Although he was anxious, Jing Zhe still very humanely asked everyone to take a lunch break. Fatty didn't take it seriously, thinking that what was the point of a lunch break? The real fun was in the evening.

But Jing Zhe was adamant, and the weather was hot, so it wasn't long before everyone fell asleep.

Half-asleep, Jing Zhe was shaken awake by Hanhan. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he asked, "How long have I been asleep?"

"A little over fifteen minutes."

"Only a quarter of an hour?"

Jing Zhe was furious. "Then why did you call me up?"

Hanhan pointed outside and said, "Someone's here looking for the young master!"

"???"

Jing Zhe got out of bed, looking curious.

He has no acquaintances in the city, and besides, he just bought the house. Who would come looking for him here?

"Why is it you?"

When he went outside and saw who it was, he exclaimed in surprise.

"Hehe, are you surprised, Young Master Kun?"

The person sitting in the front hall was none other than that fair-skinned young man, who was now gently waving a folding fan and smiling sweetly.

"It was a fright, thank you."

Jing Zhe replied expressionlessly, then asked with great curiosity, "How did you know I was here? Were you following me?"

"No tracking."

"..."

The young man's lips were slightly open, and his fingers trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't say anything for a long time.

Did I guess it?

Are you getting angry out of embarrassment?

Ready to make a move?

Jing Zhe glanced at the young man with his delicate features and the servant boy who was accompanied by only a similarly fair-skinned young man, while he himself was accompanied by a strong and robust servant boy like Hanhan. After comparing the two, he felt relieved.

"I... I'm not!"

After the young man finished speaking, he took a deep breath and glared angrily.

"no?"

Jing Zhe didn't believe it. "If not, then why are you bothering me?"

"I only admire your poetry! If you hadn't been able to write that poem about spring waters, I wouldn't have bothered with you at all!"

The young man with pink hair became more and more angry as he spoke, and his well-developed pectoral muscles rose and fell with his movements, leaving Jing Zhe somewhat stunned.

Only after the young man, flushed with shame and indignation, turned away did he come to his senses, scratching his head somewhat awkwardly, "Really?"

"Of course it's true! What else could it be? Even if what you say is true, why would they choose someone with your appearance?"

Upon arriving in this world, Jing Zhe was most confident in his appearance, and now that it was being questioned, he naturally refused to accept it.

"My looks? Ha! You could pick a hundred people off the street and not find a single one who's better looking than me."

Seeing the young man blinking his big, pink eyes, Jing Zhe immediately added, "Of course, except for you!"

The young man with fair skin didn't seem to care. After a moment, he said seriously, "I just saw Young Master Kun going to the Drunken Dream Pavilion to sell ice? And he failed?"

"You still say you didn't follow me?"

Jing Zhe shouted angrily.

"No... I wasn't following them, it was just a coincidence that I saw them, happened to go in, and happened to overhear them..."

As he spoke, his voice grew fainter and weaker, and even the young master himself began to feel guilty.

"Heh, so what if it is?"

Jing Zhe didn't believe him, but was rather curious about why he was saying all this.

"I just feel sorry for the young master!"

"What's there to regret?"

After confirming that the other party was not gay, Jing Zhe was no longer afraid.

"Your talent is unparalleled in the world. If you were to go to the capital, you could be ennobled and appointed prime minister based solely on your poetry, with limitless potential! Why then do you remain confined to one place and take up such vulgar and lowly work as a merchant? Isn't that a pity?"

Jing Zhe didn't care about what was said in the first half.

He dreamed of going to the capital, but he couldn't make any money there. How could he go?

But he really couldn't agree with the last few sentences.

"I have three points to tell you."

Jing Zhe said seriously, "First of all, there is no distinction between high and low professions. Who said that composing a poem is superior to selling things? Besides, making a lot of money with your own skills is no easier than composing poetry! And what people enjoy most is the experience of making money by selling things. That's the fun, you understand?"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Secondly, selling things is just a temporary measure. Once I've earned enough money, I'll go to Jingzhou and let those scholars under the emperor's nose see what real poetry is!"

After waiting for him to finish speaking, the young man, still somewhat effusive, asked curiously, "Is that all?"

"Oh no, it's over."

"Isn't it three o'clock?"

"That sounds better. Don't you think it sounds strange to say two points?"

"..."

After a moment of silence, the young man with fair skin asked again, "Is Young Master A-Kun really going to Jingzhou?"

"Yes."

"When will I have earned enough money?"

Jing Zhe thought for a moment and said, "At least we have to sell all the ice!"

"I'll buy it!"

The young man with delicate features waved his hand and said casually.

"You bought it?"

Jing Zhe looked him up and down. "My ice is very expensive. Can you buy it all? Do you have the money?"

"I have no money."

"If you don't have any money, then name a few—"

"I have silver notes!"

Before he could even utter the word "Ba," Jing Zhe saw the young man with fair skin have his servant bring out a stack of silver notes and wave them in front of him.

Jing Zhe was stunned.

In this era, the smallest denomination of a silver note was one hundred taels, and the stack in his hand looked to be at least twenty or thirty notes, which meant he had taken out over a thousand taels of silver notes at once!

This guy is... incredibly rich!

Jing Zhe clicked his tongue slightly, then leaned back in his chair, patted his thigh, and said nonchalantly, "Young Master, come on up, I don't want to work hard anymore!"

Why bother trying? Wouldn't it be better to just buy the ice and head straight to Jingzhou?

The young man hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Where to?"

"Get on the chair and sit down!"

The young man, understanding the implication, did not refuse and sat down.

Seeing that the negotiation was going well, the servant reached out to hand the silver note to Jing Zhe.

"Wait!"

But just as half of the silver note was handed over, the young man with fair skin spoke up to stop him.

"What's wrong, young master?"

Jing Zhe's eyes were fixed on the silver note, and he didn't want to look away for even a moment.

"Um... I've changed my mind again."

The young man with fair skin smiled and said, "With your talent, you can make ice in the summer, and you can certainly make a lot of money selling it. If I were to interfere, it would stifle your experience and enjoyment, which is not what I want. So, I won't go! However, I will keep an eye on you and hope you can make a fortune! Farewell!"

After saying that, he waved his hand behind him and left with his servant.

Watching his retreating figure, Jing Zhe felt like crying but had no tears left.

What bullshit experience, what bullshit fun, it's all just me making things up!

All I want is money!

————

(It seems there were some cuts here; I only found out after being reminded. The system automatically cut it out, is that alright?)