CH 11

‘Immortal Face, Asura Heart’!1

Wen Mingtang listened to the discussion from the people outside, and thought, this seemed to be the nickname given to the young Shaoqing2 of Dali Temple in front of her by the storyteller in the teahouse outside.

This nickname… in all fairness, it was not wrong! Needless to say, the immortal face, anyone with eyes can see what this young minister of Dali Temple looked like.

As for this Asura heart… as Shaoqing of Dali Temple, he has to deal with heinous criminals on a daily basis. If he was really soft-hearted, he might have been swallowed up by the criminals long ago.

The sound of sticks came, and the sticks pierced into the flesh one sound at a time.

Wen Mingtang looked at the screaming Liu Shi in front of her, and couldn’t help shaking her head. Actually, Liu Shi didn’t specifically target Liu Yuan! She used insulting words such as “wretched” on a daily basis, but the object of the insult was Zhao Dalang, who lived in a nearby neighborhood and was also a commoner, so no one made a fuss about it.

How could Liu Shi, who was used to being domineering and arrogant in the past, have ever been wronged like this? Seeing Zhao Dalang, she started shouting “Help!”

But Zhao Dalang…

Zhao Dalang, who can’t fight back when he was beaten or scolded, was shrinking his head and not daring to look at her. From the beginning to the end, he had never stood up like a man!

Whether he was beaten by her or she was beaten, Zhao Dalang’s reaction was exactly the same, a bowl of water was flat!

Wen Mingtang looked at Liu Shi who was glaring at Zhao Dalang angrily, and thought, after this incident, Liu Shi and Zhao Dalang are likely to have an ongoing feud and won’t be able to live in peace!

When there is no trouble, Liu liked “honest people” like Zhao Dalang who were easy to control. But when she was really in trouble, Zhao Dalang’s reaction was so bad, that not to mention Liu Shi, even the people watching can’t help shaking their heads.

What was the use of having such a man?

Wen Mingtang patted the frightened Zhao Lian, whose face was pale, and after comforting her, motioned her to look at Lin Fei who was staring at the overturned “egg fried noodles” under his feet.

“Auntie just said that she would make a new bowl for that distinguished person,” Wen Mingtang reminded Zhao Lian, “He paid for it but didn’t get anything to eat. If he pursues this matter, Auntie may have to take a few more sticks!”

Originally she thought that such a person who looked like a banished fairy would be careless, but in fact… how could someone who became the Shaoqing of Dali Temple at a young age be a kind person? Maybe he will really count it!

Zhao Lian came back to her senses, realized this, and quickly begged Wen Mingtang: “Sister Wen, can you do it? My mother made the egg-fried noodles like you made yesterday. However, it was really hard to swallow. At this time, we can’t afford to offend the Lord because of this!”

After twenty sticks, it was estimated that she will have to lie down for half a month, and she didn’t want her mother to suffer more sticks.

Wen Mingtang nodded, turned, and went to the backyard.

After entering the backyard, Wen Mingtang didn’t go into the kitchen immediately, but walked to the courtyard wall, took two steps back, and skillfully turned over the top of the wall with her strength. Reaching out to take out a pair of shoes from the banyan tree outside the wall, she jumped off the wall again and returned to the yard.

Wen Mingtang took the shoes and walked to a vegetable field reclaimed in the backyard, glancing at the clearly visible footprints inside. Wen Mingtang smiled and sent the shoes back to Liu Shi and Zhao Dalang’s house.

Today at dawn, when Wen Mingtang noticed Liu Shi sneaking into the house, Wen Mingtang knew that it was for her. So, she kept a hand. Going to Liu Shi’s room, compared to the shallow footprints in the vegetable field, found a pair of shoes that were similar to her footprints, and “deepened” those footprints.

Therefore, with such conclusive evidence, even if she did not meet those Dali Temple officials, Liu Shi would not be able to deny it.

Of course, this “evidence” was very obvious, and if someone really wanted to study it carefully, they could have found the flaws. But she was sure that Liu Shi would not have insisted on being “wronged” and demanded an in-depth investigation.

After all, even if Liu Shi admits to stealing her own things, the law can’t do anything to her. It was not a big deal to stumble her another day!

The fact was exactly the same. Liu Shi got the stick because she was used to being arrogant, she didn’t control her mouth and insulted officials as “wretched” instead of stealing.

After returning the shoes and washing her hands, Wen Mingtang went to the kitchen and made another fried egg noodle.

Just now when she saw the lumpy “egg fried noodles”, Wen Mingtang knew that Liu Shi secretly learned her cooking. However, no matter the skill or talent, Liu Shi’s cooking remained consistently subpar. It was a disappointing attempt that made one reluctant to even touch it.

The fried noodles were not sticky because they were soaked in cold water. Liu Shi probably did not expect that the essence of this dish lay in the step of “washing the noodles”.

After finishing the egg-fried noodles, Wen Mingtang didn’t go to the front yard immediately, but went to get a greased paper bag from her luggage, and carried them over together.

But it was said that after Liu Shi was dragged to the door by the street patrolman of the Bingmasi Yamen, Liu Yuan and others sat down again and stuffed the egg-fried noodles into their mouths with a bitter face.

Just as he was eating in pain and suffering, an inexplicable aroma rushed into his nostrils.

Liu Yuan, who was stuffed with fried noodles in his mouth, suddenly became excited. Before he could speak, he saw an extra plate of “egg fried noodles” in front of his otherworldly Shangfeng.3

The things inside were the same eggs, onions, vegetables, and noodles, but for some reason, the plate of “egg fried noodles” was obviously the same as theirs, but they didn’t seem to be the same dish.

The noodles on the plate in front of Shangfeng looked smooth and clear, whether it was eggs or onions, the color was just right, even the green vegetables were green and oily, which whetted the appetite.

It was the girl who was falsely accused of stealing sauerkraut who brought the “egg fried noodles”.

She placed a beautifully wrapped oil-paper package on the table and said, “Regarding the earlier incident… it must have startled all of you! This is a homemade sour plum drink mix. Please accept it as a token of my apologies and I hope you won’t be displeased!”

After saying that, she smiled at a few people, turned, and left.

The oil-paper package, which was square in shape, had an additional paper attached to it. The blue background with white words listed the ingredients and dietary restrictions. The thick hemp rope used to tie the package had a beautiful red tassel attached to it.

The entire oil-paper package looked beautiful and exquisite. It was definitely something that could be proudly given as a gift.

This thing didn’t match this restaurant at first glance, and they knew it was a thank-you gift from the girl.

“Is this considered bribery?” Liu Yuan asked everyone.

Bai Zhu took a deep breath, inhaling the fantastic fragrant aroma of the egg-fried noodles in front of Shangfeng, and said, “Whether it’s considered a bribe or not, if it’s a token of gratitude, Shaoqing should also have a share!”

When the girl was falsely accused of stealing sauerkraut, Liu Yuan was not the only one who helped, their Shaoqing was helped.

Lin Fei, who was mentioned, focused his attention on the plate of egg-fried noodles in front of him. He picked up the chopsticks and paused for a while, then took the chopstick and put it in his mouth.

Then… his expression was still calm, and his movements were slow.

This reaction… it was hard to tell whether it was delicious or unpalatable.

A few people had no choice but to give up and continue eating.

Throughout the meal, Liu Yuan and the others ate with a sense of self-sacrificing determination. After struggling to finish the entire “lunch” that Shangfeng had invited them to, they finally put down their chopsticks. It was only then that they noticed Shangfeng’s plate was also completely empty, despite his leisurely and unhurried pace of eating.

How did Lin Shaoqing who ate so slowly, still one step faster than them? Several people are very puzzled.

Was the egg-fried noodles delicious?

“It should be delicious.” On the way back, Bai Zhu said to Liu Yuan, “If it’s not delicious…do you still remember cook Madam Zhou?”

Madam Zhou? Liu Yuan was stunned for a moment, remembering this person, the expression on his face was a bit indescribable: “The one who was transferred to Guozijian4 by Lin Shaoqing?”

Bai Zhu nodded: “That’s the one. The Yu Jijiu5 dismissed her.”

Liu Yuan almost bit his tongue in surprise, “Just because the cooking is not good, alarmed Yu Jijiu?”

“How is that possible?”

Bai Zhu shook his head and waved at him, beckoning him to come over, after saying so and so, Liu Yuan suddenly understood.

“That’s right, the Guozijian is recruiting new chefs right now, and the skill is second. The key is here…” Bai Zhu pointed to his face and said in a meaningful tone, “Then the public chef has to personally inspect the chef, if not here, no matter how good your skills are, you won’t be able to enter the official kitchen of the Guozijian!”