Chapter 890 A Blessing in Disguise: The Cook A Liang?
Xiao Lanlan took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and waved her hand:
"It's pointless to be quick with words. I'm too lazy to waste my breath on you. Besides, think it over. You might feel good for a moment if you're loyal and lie to take the blame, but the rules and regulations of our sect don't play games with you."
She stared directly at Ouyang Rong, who had stepped forward, her tone threatening.
Ouyang Rong did not answer, but stopped walking, as if waiting for a moment.
Xiao Lanlan and the others on the field noticed the young man in the felt hat glance at them slightly, as if he were looking over.
"What are you looking at? Are you trying to threaten me...?"
Ouyang Rong asked seriously, "Are you finished?"
Xiao Lanlan frowned.
Ouyang Rong looked at Senior Sister Yuan and Chief Tang.
The other two were also sizing him up.
Senior Sister Yuan first glanced at Chief Tang's expression, then spoke on his behalf:
"Alright, Xiao Lanlan, don't say anything yet."
Xiao Lanlan choked on her words.
Ouyang Rong nodded, as if confirming something, and continued walking forward, pointing to the food box:
"I brought this food box here. Senior Sister Xi can testify to that. She should have seen what I was carrying when she came to inform me on the ship this morning."
Chief Tang and Senior Sister Yuan immediately looked at Xi Qi, who had remained silent.
Xi Qi glanced at Ouyang Rong, then at the food box, but didn't speak immediately.
Ouyang Rong somewhat understood what she meant.
But he continued, taking out fish soup from the food box, and then pulled out half a peach from the bottom compartment, gesturing as he did so:
"This peach should be very familiar to Senior Sister Yuan. I was fortunate enough to win the favor of the Monkey King of Peach Valley during the first test and was given this peach as a gift."
Noticing that Uncle Tang and the others were looking over, Senior Sister Yuan slowly nodded:
"Yes, that's true. It was Liu Aliang's peach."
Xiao Lanlan, however, persisted relentlessly in using her persuasive techniques:
"So what if you prove the food box is yours? Just tell me if you're in cahoots with Song Zhian and Yu Mili? You hunted and killed camellia chickens, stewed them into soup, and brought them here to give them a meal. Even if you didn't know, you're still an accomplice. And who knows if you received some kind of secret instruction or instigation from someone to stew a chicken to celebrate your entry into the marshland."
Ouyang Rong didn't knock on her. Instead, he squatted down and carefully put the fish soup and Qingyan peaches, which had cooled down considerably, back in their original places.
He closed the food box, stood up, and picked it up.
Standing before Song, Yu, and the other three, Ouyang Rong faced Tang Shishu, Yuan Shijie, Xi Shijie, and everyone else present, and said with a blank expression:
"I only found out this morning when Senior Sister Xi came to inform me that I didn't need to go down the mountain. My name wasn't on yesterday's list, so I thought I had been rejected. Last night, I heard a pheasant calling, so I went to make chicken soup, not for Miss Song and the others."
"Tell me, what kind of logic is it for the loser to make soup to celebrate the winner? I didn't expect to come here today either. Senior Sister Xi called me because I had something to do. This food box was also kept by Er Gou, but it was accidentally eaten by Lady Yu. In fact, I should blame them."
"That's how it happened. Uncle Tang, my two senior sisters, and everyone else, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. There's nothing to hide."
The taciturn young man's voice was calm, yet possessed a convincing magnetic quality.
In addition, he had a naturally dull and honest demeanor and appearance.
It gives people a sense of openness and honesty.
Many young women glanced at them sideways.
Uncle Tang, Yuan, and Xi also fell silent.
Seeing the room fall silent, as if a scale had tipped and someone was trying to distance themselves, Xiao Lanlan pointed out sharply:
"If what you said is true, then they were lying just now. Why would they lie for no reason? Isn't it because they have a guilty conscience or there's something else going on?"
Ouyang Rong turned around and addressed Song Zhian and the others, who were staring directly at him:
“Miss Song, Miss Yu, Er Gou, you don’t need to help me cover up the truth or take the blame. You’re worried that I can’t bear the responsibility. You’re being kind and helping me to cover it up out of loyalty, and I’m very grateful to you. But I’m responsible for my own actions. I, Liu A Liang, never owe anyone anything.”
Xiao Lanlan choked a little.
I've never seen such a silly, clueless person.
Upon hearing this, some of the young women watching the show understood what was going on. Their gazes towards Song Zhian and Yu Mili, who had previously "bowed their heads in agreement," changed, revealing a hint of admiration.
After watching the farce for a while, Uncle Tang finally spoke:
"Liu Aliang, you indiscriminately killed Camellia Chickens. You offended Caotang severely in the past, and Caotang Yue Nu will be responsible for your punishment. Are you sure everything you just said is true? Are you going to take responsibility for it?"
Ouyang Rong nodded without hesitation.
Chief Tang looked at him for a while and asked:
"Liu Aliang, did you make a mistake out of confusion or knowingly? When you first came to Jianze, your senior sister should have told you that you can't touch the wild chickens on the island."
Ouyang Rong did not answer, but said, word by word:
“‘Jianze has lived here for a thousand years. I think it’s right that the female rulers have shown love to the local creatures. But I always feel that everything should have an order. The degree of love also has a priority. Love for people should come before love for chickens, ducks, cats and dogs. If people are hungry, killing chickens to make soup is not only a matter of course, but also understandable. We should put people first, instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater and putting the cart before the horse.’”
His tone was calm, yet surprisingly serious.
Uncle Tang was somewhat surprised and asked:
"Putting people first...that's a very clever phrase. Did someone teach you to say it, or did you come up with it yourself?"
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes:
"What a schoolteacher once told me might also be a fallacy about being greedy."
Uncle Tang nodded slowly.
Senior Sister Yuan and Xi Qi also chewed on the food, seemingly lost in thought: "What a people-oriented approach..."
Many of the young women in the crowd exchanged glances, some lost in thought.
Seeing this, Xiao Lanlan was very unwilling and asked sharply:
"You said you were feeling down because you thought you were going down the mountain, so why did you catch a chicken to make soup? And why did you prepare a big bowl of it and bring it over in a food box? Isn't that a contradiction?"
Ouyang Rong said softly:
"I'm leaving, but before I go, I'm going to leave something for my sister. That half of the Qingyan peach and the chicken soup are for her."
Xiao Lanlan did not believe it:
"Ha, even my sister has appeared. Keep making things up..."
Xi Qi suddenly said:
"Okay, shut up now."
Xiao Lanlan couldn't help but say, "But he was clearly lying..."
Just then, a commotion came from a passageway on the other side of the hall, as if a group of people were coming, or as if they were just passing by and stopped at a distance.
A group of women came to look.
Soon, a silver-medal Yue woman approached, ignoring the entire audience, and addressed the Tang chief:
"Six ladies ask, what is Chief Tang doing here? Why are you all gathered here?"
"I apologize for bothering Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, Chief Tang immediately left everyone behind and headed over there.
Senior Sister Yuan and Xi Qi, along with the others who were looking at each other in bewilderment, waited in place.
Xiao Lanlan's face lit up with joy.
The Sixth Lady has arrived? Her rank is even higher than Chief Tang's, which clearly means she can escalate the situation.
Xiao Lanlan was eager to expose it, so she immediately turned her head and shouted loudly in Ouyang Rong's direction:
"You still have the audacity to lie! The Queen will certainly not tolerate this!"
As she spoke, she kept an eye on the group of six women who had stopped in the distance.
Ouyang Rong also looked over.
The passageway was somewhat dimly lit, and only the faint silhouettes of Yue women could be seen.
Ouyang Rong sensed a figure faintly inside, which made him serious.
At this moment, Song Zhian stepped forward and whispered:
"Brother Liu doesn't need to shoulder this alone..."
Lu Jinghong frowned and said, "Brother Liu, you can just say that Er Gou and I want to eat it later, don't mention anything about my sister..."
Yu Mili also got anxious and leaned in to whisper, "Yes, Brother Liu, even if there are loopholes, Xiao Lanlan will definitely keep pestering you... How about this, since the words have already been spoken, then Brother Liu, just say it, just say... I am your god-sister."
"..."
Even Song, Lu, and Sha couldn't help but look at her.
Ouyang Rong turned to look at the four people who were anxiously devising a plan, and realized that they didn't seem to believe him and thought it was his story.
He shook his head: "I'm not kidding, it's true..."
Just then, the silver medalist returned.
Chief Tang did not return; it seems he stayed with the Sixth Lady.
The silver medalist Yue woman asked directly, "Who is Liu Aliang?"
"I."
Ouyang Rong stepped forward.
Xiao Lanlan hurriedly said, "It was him! He slaughtered the camellia chicken and shared it with his accomplices. Your Highness, please understand..."
The silver-medal Yue woman glanced at Ouyang Rong and said indifferently, "I didn't ask you."
Xiao Lanlan immediately lowered her head shyly.
The silver-medal-wearing Yue woman seemed to be carefully examining Ouyang Rong before asking:
"Liu Aliang, the Queen asks where the chicken soup you stewed is, so hand it over."
Ouyang Rong looked at her, and like the whispering crowd around him, he was somewhat puzzled.
But she still took out the Qingyan Late Peach, stuffed it into her sleeve, and handed the food box directly to the silver-plated Yue woman.
The latter didn't look at him again and left with the food box.
Ouyang Rong and the others continued to wait where they were.
He had excellent eyesight and could vaguely see the figure of a woman with double-ringed sideburns flanking the Yue women.
Based on the identification method taught by Song Zhian, it is undoubtedly the Sixth Lady.
Senior Sister Yuan, who remained where she was, glanced at Song Zhian, who was clearly worried.
Xi Qi glanced at Ouyang Rong, who was standing at the front, and sighed softly, lost in thought.
Xiao Lanlan kept an eye on the crowd that had been standing in the passageway opposite for a long time. Perhaps she saw something, she breathed a sigh of relief, and the corners of her mouth curled up. She glanced at Ouyang Rong, but her eyes were more focused on Song Zhian, ignoring Ouyang Rong.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed.
The group of people on the other side seemed to continue moving forward and disappear into the passageway.
Soon, Uncle Tang returned.
They emerged from the darkness.
Her face was somewhat somber.
Those who remained in place immediately fell silent.
The usually amiable and easy-going Uncle Tang was showing such displeasure; it was obvious that the Queen had said something...
Yu Xiaoniangzi immediately became nervous and frightened.
Xiao Lanlan smiled slightly, but then suppressed it.
Uncle Tang passed by Ouyang Rong and the others and left without looking back, calling out:
"Xi Qi, come here."
Upon hearing this, Xi Qi lowered her head and followed.
Uncle Tang's voice rang out again:
"Prepare the boat and send them back first."
It seemed to be addressed to Senior Sister Yuan.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Senior Sister Yuan silently followed.
Apart from Ouyang Rong, who remained calm, and Xiao Lanlan, who smiled as she watched Uncle Tang's retreating figure, everyone else held their breath.
Where no one was looking, Ouyang Rong reached out and touched the bamboo tube at his waist.
The Peach Blossom Spring painting and the essence of the wonder are hidden within.
He only cares about one thing now: if there is any so-called punishment at the thatched cottage, will it involve "water" and cause him to get wet?
The bronze mask's avatar will break and disappear when it is submerged in water.
This is his biggest weakness at present, and something he must be constantly on guard against.
Before long, Senior Sister Yuan returned, ready to call everyone to leave.
At this moment, Xi Qi also returned.
"etc."
She suddenly called out to everyone.
Xi Qi's expression was somewhat strange.
She kept glancing towards Ouyang Rong.
"Senior Sister Xi, did Uncle Tang say something?"
Senior Sister Yuan asked a question on behalf of everyone present.
Xi Qi remained silent, but looked at Ouyang Rong with a complicated expression and said:
"Liu Aliang, your job is settled. Starting tomorrow, you will work as a cook in the kitchen. It is tentatively scheduled to be the kitchen near Qingliang Valley."
Everyone was stunned, and Xiao Lanlan's expectant expression froze.
Xi Qi nodded again, her eyes looking strange as she said:
"Uncle Tang said that Her Majesty the Queen tasted the chicken soup you made and liked it very much. She praised your cooking skills and also learned about your situation. On the spot, she appointed you to the kitchen in Qingliang Valley, which is closer to the Queen. Perhaps the other Queens will also like to eat it."
The entire room fell silent.
Senior Sister Yuan and the group of young ladies couldn't help but look at the dull-witted young man.
Yu Xiaoniang, Sha Ergou, and the others looked surprised, and Lu Jinghong also looked astonished.
Song Zhian turned her head in silence and looked at Ouyang Rong's back.
The one with the strongest reaction at this moment was Xiao Lanlan. She looked at Ouyang Rong one moment and the direction where the Six Women's Group had left the next, constantly doubting whether she had misheard.
No, hunting camellia chickens not only doesn't punish them, but they're even given good jobs?!
Xi Qi had never seen anything like this before, and was somewhat speechless. She said softly:
"Her Highness seemed quite moved, saying that if everyone could cook chicken soup as well as you do, without wasting any, she wouldn't have agreed to the ban on killing at the thatched cottage in the first place. Her Highness also said that ignorance is no excuse, and besides... your statement about putting people first was very well said. Jianze dwells in Yunmeng and should benefit all living beings, but it should also put people first. Everyone here is a member of Jianze, and eating meat and drinking soup is a matter of course."
Xi Qi turned her head again, as if speaking to Ouyang Rong, but also as if addressing all the young women who were watching:
"From now on, the ban on killing at Caotang is lifted and shall be treated as if it never existed."
The field grew increasingly quiet.
This is the power of a female ruler; her word is practically law.
Ouyang Rong looked somewhat surprised by the news.
So, the six women didn't return the food box until they left because they ate it all with their companions, not because they forgot to return it, or because it could be used as evidence against them...
Xiao Lanlan's expression shifted between light and dark.
The main reason was that she thought of something terrifying, and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
The others on the field also turned their gazes over, their expressions somewhat strange.
The glances from Song Zhian and Yu Mili made Xiao Lanlan feel utterly ashamed.
It's very simple. Since Her Highness the Queen didn't blame Liu Aliang for making chicken soup, why did Uncle Tang look so gloomy and unhappy when he returned?
There must be one party that makes a mistake.
And who these people are? The answer is already quite obvious.
The image of Uncle Tang leaving with a somewhat cold and aloof demeanor flashed before my eyes.
Xiao Lanlan gradually realized something, her whole body trembled, and her eyes began to panic...
(End of this chapter)
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