Li Shanren was quite surprised. He stroked his beard and asked, "Jiang Shi, just say what you want to say."

"Do you have any cotton here?" Jiang Ling asked.

"How much cotton do you want?" Li Shan muttered, frowning.

"I want to exchange all the money from this batch of peppermint balm for cotton," Jiang Ling said.

Jiang Ling's words startled Li Shanren. He frowned and stared at her seriously, asking, "Jiang, what... what do you need so much cotton for?"

Jiang Ling pointed to the sky and said, "Mr. Li, you must know about the locust plague yesterday. This batch of cotton is for pest control."

"Oh? Cotton for insect control? This is the first time I've heard of that. Since you've mentioned it, you must have your reasons. In that case, I'll give you the cotton in full, and I'll also pay you the coins for the peppermint ointment. If you can really control the locusts, I'll consider this a good deed," said Li Shanren.

Jiang Ling knew Li Shanren's intention. In ancient times, the social hierarchy was "scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants," with merchants at the very bottom. Although Li Shanren was wealthy, he was not respected by most people. Most merchant families would choose to send their children to school or do good deeds to improve their reputation and status.

Jiang Ling nodded in agreement. After asking Jiang Ling how long it would take, Li Shanren said, "Jiang, don't worry, I'll have Afu deliver it to you in a bit. It's not safe for a woman like you to carry these copper coins alone. If you trust me, I'll have Afu take them with you."

Jiang Ling thanked him and left with her three children. Just as they stepped out of Li Shanren's gate, Jiang Suihe asked softly, "Mother, what do you need so much cotton for?"

Jiang Ling smiled mysteriously and didn't tell anyone about the locust extermination. The mother and daughter, along with their group of four, continued their journey towards Pingxi County in an oxcart. Just as they arrived at the government office, a richly dressed man was pacing around. Upon seeing Jiang Ling, he got off the oxcart and immediately rushed over.

"Are you from the Jiang family?" The other person was well-dressed but spoke very politely.

Jiang Ling shielded the three children behind her and asked warily, "Who are you?"

The man seemed to have seen it all. He quickly waved his hand and explained, "Sister-in-law, please don't misunderstand. I'm the manager of Yuchu Restaurant in Pingxi County. Your mint water is famous throughout Pingxi County! I was wondering if you could sell me your recipe?"

Jiang Ling looked up at the yamen gate not far from her, then sized up the man a few more times. He didn't seem like a bad person. Even if he were, he probably wouldn't be so bold as to take advantage of her in front of the yamen. Thinking of this, Jiang Ling still protected the three children behind her and said, "Young man, the recipe for dry food and drink that you know is the most important!"

The man probably expected Jiang Ling to say that, so he quickly held up ten fingers and said to Jiang Ling, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll give you ten taels of silver. That's enough for your family of four to live on for two or three years."

Ten taels of silver sounded tempting at first glance, but Jiang Ling didn't think so. She looked up at the blazing sun and started to calculate. The peppermint water could be sold for at least another month. The daily income from peppermint water and peppermint paste was at least one tael of silver. Even with losses and other miscellaneous expenses, she could still make a net profit of twenty-five or twenty-six taels a month.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ling shook her head and said to the man, "Thank you for your kindness, but this recipe is a family heirloom, and I don't plan to sell it."

As she spoke, Jiang Ling led the child to the entrance of the yamen and handed her bamboo tube to the tall, thin yamen runner.

Seeing Jiang Ling's resolute attitude, the man couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Just as he was about to go back, a new problem arose on Jiang Ling's side.

A man dressed in a black robe ran up to Jiang Ling, panting. He looked at Jiang Ling with some excitement and asked, "Excuse me, are you from the Jiang family?"

Jiang Ling was somewhat surprised. What was going on today? Why were people coming to see her one after another? The constable beside her glared warily at the panting man in front of him.

The man quickly waved his hand and explained, "Brother Cha, please don't misunderstand. I am the head chef of Hua Cui Lou. We heard that you, sister-in-law, have come to Pingxi County, and our manager would like to see you."

Jiang Ling frowned upon hearing this. She looked at the unfamiliar man in front of her and took a step back, saying, "I don't know your manager!"

The other party quickly explained, "Your mint water is unforgettable, and our shopkeeper hopes to cooperate with you."

Jiang Ling's brows furrowed even deeper. She glanced at the manager of the Imperial Kitchen Restaurant next to her and saw that the man's face was already showing displeasure. It was not hard to see that the Imperial Kitchen Restaurant and Hua Cui Restaurant were probably competitors.

"I don't sell my recipe, sir. I'm really sorry you've made a wasted trip." Jiang Ling shook her head and refused.

Jiang Ling's actions clearly relieved the manager of Yu Chu Lou, who had been watching closely. However, the words spoken by the head chef of Hua Cui Lou immediately made the manager's heart jump into his throat again.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. Our shopkeeper doesn't need the recipe. He just wants you to supply him with the goods. Please come with me right away!" The man in front of him gestured for him to come.

Jiang Ling glanced at the children behind her and said to Jiang Suihe, "Suihe, take your younger siblings to Uncle Lu's oxcart and sit down. I'll be right back!"

"Sister-in-law, you... how about we talk some more?" The manager of Yuchulou was completely flustered. He stepped forward and stood between Jiang Ling and the head chef of Huacuilou.

The three of them were in an awkward position. Jiang Ling grinned helplessly, rolled her eyes, and said, "How about this, what if the three of us talk together?"

"Together? Humph! No way!" Yu Chu Lou and Hua Cui Lou exchanged glances and said in unison.

Jiang Ling was amused by their tacit understanding. She covered her mouth and chuckled before continuing, "Alright, you two are both business people and should understand that harmony brings wealth. Let's go together!"

The manager of Hua Cui Lou was a thin man around fifty years old with a kind face and a gentle demeanor. It was almost noon, the busiest time at Hua Cui Lou. When the manager saw his head chef appear with Jiang Ling, he quickly ran over to greet them.

Although he looked displeased upon seeing the manager of the Imperial Chef Restaurant, he did not show it.

The manager of Huacuilou led Jiang Ling to a private room. His gaze fell on the manager and he said meaningfully, "Old Wu, you should know to avoid suspicion, shouldn't you?"

"I met her first!" The manager of Yuchulou glared at the manager of Huacuilou and said unhappily.

"Both of you are business people, and you should know that harmony brings wealth. If we make a big fuss over mint water, wouldn't I be a sinner?" Jiang Ling quickly tried to smooth things over when she saw that the two sides were deadlocked.

"Hmph!" Both sides snorted in unison again.

"I wonder what brings you two managers here? If there's nothing else, I'd better head back now. I have three children to take care of! I really can't afford to waste any more time!" Jiang Ling said quickly, disliking the atmosphere.

"No, sister-in-law, don't leave now. I have something to discuss with you," the manager of Hua Cui Lou said hurriedly.