Ye Ming looked puzzled. Why was he being forced to study?
Sun Haoyu noticed Ye Ming's hesitation and confusion and gently patted his shoulder.
"Although you were mentally retarded for over a decade, from the past two days we've been together, I've seen..."
"You're quick-witted and thoughtful. It's not too late to study now."
"You're skilled in martial arts, but they're of little use in Dayun. I'm sure you've seen how much the current emperor values literature over martial arts..."
Indeed, having just met Murong Jianye, one could already imagine the situation.
"You won't be able to make it to this year's Spring Examination. After the spring plowing is over, you can go to Master Yang at the west end of the city. Just say I introduced you. He'll do his best to teach you."
Sun Haoyu didn't know Ye Ming well, but he still had to tell him all this.
It was Murong Jianye who suggested he be transferred to the capital. Although it was a minor position, it was much better than being a county magistrate in this remote area. It was easier to climb the ladder under the emperor's rule.
Of course, this opportunity was also thanks to Ye Ming, which was why he had to tell him so much.
Indeed, with all these connections gone, Ye Ming's business venture would be difficult.
Now he was on his own. Although he possessed modern knowledge and thinking, he knew very little about the intricacies of the imperial examinations in this unfamiliar dynasty.
He still needed to consult a teacher.
"Thank you, County Magistrate, for your guidance."
"Well, you may leave if you have nothing else to do. I hope to see you in the capital next spring."
There was no way Ye Ming would go to the capital. If the emperor were wise, Ye Ming might consider taking the imperial examination and then going to Kyoto to do business.
But with the emperor in such a state, he couldn't imagine the sheer number of corrupt officials in the capital.
"The situation now doesn't allow me to wait for the imperial examination. I have to make some money first."
"Wenzhou, where Qingshui County is located, isn't too far from Liangyouzhou and even the barbarians to the north."
"It's best to make some money and escape soon."
With this in mind, Ye Ming put away the deed, bought some things in the city, and prepared to return.
"I'd better make this chicken myself. Ancient roast chicken has a bitter, salty taste. I might as well make it myself," thought Ye Ming, carrying two chickens, a male and a female, and exiting the Qingshui County gates.
"Wait!" a young woman's voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
"Silly girl?"
"What does this guy want?"
"Miss, wait for me!"
Murong Mingyue soon trotted over to Ye Ming,
breathless.
"Ye Ming, wait a moment."
"Princess Anyang, what do you want with me?"
"Ye Ming, I'm leaving now. Can you tell me how you conjured something out of thin air that day?"
Ye Ming was speechless. Was this silly girl so persistent?
"My master forbids it. Please remember, our secrets must not be shared."
He thought he had solved a problem for this silly girl, and that saving her was an accident.
He didn't have anything good to give her, so he pulled out an alloy arrow.
"Here, this is the arrow that saved you that day. It's a gift to you."
Murong Mingyue looked at the arrow, noticing its unique material and shape.
"Wait, if you want to study and get a good degree, I can help you. As long as you come to the capital, I can find someone to teach you..."
She had a feeling that Ye Ming had many things that interested her.
She couldn't figure out why he could conjure things out of thin air, and her heart was itching.
"No need, Princess. The mountains remain unchanged, and the rivers flow forever."
"See you later!"
Watching Ye Ming leave, Murong Mingyue wanted to chase him, but Xiaolian held her back.
"Miss, don't chase him. Young Master Ye said that his master doesn't allow anyone to pass on his knowledge."
"I heard that talented people like them have some strange rules. Don't ask."
Murong Mingyue was a little confused. She had clearly said she could help him, so she didn't understand why he refused.
If anyone in the capital heard that they could curry favor with her, they would be so lucky.
Now, Ye Ming always avoided her.
"Alas, since I was a child, few people dared to hide things from me. One day, I will definitely figure out what's going on."
At worst, she could just find time to sneak back.
As the sky darkened, Ye Ming arrived at the entrance of Qingshi Village.
A large crowd had gathered.
Word had spread of Ye Ming's hunting trip and the County Magistrate's appointment.
Life was tough these days, with many dying of cold and starvation.
So, they all wanted to see if they could find work with Ye Ming.
Seeing Ye Ming return, the men, women, and children gathered around him.
"Fool, that's not right, Brother Ming."
"Can you take us hunting?"
"I'll give you half the money from the prey. Just keep us alive."
"Let my son go. Just give us a few bowls of porridge to keep us alive."
"Brother Ming, we gave you something when you were starving."
"Yes, we did too..."
Ye Ming looked at the skinny villagers before him, all dressed in rags, and felt a pity.
This was the first time he had seen so many people dressed so poorly.
Most of them were almost as poorly dressed as he was when he first traveled through time.
It seemed only Wang Dajiao and Muramasa's families were well-dressed. At least their clothes weren't leaking everywhere.
"Everyone, Ming'er has just regained consciousness, and there's only so much prey in the mountains. Let's not make things difficult for him."
Although Aunt Huang really wanted Ye Ming to help her, she knew that so many people in the village couldn't rely on Ye Ming alone.
"It's not us who just want a way to survive. Why can Liu Qiang make money with Ming'er, so why can't we?"
"We don't want much, just enough to get us through until the spring plowing season."
"Ming'er, please take care of us. My mother is almost starving. She has no milk from hunger, and the child cries every day from hunger."
"It's so hard to be a father."
Ye Ming took a quick look. There were very few healthy men in the village; most were injured.
Many were even without men.
He wanted to help. If he could exchange all his silver for food, perhaps he could help them survive until the spring plowing season.
But that wouldn't be a long-term solution. As the saying goes, it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.
Otherwise, he could start a business and have them work for him, just enough to make a living...
But there weren't any good options right now. Ceramic firing requires special clay.
Qingshi Village is full of red soil and mossy stones.
No, I think I saw white clay for firing ceramics last time I went hunting.
The silver he had should be enough to build a few kilns. And this industry is less affected by the weather.
"Dear uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters, I, Ye Ming, am very grateful for your help when I was in trouble. Now that everyone is in trouble, I will naturally help as much as I can."
"I plan to open a few kilns. Anyone who can help me can come and help me with the work and meals."
"But the wages may not be much at the beginning."
"But I promise that once the things we burn start to sell, everyone will have a good life."