Chapter Forty-Four: What Thing

  I've always known that I'm a mediocre and uninteresting writer, so before others say it, I'll criticize myself first. I know I'm nothing special, I have self-awareness.

  All along, I knew that what I wrote was not good in terms of writing style, content, depth, knowledge, or interest. I never dared to compare with anyone else. The only thing I wanted was for the people who read my book to laugh and release their emotions simply.

  Whether it's the beginning or end of a book, I always want to say that if you're happy following me, then it's my honor. If you're not satisfied, then it's my fault. Please wait for my next book and I'll try harder. If you're happy with what you read, then it's my glory. If you're not happy, then it's my mistake. Please forget about me. Every time I say, when reading a book, don't look at the person (writing it), just look at the content.

  I have a deep respect for every reader, I fear disappointing readers, so I'm extremely cautious and only believe in negative reviews, never good ones. To the point where when I see someone giving me a reward, my first question is, "Is this just out of kindness?" It's absolutely not because my writing is any good.

  I write slowly, I'm not in the right mindset, can't bear to see votes, can't bear to see people rewarding me, can't bear that I owe others, just as you said, I have nothing and can do nothing, what else can I do except update more?

  I originally thought, after the new year, I've been working on this book for a month, and there's still a long way to go. If I write slowly and take a break, it'll be easier. But what this reader said is right - why should I take it easy? I have nothing except for frequent updates, what else can I compare with others? Now that I think about it, just being first place can satisfy my vanity? No, it can't! How can just one first place satisfy my vanity!!

  No, my first is from you readers, I beg of you! I don't think it's shameful, I think it's glorious!

  Now, I'm begging you again, one is not enough to satisfy my vanity, I want more to satisfy the vanity of this vain person!

  I, a vain person like me, have no right to talk about rest, nor do I have the right to be lazy. I'll continue to maintain double updates this month and future months until the final chapter is completed. No matter if it's achievable or not, my goal will always be to strive for first place. My vanity will never be satisfied!

  Pirated book friends, I don't ask for anything else, just leave this sentence for me. Those who scold me, hate me, and can't stand the sight of me, I know it all. However, I am doing this for those who like me, and that's enough to keep writing.

  PS: These words have been revised and will not be charged extra.

  Jiang Niang stopped in her tracks, Zhou Liu Lang turned his head back to look at her.

  "Miss?" The maid asked in a low voice.

  What's wrong?

  Jiang Nang turned her head and looked outside the door.

  "Mr. Lang, how can I bully women and children? Just because she is a woman and child, do I have to smile and welcome her, and give her money?"

  "Yes, Lord Lang, you don't know the reason, so don't talk nonsense."

  "This woman has come to make trouble many times already and is no longer working at my house, how can she still ask for wages!"

  Men Wai and Qi as well as his companions all said to the young gentleman.

  "No matter what the reason is, how can you lay hands on a woman and child?" The young man said, stretching out his hand to support her, "You claim to be a divine residence, if you do this, how can the divine reside here?"

  What a pedantic scholar!

  Dong Qi furrowed his brow, as the exam period approached, more and more people in Beijing were studying.

  "It's not up to me, nor is it up to you, young master. He sneered and waved his hand, "Get him out of here! If he comes back to cause trouble again, I'll report him to the authorities for extortion! This is my restaurant, not a charity!"

  The young gentleman is quite atmospheric.

  "This kind of cuisine, how can it be paired with the name 'delicious'!" he said.

  Dong Qi smiled and turned around to look at the young gentleman.

  "Exactly! You've spoiled Lang Jun's appetite." He said with a smile, pointing his finger, "This Lang Jun is so noble and disdainful of my family. With such an empty seat, who would be willing to go eat?"

  As soon as this was said, many people waiting outside the door shouted in a flurry.

  I.

  I.

  The young man's face looked very unsightly.

  Dong Qi burst out laughing.

  "Several invitations!" he shouted loudly.

  Things have come to this, and the two companions of the young gentleman had no choice but to come out. There was a commotion in front of the door, and indeed three people went in.

  "In the morning, your temper is really..." One of his companions shook his head and sighed.

  Han Yu and Ouyang Xiu bowed to each other.

  "It's me who disturbed everyone's pleasure," he said.

  The woman holding the child also stood up, wiping away tears and kowtowing to Han Yuan in a fluster.

  "It was I who disturbed your noble pursuits." She choked out, "It was I who disturbed your noble pursuits."

  Han Yuanchao hurriedly helped him up, and the other two also quickly invited him to get up.

  "What's going on?" Han Yuanchao asked.

  "My husband has been working as a cook in this restaurant since he was young, until the old master passed away and Seventh Master took over. He came up with new ideas and changed the name of the restaurant. My husband happened to have caught a cold and wanted to take a few days off, but Seventh Master fired him instead. My husband's illness got worse due to anger, and now he can't even get out of bed..." The woman said, choking back tears as she comforted her child.

  "And doesn't that owe you wages?" a man asked.

  The woman hesitated for a moment.

  "It's not owed," she said.

  The expressions of the three people were somewhat strange.

  So you're saying... it's all just a fuss over nothing?

  But if it's really unreasonable, this woman shouldn't admit it at this time.

  "At first, the old master had promised to give our family a 30% share... " She said with her head down, "But after the old master fell ill, he didn't have time to write it down..."

  Three people looked at each other in dismay, their expressions complex. Although they were scholars, they were not naive and inexperienced. They knew that the rise and fall of officials was a common occurrence, with some serving as emperors one day and ministers the next.

  Han Yuanchao hesitated for a moment, then took out his purse from his waist and handed over a handful of money to the woman.

  "I didn't bring much money either, and I'll have to stay in the capital for a long time, so I can only do my best with limited resources." he said.

  The woman waved her hand impatiently.

  "How can I take your money, how can I take your money." She choked with sobs, "It's already a trouble for you to have me around."

  Han Yu Chao repeatedly handed it over, but the woman insisted on not accepting it, and she hugged her child and left with a swagger.

  Three people sighed at the same time.

  "It seems that today's road-crossing immortal is going to starve." one of them said.

  "It's all because I've ruined everyone's interest." Han Yuan Chao said with a hint of apology.

  "You're hopeless, your temper can't be changed. Yuan Chao, you shouldn't have read books, you should've become a wandering knight instead." Another one laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

  "No, a knight-errant's anger can solve the worries of several people. My father said that to solve the worries of all people under heaven, one must read books, or become an official, or teach and pass on knowledge." Han Yuanchao smiled and changed the subject, "In such a big city as the capital, it's not difficult to find a place to eat. Let's go look again."

  Just as the three were about to leave, someone suddenly called out "Lang Jun, wait a moment!"

  Three people turned their heads in surprise and saw a maidservant walking out of the restaurant.

  "Mr. Lang." She smiled and curtsied.

  Three people don't know its cause, and they returned half a courtesy.

  "May I ask your surname and given name, sir?" The maid asked with a smile.

  Han Yuanchao and his companions exchanged a glance.

  "Someone from Su Prefecture, Han Jun," he said.

  "Is Yuan Chao the courtesy name of the young master?" asked the maid.

  Han Yu nodded slightly.

  Just now, a companion called out in front of people, and others who heard it didn't think it was strange.

  "It's really good handwriting." The maid servant smiled and suddenly changed her tone, "Young master, where are you staying in the capital?"

  "Kuiyuanju." Han Yuanchao blurted out.

  It slipped out of her mouth, and then she was shocked - this maid is really good at talking nonsense!

  "Don't you know your sister?" he asked, with a hint of surprise.

  The maid is making a courtesy call.

  "Lang Jun is a chivalrous person, and I admire him," she said. After that, she didn't say another word and turned to leave.

  Leaving three people staring at each other in confusion.

  "In the past, who said that people in the world are mostly heartless? It seems that many people just now admire what you have done." A companion laughed and said.

  "Must be a charming young lady." Another one laughed and patted his shoulder, "Maybe even before the list is announced, someone will come to snatch your son-in-law away, you'd better be careful."

  When the list is released, there is a custom in the capital that wealthy and powerful people will scramble to marry their daughters to high school students who are on the list.

  Han Yuanchao burst out laughing.

  Knowing where he lives is no big deal, I admire and thank him for not seeking anything in return. If someone comes to give himself a lesson, he won't be afraid either.

  "Don't talk nonsense, go quickly, go quickly." He said with a smile.

  The maid opened the door, and inside was only Cheng Jiaoniang sitting quietly.

  "My daughter, Lang Jun is Han Jun from Su Zhou, and his courtesy name is Yuan Chao." She said in a low voice as she sat closer.

  Jiang Nang nodded.

  "So that's him," she said.

  "Miss, do you recognize him?" The maid couldn't help but ask curiously.

  Seems to know the name, but it's like a stranger.

  Jiang Nang didn't say anything.

  "What did people say in the hall?" she asked again.

  "This Li Daxi, originally was the chef of this divine residence. Oh, it turns out that this place is not called Divine Residence, but rather Drunken Phoenix Tower. Li Daxi's exceptional cooking skills had earned him the favor of the old owner of Drunken Phoenix Tower. However, after the old owner passed away, the new owner, Dong Qiye, did not like Li Daxi. Just as it happened that business was booming, and it didn't matter if Li Daxi left the kitchen, so he took the opportunity to let him go." The maid said in a low voice.

  Let me put together what I just overheard in the hall.

  Jiang Nang nodded.

  Just then, the door was pushed open and two waiters came in with trays full of meat dishes.

  "It turns out, you want to invite your wife to dinner." The maid said, and couldn't help but smile, looking away.

  Shūroku was not with them but in a separate room next door.

  "My dear lady, this dish is a culinary godsend. You've made an excellent choice in ordering it." The waiter said with a hint of pride and a smile.

  As she watched him lay out dish after dish of food, the maid let out a sound of surprise.

  "What's...what is this?" she asked in a stifled voice.

  "This flavor is called 'passing immortal gods'. The shopkeeper said, "It's a unique deliciousness that only our Immortal Residence can offer."

  "Passing immortal?" The maid exclaimed in surprise.

  Looks like she's a sheltered lady who has never been out of the house and hasn't eaten anything good, the fellow curled his lip.

  "It's still the young master who has a good heart." He smiled and flattered, while also stepping on one side and pointing to the other, "The location was decided early, otherwise, by tomorrow it would be impossible to get in, just look at how many people are waiting at the entrance."

  The desk is now neatly arranged.

  The fellow saw the maid's astonished eyes and couldn't help but feel even more pleased with himself.

  "Sister, this way of eating is rare, good to tell sister to know, the meat is not eaten raw.... This bowl is not for drinking water, but for holding sauce..." He said loudly.

  The more he spoke, the more astonished the woman in front of him looked, and the more pleased he became.

  "You're...!" The maid sat up straight and raised her voice as if she was about to say something.

  Jiang Yao raised her hand to stop her, and the maid sat back down.

  "How?" The fellow looked at them with some bewilderment.

  Jiang Yao looked at the dishes and meat pots placed in front of her.

  "Bring me a piece of rabbit meat that hasn't been sliced, a knife and all the seasonings, and then ask your cook to come over," she said.

  The fellow was taken aback.

  "What instructions does the young lady have?" he asked.

  "That's what I was told," said the maid, pointing a finger at the shopkeeper with raised eyebrows.

  This little maid is so fierce.

  The fellow led the man out and pulled up the door, everyone looked at each other.

  "What is this girl going to do?"

  "It's probably unusual, let's see how it's done."

  "How can this be? This is the secret recipe of our Immortal Residence."

  "But it seems like a wealthy family, don't mess with them..."

  "What are we afraid of in a wealthy and noble family? We, the seven brothers, have just sworn allegiance to Liu Xueli, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat."

  The comrades whispered in the corridor, and the door on the other side was suddenly pulled open.

  "What's with the tongue-twisting here!" Zhou Liulang shouted.

  The companions were startled and hastily apologized.

  "Brother Lang." A waiter recognized that the young man and the girl from earlier were together, and hastily said, "This lady wants me to call our chef over, I don't know where he offended you, but look at how many customers we have now, I'm afraid he won't be able to get through."

  Shūrō furrowed his brow and looked towards the door of the house across from him.

  "Mind your own business!" he shouted, frowning.

  It's right, this young man asked the wrong question.

  Obviously this is a trip with Mei, specially come to curry favor, naturally everything prioritizes the young lady.

  The fellow had no choice but to make a bow and take his leave, rushing straight to the shopkeeper to pour out his grievances.

  The shopkeeper stood respectfully upright, listening to Old Man Duan sitting and talking.

  "...the wine houses in the capital are almost ready, and will open as soon as the New Year's festival is over..." He said with a smile, taking a sip from his wine jug, a newly picked jasmine flower tucked behind his ear, quivering slightly with his smile.

  "But this old shop is left by the old master to take care of the good feng shui, it's better to keep it..." The shopkeeper hesitated and said.

  "What good Feng Shui, if it's good Feng Shui, ten years of business is not as good as my three-day fame as a passing immortal. And yet you're still stuck in this place, how do you plan to lure people to the new store?" Duan Qiye said displeased, slamming the wine jug on the table.