Chapter 56 The Six Long-Term Considerations for the Market

As if the heavens had heard her, the rain lessened as soon as she finished speaking, and it seemed that the rain would stop just as the firewood in the bonfire burned out.

Hugu used his dagger to whittle a few more pieces of firewood and threw them into the fire.

Wang Yuying hesitated for a moment, but still said frankly, "There's no need to add any more firewood. This fire should last until the rain stops."

Hugu immediately agreed.

As the campfire gradually died down to ashes, the mountain rain stopped at the same time. Water and fire were both silent, leaving only wisps of damp smoke.

Hugu Xumi cleaned the cave entrance, crawled out first, and waited for Wang Yuying outside with his body bent over. His hands, which had been behind his back, were now hanging down in front of him.

Wang Yuying crawled out of the cave on her own, her steps very steady, so Hugu didn't raise his hand to help her, only saying, "It just rained, be careful the road is slippery."

Wang Yuying also reminded, "Watch your step, don't step into the yellow mud again."

The two spoke almost simultaneously, and Wang Yuying smiled at Hugu. Since he regarded her as a confidante, she would reciprocate by taking good care of Hugu Xumi from now on.

The smile on Hugu's lips first froze and then blossomed.

The two descended the narrow stone steps, which allowed them to walk one after the other. Hugu frequently glanced back at Wang Yuying and asked softly, "It'll probably be noon by the time we get to the bottom of the mountain. I have a few flatbreads here. Would you like to have something to eat first?"

As she was about to take the flatbread from the basket, Wang Yuying shook her head: "If you're hungry, eat something first. I plan to find a restaurant at the foot of the mountain to eat later."

Hokuya's outstretched hand froze in mid-air before falling back down.

There are many restaurants at the foot of the mountain, all using the name of Niuyang Mountain to sell "mountain food," including wild game and ferns, and even the rice is cooked with mountain spring water and millet. Hugu asked Wang Yuying, "Which one would you like to eat at?"

"What would you like to eat?" she asked in return.

"As for me..." Hugu looked ahead and answered softly, "See if there are any local eateries nearby."

Wang Yuying smiled: "You seem to have been avoiding the mountain shops all along. Are you worried that I ate so much mountain food that I got sick of it during those three years?"

Hugu lowered his head and said softly, "I was indeed afraid that you would recall painful memories."

"It's alright." Wang Yuying pointed to the nearest restaurant. "Don't worry about it, let's eat here!"

The carrying pole was embroidered with "Cooking Hall." As Wang Yuying stepped into the restaurant with her right foot, she asked, "Cooking Hall? What kind of cooking hall is it?"

As she stepped across the threshold with her left foot, Hugu, who had just lifted his right foot to step over it, casually replied from behind her: "Cook with firewood and simmer with literary inspiration."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuying smiled and continued, "Words and phrases are delicacies, and chapters are soup."

She found a table and sat down. Hugu also came to the table, picked up the teapot, poured a cup, and handed it to the beauty: "After you finish your studies, I'll serve you a cup of clear tea to satisfy your mind and leave a lingering fragrance on your palate."

Wang Yuying took the hot tea with both hands, took a big sip, and found that the tea was not only fragrant but also had a hint of sweetness.

It seemed that only the manager was serving customers in the restaurant. He had come in person and, upon hearing the last few sentences, smiled and said, "What you two gentlemen say is both right and wrong. It's called Chuishutang because my family not only sells food but also runs a bookstore. I was just tidying it up." The manager pointed, and Wang Yuying and Hugu Xumi looked over at the same time. Indeed, there were many books piled up on the shelves in front.

Wang Yuying was delighted and said to Hugu, "Let's order the food first, and then we'll go take a look at those books!"

Hugu nodded with a smile and turned to the shopkeeper: "Shopkeeper, what's the signboard here?"

"Of course it's stream fish, but my family prepares it differently. We debone the fish, mash it into a paste, and roll it out as thin as paper, just like dough. Then we wrap it around black mountain pig meat to make fish dumplings. We cook them together with spring water, bamboo shoots, and quail eggs, and serve the whole pot on the table." The shopkeeper gestured as he spoke, rolling the dough with force, and finally raising both hands in the air as if carrying a pot. "This is something you can only find in our family throughout the entire capital."

Hugu Xumi smiled and said, "Then let's have a pot of stream fish."

"Would you like anything else, sir?" The innkeeper, ever observant, handed the menu directly to Wang Yuying.

She looked around for a while and asked the shopkeeper, "How many stream fish are in a pot?"

"Enough for three or four people."

Wang Yuying wanted to eat only the stream fish and not add any other dishes, but Hugu said, "Let's choose something else to fill our stomachs."

Wang Yuying looked down at the menu again: "How about we order some shepherd's purse cakes?"

Hugu nodded repeatedly, and Wang Yuying handed him the menu: "I don't want to order anything else. Do you see if there's anything you'd like to add?"

As soon as I finished speaking, I smelled something.

Hugu took it and looked at it for a moment: "Add some scallions."

Return the menu to the shopkeeper.

"Wait!" Wang Yuying suddenly called out.

Hugu turned around and saw her sniff. He was taken aback, then lowered his head and chuckled, "Shopkeeper, add another serving of fermented rice wine."

"Alright! You have a keen nose, sir. The fermented rice wine in our kitchen has just been opened. It's sweet but not greasy, and it's also very mellow. I suggest you both order just a small bowl first, otherwise you might get drunk."

"Then let's have two bowls first."

The shopkeeper readily agreed and told the two that all the ingredients were freshly killed and cooked, so they would have to wait a while. Wang Yuying and Hugu both said it was no problem, and took the opportunity to pick out some books. Wang Yuying searched through the books, saying, "There is someone who has been engrossed in classical texts lately, with a book in his hand all the time. I would like to pick out a few books and give them to him when we meet in a couple of days."

Hugu smiled but remained silent.

Wang Yuying placed her hand on the "Six Secret Teachings" and hesitated: "Six Secret Teachings" is a must-read military book, suitable for Jingye, but he had been reading "Sun Tzu's Art of War" since the beginning, and he may have already finished reading such books, otherwise why would he later study "The Book of Rites"?

Wang Yuying shifted her focus and ultimately chose the Spring and Autumn Annals and several other historical books, all with detailed annotations.

Hugu laughed and said, "Now I believe that there really is such a person, and that you didn't just want to see it yourself."

She must have read these books before; otherwise, she wouldn't be reading the annotated version with step-by-step instructions.

Wang Yuying gripped the book and remained silent for a while before saying to the bookshelf, "Actually, this person is my lover."

As she spoke, she felt inexplicably nervous and dared not look at Hugu Xumi's face. But the less she looked, the more uneasy she became. When she finally looked, she saw that he was calm and composed.

Wang Yuying parted her lips in surprise, then quickly composed herself, looking back at the bookshelf, intending to cover it up.

Hugu pressed on, asking, "Why do you look like that?"

Wang Yuying had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer, "Because I'm a little surprised that you're not surprised at all."

Hokuya ran his fingers across the shelf: "Since I've decided to visit a friend, shouldn't I at least inquire about how my old friend is doing before I come?"

He took out a copy of "Huangji Jingshi Shu" and a copy of "Gongsun Longzi", held them in his hands, and turned his whole body to face Wang Yuying: "If I have offended you, please forgive me."

After a long silence, Wang Yuying smiled and said, "It seems you know everything about me, but I know nothing about you."

“How can you say you know nothing?” Hugu Xumi lowered his head, their faces drawing closer. “Besides, if you want to know more… I’m not leaving the capital anytime soon, so we can arrange to meet again, brew tea, and I’ll explain everything in detail. Which place is convenient for you? A restaurant? A teahouse? Or perhaps I could go to your home like last time?”

"Will you be staying in Beijing for the foreseeable future?" Wang Yuying asked.

Hugu Xumi nodded: "In the next month or so, Zheng Shaoqing and Wu, the Minister of Rites, will guide me to view the scenic spots of the capital, visit famous gardens and ancient temples, or enter shopping malls and thoroughfares. I do not yet know the specific destinations."

Wang Yuying remained silent. Indeed, the current dynasty had a custom of guiding the rulers and envoys of vassal states to tour the capital, allowing the barbarians to witness firsthand the abundance, culture, prosperity, and glory of the Central Plains, thus showcasing the grandeur of the Celestial Empire.

Hugu explained in detail: "There are also matters concerning trade, regulations for mutual markets, and commercial contracts. Perhaps I will also play a game of polo with His Majesty. During the audience, I will also have to socialize with the rulers of various countries as is customary. I will probably stay until the winter solstice, and then leave the capital after watching the winter solstice ceremony."

“You must be very busy…” Wang Yuying thought that if he was too busy, she wouldn’t bother him. Before she could finish her sentence, Hugu interrupted her: “By the way, if you want to go to a restaurant, the other night the envoy from Xiqi invited me to a Hu restaurant called Night Light Cup. It has unique Hu cuisine, beautiful foreign dances, and no curfew. It doesn’t close until 9 pm. You can go directly to the government office to go. You don’t need to wait for your day off.”

Before Wang Yuying could speak, Hugu continued, "This can be one of the options for your consideration."

Wang Yuying was taken aback. It turned out that he hadn't made a choice just now; like before, he was letting her make the decision herself.

“Then let’s do as you say and have a gathering at the ‘Luminous Cup’!” she said frankly. “But I’ll be busy with martial arts these next few days and definitely won’t be able to get away.”

"It's all up to you; you should prioritize your studies."

"Let's arrange it for the end of this month. Ten days from now, send someone to my house to inquire. At that time, I will inform you of the exact date."

Hugu smiled and said, "Then I will wait for good news."

The fish dumplings were quite delicious, especially the soup. Wang Yuying wanted to pick up the pot and drink it all. She ate slower than Hugu. Before she had finished eating, he had already gotten up without saying anything. By the time she realized what was happening, Hugu had already paid for the meal and the books.

How could Hugu pay for the book sent to Jingye! But Hugu paid for it along with his own book, which was reasonable, so Wang Yuying didn't give him any more money to avoid making things complicated and awkward.

Both of them had arrived on horseback. When they arrived at the temporary stable, Hugu said softly, "Your horse is quite nice."

Without saying much, Wang Yuying mounted her Akhal-Teke horse. Hugu insisted on escorting her back to Yongjia Lane. The two rode slowly and chatted for almost an hour.

When they arrived at his doorstep, Wang Yuying wanted to see him off, but Hugu stopped her, saying, "Don't come out to see him off, otherwise I'll have to take you back to Sifangguan."

Wang Yuying smiled shyly and lowered her voice: "Then I'll stand here and watch you go."

Hugu stared at her pair of bright, watery eyes; she was truly the girl with the most sparkling eyes he had ever seen.

"I'm going." Hugu turned around, but she kept looking back as she walked down the alley. When she waved to Wang Yuying for the third time, she finally couldn't help but laugh.

After Hugu left, when she passed through three doors and entered the main hall, the smile on her face remained unchanged.

Chu Ying was eating snacks in the hall when she deliberately called out, "Miss Wang—"

Wang Yuying turned her head to the side.

Chu Ying paused chewing: "Miss Wang seems to be in a very good mood today!"

"Really?" Wang Yuying immediately asked back. She was quite serious on the mountain in the morning, but she had indeed been amused by Hugu at the door just now.

Chu Ying said, "Touch your eyebrows yourself. They're usually furrowed, but now they're all relaxed."

Wang Yuying raised her hand to touch her eyebrows, as if to say, "When I was seeing Ami off just now, he made me laugh all of a sudden."

Chu Ying smiled too; of course, she wanted Wang Yuying to be happy.

Chu Ying popped a chestnut into her mouth: "Want some chestnuts? They were just roasted by Shuangtian."

Wang Yuying sat down and ate with Chu Ying while chatting about other things. She went to bed on time and slept soundly all night.

The next day, the Ministry of War was on duty as usual.

There were nine people in total, including Wang Yuying. They all brought their own meals and sat in the hall to enjoy their respective food boxes at lunchtime.

Liao Qing brought a box of braised chicken wings, first giving some to Wang Yuying, then distributing them to the others, two wings to each person. Just as Wang Yuying was about to suck on the wings, a young eunuch came in and announced in a shrill voice from outside the door: "Lord Wang, His Majesty requests your presence to discuss matters concerning the martial arts examination."

Wang Yuying composed herself. There were nine people in the room, and she was the only one with the surname Wang. So what kind of adult was she?!

The food in the food box suddenly felt cold, and there was no braised chicken wings to eat. He put down his chopsticks and left with the eunuch.

Fortunately, the eunuch did not personally guide her, but walked far ahead. For a moment, Wang Yuying even wondered if the eunuch would notice if she turned around and left.

Wait, speaking of noticing... Wang Yuying turned around sharply and saw a scarlet figure quickly chasing after her from the direction of the Court of State Ceremonies. Who else could it be but Zheng Yangzhi?

She took one step, Zheng Yangzhi took two; she walked quickly, Zheng Yangzhi jogged. She couldn't help but turn her head to look at him—this man disregarded his disheveled appearance just to walk alongside her?

Fine, let's listen to what he has to say.

Wang Yuying slowed her pace: "Lord Zheng, what brings you here?"

Zheng Yangzhi said earnestly, "Hugu Xumi is cunning and scheming, outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, hypocritical and treacherous, with ulterior motives. He is a person with a wolf's heart and a Buddha's mouth. He is not of our kind, and his heart is bound to be different."