Chapter 245

On the other side, those who were still waiting for breakfast felt that today’s breakfast was a little late. Even King Yan, who had been practicing martial arts early in the morning, started to ask when he felt hungry.

Yan Xuan also felt that the breakfast was a little late. When he was just about to send someone over to look at it, he saw Gu Yu who he had asked to serve the Second Young Master running here.

Gu Yu ran all the way, hurriedly, and still gasping when he stopped in front of Yan Xuan.

Seeing him in such a hurry,Yan Xuan thought that there must be something happened. He asked Gu Yu to answer without saluting him, “Gu Yu, you are in such a hurry,  did anything happen to the Second Young Master?”

Gu Yu stopped panting and said, “Second Young Master, Second Young Master is in the kitchen.”

“What’s wrong in the kitchen?Did anything wrong happen to him? “Yan Xuan asked anxiously.

“Second Young Master was in the kitchen early in the morning. He made breakfast for everyone and sends me to ask where the Master wants to have breakfast.”

Gu Yu finally finished his words.

King Yan, who was paying attention to them, also heard Gu Yu’s words. Waving his hand, he said: “Just eat in the front hall. Yan Xuan, you send people to invite the Lord and the others. We can’t miss the breakfast Zheng’er cooked for us.”

Hearing his words, the two of them ran off quickly in their respective directions .

King Yan put down the sword in his hand and started to imagine what would Liu Tong’s breakfast be like.

Hearing Liu Tong make breakfast, everyone rushed to the ante-room to wait. As Tangtang, Guoguo, Gao Quan and Shao Yu had eaten the food Liu Tong cooked, they became the target of questioning by others. Xiao Qingyun seemed the most curious, waiting expectantly.

Not long after, a servant came up with a tray. Inside the tray, there were some dishes and noodles which were different from the noodles they usually ate.

Seeing this, Tangtang explained,”This is called Knife Noodles. Dad first made it and Daddy learned later, but Daddy’s cooking skills are much better than Dad’s. On the way here, Dad told us that the food in the north was mostly noodles. That is why Daddy cooks it in the morning.”

Cooking noodles was very simple, just added some vegetables to the noodles. They didn’t know what special things were in the noodles, it smelt delicious and they wanted to try it right away.

However, Xu Ran, Liu Tong and Baozi didn’t come, so they could not eat first.

Xu Ran and Liu Tong came with a plate in each of their hands. What Xu Ran brought was the chili sauce he made in the kitchen and that in Liu Tong’s plate was the pickled dish from the kitchen.

People could feel warmer when they ate spicy food on cold days. As for the pickled dish, it was Xu Ran’s favorite every time he ate noodles.

As soon as they sat down, everyone began to eat noodles, without saying a word.

After a few bites, King Yan started to call out, “It’s delicious, much better than the chefs in the kitchen.”

After hearing King Yan’s words, Xu Ran continued proudly, ” Of course, Tongtong’s cooking skills are the best.”

King Yan was very unhappy and retorted, “How can you say it’s your Tongtong? He’s my younger brother.”

Xu Ran replied, not to be outdone, “He is my spouse. When I call him, he will answer me. Can you?”

King Yan shut up instantly.

Although he was not very convinced, he did not say anything. His younger brother had not recognied him, but he didn’t worry about it, after all, there was plenty of time.

Liu Tong was focused on blowing noodles for Baozi, ignoring Xu Ran and King Yan. While others were just eating their noodles, only Xiao Qingyun came to persuade them.

“Alright, alright, why do you quarrel in the early morning? Hurry up to eat, these are noodles Tongtong got up early in the morning to cook for you.”

It was clear that Xiao Qingyun’s call of Tongtong made King Yan unhappy again. However, he was wise not to say anything, because he was afraid that if he did so, Liu Tong would be angry.

After breakfast, when Liu Tong was about to clear the table, Xiao Qingyun stopped him and said, “Tongtong, you’ve done breakfast, leave these things to the servants! Otherwise, they will think they are useless and will be sold.

Being amused by Xiao Qingyun’s words, Liu Tong stopped.

After lunch, they all started their own business. Tangtang and Guoguo were no exception, one asked Lu Qi to teach him kung fu, the other let Lu Qi teach him to study, and plus a troublemaker, Du Xin, everybody got busy.

As for Gao Quan and Shao Yu, they were also well treated. Gao Quan was an elder for King Yan. Although King Yan did not assign him anything, he lived and ate to the same standards as Lu Qi did.

As for Du Xin, he was treated as Lu Qi’s family. Anyway, he was a attention-getter, even if King Yan left him alone, he could find a place to live in. As long as he didn’t get into serious trouble, King Yan would turn a blind eye.

Liu Tong and Baozi left with Xiao Qingyun, Tangtang and Guoguo left later, leaving Xu Ran alone.

At this time, King Yan said to him, deliberately, “Hey, since no one wants you, you may come with me to the Yanzhou Residence. I have said that the Yanzhou Residence is not big, but it’s enough for you.”

Xu Ran was tempted by his words. Being alone, if he didn’t go with King Yan, he would have nothing to do, so he nodded and said, “All right, let’s go.”

King Yan took Yan Xuan and Xu Ran, the three of them left from the back door.

Thinking of what had happened at the King Yan residence yesterday, Xu Ran understood why King Yan left through the back door.

Xu Ran felt strange that he had never seen a nobleman build his house in the middle of the street! Wasn’t it troublesome if someone visited the house or something happened, others would know about it?

Xu Ran voiced his doubts.

Yan Xuan was about to answer for King Yan, when King Yan stopped him and said,  ” Let me tell you! This place was chosen by my father. He said that this place was close to all other places. No matter what happened, the Yanzhou Residence would know it as soon as possible. It was convenient for me to control the Yanzhou Residence. Second, the Yanzhou Residence will never hide anything from the common people. Only the common people can see us with their own eyes, they will trust us more. At that time, the Yanzhou Residence was not like it is now. Although I was young at that moment, I clearly remembered how run-down the Yanzhou Residence looked.”

King Yan sighed at the mention of the past.

Xu Ran looked at the buildings he could see carefully. They were not rundown. Although it was cold, there were many people wearing heavy clothes, with smiles on their faces, coming and going on the streets.

Xu Ran gave a hearty compliment, “You did very well, at least the Yanzhou Residence is very good now. What the common people want is very simple. For them, it is good that they have clothes to wear, enough food to eat, and the family can live in peace.”

Hearing Xu Ran’s words, King Yan shook his head and said, “You’re wrong. I’m not as good as you said. The Yanzhou Residence is not as good as you see. It is just because here is the busiest place of the Yanzhou Residence. The Yanzhou Residence is in the northermost part of Great Xia. The weather here is cold and there is little rain, so many farmers cannot grow enough crops to feed their families, let alone pay taxes.”

Speaking of this, King Yan said, frowning, “I once though of exempting people from paying taxes, but there are sill fifty thousand soldiers guarding the Yanzhou Residence and watching out for enemy attacks. Without taxes, how can I support the soldiers? However, if taxes are levied, the common people can’t have enough to eat, so I’ve always felt so incompetent.”

Maybe he regarded Xu Ran as his family and just wanted to complain, King Yan told him everything.

Xu Ran remembered what Lu Qi told him about the Yanzhou Residence on their way here. Lu Qi told him about the situation when he left Yanzhou Residence. Xu Ran could tell from his words that the Yanzhou Residence was not rich. Now after hearing King Yan’s words, Xu Ran couldn’t help but sigh.

The gap between the rich and the poor had existed for many years. The only good news was that fewer people were going hungry now.

Xu Ran said, “King Yan, Tongtong would like to recognize you. I suggest you go back and talk with him! As for the Yanzhou Residence, just like you’ve said, it is small, but it is big enough for me. So as long as I stay in the Yanzhou Residence, I promise the common people of the Yanzhou Residence a good life. Can you trust me, King Yan?”

Hearing Xu Ran’s words, King Yan was quite excited. He said quickly, “Of course, I always trust the people I chose, not to mention the relationship between us. ”

Xu Ran said with a smile, “That’s good. After you and Tongtong recognize each other, I will show you two things. Also, please find a house for us as soon as possible. It’s inconvenient for us to live in the palace with such a big family. Also, you’d better not announce Tongtong’s identity to the public. Once someone knows about it, it will cause trouble for Tongtong.”

King Yan retorted, “Zheng’er looks just like me. The people of the Yanzhou Residence all know me. Do you mean Zheng’er can’t go out in the future?”

Xu Ran shook his head and explained, “Of course not. How could he not be allowed out? Master, don’t forget Lu Qi, his medical skills are so good, it’s easy for him to change a person’s appearance. Tongtong doesn’t have to make a big change, just a little is ok.

King Yan thought that it was easy for Lu Qi to do this. After all, Lu Qi’s medical skills were taught by his father.

Now he didn’t contradict Xu Ran anymore. After all, what Xu Ran said was the truth. Anyway, King Yan was intimidating at the Yanzhou Residence.