The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 31: Foodies Are Just Willful

Old Doctor Shangguan returned to Kangning Hall and went straight to Xiao Jingheng’s room, shouting loudly, “Sun Hao, quickly set up the table! Your master not only managed to buy boiled beef but also brought back three dishes you’ve never tried before.”

Sun Hao, hearing that the food had been bought, hurriedly moved a table into Xiao Jingheng’s room and set it up.

He took the basket and saw three bowls inside. He quickly arranged the dishes and served a bowl of rice to his master. To his surprise, the old man handed it to Xiao Jingheng instead.

“Kid, try this—old duck vermicelli soup, boiled beef, and steamed rice noodles.”

Then he took the bowl of rice Sun Hao had prepared for himself and began eating voraciously.

Xiao Jingheng picked up a piece of beef—it was tender, smooth, and bursting with flavor.

Next, he tried a piece of duck meat. He had intended to savor it slowly, but seeing the master and disciple devouring their food at lightning speed, he had no choice but to eat faster.

The old man’s belly was round and full after the meal. He sat motionless, while Sun Hao began clearing the table.

Xiao Jingheng, unable to move, decided to practice his internal energy after eating.

“Do you know how I managed to buy such delicious food?”

Neither of them seemed interested in listening.

They were busy with their own tasks and ignored him.

The old man continued proudly, “I waited in line for two hours, and they told me the boiled beef was sold out for today. They said to come back tomorrow.

“For the boiled fish, there might still be some, but by the time it was my turn, it would probably be gone too.”

At this, both of them stopped what they were doing and listened.

The old man deliberately held back, enjoying their curiosity.

Sun Hao couldn’t hold back any longer. “Master, tell us! How did you get it?”

The old man glanced at Xiao Jingheng but still didn’t speak.

Xiao Jingheng knew it must have something to do with him. “Old man, if you want to talk, then talk. If not, forget it.”

He couldn’t think of anyone here who might be connected to him.

Seeing Xiao Jingheng’s indifferent attitude, the old man felt a bit deflated.

He had no choice but to spill the beans, vividly describing how he had run into Xu Zhizhi.

“That ugly village girl can cook such delicious food?” Sun Hao exclaimed in disbelief.

Xiao Jingheng was also surprised but felt uncomfortable with Sun Hao’s description.

“How is Miss Xu ugly?”

Sun Hao retorted unhappily, “She’s so dark and skinny—how is she not ugly? An ugly person looking at an ugly village girl would naturally think she’s not ugly. Do you even think she’s pretty?”

Xiao Jingheng didn’t bother to explain.

In his mind, the girl’s skin was dark because she couldn’t afford cosmetics and used ash to protect her skin.

Her big, sparkling eyes and sharp, fair chin suggested that without the ash, she would be quite beautiful.

It had to be said that Xiao Jingheng was no ordinary person—he had figured it out.

But what made him even more uncomfortable was that the girl had come to town but hadn’t visited him.

He couldn’t understand why the girl was so kind to him.

Seeing Xiao Jingheng’s troubled expression, the old man said, “Zhizhi asked me to tell you that she’s been busy looking for medicinal herbs for you. She’s only missing one ingredient now.”

“She said she’ll bring it over once she finds it and asked me to take good care of you.”

“Most importantly, I told her you’ve been craving Drunken Fragrance Pavilion’s dishes every day.

“She’s arranged with the restaurant so that from now on, we don’t have to wait in line. We can go through the back door and order a dish.”

Xiao Jingheng was overjoyed to hear this.

Sun Hao excitedly said, “Tomorrow, I want to try the old duck vermicelli soup again.”

“That won’t be possible for now,” the old man said. “Today was just luck. Zhizhi said the sweet potatoes were only planted a few days ago.

“It’ll take three months before they’re harvested and the new dish is officially introduced.

“This was Zhizhi’s gesture of goodwill for the partnership. It was a one-time thing.

“She said the owner of Drunken Fragrance Pavilion came to town today and asked her to discuss a partnership.

“Apparently, the owner hasn’t been here in years.

“So Zhizhi used the little material she had to make two new dishes.”

“Is that so? Then we’ll have to wait for months!” Sun Hao said dejectedly.

Foodies are just willful—without good food, they lose all energy.

Xiao Jingheng asked, “Did she say how long she’ll be busy?”

The old man looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Didn’t I just say? Zhizhi said she’ll come once she finds the herbs.”

“She mentioned she’s going deep into the mountains this time.”

Xiao Jingheng worriedly said, “Aren’t there wild beasts in the deep mountains?”

The old man suddenly had an idea. “Could it be that Zhizhi is missing tiger bone?”

“Ah! Sun Hao, hurry to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion and see if Zhizhi has left yet.”

“If it’s just tiger bone, this old man can find it! A girl going deep into the mountains to hunt a tiger? She might end up as tiger food.”

Xiao Jingheng was also worried, but there was nothing he could do in his current state.

“Old man, you should be able to find those herbs. Why is she the one looking?” Xiao Jingheng said, dissatisfied.

“Oh? You, a beggar, dare to blame me? If I could find them, would I have taken you in?” Shangguan Zhuoyun retorted angrily.

He wasn’t actually that old—just in his fifties. But living in this remote, harsh environment had weathered him into a ragged old man.

He had once been a brilliant and prestigious imperial physician.

But after being framed in a palace conspiracy, he had nearly lost his life. It was his junior brother who had saved him.

He had grown tired of the scheming and deceit and wanted to live a carefree, wandering life.

His medical skills were exceptional, and the palace had been reluctant to let him go. It was only after his junior brother demonstrated even greater skills that he was finally released.

His junior brother’s only request was that he take his beloved son away with him.

He had been freed, but his junior brother was still trapped in a dire situation. He wanted to find the best medicinal herbs for his junior brother to ease his suffering.

Xiao Jingheng also knew about the old man’s plight. Although he didn’t understand everything, he knew enough.

Besides sympathy, there was nothing he could do. Especially since he himself was in no position to offer sympathy.

Xiao Jingheng wanted to apologize but couldn’t bring himself to say it, so he remained silent.

Old Doctor Shangguan didn’t know Xiao Jingheng well, so after venting his frustration, he didn’t hold a grudge.

After some thought, he decided to be honest:

“Kid, I’ll tell you the truth. This old man does need those herbs. It would be great if we had them, but it’s not the end of the world if we don’t. But for you, they’re absolutely necessary. Without them, not only will your poison remain, but your leg will never heal.”

Xiao Jingheng took the opportunity to smooth things over. “I’m deeply grateful for the divine physician’s care.”

“Haha, no need to be so formal. To be honest, this old man is benefiting from you. Don’t worry—Zhizhi has already paid four hundred taels, which is more than enough for your food and drink.”

Sun Hao said sarcastically, “I wonder what that ugly village girl sees in you? She spent four hundred taels just like that—something people here couldn’t earn in several lifetimes. Is she planning to make you her husband?”

Xiao Jingheng didn’t find the comment as offensive as before.

He didn’t know how to respond. Was it because of the life-saving grace that he should offer himself in return?

He felt a pang in his heart. Lately, he had been wanting to see the girl more and more.

Meanwhile, the subject of their discussion, Xu Zhizhi, had already happily returned to the village.

Third Uncle and the others had done a good job. They had bought a medium-sized donkey and a cart slightly larger than an ox cart.

Now, their family had a donkey cart—they were officially a family with a vehicle!

(End of Chapter)