Chapter 21: Big Fool Li

At dawn the next day, Jiang Lili was awakened by a young maid sent by Guan Yue.

Although Guan Yue was straightforward and carefree by nature, she was very considerate toward her sisters. Knowing that Jiang Lili wasn’t skilled at styling her hair, she had deliberately sent a nimble-fingered maid to help.

The young maid styled Jiang Lili’s hair into a simple and practical double bun. Paired with Jiang Lili’s apricot-colored hanfu dress, the look was vibrant and charming. The maid couldn’t help but exclaim, “Miss, you truly deserve to be from the capital. This is the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen.”

Jiang Lili’s cheeks turned a deep red at the compliment. She pinched the young maid’s cheek lightly and dashed out the door to find Guan Yue for breakfast.

However, just as she reached the entrance to the meeting hall, she ran straight into Xin Che, who was coming out of the hall.

Xin Che reached out to steady the stumbling Jiang Lili. “Are you heading out?”

He glanced at the bundle slung over her shoulder, his sharp phoenix-like eyes clear and penetrating.

Feeling a bit guilty, Jiang Lili hesitated. After all, just yesterday, she had asked Xin Che to protect her and ensure her safety. Now, here she was, planning to leave him behind and head into the city on her own.

“Yes, I’m going to Linzhou City,” Jiang Lili quickly added, “Would you like to come with me?”

Xin Che shook his head with an understanding tone. “I’m a wanted criminal from the capital. Taking me along would be rather unnecessary.”

His words carried an inexplicable hint of pitifulness.

Cheng Jiayu, standing nearby, was stunned when he heard this. Was this still the master he knew? Why did he suddenly seem like an abandoned puppy?

And why did it feel like his master’s tone carried a touch of… green tea energy?

The term “green tea” was something Guan Yue had explained to him before. He now realized that it could also describe a certain way of speaking. The way his master used it was simply unparalleled.

Jiang Lili avoided looking into Xin Che’s eyes. Spotting Guan Yue and Jiayu standing nearby, peeking curiously, she pointed at Jiayu and said, “Don’t worry, Jiayu’s skills are excellent too.”

Cheng Jiayu, who was sitting at the front and watching the scene unfold, wished he could disappear on the spot.

Sure enough, he heard Xin Che’s voice grow colder by eight degrees: “Yes, so I’m not needed anymore.”

Xin Che added, “Be careful on the road.”

With that, he glanced at Jiayu, then turned and walked away.

Cheng Jiayu could feel the sharpness of his master’s gaze like a flying knife. He inwardly groaned, lamenting how the young mistress always seemed to dig pits for him.

After breakfast, Jiang Lili and her group set off on their journey.

Leading the way was a girl named Tao Zhi. According to Guan Yue, Tao Zhi had an excellent memory and could recall many complex routes.

The four of them rode horses, with Guan Yue and Jiayu sharing one, and Jiang Lili and Tao Zhi on another. Fortunately, none of them were particularly heavy, so their pace wasn’t hindered much.

The distance from the mountain stronghold to Linzhou City was over two hundred miles. They had set off at dawn, and by the time they neared the city, it was already sunset.

Tao Zhi was very familiar with the shortcut from the mountain stronghold to Linzhou City, so they took that route, avoiding the nearby villages of Linzhou. There were hardly any people along the way.

The Great Sheng Dynasty’s territories were divided into provinces, counties, and districts, similar to modern-day provinces, cities, and counties. Linzhou City served as the capital of the entire Linzhou province.

However, the counties surrounding Linzhou City were so desolate that they consisted of scattered, small villages, making it hard to distinguish the county divisions.

As they neared Linzhou City, the situation improved slightly, with more people and more signs of life.

When they arrived at the city gate, the soldiers stationed there were carefully inspecting everyone who passed through.

“What’s your name? Where are you from?”

The soldiers were conducting thorough checks, which made Jiang Lili and Tao Zhi’s group feel uneasy.

Tao Zhi furrowed her brows. “Usually, a little silver would be enough to get through. Why are they being so thorough today?”

At that moment, an elderly man sitting on the ground overheard Tao Zhi’s words and chuckled, saying, “You don’t know yet, do you? This is Second Young Master Li’s doing. He said it’s to clean up the public order.”

Afterward, it was the turn of an older man to join the line to enter the city. He was leading a donkey cart, which carried a large box that appeared to be filled with goods. The man smiled at the city guards and said, “Sir, I’m delivering ingredients. Here’s my pass for entering the city.”

With that, he pulled out a badge from his waist.

The pass for entering the city was a necessary token for long-time traders who regularly traveled to and from Linzhou City.

When the guards saw the “Fengdeng Restaurant” inscription on the badge, their faces immediately soured. “Fengdeng Restaurant? You can’t enter!”

“Why not? I’ve been delivering goods to Fengdeng Restaurant without issue every time,” the man said, clearly confused and flustered, as this was the first time he had been stopped.

The guards were firm in their refusal. “You can’t go in. Your ingredients may be problematic. I’ll report this to my superiors. You wait here.”

The older man, bewildered, fumbled with the donkey cart. “Sir, how long must I wait? These are fresh ingredients, and the restaurant is urgently expecting them!”

“Wait here until I say otherwise. No more talking, just get out of the way. Next!”

The frustrated delivery man reluctantly pulled his donkey cart away, sighing as he went.

“I’ve been delivering to Fengdeng Restaurant for three years, and this is the first time I’ve been stopped. What am I supposed to do? This whole cart of vegetables might go to waste, and now it looks like I won’t be working with them anymore.”

Jiang Lili, witnessing the situation, felt a bit puzzled. “Why does it feel like they’re targeting Fengdeng Restaurant?”

An elderly man, who had been talking with her, smiled and answered, “You’re right, young lady. Second Young Master Li claimed it was to restore order, but in reality, it’s aimed at Big Fool Li—no, Eldest Young Master Li.”

“Fengdeng Restaurant is a business left by Eldest Young Master Li’s maternal family. It’s always struggled and was on the brink of closing.”

“Later, Eldest Young Master Li launched a new dish yesterday, called the Fengdeng Little Hot Pot.”

Jiang Lili and Guan Yue exchanged a glance. ‘Well, this transmigrator seems to be doing quite well in the food business.’

“The Fengdeng Little Hot Pot not only has an affordable price, but it also tastes wonderfully fragrant and spicy, making you crave more. After eating it, you feel like all the dampness in your body has been cleared away.”

The old man couldn’t help but swallow as he spoke. “The smell of that little hot pot—if you walk past Fengdeng Restaurant, you can smell it from a distance. It’s enough to make your mouth water!”

“Fengdeng Restaurant’s business exploded overnight. Now they’re constantly transporting ingredients into the city. But now, Second Young Master Li is blocking the way. The ingredients can’t get in, and I have a feeling something’s going to happen tonight.”

Jiang Lili thought the old man seemed to know a lot, so she curiously asked, “Old man, why aren’t you entering the city? Why are you standing here chatting with us?”

The old man gave a nonchalant smile. “Oh, I’m the new manager hired by Fengdeng Restaurant. I’m stuck at the city gate too.”

Jiang Lili: “…”

This old man definitely had a dark sense of humor.

He stroked his beard and continued, “Since I can’t get into the city, I figured I’d just stand here at the gate and promote the little hot pot from Fengdeng Restaurant.”

Jiang Lili gave him a thumbs up. “You must be quite a capable manager—great marketing skills.”

“Old man, since you’re the new manager of Fengdeng Restaurant, do you know what Eldest Young Master Li’s full name is?”

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