Chapter 128 - 120: Unceremonious

Chapter 128: Chapter 120: Unceremonious

There were six people at the table for a meal of five dishes and a soup. The original corn and pork rib soup had been finished before the main course, so she had quickly made some egg drop soup to go with the meal.

In the end, she barely managed five bites of the five dishes and the egg drop soup combined before Meng Nan, Hu Feng, and the Jin guard devoured everything like a pack of starving wolves.

When only the last piece of braised fish remained on the platter, the Jin guard was the first to snatch it up, smugly preparing to drop it into his own bowl.

But Meng Nan let out a soft cough and fixed the Jin guard with an icy stare. "Jin Xiao’an, are you still not full?"

Jin Xiao’an flinched and forced a laugh. "I-I’m full. I was just getting this for—" Before he could finish, Hu Feng extended his bowl. With his other hand, he lightly tapped the back of the Jin guard’s hand with his chopsticks. The guard’s hand went numb, and the piece of fish he was holding dropped, landing ’conveniently’ in Hu Feng’s bowl.

"Much appreciated," Hu Feng said, setting the bowl down in front of him. He never once looked at the Jin guard, and even those two words dripped with cold indifference.

The Jin guard was dumbfounded. ’The prize I was about to eat... just slipped through my fingers like that?’

Meng Nan sighed and set down his chopsticks. The platters on the table were all wiped clean. Even if he wanted to eat more, there was nothing left.

’And whose fault was it that he had such a slow-witted, clumsy subordinate?’

Bai Zhi forced down the mouthful of plain rice she was chewing, put down her chopsticks, and rose from the table. She went to the back kitchen to fetch a piece of charcoal, then tore a scrap from some old clothes she no longer wore. On the piece of cloth, she wrote down the remedy for Meng Nan’s ruined face.

"Lord Meng, we don’t have any paper or brushes at home. I hope you don’t mind."

Meng Nan accepted the scrap of cloth from Bai Zhi and carefully studied the characters written on it. The handwriting was neat and elegant, but that was all one could say for it.

Meng Nan folded the cloth and tucked it into his sleeve. "Miss Bai, your cooking is simply out of this world. I’ve had my fair share of gourmet food, but your dishes are the best I have ever tasted."

Bai Zhi smiled. "If you enjoy it, my lord, you’re welcome to come again when you’re free."

Meng Nan’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. "That would be wonderful! I was just worrying I wouldn’t have another chance to eat your cooking. Since you’ve extended such a gracious invitation, it would be rude of me to refuse."

’A gracious invitation? I don’t recall being so gracious. I was just being polite... He certainly doesn’t waste time with pleasantries, does he?’

Hu Feng, who had just finished the fish and rice in his bowl, delicately wiped the corners of his mouth with a cloth. Overhearing the conversation between Bai Zhi and Meng Nan, he suddenly cut in, "If you’re coming to eat, remember to bring groceries. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

Meng Nan was taken aback. ’That was the longest sentence Hu Feng has ever said to me...’

Bai Zhi and Hu Changlin saw Meng Nan and the Jin guard out. As her eyes fell upon the magnificent, comfortable carriage and the horse the Jin guard was leading by the reins, Bai Zhi suddenly asked, "Lord Meng, would it be possible for you and the Jin guard to ride back in the carriage together?"

Puzzled, Meng Nan asked, "Is something wrong?"

Bai Zhi pointed at the horse. "Could you sell this horse to me? You two can still get home without it, and you can always buy another one when you get back. Please, sell this one to me."

Meng Nan smiled. "You want a horse? What for?"

Bai Zhi explained in all seriousness, "I took an ox cart to the government office today. I left the village just as it was getting light, around 5:00 AM, but by the time I traveled all the way from Huangtuo Village to the government office, it was already the Si hour. The ox cart is far too slow and time-consuming. That’s why I want to buy a horse and have someone build a carriage frame. It would make future trips to the city much more convenient."