Chapter 61: Turtle
Yan Shiyi was quite annoyed. He had told his sister on the road that the Li King had charmed Eldest Brother with just a bowl of sweet and sour fish balls.
At the time, his sister had scolded him, asking what kind of fish was so amazing. Did the Li King really think we Yan family members were ignorant?
However, at this moment, her attitude had completely changed.
Yan Shiyi Lang couldn’t be bothered with his own grievances. He was worried about his beautiful sister being with that madman, the Li King!
Moreover, he intended to go to that eatery and tear down the banner with Eldest Brother’s name on it.
The eatery had already been built. It was a simple wooden hut with a large courtyard covered by a canopy, furnished with over a dozen tables and dozens of benches.
With two large kitchen ranges and several tea stoves, an eatery with a distinct borderland style was considered open.
It hadn’t officially opened yet; today was the first time they were hosting guests.
After being personally instructed by Jinsui, two mess hall soldiers served as the head chefs.
The female family members of three Tuntian soldiers helped out. Since there were too many people, the soldiers of the Black Feather Camp came to assist.
Soon, dinner was served: lamb stewed in a large pot, tomato fish balls, and Dongpo pork.
There was also a chicken specially slaughtered to entertain the Yan family, stewed with dried mushrooms and potatoes.
Jinsui, without any pretense of being the Li King, entertained Miss Yan and, incidentally, the sulking Eleventh Young Master.
Yan Shiyi Lang’s initial declaration was, “This young master will absolutely not eat his food!”
Then, upon smelling the aroma of the meat, he changed it to, “This prince will give him face and eat just one bite!”
After eating, he would tear down that banner, warn the Li King, and immediately take his sister away!
Then, with a bowl of fish balls, a piece of Dongpo pork, and a bowl of lamb soup with flatbread placed before him, he never lifted his head again.
“It smells so good!”
Even after traveling through a thousand years, the law of “it smells so good” still applied!
Yan Shiyi’s eating posture was still elegant; as a young master of the gentry, his table manners were not bad.
It was just that his speed in grabbing dishes was faster than Hei Hu’s.
Yet, he ate quickly and elegantly, his chopsticks moving like he was wielding a sword.
Hei Hu ate quickly but rudely, and fearing that Yan Shiyi would snatch all the Dongpo pork, he glared at him from time to time.
Although Miss Yan’s eyes were solely on the Li King, she was still won over by the deliciousness of the sweet and sour fish balls, unconsciously eating a full bowl with both the soup and the fish balls.
Furthermore, she noticed that there were two types of vegetables on the table that she had never eaten before.
She deliberately found something to ask Jinsui: “Your Highness, what are these sweet and sour fruits, and that glutinous stem block? I’ve never seen them in Yandi.”
Jinsui smiled and said, “These are specialty dishes from my borderlands. They are new crops, and the quantity is still small. When the yield increases, this King will gift you some to take home.”
Miss Yan immediately lowered her head shyly and responded with a “Mm.”
Her heart churned with the thought, The Prince wants to give me something!
“I give you a peach, you give me fine jade.”
Although it was just vegetables, the meaning was extraordinary…
If Jinsui had known that a maiden in love would self-coach herself in such a way, she would have found it utterly bizarre.
She looked at Yan Shiyi Lang, who was busily eating vegetables with his head down, and suppressed a smile as she called out, “Turtle Young Master.”
Yan Shiyi Lang didn’t look up, as if the name being called wasn’t his.
It was Miss Yan who nudged him: “Your Highness is calling you.”
Only then did he respond with a confused “Ah,” and instantly realized the name Jinsui had just called.
Remembering her earlier teasing about “turtle,” he stiffly said, “What is it, Your Highness?”
Jinsui asked with a smile, “Isn’t Turtle supposed to be avenging Zheng Pengpeng today?”
Eleventh Young Master scoffed, “Why would I help him get revenge? I came for myself.”
Jinsui snapped her fingers: “Hei Hu, apologize to Turtle Young Master.”
Hei Hu glared at him and said, “Turtle Young Master, I shouldn’t have hit your face so hard.”
Yan Shiyi Lang felt a chill: “Just call me Yan Shiyi. Hearing you call me by my courtesy name always feels like you’re scolding me!”
Jinsui smiled and said, “Since Turtle has accepted Hei Hu’s apology, then this King and the Yan family are no longer enemies?”
Miss Yan quickly interjected, “Of course! Eldest Brother has repeatedly praised Your Highness. The Yan family not only has no enmity with Your Highness but is also friends.”
She nudged Yan Shiyi with her elbow: “Say something, Second Brother.”
Yan Shiyi mumbled something, then suddenly stood up and pointed at the banner outside:
“You have to take that down! How can you hang my Yan family head’s name so brazenly!”
Jinsui’s eyebrows slightly rose, and she smiled, “Hanging Yan Jiulang’s name means he is the spokesperson. He gets to eat fish balls for free anytime he comes.”
“He didn’t agree to this?”
Yan Shiyi was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed:
“You mean, after hanging the name, I can eat any dish at this eatery for free anytime?”
Jinsui nodded: “Of course. Any spokesperson who visits is a distinguished guest, and all dishes on the menu are free to taste.”
“Then don’t hang my Eldest Brother’s name, hang my Yan Shiyi Lang’s name!”
“What spokesperson do you need me to be!”
“If it’s about eating, I eat better than Eldest Brother!”
Jinsui laughed heartily in her mind. She knew he wasn’t that smart!
A prominent figure from Yandi, endorsing an eatery, and asking for nothing but free meals.
Jinsui nodded: “Alright then! I’ll have Turtle Wugui personally write a banner for the eatery. This old banner will be gifted to Yan Jiulang.”
After finishing the meal and unloading the goods, the Yan family took their leave.
Jinsui clearly felt that Miss Yan didn’t want to leave, but as it was getting dark, how could she dare to let a female guest stay overnight!
Escorting the Yan family outside the city, Miss Yan said reluctantly:
“I’ll bring medicine for Your Highness tomorrow.”
Jinsui quickly replied, “No need. The military camp has wound medicine.”
For the wound on my hand, by the time you bring the medicine, it will have already healed.
Miss Yan’s eyes darted, and she suddenly lowered her voice:
“Tomorrow, I’ll inquire about the Zheng family’s reaction and tell Your Highness.”
This was something Jinsui couldn’t refuse. Moreover, she also wanted to inquire about the Zheng family’s secrets; the information Wei Assistant Secretary’s men could gather was limited.
She changed her attitude and smiled, “This King will always welcome Miss Yan’s visit.”
After seeing off the brother and sister, Jinsui happily inventoried the supplies sent by the Yan family with Cheng Yu and Wei Assistant Secretary.
Coupled with the previous purchase, there was no shortage of provisions for the winter.
However, what the border city was most worried about now was not winter provisions, but the revenge of the Zheng family and the city’s defenses.
Jinsui asked, “How much silver do we still have?”
Wei Assistant Secretary didn’t even need to bring out the ledger; he remembered every single coin clearly: “We have savings of six thousand three hundred and twenty taels.”
“Three hundred and twenty taels are in cash, and six thousand taels are in silver notes.”
Jinsui rested her chin on her hand and pondered, “Send people to the various prefectures of Yandi to secretly purchase pig iron. Buy as much as possible.”
“Are there any blacksmiths in the borderlands? If not, quietly invite some blacksmiths into the city to prepare weapons and armor.”
“Prepare more bricks and stones to repair the city walls.”
“The day after tomorrow, Han Xing will accompany me to the seaside. Autumn is approaching.”
The latter sentence seemed completely unrelated. What did going to the seaside have to do with autumn approaching?
But Han Xing and the others didn’t ask. They had developed a habit: whatever the Prince said, went. Sometimes, asking too many questions would anger the Prince, and things would become more troublesome.
The brown sugar incident was truly unforgettable.
Asking “Where did it come from?” just once meant not getting any brown sugar.
