I Made a Fortune in Ancient Times with a Hot Pot Empire

[Read with caution. Temporarily on hiatus; I'll post again when it's complete.]

After Yun Zhen died in a car accident while transporting hotpot soup base, she woke up to find she'd transmigrated into an old-fashioned romance novel. She had become a cannon-fodder character from a poor family, with a sick father, who would turn evil and do everything she could to ruin the romance between the male and female leads.

From the start, she ran into a scheming aunt who came looking for trouble. After Yun Zhen exposed her tricks:

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've shed the "At Everyone's Mercy" label and unlocked the "Guide to Getting Rich" mission. ]

[ Congratulations, Host. You've earned the "Daddy's Little Treasure" label and a chance to win a loyal companion. Work together with your companion to build your wealth! ]

Following the System's missions, she transformed her family's steamed bun shop into a hotpot restaurant. With three packets of hotpot soup base that had accidentally come with her, she turned it into the night market's most popular dining destination.

Not only that, she continually improved the restaurant's business model and expanded its supply chain, partnering with liquor stores and opera houses to create an exclusive club where guests could enjoy a variety of experiences under one roof.

Can't find a vacant seat at any of the Yun Family Hotpot restaurants?

No problem! We have a dedicated delivery service, and we'll bring it to your door. We'll even include a hotpot guide!

The hotpot's too spicy, and tea doesn't cool you down or ease the heat. One star!

Please don't be upset, honored guest. We have yogurt, chilled beer, and ice-cold Yun Laoji for you to choose from. If it doesn't cool you down, it's on the house!

What? One hotpot meal costs as much as five days' worth of noodles? That's too much to handle!

Easy! Bring your own vegetables, and for the price of one bowl of noodles, you can get a packet of hotpot soup base. Collect five and you'll get a discount coupon!

"Exclusive club for officials' banquets," "must-visit spot for young ladies," "the people's favorite entertainment destination," "restaurant service in your own home," and "a leader in shared prosperity" became the Yun Family Hotpot's signature labels, and its fame spread nationwide.

In just six months, Yun Zhen had carved the words "get rich" into her very bones. She left early and came home late every day, always returning to a light left on for her.

But one day, she came home to find that light gone, and the room pitch-black. By the moonlight, she saw a heart made of chili peppers arranged on the neatly made bed. Before she could react, someone suddenly wrapped their arms around her from behind.

A magnetic voice whispered in her ear, "You said that once we'd saved enough for formula, you'd have a little Xu for me."

Yun Zhen's heart skipped a beat: ...What if all I want is to make money?

[ Congratulations, Host. You've earned the "Perfect Match" label, shed the "Wicked Cannon Fodder" label, and found your happy ending with the second male lead. Your ultimate mission is to make the Yun Family Hotpot last forever! ]

*An entirely fictional setting, entirely fictional, entirely fictional. Don't look for historical accuracy.

*Career comes first; romance is secondary.

Theme: Working hard to build wealth is the key to survival