Chapter 1996 Barbecue
Changyu smelled the fragrant aroma of meat. She sniffed and asked Manbao, "What smells so good? It smells like mutton."
Manbao had already spotted the barbecue stall, which was blocked by a lantern stall, and ran forward in two or three steps. Changyu immediately caught up and shouted excitedly, "It really is mutton."
Bai Erlang, who had been lagging behind with his elder brother Bai Shan, took a look and immediately stepped forward to stand beside Mingda.
Bai Shan and Bai Dalang: ...
Mingda turned her head and saw Bai Erlang looking at her with a chuckle. Even she, who was calm as ever, couldn't help but blush slightly, and her face became even redder against the backdrop of the lanterns hanging everywhere.
Bai Erlang asked, "Do you like the pearls and fox fur I gave you?"
Mingda nodded, "It looks great, I like it very much."
"As long as you like it," Bai Erlang and she walked behind Manbao and the others and asked in a low voice, "Do you like mutton?"
Mingda nodded slightly and whispered, "I like it very much, but I can't eat too much."
"It's okay, I'll have one with you."
After that, he stepped forward and asked Manbao, "How many did you buy?"
"Six servings, one for each person."
Bai Erlang said to the boss: "One more!"
Manbao: "Although I promised to treat you to two servings, do you want to eat now? There are still many delicious foods ahead."
Bai Erlang said, "I'm sending it to Mingda."
"I have Mingda."
"Mingda, eat what I bought, and your portion will be counted as mine too, so you don't owe me anything."
Manbao was shocked when she heard this. She hadn't expected Bai Er to be so overbearing. But she had no objection. It would save her ten cents, so she waved her hand and said to the boss, "Okay, give him another one, he'll pay."
The stall owner agreed with a smile, sliced another piece of mutton from the lamb leg hanging nearby, and then grilled it on the iron plate.
He was skilled and quick, and with the help of his two sons, he soon took out a piece of cut dry lotus leaf and placed the grilled meat directly on the lotus leaf for them. He then gave them two wooden skewers and warned them, "Be careful of the burns."
Manbao took it and handed it to Bai Shan and Bai Dalang behind him. Changyu was a little flustered, "How do I take it? How do I take it?"
Manbao taught her how to hold it without getting burned.
Chang Yu was very curious, "Why is it served on a lotus leaf instead of a plate?"
Manbao: "...it's only ten cents. A single plate might be ten cents. It's a small place here, and there's no place to sit. Come, I'll get it for you. Why don't you try a bite?"
Chang Yu nodded repeatedly, took a wooden stick and poked the meat, leaned over to take a bite, but found it difficult to bite off, so he simply sucked it all into his mouth.
She ate so much that her cheeks were puffed up and her whole face was filled with joy. She was speechless and could only nod vigorously at Manbao, saying that the food was delicious and much better than what they had eaten in the palace.
Manbao smiled and ate a piece. The meat was more tender than she had expected and juicy. When she bit it, her mouth was full of gravy. She nodded repeatedly and turned to look at Bai Shan.
Bai Shan was also surprised. He didn't expect the barbecue to be so delicious, so he asked the stall owner, "Where do you usually set up your stall?"
The stall owner smiled and said, "I'd like to let you know, my dear. I have a small shop on Dongsheng Street in the outer city gate. However, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone likes to go out and about instead of eating in stores, so I moved here to set up a stall. It's only for three days, and after the Mid-Autumn Festival, I have to go back to Dongsheng Street."
Bai Shan thought about where Dongsheng Street was. Manbao had already eaten another piece of meat and asked, "Is there a Jishitang there?"
"Yes, there is a Jishitang, not far from the small shop."
Manbao turned around and said to Bai Shan, "I know. Zheng Gu once told me that there's a barbecue restaurant not far from Jishiditang on Dongsheng Street in the outer city. It's really delicious. He worked there as a small shopkeeper for a few days, but unfortunately, when a new shopkeeper took over, he returned to Jishiditang in the inner city. I thought he was exaggerating. I've eaten a lot of roast lamb, and there are many delicious ones. But now I know it's really this delicious."
She turned around and asked the boss, "Is your restaurant called Zhang Ji?"
The stall owner smiled and nodded repeatedly, "It's Zhang Ji. So you know Mr. Zheng from Jishidiang. I have to give you an extra portion."
Manbao felt very embarrassed and simply bought another twenty servings, saying, "Wrap them up and I'll take them to my parents to try later."
This is big business. The stall owner was laughing so hard that his eyes were almost invisible.
Chang Yu kept eating, feeling sad in her heart. There were so many delicious foods outside the palace, but she couldn't leave.
She glanced at Bai Erlang who was helping Mingda hold the lotus leaf, and suddenly felt that getting married was not a bad idea. After getting married, at least she could go out freely. She could eat whatever she wanted and eat wherever she wanted.
The boss carefully wrapped twenty-one portions of barbecue in lotus leaves. Seeing that they were all eating in amazement, Bai Dalang went forward to pay the bill.
When Manbao was about to take his purse, he turned around and said with a smile, "Alright, consider it as Brother's treat for you. There's no need to be so specific with me. Besides, my dad and the others will definitely want to eat soon."
Manbao responded with a chuckle.
Everyone bought the roasted lamb and was almost finished with the ones they had, so they held the rest in their hands and ate them as they walked downstairs.
The palace servants walked carefully in front to lead the way for them. Manbao and Changyu walked in front, Bai Erlang and Mingda walked in the middle, Bai Shan and Bai Dalang followed behind, and behind them were Daji and the guards.
Just now when they were eating mutton, Daji had already greeted the palace guards, and they followed directly on both sides. This not only separated them from others, but also prevented those traveling with them from being separated by others.
Daji has a lot of experience in accompanying young masters shopping, and he knows that if he doesn't guard both sides, it will be easy for someone to sneak in and then they will easily get separated.
But there is no need to worry about getting separated, as they have already divided the groups. The guards only need to keep an eye on Princess Mingda and Princess Changyu. Everyone has someone to protect, so they just need to follow her and ignore everyone else.
The same is true for the Bai family's guards.
Going further ahead, there are light tents set up by various houses and major stores. It is even more lively and crowded.
Manbao reached out and took Changyu's hand. He turned around and glanced at Bai Er, who was smiling and talking to Mingda. He said, "Bai Er, keep an eye on Mingda."
Bai Erlang waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I won't lose her."
Mingda laughed and said, "How could it be lost?"
Just as he finished speaking, a scream suddenly came from somewhere, followed by a burst of crying, "Child—child—my child was taken away by someone. It was Pai Huazi, Erniu, Erniu—"
See you at 6pm
(End of this chapter)
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