"Sea cucumber?"

After a closer look, Wang Shicheng was surprised to find that the dishes were actually seafood. It turned out that Magistrate Zhang was from northern Shandong, which explained why he couldn't get used to the food they had prepared.

After tasting the sea cucumber and the scallop porridge, Magistrate Zhang said, "You should all try this. To be honest, Master Wang, why don't you give me this cook? I'll find you some better ones!"

Wang Shicheng broke out in a cold sweat and said guiltily, "To be honest, I instructed my daughter to prepare today's banquet."

"Brother Wang, Xue Ru has really made something of herself. She's handled all these things so well. She's figured out everything that we couldn't understand!"

Wei Rongchang joked, a hint of satisfaction finally appearing in his eyes as he looked at his son.

Wang Shicheng was pleased to receive such praise from Magistrate Zhang in front of his colleagues, and he immediately beckoned, "Xueru, come here quickly."

Upon hearing her father's words, Wang Xueru stood up and went over, saying, "Xueru greets all my uncles and aunts."

"Xueru, your Uncle Zhang was just praising you for being so capable. How did you end up setting your sights on seafood?"

Wang Shicheng asked, explaining that he had a deeper meaning in letting his daughter show herself. Although he knew that his daughter was wholeheartedly devoted to Wei Jingnian, he still wanted to have a backup plan. What if Wei Jingnian was heartless? Wouldn't that be a waste of his daughter's efforts?

"Father, this wasn't my idea, it was Miao'er's idea."

Wang Xueru looked at Sun Miao'er, showing no intention of taking credit for herself.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

Under the moonlight, a slender and pretty girl sat upright.

Sun Miao'er stood up and walked over with steady steps, her voice gentle yet firm, "Greetings, gentlemen."

Magistrate Zhang stared at the young girl in disbelief, finding it hard to believe that this table of dishes was prepared by a girl who was only a teenager. "You made all of this?"

"kindness."

Sun Miao'er replied.

"Are you from northern Shandong?" Zhang Shengmin pressed.

Sun Miao'er shook her head and remained silent.

Zhang Shengmin spoke slowly, looking Sun Miao'er up and down, "Since you're not from northern Shandong, why do you know how to cook these dishes?"

Sun Miao'er made up a reason on the spot, "My grandmother came from northern Shandong, and I learned these styles from her."

"Oh?" Zhang Shengmin raised an eyebrow. "Where do you live now?"

Sun Miao'er answered truthfully: "Fushui Village".

Zhang Shengmin nodded thoughtfully, "Fushui Village is in the south, very far away."

Since the topic of Fushui Village had come up, Wang Shicheng quickly added, "Lord Zhang, actually, the reason I invited you here this time is also related to Fushui Village."

Zhang Shengmin, with a short beard and a slightly plump face, looked less imposing and more approachable. He said, "I've heard Shan Qiu mention it."

"Is it about rent reduction?" he asked.

Wang Shicheng didn't mince words and said frankly, "That's right. This year is a year of disaster, and the harvest is poor. The tenants are complaining to me, saying that it's really difficult to get enough grain. Lord Zhang, could you reduce the tenants' taxes?"

Zhang Shengmin looked troubled and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Shicheng, heavy taxes are not my intention. You have heard the rumors outside. The Prince of Wei has ulterior motives. Although it is just a rumor, the court cannot not make preparations!"

"If war really breaks out, the soldiers on the front lines can't go hungry!"

As Zhang Shengmin's voice fell, a clear and melodious female voice followed. Sun Miao'er said, "Sir, what you say is true, but if you really don't reduce taxes, the villagers of Fushui Village might starve to death before the soldiers on the front lines even have enough to eat."

She stood ramrod straight, meeting Zhang Shengmin's gaze without flinching. "Lord Zhang," she said, "I am from Fushui Village. Half of the land in Pingnan City is in Fushui Village. This year, we first suffered from drought, then from windstorms, and then from insect plagues. Six or seven out of ten grains of wheat are empty. The villagers are complaining endlessly. Instead of talking about rent reduction or tax relief, they want it to be even worse than in previous years. Isn't this going to cut off the people's way out?"

Her words were concise and to the point, her thinking meticulous and her expression clear, leaving the merchants completely stunned.

How could a girl from the countryside have such insights?

Zhang Shengmin had heard similar arguments before, but he was powerless to do anything about it. After all, these were orders from above, and if he couldn't deliver the grain, he would lose his head. "Miss, that's not how it works. How could I not sympathize with the people's hardships? But as citizens of our dynasty, we should prioritize the country and our families. How can we only care about our own survival and neglect the nation? The country comes before the family!"

Sun Miao'er knew that Zhang Shengmin didn't want to agree to this, so she was prepared. "Lord Zhang, I have a suggestion. May I ask?"

"Please feel free to speak."

Sun Miao'er nodded, her eyes clear. "How about in a few days, Lord Zhang can send Constable Shan back to Fushui Village with me to submit a petition and report the truth to the court? I don't believe that our great dynasty, which has lasted for a hundred years, can really disregard the lives and deaths of its people."

"If Your Excellency does not agree, I am willing to travel thousands of miles to the capital to personally petition on behalf of the villagers of Fushui Village."

Sun Miao'er's words were resounding and particularly clear in the room.

For a moment, it seemed as if all the singing and dancing music had been drowned out, and only her powerful words could be heard.

Zhang Shengmin hadn't expected this girl to have such courage, and what he needed was someone to take the blame. If she could clarify the matter and present it to the higher-ups, even if the higher-ups investigated, he could easily clear his name.

"Then let's do as you say. Shanqiu, go to Fushui Village in a few days."

Danqiu accepted the order and replied, "Yes."

Wang Shicheng never expected that the problem he didn't know how to start would be solved by this girl in just a few words. It seems that Xue Ru was right, this girl is not simple.

The atmosphere at the table returned to its previous calm and peaceful state, with some drinking and others enjoying the food.

"Oh, right, I have a treasure I haven't shown you all today. Bring it here!"

Wang Shicheng waved his hand, and a servant carried up a wooden frame covered with a red cloth, which looked quite novel.

Sun Miao'er wondered if his mysterious act was related to the fruit that Wang Xueru had mentioned traveling from afar.

When the servant lifted the red cloth, Sun Miao'er was truly dumbfounded.

Isn't it jackfruit?

"Ladies and gentlemen, this fruit is called jackfruit. I obtained it by chance when I was doing business with merchants from the south. I heard that it is sweet and delicious, so I came to invite you to taste it."

It is indeed sweet and delicious, but it looks like it has a hard outer shell.

Moreover, he is not good-looking.

It was indeed novel, especially for someone like Zhang Shengmin from the north, who had never seen anything like it before. He left his seat and went closer to examine it carefully. "The food is novel, but how do we eat it?"

He tapped the outer shell; it was incredibly hard, rough and prickly to the touch.