Today is the first day of the Capital City's preliminary wrestling competition. As usual, Gong Xiaohua first went to the Ministry of Justice to meet up with other contestants, then they went to the competition venue together.
Madam Gong and Gong Dafu got up before dawn and set off for the venue to grab good seats and try to sell all their braised food.
This time when selling braised food, they would cut it up for the audience to eat while watching the competition.
Gong Xiaohua was still very confident in the braised food business. After all, this was the only delicacy of its kind in the Da Ye Dynasty. As long as someone tried a bite, they would want more. The taste was unforgettable.
Since the wrestling competition was a major event held by the Da Ye Dynasty, they would choose to rest for a day on the first day of each preliminary and final competition to show the importance of the event.
Gong Xiaohua rode to the suburbs with her colleagues, following Minister Li, Vice Minister Lin and other directors. The ministry was quite generous this time, providing good horses for everyone.
Before leaving, Manager Wu from her division pulled her aside. It was rare for their Prison Division to have such a good wrestler this year who was likely to place in the finals. If he placed, his position could change. Thinking of this, Wu couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear. The other managers looked at him, almost turning green with envy.
"Xiaohua, how are the preparations going?"
"Sir, everything is ready."
"Good, good. Do you think you can make it to the finals?"
"Sir, I don't know. I've never competed before. If the others' skills are similar to ours here, I'm 100% confident I can enter the finals."
Hearing Gong Xiaohua’s words, Manager Wu didn’t know whether to feel sad for the Ministry or happy for himself. But there was no time to worry about that now. As long as Xiaohua was confident of entering the finals, that was good enough.
So he said to her, "Very good, that's the kind of confidence you need. If you encounter any difficulties, speak up, and I will definitely do my best to help you resolve them."
Gong Xiaohua frowned. Since he was so straightforward, she shouldn't hold back her request.
"Manager, if I make it into the finals, can I get a subsidy of a few dozen taels? Not much, just a few dozen will do."
Gong Xiaohua's only motivation now was to save more money, because at 18 years old, who knows what would happen.
Manager Wu twitched his mouth. Should he be sad for the ministry or happy for himself? But there was no time to worry about that now. As long as Xiaohua was confident of entering the finals, that was good enough.
So he said to her, "That's too much. I can't give that much, three taels of silver at most."
"Sir, isn't that too little?"
"Asking for a few dozen taels right off the bat, do you even know what that means? That's all I can give. If you keep complaining, you'll get nothing. Now get out of my sight!"
"Yes sir." She was afraid if she hesitated any longer, even those three taels would disappear.
Watching Gong Xiaohua leave, Manager Wu pressed his forehead. Why was she so money grubbing?
When they arrived at the suburbs, there was already a sea of people outside the arena.
All kinds of trinket stands, toy stands, snack stands had been set up.
The shouts of vendors, customers haggling over prices, and children's laughter mingled with the clip-clop of aristocratic carriages.
The goods attracted many young ladies, young masters, and madams from aristocratic families. Although these things were nothing special, they were novel curiosities.
Especially the braised food and vegetable pancakes which they had never seen before. The tastes were extremely delicious.
Sitting atop her horse, Gong Xiaohua could clearly see two booths surrounded by crowds – her cousin's braised food stand and Gou Dan's vegetable pancake stand.
Madam Gong had only come to deliver things for her nephew at first and was about to head back. But when the braised food came out, the smell attracted passersby to come up and ask questions.
It was Gong Dafu's first time doing business in the bustling Capital City. At first he was very nervous and stuttered when he spoke. Seeing this, Madam Gong stayed to help out. Who would have thought they wouldn't be able to leave! Business was too good. And Gong Dafu also quickly became skilled at his work.
The vegetable pancake stand was run by Gou Dan and several other children. Some called out to attract customers, some cooked the pancakes, some collected money. The division of labor was very good.
This time Gou Dan and the other children were all dressed in clean clothes. Their faces and hands were also washed clean. It seemed they were doing quite well since she left.
One of the children saw Gong Xiaohua and waved at her, shouting "Sister Xiaohua!" Hearing Xiao Tiedan call out sister, the other children also waved when they saw it was her.
Gou Dan put down the pancake in her hand and told the others to watch the stand. Then she ran towards Gong Xiaohua.
Seeing this, Gong Xiaohua jumped down from her horse and went to the back of the line to wait for Gou Dan.
"Sister, are you here for the competition?"
"Yes, you guys are here selling vegetable pancakes? Business looks pretty good!"
"Yeah, it's going well! Ever since big sister taught us to sell vegetable pancakes, we've been doing great business every day, and we have enough to eat and stay warm, and even save some money!"
"That's good to hear. Are things ok with your brothers? Has anyone bullied you guys?"
"Sister, we're fine! And no one dares bully us."
"Even if they try, we'll say our big sister works at the Ministry of Justice. Then no one dares bother us!"
"Very good. Go on, sister has to go into the arena now. I'll come see you another day."
"Ok sister, wish you victory in the competition!"
"Thank you Gou Dan. Hurry back now!"
Only after seeing Gou Dan run back to her stand did Gong Xiaohua get back on her horse to catch up with her team.
"Wasn't that the beggar wandering the streets before? Now they have a business? You two seem quite familiar." Leader Yang said when he saw Gong Xiaohua return.
"Yes, I watch over them. Help me keep an eye on them if you see them around." Gong Xiaohua unabashedly demanded.
"No problem."
Ever since Leader Yang was defeated by Gong Xiaohua in the last competition and followed her to learn the Eight Slash Saber technique, the two had become quite familiar with each other and no longer stood on ceremony.
There were 200 participants from 5 institutions in today's preliminary competition, competing for the top 30 spots.
10 were from the Ministry of Justice, 50 from the Five Armies of the Ministry of War, 10 from the Ministry of Justice, 10 from the Prefect, and 120 from the Imperial Guard Twelve Divisions. The strongest contenders were the Ministry of War and the Imperial Guards.
The competition would start at the first quarter past noon. It was currently mid-morning.
The spectator stands were already gradually filling up with people.
Each aristocratic family had set up independent viewing pavilions with superior locations.
The contestants were currently gathered in the waiting hall behind the arena, sizing each other up.
Seeing there was still some time before the competition, Gong Xiaohua made an excuse to go out for some air.
