Chapter 35

PS: Today was very happy, my status has been changed, I'm sure my brothers and sisters have seen it. The number of favorites has also broken a thousand, I noticed that too, right? So, today was a very happy day for me!

The success of our Marquis today is inseparable from the silent support of all my brothers and sisters over the years. I, Taibao, have nothing to repay you with except to write diligently to repay your support! Thank you all!

There wasn't a large enough table in the Lao Qin family, and it was impossible to put so many dishes on the floor. Helplessly, Zhao Chen had to temporarily put several low tables together to place all the dishes.

One by one, the delicious dishes were served, and the old generals, looking at the dishes on the table, had their eyes wide open. These dishes, both in appearance and taste, were something they had never seen before.

Even Lao Qin himself, at this moment, had his eyes wide open, looking at Zhao Chen with a somewhat strange gaze, probably because he was upset that Zhao Chen hadn't made such delicious food for him first.

Finally, a whole roasted golden lamb was brought to the table, and the old generals were speechless. They stared at the exquisite dishes on the table, holding their chopsticks but not knowing how to use them.

In the end, it was Cheng Yaojin who laughed and picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs, put it in his mouth, and started eating with great satisfaction. With Cheng Yaojin leading the way, the sound of bowls and chopsticks clattering could be heard, and the dishes on the table disappeared at a visible speed.

Zhao Chen stood there, dumbfounded, originally wanting to remind everyone that the roasted lamb was more delicious with seasoning, but seeing the old generals' ungraceful eating, he wisely kept his mouth shut.

Looking back, he saw Cheng Chumo leaning against the door frame, picking his teeth with a toothpick. In the kitchen, this guy's mouth hadn't stopped, and almost every dish Zhao Chen cooked was first scooped up by him.

What a smart guy! Zhao Chen began to admire this scoundrel. He knew long ago that once the dishes were on the table, there would be no share for him, Cheng Chumo, so he had to fill himself up before the dishes were served.

Someone poked him from behind. When Zhao Chen turned around, he saw Li Ji holding a plate of untouched cucumber, gesturing for him to take it.

What a good person! Zhao Chen quickly took the plate from Li Ji, asked for a pair of chopsticks, and sat down next to Li Ji to eat.

The old generals only had eyes for the meat, and vegetables like cucumbers were completely ignored. It was good, as he hadn't eaten enough at the meal with Lao Qin in the afternoon, being too focused on his sore leg.

While he was concentrating on the cucumber, someone poked him again. Turning around, he saw Li Shentong tearing off a large piece of lamb and passing it to him.

Zhao Chen quickly took it, and to make Li Shentong do a good deed, he asked for a bowl of seasoning. Roasted lamb should be eaten with seasoning, or it wouldn't taste right.

Li Shentong, puzzled, took the seasoning bowl from the table and handed it to Zhao Chen, watching curiously as Zhao Chen dipped a piece of lamb in the seasoning and chewed it. Finding it interesting, he tore off a small piece of lamb, dipped it in the seasoning, and chewed it slowly, frowning. The next moment, his eyes lit up, and he glared at Zhao Chen, then dipped another piece of lamb and put it in his mouth.

Li Shentong's strange eating method caught the attention of some of the old generals. They tried it and found it delightful, glaring at Zhao Chen and then burying themselves in the delicious lamb, too engrossed to say a word.

It was a bit scary, with the room full of people, the only sound was the synchronized chewing.

Zhao Chen chewed a piece of lamb slowly, couldn't help but laugh, and then picked up a piece of lamb to put in his mouth. Suddenly, he saw a dark face next to him, looking at him with a sly expression, or rather, eyeing the lamb in his hand.

"Aren't you afraid of overeating?" Zhao Chen glanced at the owner of the dark face, asking irritably. This scoundrel hadn't stopped eating in the kitchen, his mouth full of oil, and Zhao Chen had seen him burping hard when he was picking his teeth at the door.

"Don't worry! I won't overeat!" Cheng Chumo laughed, already reaching into the plate in front of Zhao Chen, tearing off a piece of lamb, dipping it in the seasoning, and eating it with great satisfaction.

What could he do with such a glutton? Zhao Chen sighed and lowered his head, picking up a piece of cucumber and eating it.

After the dishes were served, Lao Qin generously brought out a half jar of distilled liquor from the Qinling Mountains that Zhao Chen had made. There was originally another jar, but it was given to Xu Jingzong when they came out of the mountains.

"Uncle Li, the last time by the Wei River, I mistook you for someone else when I first came out of the mountains. I hope you can forgive my ignorance!"

Taking advantage of everyone toasting, Zhao Chen quietly moved closer to Li Ji, poured a cup of wine, and sincerely handed it to Li Ji.

Many tragedies in history were caused by trivial matters, especially if the other party was someone who held grudges. Zhao Chen didn't want to be remembered by someone like Li Ji for no reason.

"Young man, this has been a great humiliation for me. Do you think a few words will make me forget it? Isn't that too trivial?"

Zhao Chen had intended to apologize quietly to Li Ji without drawing attention. However, after he spoke, Li Ji laughed and loudly shouted, drawing everyone's attention.

"No need!" Zhao Chen stared at Li Ji, his face twitching, feeling a sense of despair.

Well, here comes another one who wants to take advantage!

Li Ji's shout made everyone stop talking, and all eyes were on Li Ji and Zhao Chen, their faces showing strange expressions.

"What do you mean, no need!" Li Ji said angrily, "I have been honest and upright all my life, but I was humiliated by you. Ask anyone here if they would let it go easily!"

Cheng Yaojin, hearing Li Ji's words, exchanged a glance with Lao Qin and laughed.

"If I were in your place, I wouldn't let it go either!" Li Shentong, who had just been nice, now turned serious, agreeing with Li Ji.

"That... Uncle Li, it was an unintentional mistake..." Seeing the old generals all supporting Li Ji, Zhao Chen hadn't even spoken when Cheng Chumo, blushing, came over to defend him.

"Get lost, what's it got to do with you!" Cheng Yaojin immediately picked up a lamb bone from the table and threw it at Cheng Chumo, scolding him.

Zhao Chen rubbed the spot on his head where the bone hit, looking at Cheng Yaojin with a resentful gaze, wondering if he was punishing him or teaching his son.

"Uncle Li, I am foolish, so please tell me directly what I need to do to make it up to you." Li Ji was determined to take advantage, and Zhao Chen, being straightforward, handed the initiative to Li Ji, challenging him to lose face in front of everyone.

"Ha ha ha!" Hearing Zhao Chen's words, Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao were stunned, then burst out laughing.

Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao's laughter made everyone in the room laugh. Li Ji also laughed and said, "What a cunning young man! Since you ask, I will tell you!"

Li Ji pointed to the messy table and said, "My request is simple. I will send a few chefs from my house to you, and you must teach them how to make these dishes!"

"Since Uncle Li has spoken, I will do as you say!" Zhao Chen, relieved, agreed readily. Teaching a few dishes was no big deal.

"No way!" Li Shentong immediately put down his wine cup and slapped the table, "I can't be left out! I will also send a few chefs to you, and you must teach them how to make these dishes!"

Li Shentong's words were met with cheers from the old generals, who slapped the table and glared at Zhao Chen, ready to beat him up if he refused.

Zhao Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly agreed, then explained, "I will keep my word, but it will take some time."

Zhao Chen scratched his head, embarrassed, and said, "You all know I am currently staying in the College of Natural Philosophy, and I can't be too indulgent."

Come on, the College of Natural Philosophy is in the Imperial City. The Imperial City is a serious place. They could get away with their antics in the College because it wasn't an official government office.

So, no matter how much they caused trouble, others could turn a blind eye. If he turned the College into a tavern, someone would surely come to stop him.

Qin Shubao, hearing Zhao Chen's words, frowned, thinking Zhao Chen was being rash. But when he heard the next part, he relaxed and smiled.

"From your words, you are planning to buy a house?" Cheng Yaojin, sitting next to Qin Shubao, asked curiously.

"Yes, Uncle Cheng!" Zhao Chen looked at Cheng Yaojin and said, "Now that I am out of the mountains, I need a place to stay in Chang'an. The College of Natural Philosophy is in the Imperial City."

"You are sensible!" Cheng Yaojin snorted, threateningly, "If you continue to cause trouble in the College, not only will the Emperor not forgive you, but I, Cheng, will be the first to punish you!"

Zhao Chen, hearing Cheng Yaojin's words, felt a chill. Rabbit brat? Has Cheng Yaojin forgotten that Cheng Chumo is also in the College?

"Let Cheng Chumo get some money from his mother to buy a house. How can you do it without money?" Cheng Yaojin waved his hand and said generously.

Zhao Chen, about to refuse, hesitated. It was their first meeting, and he didn't want to accept Cheng Yaojin's money. But when he saw Lao Qin's gaze, he quickly stood up and bowed, saying gratefully,

"Thank you, Uncle Cheng!"