Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 442 - 407: Farewell to Li Mingtan

Fortunately, Yu Xiaolian had a magical heating tool in her space—a microwave. She reheated the already cold dishes and then used the induction cooker to quickly stir-fry some greens before bringing them out to eat with Zhao Sanyan.

The previous day, Zhao Sanyan hadn’t tasted a bite of the feast from the Imperial Kitchen, so this was her first time trying imperial cuisine. Zhao Sanyan felt like she was floating on air.

"Wow, this fish is so delicious!" Zhao Sanyan exclaimed in awe after taking a bite of the steamed fish.

Yu Xiaolian also took a bite and tasted it carefully, almost spitting it out. Why did it taste so fishy to her?

No wonder the Emperor only ate that small piece from the fish’s face; it seemed the Emperor knew the fish wasn’t tasty. Yu Xiaolian picked up a piece of braised lion’s head and ate it; the flavor was quite good, and it seemed to have lotus root inside, providing a crunchy texture amidst the rich meat flavor.

The two of them finished off all the dishes—two meat and one vegetable. Zhao Sanyan went to return the food box and empty plates to the eunuch outside, while Yu Xiaolian took out a Kuerle fragrant pear to munch on, not forgetting to place one on the table for Zhao Sanyan as well.

"Knock, knock..." Someone was at the door.

The unfamiliar knocking made Yu Xiaolian realize the person outside was not Zhao Sanyan. She quickly hid the half-eaten pear and, on her way to open the door, also put away the pear from the table.

"Who is it?" Yu Xiaolian asked as she opened the door.

"Yu Xueguan!"

Yu Xiaolian never expected to see Shopkeeper Li here, oh no, now it should be Lord Li.

"Shopkeeper Li, er... Lord Li!" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Li Mingtan looked completely different from when he was running the bookstore next door to her house; Yu Xiaolian almost didn’t recognize him.

Five years ago, Li Mingtan passed as a scholar and came to the Capital to take the exams, bringing along the Wu family, who he was allied with by marriage.

Logically, since Li Mingtan had only passed as a scholar and hadn’t taken the provincial exams, it was uncertain where he would serve or what position he would hold. His family should have stayed in Taohua Village waiting for news. However, Li Mingtan’s family didn’t wait; they sold their house and land and moved with the whole family to the Capital.

Fortunately, Wu’s father was a Capital Official at the

Ministry of Personnel and, after some maneuvers, also found a job for Li Mingtan as a Capital Official. However, even though Li Mingtan had been in office for nearly four years, he was still just a seventh-rank editor at the Hanlin Academy, and his superior had no intention of promoting him.

This Spring Examination was the first major exam since the new Emperor’s ascension, and the Emperor put great importance on it. Li Mingtan was temporarily assigned to help at the Examination Office, where he unexpectedly found out that Yu Xiaolian was also here, so he came by to say hello.

"Just call me Brother Li. We’re on the same level; I don’t deserve your ’Lord’ address." Li Mingtan chuckled as he sized up Yu Xiaolian.

To be honest, back then, he thought the Yu Family was just a small business family and didn’t believe Yu Xiaolian was someone with any scholarly depth.

After all, when the Yu Family’s braised meat shop first opened, Yu Changhe couldn’t even handle money properly. A man, the father, the head of the household, had barely any education, so how talented could the daughter be?

At that time, whenever Yu Xiaolian came to his bookstore to browse storybooks, he purposely gave her the colloquial versions, fearing she wouldn’t understand even slightly more complex ones.

But who could have expected that Yu Xiaolian was a deeply hidden talented woman, and a genius in mathematics to boot.

In this world today, how many women can achieve the rank of seventh-grade by their own skills?

It seems Yu Xiaolian is the only one.

Most women’s titles are borrowed from their fathers or husbands, but a woman like Yu Xiaolian can be said to be unprecedented and unparalleled.

"Brother... Li?" Yu Xiaolian muttered to herself, "Weren’t you and my dad considered brothers? At home, I used to call you Uncle Li?"

Li Mingtan seemed to sense the hesitation in Yu Xiaolian’s words and smiled as he explained, "Now that we’re both officials in the court, naturally, we are equals!"

Yu Xiaolian nodded slightly, inquiring, "By the way... how is Sister-in-law Wu doing now? It’s been years since I’ve seen her."

In truth, what Yu Xiaolian really wanted to ask was if, after becoming a Capital Official, Li Mingtan had abandoned his long-standing wife. After all, when Wu was in Luocheng, Li Mingtan’s mother already despised her for being unable to bear children. Back then, Wu’s father even financially and physically supported the Li Family, but Li Mingtan’s mother often sarcastically targeted Wu’s weaknesses. Now that Li Mingtan had achieved success, Yu Xiaolian wouldn’t believe that Li Mingtan’s mother wouldn’t cause trouble!