Chapter 18. Delicious Food.
Although Shi Mi didn't like this person very much, when it came to good food, he thought that food was the only thing that couldn't be missed, so he reluctantly agreed.
I had imagined Walong to be a nice place, perhaps not quite as charming as Evernight, but at least a quaint little town. But when I got there, it turned out to be nothing more than a small market street along the canal, barely a dozen feet long from one end to the other. There were no shops, just small stalls that opened in the morning and closed in the evening. Each vendor used four bamboo poles to support a hemp cloth canopy, with seating underneath for customers to rest.
Shimi stood at the starting point of Walong, watching the smoke rising from the street, and grinned.
"Is this the place you said you'd take me to try some delicious food?"
Lu Min, dressed in fine clothes and tall, exuded an air of authority even amidst countless vendors and laborers, as if he were facing an emperor addressing his officials. He glanced down at her and said, "Isn't this place good? Delicious food doesn't only come from places like Never-Night City. In fact, the more inconspicuous the stall, the more likely it is to hide rare delicacies."
Shi Mi was intrigued by his smooth talk. "You've been here before? You've tasted the rare delicacies?"
He argued vehemently, "I've heard people talk about it before."
Well, as long as there's evidence, that's good. Shi Mi racked his brains and praised him a couple of times, "The Grand Tutor isn't a grand tutor who indulges in extravagance and debauchery, but a grand tutor who shares joy with the people. Just for that reason alone, I have to try the snacks of Walong."
So I decided to pick one of them; usually, a place that's always packed with customers can't be bad.
The group of people, all dressed as officials, rushed to the stall. Before they could even speak, the other customers scattered.
Bai Heliang seemed quite satisfied. "The people of Walong are perceptive; they immediately showed courtesy to the visitors from out of town. My lord, young lady, please take a seat."
Lu Min and Shi Mi sat down at the table in the center, with twenty guards scattered around the smaller tables. Immediately, many eyes turned to the stall owner, frightening the old man into silence. It wasn't until Bai Heliang called out, "Bring your best dishes," that the stall owner dared to confirm that these people were there to eat, not to cause trouble and vandalize his stall.
Bo Tuo, topped with piping hot minced meat and sprinkled with a pinch of scallions, was already a rather high-class meal. There were also steaming hot buns, several trays stacked up and placed in the center of the table. Shi Mi could no longer see Lu Min across from her, but she could see his two arms resting on the table, seemingly helpless against these delicacies.
It's just not refined enough, but the taste is definitely good. Shi Mi, full of hope, blew away the steam from the spoon and took a sip of the soup.
Well, it was alright, nothing special, a bit bland. Then I took another bite of the flatbread…it was such a huge piece of dough!
"Then let's try the buns in the steamer. I took a bite, but didn't find any meat. I took another bite, and finally found a filling the size of a fingernail..." Shi Mi blinked twice, leaned over and asked Lu Min, "Is this the delicacy you were talking about?"
Lu Min remained silent, using the energy he had for speaking to eat.
When it came time to pay the bill after the meal, the stall owner tried his best to refuse. These people looked like big shots, and he was afraid that if he accepted the money, he would lose his stall.
Bai Heliang looked at the Grand Tutor, "My lord, what should we do?"
Lu Min looked languid. "Even though it's not to my taste, I still have to pay the money."
After he finished speaking, he turned and left, with Shimi following behind him, laughing silently.
It was only later that I realized that this place, Walong, was located next to a canal, where many laborers worked. These people didn't care about the taste of their food; they just wanted to be full. This restaurant had the lowest prices and the most generous portions, and its business was booming not because the food was delicious, but because it was affordable.
"So you high-ranking officials and wealthy people should understand the hardships of the people. You always pass through here, but you never stop to inspect." Shimi shook his head, hugged the blanket and lay back on the brocade quilt. "You didn't get to eat the good food, so you owe me a meal. I'll make it up to you when we get back to Zhongdu."
The usually confident Grand Tutor remained silent for a long time, probably ashamed of his miscalculation.
Shimi glanced at him, "What? Still want to back out?"
He then began, “While there is the decadent extravagance of the city, there is also the down-to-earth life of the village. People who make a living through manual labor cannot live without those restaurants, but the food is tasteless, and that only applies to you and me.”
So these officials in the court really know how to promote a facade of peace and prosperity. Shi Mi chuckled twice, then turned around and decided to take another nap.
"Would you like some tea?" the person behind me suddenly asked.
Shimi hummed in agreement, but made no further move; she no longer needed to play the role of a maid. Boiling water and making tea took time, so she could simply turn around and watch—that would be considered participation.
The Grand Tutor didn't intend to trouble her. He slowly and deliberately ground and whisked the tea, and Shimi saw an overwhelming elegance in his every move.
He poured tea, pushed the teacup in front of her, took a sip himself, and said softly, "I've had some heart palpitations these past few days, but I've mostly gotten used to it. Although I still haven't figured out what you're looking for, I still want to thank you for saving me from this sea of suffering. I can't call you a friend, young lady, but I hope we can get closer in the future and eventually become confidants."
She readily accepted the advice, saying, "Of course, of course. From the day you stepped into the Lirenfang residence, I've considered you one of my own."
Really? Actually, it's all a bunch of lies between them, and they're constantly on guard against each other. Lu Min, a proud and arrogant person, is only tied to you because he has no choice in the matter. If he no longer needs you one day, she has no doubt that he will eliminate the puppeteer and kill her in the process, so that this secret can be sealed underground forever.
So his current act of feigning closeness must be because he wants something from her. Sure enough, a smile slowly appeared on his face, and his wrist, which was holding the teacup, turned very slowly. "I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you tonight, young lady. You've been traveling a long way and have spent a lot of money. You seem to be a little lacking in energy."
Shimi said, "I also observed the Grand Tutor's aura. It was weaker when he returned than when he left. It's still necessary to prepare for the worst."
However, one question lingered in her mind, and she asked in a low voice, "Have you found out who poisoned you?"
He said he hadn't yet, "If you count the time, I was only thirteen years old that year. When I was poisoned, and who wanted to harm me, I have no clue because so much time has passed."
Shi Mi sighed, "This person is very patient. He waited for so many years, waiting for you to be poisoned, and seeing you grow haggard day by day but not die, he still remained inactive. Could it be that he himself has forgotten about this matter? You see, one should be low-key to avoid being hated. It's too flamboyant for you to enter officialdom at the age of twelve. After all, when others are twelve, they haven't even finished reading the Four Books yet."
He frowned. "Is this my fault?"
“Isn’t that right? You stand out so much that others seem mediocre.” She suddenly had a flash of inspiration and tapped the table, asking him, “Could it be your older brother? The whole family had high hopes for him, but you outshone him. Now that you’re the assistant minister, and others are just assistant ministers under you, they regret not having used more poison.”
He barely touched the corner of his lips, clearly finding her insights too simplistic, but to save face for her, he casually agreed: "What you say makes sense, young lady. I have already sent people to investigate thoroughly. If it is found that he did it, he will be torn to pieces."
Shimi sensed his perfunctory attitude and reluctantly put down her teacup, saying, "I'm going to take a short rest, don't bother me."
She lay down, but couldn't fall asleep no matter what she did. Her eyelids were heavy, and her mind was racing. After tossing and turning for a long time, feeling frustrated, she turned around and complained, "Did you do this on purpose? This tea is way too strong. No wonder it tastes so bitter. You actually tricked me into drinking strong tea!"
He didn't deny it, and leaned back leisurely on the armchair, saying, "I just don't understand, doesn't the young lady sleep at night? Why is she always sleepy during the day?"
Shi Mi was very unhappy. "What do men know about women's affairs? Haven't you heard that sleeping more will make you more beautiful?"
So he stopped offering his opinions, probably because he had rarely dealt with women in his life, and he encountered an extremely difficult one right away, which made his politically charged mind a little overwhelmed.
The tea had been drunk and was still taking effect, completely dispelling any drowsiness she felt. But she watched as he closed his eyes, his breathing becoming long and deep, as if he were about to fall asleep.
She was greatly displeased. Although the carriage was divided into sections, she could easily kick him if she stretched her foot out. "Why doesn't the same tea bother you?"
He frowned and brushed the spot she had touched. "I've drunk far too much real strong tea. This kind of tea is nothing."
After listening to him, she felt something was off. After thinking for a long time, she hesitantly said, "Are you sure you can't compare now to before? Just because you drank strong tea before doesn't mean you can still drink strong tea now!"
These words jolted him awake, and he finally opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat unfocused—no wonder he couldn't fall asleep; this brand-new body must still need more training.
So they shared the same dilemma, and the two of them propped their faces up and looked out the window for a long time.
"Next time we go to Beijing, let's take a boat," Shimi said. "Taking a boat is so much better; we can fish along the way and eat fresh river delicacies."
Lu Min thought further ahead: "There is no boat connection between Zhongdu and Shangdu. I have always had a plan to bring the canal into Chong'an City."
"We won't have boats until the canal is opened, and that will take forever!" Shi Mi said, "Let's go all the way to Never Sleep and then change boats to cross the river to the west. The Grand Tutor is returning to the capital to report on his duties. Let's not make it so tiring. It would be much better to take our time traveling. By mid-spring, the road will be filled with the warmth of wine and the beauty of flowers. Just thinking about it makes me happy."
But that's a matter for later. Right now, even brewing tea is troubling him, so he'll probably have to be careful about drinking alcohol as well.
The carriage continued onward, passing through the afterglow of the setting sun, without seeking lodging at an inn. The guards of Jiuzhang Prefecture were accustomed to traveling continuously; unless the Grand Tutor gave the order, they could travel until the end of time.
They could skip lodging, but they couldn't skip meals, so they stopped midway at a place lined with willows. Because of the cold weather, the willows hadn't sprouted any new shoots, and the view was rather desolate. The guards were making flatbreads over a fire under the trees, and just as they were about to take out the venison they had brought, they suddenly heard strange noises coming from the darkness—a series of high and low sounds, like a woman's scream.
Everyone stood up, their hands resting on their waist knives. Looking around, they could see a faint mist, and blue-green lights undulating in the grass.
Shi Mi happened to be very close to Bai He Liang, so he quickly moved closer to him. "So many will-o'-the-wisps... we shouldn't stay here any longer, let's go quickly."
Bai Heliang said yes, raised his hand and waved, gathering all the guards and ordering them to set off. Only after giving the order did he suddenly realize that he had inadvertently overstepped his bounds.
His heart pounded, and he looked awkwardly at the Grand Tutor, "My Lord..."
The Grand Tutor flicked his sleeves, turned around, and boarded the carriage.
This is a dangerous place; leave quickly. The guards stomped out the fire, picked up their torches, and continued on their way.
Shimi peered out the window, where scattered phosphorescent lights still danced along the roadside. She muttered to herself, "Many people must have died here during the great battle!"
War inevitably results in immense suffering. She still remembered the day she entered Chong'an City; by the time she reached the city walls, it was already dusk. As the last rays of sunlight faded and night gradually fell, two hundred thousand people lay buried outside the city, countless phosphorescent lights flickering in the darkness. She felt not fear, but only sorrow; it was the spirit of the Yu Dynasty soldiers, flickering like pairs of unyielding, hopeful eyes.
But Lu Min interrupted her reverie, “West of Zhongdu, all the way to Baiyujing, we have not encountered any resistance from the Yu Dynasty. No one has ever died here. Last year, however, a horse trader was cheated by his rivals. More than fifty of his horses were poisoned and buried at Wanliupo.”
Shi Mi blinked, then looked on with a puzzled expression. So it was a horse spirit?
"Isn't there a strange noise too? It sounds really creepy."
Lu Min said, "That's the call of a forest eagle owl. You might encounter one occasionally when traveling in the wild."
Shi Mi was relieved. The young woman was still a little timid. She was used to seeing blood and corpses, but she was very afraid of female ghosts.
Just then, a hand reached out from the side and, without asking her opinion, lowered the curtain in front of her.
She turned her head and saw that the carriage was dimly lit. In the flickering light, he unbuckled his belt and collar and calmly asked her, "What do you want me to do next?"
A note from the author:
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200 small red envelopes~
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