Chapter 36: Really Slapping
The small kitchen in Fengyi Palace looks very different today.
There was no orderly symphony of pots and pans by the imperial chefs, nor was there the sweet aroma of exquisite pastries.
Instead, there was an extremely overbearing, extremely strange, and extremely penetrating smell, like an invisible battering ram, violently smashing open the tightly closed doors and windows, forcefully announcing its presence.
The smell is so strong and sour that it chokes the nose. When you open the old jar of pickled cabbage that has been sealed for a hundred years, the sour smell makes your teeth soften and your soul leave your body.
Then, an indescribable strange "umami" taste, similar to that produced by some aquatic animals exposed to the scorching sun and fermented, came into the flavor. This umami taste was unquestionably aggressive and instantly overwhelmed the sourness.
Then, there is the overbearing spicy aroma, with the unique burning feeling of red oil, as if a fuse has been lit.
The last, most soul-stirring and fatal blow - an ultimate "stink" smell that is a mixture of old sweaty feet, sewer sludge, and some indescribable rotten fermentation product, exploded like a depth charge, layer upon layer, penetrating every pore!
These flavors are not distinct, but are entangled, fused, and fermented in an extremely complex and wild manner, eventually forming a nuclear-grade "aroma" that is devastating and enough to make any creature with normal sense of smell collapse instantly!
It ignored the barrier of the palace walls and quickly spread throughout the front hall of Fengyi Palace like a living plague, and even floated arrogantly towards the back garden.
In the front hall, the atmosphere of a warm (originally planned) family dinner had frozen into a lump of ice.
Dongfang Yanru, the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, an old minister who was well-educated and highly respected, now had a pale face and his lips trembled like the last fallen leaves in the autumn wind.
He covered his mouth and nose tightly with one hand, and pointed at the invisible "devil" in the air with the other trembling hand. He made a "ho ho" sound in his throat and couldn't utter a complete syllable.
The elegant demeanor he was proud of was shattered to pieces by this biochemical attack.
Dongfang Liezheng, the iron-blooded general who emerged from a sea of blood and corpses, could no longer hold back.
He subconsciously pressed the sword at his waist, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk, and his muscles were tense. What he was facing was not a family dinner, but the deadly poison gas released by the enemy!
The fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead revealed the violent turmoil in his heart.
Dongfang Qi Chen was a man who paid the most attention to etiquette and rules, and at this moment his stern and serious face was completely grinning.
His brows were furrowed so tightly that they could pinch a fly to death. He leaned back slightly, trying to get further and further away from the source of the smell.
I had already put down the teacup in my hand, for fear of being contaminated by this "unclean" smell.
Dongfang Linyuan, a man of great experience and wide knowledge, who had smelled all kinds of spices, was also stunned at this moment, his eyes filled with horror, "What kind of weird thing can be eaten as food?!"
He quietly moved towards the window, trying to catch a breath of fresh air.
Nangong Yue, the graceful eldest princess, had a tense face at the moment, trying hard to maintain her royal dignity, but her slightly furrowed brows and flaring nostrils revealed her inner collapse.
She quietly covered her nose with a handkerchief scented with top-grade agarwood, and the effect... was better than nothing.
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian also looked hopeless at this moment.
He looked at his father, whose face was turning pale, on his left, then at his uncle Dongfang Linyuan, who was trying hard to hold his breath, on his right, and finally at the position above him.
There, his always majestic grandmother, the current Empress Dowager, dropped the Buddhist beads in her hand with a "click" onto a chair covered with bright yellow brocade. The old lady's eyes were wide open, and she had obviously suffered a huge mental shock.
Emperor Nangong Yu, the most respected emperor, was sitting upright at this moment, trying hard to maintain the last dignity of an emperor.
But his hands, with their knuckles turning white and tightly gripping the armrests, and his Adam's apple rolling wildly as he tried desperately to suppress the urge to vomit, betrayed him deeply.
He looked with complicated eyes at the instigator sitting beside the Queen - his sister-in-law Dongfang Yuning who could always bring "surprises".
The inner barrage is madly swiping the screen:
[This girl! What's up with this again! This smell... is she planning to turn my Fengyi Palace into a toilet?! My breakfast... Ugh...]
Queen Dongfang Qiwu, the host of today's banquet, now had a completely frozen smile on her face, as if she was wearing a stiff mask.
She took a deep breath—and immediately regretted it!
The rich, complex, and extremely lethal smell rushed into her nostrils like a substance, rushing straight to the top of her head! She clenched the phoenix handkerchief tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white, and only then could she suppress the overwhelming feeling of nausea.
She tried to curl the corners of her mouth, but the smile looked forced, and her voice had a barely perceptible tremor:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Queen Mother, please sit down for a moment. I will go and see my sister... Is it... Is it that the kitchen was blown up?"
This reason was the most respectable and least embarrassing excuse she could think of.
Everyone: “…”
Everyone looked at each other, their eyes filled with sympathy, despair, and silent questions:
[Today...can we still walk out of Fengyi Palace alive and with dignity?]
In this suffocating silence and the pervasive fragrance, the door curtain leading to the small kitchen from the side hall was lifted with a rustling sound!
Dongfang Yuning, today's head chef, walked out first, looking very energetic. Behind her were a group of young palace maids and eunuchs, their faces green as if they were going to the execution ground.
Everyone covered their mouths and noses tightly with thick cotton handkerchiefs, leaving only a pair of eyes filled with tears (from the smoke) and a look of despair.
They held the tray carefully in their hands, and on the tray was -
Bowls of bright red oil, with golden and crispy fried bean curd sheets, black jade-like shredded wood ear mushrooms, tender yellow sour bamboo shoots, emerald green peanuts, and a tangled mess of white rice noodles floating on the soup... "noodles"?
Plates of golden, shiny, sizzling oil bubbles, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder... skewers of meat and vegetables?
There were also celadon cups filled with various colored liquids with thin bamboo tubes inserted into them...unknown liquids?
When these trays carrying "depth charges" were brought closer, the intoxicating smell instantly soared exponentially!
Like an invisible shock wave, it hits everyone's nerve endings hard!
"vomit--!"
A clear, crying-like retching sound finally couldn't be held back and abruptly broke the dead silence!
It’s the Sixth Prince Nangong Lintian!
He couldn't bear it anymore, his face wrinkled and tears filled his eyes.
"Nangong Lintian!"
Like a cat whose tail was stepped on, Princess Nangong Yue instantly got furious!
The terrifying look, as sharp as a knife and containing the "suppression of one's sister's bloodline", was like a real ice cone, nailing her own brother hard!
The eyes roared silently:
Little bastard!
Do you dare to spit it out?!
Since you’ve hurt my aunt’s fragile heart, I’ll let you experience what it means to copy the Book of Rites until the end of time and practice horse stance until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble!
Hold it back for me!
immediately!
immediately!
The suppression from deep within the blood is absolute.
Nangong Lintian was frightened by his sister's murderous eyes and swallowed back the "yue" that was about to burst out!
His face turned from blue to purple in an instant, tears welled up in his eyes, and his shoulders twitched, looking both pitiful and funny.
The culprit Dongfang Yuning was completely unaware of this, or rather, he didn't care at all.
She commanded the chemical defense troops to place a small bowl of snail noodles (main warhead), a small bowl of hot and sour noodles (secondary warhead), a few skewers of fried skewers (conventional weapons) and a cup of milk tea (buffer) in front of each person's table.
After doing all this, she clapped her hands in satisfaction. Her almond-shaped eyes shone brightly, as if filled with stars, sparkling with immense anticipation as she looked around at her family members, each with their own distinct expressions, like stone sculptures.
"Alright! Let's eat! These are all good things! Most people don't have the good fortune to eat something made by this princess herself!"
She proudly puffed out her chest, and pointed her slender jade finger precisely at the bowl of snail noodles that exuded the ultimate destructive aura.
"Here, especially this one! The essence of the essence! Everyone, try this first!"
Dead silence.
Absolute silence.
There were only the intermittent, desperately suppressed gasps and the suppressed, aggrieved sobs of the Sixth Prince, Nangong Lintian.
【Tongzi～】
Dongfang Yuning screamed frantically in his heart, with a hint of grievance.
What's going on? What do those expressions mean? Are they looking down on my cooking? I, Dongfang Yuning, made this myself! Snail noodles with fried skewers, even a god would ask for a second bowl! Humph! They don't know what they're talking about!
System 118's voice was filled with the frustration of electronic sounds and a certain kind of vicissitudes of life:
Host, please understand. Appreciating snail noodles, especially your version with all its firepower and soul-boosting sour bamboo shoots, requires a stomach that embraces everything in the world and the courage to face the bleakness of life.
Their reaction is purely normal human physiological instinct.
I suggest you find a death squad to serve as a role model? For example... your future husband who loves you so dearly? After all, the power of love can sometimes overcome everything, including... the limits of smell and taste.
Makes sense!
Dongfang Yuning's eyes turned and he locked onto the target instantly.
She immediately stuck her eyes, which were as wet as a deer's, full of 200% expectation and a threatening look of "I will cry for you if you don't eat it", precisely and firmly to her brother Aye, Prince Yong Nangong Ye.
The sound is so sweet that it can choke three pounds of bees to death:
"Brother Aye~ I made this by myself! My fingers are all burned red~ Why don't you try it first? Okay~"
Nangong Ye: “…”
His body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Although he had already made up his mind that he would eat whatever Ning'er served without hesitation, when faced with the bowl of liquid in front of him that exuded the breath of hell, his body's instinct still sent out the strongest protest signal.
The emperor's brother-in-law, Nangong Yu, was furiously scrolling through his mind:
[Aye! My good brother! A true man! A warrior! I light a candle for you in my heart! The thickest kind!]
Amitabha... For the sake of my ears not being disturbed by the evil sound from my sister-in-law, for the sake of peace in my court, and for me to sleep peacefully tonight (without being angered by the Queen)... you... go with peace of mind!
I will always remember your sacrifice! Next year on this date, I will have the Ministry of Internal Affairs burn a cartload of paper money for you!
Nangong Ye took a deep breath, the action trying to take the "fragrance" that filled the hall into his lungs, with a sense of tragic determination as if the wind was whistling and the Yi River was cold, and the hero would never return once he left.
He picked up the ebony and silver-inlaid chopsticks in front of him, with steady movements and a firm look in his eyes (ready to die), and his wrist reached out steadily towards the bowl of snail noodles that exuded a deadly temptation (stink).
He carefully picked up a few rice noodles soaked in red oil and wrapped with golden sour bamboo shoots and crispy bean curd sheets, and then - he closed his eyes resolutely!
Hold your breath!
With a selfless attitude, he quickly put the unknown chopstick into his mouth!
Time froze at this moment.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Nangong Ye's face as if attracted by a magnet.
His breathing stopped and his heart beat faster as he waited for the verdict of a life-or-death trial.
Did he die of poisoning on the spot?
Is it painful and twisted?
still……?
One second... two seconds... three seconds...
Nangong Ye's eyes were tightly closed, and his long, crow-feather-like eyelashes trembled violently a few times.
His Adam's apple rolled with difficulty and extremely slowly, as if he was completing an extremely difficult swallowing action.
Then……
Under everyone's extremely horrified gaze, he slowly picked up the second chopstick!
This time, he took more, including more sour bamboo shoots and bean curd sheets!
Then comes the third chopstick!
The fourth chopstick!
The speed is getting faster and faster!
The attitude is becoming more and more relaxed!
That expression, far from showing any pain, instead, between his brows, there was a faint sense of... concentration and... enjoyment, as if he had discovered a new world?!
Everyone: [!!!]
The inner barrage exploded instantly, almost bursting through the top of my head:
[Is the power of love so terrifying?! Could it make His Royal Highness Prince Yong ignore such biological weapons?!]
[Is your sense of taste... impaired? Or has he been poisoned and gone insane?]
[Is this…really…smells really good?! Is this thing actually edible?!]
[Holy crap! The prince's expression... doesn't look fake!]
This world is crazy!
Dongfang Yuning raised his chin proudly, like a victorious little peacock.
The first battle was a victory!
She turned her gaze and locked onto her third brother Dongfang Linyuan, who was wealthy enough to rival a country and had a keen business sense. She hoped he could still be of use this time.
"Third brother, try it! How does it taste? This is the cornerstone of our future business empire! Whether it will become popular all over the country and make us a fortune depends on your words!"
Her eyes were full of threats that if you dared to say it didn't taste good, you would die.
Dongfang Linyuan looked at the bowl of snail noodles in front of him, which was equally fragrant and full of red oil, and then looked at the golden and shiny fried skewers on the small plate next to it, which exuded the aroma of cumin and chili, and complained in his heart:
[My dear ancestors! My dear ancestors! This smell is so popular that even the thousand-year-old ghosts in the ghost market would have to move away overnight!]
If this business succeeds, I'll write the words 'Dongfang Linyuan' upside down and run naked around the Imperial City three times!]
However, when he met his sister's frighteningly bright eyes full of threats like "Just try it," and glanced at Prince Yong who was eating with relish beside him, Dongfang Linyuan accepted his fate.
Just die!
You have to pamper the ancestors you have spoiled, even if you have to kneel down!
For the sake of family harmony (and to save my life), I’ll fight!
He picked up the chopsticks with a fearless attitude, held his breath, and was ready to dive into the deep sea.
He quickly picked up a lone rice noodle, closed his eyes, and stuffed it into his mouth at lightning speed. He chewed it twice and wanted to swallow it whole, just to complete the task.
However!
Next second!
Dongfang Linyuan's eyes suddenly widened!
My eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets!
It was a complex light that was a mixture of extreme shock, disbelief, doubt about life, and "What the hell is this divine smell?!"
He forgot to hold his breath!
A rich, complex, and layered flavor instantly broke through the dam of his taste buds like a raging storm!
The unique "fresh" smell of sour bamboo shoots explodes in the mouth, followed by the overbearing and fiery spiciness of red chili oil, and the mellow bone aroma of the broth follows closely behind.
The smooth and chewy rice noodles are filled with all the flavors, and there are also crispy bean curd sheets, crispy peanuts...all kinds of contradictory and harmonious flavors dance wildly on the tip of your tongue!
Almost instinctively, he picked up another big chopstick, this time wrapping a large piece of fried bean curd skin that was soaked in soup, soft and chewy, and a few plump peanuts, and stuffed it into his mouth!
Chew hard!
The "willing to die heroically" expression on his face had long since vanished without a trace, replaced by a kind of ecstasy of having discovered an incomparable treasure and... impatience?!
“Ugh!!!”
He made an indistinct, nasal sound full of surprise, chewed noticeably faster, and his eyes shone brightly.
Everyone: [???????????????????????????????????????]
If we say that Prince Yong Nangong Ye's "true fragrance" may be filtered by a heavy layer of love, it can be barely understood.
Then the performance of Dongfang Linyuan, a super profiteer who has been immersed in the business world for many years, whose tongue is more cunning than a precision scale and whose heart is darker than ink, completely overturned everyone's cognition!
His ecstatic expression was definitely not fake! This thing... is it really edible?!
And...it's so delicious that even unscrupulous merchants lose their composure?!
The huge sense of absurdity and the strongly aroused curiosity spread like weeds in an instant, completely overwhelming the suffocating stench and physiological disgust.
"Gudong."
Someone finally gave up and gulped down a mouthful of saliva. The sound was particularly loud in the silence.
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian, the curious heir apparent, was completely ignited by his desire to explore when he saw his aunt and third uncle's completely different reactions, both pointing to "It smells so good."
He carefully picked up the chopsticks, and with the rigorous spirit of a scientist verifying the truth, he tentatively picked up a few rice noodles, and imitated Prince Yong, holding his breath, closing his eyes, and putting them into his mouth as if he was ready to die.
After a brief pause, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's eyes suddenly lit up!
It’s like lighting two small lanterns!
Without bothering to speak, he quickly picked up a piece of fried pork tenderloin skewer that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, coated with tempting red oil, and took a big bite!
The burnt aroma of oil mixed with the overbearing taste of spices explodes in your mouth, forming a wonderful collision and complementarity with the complex taste of sour, spicy, fresh and smelly snail noodles!
He mumbled incoherently, with red oil on the corners of his mouth:
"Hmm...this...this skewer...is amazing! Paired with...with this noodles...amazing!"
With the prince taking the lead and the profiteer certified, the remaining psychological defenses collapsed like dominoes!
The eldest princess, Nangong Yue, brought me to see what kind of monsters and demons could conquer my third uncle's arrogance and curiosity. Elegantly, if you ignore the little action of pinching her nose before, she picked up the chopsticks and carefully tasted the hot and sour noodles next to her.
Sour, spicy, numb and fragrant, instantly sweeping over the taste buds!
She opened her eyes slightly, then took a second sip, a third sip, and finally she simply stuffed the handkerchief that was in the way into the hand of the palace maid next to her, picked up the small bowl, and drank the bright red, sour and spicy soup in small sips!
There was sweat on his forehead and his cheeks were flushed. He was eating with such concentration!
Dongfang Yanru, the Grand Tutor of the East, this great scholar of the time, was still struggling with his conscience among his sons. Dongfang Liezheng was eager to try the fried skewers.
Dongfang Qi Chen frowned and was carefully scooping up a little red soup with a spoon to try to share with his grandchildren. The twin princes, under the double pressure of their eldest sister's death gaze and the temptation of delicious food, closed their eyes and swallowed a mouthful of soup whole.
Then, his face slowly turned from a contortion of pain to surprise. Then, inspired by the rush to grab the fried skewers, he also trembled and picked up the chopsticks. With the inquisitive spirit of studying ancient books, he picked up a few rice noodles and put them into his mouth...
Emperor Nangong Yu looked at the magical realism scene before him:
The emperor, who was usually very particular about etiquette and manners, accidentally got some red oil on his beard while slurping noodles. He was feeling annoyed and surprised.
The eldest brother, the Marquis of Zhenguo, who was decisive and feared by the enemy on the battlefield, was struggling with a string of roasted chicken bones that were sizzling with oil and fragrant. He ate until his mouth was full of oil, but he still nodded.
The second brother, the Minister of Rites, who was old-fashioned and serious and attached great importance to etiquette and rules, was sipping the cup of strangely colored milk tea (pearl milk tea) with a thin bamboo tube. His face showed a complicated expression of "it's insulting but... it's really delicious", and he sipped it with a sizzling sound.
Even his mother, the Empress Dowager, who was always dignified and had a light diet, had her eyes light up after taking a bite of the slightly spicy and crispy fried potato chips. She quietly reached out and took another bunch of fried lotus root slices...
The entire Fengyi Palace suddenly changed its style!
Just moments ago, the air was filled with the tense and dead silence of a biological weapon alarm. Now, only the sound of slurping noodles, the crunch of chewing fried skewers, the sizzling of sipping milk tea, and...
Sighs of satisfaction, whispers of surprise, mumbled praises and playful scrambles for food!
"This...this sour bamboo shoots,"
Dongfang Taifu finally regained some voice and pointed at the golden bamboo shoots in the bowl with a look of surprise.
"When I first smelled it...it was shocking, but when I took a sip...it was so refreshing and appetizing, so unique! Amazing! Wonderful!"
"This red oil! Fragrant! Spicy and satisfying! Overbearing! Paired with this slippery noodles, it's absolutely perfect! So satisfying!"
Marquis of Zhenguo Dongfang Liezheng completely abandoned his image, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and picked up another skewer of lamb.
"milk tea…"
Dongfang Qichen, the Minister of Rites, gave a professional review.
"Sweet but not greasy, with a delicate tea aroma and rich milk flavor, the perfect blend. These little black balls... have a wonderful texture! Soft and chewy, so interesting! So interesting!"
"Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother! This fried rice cake is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the sauce is so delicious! Give me another one!"
The Sixth Prince, Nangong Lintian, had completely forgotten about the "yue" and the death threat from his sister. He was eating with his mouth full of oil, and did not forget to grab a bunch of grilled mushrooms for his twin brother Nangong Yijun next to him.
"Cheng Qian! Put down that squid! That's what I like! Do you understand, elder?"
The Empress Dowager joined the "battle" with full energy.
Emperor Nangong Yu: "..."
He looked at the bowl of snail noodles in front of him that had been forgotten for a long time and was now emitting the temptation of "real fragrance", and then looked at the people who were eating enthusiastically and had lost their image.
The complex aroma in the air now seemed... not so unbearable, and the lively atmosphere was like two invisible hands, madly arousing his imperial curiosity and competitive spirit.
In the end, the emperor's self-esteem, which could not be defeated by his son and ministers, and the magical and enchanting "true fragrance" that permeated the air, completely overcame his remaining physiological instincts.
He made up his mind, closed his eyes, and with a heroic attitude of "I have seen all kinds of storms and waves", picked up a large chopstick of rice noodles covered with red oil and ingredients, and put it into his mouth with holding his breath!
After a brief silence, Nangong Yu's eyes suddenly lit up!
It was a shock of being conquered by a new, wild and impactful taste experience!
The "soul" taste of sour bamboo shoots, the fiery spiciness of red oil, the mellowness of the broth, the smoothness of rice noodles, the rich taste of the ingredients...all kinds of flavors are distinctly layered and perfectly blended, like thousands of troops galloping on the tip of the tongue, bringing unprecedented sensory stimulation!
He couldn't help but pick up another large piece of fried bean curd skin that was soaked in soup, soft and chewy, and took a bite! He sighed with satisfaction:
"Wonderful! This thing... although it has a unique smell, the taste... is truly overbearing and novel, making you... unable to stop!"
His Majesty the Emperor gave the official certification (the real version), his words are golden and the final word!
Looking at the large-scale face-slapping scene in front of him, Dongfang Yuning narrowed his eyes with satisfaction, like a little mouse who finally stole a large can of lamp oil, smiling so hard that his teeth were showing.
The time is ripe! She cleared her throat, her voice as clear as an oriole, full of confidence and temptation:
"Third brother! How's it going? My depth bomb combo—snail noodles, hot and sour noodles, fried skewers, milk tea! Will it be a hit? Will it make your wallet burst with cash, leaving you with so much money you don't know where to put it?"
Dongfang Linyuan had long lost his previous disdain and complaints. At this moment, his eyes were shining, as if the most sophisticated abacus was being turned frantically!
My mind was racing with thoughts of cost accounting, differentiated pricing, prime store location, core formula confidentiality, supply chain building, and hunger marketing strategies...this taste, this texture, this impact!
Although the smell is overbearing and unique, once you accept this setting, it is simply addictive!
This is absolutely a unique deal that can spark discussion and has huge market potential!
He was so excited that he almost jumped out of his seat, his voice trembling with excitement:
"Yes! Absolutely! My little God of Wealth! This business will definitely..."
He already saw mountains of gold and silver beckoning to him, and his tone was firm.
Just then—
Ding-ling-ling… Ding-ling-ling…
A crisp and pleasant ringtone with a mysterious rhythm, which seemed to be able to arouse the desires deep in people's hearts, suddenly rang from Dongfang Yuning's wrist!
The sound was not loud, but it seemed to have magical power, clearly penetrating the sounds of slurping noodles, chewing, and chatting and laughing in the hall, and accurately reaching everyone's ears!
Swish!
Everyone who had been busy eating just a moment ago suddenly stopped working in unison! It was as if the pause button had been pressed!
All eyes, like the most accurate searchlights, with incredible ecstasy and scorching light, were focused on the quaint and exquisite silver bell on Dongfang Yuning's wrist, inlaid with seven-colored gems, which was now emitting a soft halo - the Xuanji Bell!
Emperor Nangong Yu's eyes suddenly burst into light comparable to the midday sun!
My breathing is rapid!
The fried squid in Prince Nangong Chengqian's hand fell into the green jade plate in front of him with a "pop"!
Princess Nangong Yue excitedly grabbed the arm of the palace maid next to her, her nails almost digging into the flesh!
Even the Queen's sister Dongfang Qiwu, who was the calmest and had just been wiping her mouth gracefully, had her eyes slightly fixed, with a hint of understanding and a smile flashing across her face!
Master Dongfang paused.
Dongfang Liezheng, the Soul-Calming Marquis, even forgot to chew the chicken cartilage in his mouth.
Dongfang Qi Chen pushed up the non-existent glasses on his nose.
Dongfang Linyuan even held his breath, his heart beating wildly!
Second time!
The Xuanji bell rang for the second time!
The last time it happened, I sent a tribute of ten thousand taels of gold, sparking a bathing revolution throughout Yan Nation! But this time... this "depth charge" combination?!
[Tongzi! Tongzi! Did you hear that?! The Xuanji bell rang! For the second time! It was the sound of gold colliding! It was the melody of silver notes rubbing against each other! I heard it! It was the mountains of gold and silver cheering me on!]
It's the piles of money calling me to lie down! Damn it! I'm going to be the richest man in Yan Country! I'm going to make my bed out of gold bricks! I'm going to paper my walls with silver bills! Wahahahahaha——!]
Dongfang Yuning laughed wildly in his heart, enough to blow the roof off. His little face flushed with excitement. He had already seen a bright future of himself becoming rich enough to rival a country and rolling in the sea of money.
"Ning'er!"
The emperor's brother-in-law, Nangong Yu, reacted the fastest! His handsome, majestic face instantly broke into a smile warmer than the spring breeze in March. His voice was so gentle it could drip honey, and it was filled with the utmost sincerity (and flattery):
"This...this business, my brother-in-law has seen it! It has great potential! Very promising! It has a bright future! My brother-in-law personally...well, privately!
"Private treasury! Invest some money! What do you think? Brother-in-law can save some money and buy your sister some new clothes from Yueji Pavilion, right? Look at the one she's wearing today, it's all old..."
He spoke sincerely, but his eyes were as eager as a hungry wolf seeing fat meat. He stared at Dongfang Yuning as if he was looking at a gold mine that could walk and lay golden eggs!
"Aunt!"
Princess Nangong Yue was not willing to be outdone. She pushed aside her brother Nangong Lintian who was in the way. Just as the latter was about to speak, he rushed to Dongfang Yuning like a young swallow to the forest, and took her arm affectionately. There was an unprecedented bright and flattering smile on his face, and his voice was so sweet that it was sickening:
"Yuer also wants to invest! She must invest! Aunt, you are Yueer's guiding light! Wherever you point, Yueer will go! You decide how much the dividend will be!
From now on, if anyone dares to say the word "stinky" about you, inside or outside the palace, I will be the first to tear his mouth off!"
The little abacus in her mind was clattering and gleaming with golden light:
[It's rich! I won't lose out if I follow my aunt! I regret not getting in first with the soap business last time! I must get a large share this time!]
I've reserved the second richest woman's spot! Hahahaha! From now on, I won't even need to look at the price tag when I buy a place in Yueji Pavilion!
"Aunt! Cheng Qian... Cheng Qian is also rich!"
Prince Nangong Chengqian hurriedly took out a heavy small brocade bag embroidered with dragon patterns from his arms, and poured dozens of golden melon seeds inside onto the small table in front of Dongfang Yuning. The golden light was dazzling.
"All...all for you! Invest in it!"
The crown prince's face flushed with excitement.
"Ning'er..."
Dongfang Yanru, the Grand Tutor of the East, stroked his beard, trying to maintain the last bit of reserve of a great scholar, but the eagerness in his eyes and the slightly forward leaning body betrayed him.
"Father...father has saved a little over the years...if these...these novelties can be promoted among the people and enrich their diet, it would be considered...it would be considered a contribution to their education...immeasurable merit..."
Well, it’s reasonable to invest some money for education!
"Little sister! Count me in as a member of your group!"
The Marquis of Zhenguo, Dongfang Liezheng, spoke concisely and directly waved his hand. From his arms, God knows why a general could hold so many things, he took out a thick stack of banknotes and slammed them on the table with great momentum.
"If it's not enough, tell me later!"
Fighting a war costs money, and investing in my sister costs even more money!
The second brother Dongfang Qichen pushed his glasses and this time he really meant it:
"Ahem, Ministry of Rites... well, personally, I really support my sister's innovative exploration of culinary culture. Just a little token of my appreciation."
He also silently took out a bulging purse.
Even the Queen Mother smiled and spoke with a kind (and shrewd) look in her eyes:
"I think this milk tea is really good, with a unique flavor. I'm afraid those old-fashioned people in the palace won't be able to get used to it. I'd like to invest some money too. Should we open a special one for the palace? Let's call it... 'Ci'an Special'?"
The old lady even thought of a brand name.
The twin princes, Nangong Yijun and Nangong Lintian, looked eagerly at their aunt, who was being adorned with stars. Then, they looked at the delicious food on the table and said in unison, extremely seriously:
"Aunt! We...we also have a monthly allowance! It's all yours! Invest in it! Exchange it for fried skewers and milk tea!"
Fight for the sake of stuttering!
The situation got out of control in an instant!
The family dinner that was full of joy and focused on delicious food just now, suddenly turned into a large-scale Shura field where everyone was begging for investment!
A group of top bosses, whose stomping of their feet could tremble the Yan Kingdom's court and business circles, have now transformed into the most fanatical investors.
Surrounding the girl in the middle who smiled like a little fox, they chatted in a flurry, vying with each other, waving silver bills, golden melon seeds, and money bags, just to occupy a place in the future stinky powder milk tea and fried skewers empire!
Dongfang Linyuan watched this crazy scene, then looked at his sister who was surrounded by stars and had her eyes curved into crescents, and screamed in his heart:
[My little ancestor! Your Xuanji Bell is like a Midas Touch that can turn anything into gold! Even the God of Wealth would call you Grandmother Grandmother when he sees you!]
He instantly changed his previous business strategy of "affordable and affordable" and his eyes became extremely cunning, flashing with the light of gold ingots:
[Limited quantity! Must be limited quantity! Start the hunger marketing! Snail noodles? Only 100 bowls sold per day! Hot and sour noodles? 80 bowls! Fried skewers? Get them with your noodles! Milk tea?
Book an hour in advance! Price? I'll increase it tenfold! Buy it or not! Anyway, these people have been cursed by our little ancestor with a spell called "wealth"! I, Dongfang Linyuan, will take this overwhelming wealth!
System 118 complained quietly in Dongfang Yuning's mind, the electronic sound taking on a numb tone:
[Host, congratulations. You have successfully kidnapped the Yan Kingdom's most powerful and wealthy leader with a bowl of snail noodles, a few fried skewers, and a cup of milk tea.]
This speed and efficiency of making money is much faster than directly leading troops to rob the national treasury, and it is also legal. My admiration for you is as great as the mighty river...
Dongfang Yuning stood with his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky and laughing wildly, with mountains of gold and silver in the background:
[Of course! Tongzi, get your database ready. We're going to start counting money until our hands cramp!]
Our goal is—the stars and the sea? No! The landscape is opening up! Become the richest man in Yan Country! The richest man in the world! Conquer the world with stinky powder and milk tea! Wahahahaha!]
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