After serving his corvée labor, Wang Youliang underwent a transformation, resolved to strive for self-improvement. This development stunned countless people, especially the Wang family, who knew his temperament intimately; even the old madam could hardly believe it, secretly wondering if Wang Youliang was merely up to some trick.

Perhaps only the old master truly believed Wang Youliang had genuinely changed, pinning high hopes on him.

Wang Youliang used the excuse of needing to stay in town for convenience, openly requesting permission to reside there for the coming period. The old master was so eager to see the results of Wang Youliang's transformation that he agreed without a second thought. However, Madam Tian felt uneasy and wanted to accompany him, but Wang Youliang firmly refused. It was a joke—if Madam Tian went along and encountered Huang Shi, wouldn't she fight him to the death!

Upon returning to town, Wang Youliang went directly to Huang Shi's place and informed her of his decision to start setting up a street stall in the next couple of days. Huang Shi was naturally highly supportive upon hearing this. She promptly estimated the needs and drew up a list, advising Wang Youliang to prepare only a small initial quantity, with plans to increase production later as the business expanded.

The day before setting up the stall, Zhao Cheng returned home from his studies to find the house filled with prepared food, a considerable amount. He was not obtuse enough to assume it was all for their own consumption, so he inquired, "Mother, are you opening a food shop?"

Huang Shi chuckled, "I am just a humble woman, and your father has passed away. How could I shamelessly go out and open a food shop? This is for someone else who is opening a food stall and has hired me to make the food for a monthly wage. I figured this would earn more than doing embroidery for a month, so I agreed."

What Huang Shi didn't say was that if Wang Youliang ever abandoned her one day, she would open the food stall herself, regardless of the gossip; to her, her son was paramount.

"So that's how it is!" Zhao Cheng realized with sudden understanding.

Huang Shi smiled, picked up a meat bun, and handed it to him. "Cheng'er, take this to eat!"

Zhao Cheng was first confused, then shook his head. "No, Mother, I can't eat this. This belongs to someone else."

Huang Shi paused, then laughed, "It's fine. The employer already agreed that we can keep a few pieces each time we make the food."

"Really, Mother? That's wonderful!" Zhao Cheng took the meat bun and began eating heartily; he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten one.

Watching Zhao Cheng devour the bun, Huang Shi felt a pang of heartache mixed with immense satisfaction.

That night, after sleeping for the first half of the night, Huang Shi rose to prepare the food. Before long, Wang Youliang arrived and began helping out.

Zhao Cheng was woken by the sounds from the kitchen. He got up to see his mother already busy, with an unfamiliar person also present, immediately putting him on guard. Seeing her son, Huang Shi said, "Cheng'er, go back to sleep; it's still early."

"Mother, let me help!" Zhao Cheng mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Wang Youliang saw Zhao Cheng and smiled, "You must be Cheng'er? You can't help with this work. Go back to sleep, lest it affect your schooling. I'll manage here with your mother."

"Uncle, are you the one who hired my mother to make the food?" Zhao Cheng asked.

Wang Youliang was momentarily stunned, then noticed Huang Shi signaling him, and promptly nodded with a smile, "Of course. Why else would your mother be making food for me?"

Zhao Cheng felt an inexplicable sense of relief, and under the gentle persuasion of both Huang Shi and Wang Youliang, he returned to bed.

Once all the food required was prepared, Wang Youliang left some provisions for Huang Shi and Zhao Cheng, then loaded the food onto the cart he had prepared earlier. Before the sky had fully brightened, Wang Youliang pushed the cart to a spot near the school gate and set up his stall.

This was only the first day, so Wang Youliang harbored no great expectations about how much he might sell. Huang Shi had already warned him in the morning that since many people wouldn't know he was setting up near the school yet, today's business probably wouldn't be great. Fearing he might become discouraged and give up, she had also mentioned that this was just the beginning; given time, business would naturally pick up.

The current reality confirmed Huang Shi's prediction. Few early arrivals had not yet eaten breakfast; only a small number, perhaps drawn by curiosity over a new stall, stopped to see what was being sold. Upon realizing it was food, some, feeling they hadn't eaten enough, bought a few items. However, this group was small.

Wang Qingchen arrived neither too early nor too late each day, so he didn't rush like some tardy students but walked at a measured pace. Then he saw Wang Youliang setting up a stall.

Wang Qingchen blinked, confirming the figure: it was his paternal uncle, Wang Youliang. Could it be that his uncle had truly changed his ways? This was astonishing. Although he had heard family members speculate that Wang Youliang might have turned over a new leaf and gone into town to find work, Wang Qingchen had never believed it; a person's nature wasn't so easily altered just by serving one corvée. It seemed impossible. Thus, seeing Wang Youliang actually setting up a stall now left Wang Qingchen utterly shocked!

Wang Qingchen decided to approach and observe. At that moment, several people were gathered around Wang Youliang's stall, pointing at this and that. Then, Wang Youliang would take one of each item pointed at, wrap it in paper, and hand it to the person, who would pull out a few cash coins from their bosom and give them to Wang Youliang, who accepted them with a genial smile.

Only after these few customers had finished buying could Wang Qingchen move forward. He then noticed Wang Youliang was selling various steamed goods like buns, rolls, and flatbreads, and even preserved eggs. Wang Qingchen praised the selection internally; if Wang Youliang had conceived this idea himself, he was truly a shrewd man. Wang Qingchen recalled the food stalls outside his former school, crowded with people at dismissal time.

Wang Youliang finished collecting the money and looked up to see Wang Qingchen. He immediately smiled, "Qingchen, you're here. Have you eaten this morning? If not, take something from your uncle!"

Wang Qingchen felt slightly awkward at his uncle's unexpected courtesy. "Uh, Uncle, I've already eaten?" After a moment's thought, he asked, "Uncle, you only just arrived today, right? I hadn't seen you here before."

Wang Youliang nodded, "Yes, today is the first day. If business is poor, I won't continue this venture. If business is good, however, I plan to open a permanent food shop nearby so I don't have to endure the hardship of setting up a stall."

It was a rare opportunity to see Wang Youliang so diligent and motivated; Wang Qingchen felt he absolutely couldn't let his uncle lose heart. He encouraged him, "Uncle, your idea of opening a food stall near the academy entrance is excellent. I'm certain business won't be poor in the future, and you will definitely be able to establish a shop. However, one thing—don't you think you should write up a sign or something? Otherwise, some people won't even know you are selling food. Also, you need to name your stall, or your future shop—something like 'Wang Family Food,' for instance. That way, even if many others open food stalls following your lead, when people think of a food shop, they will first think of yours. Don't you agree?"

Wang Youliang was first delighted when Wang Qingchen predicted good business and a future shop, thinking how tactful his nephew was. Then, hearing Wang Qingchen's suggestions, he found more and more merit in them, resolving to discuss them thoroughly with Huang Shi when he returned home.

Wang Youliang laughed heartily, "Haha, you clever boy. I'll take your good words. When your uncle earns money later, I'll buy you good things to eat."

Wang Qingchen’s forehead instantly darkened—why did his uncle always treat him like a child! But he let it pass. Given Wang Youliang's unusual transformation, he wouldn't argue for himself. Wang Qingchen then said, "Uncle, I won't keep you any longer; I need to go into the schoolhouse. The tutor will probably start lecturing soon."

"Ah, right, hurry to class!" Wang Youliang nodded.

Only then did Wang Qingchen walk toward the schoolhouse, thinking how rare it was to have such a calm conversation with his Uncle Wang Youliang. After a moment, he chastised himself: Has the world changed so much that I'm unaccustomed to people treating me kindly? How ridiculous!

After all the students had entered the schoolhouse, Wang Youliang tidied up his meager belongings, placed them back on the cart, and began pushing it back. Upon returning, Wang Youliang and Huang Shi started counting their stock and calculating the day's earnings.

Wang Youliang stared at the unsold food, seemingly lost in thought.

Huang Shi quickly comforted him, "It's only the first day; there will naturally be leftovers. It will get better!"

Wang Youliang nodded, "Yes, I know. I was just thinking about what to do with this unsold food."

"Why don't you take it home? Your family is large; taking it back could improve their meals," Huang Shi suggested.

Wang Youliang considered this, then agreed, "Fine. After we tally the profits, I'll leave some here for you, and I'll send the rest home."

Soon, the day's earnings were tallied. They had only made a few cash coins today, in addition to the pile of leftover food. Overall, it was quite satisfactory, and tomorrow’s situation was bound to be better.

After calculating the profits, Wang Youliang remembered the advice Wang Qingchen had given him that day and relayed it to Huang Shi. Huang Shi was extremely receptive; it was similar to how many people preferred buying from long-established shops. As long as this food stall continued operating, its brand name would attract numerous customers.

Having agreed on preparing a sign, Wang Youliang pushed the remaining food back to Wangjia Village.