53 Chapter 53 An Excellent Sous Chef
Chapter 53 An Excellent Sous Chef
However, Zhao Tong looked down at the notice in his hand, and it seemed to be true...
This is a classic case of hiding something.
When Zhao Tong looked up at Wang Sumo, Wang Sumo had already drawn several circles on the map and said happily, "Let's take this route. There are towns along this road where we can resupply chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables."
Zhao Tong was stunned for a moment, then saw Wang Sumo look up at him, "But you have to think it over carefully. If you join Bazhenlou, we have to agree on three rules."
Zhao Tong frowned. "What three rules?"
He naturally understood the meaning of the three rules, but he left the Rakshasa Alliance because he disliked constraints.
Does joining Bazhenlou now mean accepting restrictions?
Zhao Tong instinctively felt a sense of rejection.
But for some reason, he felt that the people in the Eight Treasures Pavilion were all strange, and he didn't seem to be trying to restrain himself. The old bald monk also suggested that he give it a try, perhaps he should listen to Wang Sumo's opinion first?
Even if we take a step back, he doesn't necessarily have to keep the Eight Treasures Pavilion.
Even if he stays, it could be to put the old bald monk at ease, and he'll leave when the old bald monk leaves tomorrow.
He didn't suffer a loss either.
Zhao Tong's expression, however, was not as relaxed as when he heard Wang Sumo say "welcome" earlier.
After all, in the eyes of these people, the Rakshasa Alliance is not the righteous path; he didn't know if using the so-called righteous path standards to judge him would be a stumbling block.
But Wang Sumo had already spoken up lightly, "First, there can be appropriate sparring within the Eight Treasures Pavilion, but once someone is found to threaten the safety of the Eight Treasures Pavilion, we must unite against external threats. This is the most important thing."
Zhao Tong: ? ? ?
Although, but, that's it?
Zhao Tong's expression suddenly became somewhat awkward, as if he had been thinking a bit too much just now.
Every martial arts sect would require its members to do the same. Of course, Bazhenlou may not be a martial arts sect, but Bazhenlou is always Bazhenlou of the martial arts world, and it will naturally be duty-bound to help when danger and threats arise.
The same goes for the Rakshasa Alliance.
This rule isn't directed at him, but at everyone at Bazhenlou.
Wang Sumo did not show favoritism.
Zhao Tong's eyes relaxed slightly. "Of course."
Wang Sumo continued with a smile, "But this second one is really impressive!"
Zhao Tong inexplicably took a deep breath; he understood the unspoken meaning—this was aimed at him…
"Miss Wang, please speak," Zhao Tong said calmly.
Wang Sumo put down his pen and emphasized earnestly, "This is the key point: outside of the official opening hours of Bazhenlou, unless there are special circumstances, you cannot use a fish-killing knife indiscriminately, not even to kill chickens, ducks, or fish."
Zhao Tong was stunned. "Why?!"
If she goes crazy and Bazhenlou closes for days, wouldn't he be unable to use his knife every day?
Does he even care if she's open for business or not?!
Wang Sumo wasn't angry; she just smiled and pointed into the distance.
Zhao Tong looked over and saw that she was referring to Deyuan.
Zhao Tong looked at her, puzzled.
Wang Sumo said calmly, "To be honest, this clause was actually requested by Deyuan."
Zhao Tong paused, a clear look of surprise in his eyes.
Wang Sumo wasn't surprised; anyone would probably react the same way. Seeing that he had calmed down and wasn't making a fuss, Wang Sumo continued, "Just now, when you went upstairs at Bazhenlou to get this recruitment notice, Deyuan entrusted it to me. He said that if you wanted to stay, he would definitely have to agree to three rules with you. Oh, right, that's the only rule he requested; he suggested that I request the other two as well, to make it sound more serious."
Zhao Tong: "..."
Wang Sumo finished what he hadn't said: "Deyuan meant that he had been with you for years, and with him around, you felt secure; but now that he's gone, you are your own only support."
However, Zhao Tong seemed to understand.
Wang Sumo sighed softly, "Since you're worried, why not use a set of rules to restrain yourself? That would be the same as having Deyuan by your side to restrain you."
It must be said that Wang Sumo's words were pertinent and resonated deeply with him.
Zhao Tong looked at her.
Wang Sumo continued, "First, use rules to restrain yourself. Perhaps after a while, you'll find that you don't actually need to use this rule at all. That means you've already mastered it. Isn't that better?"
Zhao Tong lowered his eyes.
Wang Sumo yawned slightly. It was indeed getting late. With a yawn, Wang Sumo said, "Why don't you think about it some more?"
Zhao Tong frowned. "You just listened to what that old bald monk said?"
Wang Sumo shook her head weakly, then took a folded piece of paper from the side and handed it to him, saying, "There's nothing I can do. The master bribed me; he gave me the mooncake recipe."
Zhao Tong: "..."
Zhao Tong was annoyed, but when he opened it, it really was a mooncake recipe.
That's the old bald monk's handwriting.
Zhao Tong was speechless!
Zhao Tong tried his best to remain calm. "What's the other one?"
Wang Sumo blinked, somewhat bewildered.
Zhao Tong suddenly realized, "Is it because you haven't thought it through?"
Wang Sumo nodded sincerely, "I originally planned to think about it tomorrow~"
Zhao Tong: -_-||
I didn't think about it, that's all.
They really forced them into this situation!
But in the end, it's still that old bald monk's business!
Zhao Tong said in a deep voice, "I agree to the three conditions. Think it over tomorrow."
Wang Sumo: (⊙o⊙)…
Wang Sumo: "You agree so easily? Aren't you afraid of letting me commit murder and arson?"
After Wang Sumo finished speaking, both of them fell silent.
That's true, they should be eager to kill and set fires...
She offended him.
Zhao Tong coughed lightly twice, then changed the subject, "Then it's settled. Starting tomorrow, I'll join the Eight Treasures Pavilion."
Wang Sumo nodded eagerly.
Zhao Tong swallowed hard, then frowned slightly and asked, "Is it really that simple?"
"It's that simple?" Wang Sumo said, slightly surprised. "Is there anything more complicated that needs to be done?"
Zhao Tong thought for a moment, then shook his head. He just remembered when the Rakshasa Alliance was recruiting new members, they used all sorts of poisonous snakes, scorpions, and spiders. He thought that at least he would have to demonstrate his ability to slaughter chickens, ducks, and fish...
"Oh right, we can talk about the monthly allowance after Master He and Deyuan leave. Master He and Deyuan are leaving tomorrow, so this matter comes first. Why don't you do something for them?"
Zhao Tong looked at her. "What is it?"
“Look,” Wang Sumo pointed to the unique mooncake recipe he still held in his hand and said leisurely, “that’s Master Deyuan’s mooncake recipe, and also the ingredient list. Go to Shanhe Town early tomorrow, and before they leave, we can have a Mid-Autumn Festival reunion mooncake feast, can’t we?”
Zhao Tong's fingertips paused slightly.
Wang Sumo hadn't noticed, then suddenly remembered something and said, "Right, there are no fresh lotus leaves at this time of year, but there are dried lotus leaves. Dried lotus leaves can be soaked in water, so just buy dried lotus leaves."
"Any other questions?" Wang Sumo asked him.
Zhao Tong glanced at the list in his hand, then shook his head. "No."
"Alright, go and rest first. Ask Grandpa where you want to sleep." Wang Sumo moved on to the next task, "Bai Cen!"
At the second call, Bai Cen arrived. "Master, what are your orders?"
Zhao Tong glanced at it and thought to himself, "Is it really necessary to be this fast? Is the work pressure here really that high?"
Bai Cen added, "Next time, I'll come as soon as the boss calls!"
Zhao Tong thought to himself, "What a sycophant."
Zhao Tong turned around, glancing down at the list in his hand while thinking about what Wang Sumo had told him to go to Shanhe Town early the next morning.
Good morning tomorrow...
Zhao Tong lowered his eyes slightly and remained silent.
At the table, Wang Sumo opened another piece of paper and showed it to Bai Cen, "Take a look at this."
Bai Cen was immediately captivated by the beauty of the painting after just one glance: "I only knew the master's calligraphy was beautiful, but I never expected the master's painting to be so beautiful too!"
Wang Sumo crossed her arms and looked at him, "What do you mean, 'look at my handwriting'?"
"Uh," Bai Cen explained, "recruitment, recruitment announcement?"
Wang Sumo leaned closer and asked, "Those crooked, worm-like characters?"
Bai Cen gave an awkward laugh, "It's alright."
Seeing that he was about to lose his composure, Wang Sumo didn't expose him. "Master He and Deyuan are leaving tomorrow, so we didn't prepare the Eight Treasures Feast tonight. Tomorrow we'll give the old man a proper send-off, so we're preparing mooncakes."
Wang Sumo pointed to the drawing on the paper and said seriously, "This is a mooncake mold."
Bai Cen: "..."
That was quite a flattery!
But Bai Cen knew, "Mooncakes seem to have become popular a few years ago. They're shaped like the moon, and many wealthy families make mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival now. They're not widely available at the market, but they symbolize reunion and happiness, which is a very auspicious sign. Anyway, more and more people are making them. It's a suitable festival for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Master, shall we really make mooncakes?"
"The mold has already been drawn, how could it be fake?" Wang Sumo exclaimed. "I've only heard about it, I haven't even tried it yet. Deyuan gave me the recipe, and I was thinking I might as well give it a try?"
Bai Cen was never one to spoil the fun. "Of course we have to give it a try, since the recipe was given by Deyuan anyway!"
Wang Sumo burst out laughing.
"Let me see how to make this mold. It doesn't seem difficult. Boss, take a look..." Bai Cen pointed it out to her.
Wang Sumo also leaned closer.
Looking at the two heads huddled together, looking serious yet silly, Old Master He smiled gently, but Old Master Qu was not so happy. "We can't let this kind of pig take advantage of our own cabbage."
Before Master He could speak, Deyuan spoke up first, "I think Benefactor Bai is quite good."
The old man, along with others, expressed his disdain, asking, "When did you arrive?"
“Amitabha, take the time when the benefactor said that the cabbage was being eaten by the pig.”
The old man was upset, saying, "I can't get rid of this pig, it's no good."
"Pig" yelled, "That's easy, I'll do it!"
The three old men: "..."
Deyuan: "This pig is alright..."
Master He smiled but remained silent.
The imperial court is currently in turmoil and corrupt, and the martial arts world is turbulent and unpredictable, but the scene at the Eight Treasures Pavilion is a rare one of peace and tranquility.
"Amitabha, please take care of yourselves, my esteemed benefactors," Deyuan said gently.
Master He looked at him and said, "You too."
Even the old man rarely spoke, saying, "If fate allows, we'll meet again in the martial world."
*
The next day, Wang Sumo stretched comfortably and woke up from the hammock.
The morning sun was warm and gentle, and the hammock under the shade of the trees wasn't too bright.
First, a pair of hands stretched out from the hammock, then a head, slowly looking ahead, not yet fully awake.
Hmm, it looks like Zhao Tong...
Wang Sumo's little mind raced. She remembered that she had specifically reminded Zhao Tong before going to bed to buy the ingredients for the mooncakes on the list this morning, and that he would be back by now.
That's incredibly dedicated!
"You bought everything?" Since she, as the hostess, couldn't be too unprofessional, Wang Sumo quickly tidied up and stepped forward.
Zhao Tong handed her the paper from last night. Good heavens, Wang Sumo saw that every item on the paper was marked. It was marked after each item was purchased, and moreover, everything had been purchased.
Wang Sumo looked up at the sunlight. Was it only this early in the morning?
"Are the shops open so early?" Wang Sumo asked curiously.
Zhao Tong said calmly, "I went there last night."
Wang Sumo: (｀Д)!!
Zhao Tong: "I knocked on each door and told them that they either gave it to me last night or I would knock on their doors at dawn, and they all gave it to me."
Wang Sumo: Uh...
With that kind of perseverance, they can succeed at anything!
We should view the fish-slaughtering knife and the great demon dialectically.
"Come on, how do we do it?" Zhao Tong didn't waste any words; the benefits of an excellent sous chef were already clear!
[Author's Note]
Family, I'm here! Short update today. I'm currently 5 chapters behind. I'll start again tomorrow!
Go and send out the red envelopes for Saturday and Sunday now!
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