Chapter 51 The academy opens! The soup dumplings are smooth and chewy, the fish skin is crispy...

The fish skin in the earthenware pot in front of her was fried until golden brown and glistening, and the enticing aroma kept wafting into her nose. Aunt Gu didn't stand on ceremony anymore. She was so overwhelmed by the aroma that she couldn't say anything polite. She smiled, picked up her chopsticks, and said, "I've known about your cooking skills for a long time. It must be delicious."

So she and Uncle Gu started eating almost simultaneously, each picking up a piece of fish and putting it in their mouths. The first thing they tasted was the crispy outer layer, which made a "crunch" sound with a gentle bite. But this crispness wasn't a dry kind of crispness; the fish had already soaked up the rich broth, so it was both flavorful and fragrant when chewed.

The second bite was of tender fish meat. The fish meat was first grilled and then stewed, and had already been marinated with Sichuan peppercorns and other seasonings. On top of the natural sweetness of the fish meat, there was an incredibly rich aroma of seasonings and a unique charred fragrance after being poured with hot oil. You couldn't taste any fishy smell at all.

They knew that Sister Shen was a good cook, so Aunt Gu and Uncle Gu had high expectations for the grilled fish, but they didn't expect it to be so delicious.

“Let’s eat the fish first. Fish will inevitably get tough if it’s simmered in the broth for too long. After the fish, we can eat the side dishes and soup dumplings. If you’re still not satisfied with just the soup dumplings, I also steamed some rice. You can pour the broth from this grilled fish over the rice; it’s extremely delicious.” Shen Miao smiled and placed a large piece of tender fish belly meat into Aunt Gu’s bowl. “Aunt, Uncle Gu, Second Brother Gu, please eat more, don’t be shy.”

Shen Miao's few words, however brief, had already whetted everyone's appetite.

"The fish is so fragrant when grilled and stewed at the same time." Uncle Gu ate one bite after another without anyone having to persuade him. His chopsticks just wouldn't stop. He also picked up a piece of bean sprouts and white cabbage by chance. The vegetables, which had soaked up the soup, were already soft and mushy, but they didn't lose any texture at all. They tasted spicy with a hint of sweetness - the sweetness that the white cabbage and bean sprouts themselves had. With each chew, the sweetness was stimulated in waves amidst the spiciness, and it stood out.

Gu Tusu didn't say a word, just kept eating. The fish was so tender, and because it had been fried too long, it was firmer and more elastic. The meat and bones separated easily with a gentle bite. Gu Tusu would occasionally spit out a few small bones, feeling that even the fish bones were fried to a crisp and could be bitten through with his teeth. He didn't even have time to savor the taste, just kept eating one bite after another.

Especially since the grilled fish is kept simmering on the stove, eating it hot fills your stomach with its aroma. Fish, as long as it's kept hot, won't be fishy and will absorb the unique smoky flavor of the charcoal fire, making it even more delicious.

Because it was so delicious, Gu Tusu buried his head in his food for a long time before suddenly remembering something and hurriedly handing the wine in his hand to Chen Miao, who had just sat down: "Big sister, this is plum wine that was just brewed this spring, take it."

"You're here, why bring anything?" Shen Miao chuckled and took the wine. "Perfect! The plum wine is sweet and refreshing, I'll pour you all a glass. Now, drinking and eating meat, won't that be even more enjoyable?"

Upon hearing this, Xiangjie hurriedly swallowed the fish in her mouth and raised her hand: "Sister, I want to drink too."

Shen Miao smiled and refused: "Kids will become stupid if they drink alcohol. I cooked an extra pot of fish soup for you. Drink that instead."

Xiang Jie made a face and sat back down to eat.

While pouring the wine, Shen Miao also brought out the fish soup that was simmering with tofu in the kitchen and placed it closer to Chen Chuan: "Xiao Chuan, drink more soup. The fish in the grilled fish is still a bit too salty. Your leg is not healed yet, so eat less."

Several children sat at a nearby table, tending a large pot of non-spicy grilled fish. They hadn't added Sichuan peppercorns to their pot; Shen Miao had even specially dry-fried it in a pan, so there wasn't much oil. The children couldn't handle too much spice, and she was also worried Chen Chuan wouldn't be able to eat it. Therefore, this pot of fish had a fermented black bean flavor, and after being dry-fried, the aroma of the sauce was extremely rich, creating another kind of delicious flavor.

Shen Miao only told them not to burn themselves and to be careful of the bones, then let them eat on their own. Shen Ji picked up a piece with his chopsticks first, his breath coming in hot air from the heat, and then hurriedly picked up a piece for Xiang Jie'er and Chen Chuan, remembering to pick out the fish belly meat with fewer bones for his two younger siblings.

Xiangjie was also eating in a hurry, her mouth agape as she scalded herself, and she was so busy trying to grab another bite that half of her bottom was dangling in mid-air. Holding her bowl, she was eyeing the food in the pot, and kept asking, "Brother, is the soup dumpling ready yet?"

She really wanted to eat a bowl of this instant soup noodles, which were full of broth. She wanted to stir the noodles in the broth so that each noodle would be coated with the soup. It smelled so delicious!

Shen Ji took another pair of chopsticks, stirred the soup cake under the fish, picked out one to try. The soup cake was soaked in soup, fragrant and flavorful, cooked just right! He quickly swallowed it and called to his sister to hand him the bowl: "It's ready, it's ready, here's some for you."

Xiangjie quickly delivered her bowl and handed Chen Chuan's as well. The two soon received bowls of soup noodles soaked in fish broth. Shen Ji also added a large piece of fish to each of their bowls, placing it on top. The cooked soup noodles were smooth and chewy; a bite of noodle followed by a bite of fish, the skin crispy and the meat tender, the oil seeping out and melting into the noodles—a rich and flavorful fusion. The two children ate without looking up.

Chen Chuan remained silent, his chopsticks moving swiftly, his tongue deftly and quickly picking off the bones, and after swallowing, he couldn't help but show a satisfied expression.

Xiangjie was very surprised: "Chen Chuan, you deboned so cleanly!"

She tried her best, but there was always fish meat on the bones she spat out, which broke her heart.

Chen Chuan looked up blankly through the steaming air, unsure how to answer.

Before being rescued by the Shen family, he was stuffed into a sack, his hands and feet bound. He was only untied for a short time each day when he needed to eat, drink, or relieve himself. At that time, he could only eat one piece of bread a day. He had been starving for far too long. Later, the bearded man who had kidnapped him stopped binding him because his legs were broken, and he couldn't even run very far.

The bearded man had swindled more than just him; he had several burlap sacks filled with both boys and girls. He would often ask them fiercely what their names were and where they lived, and if they could answer, he would beat them severely until they were too afraid to speak again.

He will also give them new names.

Later, some children really did forget their original names. At that point, the bearded man would hum a tune and sell them off.

Chen Chuan was the most stubborn one among them. Every time, he glared at him with hatred and clearly stated his name, which resulted in him being beaten even more. As a result, he became the only one whose leg was broken and the last one to be sold.

Upon reaching Bianjing, he finally had a chance to escape. He desperately rolled down into the drainage ditch, scrambling and crawling deeper and deeper, not knowing why he had such courage. He was young and naive, but he was born with a tough backbone, refusing to compromise or give up.

So even today, although he has forgotten many things, he still remembers the general appearance of his home and his own name.

He lived by the water and had been eating fish since he was a child. His mother would often buy a few small rice paddy fish, and each person in the family would steam one. He and his father could always remove the entire fish skeleton intact.

His older sister and younger brother don't eat as much fish as he does.

Chen Chuan lowered his head again and began to eat heartily.

These past few days at the Shen family's house have been the best he's had since leaving home. He's well-fed and clothed, he's not being beaten, and he doesn't have to worry about being sold off at any time.

Chen Chuan is still startled awake by the sound of the door opening, but he no longer cowers in fear.

Because he could already recognize the footsteps of Shen's elder sister. After she finished her chores at night, she would gently push open the door. The wooden door of the Shen family was newly made, and the hinges only made a very slight "creaking" sound. Such a sound would not wake anyone, but for some reason, Chen Chuan could always hear it even when he was asleep.

Afterwards, Sister Shen would tiptoe in to cover him and Ji-ge with blankets, and would gently touch his forehead with concern. She seemed very afraid that he might have a fever due to his leg injury, and would always touch it to make sure there was no problem before she would feel at ease and go back to rest.

He knew all of this. He just closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He subconsciously felt that this might put his older sister, Shen, at ease and make her worry less about him. So even when he was in so much pain that he couldn't sleep or woke up in the middle of the night, he didn't want anyone to know.

While he was lost in thought, Xiangjie and Jige were fighting over a piece of the crispiest fried fish skin. Xiangjie was chubby and playfully clung to Jige, eventually pinning him down on the table.

Ji Ge'er was so amused by her that he was exhausted and gave in, putting the piece of fish skin into her bowl before she finally stopped.

Unexpectedly, Xiang Jie put the piece of fish skin into Chen Chuan's bowl.

Chen Chuan glanced at the bowl, then at Xiang Jie'er.

Xiangjie'er had big, round eyes, like black grapes, which curved when she smiled, much like Shen's older sister. But Shen's older sister's smile was more like gentle ripples of water, like the calm river in front of her house. Xiangjie'er, being rounder, had a sweet smile, like cheese with an extra spoonful of honey.

"I finally managed to snatch this, here you go." Xiangjie tilted her head left and right triumphantly, then wiggled her bottom to get closer to him, and whispered in his ear, "Chen Chuan, are you missing your parents?"

The warm air, carrying the aroma of grilled fish, brushed against his ear.

Chen Chuan was stunned again by the question.

Xiangjie, however, spoke softly into his ear, word by word, "I miss my father and mother so much too. But my aunt said they went to heaven a long time ago and I'll never see them again in this life. But you're different. Your parents are still here, and who knows, they might be looking for you too. You'll see them again someday. As long as there's hope of seeing them again, you're much better off than the three of us."

Her voice was soft and ticklish, like a tickle on your ear.

"So don't miss home anymore, eat more, let's grow up quickly together." Xiangjie stretched out her chubby hand, which smelled of grilled fish, and grabbed his thin, scarred hand. "When I grow up, I will become as powerful as my older sister. When I become powerful, I will no longer secretly miss my parents. When you grow up, your parents might find you and take you home."

"But... if your parents come to pick you up in the future, don't forget me. Remember to write to me." Xiangjie squeezed his fingers, her big, dark eyes gazing at him intently. "Pinky promise."

A chubby, white little finger hooked his hand and gently shook it. A long-suppressed sour feeling suddenly surged in his heart, making his throat tight and his eyes sting. He blinked desperately to hold back his tears.

Slowly, he managed to suppress the urge to cry, and gave a soft "hmm." He also clumsily curled his little finger and placed it on Xiang Jie'er's soft fingers. "I won't forget, I'll write you a letter."

“I’m learning to write from my brother, and I’ll write for you too in the future.” Xiang’er grinned and smiled again.

The two children made a childish promise, and because of it, they stood close together, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand. Those heavy longings hidden deep in their hearts, which they would not often think of in their daily lives, and which they seemed too embarrassed to tell their older brother or adults, were now like two interdependent vines, hooked between their fingers in the steamy night.

***

At first, Shen Miao didn't notice any changes between the two children. Ever since the day the grilled fish received unanimous praise from the Gu family, she had been busy preparing grilled fish as a new dish at the shop.

She experimented repeatedly with the side dishes, seasonings, and broth for the grilled fish, making it several times in a row. Her family ate so much that even their burps tasted like grilled fish. Luckily, they didn't get a sore throat from eating too much. Finally, she found the perfect ratio, which perfectly replicated the unique flavor of the night market food stalls of later generations.

After comparing several fish shops, they finally chose the one the tabby cat had begged for as their supplier. It must be said that the cat's careful selection strategy was quite effective. Having built such a vast empire in Bianjing, it knew which fish were the freshest and which shop owners were the most honest and kind. Later, Shen Miao negotiated a long-term wholesale price with that fish shop. The shop owner was delighted because silver carp and perch were always selling well. He had many large grass carp in his pond that he couldn't sell, but now he could supply Shen Miao. He sold them at 35% off the usual price, allowing him to sell more fish, earn more money, and clear out his pond – a win-win situation!

It also includes fish cleaning.

Having secured the fish supplier, she calculated the costs: fish, side dishes, seasonings, earthenware plates, charcoal, and so on. She pondered for several nights before finally deciding to make it 98 coins per serving. After all, it was a main dish, with abundant side dishes, suitable for several people to share around a table. The unique cooking method and rich ingredients justified the price.

From a business perspective, this price already represents a low profit margin.

Afterwards, the pottery kiln delivered pottery plates and matching small stoves. With everything ready, Shen Miao asked Ji Ge'er to draw a huge picture of people roasting fish around a stove, following the style of later propaganda posters.

The picture shows a family gathered around a large table with a huge pot on it. Inside the pot lies a large, golden-fried fish, and the area beneath the fish is filled with various dishes, deliberately depicted as if they are about to overflow.

The top of the poster also featured the advertising slogan: "A grilled fish, a joyful gathering," accompanied by a picture of blazing flames with the words "Limited-time special price, 188 coins (crossed out)" written in even larger red letters next to it: "Shocking! Today only! 98 coins!" The bottom of the poster included the address: "Chen Ji Tangbing Shop, Yangliu East Alley, Jinliang Bridge."

Shen Miao had Ji Ge'er draw several promotional posters. One was pasted on his own door panel, and the other two were given to two idle men who went from street to street. He gave each of them twenty coins and asked them to paste the promotional posters on their chests and backs, so that they could be used as mobile human billboards.

Then let them blow their little trumpets and shout all over the street: "Chen Ji Tangbing Shop in Yangliu East Alley has a new braised grilled fish! One pot of grilled fish and half a pot of sauce, real ingredients and great taste!"

"Chen Ji invites you to eat fish with friends and family!"

"Chenji has been specializing in grilled fish for twenty years, using a family-inherited craft! You won't regret buying from them!"

A passerby who recognized Shen Miao retorted with a wry smile, "Isn't that nonsense? That Madam Shen is so young, not even twenty yet. Where would she get twenty years of cooking skills? What, did she know how to grill fish while she was still in her mother's womb?"

The idler chuckled, quick to respond: "I already said it's an ancestral craft, so the age of this craft naturally starts from our ancestors! It's not surprising that Madam Shen has been carrying it on for twenty years. There are plenty of century-old shops and century-old soups!"

It has to be said that this unique way of advertising, with its walking billboards, is indeed eye-catching. Even at midday, someone came to ask how the fish was stewed and grilled. Shen Miao smiled and said, "It's only available at the night market. Please come later."

From morning to noon, apart from making noodles for guests, Shen Miao spent the rest of her time preparing side dishes, seasonings, soup base, and marinating fish for grilled fish.

When guests arrive, the food is grilled to order. Once the fish is fried, the stove can be lit and the dishes served, which is much faster.

After she finished her work, she urged Ji-ge'er to pack his bedding and belongings for their departure, as it was a quiet afternoon, a time when the shops were nearly empty. The Biyong Academy had sent a young lecturer a couple of days earlier for a "home visit," informing him of the start date of the school year and providing a list of ten to half a month's worth of rice, bedding, clothes, shoes, socks, basins, school supplies, and so on. There were indeed many things to buy, but fortunately, she had already purchased them beforehand. Now, with everything bundled up on the cart, they were ready to go.

Shen Miao temporarily closed the shop and instructed Xiang Jie not to fool around with You Yu and Chen Chuan. If anything happened, she should go to Aunt Gu across the street. She was not allowed to run around, enter the kitchen, light firewood, go to the well, fight with Liu Douhua, or pluck chicken tail feathers to make shuttlecocks... Her nagging made Xiang Jie stare blankly and cover her head: "Sister, sister, please stop nagging..."

Shen Miao gently flicked her forehead, hurriedly packed Ji Ge'er some freshly fried yellow croaker snacks, and led him quickly toward the academy.

When Shen Miao and Ji Ge'er arrived, it was already quite late. Many families had brought their children early in the morning, as they still needed to clean the bed boards, hang up the curtains, fetch water, and tidy up their belongings. Some people even thought the dormitories in the academy were large communal sleeping areas, so they got up early to try and secure a spot for their child that was far away from the chamber pot.

But Shen Miao had already inquired with Ninth Brother at Lanxin Bookstore that day. Biyong Academy was, after all, an official school. The dormitories were rows of corridor rooms, freshly painted, and spacious. Each person had a small bed, and each bed was engraved with a number, arranged according to the admission ranking before enrollment. There were no chamber pots in the rooms; there were special latrines outside the dormitories, which were regularly cleaned and emptied by servants, so they were considered clean.

So Shen Miao leisurely let Ji Ge'er eat two more meals at home and stay for most of the day before sending him off, unlike others who rushed. They arrived at the academy at the end of the afternoon. The sun was blazing, but the academy was cool and shady, with lush trees along the way. There were also a few families like her sending their children to school, all looking at the scenery of the academy.

As rumored, Biyong Academy was indeed vast, with pavilions and towers nestled amidst the shimmering lake and lush vegetation, comparable to the beauty of universities in later generations. As Chen Miao stepped into it, he felt a pang of nostalgia.

Back in her student days... well, it seems she only started boarding school after graduating from high school... Thinking about it, Shen Miao turned her head to look at Ji Ge'er, feeling a little sorry for the child.

In later generations, they would still be primary school students, but at this time they had already left home to study!

Shen Ji was also somewhat silent today. His expression was full of struggle, a mixture of anticipation and excitement, as well as a hint of reluctance to leave his family.

He carried a large rattan book box on his back and held his own rattan mat in his hands. Shen Miao carried his rolled-up quilt in one hand and half a bag of finely sifted rice and wheat flour in the other.

"Ji-ge'er, it's alright. You can come home once every ten days or so. Your older sister will bring you some good food when she has time every few days. Just focus on your studies." Shen Miao thought for a moment and then gently comforted him.

To everyone's surprise, Ji Ge shook his head: "Sister, it's not that I'm reluctant to leave home, it's just that..." He turned to look at Shen Miao, a hint of worry in his eyes, "I'm worried that while I'm at the academy, the family won't be able to manage everything."

As he spoke, he sighed like an old man, then began to ramble on:

“Xiang’er and Chen Chuan are still young, and Chen Chuan’s leg is still injured, so they can’t help you much, sister. Although they can help with chores when they have extra money, you have to manage the shop’s business and take care of them. I’m worried that you’ll be too tired.” He said with a worried expression, “Especially today, when we’re preparing new dishes for the family, I’m not here at such an important time. I just don’t feel at ease.”

So he was worried about her!

Shen Miao finally laughed out loud, pinching his little bun on his head: "You talk as if you're seventy or eighty years old. Don't worry, I can handle the business at the shop. Xiang'er may be mischievous, but she's also very well-behaved, haven't you noticed? When the shop is busy, she never causes trouble and even helps clear the dishes and sweep the floor. Today, Chen Chuan, sitting in his wheelchair, even helped me water the vegetables and feed the chickens. They're both young, but don't underestimate them, and don't worry about them so much. If we really can't handle it, I can hire some temporary workers. There are so many idlers on the street; with a little money, I can get them to come in and work for a day. Just focus on your studies and don't think so much."

Shen Ji nodded reluctantly, but still earnestly instructed, "Sister, these are my true feelings. I hope you take care of yourself. If there are many guests these days, remember to rest more, drink more water, and go to bed early at night. If you are really tired, close the door and rest for a day. It doesn't matter if you earn less money for one day. I don't need to spend so much money at the academy. The one string of cash you gave me today will last me a long time, so you must listen to me and take a break when you have time."

Shen Miao felt a warmth in her heart and softly agreed, "Okay, I'll definitely listen to you. Rest when you need to, are you relieved now? Hey—there's a '甲' character written on the wall of that school building, isn't it just ahead?"

Shen Ji followed Shen Miao's finger and stood on tiptoe to look. Large, drooping banana leaves covered half the wall, but he could still see the character "甲" (jia). His heart pounded, as if he had returned to the day he saw the list, and he couldn't help but feel a little excited.

As I walked over, it was indeed the case! This year, Biyong Academy recruited a total of twenty students for the first class. Five students shared a dormitory room. There were four large brick and tile houses in a row, with banana trees and green bamboo planted along the back wall. Several servants in gray clothes and hats were sweeping the bluestone path. It looked quite nice.

Ji Ge'er, being the sixth child, was assigned to the second room, number one. Shen Miao followed him in and saw that each person had a small bed with a small table next to it, and two rows of chests and cabinets in the corner. It was fairly clean.

There were already two or three people in the room, all boys about the same age as Ji Ge'er, sitting on their respective beds. They looked at Shen Miao with curiosity when she led Ji Ge'er in.

They arrived early, and the bedding and curtains on the beds were all tidied up. One of the boys' mothers even fetched water and diligently wiped all the tables, chairs, drawers, and windowsills in the schoolhouse.

There was also a young boy who was wearing "Aida" (a type of eyeglass), a rare sight for a child with nearsightedness in this era. His father, dressed in a long robe, held his hand and earnestly admonished him: "Before you go to bed at night, remember to put these Aida in a cotton bag carefully. Don't scratch them or drop them. They're not cheap! You must cherish them. Now that I'm gone, you must study diligently and not let me down."

Shen Miao also put away Ji Ge'er's bedding and clothes, and hung up the green mosquito net. Seeing that everything was alright, she decided it was time to leave. As family, she could only see him off this far.

Shen Miao gave him a few instructions, telling him that if anything happened, he should send someone home to deliver a message, or ask Ninth Brother for help.

Speaking of Ninth Brother, she pointed to a paper package in the rice bag: "I made some extra fried yellow croaker. After you finish paying respects to your teacher, take it to Ninth Brother when you have some free time. He's also a student of the First Class, so he should live not far from you. Remember to ask him about it later."

Shen Ji nodded: "Sister, go back now, it'll get late."

Shen Miao agreed and turned to leave. After taking only two steps, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Ji Ge'er, who couldn't help but come out to see her off, saying, "Sister, you should take the carriage back in a while."

He said reluctantly, "Be careful on the road."

Shen Miao sighed softly, then waved her hand with a smile: "Go back and greet your classmates properly. Don't worry about your older sister. In ten days, when you have your day off, your older sister will come to pick you up."

Shen Ji watched his elder sister's retreating figure, feeling a sense of loss. But he knew he had to study hard so as not to let his sister down. He also remembered the promise he had made to himself: he would earn a set of jewelry for his sister with his own hands, the best one from the gold and silver shops!

So he rallied and returned to the school. He took the initiative to greet his classmates, exchange names, chat for a few minutes, and then they agreed to visit their teacher together.

Their lecturer, Dr. Zou, had a goatee, was very thin, and looked rather stern.

But classes wouldn't start until tomorrow, so Dr. Zou said something like, "Students should aspire to great things and keep in mind self-cultivation, family harmony, and the well-being of the nation. Do not indulge in pleasure, nor be lazy in hardship. Classmates should help and encourage each other, respect and yield to each other, and not quarrel over trivial matters." Then he let them go back to rest.

After returning to the school dormitory with his classmates, Shen Ji went out alone to ask the cleaning staff. He learned that the students lived in the east corridor, so he took some fried yellow croaker and followed the trail of inquiries to find them.

Xie Qi was sitting by the window reading a book, with a cat in his arms, petting the cat as he slowly turned a page.

Lying sprawled on the bed behind him was Ning Yi, muttering to himself in disdain: "Did the cooks at Zhuoyintang cook with their feet? The soup is as thin as water, the vegetables are bland and tasteless, the rice is coarse and hard, and the stewed meat is rotten and has pig hair on it! It's unappetizing to look at, let alone eat..."

Xie Qi didn't hear what he said at all, so the only response he got was the Qilin's babyish meowing.

Ning Yi was starving. She got up, swayed over to Xie Qi, and teased the cat with her hand, desperately saying, "Xie Jiu, why don't you make me a bowl of goat milk cake too? I really..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a sudden knock on the door. Ning Yi, with a sullen face, slowly opened the door: "Who is it?"

In the twilight, a familiar-looking boy stood there. Ning Yi recognized him and exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this Lady Shen's younger brother? What brings you here?"

“My elder sister asked me to deliver fried yellow croaker to Ninth Brother. She just fried it today, and it smells delicious…” Shen Ji honestly held up the oil paper package in his hand.

"As expected of Madam Shen, she truly saved my life!" Ning Yi's eyes lit up, and he reached out to take it. But then, a slender and graceful hand reached out from the side and firmly snatched the oil paper package away.

Ning Yi gritted his teeth, turned his head and saw Xie Qi, who had been completely oblivious to what was happening around him. He was furious: "Weren't you engrossed in your book? I talked until my mouth was dry and you didn't hear me. How come you came to life as soon as you heard the name of Madam Chen?"

The kitten climbed onto Xie Qi's neck and curled up around her. Xie Qi ignored Ning Yi and instead smiled at Shen Ji, saying, "Come in and sit down. It wasn't easy to find you, was it? Thank you, sister. Why did you suddenly think of bringing me this?"

Shen Ji carefully stepped in: "These days, my sister has been thinking about a new dish. She first grills the fish and then stews it, and then adds mixed vegetables. It's very delicious. Since she ordered a lot of fish from the fish shop, the fish shop owner gave her a lot of small fish as a gift. Since she couldn't finish them all, she fried them with salt and cumin and asked me to bring them to the academy as snacks. So I thought I'd bring some for Ninth Brother as well."

So it turns out he was also on Madam Shen's mind. Xie Qi smiled upon hearing this, ignoring Ning Yi's resentful gaze, and stuffed the oil paper package directly into his pocket, seemingly not intending to share it with anyone.

However, Ning Yi was quickly drawn in by Shen Ji's description, swallowed hard, and asked, "You said Madam Shen has prepared new dishes? Are they delicious?"

Shen Ji nodded: "It's delicious. The fish is tender and the broth is rich and flavorful. Add two instant soup noodles and soak them in the broth, and it's even more delicious."

Ning Yi couldn't stand it anymore; his stomach was rumbling. After Shen Ji took his leave, he closed the door and whispered to Xie Qi and Shang An, "How about the three of us go eat grilled fish today?"

Shang An asked, "How do I get there? The courtyard gate is already closed."

Ning Yi squinted: "Of course, it's climbing over the wall!"

Xie Qi scratched the kitten's chin without saying a word. He had never skipped school before, but... the fried yellow croaker in his arms was emitting a faint aroma, like a feather, stirring his heart.

"Putting everything else aside, why not go and support Madam Shen?" Ning Yi glanced at Xie Qi, who was silently petting the cat, and said meaningfully, "She even brought you fried fish, aren't you going to thank her?"

That makes sense. Xie Qi finally had a legitimate excuse. He got up, straightened his clothes which had been pulled open by Qilin, and nodded: "You're right. It's only polite to reciprocate. I can't leave without thanking you for the fried fish. So let's go."

Shang An suppressed a laugh, pointed at the two of them and shook his head: "If Dr. Feng finds out tomorrow, you two will have to take the punishment for me. After all, one of you is doing it for food, and the other for people. Only I would go to great lengths for you and risk my life for you."

"Alright, alright! Let's hurry up! We'll be late if we don't!"