The peasant girl has a private space, and her husband is handsome.

As Vice Minister Luo stood in Prime Minister Feng's living quarters, he smelled a delicate fragrance that deeply attracted him.

He looked around the room and noticed that the aroma was coming from steamed corn bread, which was placed prominently on the bedside table.

The bright green elm seed buns, placed on a white porcelain plate by the bedside, looked quite appealing.

"Your Excellency, I'm actually quite hungry. Would a cornbread bun be alright?"

Vice Minister Luo was quick; he picked it up and even took a bite, but Prime Minister Feng snatched it away and stuffed it into his mouth.

This situation left Vice Minister Luo dumbfounded. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss over a simple cornbread?

Doesn't Your Excellency find his saliva dirty?

Wait, something's not right.

After swallowing that mouthful of cornbread, Vice Minister Luo felt the aroma reaching straight to the top of his head.

This cornbread was an absolute delicacy, something he had never tasted before.

He wasn't a person who indulged in food, but at this moment, all he could think about were elm seed steamed buns.

The chefs at the Prime Minister's residence are truly amazing! Their skills are so high, even better than the imperial chefs in the palace! Prime Minister Feng certainly knows how to enjoy life.

Prime Minister Feng swallowed the cornbread whole, feeling that he still wanted more.

He said to Vice Minister Luo, "Are you hungry? Cornbread isn't very good. I'll have someone prepare something better for you."

Prime Minister Feng then turned to Steward Chen and said, "Steward Chen, have the kitchen prepare a pot of bird's nest soup and send it over to Vice Minister Luo."

Luo Shilang was puzzled. Why did he feel that Prime Minister Feng was being so enthusiastic towards him today?

Bird's nest? He'd never received such high-class treatment when he visited the Prime Minister's residence before.

But all he wants to eat right now is steamed corn bread.

"Your Excellency, there's no need to waste money on bird's nest. Just bring a few more of those cornbread buns."

Prime Minister Feng silently rolled his eyes. This Vice Minister Luo is really greedy. He wants to eat more of the cornbread that costs 100 taels each!

Even though he, the prime minister, racked his brains, he could only manage to eat a few.

Look at Minister Luo, dressed like a beggar, yet he has the nerve to eat such precious cornbread!

The bird's nest was served quickly.

Vice Minister Luo sat at the round table, eating bird's nest porridge while talking to Prime Minister Feng, who was lying on the bed.

"Your Excellency, I plan to invest in shipping, but I'm a bit short on funds. I wonder if Your Excellency could lend me some money to tide me over? The Murong family is showing great sincerity this time..."

When Prime Minister Feng heard that it was the Murong family's shipping business, he was also very interested, given the Murong family's extraordinary status.

If we can join forces with the Murong family to deal with that little girl, our chances of winning will be extremely high.

Prime Minister Feng immediately instructed Steward Chen to fetch 15,000 taels of silver notes, saying, "The 10,000 taels is my investment, and the 5,000 taels is a loan to you."

It is said that the Murong family's businesses are all very profitable, so Prime Minister Feng also wants to make some money, since these elm seed steamed buns are really too expensive.

Vice Minister Luo left happily with the silver notes.

According to Miss Murong, shipping profits are very high, with returns roughly ten times the principal.

The timeframe can range from approximately three months to a year.

The rate of return is still very high.

Once the money arrives, the Luo family will be able to return to their former life of wealth and luxury. At that time, they must buy several beautiful clothes for their dutiful daughter, Mingfang.

Luo Shilang took the silver notes and hurried to the Murong family.

After returning from the Murong family, all he could think about were elm seed buns, and he inexplicably went back to the Prime Minister's residence.

A servant came to report, "Your Excellency, Vice Minister Luo has arrived again."

Prime Minister Feng figured that since Vice Minister Luo could come twice in one day, he must have something very important to say.

"Quickly, invite them in."

As a result, when Vice Minister Luo came in, he kept talking about cornbread, which made Prime Minister Feng very hungry.

Prime Minister Feng himself was craving that taste, but he couldn't get it, and this old man even added fuel to the fire.

Alright, then let's see if you old codger are willing to part with the money.

"Minister Luo, it's not that I don't want to give you any, but those cornbreads were made by your granddaughter herself. They're from Qinghe County, the kind of cornbreads that the people revere as war gods. If you can get some cornbreads back, remember to return one to me."

Luo, the vice minister, thought to himself, "It's just a bite, why do they insist on making me pay back? They're so stingy."

"Minister Luo, to tell you the truth, that little steamed bun you're biting into cost me one hundred taels of silver."

Vice Minister Luo was extremely surprised.

Good heavens! One hundred taels of silver is equivalent to 100,000 copper coins, and a steamed bun that costs one copper coin is worth 100,000 times more! How could that girl's price increase by 100,000 times! She's so greedy!

He couldn't bear to buy it.

Why are those steamed buns that girl makes so profitable? Minister Luo suddenly felt that the Murong family's shipping business was no longer so appealing.

That little girl could easily make 100 steamed buns and exchange them for 10,000 taels of silver, and make 1,000 steamed buns and exchange them for 100,000 taels of silver.

Compared to steamed buns, the shipping business is nothing!

The following evening.

The Prime Minister's wife was a little worried after hearing the servant's report.

She has recently developed a strong dislike for Prime Minister Feng, so she hasn't eaten with him at all.

The food was always delivered by servants so that Prime Minister Feng could eat it alone.

But the servants said that the food sent to the Prime Minister's room hadn't been touched all day.

The Prime Minister's wife found it strange; could it be that Prime Minister Feng had gone on a hunger strike?

Has something major happened?

The Prime Minister's wife quickly sent someone to invite Steward Chen over for questioning.

"What happened? I heard the master hasn't eaten all day?"

Manager Chen then recounted the story about the steamed buns.

The Prime Minister's wife found it quite amusing. Her husband was always targeting Miss Su and causing her trouble at the drop of a hat, yet he was begging everywhere to eat the cornbread Miss Su made.

If you really have any backbone, then don't eat Miss Su's food!

However, they were family after all, and had lived together for decades. They really couldn't bear to see Prime Minister Feng starve to death.

Actually, Miss Su is quite nice. If you go to her door to ask for steamed buns, you should be able to get them.

But in the past, her prime minister always targeted other young girls in court, so the prime minister's wife felt very embarrassed.

Only Yuanxi was somewhat familiar with Miss Su.

The Prime Minister's wife summoned Feng Yuanxi: "I heard you and Miss Su have a pretty good relationship."

Feng Yuanxi said with an arrogant look, "Yes, I am Miss Su's most loyal subordinate. If she tells me to go east, I will never go west. If she tells me to chase a dog, I will never chase a chicken."

The Prime Minister's wife didn't care what the silly boy was saying; she only knew that he had a decent relationship with Miss Su.

"I have a thousand taels of silver here. Buy some gifts for Miss Su, and shamelessly go and beg your father for some elm seed cornbread. He's on a hunger strike right now."

"Alright, but a thousand taels is too little."

Feng Yuanxi particularly enjoyed sending money to Miss Su.

He himself was really craving elm seed steamed buns, so he could ask for some and enjoy them himself.

Feng Yuanxi managed to get an extra three thousand taels of silver from his mother to give as gifts to Miss Su.

At the same time, at the Luo family's dinner table.

Vice Minister Luo picked up his chopsticks and ate a couple of bites of food, but found it tasted like cardboard.

The chefs in the manor today are really subpar; they've made such a terrible meal.

He put down his chopsticks, looked at the table full of dishes, and sighed.

My mind was filled with images of elm seed steamed buns. After just one bite, I seemed to lose all interest in other foods.

After tasting delicacies from land and sea, I realized what kind of monstrosities I had been eating every day, and I don't even know how I managed to swallow them before.

"Replace the cook in the manor."

The eldest son's wife, Lin, pouted.

The household is completely broke; where would they get the money to hire a new cook? The current cook is still two months behind on her monthly wages; it's a miracle she hasn't run away.

When the fifth son and his wife were still alive, the fifth family would contribute some money to the main kitchen, but the fifth son and his wife have been kicked out of the mansion.

"Father-in-law, we're out of money in the manor."

Luo felt ashamed. As a third-rank official of the imperial court, his family was so poor that they could hardly afford to eat. How embarrassing it would be if word got out.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, it's alright. I've invested in a good business, and the family will have money in a few months."

Once the ships return to Daqi, he will be able to make a fortune.

Vice Minister Luo was very confident about this.

However, he still harbored resentment towards Su Qianqian.

That girl can sell a single steamed bun for a hundred taels of silver. She's so good at making money, yet she doesn't know how to be filial to her grandfather.

Mingfang is the most sensible girl.

At this moment, Fan Dajiang arrived.

"Master, the cook in the kitchen has run away."

The cooks in the Luo household were hired with money, not under a contract of servitude, so they could leave at any time.

Because the Luo family was two or three months late with their monthly payments, many servants who hadn't signed indentures ran away.