When Lord Wang saw Xiao Youzhi enter, his face darkened as he said, "Young Master Xiao is truly busy. I've been here for so long and haven't even seen you yet."
Xiao Youzhi remained composed and respectfully cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. “Lord Wang, you misunderstand. You are an honored guest, how could I dare to neglect you? I was just in the kitchen overseeing the preparation of the meal. I hope you enjoy your meal today.”
Hearing this, Lord Wang's expression softened slightly. "Everyone knows the dishes at Chunfeng Restaurant. Even in the capital, not everyone can afford to eat there. I've heard that Chunfeng Restaurant has been doing very well lately. I suppose the Xiao family must have made a lot of money."
Xiao Youzhi smiled and said, "Lord Wang, you flatter me. Chunfeng Tower is, in the end, just a restaurant for people to eat, drink and have fun. It is truly an honor to have you grace us with your presence today."
Mr. Li, who was always with Xiao Youzhi, noticed his impatience and immediately chimed in, "Lord Wang, I heard that you are in charge of disaster relief this time. It was personally appointed by His Majesty, which shows how much His Majesty is grateful for. You are truly a role model for us all."
As a businessman, Steward Sun also showed his shrewdness at this moment, seizing every opportunity to chime in and make Lord Wang very happy.
Meng Zhao had already prepared two dishes: one was "Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate," and the other was "Shrimp with Thousands of Threads."
She had just washed her hands and put on her outer robe, thinking that Xiao Youzhi shouldn't be the type to go back on his word, and was waiting for him to call her.
Then a maid came over, carrying a dress that matched the one she was wearing. "Madam Meng, the young master asked you to change into this dress. Please come with me to serve the dishes."
Meng Zhao's anger flared up instantly. What was going on? Didn't Xiao Youzhi promise to introduce her to Lord Wang? Why was she only being asked to deliver vegetables now? If Xiao Youzhi didn't personally introduce her, how would she talk to him or offer her recipes? Who would remember someone who delivered vegetables?
But since things had come to this, Meng Zhao had no choice but to comply. After changing her clothes, she followed several maids from Chunfeng Tower into the private room.
The group filed in, but instead of serving the dishes immediately, they lined up and stood in a row. Xiao Youzhi said, "Lord Wang, I personally oversaw the preparation of all these dishes today. Please have a taste."
After saying that, Meng Zhao and the others placed their food on the table in order. Since the fish leaping over the dragon gate in Meng Zhao's hand was the main dish, he stood between Lord Wang and Xiao Youzhi.
At this moment, the entire fish was supported by its tail, so Meng Zhao had to be extremely careful. After gently placing the plate down and preparing to leave, something brushed past her leg. She couldn't help but frown, glanced at Lord Wang, and seeing that he looked normal, she thought she was overthinking it and bowed to the side.
“Young Master Xiao, this dish is quite novel. I’ve never seen it before. Is it a new dish from Chunfeng Restaurant?” Lord Wang said, pointing to the fish leaping over the dragon gate on the table.
"This dish is called 'Leaping Over the Dragon Gate,' and it was specially prepared for Lord Wang. I heard that Lord Wang was chosen by His Majesty with just one poem back then, and over the years, he has done many things for His Majesty. Isn't that exactly what it means to leap over the dragon gate?"
Lord Wang laughed heartily, seemingly enjoying the flattery from those around him immensely.
Meng Zhao stood to the side, listening to their conversation, occasionally glaring at Xiao Youzhi from behind. She had really wasted her time, busying herself with all that, only to end up serving him.
Noticing the gaze behind him, Xiao Youzhi smiled and casually picked up a piece of fish. He had thought that the fish had been fried for so long, and that the dish was just pretty but tasted ordinary.
Upon tasting it, the outside is crispy, the fish meat is tender and smooth, with a delicate texture and not a trace of dryness. The sauce coating it has a sweet and sour taste, which does not affect the aroma of the fish meat, but also helps to cut through the richness. It is truly a delicacy.
Seeing that Lord Wang had already eaten several bites, Mr. Li, who was standing to the side, seized the opportunity and said, "Lord Wang, I heard that this disaster relief effort needs a lot of grain. I wonder if you would consider our Xiao's Grain Store?"
Upon hearing this, Lord Wang put down his chopsticks, his face displaying a touch of official authority. "The Xiao family is indeed quite good, but there are many grain merchants in this world. His Majesty has appointed me as the Minister of Disaster Relief, so I cannot make a hasty decision. Naturally, I must conduct thorough investigations to assess their sincerity before making a decision." After speaking, he gave Xiao Youzhi, who was sitting opposite him, a meaningful look.
“Our Xiao family not only has large reserves and a wide variety of products, but also convenient transportation. No other grain store can compare to us. If you choose Xiao family, it will surely solve a lot of trouble for Lord Wang.”
“Serving His Majesty, what trouble could there be? It’s just a bit of hard work. These days, I’ve been so mentally and physically exhausted that I haven’t been able to get a good night’s sleep.” His words sounded grand and dignified, but there was a hidden meaning behind them.
Meng Zhao frowned. Most of the grain used for disaster relief came from the imperial granaries, and there were very few cases where it was purchased from merchants. Even if the grain reserves were not large and it was necessary to purchase it locally, there would be dedicated personnel in charge. Why would an imperial envoy be needed to negotiate?
She stood behind them and listened for a while before finally understanding what was going on. It turned out that Lord Wang was subtly trying to extort a bribe from Xiao Youzhi.
However, Xiao Youzhi didn't seem very enthusiastic about this matter. He kept eating and never responded to the topics that Lord Wang brought up.
Seeing Xiao Youzhi eating so earnestly, Lord Wang's expression turned somewhat displeased. "Young Master Xiao, haven't you gotten tired of this home-cooked food yet?"
Xiao Youzhi chuckled and said, "Lord Wang, you misunderstand. The Xiao family has shown great sincerity for this meeting. We prepared gifts well in advance and sent them to the post station. You will see for yourself when you arrive."
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