finding a Supplier is the right way to Do It

Hello friends! I hope you all had a Happy weekend, and have an even better day today. First I would like to apologize to all the readers that had been waiting for the chapter's update for a long time.

I've launched a Patreon for the story after repeated thoughts for the past month. Details are in the post-chapter note.

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"The method of mixing yellow mud water with sugar has now been successfully tested," Zhao Ce thought to himself. "In just a short afternoon, I was able to finish the work that would have taken two to three days before.

Moreover, the quality of the produced white sugar is even better. This also means that I can now achieve small-scale production of white sugar at home."

"The problem now is that I cannot directly purchase raw sugar in large quantities from the grocery store in town. And I cannot directly sell the white sugar in large quantities at the grocery store either, as I'm afraid of being watched. After all, there are clear job responsibilities for those in the fields of scholar, farmer, craftsman, and merchant. I am currently a farmer, trying to engage in the business of a merchant. If I were to be watched, it would surely not be safe, not to mention that there are many of my former classmates in the city.

If this matter were to be exposed, it would not be as simple as being expelled from school. I might even face imprisonment, and going to prison in ancient times is no joke. One could lose their life in a matter of minutes."

So these days, I've been thinking about Zhao Wenhua, who is running a restaurant in the city. There are many pastries in the restaurant that can use white sugar. I wonder if his restaurant has enough financial power to acquire my white sugar. If Zhao Wenhua can provide cover for me, it would be much easier for me to preserve my business.

Zhao Ce remembered that when he was in modern times, he had heard of a family that became rich by making sugar. Later, they even became the richest family in the city. Therefore, the sugar business can definitely be done for a long time.

When he accumulates enough money, he can set up a small workshop at home and hire people to work for him. Later, when he passes the imperial examination, he can buy slaves to help manage the workshop and the business. Sugar is also durable, and the scope of business can be expanded. Zhao Ce has planned everything in his heart."

"Now I just need to find a supplier who can temporarily provide me with raw sugar," he thought to himself.

The next morning, after breakfast, Zhao Ce began his search.

He took out the white sugar that had been prepared the night before and left it to dry. Zhao Ce then said to the little girl, "I'm going to my uncle's house."

"Ask around the nearby villages to see if anyone grows sugarcane and makes raw sugar."

Su Caier nodded and said, "Then I'll go and dig up some more yellow mud."

The young couple split up and went about their tasks. Zhao Ce still held a small bag of white sugar in his hand when he arrived at Zhao Youcai's house.

It was currently the busy farming season, and Zhao Youcai and Zhao Wenhua had already gone out to work in the fields. Even Zhao Wenhao, who was about to go to school, went with them to work in the fields. Only Li Shi was at home with her little daughter.

When Li Shi saw Zhao Ce coming this time, he didn't know what Zhao Youcai had said to her, but her attitude was much more gentle than the last time. She opened the door for Zhao Ce and said directly, "Your uncle and the others have gone to work in the fields. Is there something you need today?"

Zhao Ce handed her the bag of white sugar. Li Shi quickly pushed it back and refused to take it. "Your family doesn't have any land left, so you should sell these good things for money."

Zhao Ce said seriously, "Auntie, you have helped me so much. This small token of appreciation is deserved."

Li Shi still refused to accept it. She was well aware of the situation in Zhao Ce's family. They only had two acres of low-quality land left, and they hadn't produced any crops this year.

Zhao Ce said directly, "If Auntie doesn't accept it, then I won't ask anymore." He pretended to turn around and leave.

Unable to refuse any longer, Li Shi said, "You stubborn child."

When Li Shi accepted the white sugar, Zhao Ce smiled and explained his purpose for coming. Zhao Youcai knew quite a bit about what was going on, but as a woman, Li Shi's sources of information were even more extensive. She probably knew more gossip than Zhao Youcai did.

When Li Shi heard that it was related to Zhao Ce's business, she took it seriously. She thought for a moment and said If you go downstream for a few villages, there is a family with a good financial situation who knows how to make sugar.

Zhao Ce was excited to hear this and listened attentively as Li Shi continued. "If you leave our village and continue west along the main road, it's about an hour's journey. The village is called Xiahe Village, and there is a family there with a house made of green bricks and tiles. They are said to know how to make sugar."

Zhao Ce nodded eagerly and quickly thanked Li Shi for her help. Li Shi waved her hand, feeling a bit uncomfortable with Zhao Ce suddenly being so polite, but also feeling comforted. Remembering what she had heard the day before about Zhao Ce's family's land, Li Shi asked, "Can we help with your family's land?"

Zhao Ce smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie, but for now, my wife will take care of it at home."

Li Shi was surprised to hear him mention his wife so naturally. She couldn't help but laugh and tease him, "I never would have thought you two had such a good relationship. Before, I thought you wouldn't even consider getting married until after you passed the imperial exams."

Remembering Zhao Ce's previous arrogant attitude, Li Shi thought he wouldn't get married until after he passed the exams. But now, he had brought back a little wife and was so concerned about her.

Zhao Ce felt a bit embarrassed and said, "There's someone at home who makes things feel different."

Li Shi laughed and scolded him, "Alright, go do your work. If you need anything, come find us."

After finishing his business with Li Shi, Zhao Ce prepared to go find the little girl where they were digging the yellow mud. It was still a scorching day, and there weren't many people making food yet at this time. Only occasionally did he see women coming back from washing clothes by the river.

But they still didn't dare to get too close to Zhao Ce or make fun of him loudly but made way and kept muttering to the people around them in a low voice.

Zhao Ce walked alone in the middle of the road and thought to himself, "Am I becoming famous because of the previous battle? Or is it just the so-called 'aura' that comes with being a scholar?"

He found it all quite amusing, shook his head, and continued forward. The place where they dug the yellow mud yesterday was not far from their fields. There was a small creek nearby.

Su Caier had brought a winnowing basket and a hoe here and had started working. Yesterday, she dug a small pit here and had thrown a lot of stones on top. It seemed that some child had been playing here and filled the pit with stones.

Su Caier was a bit helpless and could only use the hoe to dig out the stones again, revealing the new soil underneath. Just as she was getting into it, a stone was thrown from not too far away and landed in the pit a few inches away from her foot.