Breakfast of Champions

The first light of dawn had barely graced the sky when Xia Zhi rose. She was careful not to disturb Zhu Zhen or He Yu'er, moving with the silence of a seasoned ninja. Zhu Zhen and He Yu'er were sound asleep. However, Xia Zhi's gentle movements were enough to stir He Yu'er from his slumber.

"Shi'er..." He Yu'er muttered, his eyes fluttering open. At first, his vision was blurred, but upon seeing Xia Zhi, he snapped to attention.

"I heard you, Shangshi. I'm coming with you. I want to help," He Yu'er declared, scrambling out of bed.

Xia Zhi hurriedly intervened, "Old Uncle, it's still early. Rest a bit more."

"But it's too early. Shangshi, I need to help you. This is important for you," He Yu'er insisted, already reaching for his clothes without waiting for Xia Zhi's permission.

In He Yu'er's mind, Xia Zhi's struggle to earn a living was commendable. Besides, who else but his uncle would offer such unwavering support? And helping Xia Zhi was an enjoyable pastime as well.

Xia Zhi knew He Yu'er's temperament and yielded to his determination. The two of them quietly made their way to the kitchen, washed their faces and hands, and then moved to the workshop behind their home.

The workshop was bustling with activity. The first day of work was always challenging, but幸運的是，the women were diligent and honest. Black Yu'er, as the supervisor, was also incredibly efficient. Despite his age, he was strict as iron, with eyes that couldn't tolerate a speck of sand. The women revered and feared him at the same time.

The workshop had two immediate priorities: the orders from Wen Shan Academy and the Li family. Xia Zhi also instructed the women to package some of each kind of dumpling separately. The Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, and besides the two orders, Xia Zhi planned to expand her business.

Her initial plan was to set up a stall selling dumplings outside Wen Shan Academy. The teachers had received benefits from the academy, so the students would also want to eat dumplings. This was why Xia Zhi had decided to open her workshop.

However, Wen Shan Academy was no longer her sole focus. After that, she intended to extend her stall to Xishi Street and Dongshi Street.

That was her plan. If the dumplings sold well, she would continue to expand.

While Xia Zhi was diligently working, Gu Gu Fu and Chang Sheng dropped by to check on things, and Xia Da Gu brought Zhu Zhen along.

"Shangshi, may I lend you a hand?" Xia Da Gu looked around and offered.

"Second Aunt, you're already busy. There's no need for you to help me. I can manage," Xia Zhi replied with a smile. Today was the first day, and once things were running smoothly, she wouldn't be as overwhelmed.

"I have nothing much on my hands. I can spare some time to help you, Shangshi. I truly want to help," Xia Da Gu insisted.

Xia Zhi saw the sincerity in Xia Da Gu's eyes and agreed after giving it some thought. The workshop had enough female workers, and everything could be handled without Xia Da Gu's direct involvement. She only needed to watch over things.

Xia Zhi conveyed this to Xia Da Gu, who smiled and nodded, "Alright, I'll follow your lead, Shangshi." Then she turned to Zhu Zhen, "Zhen Zhen, pay attention and learn from your elder sister. You can learn a lot from her."

Xia Da Gu moved to the back of the workshop, on one hand eager to help Xia Zhi, and on the other, with the intention of broadening Zhu Zhen's horizons and learning from Xia Zhi.

She knew her daughter's character better than anyone. Zhu Zhen might never be as capable as Xia Zhi, but even learning a little from Xia Zhi would be beneficial for her future.

The women were all talented and the piecework pay ensured that they were highly motivated. By midday, Xia Zhi had the women steam two pots of dumplings and sent Chang Sheng to deliver them to the outside food street where Wen Shan Academy was located.

With the midday rush approaching, students began to emerge from the academy to seek food.

Xia Zhi chose a spot on the food street, set up her stall, and hung a banner with the words: "Zhuangyuan Zong" (Scholar's Dumpling).

That was the brand Xia Zhi had chosen for her dumplings.

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, there would be many stalls selling dumplings, but none would have the unique flair Xia Zhi was bringing to the table. She wanted to strengthen the brand's image through these distinctive touches.

The same product with different packaging commanded a different price, and it was easier for customers to identify. Xia Zhi was determined to make her business big.

Indeed, the stall was attracting customers almost as soon as it was set up. Xia Zhi had started early, and some households had not even begun selling their dumplings yet. As more students emerged from the academy, the stall was quickly surrounded.

Black Yu'er, wearing a bamboo hat, a apron, and with a mask covering his face, exposing only his bright, intelligent eyes, looked both cunning and adorable. Young students would tease him a bit, and some even spoke to Xia Zhi. Seeing their innocent intentions, Xia Zhi responded politely, but her sharp tongue quickly made them realize they'd best not provoke her.

Daqing, loyal as always, lingered behind Black Yu'er and Xia Zhi, serving as their faithful bodyguard. This bodyguard job had no pay, but the food was excellent.

Since following Xia Zhi, Daqing's diet had been improving steadily.

The stall, even without the banner or the "Zhuangyuan Zong" brand logo, was distinctive and unforgettable, not to mention inimitable.

The dumplings sold better than expected.

"Haha, you're back to sell dumplings again!"

(To be continued.)