Chapter 94
Editor: Princess
Li Heng arrived with his companions to collect the final batch of winter supplies.
Shen You took a large bag of fried chicken and french fries from behind the counter, along with three cups of cola. She had specifically bought these items from shops outside the school, as they were both affordable and delicious.
“This is the food I mentioned preparing for you earlier. Try it and see how it tastes.”
Then concerned that they might struggle with eating food by hand, she fetched several pairs of disposable chopsticks from her personal stockpile.
Liu Zheng looked at the golden-fried french fries, popcorn chicken, fried chicken pieces, and chicken wraps before him with considerable amazement.
“Are these all fried pastries?”
Apart from their varying sizes, they looked remarkably similar to him.
Shen You explained carefully, “These are french fries, made from the potato seeds I sold to you previously. After deep-frying, they can be eaten with various sauces. This here is mashed potato.”
“All of these are chicken meat, coated with a layer of batter.”
The Great Qi dynasty also had fried foods, but they were primarily flour-based dishes.
Cooking oil was precious, and ordinary families rarely enjoyed fried foods. The cooking method of coating meat with batter before deep-frying was completely unheard of to them.
After each man picked up a piece and tasted it, all three were genuinely impressed.
While Li Heng and Zhong Jing maintained their refined manners, Liu Zheng couldn’t suppress his exclamation of delight.
“This is extremely delicious! The batter is crispy and fragrant, while the meat inside remains tender.”
Zhong Jing nodded approvingly. “This method of preparing fried food is really ingenious. Moreover, this dark cola, although unattractive in appearance, tastes remarkably refreshing. If taken during summer, it would definitely provide exceptional comfort.”
Li Heng thought to himself and felt that fried chicken and fried french fries didn’t sound particularly difficult to prepare. Perhaps the cooks of Great Qi could also learn to make them.
“Miss Shen, would you be willing to share the ingredients for making fried chicken?”
“Let me find that information for you.” Shen You took her phone out and searched for a detailed post that attempted to teach internet users the recipe. “Add ginger slices, pepper, salt, and soy sauce, then marinate for half an hour—approximately two quarter-hours. Afterward, add flour and eggs, fry until golden brown, and even the neighbor’s children will cry from craving it.”
She omitted ingredients that didn’t exist in ancient times, believing this adaptation should work satisfactorily.
All three men listened with exceptional attention, planning to have their cooks attempt the recipe the following day.
Shen You had bought generous quantities of these foods. One bucket per person, with enough remaining to take home for their families to sample.
Zhong Jing put his chopsticks down carefully and presented the painting he had brought to Shen You. The artwork was already properly mounted on a scroll, painted on the finest rice paper, with extraordinarily fluid brushstrokes.
This painting surpassed those by contemporary artists she had seen at autumn auctions.
“Master Zhong’s painting is still consistently excellent.” Shen You looked at the artwork hanging on her shop’s wall.
Several customers had already asked whether she would sell it.
“To receive Shopkeeper Shen’s approval is my honor.” Zhong Jing replied with a gentle smile.
He felt that he had received the better end of their exchange. A box of soft-seeded pomegranates that money couldn’t buy, plus this fried chicken and cola. These were truly heavenly delicacies.
The goods outside had been nearly completely transported. Before leaving, Liu Zheng mentioned the partnership shop’s situation. “The shop has been fitted out according to Shopkeeper Shen’s previous instructions, with wooden hooks left on the walls for hanging items. With this batch of goods, we can open tomorrow.”
Shen You brought out a cardboard box containing solid wood hangers she had bought online.
“Can these items be sold? When customers see them, they will undoubtedly want to buy them.” Liu Zheng pondered thoughtfully.
Great Qi’s clothing racks simply involved draping clothes directly over them. This hanging design was entirely novel to them.
“Handle it as you see fit.” Shen You trusted Liu Zheng’s business acumen. She had no intention of reclaiming items she had brought to ancient times. Whether to sell or keep them was entirely their decision.
After concluding their business, the three men walked toward the shop entrance carrying their fried chicken buckets.
However Li Heng, for reasons unknown, suddenly glanced upward toward the second floor.
Shen You was afraid he had discovered something and quickly turned around after closing the door.
“Don’t worry. I only came downstairs after he left through the main entrance.” Wen Zhi crossed his arms and snorted lightly. “Am I really so unsuitable for public appearance? Or perhaps you’re afraid Li Heng might misunderstand?”
Seeing his displeased expression, Shen You took out another fried chicken bucket from behind the counter. “Let’s share a late-night snack together?”
Wen Zhi maintained his expression that showed he wanted to be coaxed, but still seated himself at the table near the entrance.
“I have no knowledge of your exact situation within Great Qi. What if you are political enemies? I still need to conduct business with them—would that be appropriate?”
Hearing this, Wen Zhi actually laughed. “Indeed, if he knew I was your part-time bodyguard, he might not trust you so readily. He currently maintains close private contact with the garrison forces.”
“However, he has no alternatives.”
Apart from this shop, no one could assist Li Heng.
“So you really are political enemies?” Shen You was surprised.
“Not exactly. I don’t care about who inherits Great Qi’s throne. However, if he chooses to follow the same path as the old emperor and obstruct my retrieval of my token, then the situation becomes more complicated.”
Wen Zhi’s lips curved upward, but his smile failed to reach his eyes.
Clearly, he not only despised the old emperor but harbored resentment toward the entire Great Qi royal family.
While gnawing on a chicken collarbone, Shen You pointed toward the counter surface. “Although this is your residence, I still prepared a formal invitation for the exhibition, it seemed more proper.”
She couldn’t move away while eating.
“This is the first time I have gone to take my own invitation myself.” However despite him saying this, he still went to take it himself.
“Three days from now?”
“That’s right, that will be the exhibition’s opening day. If you are unavailable, you don’t need to attend.”
Wen Zhi selected a chicken leg from the bucket. “I have time to attend, although I might arrive late.”
Whether it was mere imagination, this person seemed increasingly down-to-earth. Previously, he would never have worn plastic gloves to eat food directly with his hands.
Liu Zheng couldn’t resist eating two pairs of chicken wings and one chicken wrap on his was home. Indeed, this method of wrapping vegetables and fried chicken in flatbread was genuinely delicious, although he had never seen that purple vegetable before.
Ah Fu, who was driving the carriage outside, smelled the aroma and swallowed.
As the son of the Liu family’s steward, he had grown up alongside Liu Zheng. Seeing that the bucket contained more food than three people could finish, Liu Zheng shared two chicken pieces with him.
“Young Master, this food is too delicious!”
No wonder the young master, Master Zhong, and the others visited Bluestone Alley frequently. Perhaps they had discovered a restaurant selling exceptional food there. This seemed highly likely!
Liu Zheng smiled without speaking. How could anything provided by Shopkeeper Shen not be delicious? Last time’s pomegranates had prompted both his grandmother and mother to declare them food fit only for immortals.
Remembering Shopkeeper Shen’s warning about how eating too much might cause internal heat, he deliberately packed smaller portions for his grandmother. After distributing some to the household staff, the remainder belonged to him personally.
He looked at the golden fried chicken and walked cheerfully into his courtyard. He deliberately selected his treasured plates, bowls, chopsticks, and tea cups to enjoy this feast under the moonlight. It was a truly delightful experience.
Unexpectedly, just as he finished arranging everything, his cousin and female cousin who had arrived at his home yesterday heard about his good food and rushed over carrying wine jugs.
“How dare you eat alone!” Liu Yun-yan slammed the table.
Both had grown up in military camps. Although Liu Yun-yan looked beautiful, she was a woman capable of wielding long spears. Her strike made even the stone-carved table tremble.
“Be gentler! That’s my treasured plate, it’s very expensive!”
“Hey! No… leave some for me!”
Liu Zheng watched them devour everything like a whirlwind, then abandoned all thoughts of elegance himself as he competed for chicken legs. Forget chicken legs. If he moved any slower, he wouldn’t even get a single french fry.