Chapter 21

In the damp and gloomy underground, the mixture of yellow earth and decaying plant matter formed a pungent odor. The surroundings were filled with ancient and weathered ruins.

Ahead, a tall and imposing terracotta warrior stared intently forward, his long spear exuding a deadly aura.

The spear swung and suddenly thrust towards Xu Gang.

"Run! What are you standing there for?" Zhang Tianyuan shouted loudly.

...

"Hey, what are you yelling about? Having a nightmare?" Zhang Tianyuan, who was dreaming of a fierce battle with the terracotta warrior, suddenly opened his eyes. Seeing Xu Gang and the surroundings, he suddenly realized he had been dreaming.

"Hmm, it was a really bad dream," Zhang Tianyuan shook his head, trying to shake off the scene from the dream. It was too ominous.

"You're a grown man, and you're still having nightmares? Let me check if you wet the bed," Xu Gang pulled back the blanket and laughed.

"Go to hell, what time is it?" Zhang Tianyuan didn't like wearing pajamas and usually slept naked, but he wore shorts on his lower body. He had been doing this for years and was used to it.

"It's seven o'clock, let's go have breakfast," Xu Gang said.

"Why are you up so early? I remember you never got up before ten in the past!" Zhang Tianyuan said, "In junior high, you always skipped class. How did you become so diligent now?"

"I have to pick up Mou Ying. When I came back yesterday, I was driving her car. Damn, Audi is really something, much better than my second-hand Buick," Xu Gang sighed.

"Then when you make money, buy one yourself," Zhang Tianyuan said.

"I'd like to, but I don't have that much spare money. How about you lend me the four million you have?" Xu Gang laughed.

"Go to hell! That money is for business investments. No way for a car. But if the 'Shangyangtai' sells for a good price today, we can consider it," Zhang Tianyuan said.

"Cheapskate! I'm going to pick up Mou Ying. Have breakfast on your own, and don't forget to go to Baiyifang at nine o'clock," Xu Gang reminded him.

"I won't forget that. But you, be careful when you drive," Zhang Tianyuan thought of the nightmare he just had.

"Damn, you're getting more and more creepy. Hearing that makes my skin crawl," Xu Gang shivered.

"No, I just had a dream related to you. Just be careful," Zhang Tianyuan wasn't in the mood to joke. Thinking about the dream made him feel heavy-hearted.

Seeing Zhang Tianyuan's serious expression, Xu Gang shrugged and stopped joking. He said he would, and then left.

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, Zhang Tianyuan planned to go eat something nearby. Unexpectedly, as soon as he went out, he saw a brand new Lamborghini parked in front of his house.

"Want to go have breakfast together?" The car door opened, and Liu Mengxun smiled.

Zhang Tianyuan felt a bit incredulous. Given his current status and identity, there was no reason for Liu Mengxun to be interested in him. Why would she come to pick him up for breakfast?

But he still got in the car. He didn't want to be a lifelong bachelor. If a beautiful woman invited him to have breakfast, he wouldn't refuse unless he was crazy.

In the car, Liu Mengxun took off her sunglasses and asked, "What do you want to eat? Dashangpu is an international city with all kinds of cuisine, Sichuan, Cantonese, Hunan, and even foreign dishes."

Zhang Tianyuan hesitated and said, "How about tofu pudding?"

"Huh?" Liu Mengxun looked at Zhang Tianyuan incredulously, "No, I'm treating you today. You want me to treat you to tofu pudding? If this gets out, people will think I'm stingy."

"Don't look down on tofu pudding," Zhang Tianyuan said seriously, "Do you know what tofu pudding was called in ancient times?"

"What? Isn't it just tofu pudding?" Liu Mengxun wasn't familiar with food, or rather, she was particular about what she ate. She had never tried tofu pudding, a food considered common, even during her time in Xifeng City.

"Wrong. Tofu pudding was once called 'Yulong Sui,' a favorite breakfast of royal nobles. It can be savory and spicy or sweet and delicious. The methods of preparation vary, but its deliciousness has been praised by the royal nobles!" Zhang Tianyuan said earnestly.

"Which royal noble called tofu pudding 'Yulong Sui'?" Liu Mengxun seemed skeptical.

Zhang Tianyuan smiled and said, "Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao suffered from a headache and sought medical help everywhere but couldn't be cured. One day, a divine doctor named Hua Tuo came. You must have heard of him, a famous doctor in Chinese history."

"Yes, I know Hua Tuo, and I know Cao Cao. The Three Kingdoms are very popular now," Liu Mengxun nodded.

"Hua Tuo told Cao Cao that his headache could only be cured by trepanation. However, Cao Cao suspected that Hua Tuo wanted to kill him and decided to have him killed."

"I know, Hua Tuo was killed by Cao Cao."

"You're wrong. Hua Tuo came up with a clever plan. He instructed his disciple, who was skilled in food therapy, to make two servings of tofu pudding, one savory and spicy, the other sweet. He then told Cao Cao that this was the essence of the jade dragon, which could cure his headache."

"Did Cao Cao believe it?"

"Cao Cao was suspicious and wouldn't easily believe it. But after eating the two servings of tofu pudding, he suddenly felt much better and released Hua Tuo. He even praised the 'Yulong Sui' as extremely delicious!"

"Really? I heard Cao Cao killed Hua Tuo."

"The story isn't over. After sleeping, Cao Cao felt much better and remembered that if Hua Tuo left, he wouldn't know where to get the 'Yulong Sui' again. So he sent his generals to catch Hua Tuo. However, Hua Tuo was killed in a battle outside, just like countless commoners," Zhang Tianyuan sighed.

"Is this story made up by you?" Liu Mengxun asked with a smile.

"It doesn't matter what you think. But I'm telling you, if you don't try tofu pudding, you won't understand its deliciousness. Do you want to try it?" Zhang Tianyuan didn't answer Liu Mengxun's question but asked instead.

"Okay, since you say it so well, let's try this 'Yulong Sui' then," Liu Mengxun was really convinced by Zhang Tianyuan's words. She didn't care if he was making it up or if it was true. She would know if it was good after trying it.

Since Dashangpu is an open metropolis, there are many places to buy tofu pudding, both savory and sweet. The two of them found a relatively clean shop and sat down. However, the Lamborghini parked on the roadside was quite eye-catching. Most of the vehicles here were electric scooters, and even if there were cars, they were usually priced below 100,000. Her sports car was too conspicuous.

"Miss Liu eating tofu pudding is like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, it's her first time. I wonder if she'll be as surprised as Grandma Liu," Zhang Tianyuan smiled and ordered two servings of tofu pudding and two meat buns, all of which Liu Mengxun had never tried before. They were new and felt particularly exciting.

Two servings of tofu pudding, one savory and spicy, the other sweet. Liu Mengxun tried both and ultimately chose the sweet one.

"Ha, you like the sweet one, and I like the savory one. Are we going to have a grand battle between sweet and savory?" Zhang Tianyuan laughed.

"Stupid, it's all tofu pudding. Whether it's sweet or savory, do you think you're eating salt and sugar? To argue over condiments is really unreliable," Miss Liu pouted and carefully ate the so-called 'Yulong Sui.'

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