Chapter 28 Chapter 28 We arrived in Bianjing.
The closer we got to Bianjing, the busier the official roads became. Not only were there a series of post stations and inns, but there was also a constant stream of traveling merchants.
As soon as he stopped to rest today, Linzhi found a butcher and bought two lamb legs from him. He was cutting the meat into slices skillfully, saying that he was going to make stir-fried lamb with green onions.
Tao Yingheng watched with his eyes wide open.
He'd been living a particularly torturous life these past few days—he fancied himself a gentleman, unwilling to eat pork, but he'd been captivated by dishes like Linzhi's stir-fried pork with sour beans and minced pork tofu. Every day, he'd been tossing back and forth between "regret eating it" and "regret not eating it even more," his diary scribbled like a mahjong master: September 1st: Sautéed eggplant with soy sauce, not bad. September 2nd: Stir-fried pork with sour beans, passable. September 3rd: Tao Yingheng, Tao Yingheng, how could you be so depraved? How could a gentleman eat pork?! Evening of September 3rd: Minced pork tofu, delicious.
Until today, when he saw Linzhi buying mutton, Tao Yingheng's eyes instantly lit up. He finally didn't have to question himself or make enough mental preparations before eating meat. Instead, he could openly and happily be the first in line to eat meat!
Meat meat meat meat meat meat!
Tao Yingheng was so excited that he stood at the front of the line, watching Lin Zhi's actions with greed, his eyes full of desire and yearning.
Meanwhile, Linzhi heated up the oil in a pan.
When the oil temperature was right, she poured the marinated lamb slices into it. As soon as the sizzling sound was heard, she put all the chopped green onions in.
The spatula in Linzhi's hand flew, and the evenly thin mutton slices rolled in the oil. The color changed rapidly, the edges curled slightly, and the overbearing mutton aroma spread.
Tao Yingheng, who was ranked first, was undoubtedly the most shocked. He couldn't help swallowing his saliva and watched Lin Zhi's actions intently.
As the scallion whites turned yellow and soft, Linzhi added various seasonings, making sure that every piece of meat was coated with a glossy sauce before serving it out of the pan.
Lin Sen, who had come to help in the past few days, was already waiting by the side. He put the stir-fried lamb with green onions and stir-fried water spinach into plates and handed them to everyone.
Tao Yingheng was the first to take it. He couldn't wait to put the stir-fried lamb with green onions and the juice on the rice, and then took a big bite!
In an instant, Tao Yingheng's eyes widened: "Woo woo!"
The tender yet chewy mutton has a rich aroma, and the fried scallions are sweet. It is so delicious when mixed with rice that Tao Yingheng wants to swallow his tongue.
It smells so good!
Happy, so happy!
Finally able to put aside his messy thoughts and immerse himself in savoring the delicious food, Tao Yingheng shed tears of joy.
He ate so much that his whole face was buried in the bowl. He ate one bowl after another until he had finished three bowls and his stomach was so full that he could not bear it anymore. Only then did he show a look of satisfaction, reluctantly put down his bowl and chopsticks, and slumped in the chair, groaning.
Lü San, Lu Datou, and the others nearby were not much better off. They were all very satisfied with their meals, and they couldn't help but sigh, "We'll be in Bianjing in half a day. I don't know when we'll be able to enjoy Miss Lin's cooking again."
Everyone agreed with this. Even if the Linzhi family planned to open a shop, it would probably take a month or so. In addition, they were officials from the Dali Temple and were often on the road. It would probably take two or three months before they could have food to eat.
Lin Zhi heard the conversation, smiled, wiped his hands, and walked forward: "Didn't we agree last time? When our house and shop are ready, we will definitely invite everyone to come and sit down."
"I was afraid you wouldn't be happy."
"How could it be!" Lü San and Lu Datou cried out in accord, pounding their chests. They glanced at Tao Yingheng and said, "We will definitely come!"
"I also want to bring my wife and children!"
"Don't worry, if someone doesn't go, we will definitely go."
Tao Yingheng, who was sitting next to him, was immediately embarrassed and jumped up and down anxiously: "I didn't say I wouldn't go——"
Several people chattered and laughed together, attracting the attention of another team resting nearby. Several men in that team sat together, holding steamed buns and mixing them with offal bought from the street, nibbling at them intermittently.
They had noticed Linzhi and the others for a long time, mainly because most of the convoys around here just bought two baskets of pancakes or two steamed buns from the nearby stalls, and those who were more particular would just stew a bowl of clear soup.
Only Linzhi and his group were cooking with such a fragrant aroma. There was no shelter here, and the wind was blowing in their favor, so the strong and rich aroma rushed towards them head-on, almost making everyone dizzy.
"Brother Liang, why don't we go and ask?"
"Forget it, we've never met before." The dark and thin man known as Brother Liang shook his head. He glanced at Lin Zhi and the others and said, "Be patient. When we return to Bianjing, Brother Liang will treat you to a meal!"
The other men's eyes lit up, and they asked in unison, "Brother Liang, where are you planning to take us to dinner?"
"Guess?"
"Could it be... going to Fanlou?" someone asked excitedly.
"...If you want me to die, just say it." Brother Liang's mouth twitched slightly when he heard this.
What kind of place is the Fanlou in Bianjing City? Not to mention the cost of the private rooms on the second and third floors, even if you eat in the lobby, a dish of fried rice starts at 200 wen, a dish of vegetables starts at 300 wen, and a dish of meat starts at 500 wen. The prices are daunting.
Brother Liang didn't even need to do the math to know that if he invited this bunch of jackals and tigers from his own caravan to have a meal, it would probably cost several strings of cash... no, maybe even more than ten strings of cash!
He'd be crazy to agree to that!
The man glanced at them unhappily and said, "Let's go to Liurong Restaurant."
"Hey...it's Liurong Restaurant again."
"I'm tired of eating it." A man grumbled, trying to make Brother Liang change his mind.
"It's because their prices are affordable. Our Brother Liang knows how to live well."
"It's affordable, but the food isn't very good." The man complained, then his eyes lit up: "I remember Fu Rong Zhuang is on that street, right? Why don't we go there? They taste better."
"Yeah?"
"Forget it, forget it, let's not go to that place." The man who spoke glanced at Brother Liang's expression and said, "Brother Liang used to go to that place a few years ago, but later he changed to Liurong Restaurant."
The moment this person spoke, he immediately attracted curious glances. With Brother Liang's permission, he continued to talk about the incident, which involved a series of intriguing words such as the master-disciple feud, the son-in-law seizing power, the expulsion from the house, and even the accidental death.
For a moment, not only were the group of people chatting excitedly, but even Linzhi and others gradually stopped talking and listened attentively.
"Lü San...Lü San!"
"Brother Heng? Brother Heng!"
It wasn't until a heavy slap landed on his shoulder that Tao Yingheng's mind was pulled back from the gossip.
He jumped up in shock, feeling like his heart was about to jump out of his chest: "Brother! Brother Yan! You two scared me!"
"How is it still my fault? It's because you guys were staring at that person. I called you several times but you didn't respond." Tao Yingce looked very innocent. He saw that everyone had eaten and drunk enough and was ready to set off, but when he turned around, he saw a group of people huddled together, and he didn't know what they were doing.
Chen Yan glanced at the convoy next door with a scrutinizing look in his eyes: "Could it be... there is something wrong with them?"
Before Chen Yan could finish his words, Lin Zhi raised her finger and shushed him. They were just hearing the key part!
Chen Yan's expression froze, his suspicion growing that the conversation in the neighboring caravan was more than just a joke. He held his breath and watched as a man spitted furiously, "...Ever since the old couple of Furong Manor passed away, the son-in-law who married into the family has not only taken the family in, but has also been beating and scolding my wife. He's no longer the loyal and honest man he once was."
"At first, the woman was patient because of her children, but it wasn't until she discovered that the cousin who came to his house was actually his older wife, and they even had a pair of children, that she went to the government office and asked for a divorce."
"What a shameless thing!" Tao Yingheng was so furious when he heard this that he even forgot that they were eavesdropping and blurted out cursing.
"That's right!" the man answered, completely unaware of the voice's source. "The more infuriating thing is yet to come! No one could have imagined that at this critical moment, Madam Rong would have an accident and pass away!"
Suddenly, the whole audience sighed.
Brother Liang continued, "That bastard remarried within three months and even brought in a foster mother. He then treated the two children like servants."
"It was Madam Rong's fellow apprentices who couldn't stand it anymore and took the matter to the government. Seeing that the situation had become a big deal and the business was declining, they hypocritically gave the two children two shabby storefronts, calling it a division of the family, but in reality, they were just letting them fend for themselves."
"That place is Liurong Restaurant."
"There is actually such a thing..." Many people heard about it for the first time and couldn't help but sigh.
"When I first arrived in Bianjing, I had nowhere to stay and my money was stolen. I was cold and hungry and nearly froze to death on the street. It was Boss Rong who gave me a bowl of Suo Bing (a type of flatbread) that gave me the courage to live."
When Brother Liang said this, his voice became hoarse: "Really... I never thought that the old saying would come true: good people don't live long."
Hearing this tragic ending, everyone present was filled with anger. The men who had just been there also changed their tune: "Let's go to Liurong Restaurant and at least support the two children."
"I haven't eaten their oven-baked chicken for a long time, and I miss it very much." The other person nodded and continued.
“This is the only dish they have at home…”
"Liu Rong Restaurant? Are you talking about the one on the back street of Dali Temple?"
"Yeah, that's the one..." The man responded subconsciously, then felt a strange voice ringing in his ears. He immediately felt a chill on his back and looked back warily. Seeing Tao Yingce and the others looking curious, he jumped up in surprise: "Who are you!?"
When Brother Liang and others heard the sound, they immediately picked up their weapons and looked over vigilantly.
Seeing this, Tao Yingce hurriedly bowed and said, "I'm so sorry, we were so engrossed in your conversation just now."
Brother Liang and the others looked at them and felt that they looked familiar. Soon someone noticed where they came from and said in surprise, "You are the one next door..."
"The food smells so good!" the man next to him exclaimed.
"Hey, little brother, what did you just eat? Why does it smell so good?"
“It’s just ordinary stir-fried lamb slices.”
"How can this taste be ordinary?" The man shook his head repeatedly, swallowing his saliva involuntarily when he recalled the taste just now: "Just now we wanted to ask you to buy some..."
"Hey, Ayong." Brother Liang glared at the outspoken guy and apologized, "Sorry."
"It's okay, it's okay." Lin Zhi heard this and waved her hand: "I made too much today, and there are still enough for two or three people. If you don't mind, take it and try it."
"This..." Brother Liang hesitated a little.
"Just consider it as our apology for listening to all the gossip for a while." Lin Zhi said with a smile.
"That's right." Tao Yingce nodded, his eyes falling on Brother Yong: "If it's convenient, could you tell me more about the details of the Rong family case?"
Brother Liang was stunned for a moment: "...No problem."
Linzhi took the remaining scallion-braised lamb and gave it to the man called Agang, while she continued to listen to Brother Liang's story.
Compared to the few who were more interested in gossip, Ah Gang and the others were more concerned about the plate of braised lamb with scallions. They sniffed the aroma, which was even stronger than before, and their mouths watered. Almost as soon as the plate was set down, several pairs of chopsticks fell on it, clearing it clean in the blink of an eye, leaving only the scallions that no one wanted.
After Brother Liang shared some little-known details, he heard his companions exclaim behind him: "Wow... This is the first time I've eaten such delicious mutton!"
"That mutton is so tender!"
He turned around and saw his companions praising the food, which piqued his curiosity. However, seeing the empty plates, he angrily laughed, "You bastards, if you know it's delicious, why don't you leave some for me?"
Amid the clamor, Lin Zhi noticed the solemn expressions on Chen Yan and Tao Yingce's faces. While no one was paying attention, she quietly asked, "Is there something fishy going on?"
Chen Yan also lowered his voice: "The old couple of the Rong family and Mrs. Rong all died in accidents. It sounds too much of a coincidence."
After a pause, he added, "I can't draw a conclusion either. We'll have to review the files after returning to Bianjing to determine if there are any connections or doubts behind these two incidents."
Only a very small number of cases were successfully solved within a few days like the Hezhou Ferry bandit case. Most cases required repeated inferences and careful investigations before the criminals could be identified and finally solved.
"Then do your best." Lin Zhi cheered up Shen Yan and the others, and then went towards her parents who were excitedly coming forward to greet them.
"Sister Zhi."
"I heard that we will reach Bian Jing in half a day!" Song Jiaoniang told her daughter as soon as she got the news.
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