Fuyao Commandery, Zhaoqiu City.
A private room on the second floor of the Welcome Inn.
Stir-fried pickled mustard greens with crumbled tofu, braised shrimp with tofu and eggs, braised pig's trotters, blanched frogs, chicken with hazel mushrooms and vermicelli, New Year pork stew, imperial toon fish, and Ama's honored pork.
When the eight great bowls arrived, steam rose in fragrant clouds. Meat and vegetables complemented each other perfectly, making mouths water and appetites stir.
Xuanming and Li Zizai stood on no ceremony. The moment Xu Youshan invited them to eat, they dug in, sitting with abandon and eating with even greater gusto.
They used chopsticks and hands alike, chewing noisily, their mouths glistening with grease as they occasionally sucked their fingers.
It suited their current disheveled appearance perfectly.
Xu Youshan smiled brightly, without the slightest hint of distaste. He watched master and disciple patiently, occasionally passing them cups of tea and reminding them not to choke, attentive down to the smallest detail.
Once they had eaten their fill, Xu Youshan summoned a waiter. He said there was a pastry shop on the street that children loved and instructed the waiter to take Li Zizai there. Xuanming did not object and allowed his disciple to go along.
When only Xuanming and Xu Youshan remained in the private room, the latter leaned closer, filled another cup of wine, and asked warmly:
"Was the meal to your liking, old brother?"
Xuanming nodded like a pestle pounding garlic. "Absolutely! Couldn't be more satisfied!"
Xu Youshan chuckled. "Would you like to enjoy these delicacies every day, old brother, and live a settled, carefree life?"
Here it comes!
The map's unrolled, and the dagger's about to show!
Though he understood perfectly, Xuanming feigned interest. "What? You've got a way?"
Xu Youshan nodded. "I won't beat around