Chapter 798: Pork Ribs Stewed with Corn [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
"Junior brother?"
Yun Ce stared at Xianyu Jian, confirming the information back and forth.
His face seemed to scream, "Have you mistaken me for someone else?"
Xianyu Jian was no less surprised than Yun Ce, and he even forgot to put down the weapon he was holding: "It's Senior Brother Yun?"
He quickly withdrew his martial energy and walked from the muddy ground to the ridge, his trousers rolled up high to mid-thigh. Below the trousers, his half-wheat-colored skin and mud-covered calves were clearly distinct, leaving Yun Ce dumbfounded.
He hurriedly asked, "Junior brother, what are you doing?"
Xianyu Jian wanted to ask, "What are you doing here, Senior Brother?"
The two brothers looked at each other, and finally Xianyu Jian scooped water from the ditch to wash his legs, wiped them haphazardly, and said considerately, "Senior brother, let's talk as we walk."
Yun Ce naturally had no objections.
Before leaving, Xianyu Jian waved to his group of subordinates who were still working diligently: "Keep up the good work, there'll be meat tonight!"
Upon hearing that there would be meat that evening, everyone worked even harder.
"Didn't Senior Brother Yun already go back?"
Xianyu Jian's words brought Yun Ce back from his reverie.
Yun Ce recounted his ordeal with a wry smile, then shrugged and said, "...I've thoroughly offended Huang Xiguang, and it's not convenient for me to return to the sect now, so I came here with him. Junior brothers, how come you're...doing this kind of work in the fields?"
Xianyu Jian seemed to take this very seriously.
Answer: "Because this is the lord's order."
"Come here, senior brother!" Before Yun Ce could say anything, Xianyu Jian grabbed Yun Ce's hand and pulled him forward, laughing, "Let me show you something! Since you've already offended Huang Lie, why don't you consider our lord? Then we, as brothers, won't have to be separated!"
What are you looking at?
Yun Ce was also tempted by Xianyu Jian's invitation, but he couldn't just look at him; he also had to consider Shen Jun.
The choice between a subject and a ruler is mutual.
Yun Ce quickly realized what Xianyu Jian had shown him. The two crossed a hillside, and he was stunned by the sight before him—a vast expanse of fields crisscrossed by paths. The expansive land was divided by straight roads, and rows of crops were planted in the fields.
After a long silence, he said in surprise, "Yanzhou isn't..."
Standing on the hillside, looking down from above, Xianyu Jian traced a circle with his finger: "This is the result of many days of hard work by my junior brothers. Fortunately, the terrain here is relatively flat, otherwise we would have had to adjust the height of these fields to try and make them all at the same level..."
Ordinary people don't have the ability to do whatever they want. They cultivate wasteland according to the terrain, which results in their fields being irregular and difficult to measure. Their lord has what is called obsessive-compulsive disorder. He says he has some kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder and asks them to use their skills in applying putty to make the ground under their feet as smooth as possible when cultivating wasteland, so that each field is the same size.
A field is one acre of land.
Each field is marked with a corresponding serial number.
When commoners later lease land from the government, it can be divided into plots, making it clear which household received which acre of land, which will also facilitate the collection of autumn harvest taxes. For the martial arts practitioners who participated in land reclamation, this was simply a matter of course.
That's why Yun Ce is seeing the scene he's witnessing now.
There were already crops in the fields, but he didn't recognize them.
"I heard that Yanzhou was severely flooded, and all the crops were ruined. Were these replanted? Will there be enough time for the autumn harvest?"
Xianyu Jian said, "It's not too late to come."
After saying that, he laughed and said, "We should be able to try something new tonight."
Yun Ce was dumbfounded: "Trying something new?"
Xianyu Jian smacked his lips, seemingly savoring the taste of the pork rib and corn soup he had made the night before: "The household management department produces a lot of corn every day, and they just throw it away in the kitchen because they don't want to waste it... Lin, the household management officer, said that this kind of corn has poor grain quality, but I don't think so..."
It has such a soft and chewy texture, and the seeds are plump. When stewed with pork ribs, he can easily make several large bowls of soup by himself.
Fresh and fragrant, isn't that good enough?
"Senior brother, you must try this! You'll never forget it once you've tasted it!"
Yun Ce: "..."
He didn't quite understand some of the things his junior brother said.
But he understood one thing: his junior brother was enjoying everything in the moment.
Xianyu Jian was with Yun Ce, and people kept greeting him. Yun Ce pointed to a spot and asked, "What are they doing now?"
Following the direction Yun Ce pointed, Xianyu Jian glanced at it and said, "Oh, they're building houses. As you know, senior brother, because of the previous battles, commoners were displaced, and many houses were old and collapsed, making it dangerous to continue living there. So our lord plans to build simple villages near the fields. Commoners can rent nearby fields so they don't have to travel far to work in the fields."
The real purpose is to control the population and household registration system.
"More than a dozen such villages have been built recently, each capable of accommodating at least a hundred households."
Yun Ce, on the other hand, was both happy and worried.
He was pleased with the crisscrossing paths and the sounds of chickens and dogs; but worried because the terrain was so flat, the area would be completely defenseless should the enemy invade. The well-planned fields also made it easier for the enemy to plunder grain.
He couldn't help but voice his concerns.
Xianyu Jian said, "Our lord did not consider these things."
Yun Ce asked in surprise, "You haven't thought about it?"
Xianyu Jian scratched his head: "I think our lord hasn't considered these gains and losses. As long as the land is still here and the newly built villages are still habitable, no matter who controls this place, the lives of the common people have been improved, and that's enough."
Yun Ce: "..."
For some reason, he inexplicably thought of the old general under Huang Lie's command and felt a slight empathy for him.
He asked Xianyu Jian, "Why did Zheng Qiao implement a scorched-earth policy?"
Destroying everything was naturally to cut off the enemy's supply lines!
Even if the enemy conquers our territory, we will not be able to recover it!
While the overall situation was still uncertain, Shen Jun went to so much trouble to manage this place so meticulously. Huang Lie and the others were overjoyed when they found out, and they should all kneel down before Shen Tang.
Thank you for the gifts of nature!
What is a living Bodhisattva?
That's what you call a living Bodhisattva!
Xianyu Jian understood the worry behind Yun Ce's words, and he said, "Our lord will not lose! He will not lose to Huang Lie!"
Yun Ce didn't know where his junior brother's confidence came from.
Ring—ring—ring—
Hearing the end-of-duty bell approaching from afar, Xianyu Jian cupped his hands to his mouth like a megaphone, focused his breath, and used technique to make his voice carry far: "Time to go, end of duty!"
If you're not proactive about leaving get off work, there's something wrong with your head.
People working in the fields stopped what they were doing.
They rushed towards the cafeteria at top speed, as if their backsides were on fire and they were being chased by ghosts. Some even left afterimages as they moved. The slower ones were more laid-back; since they couldn't make it in the first wave anyway, they didn't force themselves to run. As the saying goes, "It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early," and if they were lucky, they could still catch the food restock.
"Time to go on duty!"
"Let's go, let's go—"
"Did we finish our shift early today?"
Time flew by without me noticing; it was over in the blink of an eye.
Xianyu Jian and Yun Ce are clearly in the first tier.
To be precise, Xianyu Jian rushed off to eat, while Yun Ce was passively dragged along. The two of them sped off and quickly overtook the first group of contestants. When they arrived, the makeshift canteen set up by the logistics department was still quite empty, with only a handful of people around.
"Is there any corn today?"
Xianyu Jian suddenly slammed on the brakes.
The soldier in charge of serving food said, "Yes, yes."
Thanks to Hu Cao, the logistics team harvests dozens of acres of corn every day, and the grains in each ear of corn become fuller day by day. The kitchen staff also racks their brains to develop various ways to cook corn. However, so far, the most popular dish is still corn soup.
It can be cooked with various ingredients!
Add a little salt after cooking the soup, and it tastes delicious.
Yun Ce also got a portion. The appetite of a martial arts master was different from that of an ordinary soldier, so his portion was exceptionally large. It felt heavy in his hands, and Yun Ce didn't come to his senses until he sat down. At this moment, Xianyu Jian had already slurped up a mouthful of piping hot soup.
The other person looked at me with bright eyes.
He warmly invited, "Senior, have a taste."
Yun Ce stared blankly at the wooden spoon in the bowl, lost in thought once again.
He had fought alongside Huang Lie for quite some time, and before that, he had been a wandering knight-errant for a period of time, righting wrongs wherever he went. To put it nicely, he was a wanderer with a sword; to put it bluntly, he was homeless and couldn't have any means to satisfy his basic needs for food.
Back when I was a wandering knight, I ate whatever I could buy or hunt, sometimes going two days without a proper meal.
His situation was slightly better when he fought under Huang Lie. His food consisted mostly of dried millet cakes and steamed rice, which had a longer shelf life and could be preserved for a long time even in the height of summer, making them easy to carry. On better days, he could eat hot food, but more often he ate wheat porridge with cold water. These foods were dry and hard, with a bland taste, so he would cut a little bit of vinegar cloth to enhance the flavor.
Yun Ce was used to all of this.
Having previously served under Shen Tang for some time on Huang Lie's orders, Yun Ce had enjoyed better food conditions there than under Huang Lie, though his meals were still mainly dry rations, with cold rice porridge being the most frequent choice. Hot meals were served only a few times, and Yun Ce didn't pay much attention to them.
Now—
Yun Ce found it somewhat absurd.
Xianyu Jian had already sipped half a bowl of soup and finished a bucket of wheat porridge. When he looked up and saw that his senior brother hadn't touched his chopsticks yet, he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and asked, "Senior brother, is this food not to your liking?"
The chef has to cook one dish for hundreds of people, so it's hard to control the flavor; it's either too salty or too bland. If his senior apprentice doesn't like it, he'll have to pay the chef to cook a special meal for him. But that will have to wait until the kitchen is less busy.
Or is it that you think a bowl of soup only has two small pieces of meat?
Yun Ce shook his head: "Eat like this every day?"
Xianyu Jian said, “Not every day. Our lord is still quite poor, and such food cannot be provided every day. It’s only available three to five days out of ten days or half a month… However, if the people in the Revenue Department are diligent, the days can be longer…”
The people from the Household Department are the ones the entire army dares not offend the most.
Others hope their sons will become dragons and their daughters will become phoenixes, but they are different. Many of their comrades pray to the gods and Buddhas every day, hoping that Lin Feng and his friends will become successful, because it is related to the quality of the food they eat every day.
Only when Lin Hu and Cao Chengcai are successful can they fill their stomachs.
Yun Ce: "..."
This is absolutely terrifying!
He stared at the enticing aroma of the hot food on the counter, his mouth watering and his Adam's apple bobbing. He finally buried his head in his food. Soon, people began to arrive, and a long queue formed at the makeshift canteen. At the end of the line were two familiar faces.
"Gongxi Chou, your thick eyebrows and big eyes have changed!"
I could vaguely hear the gloomy Shen Tang making accusations.
Gong Xichou raised an eyebrow: "How have I changed?"
Shen Tang accused, "You cheated! You won all the beads from my hand! Can you say you weren't deliberately distracting me?"
She had never lost so decisively in marbles. After several rounds, Gong Xichou had eaten all ten of her marbles! Just a few years ago, they could have played evenly!
It's all because of Gong Xichou. Every time she makes a move, he says something juicy to distract her. This guy has gone bad!
Gong Xichou: "No, it wasn't intentional!"
He crossed his arms and spoke with an air of self-righteousness.
"It's clearly because Mama hasn't honed her skills over the years and is inferior to me, so how did it become that I cheated and won against you?"
Shen Tang: "..."
Gong Xiqiu pressed his advantage: "Besides, Mama is a strong fighter just like me. Honestly, even if I heard news of the sky falling, I wouldn't be easily distracted, let alone lose my aim and lose the match because of it."
"...Okay, you're right."
The fiercely competitive Shen Tang was forced to admit that Gong Xi Chou's words made sense—admitting that she had neglected to hone her skills due to being busy with political affairs was better than admitting that her focus was not as good as Gong Xi Chou's and that she was not a strong person—she lost because she was rusty.
“Mama, if you play a few more rounds with me, you’ll regain your touch.”
How can you become proficient if you don't practice?
Shen Tang held the plate and silently looked at Gong Xi Chou's head.
Gong Xiqiu tilted his head towards her: "What's wrong?"
"Will the Heavenly Thunder that advances to the sixteenth level help you get a new brain?" Did this guy get a new brain installed?
"As far as I know, no." While the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering has the same effect as cleansing the marrow and bones, it does not include changing one's brain.
"It's your fault, you dawdled on the way and wasted time."
You have to fight for a spot in the cafeteria.
Even though she arrived late, she, as the lord, was required to sit on the ground.
Fortunately, she could still share a table with someone. Yun Ce's face was like a built-in spotlight, making him stand out even in a crowd. Yun Ce naturally noticed her as well. He wanted to approach her, but when he thought of Shen Tang's gender, his expression stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Shen Tang smiled and leaned closer.
"Yuanmou, we meet again."
Come on, let's move over and make a table.
Yun Ce, this newbie, was much more sensible than the other veterans. He not only gave way to them but also clasped his hands in a salute.
"Yun Ce has met with Lord Shen."
Shen Tang first chatted with Yun Ce about everyday matters for a while, then changed the subject: "I heard about your situation from Feng En. If you have nowhere to go for the time being, why not stay and make plans later? With you here, that old scoundrel Huang Xiguang won't dare to make a move."
Yun Ce also wanted to get closer to him, so naturally he wouldn't refuse.
only--
He glanced around, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his pretty face.
According to the normal procedure, he should be holding the Martial Valor Tally with both hands in great excitement, clasping his hands in a gesture of loyalty, and saying, "I am grateful that Lord Shen has not abandoned me. I, Yun, am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse." Then the lord would help him up, and they would look at each other with affection.
Now--
Shen Tang ate until wheat grains were stuck to the corners of her mouth.
"Yuanmou, aren't you going to eat? The dishes today are alright."
Hurry up and finish this bucket so we can replenish it; if we eat too slowly, there won't be any left.
Yun Ce: "..."
This isn't right!
At the same time, Huang Xiguang was also furious.
He swept everything off the table, his eyes red, and said hatefully, "You're saying Yun Yuanmou injured the garrison commander and defected?"
|ω`)
Zhang He's lunchbox is starting to heat up, hehe.
(End of this chapter)
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