Chapter210

After the humiliation from that aristocratic young man, Elara had a general understanding of the backgrounds of these three unfortunate scholars.

Pu Wei and Pu Zhi were uncle and nephew, but they looked only about five years apart in age. Both were young, and their facial features had some resemblance.

Their family originally ran a private school, with a deep cultural background. They had studied literature since childhood. But after their family was ruined for various reasons, the two ended up as private scribes in a noble household. Even though they were once scholars, they had to sell themselves into servitude to survive and served as slaves in the Qu family of Xichi Town for three years.

Three years later, they managed to gather enough money to redeem themselves. Then they heard about Plumera's new policy that allowed anyone, regardless of their background, to take the capital exam. So they sold all their possessions after retrieving their contracts and spent over half a month struggling to reach Plumera City.

They didn't expect to run into the most arrogant and unreasonable young master of the Qu family upon arriving, only to be insulted on the street.

Gong Liangcheng's story was even more tragic. He came from a wealthy merchant family in a city near Xichi Town. His family had been merchants for generations and held more power than the Qu family in Anyu Town. Unfortunately, although their leader was skilled in business and grew the family wealth considerably, he had too much compassion. During times of chaos in Plumera, he opened his family's grain stores and gave away all their accumulated wealth for disaster relief.

This kind of act was very rare among merchants who mainly cared about profit.

Even Elara had rarely heard of people who would donate their entire fortune just to help in disaster relief, not even in the 21st century.

Only saints could go that far.

Elara was filled with admiration.

Clearly, that generation of the Gong Liang family had produced such a saint, sacrificing everything to help the displaced people.

Sadly, even though they saved many, human greed has no limits. They didn't receive the gratitude they deserved. Instead, they brought disaster upon themselves and were wiped out.

Some of the side branches in the Gong Liang family chose to separate and flee when the head opened the storehouses.

As more people came seeking help, Gong Liangcheng's father couldn't manage it all. Eventually, a business rival in the same city framed them and stirred conflict between the Gong Liang family and the very refugees they helped. Then they deliberately tipped off the brutal bandits outside the city.

Three years ago, when the main Gong Liang family members were outside helping in disaster relief, they were ambushed and killed. No one survived.

Their immense wealth was completely looted. Only Gong Liangcheng, who happened to be away, survived, though he's been hunted ever since.

For the past three years, Gong Liangcheng did anything he could to survive — slave, servant, beggar.

This time, he came to take the exam only to earn an official position, revive the family name, and take revenge.

The businessmen who worked with the bandits to destroy his family had committed many evil deeds over the years.

It wasn't until over half a month ago that General Qi gave the order to send troops to eliminate them. Most of those evil men were finally killed or injured.

But some who had gone outside Plumera's borders for "business" survived. Among them was the son of the man who had framed the Gong Liang family.

Gong Liangcheng could not swallow his anger. So he decided to come to the capital and take the exam, planning to take his revenge someday.

Elara approached the three scholars with her palace attendant and Uno.

At first, Gong Liangcheng and the other two were very wary. Their journey to Plumera City had been too hard, and they no longer trusted people easily.

But seeing Elara's sincerity and humble attitude, despite her luxurious attire and clear noble status, and no trace of arrogance or disdain in her tone, they gradually let down their guard.

Perhaps due to his tragic background, Gong Liangcheng remained distant. Even though he sensed Elara meant no harm, he spoke very little and only responded when asked.

Pu Wei and Pu Zhi weren't very talkative either, but they answered Elara respectfully. Their manners were proper, and it was clear they came from a scholarly family. Even though they looked worn out, their behavior showed their good upbringing.

When they finally started to talk, Elara continued the conversation with them. The more she learned about their stories, the more hopeful she felt about their chances in the exam.

"Your lives have not been easy, but your integrity is admirable. I'm the third young miss of the Bai Family's Business. When I heard the commotion earlier, I realized you were in trouble. So I asked my attendants to buy three sets of clothing for you. I hope you won't dislike them. This is just a token of sincerity, a small gift upon meeting. The exam is coming soon, and it's best to dress neatly and with dignity, to bring good luck and be in your best state."

After chatting for a while, seeing that they had relaxed, Elara had her attendant bring out the clothes.

The three looked at the clothes, stunned.

Others had tried to offer them things before with all kinds of excuses.

But this was the first time any of them had received a gift of acquaintance from a woman.

In this world where women were scarce, other than their mothers, the three had hardly ever spoken to any females.

Looking at the neatly wrapped, clearly expensive clothing, they didn't know what to do.

They had already used up all their money on the road. Fortunately, after the Empress's rise, the exam system was changed and scholars were highly valued. Anyone who reached the capital could register and receive official free lodging and meals.

So even though they were broke, they wouldn't starve before the exam.

They had already registered at the Ministry of Examinations and received their free housing and food until the end of the exam.

But even though their living situation was handled, they had no money to buy proper clothes.

They could only wear these ragged outfits. That was why the young master of the Qu family had recognized and humiliated them on the street.

Seeing their hesitation, Elara gently encouraged them again, explaining that she sincerely admired their talent and couldn't bear their hardships. That was why she gave them clothes, so they could attend the exam properly dressed. There were no other intentions at all.

Though their lives had been hard, the three weren't overly sensitive. Elara had spoken so sincerely that they didn't want her to think they were proud or unwilling to accept help.

So they didn't hesitate any longer. The three of them bowed deeply to Elara, gazing at the face hidden behind her veil.

"In that case, we thank the third young miss of the Bai family. If there's ever a chance in the future, we will repay your kindness even if it costs our lives."

Watching Gongliang City, Puwei, and Puzhi carrying their bundled clothes toward the residences prepared by the Ministry of Education for examinees, Elara finally turned and walked into the Lianyi Pavilion.

Most of the new and old buildings in Plumera City were still under construction or renovation, and only a few were currently open.

Even the few newly opened stores that Damon set up on the streets of Plumera were still under construction, and very few shops were actually in business.

But the Lianyi Pavilion, as the only establishment that remained completely intact during the siege of Plumera, had always been a tall, luxurious building in a prime location, so the city's reconstruction did not affect it at all. Its business was even more prosperous than when Elara last visited.

After Elara stepped into the first floor of the Lianyi Pavilion, she noticed that compared to her last visit, the lobby now had a new section called the Exotic Delicacies Hall.

This newly opened area was packed with people from all walks of life, bustling about with excitement and showing surprise on their faces.

When Elara reached the entrance, a familiar spicy, sour, and sweet aroma filled the air.

She raised her eyebrows slightly and walked in with her palace attendants and Uno behind her, finding that the place was indeed a combination of a restaurant and a market for various exotic goods.

The large central hall was filled with dining tables, and every table was occupied by diners. Many others waited on benches by the entrance, and the business was clearly booming.

What surprised Elara a bit was that the dishes being served in this busy restaurant were exactly the recipes she had once traded to the Lianyi Pavilion.

The menu prominently listed various tofu dishes she had taught, including Mapo tofu, white-cut chicken, braised pork, Kung Pao chicken, steamed pork with rice flour, bamboo rice, and more.

There were also buns, steamed bread, dumplings, and other breakfast items she had taught the chefs at the Bai Family's Business to make after getting the stone mill.

All these foods were now being sold in the Lianyi Pavilion as "exotic delicacies" and were incredibly popular.

Depending on the customers' status, the Pavilion offered different environments, prices, and services, showing off their skilled business strategies.

Elara suddenly remembered the sound of System 92 updating her funds that she used to hear back in Marigold.

No wonder, during the time when she hadn't completed her one million funds mission, every profit distribution from the Lianyi Pavilion to the Bai Family's Business came in tens of thousands. With such booming business and sharp strategies, it was no surprise they made so much.

After completing the million-fund mission, Elara could no longer directly sense her wealth growth, but the Lianyi Pavilion still sent profits to the Bai Family's Business every month as agreed.

Possibly because these delicious dishes had already spread widely through the Pavilion's extensive sales network, Damon's recent reports on the Pavilion's monthly profit shares showed ever-increasing numbers.

The most recent share the Bai Family's Business received was at least five times the amount from the first month.

Clearly, the Pavilion had made a massive fortune just from the recipes she had given them.

While Elara stood at the entrance, a waiter from the Pavilion enthusiastically approached.

Seeing she was a well-dressed woman with attendants, he quickly informed her that the second floor now had a larger gourmet tasting hall and private rooms. Though more expensive, it offered a quiet and elegant environment for enjoying the food.

Elara declined the waiter's service and slowly strolled around the gourmet tasting hall, suddenly wishing she could bring Damon over to see this. This was what true business was about. The future establishments under the Bai Family's Business should really consider such selling techniques.

In her past life, Elara had been a businesswoman and had countless advanced business strategies in her mind, but she had been too busy with wars and seizing power to focus on money.

Although Damon had been placed in charge of the Commerce Department and knew a bit about business, he was still a general and best at warfare, so Elara didn't push him too hard.

But after this major exam, she would definitely select some people with strong business sense to join the department.

After touring the gourmet food hall, Elara went to check out the other half of the area, the Exotic Goods Hall.

As expected, many items inside were things she had introduced at the Bai Family's Business, improved and enhanced after explaining modern concepts to the craftsmen.

Damon had mentioned before that after the Lianyi Pavilion discovered these popular items, they approached to collaborate on their own.

Elara had been busy with development and battles in Marigold at the time and hadn't cared much about these small objects, so she had agreed easily.

The improved items were far more practical than the old-style ones from this era, so they also sold extremely well. Even ordinary citizens came to browse and willingly bought some of them for their convenience.

After checking out this newly opened hall, Elara silently decided that she would create a large commercial empire like the Lianyi Pavilion that could span across all nations. She also expanded her criteria for selecting commercial talent after the upcoming exams.

Once she finished looking around the entire first floor, Elara withdrew her gaze, calculating in her mind while walking toward the staircase to the upper floor.