Chapter 539 – Clouds Over the World (Nine)
Yang Si’s expression froze for a moment as he shot a fierce glare at the Book Boy.
If you can’t talk like a person, then don’t. Which Book Boy bullies his own master all day like this brat?
As the Book Boy tidied up the clean clothes, folding them neatly into the chest, he muttered, “The master is picky with food. He won’t eat this or that, and insists on eating what he specifically desires. I definitely don’t have the culinary skills of a kitchen master…”
Yang Si was taken aback and replied naturally, “Then go learn.”
The Book Boy chuckled, “I’ve eaten some myself, and such delicious delicacies must be family recipes. Who would be willing to teach an outsider?”
Well, that does make some sense.
By the time Wei Ci returned, the moon was high in the sky, and Yang Si was waiting for him to ask, “Can that kitchen master of yours be loaned out?”
Wei Ci responded with a puzzled tone, “You mean the kitchen master at the residence? That person was specially gifted to us by the Lord due to pity for my physical condition.”
Since it was a gift, regardless of whether it was a person or a thing, its significance was special and couldn’t be casually transferred.
Yang Si said, “Then can you have that kitchen master teach my Book Boy some cooking skills? After getting used to your place’s food, I’m afraid I might starve.”
With his close friend, Yang Si never hid his preferences.
Eating is also an art, and loving to eat is a way to enjoy life; there’s no shame in it.
Wei Ci thought for a moment and said nonchalantly, “That’s fine, but the kitchen master’s main responsibility is to handle the meals in the residence. Teaching others cooking isn’t exactly his duty. If you want to learn, you’ll need to pay a fee.”
Talking about money strains relationships, and discussing feelings costs money.
Neither Yang Si nor Wei Ci were naive flowers; they knew each other well.
Straining relationships is fine, but money must be discussed!
Yang Si’s entire wealth consisted of just two chests of books and a little bit of property. Knowing Wei Ci well, he guessed he would definitely ask for a ridiculous fee. So he decided to take the initiative, saying, “Zixiao, weren’t you forgetting that you owe me several coins? We can offset it.”
Wei Ci was stunned. When had he ever owed this guy money?
Who didn’t know that Yang Si loved to eat but was also stingy? He wasn’t avaricious, but once money entered his pocket, it was impossible to get it out.
Talk about being a money hoarder!
Yang Si rambled on about old debts, claiming they stemmed from a bun that had cost a single coin years ago.
Wei Ci: “…”
He really didn’t know his friend well enough; how could a single coin bun roll into a debt of several coins? Did your family print money or what?
After thinking for a moment, he changed his tune, “Alright then, I’ll repay you.”
Yang Si was surprised, when had Wei Ci become so easygoing?
“If we’re talking about the kitchen master’s skills, I think the small kitchen in the administrative hall is the best. How about sending your Book Boy there to learn for a few days?”
Yang Si nodded in agreement. For a food lover, nothing was more enticing than delicious food.
Seeing Yang Si like this, Wei Ci suddenly understood why in the past, Yang Si had been taken advantage of so terribly by the emperor.
Serves him right!
During the period when the Book Boy went to study, Jiang Pengji noticed that the food from the small kitchen in the administrative hall skyrocketed in quality. Even though she had a large appetite and felt a bit full after each meal, the food was heavily seasoned, leaving her parched.
However, with no more room in her stomach, no matter how thirsty she felt, she could only sip a bit of water to relieve her dry throat.
Calling the kitchen master to inquire, she learned that the small kitchen’s menu was specifically instructed by Wei Ci.
Having received that reason, Jiang Pengji waved her hand and dismissed the kitchen master.
With a fond expression, she said, “Let him be.”
Just as Wei Ci had expected, the Book Boy, having learned a bit of cooking, began to show off in front of Yang Si, igniting Yang Si’s cravings.
The next day at work, Wei Ci heard Yang Si waiting outside.
He glanced at the sky and knew Yang Si had come just in time for a meal.
So elegantly mooching, this was a talent in itself.
Due to pressing matters, Jiang Pengji had been staying in the administrative hall lately, resolving her meals there as well.
Originally, it was just the two of them in the plain administrative hall, but today, a slightly chubby young man had suddenly appeared.
She cast a glance, continued eating her own meal, ignoring the other’s presence.
Yang Si also ate without a care for the world, a hearty appetite.
Overall, the atmosphere was rather awkward.
Wei Ci had originally planned to create a conversation-friendly environment for the two. Given his lord’s charm and mysterious temperament, he thought they might hit it off, but now, there was no intention of conversing at all.
Not only did the three of them feel the awkwardness, but the audience in the live chat also sensed the odd vibe.
【Chun Lie】: I came here to watch “The Lord and her Ministers” eat, why is there an awkward major third wheel?
【Ke Le】: Uh, maybe it’s a freshly recruited talent? The streamer’s territory is expanding, and more people are needed.
【Kou Jiao Chi Fan】: It’s obviously an awkward atmosphere; it feels like they’re each eating their own meals, with not a single eye contact.
Jiang Pengji was under a “my subordinate is sick, so I have to help him work overtime” spell, and the few days of live streaming had turned into the small administrative hall. The audience was becoming a bit bored; meal times were their only joy.
Watching the lord and Wei Ci eat, many could enjoy a few extra bowls; after all, they looked appetizing.
Suddenly inserting an unfamiliar Yang Si, who could get used to that?
For a few consecutive days, Yang Si reported to the administrative hall to mooch meals.
At first, it was just once a day, then twice a day, and finally three times a day plus various snack breaks.
Jiang Pengji found it irritatingly repetitive and directly said to Yang Si, “Why not just stay? It’s quite troublesome to report at pointy times every day.”
This was her first sentence to Yang Si, and Wei Ci was taken aback, his pen skimming a long line on the bamboo slips.
No way, this sounded just like driving someone away!
Recruiting a strategist shouldn’t be like this!
Especially for someone as sensitive about their pride as Yang Si, such ambiguous words were taboo.
If a friend said this, it was probably a joke, but for a stranger, it could easily be taken as ridicule.
Initially, Yang Si felt somewhat displeased, but when he looked up into Jiang Pengji’s eyes, he saw no hint of mockery or disdain, just a straightforward statement of fact. This realization snuffed out the flicker of irritation he’d just felt.
“What if I don’t agree?”
“That would truly be a pity. The food in the administrative hall is made from materials collected around Fengyi County; the variety is scarce, and compared to gourmet dishes, it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Jiang Pengji continued, “Besides… if you don’t agree, remember to settle the bill for these few days’ meals.”
So, you think you can bully my strategist, huh?
If you don’t agree, you’ll be in debt for life!
Yang Si continued to look at her, asking, “And then?”
She replied, “Follow me, and you’ll get to taste the world’s delicacies! If you don’t follow me, try seeing if you can step out of this door.”
Wei Ci felt hopeless. With his lord’s temper, it’s no wonder talents from the previous life were always snatched away.
Normal people wouldn’t follow her, would they?
