing to complain about.

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