Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei quickly explained with a smile:

"I can't sell these two recipes to you; I can only sell them to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant across the street. I still hope to have a long-term partnership with Manager Xu in the future, so I'll bring a new recipe next time I come."

When Manager Xu heard from Jiang Yuwei that there would be new recipes next time, he smiled again. Although Lianxianglou had been revitalized, only the Double Peppered Crucian Carp was popular. Most people came to the restaurant to eat because of this dish.

Nowadays, there aren't as many customers as in the first few days. When Manager Xu saw Jiang Yuwei this time, he was thinking of buying a few more recipes from her. He didn't know how to bring it up, but now that Jiang Yuwei had taken the initiative to bring it up, he felt much more at ease.

"Madam Jiang, you must give me a good recipe next time so that our Lianxiang Restaurant can become popular again, and then our restaurant's reputation in Ping'an Town will be established."

Jiang Yuwei smiled and nodded, saying:

"I naturally give Manager Xu the best prescriptions. As for Manager Lin across the street, I don't like him, so his business is bound to suffer."

Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Manager Xu seemed to understand why Manager Lin had stared at Jiang Yuwei with such contemptuous eyes today. Now, he was extremely grateful that he had been very respectful to Jiang Yuwei on the day she came. If she had sold the recipe to another restaurant, Lianxiang Restaurant would no longer exist today.

Thinking this, Manager Xu hurriedly handed the five taels of silver in his hand to Jiang Yuwei:

"Madam Jiang, this is the money for the chili sauce. Please keep it safe. I'll be waiting for your next visit so you can bring me the new recipe."

Jiang Yuwei took the silver, looked at it, smiled, put it into her money pouch, and said to Manager Xu:

"Don't worry, wait for my good news."

After saying that, Jiang Yuwei left Lianxianglou and went to the vegetable market at the end of the street to buy some things. She then stored everything in her space and went to Huichuntang on North Street to buy Ning Huaizhi a seven-day medicinal bath pack. Coincidentally, there was a Jingli Academy on North Street run by an old scholar. Ning Qiu said that her younger brother Ning Chen was studying at this academy.

Once Jiang Yuwei found the academy, she explained her purpose to the gatekeeper, and the servant led her into the academy to find Scholar Li.

"Madam, please sit here for a moment. Our teacher is currently giving a lesson to his students and will come out to meet you shortly."

Jiang Yuwei smiled and nodded at the servant, then sat down.

As Jiang Yuwei walked along, she noticed that although the academy was not large, its architectural style was quite unique. She also noticed that there weren't many students in the academy. Most of the people in Ping'an Town were ordinary people, and few families could afford to send their children to school. Even if they could, they would only send their children to study for a few years until they could learn to read. Very few families could support their children to study until they could take the imperial examinations.

Jiang Yuwei was gazing blankly at the scenery in the courtyard when she heard someone call her from behind:

"Madam, what brings you here today?"

Jiang Yuwei quickly stood up and turned around, only to see an elderly man with white hair and a long beard standing behind her. She quickly stood up respectfully and bowed, saying:

"Are you Master Li? I've come today to see if my child is eligible to study at the academy."

Master Li smiled and stroked his beard:

"Haha, studying is a good thing, but the cost of studying is a bit high, and not an ordinary family can afford it."

As he spoke, he walked to the table and gestured for Jiang Yuwei to sit down. He then picked up the teapot and poured Jiang Yuwei a cup of tea.

Jiang Yuwei knew that the teacher didn't mean to look down on her; he just liked to be upfront about things, like her. So she took the teacup and smiled.

"What you say is true. Since we want to send our children to school, we must prepare enough money. But I wonder how much the tuition will cost?"

Master Li nodded approvingly and said:

"Ten taels of silver a year. Students live and eat at the academy. They have three days off every month, one month of land leave and one month of clothing leave a year. Except for the land leave and clothing leave, which do not require tuition payment, the remaining tuition must be paid in full at once."

Jiang Yuwei felt a pang of heartache at the thought of ten taels of silver a year, but remembering that education was the best way out for her child, she gritted her teeth and said:

“Alright, Master, I will pay a year’s tuition first, and I will send my child to the academy tomorrow.”

Master Li smiled and instructed his servant to take Jiang Yuwei downstairs to pay the money.

The servant led Jiang Yuwei to the accounting office. After registering the transaction, he said to Jiang Yuwei:

"Right now, students need to bring their own bedding and quilts, as well as a set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. This book list should also be purchased. There are several bookstores outside the academy where you can buy books."

Jiang Yuwei took the book list and smiled:

"Okay, thank you."

Jiang Yuwei thought that after she separated from her husband's family, she only had two sets of bedding. If she brought another set for Ning Zhao, it would definitely not be enough for the family. She thought it would be better to wait until tomorrow when she came to send him off to buy a new set to take to the academy. Anyway, her own house had been built and there were more rooms, so she would need to buy a few sets of bedding. Tomorrow, she would ask Uncle Ning Wu's oxcart to come to town to buy them.

As Jiang Yuwei left the academy, she saw that the sun was about to set. She was only thinking that she couldn't be late for getting home, otherwise the three people at home would be getting anxious. Jiang Yuwei suddenly thought of Ning Huaizhi's worried expression, and a sweet smile appeared on her lips.

Thinking about the books, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones Ning Zhao needed, Jiang Yuwei decided to buy them all and send them to the academy when she came to deliver them to Ning Zhao the next day. So Jiang Yuwei put away the book list given to her by the servant and quickened her pace, heading towards Ningjia Village with her head down.

As Jiang Yuwei walked, she saw the sun gradually setting. The village road was deserted. Although it wasn't completely dark yet, Jiang Yuwei felt inexplicably uneasy and kept muttering to herself that she shouldn't come back to the village so late next time.

Before it got completely dark, he found a sturdy stick by the roadside to use as a walking stick, and also to use for self-defense if necessary.

As Jiang Yuwei's mind wandered, she quickened her pace, hoping that the sun would set slowly so she could reach the village before dark.

Jiang Yuwei jogged all the way and finally arrived at the village entrance just as the sun was setting. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Now that it was completely dark all around, Jiang Yuwei only thought that she wouldn't be afraid once she got to the village, so she started walking slowly.

Just as she reached the grove of trees at the west end of the village, a dark figure suddenly darted out of the woods and covered Jiang Yuwei's mouth and nose. Jiang Yuwei tried to struggle, but the man was too strong, and she had no chance to fight back.

Jiang Yuwei was startled. It was a man. Was her innocence going to be ruined tonight? Jiang Yuwei was filled with a thousand thoughts.

To save on candles, the villagers go to sleep as soon as it gets dark. Right now, in this deserted grove, the only sound is the call of the cuckoo. At this moment, Jiang Yuwei's heart sank.