This chapter may have missing words or sentences.
Xu Ran went straight to work in the kitchen, preparing hotpot sauces and instructing the chefs on how to kill and clean fish, which continued until dark.
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Lu Qi's group returned just as it was becoming dark. When they returned, they headed directly to the kitchen to get some dinner. Even Gao Quan, with his guarded demeanor, joined them.
However, because everyone was assisting Xu Ran in cleaning fish and preparing vegetables, there was nothing edible in the kitchen. There was just the remaining cold food from lunch, which the cook refused to feed these people with.
Xu Ran gave the cook his task and went to make fried rice for these individuals. Xu Ran prepared sour spicy fried rice in the absence of eggs, allowing this group of hungry people to fill their stomachs first.
Xu Ran said while frying, "You can eat a little now just to fill your stomach. Later, there will be delicious food. If you are full now and cannot eat anymore later, don't blame me for not reminding you."
The moment Xu Ran's voice fell, Du Xin screamed at the door, "Don't say so much. Give me some food first. Otherwise, we'll starve to death. If so, no matter what you will cook tonight, we won't be able to eat."
Xu Ran rolled his eyes at him, "Isn't it that you have just skipped a meal? I don't believe you can really starve to death. If you really starve to death, I will definitely send you a burial ceremony."
Instead of making Xu Ran act faster, only getting mocked by him, Du Xin was pissed off and hung on Lu Qi's shoulder coquettishly, "Lu Qi, Xu Ran is too annoying. Go beat him up."
With so many people around, unlike Du Xin, who did not care about the others' opinion at all, Lu Qi pulled him down from his shoulder and said, "If you don't want to eat tonight, I'll beat him up for you."
After weighing up the pros and cons, Du Xin pulled Lu Qi at his clothes and whispered to him, "You can beat him up when I'm full."
Lu Qi looked at him with a confused gaze, "Why don't you go by yourself when you're full? Doesn't that give you more sense of accomplishment? He wouldn't bully you in the future."
Du Xin was also thinking about this question seriously, then he shook his head with a depressed face. "I can't beat him. Even if I beat him, I am no match for his son."
Lu Qi nodded, feeling that it made sense.
However, then he heard Du Xin say, "Why do we have no children? Lu Qi, can you bear me a baby?"
Everyone in the kitchen heard this and looked at Lu Qi unanimously. It all clicked. 'So you're the one below!'
Lu Qi was only looking for a way to beat up Du Xin, so he discovered a gap in the ground and went into it. He was so embarrassed that he wouldn't be able to meet anybody!
Du Xin did not realize his mistake at all. He continued, "Or I can bear one myself. I really want a child, Lu Qi, maybe I can marry a brother! Let him bear us one for each."
This time, without hesitation, Lu Qi slapped Du Xin on his head first and pulled him away.
For some reason, Du Xin was still resisting. His voice could be heard from afar, "Hey! Let go of me, I haven't eaten yet! Hey, hey! Quickly let go of me... "
The people in the kitchen didn't hear what was said as they got further and farther away, but it wouldn't be anything nice anyhow.
After Lu Qi and Du Xin left, the labor in the kitchen continued, but so did the chatter. It was expected that everyone in the Prince Residence would soon discover that their Master enjoyed males and was the one underneath. Furthermore, the guy Master adored wanted to marry a brother so that they could each have a kid because Master couldn't have one.
Such an incendiary topic would most likely spread across Yanzhou! It was unclear whether Lu Qi had lately needed to go out. It would be preferable if he did not have to go out. The repercussions would be unfathomable if he did. After all, the people's power is actually limitless.
Xu Ran lit many lights in his heart for Lu Qi, wishing him luck.
The task had to be done regardless of how much they gossiped. Xu Ran dispatched Gao Quan to bring the rice to Lu Qi and Du Xin after it had been fried. Although Lu Qi was filled with rage, there was still Du Xin, who, in addition to having no taboo in his mouth, also had no bottom in his stomach, which might be likened to Baozi.
Xu Ran made five hot pots at night. Two for themselves, and three for the mansion's servants. Because everyone had worked for a long period, the food materials were all the same.
Yanzhou didn't cultivate many veggies, and even less in the winter. But because there was plenty of meat, the main course tonight was fish meat. To save money, Xu Ran prepared ready seasoning for everyone and did not allow them to serve themselves.
With Tangtang and Guoguo present, Xu Ran didn't need to explain what a hotpot was. Xu Ran rushed over to check on the servants, concerned that they didn't know how to eat. He, on the other hand, underestimated these people. With his few words of guidance, these people proceeded to handle things on their own, their motions appearing quite competent.
Several chefs who had worked with Xu Ran for a long time asked Xu Ran to leave them alone. They knew how to eat.
Xu Ran covered his chest and walked away, feeling a bit hurt.
In the end, something even worse occurred. People had already begun to eat when he returned. Everyone was overjoyed, but why hadn't they noticed he was gone?
Liu Tong was the only person who remembered him. When Xu Ran returned, he discovered fish meat in his previously empty bowl. Xu Ran smiled as he sat down next to Liu Tong.
However, as soon as Xu Ran sat down and stuffed a piece of fish into his mouth, he heard King Yan say, "Lu Qi, when are you giving birth to a baby? It has been many years since our Prince's Residence had a baby. You are also in your thirties, it is time for you to bear one."
"Eh-hem... eh-hem..."
A thrill choked the fish into Xu Ran's throat the instant he heard it, giving everyone at the table a start. Liu Tong promptly patted Xu Ran on the back and requested that someone bring him water. When Xu Ran finally recovered, tears flowed freely.
Xu Ran waved his hand to let Liu Tong stop. He touched his chest, coughed violently, and finally felt better.
Xu Ran said to King Yan, "Your Highness, even if you know the kitchen gag, don't talk about it when eating hotpot, which will kill people, alright?"
King Yan did not take it seriously, "It is nothing. Believe me. Soon, as long as you are in Yanzhou, no matter where you go, you can hear people talking about it, and there can be countless versions of it, even including the one in which Master may have given birth to several kids."
Xu Ran agreed with this point. After all, the power of the mass was infinite, whose imagination was amazingly rich.
As the two were talking, Gao Quan was the only one left on the table apart from the party involved. As to Gao Quan, one could never expect him to tell you these gossips.
So everyone turned their eyes to Lu Qi, as if they wanted to see through a hole in him, then they could went inside to see what was going on.
Lu Qi ate his meal with his head lowered, ignoring all the gazes on him.
As for Du Xin, after being lectured by Lu Qi, he also obediently shut up. Although he really wanted to say something, his butt still hurt. He chose to keep shutting up, otherwise, it would hurt at night.
Du Xin looked pitiful, and everyone could not bear to look at him. When they saw that no one wanted to explain what was going on, they stopped looking around and focused on eating fish meat. After all, they would soon figure it out. As long as they find a servant in the mansion to inquire about it, they would know, so there was no need to struggle now.
Everyone was satisfied with this hotpot meal. The hotpot was divided into light soup and spicy one, so they could eat whatever taste they wanted. Although there weren't many vegetables, the fish and other meat also filled their stomachs.
After they finished eating, the servants came to clean up the table. The group of people went to see the wild vegetables that Lu Qi's group had dug out up the mountain.
Having worked for a whole day, the group of people had quite a harvest.
Several baskets of wild vegetables, plus the fish they caught from the river, which should be enough for the beggars to eat for a while.
Xu Ran's idea was still hotpot, just using fish meat, A stall could be set up around the city gate. Of course, it would be better if there were brown rice as staple. After all, hotpot couldn't be eaten as the main food, which would not last long. However, the most annoying thing about Yanzhou was that they couldn't find grains.
Xu Ran couldn't care about so much now, as long as these people didn't starve to death, it would be fine.
Xu Ran told King Yan his plan and King Yan didn't object. He sent someone to clean the fish and prepare wild vegetables for use next morning.
Xu Ran also took the opportunity to tell King Yan that they were going to move out. Xu Ran thought that after giving the beggars hot pot to eat, he had made the publicity, then he had to strike while the iron is hot.
Although King Yan was unwilling, he still let Yan Chun find house for Xu Ran.
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Xu Ran should have left when he finished talking, but he always felt that there was something he hadn't said, but he couldn't remember it for a long time. When he reached the door, he suddenly patted his head and immediately turned back. "Do you know where I can find the woolen yarn Can you find me more of this thing?" he asked.
"Woolen yarn? What is that? I have never heard of it before," King Yan looked very confused.
It was only then did Xu Ran remember that it was not called "woolen yarn" here. So he explained once again and told King Yan that it was the thing that he brought to Xiao Qingyun. And King Yan finally got him.
When King Yan heard this, he smiled and said, "Yes! We have a lot of it. At that time, we robbed a lot of barbarians. How much do you want? I'll have it brought to you. It was useless so I let it in the military camp."
Xu Ran was happy to hear that, and he quickly said, "Then please give me all you have. This is a good opportunity to make a fortune."
Oh?" King Yan asked meaningfully.
Xu Ran shook his head and said, "Give it to me first! Then you will know."
Seeing that Xu Ran was unwilling to say anything, King Yan didn't ask too much and nodded. "I'll have it brought to you, but you'd better make something useful by it. Otherwise, I will have to charge you for it."
"Of course," Xu Ran said and left.
When he returned to the room, Liu Tong was still making gloves. Baozi was helping him thread a needles. Xu Ran walked over to take Liu Tong's hand and said to him, "Tongtong, stop doing it. The dim light at night is bad for your eyes. You've made a lot today."
The needle was taken away and Liu Tong couldn't continue working. So he packed up his things and went to sleep.
Xu Ran looked at Baozi who was playing alone, then he picked him up and said to Liu Tong, "I will send Baozi to Tangtang and Guoguo's room. I have something to discuss with you later."
Liu Tong nodded without saying anything.
Baozi was not unhappy to be sent away. He was going to sleep anyway, to sleep with his brothers was also okay.
However, when Xu Ran went to Tangtang and Guoguo's room, he found that they were still studying the Thirty-Six Stratagems he wrote under the light.
Xu Ran was a little angry. "It's late at night. You should go to sleep too. Don't read under the dim lights. Don't you remember what I said before?"
Tangtang and Guoguo hurriedly put the paper away and took Baozi from Xu Ran's arms. They looked like they were going to sleep right away.
Xu Ran was still a little worried and said to Baozi, "Baozi, watch your two brothers for me. If they don't sleep right away, punch them and tell me tomorrow morning. I'll make something delicious for you."
When he heard there would be delicious food, Baozi immediately patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, Dad, I will definitely take good care of my brother. Dad, you can go now. We're going to sleep."
Xu Ran left the door without saying anything and shut the door for them. Then he heard Baozi's laughter and another voice, which should be Guoguo's. He said Baizi had no conscience because he wanted to sell them out in order to eat, and then was Baozi's righteous words of condemnation.
Xu Ran smiled and walked to his room.
While lying on the bed, Xu Ran told Liu Tong, "Tongtong, I told King Yan to find a house for us as soon as possible. We'll move out, what do you think?"
Liu Tong definitely wouldn't object. He just asked, "Ran, we have to get some work to do. Otherwise, the money won't be enough."
Xu Ran said, "I've thought about this before. We'll set up a hotpot restaurant. It's very cold in Yanzhou and the hotpot can warm up people's bpdies. It must be very popular, but people only eat hotpot in the afternoon and evening. We'll have to sell something ellse in the morning."
Liu Tong asked him, "What do you want to sell, Ran?"
Xu Ran said, "I've already thought about selling breakfast, such as pancakes and porridges. It's not difficult to make and the price isn't high. There should be many people who like it. If we can't handle it ourselves, we can hire other people."
Liu Tong thought for a moment and cupped his hands into Xu Ran's arms, agreeing with his statement.
Xu Ran then continued to say, "There are two more things. One is the gloves and scarves that I asked you to make. I want to sell these things out, but it's not in the Yanzhou, but somewhere else. So you might have to make more these days. Let other people here, who has nothing to do, help you. You can buy more if you don't have enough cloth, okay?"
Liu Tong agreed with him gently.
Xu Ran continued to say the third thing. "As for the third thing, Tangtang and Guoguo told me that they wanted to go to the military camp to practice, Guoguo had always wanted to join the army. This is also King Yan's army, so I agreed, Tongtong, do you have anything to say?"
Liu Tong came out of Xu Ran's arms and said to Xu Ran, "Ran, I know that the two children want to be successful, but they are still too young now. They would only get fourteen in spring next year. I'm a little worried."
Xu Ran touched his hair and gently teased him, "We shouldn't have stopped the children's choice. In fact, the military camp is really a good place to train them. If they can't hold on to it, they will tell us themselves. I'm not worried. Ater all, they're not stupid."
Liu Tong frowned. He knew that Xu Ran was right, but he still couldn't help worrying. He felt that the child would suffer and get too tired.
Xu Ran said, "If you wish to be the best man, you should be to suffer the bitterest of the bitter. I have always said this to them, and they have never complained. They know it in their hearts. Tongtong, when children grow up, it's time for them to spread their wings and fly. We just wait for them to come home.
Liu Tong didn't say anything else. He knew that Xu Ran's words made sense. However, he was still somewhat unacceptable about his children growing up.
Xu Ran put his hand on his back and patted him gently, "Tongtong! We're getting old too. And the children have grown up in the blink of an eye."
Liu Tong couldn't help but laugh. When he laughed, Xu Ran also felt relieved. He continued to pat his back and said, "Sleep now! We'll have a busy day tomorrow."
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The next day, Xu Ran got up early because of Tangtang and Guoguo, then he followed them to the practice ground of the mansion.
Tangtang and Guoguo had already memorized the name of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. Xu Ran randomly selected a few to explain it to them, and then gave an example. The two children were addicted to what Xu Ran said and they even forgot to practice martial arts.
After a while, Lu Qi and Du Xin came over and sat on one side, holding their chins to watch them.
Xu Ran didn't stop until breakfast.
Theye had to get busy again after breakfast. Xu Ran went to the kitchen to get some seasonings, and then brought them to the city gate.
A pot had already been set near the city gate, and there was already water inside. They were waiting for Xu Ran to tell them what to do.
Since there was a big pot at the city gate, a lot of people came over to watch it, but they couldn't get too close because there were guards around the pot.
Xu Ran put the hotpot condiment in and waited for it to be brewed. A fragrance was in the air, and everyone who was watching wanted to go over and take a look. When Xu Ran started to put fish and wild vegetables in the pot, a group of beggars came from the city gate and started lining up in front of the pot with bowls.
People who were watching saw so many beggars rushing in. And when they saw King Yan, they knew that they were making porridge for the beggars.
It was just that today's meal didn't seem to be porridge, and they were not used to it.
More and more people were watching and they were attracted by the fragrance and wanted to go over and grab food with the beggars, but they could do nothing but swallow their own saliva.
Large pieces of fish and verdant wild vegetables with the spicy soup were scooped into the beggars 'bowls. And the beggars were eating with relish, making the food even more seductive.
There were still fish and wild vegetables in the pot after in the end. Xu Ran began to call the people around to eat. But a lot of people were unwilling to come over. After all, this was for beggars. Seeing that no one had come, he gave it to the soldiers who were guarding the city. They didn't care so much and ate them all.
Those who wanted to go but didn't go just now all regretted it.
But what's the point of regretting? There was nothing left!
Xu Ran started to put away the pot and leave, but someone from the crowd said, "Good news! Good news! Good news of Yanzhou! Master actually gave birth to a child in a man's body. It's really great! "
As soon as he said this, everyone around gasped in shock. Then, they started discussing whether this was a good news or not.
When Xu Ran heard this, the spoon in his hand almost fell to the ground. Although he knew that it would be ridiculous, he was still shocked to hear it.
This sentence caught everyone's attention,who had just been attracted by the hot pot. The discussion was very intense. Some asked who the Daddy was, and some asked how the child was born, and even asked whether the child was a childe or a boy. Anyway, there were countless topics about this topic.
Xu Ran looked at the person who was discussing while working beside him, and then looked at King Yan who was obviously smiling.
Xu Ran really wanted to say that the people of Yanzhou were so gossipy. And as the king, was he not really going to do something with that?
Not only that, someone shouted again, "Here comes Master. Get out of the way, don't touch Master's belly!"
Lu Qi, who was about to look for King Yan, fled away immediately when he heard that!
It was fine if he just fled away, but what was wrong with the countless people who followed him to persuade him to be careful? In the face of this situation, Xu Ran could only pray for Du Xin silently in his heart, hoping that he would not be too miserable.
King Yan, on the other side, felt that it was not enough. He came over and said to Xu Ran, "It's been a long time since Yanzhou has been so lively. It seems that I have to reward Master and Master's child."
What child! Where did the child come from?
Xu Ran could not even imagine it.
07.23.21