Chapter Forty-Five: Half Price for the Imperial Scholars

Page (1/3)

Early morning.

Across from the Imperial Academy, the shops were adorned with red flags, drums resounded, and the Mo Family Bun Shop officially opened its doors!

Qin Huaiyu and his two companions were eager to make money, and Mo Dun was anxious to find another source of income for the villagers of Mo Family Village. In less than three days, the skilled craftsmen of Mo Family Village completed the renovation of the bun shop.

The three of them still hadn’t managed to secure naming rights. When the signboard bearing the name “Mo Family’s Dog Ignored Buns” was hung high, all three hid in shame inside the shop, devouring buns to mask their embarrassment.

“Are you three turning your shame into appetite?” Mo Dun entered the shop, casting a disdainful glance at the lazy trio.

“That name of yours is just too powerful! We can’t bear the disgrace!” Qin Huaiyu mumbled through a mouthful of bun.

“If you ask me, it should be called ‘Harvest of Five Grains,’” Cheng Chumo swallowed a steamed bun whole, still advocating for his preferred name.

“‘Delicious Soup-filled Buns’ is good too!” Yuchi Baolin cautiously sipped the soup from his bun, an unlikely sight for a burly man of seven feet who favored tiny bites.

“Whether the name is good or not depends on the effect!” Mo Dun gestured toward the passing pedestrians, all of whom cast sidelong glances at his signboard. At the very least, it attracted attention—a small step toward success.

Moreover, Mo Dun allowed free samples. Curious passersby tried the buns, couldn’t help praising the flavor, and then flocked in to buy more. Before long, the spacious bun shop was packed to the brim.

The four youths found themselves squeezed out onto the street, each holding two buns, grinning as they watched the bustling shop. Clearly, this venture wouldn’t lose money.

“But those students from the Imperial Academy don’t seem to appreciate your gesture. None of them accept your goodwill,” Qin Huaiyu swallowed his last bite and said gloomily.

The entrance faced directly toward the Academy’s main gate. “Students half price, Scholars free”—eight bold black characters drew all eyes. Yet as Imperial Academy students passed by the shop, not a single one glanced at the four, keeping their eyes straight ahead.

“After all, the money to open the shop came from them. Consider this a form of compensation. If they come, good; if not, that’s fine too. At least we’ve done our part!” Mo Dun replied indifferently.

“Are scholars really free?” A sudden voice rang out behind them. All four shuddered at the familiar sound.

They stiffly turned around to find Kong Yingda smiling warmly at them.

“Of course! Certainly!” The four nodded repeatedly.

“What about the Dean?”

“Of course, not only the Dean, but also the Registrar, Record Keeper, and Scholar Assistants—all eat free!” Mo Dun hurriedly replied.

Kong Yingda, naturally, wasn’t there for a meal. Guided by Mo Dun, he toured the shop and kitchen, and tasted each variety: big buns, steamed buns, and soup-filled buns.

“Excellent, truly delicious! Compared to this, the Academy’s cafeteria serves nothing but pig fodder!” Kong Yingda said with a smile.

Mo Dun’s face turned crimson with embarrassment.

Page (2/3)

“It was rashness on the student’s part!”

“Clean, hygienic, orderly, delicious, and the signboard is distinctive.” Kong Yingda commented on each aspect.

The four watched, bewildered, as Kong Yingda finished his review and departed, exchanging puzzled glances.

“Why did the Dean come here?” Cheng Chumo asked, perplexed.

“The Dean’s intentions run deep!” Mo Dun sighed.

Inside the Imperial Academy, Kong Yingda looked at his silent junior, Kong Huisuo, shaking his head. “You don’t understand why I visited the bun shop?”

“Please enlighten me, Uncle!” Kong Huisuo was equally baffled, unable to fathom why his uncle, the Dean, would support Mo Family’s shop.

“Last time you gambled, you lost quite a bit, didn’t you?” Kong Yingda asked, seemingly unrelated to the topic.

“One hundred taels!” Kong Huisuo admitted with embarrassment.

“Hmm, you lost a hundred taels, but that’s nothing to us. Others lost four or five taels—that’s their entire fortune. I’ve heard some students can’t afford food or even buy ink and paper now,” Kong Yingda sighed.

“I know. We were planning to help those students!” Kong Huisuo said.

“No! Imperial Academy students do not need charity!” Kong Yingda firmly rejected the idea.

“Then Uncle’s visit to the bun shop today was to encourage those students to swallow their pride and buy buns?” Kong Huisuo finally understood.

“Yes. Though they have no money left, they are too proud to face Mo Dun and his friends.”

“But isn’t half price for students still a form of charity?” Kong Huisuo asked, puzzled.

“It’s different. That’s clearly marked pricing and voluntary trade. Plus, their own lost money is part of it, so they can eat with a clear conscience.” Kong Yingda explained.

“Uncle, your efforts are truly thoughtful!” Kong Huisuo said sincerely.

“Go ahead, then. I haven’t eaten yet myself—time to buy a few buns!” Kong Yingda looked on approvingly as his nephew dashed off, relieved he had finally understood.

“Twelve big buns, please!” Kong Huisuo placed three coins before Mo Dun. The price was two buns per coin, but Imperial Academy students got half price—four buns per coin.

“Twelve? Can you finish them?” Mo Dun eyed Kong Huisuo’s frail frame with suspicion.

“Even if I can’t, I will! I lost a hundred taels to you all—I must eat it back!” Kong Huisuo said, gritting his teeth.

Page (3/3)

Kong Huisuo took the twelve big buns, wrapped in paper, and returned to the Academy’s classroom.

“Smells wonderful!” Many students couldn’t help but swallow. Having gambled away two months’ living expenses, they now struggled to afford even one meal a day, forced to drink water to stave off hunger, long since reduced to desperation.

Kong Huisuo ate heartily, inwardly praising the taste.

“You actually bought Mo Dun’s buns!” Wang Ling said in disbelief.

Among all present, if anyone hated Mo Dun most, besides himself, Kong Huisuo would certainly rank in the top three. How could he go buy buns from Mo Dun?

“Mo Dun and Qin Huaiyu opened the shop, and there’s a hundred taels of mine in it. I must eat it back!” Kong Huisuo took another big bite, speaking with righteous conviction.

“Uh…” The group was stunned. That explanation… seemed reasonable!

“Here, I bought plenty—let you all try some too, can’t let Mo Dun profit too easily!” Kong Huisuo shoved buns from his paper bag into the hands of several students.

They hesitated, but seeing Kong Huisuo eat so eagerly, couldn’t resist tasting a bite. Instantly, a flavor unlike any they’d ever experienced filled their taste buds.

“Delicious!”

A single bun disappeared quickly, but it wasn’t enough to fill stomachs starved for days.

“Bang!” Xiong Maocai slammed the table and stood up, booming, “I lost fifty taels—must eat it back!”

“Right, I lost thirty taels!”

“I lost ten!”

“I lost five!”

…

One by one, the Imperial Academy students marched into the Dog Ignored Bun Shop, each slapping a coin down, grabbing four steaming buns, casting Mo Dun a cold glance, then snorting and leaving.

“Well! We tried to be good people, yet no thanks!” Qin Huaiyu said with a bitter smile.

“At least, now the money is spent with a clear conscience!” Mo Dun breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the weight in his heart finally lift.