Drive a RV and go farming in ancient times.

In the next few days, Xu Huaiyi went to the black market to sell the things he got from the Qiao family in batches. Some particularly rare items were sold at high prices. The other party did not care about the origin of his goods and just dealt with the transaction, which saved him a lot of trouble. In the end, he got more silver bills than Gu Huanxi had estimated, nearly 200,000 taels.

Xu Huaiyi did not keep any of it and put it all into the charity fund. The charity hall that he and Uncle Xu had discussed building before had already started to adopt homeless orphans. There was no opening ceremony and no publicity. It was so low-key that few people knew about it. Even the orphans were found by those who had taken the initiative to find them outside.

At first, they brought back more than fifty people. After simple renovations, the specially built village could accommodate at least a few hundred people. However, they were all new to this and were crossing the river by feeling the stones. Therefore, they did not dare to make a big scene for fear that they would be overwhelmed and have the opposite effect. It is better to take it slow. It is always easier to manage with fewer people. After gaining experience, they can rescue more children.

All the rules and regulations of the charity hall were formulated by Xu Huaiyi and Gu Huanxi after making appropriate deletions and additions based on the relevant systems of the previous welfare home. Each rule is clear and concise, and is directly engraved in a conspicuous place, requiring everyone to abide by it.

As for food, drink and clothing, there are also clear regulations. It is impossible to have an abundant supply, and the standard is not to go hungry.

Gu Huanxi hired a few skilled women to help take care of the young children who were too young to take care of themselves. The older ones could take care of themselves and could also help with other chores within their ability.

After the charity hall gradually got on track, Xu Maoyuan took out an hour every day to teach the children how to read and do simple arithmetic. Xu Huaiyi later arranged for two security guards to go there and gave them an extra martial arts class.

After Jiang Yong knew about this, he personally proposed a name to the charity. Sun Yu asked his wife to pack up a few horse-drawn carriages with old clothes and beddings at home, and added some food, and sent it over in a low-key manner.

Gu Huanxi even took Gu Xiaoyu and others to the charity hall to volunteer during their rest time at the academy. They went there at least once a month, and they persisted in doing so in the following years.

Compared with the low-key charity, the opening of Su Zhe's seasoning workshop was much more high-profile. This was also due to Xu Huaiyi's good idea. In order to publicize the reputation of oyster sauce and pine powder, and promote their magical taste of turning decay into something special, he suggested that Su Zhe organize a cooking competition. As long as you are a chef, you can sign up to participate. The prizes are generous. Even the participation prize can get a batch of cotton cloth. If you are in the top three, you can get a hundred taels of silver alone. Who can not be tempted?

As a result, most chefs in the capital were eager to try it out. Moreover, there was no restriction on gender, and women who claimed to be good at cooking could also come and show off their skills.

As for the judges, Su Zhe also made full use of the personal connections he made in the private club. There were merchants with millions of assets, talented scholars with extensive knowledge, young men from wealthy families who were good at eating, drinking and having fun, and even officials and generals who loved food. It can be said that his network of connections was quite impressive.

As for the effect, it’s self-evident.

The whole capital city was in an uproar. From high-ranking officials to peddlers, everyone would find ways to join in the fun on the day of the competition. The grand occasion was comparable to the Lantern Festival.

Su Zhe was ecstatic and immediately decided to hold such a cooking competition every year. He did not want to eat alone, but invited all the members of the Chamber of Commerce to join in so that everyone could have a piece of the pie. Although the investment was huge, the rewards would be equally rich.

In particular, the oyster sauce and pine powder promoted by his seasoning workshop were a huge success. Even a woman with mediocre cooking skills could make a delicious dish by adding these two seasonings.

It was so magical that the sales volume could be imagined. The stalls selling the goods were packed with people. The first batch was sold out before the second batch of goods could be put on the shelves. There were also many restaurants queuing up to place orders. The popularity of the product was astonishing, and it made colleagues in the industry jealous.

But no matter how jealous they were, they didn't dare to do anything behind the scenes. Everyone knew that the Second Prince had shares behind this workshop. To compete with the Second Prince for food was to seek death.

Except for the Su family father and son.

The father and son once again thought of intercepting the business and wanted to bring it under the name of the Su family. Unfortunately, Su Zhe's attitude was very tough this time. Even when they used filial piety to suppress him, he gritted his teeth and held on. However, he did not dare to break up with them. It was not until he listened to Xu Huaiyi's words and moved out of the Chamber of Commerce that the Su family was forced to give up the idea of ​​occupying the business.

Then Su Zhe gave Xu Huaiyi a silver note of 12,000 taels, not saying it was a thank you gift, but just saying it was a donation to the charity.

Xu Huaiyi gladly accepted it.

The cooking competition lasted for a month, during which he also took time out to guest-star as a judge. The lively scene made him sigh with admiration. After returning home, he muttered to Gu Huanxi, "There were too few entertainment activities in ancient times. It was just a cooking competition, but there were so many people and it was so exciting. The spiritual level of the people was still too poor..."

Gu Huanxi laughed and teased, "We can't even afford food and clothing, so how can we have the leisure time to pursue spiritual things? Besides, even if we want to pursue spiritual things, the current conditions are not enough. When we were in our time, it was not until the 1980s that food and clothing were no longer a problem. After the radio and television gradually became popular, people had entertainment. What can we do now? Gambling houses and brothels are closed at night and have curfews."

After listening to this, Xu Huaiyi was thoughtful, "It would be great if we could develop those technological products..."

Gu Huanxi complained speechlessly, "Your ambition is getting bigger and bigger. Wake up. I'm not trying to discourage you, but we don't have the conditions for research right now. Besides, neither of us is good at inventions. You should just be content."

Xu Huaiyi suddenly looked at her steadily and said, "Wife, we can't research those things, but there is one thing we can do."

Gu Huanxi was dazzled by the light in his eyes and subconsciously asked, "What can be done?"

Xu Huaiyi clapped his fists excitedly, "Publishing newspapers, and various magazines, etc. Before those technological products, how did everyone pass the time and get information? Didn't everyone just read newspapers and subscribe to magazines every day?"

Gu Huanxi frowned, "The court has a report..."

Xu Huaiyi interrupted, his tone excited as if he had taken medicine, "The number of court reports is limited, and the audience is too small. Who among the common people wants to read them? They can't understand the quibbles. What the common people want to read are gossips, stories, and news about eating, drinking, and having fun. Of course, serious matters related to people's livelihood must also be included. It can also popularize some useful and interesting knowledge. Don't set the price too high. Then, who can refuse it?"

Gu Huanxi looked at him, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you serious? Or is this just a whim?"

Xu Huaiyi smiled and said, "It was a spur of the moment, but I am serious about it. Wife, you should think carefully about the feasibility later. There is no rush for this matter."

Gu Huanxi asked curiously, "What is your purpose? To make money? To raise our family's status? Or to promote spiritual civilization for the people?"

Xu Huaiyi said casually, "I think both, but the most important thing is for you, my wife."

Gu Huanxi was surprised, "For me?"

"Yes, for you." Xu Huaiyi nodded, his tone quite emotional, "Wife, you are smarter than me, and you have read more than me. You really shouldn't be trapped in the backyard and waste your time..."

Gu Huanxi was so angry that she laughed. "Stop it, you're making me sound like I'm just lying down and living a lazy life! When have I ever wasted my time? When have I ever lived a day that was not fulfilling?"

She argued with him one by one in a bad mood, "The family business is getting bigger and bigger. Although there is a manager to take care of it, I have to check the accounts regularly to avoid being fooled. And we have so much land at home, I have to ask about the arrangements for spring planting and autumn harvest every year, right? Oh, now there is also a charity hall, I have to worry about the monthly funds, and I have to take the children to do volunteer work, and there is also the eating, drinking, defecation and urination at home, don't I have to take care of it? Do you think these don't take time?"

Xu Huaiyi was confused. "Now that you mention it, you seem quite busy..."

Gu Huanxi rolled her eyes at him and snorted, "We've only just started. There's also the bookstore, which will be completed soon. I was just thinking of asking Mr. Jiang to help me come up with a name and open it on a certain date. By then, I can still be a hands-off manager."

"That's not all. I also write storybooks. Oh, and you want me to run a girls' school. I'm so busy with all these things. Do you still think I'm wasting my time?"

Xu Huaiyi shook his head vigorously. "Not wasting any time, not even a little bit. His life value has been fully realized, which is much more fulfilling than mine..."

After a pause, he held her hand in shame, "Wife, I didn't care enough about you. I didn't know you were working so hard. Not only did I not help you share the burden, but I was also afraid that you were bored and lonely, so I tried to put pressure on you. I'm such a bastard, wife, please slap us both..."

As he said this, he really grabbed her hand and slapped it on his face.

Gu Huanxi struggled to free himself, and pinched his waist gently, "Alright, I know you have good intentions, so I won't punish you this time, and it won't happen again!"

Xu Huaiyi cooperated and made some guarantees.

After the couple finished their flirting, Xu Huaiyi mentioned what happened just now again, "Wife, you should think about it seriously when you have time. I think your talent should be put into more meaningful things that you are interested in. As for the rest, you can train a few more capable maids to help you take care of those miscellaneous trivial matters. Anyway, our family has no shortage of money to hire people."

Gu Huanxi didn't refuse this time. "Let's talk about it after we celebrate Ah Li's birthday and then open the bookstore."

"Okay, okay, I will fully support you in starting your own business. A career is the basis and support for a woman to live a beautiful life..."

"Yes, if a woman has a career and lives a beautiful and comfortable life, what else does she need a man for?"

"..."

It was a mistake. He dug a hole and buried himself.

Afterwards, Xu Huaiyi pestered his wife and showed his shameless spirit to the fullest, and finally he coaxed her into admitting that a man is as important as a career. A career is the basis for living a beautiful life, and a man will protect this confidence.

Soon it was A Li's first birthday party. Because Gu Huanxi didn't like socializing and Xu Huaiyi felt sorry for her, they didn't make a big fuss about it. They only invited familiar relatives and friends, and there were only four tables for adults and children together.

But the scene was very warm and lively, and the children especially liked it. Not only were there various places to play, but they also got to taste a lot of food they had never eaten before. For example, chili, as the main seasoning, captured almost everyone's hearts.

The highlight was the "Zhuazhou" ceremony. Ali grabbed a handful of wheat ears in his left hand and a herb in his right hand, smiling like a fairy boy under the seat of Guanyin.

Doctor Jiao was delighted when he saw this.

Jiang Yong couldn't help but tease with a bit of envy, "It seems that Ah Li is destined to be your disciple."

Doctor Jiao agreed with this and now he was looking forward to Ah Li growing up a little so that he could formally become his disciple and learn medicine.

Zeng also liked A Li very much, and she even lamented to Sun Yu in private that if A Li was not so much of a generation older than her son, she would have wanted A Li to be her daughter-in-law.

Sun Yu smiled and said, "Even if there is no difference in seniority, this marriage will not be possible. Don't even think about marrying Ah Li to her parents' house in the future. It's impossible."

Zeng was puzzled, "Why? Because of family background? Do you think Qi Da is not a good match?"

Sun Yu shook his head. "Huaiyi and his wife are reluctant to let their daughter get married. They want to find a son-in-law. So no matter if it's the Sun family or the Zeng family, whether the family status is high or low, they will not consider it."

Zeng suddenly realized and felt a little sorry. "Isn't it too unfair to Ah Li to recruit a son-in-law? After all, how many young talents are willing to be a son-in-law?"

Sun Yu reminded, "Nothing is absolute. Have you forgotten that Huaiyi is also the son-in-law of the Gu family? Is he a jerk?"

Zeng was stunned. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have really forgotten about it. Huaiyi is totally worthy of being called a young talent. There are only a few people in the whole capital who are as lucky as him..."

Sun Yu murmured in a low voice, "Huai Yi is the one who is truly blessed..."

When the corn harvest comes next year and he reports it, just based on this achievement, his apprentice will be able to rise rapidly. Moreover, he will have a real support. From now on, no one will punish him easily unless it is a crime as serious as treason. Otherwise, he won't be able to get past the test of the common people.

After seeing off the guests, when it got dark, Xu Huaiyi took out the fireworks he had prepared and took the children to play in the yard. He was willing to spend money and moved several boxes for them to make them. They set them off for more than an hour, ending this happy and beautiful day.

Ah Li smiled even in his sleep.

Seeing this, the couple felt that all their hard work was worth it. However, no matter how perfect a life is, there are always some unpleasant things.

No one expected that Qiao Huaijin would come uninvited and bring a valuable gift. On an occasion like today, Xu Huaiyi could only give him a warm welcome.

Fortunately, he was tactful and did not talk about sensitive topics. He also did not get close to Jiang Yong and Sun Yu. He just chatted with his classmates about interesting things, which was not annoying.

Besides him, there was also Xu Huaihou, who actually came with his newly-wed wife, which made Gu Huanxi very annoyed. But as the saying goes, everyone who comes today is a guest, and for the sake of her daughter's first birthday party, no matter how unpleasant it is, she has to endure it for the time being.

Uncle Xu felt very guilty about this and explained to Xu Huaiyi privately for a long time that he did not intend to bring the couple here to cause trouble, but he really did not expect them to be so shameless as to follow behind the team and sneak in. Now that they were at the door, could he chase them back?