Chapter 27

In the VIP carriage of the train, this is not something that can be bought with money alone. The carriages that can be bought with money are called business carriages, which are different from the VIP carriage. Generally speaking, those who can enter the VIP carriage are both wealthy and influential, and they must also have connections. Of course, the service and facilities in the VIP carriage are the best in the entire train.

After Hao Qi entered the VIP carriage, he found that there were only about ten people in the entire carriage, sitting in three different areas, clearly belonging to three families or groups. He did not look closely but went straight to an empty seat by the window and sat down. Then he took out a novel from his backpack to pass the time during the journey.

The train from the border of Yingguo to Haitian Kingdom would take about four days and four nights. During this period, meals would be served on the train, and there was only one transfer station, which was not a city but a small maintenance station. Therefore, these four days and four nights would mostly be spent enduring the journey on the train.

At dinner time, Hao Qi ordered a specialty dish from Yingguo called "Red Wine Braised Sea Worm." Although it is called a worm, it is actually a type of marine crustacean found in abundance along the coast, curled up to about the size of a thumb. Generally, ordinary families can buy some at the market, and the way to eat it is similar to shrimp in Hao Qi's previous life. However, the Red Wine Braised Sea Worm he ordered must use sea worms the size of an adult's forearm, which are very expensive, even more so than lobster in his previous life. Only the wealthy and influential could afford it, and on this train, only those in the VIP carriage could order it.

Hao Qi, of course, had a great interest in food. Sometimes he wondered if his desire to see and travel the world was largely due to his wish to taste all the foods in the world.

He had been treated to Red Wine Braised Sea Worm once before when he visited Yingguo as a representative of a martial arts group to inquire about shipbuilding matters. Of course, since it was an official reception, Hao Qi could not indulge himself without regard for his image. He only took a small taste, but the flavor still piqued his interest.

When the Red Wine Braised Sea Worm was served, Hao Qi immediately opened the metal lid and saw a bright red, curled sea worm inside. A strong, fresh aroma wafted up, and Hao Qi's appetite was immediately whetted. He put on a semi-transparent glove and picked up the sea worm, tearing open its shell directly.

At that moment, a burst of laughter came from nearby. Hao Qi looked over and saw a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, her face flushed as she laughed at him. Around her were four or five young men and women, all trying to suppress their laughter as they looked at Hao Qi. Hao Qi's face turned slightly red, and he realized that his way of eating the sea worm might be incorrect, just like in his previous life, where certain foods had specific steps to follow, or else one might be mocked by the locals.

At this point, a handsome young man stood up and clasped his hands in a salute, saying, "Brother, please don't take offense. My younger sister was just... just..."

The young man did not know how to continue, as Hao Qi had given them something to laugh about, but it was indeed impolite of his sister. Everyone in the VIP carriage was both wealthy and influential, and he did not want to offend anyone. If the other party had a narrow mind, it could lead to trouble, even though he was not afraid of trouble, it would still be a grudge.

Hao Qi put down the sea worm and said with a slightly awkward smile, "No problem, no problem. I might have made a fool of myself. I am not from Yingguo, and this is my first time eating sea worm. Is there a specific way to eat it?"

The young men and women all breathed a sigh of relief. The girl who had laughed out loud said frankly, "Sir, I apologize for my rudeness. The sea worm is actually different from other marine creatures. Its internal organs are concentrated in the back shell. If it is cut open while alive, the glands on the back shell will be damaged, causing the flavor to become fishy and foul. Therefore, high-quality sea worms are usually kept in clear water for a period to clean out the internal dirt. When it is time to eat, a refined eater will make a cross-shaped cut on the soft underside, from which the tender meat can be eaten. Only the lower class... only those who do not know how to eat, would start from the back shell."

After the girl explained, Hao Qi immediately understood. It was similar to abalone in his previous life. Ordinary abalone was not expensive and could be bought at the market, boiled and eaten directly. However, high-quality dried abalone was extremely expensive, and there were various rules for cooking and eating it, which only the wealthy and influential could afford. The sea worm seemed to be the same.

Sitting in the VIP carriage and eating the finest ingredients, but using the eating habits of the lower class, it was no wonder these young men and women laughed.

After the girl explained, the young man who had laughed saw that Hao Qi was not angry and immediately said, "Brother, all under the four seas are brothers. Since we have met, it is a matter of fate. Why don't you come and have a few drinks with us?"

Hao Qi thought for a moment and then smiled, "I would be imposing, but thank you." He then sat down in the seat offered by one of the young men.

From their actions, clothing, and eating habits, it was clear that these young men and women were all wealthy and influential. They had ordered a full table of dishes, all light and small plates, but they looked exquisite. There were also several bottles of wine that they had brought with them, in white jade bottles. Hao Qi took a sip and felt a refreshing and fragrant taste, as if it had seeped into his heart. Accompanied by the delicious food, Hao Qi praised it endlessly.

From their conversation, it was learned that they were all noble children from Yingguo. Their destination was not Haitian Kingdom but Baicao Kingdom, where they would take the entrance exam for the National Medical University. From their conversation, it was clear that these young men and women were all outstanding talents in Yingguo, with exceptional abilities and special recommendations from the state. They were almost guaranteed admission to the National Medical University of Baicao Kingdom, each accompanied by over a dozen servants and guards. However, the servants and guards could not enter the VIP carriage, so they were waiting in the business carriage.

"Baicao Kingdom may be a small country, but the National Medical University is no simple institution. The dean is a renowned high-level Inner Strength Realm expert with nearly a hundred years of fame, far surpassing ordinary Inner Strength Realm experts. The professors in the university are almost all near Inner Strength Realm, and the three major departments have Inner Strength Realm experts. A university with four Inner Strength Realm experts accounts for half of Baicao Kingdom's Inner Strength Realm experts, almost equivalent to the foundation of the country," one young man sighed.

Another young man took a sip of wine and also sighed, "To be honest, my family, the Zheng family, is a noble clan with a marquis title, but only my grandfather is an Inner Strength Realm expert, and he is already 120 years old. This is a major crisis. This time, Baicao Kingdom has only 30 admission slots for our country, with only 10 for the three major departments. My family spent a great deal to secure a slot. Even though I am the eldest grandson, I had to win a competition to get the slot. It's really a chilling thought..."

The other young men and women also showed agreement, clearly resonating with the young man's words. Despite the luxurious lives of noble families, enjoying a lifestyle that ordinary people could not even imagine, in a world where personal martial power, even Inner Qi Realm, surpasses armies, these noble families were secretly tense and never dared to slack off in their strength. Without Inner Strength Realm experts to protect the family, these so-called noble families would not last long.

While the young men and women were lamenting the harsh realities beneath their glamorous exteriors, Hao Qi was the only one eating and drinking without any reservations, treating their sorrows as a side dish, completely unaffected.

The young man who had initially invited Hao Qi was named Xu Haoming. He had been paying attention to Hao Qi's expressions and actions. Seeing that Hao Qi did not take the noble families' sorrows to heart, he was moved and raised a glass of wine to toast Hao Qi, saying, "I wonder if Brother Hao Qi is going to Haitian Kingdom, or Baicao Kingdom, or another country?"

Hao Qi drank the wine, wiped his mouth, and smiled, "My destination is Haitian Kingdom. I've heard that Haitian Kingdom has the best shipbuilding technology in the eastern Blue Sea region and possesses advanced navigation technology to effectively avoid various sea beasts. I plan to go there to take a look."

Xu Haoming pondered for a moment and said, "Is Brother Hao Qi's family involved in the shipbuilding industry? Although Haitian Kingdom's shipbuilding technology is indeed the best in the eastern Blue Sea region, the country has a different political system from most others. It is a commercial nation without nobility, and it strictly controls technology in the commercial and navigation fields. If Brother Hao Qi is trying to obtain technology for his family, it will be very difficult."

Hao Qi did not hide anything, drank another glass of wine, and laughed, "No, no, why would I need shipbuilding technology? And I don't have a family. I am an orphan. I want to go to Haitian Kingdom to look into shipbuilding because I plan to cross the Blue Sea and even explore the deep sea regions. I want to find the Azure Giant Beast Amun Hadit and travel to Mobi Mobi!"