Zhao Jia also started eating frequently, asking between bites, "This dish is indeed quite good, what is it made of?"

Sister Zhao said happily, "Let me tell you after we finish our meal. Try these again and see how they differ from what you have in your household."

Lanqin also frequently picked up her chopsticks. Indeed, the food was quite different from what she had eaten before. It was very delicious and did not contain too many seasonings, allowing even the most seasoned palates to experience a unique flavor.

After being served by the maids and rinsing their mouths, Sister Zhao Si had the maids remove the dining table. The three of them each held a cup of plum juice to aid digestion and sat down to talk.

"Sister Zhao, now you can tell us what these dishes are made of." Zhao Jia had already thought that if these dishes were promoted, they would probably attract many diners.

When Lanqin saw Zhaojia's eager question, she knew what she was thinking. Sure enough, doing business had changed her mindset. Lanqin herself had the same idea, so she quickly understood Zhaojia's intention from her anxious eyes.

"Hehe, that 'Exploding Dragon Tongue' is made from the tongue of a certain bird. The bird's name contains the character 'dragon,' hence the name. How is it? It tastes very good, doesn't it? Did you know that this plate of 'Exploding Dragon Tongue' is made by killing fifty of those birds? Only the tip of the tongue is used, and the rest is discarded," said Sister Zhao Si.

Lanqin and Zhaojia felt a sudden unease rising within them, thinking: This is too extravagant. To eat a single dish, fifty birds have to be killed; it's rather bloody. Although the pigs, cattle, and sheep we eat are all killed, at least none of them have had their tongues taken from fifty birds at once.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Zhao Sijie knew that Lanqin and Zhaojia thought the dish was too wasteful and involved too much killing, so she said, "Actually, the pork, beef, mutton, and fish we eat are all meat, which is killing. This bird is a harmful bird, and eating more of it is good for the crops. You shouldn't feel bad about it."

Lanqin felt that her words were not without reason. In this world, many people would kill more than fifty birds to try something delicious. Some people would even kill a bear to eat its paws, taking the paws and discarding the rest. Some people would kill an entire elephant to get its tusks; and even tigers and lions would not be spared for their hides.

Zhao Jia had just been thinking of adding this dish to her Qing Dynasty hot pot, but after hearing what Zhao Sijie said, she immediately gave up the idea, as it was too much of a killing.

"What is that dish that looks like tofu but isn't?" Lanqin quickly changed the subject.

“That’s made with sea cucumber in tofu. It’s chewier than tofu, isn’t it?” Sister Zhao said with a smile.

"Hmm. This is good, the ingredients are simple and easy to obtain. And it's very nutritious. What's that meat that tastes so good?" Lanqin then asked.

"That's not ordinary meat, it's badger meat. And it's from freshly born badger cubs, raised for seven or eight days, and then their meat is used to make this. The taste is very clean, smooth, and delicious," said Sister Zhao, as if she were talking about something completely ordinary.

Lanqin and Zhaojia felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing her speak of killing so casually.

"Do you all think I'm too heartless?" Zhao Si asked, looking at Lanqin and Zhaojia's expressions.

Lanqin and Zhaojia were at a loss for words. What they had just said was indeed a bit bloody, but upon closer reflection, the meat on people's dinner tables was not obtained through killing.

“Sister Zhao, it seems you have a very detailed understanding of food,” Lanqin said.

“Because he loves to eat. My husband also loves to eat, and he especially loves to eat. Let me tell you, the reason he likes to come here is because I have good taste and the meals I prepare are to his liking,” said Sister Zhao.

Lanqin understood this point well; indeed, people who could eat together were more likely to have better conversations. Since the Fourth Prince didn't enjoy the food at his wife's place, he didn't like to talk to her much.

"So, to keep the master, we must first win his stomach?" Zhao Jia said.

Lanqin felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing this sentence; it was exactly the same as the later saying, "If you want to keep a man, you must first win his stomach."

“That’s exactly right!” said Zhao Si’er. She didn’t usually have anyone to talk to about these things, and now that she could hear a primary wife and a secondary wife talking to her like this, she felt like she had known them for a long time. She pulled Lanqin and Zhaojia’s hands and talked to them about many secrets.

When women get together, they either talk about their husbands, their children, or show off their clothes and jewelry. Neither Zhao Jia nor Zhao Si Jie had children, so they only talked about matters of the bedroom and their husbands.

The more Lanqin listened, the more she realized that this Sister Zhao was truly a remarkable person. Her temperament and mannerisms were completely different from ordinary women, no wonder she received Longkodo's special favor. Therefore, it was not surprising that she could attract Longkodo's favoritism towards his concubine over his wife.