Chapter 1540: The Great War of Eighth Rank

  "Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper!" Just as several people were in high spirits, Xiao Er hurriedly ran over.

  On such a cold winter day, this kid ran and actually sweated quite a bit on his forehead!

  "What's going on here? Haven't you seen Fourth Miss around? How can you be so rude!" Qin Zhuang scolded him with feigned anger.

  He doesn't look like nothing's wrong, so Xi Mei curiously asks, "What happened?"

  "No, nothing's wrong, no, it's just something." The shopkeeper hastily explained.

  The stout cook with a big waistline lost his patience and said in a loud and rough tone, "Can't you speak properly? What do you mean by 'nothing' and what do you mean by 'something'?"

  His sister was also curiously watching him from the side, wondering what words would come out of his mouth next.

  Xiao Er wiped the sweat from his forehead and stuttered: "J-just now, you were cooking in the kitchen, the whole hall was filled with fragrance... this, someone couldn't help it, loudly shouting to have a taste!"

  After finishing speaking, he also tried to pass through the kitchen which was even thicker than his body board, and see what was behind him.

  The several people in charge couldn't help but laugh when they heard this. Qin, the person in charge, stroked his small mustache and laughed loudly, "I thought it was something big, but it's actually just this. You go tell everyone that this thing hasn't been finalized yet, if you want to eat it, wait a few more days."

  Upon hearing his explanation, Xiao Er looked dispirited and said with a pitiful expression: "My good boss, do you think I didn't say anything? They wouldn't listen to me no matter what I said, they all shouted that they wanted to try it first, and I couldn't stop them."

  Xi Mei and Qin Zhuangguan exchanged a glance, both of their faces filled with uncontrollable smiles. It seems that this effect is not bad at all. The previous planning and publicity were not done, but the reputation of our own family has been established.

  Xī jiě although knew that every new thing's appearance will inevitably bring a stir, but didn't think that the effect would be unexpectedly good.

  Haha, she saw a lot of silver coins waving at her.

  "Little brother, go to the blacksmith and see if he has finished making the pot I wanted?" Jiemei instructed calmly after coming back to her senses.

  "Alright, Fourth Miss, I'll go right away." With that, Xiao Er took off in a flash.

  Xī jiě thinks that hot pot is more fun when the whole family eats together, but it's hard to guarantee that everyone likes spicy food or can eat spicy food.

  So she ordered a new style of pot to be made in the blacksmith's shop, just like the one we use when eating mandarin duck pot.

  This way, it caters to those who can't eat spicy food and also takes care of those who want to eat spicy food.

  Hehe, I remembered the scene from last night when I was having hot pot with Zheng Wenyu and he couldn't handle the spiciness, it made me burst out laughing.

  "Xǐ mèi, you're laughing at what?" This little girl was like a mouse that had just stolen rice, her smile was so wide it even closed her eyes.

  A familiar voice came from beside her ear, and Xi Mei raised her head to find that it was Wang Zihan, who had finally arrived late.

  "Master..." He didn't finish speaking before Wang Zihan waved his hand to interrupt him.

  He was dressed in ordinary fine linen clothes, with a large cloak draped behind him, and his movements had a kind of elegant and noble air.

  He casually caught the cloak and threw it to Er Zi behind him, laughing, "I was wondering why it was so noisy as soon as I came in, now I know the reason is because of this."

  The kitchen boy laughed heartily, "That's right, we're all basking in the glory of Fourth Miss. Not bad, so talented at such a young age, she'll definitely be outstanding when she grows up."

  "That's right, that's right." The remaining few people echoed in agreement.

  Listening to everyone's praise, Xi Mei rarely blushed, and this girl's face turned red more rarely than seeing a shooting star. This time it was truly rare.

  Seeing several people still having a tendency to continue, Xi Mei hastily interrupted, "Alright, stop flattering me, let's discuss the hot pot matter."

  The prince said in surprise: "What's there to discuss? When the pot you mentioned is ready, we'll put up a sign and start business."

  Qin Zhangguan thought for a moment and said, "Young master, Fourth Miss, I have something that I don't know if I should say or not."

  Wang Zihan was puzzled and said, "Qin Bo, what's there to say or not say about this, but it doesn't matter if I do."

  Qin Zhuanggui spoke up, "We've just made a lot of hot pot broth and the ingredients are all ready. Why don't we let the people outside try some first and make a name for ourselves at the same time? What do you think?"

  "Right!" Xi Mei and Wang Zihan said in unison. How could they have forgotten this? Indeed, the old ginger is still spicy!

  "In that case, I'll trouble you to take care of it then." Wang Zihan said.

  "Yes indeed." Qin Zhuang smiled with joy, it seemed that he had a certain weight in Dongjia's heart.

  Then, with a smile all over his face, he went off to attend to his duties.

  For a moment, the entire Nuo Da kitchen was left with only Xi Mei and Wang Zihan.

  "Hey, is what you told me yesterday true?" After hesitating for a long time, Xi Mei finally spoke up.

  The prince heard the crisp voice in his ear and couldn't help but smile bitterly. Everyone says that having money is good, but they don't know that the more you have, the less control you have over things, and the more you lose.

  "Hey, what's wrong with you?" Feeling his loss, Xi Mei couldn't help but ask.

  "It's nothing." Prince Wang Han smiled wryly.

  Tsk tsk, with a bitter melon face, she says nothing's wrong, who would believe that, Xi Mei thought to herself.

  "Are you really not going to say? If not, I'll leave." Jiemei asked tentatively.

  "Hey, wait a minute." Before he could take a step forward, Wang Zihan's anxious voice came from behind him.

  Haha, you little thing, still trying to trick me with your "pretend to be unaware" tactics? Sister isn't going to fall for that!

  So, Wang Zihan brought Xi Mei to the small cottage where they had discussed last night, and after ordering Xiao Er to send two dishes of wine and a jar of wine, Wang Zihan spoke up, "Xi Mei, you've known for a long time that I like your older sister, right?"

  His sister looked at him, who was rarely melancholic, and nodded in agreement. "Hey, every time you see my older sister, that naked gaze of yours, even if she's an idiot, she'd know a thing or two."

  And Wang Zihan, seeing Xi Mei's rare cooperation, raised the wine jug and took a sip of wine, saying, "Since I was young, I've never not gotten what I wanted."

  Then, for the next half hour, Xi Mei only saw him pouring wine into his mouth non-stop, saying, "I'll tell you, why I've been working so hard since I was a kid..."

  Then, after a long narrative, the childhood period came to an end. Xi Mei looked at Wang Ziheng, who was in an abnormal state, and wanted to cry but had no tears.

  This is what he gets for being so self-pitying, serves him right.

  "Brother Huan, Brother Huan!" After shouting a few times and finding no one paying attention, Wang Zihuan's temper flared up.

  "Hey, I'm here, you go on, go on." Jiemei hastily said, her numb and aching feet tapping impatiently.

  He poured another cup of wine and placed it in front of him.

  "You said, does your elder sister know that I like her?" Finally, under the catalysis of alcohol, Wang Ziheng spat out the words he had been too afraid to say in his heart.

  Xi Mei rarely looked at him with pity, yes, she had always been worried that this guy had ulterior motives towards her older sister, but forgot that it was this person who had been guarding her older sister for nearly five years.

  Of course, don't think she doesn't know that the number of matchmakers visiting her home every year has drastically decreased. It's definitely because of this person in front of her!

  Thinking about it, big sister is quite happy too, right?

  She touched the mark on her neck and sighed, it had only been four years, but the past life's experiences seemed to have disappeared like floating clouds.

  She picked up the bowl in front of her and looked at the clear liquid inside, and Xi Mei couldn't help but smile wryly.

  "Hey, I don't know what's wrong with this girl either."

  Under this atmosphere, Xi Mei picked up the wine in her bowl and also learned from his appearance, drinking it all at once.

  In this atmosphere, in this environment, Xi Mei was rarely infected, and the two of them drank like sworn brothers, one mouthful after another.

  The spicy flavor hit her tongue, and Xi Mei couldn't help but let out a "ha" of surprise. It had been too long since she'd last had this stuff, and taking a big gulp all at once was a bit more than she could handle.

  "Hey sister, did you know? I..." Before she could finish, a loud 'whooshing' sound was heard.

  "Haha." Xi Mei heard it and couldn't help but hold her belly in laughter.

  These two people have both had a bit too much to drink.

  "What...what" she muttered with a dazed expression, her words tumbling out incoherently.

  "I'm telling you, tomorrow I have to go see a girl," Wang Ziheng said unconsciously.

  "Miss?" The extremely sensitive bride-to-be perked up her ears.

  The slightly dizzy and confused Prince Wang Han shook his head and asked, "Why do you want to see the girl?"

  The drunkard opposite him raised his red face and said dazedly: "Why, who knows what those people are thinking in their hearts."

  After finishing speaking, he drank a big mouthful of wine in annoyance, and then fell to the ground motionless.

  "Heh heh, you're drunk." Xi Mei smiled foolishly, looking at the overlapping shadows on the ground.

  This girl, still has the nerve to mock others, unaware that she is no different from them, they are just as bad as each other.

  "Huh, I'm dizzy." Xi Mei said with a big tongue and unclear articulation.

  She didn't know that although she hadn't drunk much, this wine was different from others, it had a strong aftertaste, and she was still young, so before long, she started to see stars.

  At this time, Chen Jia, Chen Tianfa returned from the workshop and didn't see Xi Mei's shadow, asking, "Her mother, where is that girl Xi Mei?"

  Zhao put down the dough in his hand and replied: "Went to the wine building to teach those cooks how to make something, what's it called, hot pot soup base?"

  Chen Tianfa burst out laughing, "After all, it's my daughter, she's different from others, that little brain follows me."

  At this time, Zhao could only give him a silent white eye.

  "By the way, Xi Mei, how long has that girl been gone?"

  "Probably more than half a day has passed, should be back by now."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Tianfa turned and left.

  "Zhao asked, poking his head out, 'Hurry up and eat, where are you going again?'"

  "I'm going to pick up my sister-in-law, I'll be back soon." After finishing speaking, the person was already gone.

  But she never thought that half a time later, Chen Tianfa brought back his daughter who had such a 'brand new' face!

  Of course, this is also for later.

  The Chen family is about to be thrown into chaos, and also, the long-absent male lead is about to make his appearance.

  Haha, forgive someone for their bad taste.