"Rui Nian, I’ll take a stroll first, let’s meet at Fengle Building for lunch."

Gu Honglian called out to Gu Ruinian several times, but he did not respond, so she gave him a hard push.

"Alright, then we’ll meet at Fengle Building," Gu Ruinian said absentmindedly.

Gu Honglian, carrying pastries, dove into a nearby fabric shop for a look around.

Gu Ruinian was still immersed in enormous shock.

He believed his speculation was correct; Gu Taohua was a transmigrator.

If the main branch also had a transmigrator, he would rather it be Gu Taohua. A girl, at most, would just play with small tricks to earn some money, not stir up a big storm.

The key was he didn’t have absolute certainty that Gu Taohua was the transmigrator.

What if he was wrong, what if it was Jingzhe instead?

If Gu Jingzhe were the transmigrator, he’d be a much bigger threat to him.

This cousin is smart, studies well, can boost agricultural production, knows the formula for cream pastries to earn silver. If he becomes a top scholar and gains a government post, with power in one hand and modern scientific knowledge in the other, then the world would be Gu Jingzhe’s.

He was unwilling to let that happen.

It’s just advanced scientific and invention knowledge, right?

He knew some too.

Like gunpowder, the steam engine, cement, painkillers... He understood all these principles.

Gu Ruinian sorted through his thoughts.

What was easiest to invent and create? After considering, he realized only gunpowder.

First, it’s low cost; second, the materials are easy to obtain.

Besides, he could conduct experiments in his own backyard.

However, gunpowder, unlike a bountiful harvest benefiting common people directly, needs a specific occasion to blast a name for itself.

For instance, war.

At this moment, Gu Ruinian wished for nothing more than a war, so he could take his self-made gunpowder to fame and glory.

If there was no war, he wouldn’t mind instigating one.

To master war and peace, one must climb to the pinnacle of power.

Ultimately, he still needed to find an opportunity to showcase himself.

Gu Ruinian went to the bookshop, casually flipping through some thread-bound books. He bought a few storybooks to pass the time at night.

As for the formal exam books, he didn’t feel the need to read them. With his intelligence, passing the exam to become a Scholar or even further wasn’t an issue.

He’d sprint for the Champion Scholar title when he went to the capital for exams.

After all, the exams of this era were formulaic; once he figured them out, he’d be ready.

Gu Ruinian had this confidence; after all, in his previous life, he was a test master.

Here, even just by skimming through the books pre-exam, he immediately passed as a child student, proving he suited the exams of this era as well.

After buying a few storybooks, he had some money left, which he planned to save for meat buns next time he visited town.

Gu Ruinian left the bookshop by noon. Remembering his aunt said to meet at Fengle Building, he headed there.

He knew the owner of Fengle Building, who lived next to his uncle’s wife’s home.

The house was very luxurious; when passing by, he peeked through the gate crack, seeing rock gardens and landscaping inside.

Gu Ruinian found a window-side seat, opened the menu, and ordered dishes.

Anyway, since his aunt had a tael of silver, might as well indulge.

Just as the dishes arrived, Gu Honglian appeared.

Gu Honglian held only a half-eaten pastry in her hand, having bought nothing else.

Gu Ruinian breathed a sigh of relief; he feared his aunt would buy jewelry or clothes.

"You ordered quite a lot?" Gu Honglian noted the chicken, duck, and fish, and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

Gu Ruinian was annoyed but, considering the silver for the feast was with Gu Honglian, he endured.

"Not bad, I love this pork, very tasty."

"The fish belly is mine."

"There are two roasted chicken legs, one for each of us."

Gu Honglian talked non-stop while eating.

Gu Ruinian, craving the richness, remained silent, focusing on eating.

Soon, the two of them cleared the table clean, not even leaving the broth.

"Burp..." Gu Ruinian, usually composed, let out a satisfied burp.

How nice it would be to eat at Fengle Building every day, he thought.

Gu Ruinian considered finding a way for his father to restart his business.

"What are you doing? This pastry is for Taohua," Gu Ruinian grabbed a pastry from in front of Gu Honglian as a dessert.

Gu Honglian, seeing Gu Ruinian reach for the pastry, pulled it closer to her with displeasure.

"Aunt, the silver?" Gu Ruinian couldn’t be bothered to argue, extending his hand for the money owed.

"What silver?" Gu Honglian asked, feigning ignorance.

Gu Ruinian said, "Isn’t the tael of silver grandfather gave for the feast with you?"

Gu Taohua spread her hands, saying, "That silver was spent on fabric. I found it cumbersome to carry, so I left it in Mr. Xu’s cart. You didn’t consult me when ordering a table full of meat and dishes, so naturally you should pay."

Gu Ruinian was so angry his head hurt, saying, "Aunt, we agreed I’d pay for breakfast, and you’d pay for lunch. Besides, it’s not your money; it’s from grandfather for both of us."

Gu Honglian, nibbling her pastry and sipping tea, said, "Well, the silver was spent on fabric, and I have none left. Don’t you still have a tael?"

Gu Ruinian was enraged, almost wanting to tear Gu Honglian apart.

"That silver is for buying books," he said angrily, face turning blue.

Then Gu Jingzhe patted his bookbag, saying, "My money all went on buying books."

Gu Honglian rolled her eyes, "Books? Come on, you just use ’reading’ as an excuse to lie around all day. You don’t even read the books you buy! You think I don’t know? You’re really here in town to binge on food, not for books."

"Anyway, I’m not paying."

Gu Honglian had long planned to buy new fabric for a spring blouse; given the family’s current situation, new clothes were impossible.

Taking advantage of Gu Ruinian visiting town, accompanying and holding the silver, she would rather spend it on herself than on him.

The waiter, having overheard them squabbling, mistook them for freeloaders and came over, smiling, mentioning today’s bill was a tael and two hundred coins.

"Which of you will pay?"

Gu Honglian pointed to Gu Ruinian confidently, saying, "Whoever orders pays; clearly he ordered a table-full inviting me, so naturally, he pays."

The waiter looked at Gu Ruinian.

Gu Ruinian had never felt so humiliated.

In both this life and the last, he was his family’s pride, wearing the best, eating the best, with ample money, never unable to pay a bill.

If he had silver now, it wouldn’t be an issue; the problem was he didn’t.

With difficulty, he told the waiter, "I have no silver; can you give me a few days’ grace?"

The waiter sneered, "No silver, then why dine here? Our menu clearly prices everything, so why order a feast you can’t afford?"

Gu Ruinian broke out in cold sweat, clenching his fists, wanting to sink into the floor.

No money, and he had to suffer such mockery?

He thought of the saying, "Don’t despise the poor youth."

"Forget it. This young man is a talent from our Qinghe Bay; let me cover it today," Boss Qian, entering and seeing the scene, stepped in to rescue Gu Ruinian.

He did so entirely as a favor for Tong Huaqiong.

Gu Ruinian felt complicated inside.

He’d long wanted to connect with this wealthy Boss Qian, hoping to make him an ally and financial backer for his future ventures.

Now Boss Qian noticed him, but it was when he was in debt.

It was pretty awkward.