The galley on the official ship was located on the upper deck to allow for better ventilation of cooking fumes. The walls and floor were coated with fire-resistant red paint, made primarily from the resin of the “insect-eating tree,” which was water and fire-resistant. Consequently, the Ministry of Works had widely promoted the planting of these trees for use in construction.
Inside the galley, several cooks were preparing lunch, working up a sweat despite the winter cold. A large pot of fish soup simmered on the stove, steam hissing under the lid as a rich aroma filled the air.
Xu Qi An followed his nose to the galley and lifted the pot lid without ceremony, asking, “Is the fish soup ready?”
“Almost!” The cooks were surprised to see an official enter the smoky kitchen.
Xu Qi An stared at the light brown fish soup, its color due to added soy sauce. He sniffed the aroma and said, “Give me a ladle.”
A cook obediently handed him one. Xu Qi An scooped up some broth, tasted it, and remarked with surprise, “The earthy taste is very faint.”
Limited by the available seasonings and culinary skills, most river fish in this world had an earthy taste that was hard to eliminate. Of course, top-tier restaurants like Guiyue Lou were exceptions, with their highly skilled chefs.
Hearing this, the cook proudly said, “Sir, we who live on the water eat fish all the time. When it comes to fish, no one knows better than us. As for removing the earthy taste, hehe… we have our secret methods.”
He was deliberately withholding information.
Xu Qi An scoffed, “This official also has a secret recipe that can enhance the umami flavor of this fish soup several times over.”
The cook didn’t believe him but dared not contradict. However, the skepticism in his eyes was unmistakable.
Xu Qi An seized the moment to pull out a porcelain bottle containing chicken bouillon powder.
“S-Sir…” The cooks were alarmed. Having served on official ships for many years, they were naturally sensitive to food-related matters.
If an official on board were to die of poisoning, they would have to pay with their lives as well.
“What are you afraid of? You can taste-test it yourselves,” Xu Qi An reassured them.
The cooks were not at all comforted by this; in fact, they grew even more worried.
Xu Qi An first poured a little into the pot, tasted it, and then added more as needed, repeating the process until he was satisfied.
“Come, try it!” He scooped a small spoonful of fish soup and offered it to the cook who had spoken earlier.
Xu Qi An’s earlier tasting gave the cook some courage. After a moment’s hesitation, he took the spoon and sipped. Instantly, his eyes widened.
The savory fish soup enveloped his taste buds. “Gulp…” His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily as he swallowed.
A lingering aftertaste remained on his palate.
“It’s… it’s delicious…” The cook grew excited. “Sir, what… what secret recipe is this? How marvelous! Please, teach me!”
Xu Qi An merely chuckled in response.
…
Provincial Governor Zhang sat on a couch, massaging his temples as he endured the ship’s rocking. After taking a pill given by the white-robed mage, he felt much better.
An attendant brought him hot tea and said, “My lord, once we pass the capital’s boundaries, the wind on the river will lessen, and your headache should subside.”
Governor Zhang nodded and took a sip of tea.
“It’s time for lunch. Shall I fetch some for you?” the attendant asked.
“No need,” Governor Zhang waved his hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. “My head is spinning, and I have no appetite…”
As he spoke, his nostrils flared. “What’s that smell?”
Through the open window, the river breeze carried in a tantalizing aroma, stirring Governor Zhang’s appetite and making his mouth water.
“Gulp…” The attendant swallowed, his gaze constantly drifting outside, his mind elsewhere.
Governor Zhang pondered for a moment. “Very well. Even without an appetite, one shouldn’t fight against one’s body. Bring me some food… Mm, although that fish soup is usually unpalatable, I shouldn’t put on airs. I must share in the joys and sorrows of my officers and men.”
The attendant happily complied, scurrying out of the room, thinking to himself that his lord truly lived up to his scholarly reputation, able to make even shameless words sound noble.
Xu Qi An sat with his colleagues in the spacious hall, eating, drinking, and boasting.
“This fish soup is incredible. I’ve never had such an amazing soup in my life.”
“Indeed, even that slight earthy taste is delicious.”
“If I could drink soup like this every day, I’d be happy to spend my whole life on a ship.”
The watchmen ate with gusto, savoring the surprisingly delightful fish soup.
Jiang Lüzhong occupied a table alone, eyes closed, savoring the unforgettable umami lingering on his tongue. He called over a cook and asked curiously, “This fish soup tastes extraordinary. I’ve never had anything like it. How did you make it?”
There must be a secret recipe… Jiang Lüzhong thought to himself.
He wasn’t trying to steal their secret; he was purely curious about how such an exquisite soup was made.
The cook immediately looked towards Xu Qi An. “It’s that official’s secret recipe. It has nothing to do with me.”
All the watchmen turned to look at Xu Qi An.
“Why are you all looking at me? This is a secret recipe from the Astronomical Bureau. I don’t have much of it myself,” Xu Qi An quickly said.
He knew these shameless watchmen, especially Jiang Lüzhong, would find ways to beg him for it.
Everyone then turned to look at the three white-robed mages in the corner. The young mage said, “Why are you looking at us? The Astronomical Bureau’s secret recipe was taught by Young Master Xu.”
Damn it, these mages are deliberately being difficult… Xu Qi An grumbled inwardly.
At that moment, a group of armored guards entered the cabin. While sniffing the enticing aroma of fish soup, they silently collected their simple meals.
For this journey to Yunzhou, there were twenty Bronze Gong, six Silver Gong, one Gold Gong, three of Governor Zhang’s attendants, and one hundred Tiger Guard soldiers accompanying them.
Including Governor Zhang, there were a total of one hundred and thirty-one people.
These Tiger Guards lived in the cramped, dark lower decks and ate poorer food than the watchmen. Naturally, they didn’t get any of the fish soup.
The lean men silently flared their nostrils, quietly swallowing saliva as they gazed longingly at the fish soup.
Xu Qi An thought for a moment, then called over a cook. “Are there any more fish on the ship? If not, go catch some more. Make another pot of fish soup for the soldiers. Make sure everyone gets some.”
He handed the porcelain bottle to the cook. “If it’s not enough, come back to me for more.”
The Tiger Guards’ eyes lit up, and they unconsciously straightened their backs, saying in unison, “Thank you, sir.”
I’m always too soft-hearted, too soft-hearted, taking on all the problems myself… Xu Qi An nodded. “My surname is Xu.”
“Thank you, Official Xu.”
At this moment, Governor Zhang’s attendant walked in and announced loudly, “Is there any fish soup left? My lord would like some more.”
Everyone burst into laughter, and the cabin was filled with a jovial atmosphere.
…
Capital City, before dusk.
Xu Xinnian returned to the capital, intending to go home to fetch some clean clothes, as well as rice and silver.
Students at the Cloud Deer Academy had to pay tuition every three months. Additionally, they brought their rice, as the academy provided lodging but not meals.
So, Second Young Master Xu would return home periodically to drop off dirty laundry for the servants and to bring enough money and provisions for three months.
“Whoa…”
He reined in his horse outside the Xu mansion, surprised to find the main gate padlocked.
This was no small matter. The mansion had servants, and even if the masters were away and not receiving guests, the door would be locked from the inside. A padlock on the outside often meant the house was empty.
Second Young Master Xu’s heart sank, and he had a bad feeling.
He dismounted and approached the wall. Taking a deep breath, he called out loudly, “Fly over eaves and walk on walls!”
After reciting this, he quietly stepped back a few paces, feeling a surge of power fill his limbs. With a short sprint for momentum, he leaped over the three-meter-high wall, landing steadily on the other side.
The mansion was eerily quiet, with not a soul in sight.
Xu Xinnian walked from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard, pushing open door after door – his sister’s, his parents’, the servants’ – all empty.
Most crucially, everything in the mansion had been moved out. The rooms were left with only empty beds, but no bedding.
Where is my home? Where is my big home… Oh, it’s still here, but where has my family gone? Second Young Master Xu stood bewildered in the courtyard, pondering life.
“The door is only padlocked, not sealed, which means Big Brother hasn’t committed another crime… The house has been emptied, but there’s no dust on the floor; it’s been cleaned thoroughly, so it wasn’t ransacked…”
Second Young Master Xu, with his scholar’s intelligence, deduced the conclusion: they had moved.
Why didn’t anyone inform me about the move? Have they forgotten there’s still a Second Young Master at Cloud Deer Academy? Xu Xinnian was so angry he wanted to curse out loud.
Oh no… Suddenly, his expression changed. He quickly buffed himself, climbed back over the wall, mounted his horse, and planned to leave the capital before the city gates closed.
At that moment, a faint drumming sound came from afar – the signal that the city gates were about to close.
…
New Residence.
Second Uncle Xu had night duty today and needed to leave after dinner.
Aunt looked at her husband and asked curiously, “By rights, Er Lang should be back soon. He didn’t take much money and provisions last time.”
As a mother, she naturally cared about her son and was always estimating when he might return home.
“Probably in the next few days,” Second Uncle Xu said indifferently.
“Did… did Da Lang write him a letter?” Aunt asked.
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Aunt furrowed her brows.
“Well, I didn’t ask,” Second Uncle Xu replied, finishing his last bite of food and hanging his sword at his waist before putting on his helmet.
“I’m heading out. Keep an eye on Ling Yin tonight, don’t let her go near the well again. And stop being so paranoid – the house isn’t haunted.”
With that, Second Uncle Xu left.
That night, as he led a squad of Imperial Blade Guards patrolling the outer city, he noticed a figure crouching at the door of their ancestral home, hugging his knees with his face buried in his arms, shivering in the cold wind.
Beside him was a horse, listlessly snorting and pawing at the ground.
There was no curfew in the outer city; civilians could move about freely, but the Imperial Blade Guards had the authority to stop and question people. Seeing someone crouching at the door of his own former home, Second Uncle immediately approached with his men.
Just as he was about to call out, the torchlight illuminated the scholar’s robe of the crouching figure, and he suddenly found it familiar.
Second Uncle Xu was taken aback, thinking it couldn’t be…
“Er Lang?” he called out uncertainly.
The scholar in the robe slowly raised his head, revealing an extraordinarily handsome face with a haggard expression. It was indeed Second Young Master Xu.
Father and son stared at each other in silence for a long while before Second Uncle Xu, his scalp tingling, asked, “Why didn’t you go to an inn?”
That damned Xu Ning Yan, he didn’t write a letter to his brother.
“I ran out of money.”
“Why didn’t you rest inside the mansion?”
“The horse would have been stolen.”
“Why didn’t you return to the academy?”
“The city gates were closed.”
“…We’ve moved to the inner city. We forgot to tell you. Um, there’s a curfew in the inner city. I’ll take you to an inn.”
Second Young Master Xu slowly turned his face away, his voice hollow: “Sir, I have no family.”
Second Uncle Xu: “…”
…
At night, the lonely moon hung high.
With limited rooms on the official ship, Xu Qi An, a mere Bronze Gong, didn’t have the privilege of a private room. He shared a room with Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao.
It was a row of adjoining beds.
He turned his head to the left; Song Tingfeng was facing him. He looked to the right; Zhu Guangxiao was facing him.
Xu Qi An suddenly remembered a joke: If you’re sleeping between a man and a woman, which way would you turn your back?
Turning your back to the woman might be seen as gay while facing the man risks being taken advantage of. In my situation, I choose to sleep on my back… Xu Qi An was internally joking when there was a knock at the door.
Governor Zhang’s attendant’s voice came from outside: “Official Xu, my lord requests your presence.”