Chapter 59

Old Master Tang was so frustrated that he went mad. If Tang Chuxue had told him earlier that Jiang Xingchen's sister was seriously ill, he would have come over as a doctor, and it would have been easy to get a couple of meals. If he felt the boy's skills were not up to par, he could have simply left, without needing to steal food and end up being caught by that despicable boy.

"This girl deliberately tricked me, probably in cahoots with that despicable boy. How could it be so coincidental, with both mustard and Sichuan pepper oil..."

Although he cursed inwardly, Old Master Tang had no choice. That boy was too cunning. If he went to the restaurant and told the story of him stealing food in six episodes, then...

After venting his frustration by shouting in the snow for a while, Old Master Tang returned and told Jiang Xingchen that Meier was recovering well, and Zhao Zixiang's method was correct. He estimated that she would need to take medicine for about half a year.

Although half a year was a long time, at least there was a deadline. The pressure on Jiang Xingchen suddenly disappeared. He happily went into the kitchen to handle the fourth-level beast.

The marten was not very big, only about five or six pounds. Jiang Xingchen carefully removed the bones, avoiding the teeth, and then removed the poison gland from the head. In the end, he only got about two pounds of meat.

Old Master Tang watched the entire process. The exquisite knife skills were so impressive that even he, a great expert at the sixth level of the Essence Qi realm, admitted he could not match the flexibility.

After handling the marten, Jiang Xingchen started to process the pork. This surprised the old master: "Why isn't this boy using the beast meat?"

However, he soon realized that Jiang Xingchen only wanted the skin. The speed at which he used tweezers to remove the hair was astonishing. He also learned the function of the bellows under the stove, marveling at its ingenuity.

The skin was boiled in a strong fire with wine and ginger, then the fat was scraped off. It was then cut into cubes, put back into the pot, and stewed with seasonings. After a full month, it was finally ready to be taken out.

The stewed skin was full of collagen, and it quickly turned into a jelly when left outside. Although it wasn't as clear and transparent as in the restaurants of his previous life, it still looked bouncy.

"What is this boy up to?" The old master was now even more curious.

Next, Jiang Xingchen started kneading the dough, using half-fermented dough! Then he minced the beast meat!

"He's going to steam buns. Is this boy related to a bun shop... But why is he using the skin?" As soon as he saw the minced meat, he guessed that Jiang Xingchen was making buns.

Two months later, Old Master Tang's doubts were finally resolved. He then learned that what Jiang Xingchen made was called a soup bun.

When the thin skin was bitten, a rich broth flowed into his mouth. Although it was hot, it was full of fragrance, with the essence of the beast meat and the texture of collagen, making him want to swallow his tongue.

" Worth it! Damn, it's worth it. Just being a guard for a third-class baron and treating a little girl... How could this boy come up with something so delicious..."

Old Master Tang ate with a broad smile, all his frustration gone!

The little girl also ate with her mouth full of oil, sucking in air and stuffing her mouth.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xingchen had started the breathing technique again! The array in his mind began to slowly spread downward...

Seeing Jiang Xingchen's speed in eating the soup buns increase, the old master also sped up, not noticing Jiang Xingchen's unusual state.

After about ten minutes, the soup buns were finished, and they finally stopped.

The old master patted his belly without any image, looking unsatisfied.

Meier burped and leaned back in her chair, not wanting to move at all.

Jiang Xingchen also came to his senses, realizing that the array had finally crossed his neck and reached his chest.

"The Mingzhi Array is the third array, and the progress is getting slower! A fourth-level beast should be much stronger than a rabbit, but compared to the Sensory Array, it's as slow as a snail!"

He sighed inwardly, then got up to serve the congee. The pot was still simmering, and now was not the time to explore the array's effects.

However, when he came to the stove to serve the congee, he made a surprising discovery. He could actually sense the heat waves rising from the pot and clearly perceive the steam and the expansion of the rice grains.

"Hey?" Jiang Xingchen stopped, feeling for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "At the beginning of the Mingzhi Array, I could sense obvious wave rhythms and control my voice and breath! Now I can even feel the heat waves and the changes in food... This means I will be able to control the heat very precisely in the future! This is simply perfect for a chef... Old Master Tang won't be able to leave now, hehe!"

Excited, Jiang Xingchen quickly served the congee and brought it back to the room, then placed a plate of mustard greens on the table.

When Old Master Tang saw the fragrant congee, he was initially very happy. But when the mustard greens came, his face immediately changed. The intense stimulation from the previous night had left a psychological shadow.

"Old Master, try it, it tastes good!" Jiang Xingchen put a chopstick of it in his mouth, crunching it loudly. Yesterday, he had put too much to trick Zhao Danqing. Today, he had measured it carefully.

"Hmm!" Seeing Jiang Xingchen eat so happily, the old master hesitated, lifting his chopsticks and then putting them down. In his mind, this boy was too cunning, and he might be tricked again.

"Hehe!" Meier couldn't help but laugh, seeing the old master's expression, and also put a chopstick of it in her mouth.

"Ugh~" The little girl's eyes immediately became misty, but she quickly endured it, took a sip of congee, and then took another chopstick.

This finally made the old master put aside his hesitation and take a bite. It was still the same nose-tingling sensation, but much weaker than the previous night. He didn't feel uncomfortable or tear up; instead, he felt a refreshing comfort.

"Good! Really good!" The old master's eyes lit up, and he took bite after bite, the crunching and slurping sounds intermingling.

Jiang Xingchen smiled and shook his head. In terms of food, this old master was definitely above Zhao Danqing and his second brother!

"Unfortunately! The pickled vegetables aren't ready yet, otherwise, they would be perfect with the congee..."

After lunch, Jiang Xingchen pushed open the door. The morning snow had turned into a heavy snowfall, making the world hazy.

"I thought we could return to the territory after finding a guard and a doctor, but now with this heavy snow..." Jiang Xingchen shook his head.

Meier walked up to Jiang Xingchen, looking worried: "After this snow, the weather will get even colder, and the snow won't melt. The villagers won't be able to find wild vegetables or go out to chop wood... This winter will be very hard!"

Jiang Xingchen frowned and asked softly, "Is the villagers' food supply insufficient?"

"Yes!" Meier nodded and said, "The wheat yield in our area is not high, and after paying taxes, we always live quite tightly. If it's a harsh winter... In the past, Uncle always tried to collect less tax and make up the difference himself before paying it! The past two years, my brother didn't manage it, but this year..."

At this point, Meier stopped, looking at Jiang Xingchen with some alertness.

Jiang Xingchen smiled bitterly, knowing that he had forcibly increased the tax this year!

"Then we should buy more food and firewood and send them back to the villagers!" Jiang Xingchen said firmly.

Meier's face lit up, but she quickly lowered her head: "With such heavy snow, who can we ask to deliver it? The roads are dangerous, and our territory is remote, passing through many towns and villages. If we send too few people, they might be robbed!"

"Hehe! I can recruit a hundred private soldiers, what's there to fear! Besides, I have friends who can help... If all else fails, we can ask Old Master Tang to make the trip and wait for us in the territory..."

"Master Jiang!" Before he could finish, Du Rui Shan, supported by two men, came out of the storeroom.

"Why did you come out!" Jiang Xingchen frowned, displeased. "Your injuries aren't healed, you shouldn't be up!"

"Master Jiang! My Shocking Heaven Mercenary Group has twenty members, the lowest rank is Strong Body Ninth Level, and thirteen are Inner Qi realm warriors. We are willing to become your private soldiers!" Du Rui Shan said seriously.

Jiang Xingchen frowned. He only knew that Strong Body was below Inner Qi, which was below Essence Qi, but he had no specific concept of the levels. In other words, he had no direct impression of the strength Du Rui Shan displayed.

At the same time, he knew that the reason Du Rui Shan wanted to be his private soldier was for his sister, Xin'er. Hunting beasts in the vast mountains for money was uncertain, and if he died, his sister would be in trouble. But with him, the old master could easily relieve her pain.

Personally, he disliked such obvious self-interest, which was why he had ignored Sun Sanqiang. But this brother and sister reminded him of himself and Meier, and he couldn't bear to see them suffer.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Xingchen said, "Your Shocking Heaven Mercenary Group is powerful, and you are all nobles. It would be a bit..."

"Master Jiang! Although we have noble status, we are either from fallen families or distant branches of large families, and we have no habits of the idle rich. Otherwise, we wouldn't be mercenaries... Please rest assured, we will adhere to the code of mercenaries. Although I want Xin'er to follow the old master, once we become your private soldiers, we will prioritize your safety, and I will not go back on my word!"

With that, Du Rui Shan, supported by the two men, knelt on one knee and bowed his head, saying, "Please, my lord, grant us this!"

"Brother!" Xin'er cried and ran out of the storeroom. Her brother had never knelt to anyone in his life, but today...

"Brother!" Meier's eyes were red, and she shook Jiang Xingchen's arm.

"Take good care of your injuries. Once you're healed, come with me. As for your pay, think about it and let me know later!" Jiang Xingchen said, then led Meier back into the room.

Du Rui Shan looked up, his face filled with joy and gratitude...