Chapter 78

【Mutter the Saitu website three times, have you remembered it? If not, I'll ask again in the next chapter. It would be best if you could share it on Facebook.】

It wasn't until the evening that Yumo and the others learned what Zhao Xinyu meant by stewed pork, and they tasted the stewed pork that made them want to swallow their tongues. Of course, they also learned how Zhao Xinyu treated the three large creatures, Heifeng, Jinhen, and Jinyu, whom they saw as animals.

The two wild boars weighed nearly two hundred kilograms. After giving a few pounds to each of the villagers who helped, the stewed pork with bones was split equally between Heifeng, Jinhen, and Jinyu, and the rest was for Yumo and the others.

It was also their first time seeing Han Li and the others swarm out to fight with Heifeng, Jinhen, and Jinyu for the pork with bones.

The three large creatures, who usually inspired fear, did not show any signs of bloodlust. When they saw Han Li and the others fighting for the pork with bones, the three large creatures tilted their heads and watched the greedy humans, their eyes full of disdain.

Yumo and the others recorded this scene with their phones. After uploading it to the internet, Han Li and the others became known as animal abusers, though that was just a joke. More people were envious of the courtyard having such intelligent and large creatures.

After dinner, there were few people left in the courtyard, but the street was unusually lively. Han Li and the others didn't rush to leave, but after drinking Zui Linglong, they felt a bit overheated.

"Xinyu, you should prepare some cold drinks. After drinking alcohol, one naturally wants something cold to drink, like a chilled watermelon."

Zhao Xinyu smiled faintly, "I told you to drink less, but you didn't listen. I don't have cold drinks, but I do have something that can clear heat, detoxify, and sober you up."

A moment later, Zhao Xinyu returned with a large basin. He placed it on the coffee table, and everyone saw a basin of dark green soup with some leaves inside.

"What is this? It looks unappetizing. How can we drink it?" Han Li complained.

Zhao Xinyu just smiled and didn't respond. He went to the kitchen, brought back a stack of bowls and chopsticks, and served a small bowl to Du Mengnan.

Du Mengnan was slightly surprised, but the next moment, she smelled a faint, refreshing aroma. After drinking a little Zui Linglong, she instantly felt more comfortable.

Taking the small bowl, Du Mengnan took a small sip. The sour and refreshing taste made her feel a cool sensation spread throughout her body, and the stuffy feeling disappeared instantly.

Feeling that this sour soup was even better than plum juice, Du Mengnan's gaze fell on the small bowl. Seeing the floating leaves, she exclaimed, "This is bitter herb."

Zhao Xinyu laughed, "How does it taste?"

"Very good, but it doesn't taste like bitter herb. How did you do it?"

Seeing Du Mengnan's reaction, Han Li and the others each picked up the small bowls Zhao Xinyu had served them and took a sip. Feeling the effects of the sour soup, they finished the small bowls in an instant, and the heat in their bodies disappeared. Even their breath felt refreshed.

Indeed, the sour soup made from bitter herb, which should have been bitter, was not bitter at all. Han Li and the others looked at Zhao Xinyu, wanting to know the secret.

From Zhao Xinyu, they learned that this sour soup made from bitter herb was a pickling method from the northern countryside. Bitter herb is hard to preserve, and in the past, when the economy was underdeveloped, this sour soup, which could cool the body and detoxify, was a staple in every household in Zhao Xinyu's area.

People could eat a few bowls when they were hungry, drink it to sober up after drinking, and enjoy it as a cold drink in hot weather.

"Xinyu, how much of this have you pickled? I'll take some out to try. If the guests like it, you can pickle more. It can be sold in hotels, farmhouses, and even as pickled vegetables."

Less than half an hour later, Han Li and Du Mengnan returned from outside. Du Mengnan's face was filled with barely concealed excitement.

They had taken the sour soup Zhao Xinyu pickled out to let the guests taste, and without exception, they all gave it high praise.

"Xinyu, what do you need? I'll go buy it tomorrow."

"Just some large jars. Get a few more; I also need them for my distillery."

In casual conversation, Zhao Xinyu looked at Pang Mingyuan, "Mingyuan, how is it over there?"

Pang Mingyuan shook his head, "Not starving, not full. Traditional Chinese medicine is declining, and the TCM hospital sees few patients in three days."

"Come to Pengcheng and work with me."

Pang Mingyuan's eyes flickered, "I'll think about it..."

In a luxurious villa in Guangzhou, a spirited policewoman returned from outside, her beautiful face showing a hint of fatigue.

"Xiaotong, you're back," an elderly man, who looked to be in his nineties with white hair but a sharp mind, asked with a loving tone from the sofa in the living room.

Beside the elderly man were a middle-aged couple. They looked at the tired Guan Bingtong with concern in their eyes.

Guan Bingtong smiled faintly, "Grandpa, Dad, Mom, have you eaten?"

After saying this, Guan Bingtong glanced at the spacious but simply decorated living room, "Where's Grandma?"

"It's past nine. Your grandma just went to bed. Xiaotong, it's fine to do your best, but you shouldn't exhaust yourself like this every day," Guan Fei said with concern.

"Dad, I solved a big case today."

Guan Fei smiled bitterly. His daughter, Guan Bingtong, was extremely outstanding among her peers, but she followed her father's wishes and became a special police officer. Every day, she came home late, and many times, she returned with injuries. They had secretly advised her a few times, but Guan Bingtong said that place could temper one's willpower.

The old man strongly supported Guan Bingtong in this challenging yet enviable profession. He held a high status in the family, and they didn't dare to contradict him.

"Xiaotong, you've been busy all year. It's May now. Why don't you take a trip? I just saw a place you'll definitely like," Guan Fei's wife, Xu Mei, said as she sat next to her daughter, showing her some short videos and photos on her phone.

Guan Bingtong saw a vegetable field in the photos. The tomato plants were over two meters tall, with dozens of lantern-like tomatoes hanging from each plant. The cucumbers were even more impressive, with few leaves and thick, green, spiky cucumbers over a foot long densely packed together.

Flipping through the photos on her mother's phone, Guan Bingtong asked with a smile, "Mom, where is this farm? These tomatoes and cucumbers are too exaggerated. I wonder how much fertilizer and pesticides they used."

"You silly girl, what are you talking about? This place is in Xihanling, Pengcheng. Despite the size of the tomatoes and cucumbers, they are all pure, organic vegetables. The quality inspection agencies in Pengcheng have tested them. Now, many people in Pengcheng give these vegetables and fruits as gifts. The person who grows the vegetables is about your age, a very capable young man. They say he earns several million a year from growing vegetables and raising fish."

Xu Mei didn't notice that her daughter's gaze was fixed on a photo, her face filled with anger. Guan Bingtong would never forget what happened that day.

Guan Bingtong had a face that many men envied, but she was not just a pretty face. She trained with her grandfather's bodyguards from a young age and was a top performer in her unit, even defeating the unit's instructors. Her colleagues privately called her a "tough flower."

But that day, she had already pinned a man to the ground and had him in a hold. Even in that situation, the instructor in her unit wouldn't have been able to escape.

But that day, something unexpected happened. The man somehow managed to pin her down, and his dirty hand touched a sensitive spot. She chased him for several kilometers, but he seemed unaffected, while she was almost exhausted. This was a significant blow to her, who was always proud and confident.

Since then, she had been trying to find the man who had humiliated her, but after a few attempts, the black market in Guangzhou no longer operated, and she never saw the man again.

Now, her mother had chosen a place called Xihanling, and she saw the man who had humiliated her in the photos. The man was calmly sitting on the ground, barbecuing, while the people around him were drooling and recording videos and taking photos.

Seeing the man who had humiliated her, Guan Bingtong's eyes showed a hint of disappointment. The black market was not a place anyone could just go to.

In such a place, any transaction could be worth tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands. A barbecue chef wouldn't have that much money. She wondered if she had mistaken the person.

But after looking a few more times, she was sure this was the man who had offended her. She could never forget his eyes, even though they had only met for a few seconds.

Seeing her daughter lost in thought, Xu Mei leaned in and smiled, "What do you think? This young man is quite good. He's the owner of the courtyard in Xihanling, skilled in growing vegetables and raising fish, and has culinary skills that even five-star hotel chefs envy. Zhao Xinyu is also a good person, giving millions in welfare to the villagers every year during holidays."

Guan Bingtong, who had already formed an opinion, naturally didn't agree with her mother. A man who dared to go to the black market and do illegal things couldn't be a good person. His welfare to the villagers might just be a cover, or he might have done something unspeakable in the village and was trying to silence the villagers.

After looking at more videos and photos, she felt that the place was indeed lively and unique. Plus, she wanted to catch the man who had committed illegal acts. Guan Bingtong had already decided to go to Xihanling.

【Do you remember the three times I asked you to mutter the Saitu website at the beginning of the chapter? Sharing on Facebook might bring surprises.】