This time, the event at Ming’s Restaurant not only drew students from the Imperial College and many officials, but it also surprisingly attracted a large number of scholars, both with and without academic honors.

The fact that one could read books for free at Ming’s Restaurant was no secret in Huaided Fang. A few scholars had already been coming to the restaurant to read. After they realized they wouldn’t be chased away by the shopkeeper or the waiters, word gradually spread.

Now, even outside of mealtimes, Ming’s Restaurant was always bustling with people.

Ming Lingyi even joked that her shop didn’t need guarding, since they had so much "free labor."

Most of these scholars came from poor families and were very well-mannered. They were only there to read, so whenever mealtimes approached, they would leave on their own, making sure to straighten the tables and chairs so as not to interfere with business.

Of these scholars who read at the restaurant, some entered the competition for the ten days of free meals, while others simply wanted to make a name for themselves in Shangjing’s literary circles.

Just imagine, with so many people participating, if someone were to take first place—or even land in the top three—their name would surely be remembered by many. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

For those who placed, it could be a life-changing opportunity.

While preparations for the holiday competition at Ming’s Restaurant were in full swing, the atmosphere inside Wangxian Building had dropped to a freezing point.

Wangxian Building’s shopkeeper was a man named Ma Ji.

Lately, business at Wangxian Building had plummeted. He had asked a regular customer about it, who told him that just about everyone had been going to Ming’s Restaurant.

"Isn’t the competition at Ming’s Restaurant not announcing results until the day after tomorrow? Why is everyone going over there now?" Ma Ji asked the customer, feigning humility.

"Hah! To watch the spectacle, of course! A ton of people are signing up over there every day! I’m not much of a scholar myself, but I love a good crowd. Those literary types, before they even write a poem, they have to recite it aloud, swaying their heads. I just go to soak in the scholarly atmosphere, hahaha." The customer was a candid man, making no effort to hide his admiration for the well-read.

Ma Ji said, "I see."

He kept a cheerful smile on his face, but a storm was already brewing in his heart.

Once he was back in the courtyard, Ma Ji’s triangular eyes grew even more sinister as he failed to conceal his emotions. ’I really underestimated that Miss Ming!’

He gulped down the cold tea from the table, but it did nothing to quench the fire of his anger.

’She’s full of tricks. So she wants to go head-to-head with Wangxian Building, is that it?!’ Ma Ji fumed, slamming his hand on the table.

His chubby hand immediately turned a patch of red.

The man who followed him in was the bookkeeper, Feng Baiqiang, who was also Ma Ji’s brother-in-law.

Feng Baiqiang owed all his wealth and status to his brother-in-law, so Ma Ji’s problems were naturally his own.

"Since the Master has already given the order not to touch that Miss Ming, why don’t we copy Ming’s Restaurant and host a banquet of our own?"

Feng Baiqiang figured that an event at the three-story Wangxian Building would surely be more appealing than one at Ming’s Restaurant, which was only a two-shopfront establishment.

Besides, they could offer much better prizes.

When that happened, the petty kindness Ming’s Restaurant offered its customers would seem like nothing at all.

Ma Ji thought for a moment. "A competition needs judges. Are you suggesting I bother the Master again over such a trivial matter? He’ll just think we’re incompetent. It won’t end well for us if that happens."

Even though he was the shopkeeper of Wangxian Building, and even though many dignitaries had frequented the restaurant in the past, he was, in the end, only the shopkeeper.

Ma Ji certainly didn’t think he had enough clout to invite the officials who had dined at Wangxian Building in the past to come and serve as judges.

Of course, he didn’t think Ming Lingyi could invite anyone of importance either.

In a few days, it might just be Ming Lingyi’s turn for a major humiliation.

Feng Baiqiang said, "Brother, we don’t have to copy Ming’s Restaurant exactly. Their place is tiny! How can it compare to our building? We’ll just hire a scholar to judge the entries behind the scenes. Whenever he finds one he likes, we’ll write it out and hang it in the restaurant. Wouldn’t that be far more impressive than whatever judging panel they’re trying to put together?"

Hiring a tutor wouldn’t cost much silver.

Besides, anyone whose poem gets hung up will feel honored. They’ll naturally see our restaurant as a place that truly ’recognizes talent.’ Those scholars are all so proud. If we give them that kind of prestige, how could we possibly fail to attract talented patrons?

Ma Ji heard this and immediately thought it made a lot of sense.

"Excellent!"

He clapped his hands. When he looked at Feng Baiqiang again, his eyes held a newfound appreciation.

"I’m putting you in charge of this. I want it handled by the end of today. Also, I want everyone in Shangjing City to hear about it. Go take some silver from the counter and make sure it’s done right!"

Wangxian Building indeed had far deeper pockets than Ming’s Restaurant.

For her poetry competition, Ming Lingyi had handwritten the "Event Announcement" herself and had Xiao Chun and the others hand them out to spread the word.

The people at Wangxian Building, on the other hand, directly hired a troupe of musicians and lion-dancing folk artists to create a huge commotion while promoting in the West Market.

Word spread like wildfire.

Even Ming Lingyi soon heard that starting the next day, Wangxian Building would be collecting poetry submissions from scholars, selecting the best ones on the very same day to be displayed inside their restaurant.

"That Wangxian Building is so shameless!" Xiao Chun fumed, slamming a fist on the table after coming back inside.

Shi Mingyue remained silent, but her veiled face also showed her indignation.

The brothers Wu Zhao Yi and Wu Zha’er nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Isn’t this just plagiarism?!"

Ming Yanshu, though small, was very clever. He had also just returned from outside.

Ever since Ming Lingyi took him in at Ming’s Restaurant, Ming Yanshu hadn’t cut off contact with the little beggars he used to know.

He had just gone out to help gather information.

"I found out who the tutor Wangxian Building hired is," Ming Yanshu said. "He’s the teacher from the academy in the West Suburb."

Shi Mingyue then looked down at him. "You didn’t go to the academy today," she stated.

Ming Yanshu was too young; Ming Lingyi had only been joking when she said she’d keep him at the restaurant to help. The very next day, she had sent him to a nearby academy, finding a teacher to begin his education.

A guilty look immediately crossed Ming Yanshu’s face.

"I... I heard people outside the academy talking about it..." he stammered in his defense. Seeing the disapproving looks from Shi Mingyue and the others, Ming Yanshu quickly added, "I know why Wangxian Building only chose the tutor from that obscure academy in the West Suburb!"