Chapter 95: Defeat the scheming boy and tease the sultry general (5)
These meatballs are deep-fried, using eight different kinds of seasonal vegetables, meats, and seafood, all prepared according to the solar terms. Different recipes are used for different seasons, which is why they have found such a niche here. Caiwei is a versatile cook, skilled in many different things. She has a good understanding of these eight-treasure meatballs, and she can taste some of their secrets with each bite.
If Li Ziyan wanted to eat it back at the palace, she could make it for him, though the sauce would be a little different. But this black plum soup… Caiwei glanced at Li Ziyan, who was drinking it with great enthusiasm, and felt a little annoyed. It wasn't that the small kitchen or the imperial kitchen couldn't make it, but it just didn't taste like this, and she had no idea what was in it.
"Boss, check out."
"Okay! Four servings of meatballs, forty cents."
Chu Heng took out a silver ingot and placed it on the table. Seeing the boss's expression change, he was hesitant to accept it.
"Sir, this is too much..."
"I have no other intentions. I want you to do something with the extra money."
"You say it, and it's what you say."
"Can you buy us a copy of the recipe for black plum soup?" When these words were spoken, Li Ziyan was stunned, and Caiwei was also stunned. After all, no one would have thought that such a casual general would care about such details.
"Of course, of course." The boss and his wife were both honest people, without any ulterior motives. With so much money, you could buy their entire stall, not to mention their recipes.
Yunle quickly borrowed paper and pen from a nearby pharmacy. The boss told him to write it, so he copied down the recipe.
"Thank you." Chu Heng bowed slightly and stood beside Li Ziyan. The other party was looking at him with a smile on his face, and then turned away.
"Boss, your black plum soup has a unique flavor. Perhaps you could buy some clay pots and sell them. It's hot in the summer, and I think some people would like it."
Li Ziyan left a few words and then left in the grateful and shocked eyes of the boss and the boss's wife.
Chu Heng, on the other hand, took advantage of his height to secretly observe Li Ziyan's expression, his eyes somewhat deep. This little prince was kinder and smarter than he had imagined.
There was a lot of food on the way, and Li Ziyan ate one or two, taking only a few bites of each. Chu Heng took the rest. It wasn't that he couldn't afford it, but he was really weak and had to go to lunch soon, so he couldn't miss the time. Besides, he could still come out to eat later, so Li Ziyan didn't insist.
After walking around for a whole morning, Li Ziyan was tired as he couldn't carry anything on his shoulders or hands. Chu Heng seemed to have expected this and took Li Ziyan to a rather exquisite restaurant.
"The four gentlemen, please come in. Would you like to stay in a private room or in the lobby?"
"Single room, please find a quiet spot."
"Alright, guests, please come upstairs!"
The waiter had seen all kinds of life, so he could naturally tell that the people in front of him were not ordinary people. He treated them with respect, but before he had taken a few steps, Chu Heng was stopped by someone.
"General?"
Chu Heng and Li Ziyan paused and turned around together, seeing a thin man in a white gown and a man in a blue-gray suit.
"Wenzhu, Rongen?"
"Will……"
Chu Heng raised his hand and shook his head. The waiter had just walked forward, and the shop was noisy, so he didn't hear Wen Zhu calling him. He was currently accompanying Li Ziyan, and if his identity was revealed, he was afraid there would be trouble.
The man in blue-gray clothes quickly understood and said, "Mr. Chu."
"Mr. Chu, are you here too?"
"Well," Chu Heng looked at the people around him and said lightly, "This is someone from my army."
Li Ziyan nodded and looked at the two people at the bottom of the stairs, "Have you two eaten?"
“Not yet.”
"..." The blue-gray man glanced at the person next to him, with a hint of confusion in his eyes. This person has always been very good at networking, so why is he so short-sighted today?
"In that case, if you two don't mind, why don't you share some?"
"Young Master," Chu Heng frowned slightly. It was not that he was dissatisfied with Li Ziyan's decision, but he was afraid that there would be too many people and it would affect his interest.
"It's okay, ahem, your friends are naturally my friends too, let's go together."
The waiter also came over and nodded repeatedly, "Sir, the VIP room inside is very large, I guarantee you will be satisfied."
Since the young prince had spoken, Chu Heng naturally would not refuse anymore. He nodded to Rong En and Wen Zhu, and they entered the private room together.
Li Ziyan had just returned and had never been out, so the task of ordering food was left to Chu Heng. It had been hot and humid recently, but Li Ziyan's body could not tolerate overly cold food. Chu Heng was a general after all, and came from a family of generals, so he had some understanding of these things. He ordered some warming and nourishing yet distinctive dishes, and ordered a pot of white tea before letting the waiter go.
The door was closed. This restaurant was of good quality and fairly soundproof. Chu Heng glanced at the two people who had already taken their seats beside him and said, "These two are my military advisor and deputy general, Wen Zhu and Rong En. Military advisor Wen, Rong En, and this is the Holy Prince."
"Holy Prince?!"
Rong En was stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up and half-knelt to salute. On the contrary, Advisor Wen, who was always considered smart, clever and polite by others, was stunned and still sat there. He only reacted after being pulled by Rong En.
"Your humble servant pays homage to the Holy Prince."
"Hurry up, cough cough cough, there's no need to bow in public. You two are both heroes who have brought glory to our country. I can't accept this courtesy."
Rong En didn't move. He waited until Li Ziyan looked at Chu Heng helplessly and Chu Heng called him before he stood up.
"Thank you, Holy Prince."
Wenzhu also stood up, but his expression had changed. However, he lowered his head with a smile on his face, and no one could tell what he was thinking.
The dishes arrived quickly. There was a first-rank prince and a second-rank general at the table. Wenzhu and Rong'en were a little reserved and didn't dare to pick up their chopsticks until Li Ziyan spoke.
"Cough cough cough," Li Ziyan ate less than half a bowl of rice, drank a cup of tea and put down his chopsticks.
Chu Heng frowned and looked at Li Ziyan's bowl of rice with a bad expression.
Wen Zhu had been watching the two of them, and naturally noticed Chu Heng's expression. He felt a mixture of pride and jealousy. This prince must have been accustomed to delicacies from land and sea, and this kind of food was unpalatable. The general despised those who wasted food the most. He must have been walking with Li Ziyan because of his status.
He had a good idea, but he was dumbfounded the next second. Chu Heng reached out, took Li Ziyan's bowl and placed it in front of him, and then served Li Ziyan a bowl of dried bamboo shoots and old duck soup. "Your Highness has used too little, drink at least one more bowl."
"Yes, Your Highness, please have some more. I think this soup is nourishing and not fishy." Caiwei also persuaded him, and Li Ziyan had no choice but to nod and took the bowl and spoon.
Chu Heng took Li Ziyan's bowl, not showing any disdain as he ate mouthful after mouthful. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have let this little prince eat street food. He's like a disobedient nephew at home, refusing to eat properly after eating something else. He doesn't have a big appetite to begin with, so how can he gain weight if he eats so little?
He had gotten used to finishing off Li Ziyan's leftovers these days, and although he didn't know why, he didn't seem to mind it at all, instead finding it perfectly natural. However, his behavior surprised the other two.
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