Shang Yang and his daughter, Shang Hui, t each other with great joy. Both had been worrying about each other, one concerned about whether her father could safely travel along the Tea Horse Ancient Road, and the other about the safety of his daughter who remained in the West. Now that they had seen each other safe and sound, they were naturally overjoyed.
After their short celebration, they got down to business. Shang Yang sat down at Robbs stone table, took the water kettle passed to him by Lillian, and brewed a pot of tea for Robb with an elegant and calm gesture. Since Robb was soone who understood Eastern culture, Shang Yang assud that Robb would also have a calm deanor like him. However, to his surprise, when Robb took the tea cup, he drank the tea like he was drinking plain water, without any elegance or poise.
Shang Yang thought to himself, [Well, no matter how much he understands Eastern culture, he is still a Westerner. I can't expect him to know anything about the tea ceremony.]
As Robb drank the tea, he smiled and said, "This pre-rain Dragon Well tea is really good. Give another cup."
Shang Yang shook his head and apologized, "I'm sorry, Godfather. We really couldnt bring those snacks you wanted, such as the osmanthus cake, along the Tea Horse Ancient Road. It's too dangerous and difficult, and it takes several months to travel. Those will all spoil along the way."
Robb was disappointed.
Shang Yang said, "I could only bring you a few things that won't spoil."
He then opened his baggage and took out so eggs.
Robb was delighted when he saw them, "Salted duck eggs and century eggs!"
Shang Yang was amazed, "Godfather, you even know these? You're amazing! You're the first Westerner I've ever t who can recognize these two types of eggs at a glance."
Robb was in a good mood and started talking nonsense, "I've traveled to the East, you know. Although I'm happy to have these two types of eggs to eat, it's still a pity that I don't have those cakes."
Shang Yang said, "Don't worry, Godfather. Although we can't bring those cakes, we brought a pastry chef who can make them. As long as we give him the ingredients and tools, he can make all the cakes you want to eat."
He pulled out a rabbit folk from behind and smiled as he pointed to Robb, "This is the pastry chef I hired from Yangzhou with a high salary. When he heard that we were going to the Western Regions, he initially refused to co. However, I thought of Godfather's life-saving grace and said that we only needed a few cakes. Since I said that I would do whatever it takes to get those cakes for you, I spent a lot of money on him."
The rabbit pastry chef looked at Robert with an arrogant expression, hoping to convey a ssage of "I'm very capable, you should respect ." Unfortunately, Robb didn't understand the bunny's facial expressions, so his performance was in vain.
As the pastry chef was about to speak, Robb suddenly reached into his pocket and took out a large gold coin, which he handed to the pastry chef, "Brother, please, make so delicious pastries."
The pastry chef looked down and saw a handful of golden coins in his hand. If they were Eastern money, they must be worth several taels of gold. He imdiately knelt down to Robb and said, "From now on, you are my ancestor. You can ask for any pastries you want, and I will do my best to make them for you."
The pastry chef with rabbit ears went to the market with Lilian to buy ingredients, while on this side, Shang Yang couldn't help but ask, "Godfather, on my way here, I saw many noble caravans heading out of the city. What are they doing?"
Robb explained about the Black Dragons Flight and smiled, "Is Big Tang also moving their wealth to avoid the Black Dragon?"
Shang Yang laughed, "So are, but it's not the mainstream. Our Big Tang people believe that life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are in heaven. If the Black Dragon cos, it's because their luck is bad, and it's their fate to perish. What's the use of moving wealth? Four years ago, a group of rich people didn't believe this, and they insisted on defying fate. They moved their wealth from the prosperous Yangzhou to the Leifeng Pagoda, saying that it's not a big city and can avoid disasters. As a result... the Black Dragon went straight to the Pagoda, and all of them died. Those who stayed in the city had no issues whatsoever."
Summing it up, Shang Yang said, "If the King of Hell wants soone dead at three in the morning, who dares to keep them until five? What are they hiding from? Just be tough! If you're killed, sleep it off, and if your head falls off, just get a big scar on your wrist. Twenty years later, you'll be a hero again."
Robb gave him a thumbs up, "That's right, this is the spirit of a great nation."
Shang Yang asked, "Godfather, how do you plan to deal with the Black Dragon, Avicus?"
Robb smiled, "What do you an by dealing with it? Ignore it. If it doesn't co, that would be for the best. If it does, Ill just beat its dog head."
After hearing this, Shang Yang quickly bowed down to Robb, "Godfather, you are truly a hero. I admire you."
After speaking, he brought Shang Hui over and whispered in her ear, "Daughter, pack your things, let's leave early during Christmas to go to the countryside."
Shang Hui: "..."
Robb, "Damn, I heard that."
In the evening, it was ti for Robb and Miss Queen to have their routine phone call. Miss Queen didn't have any topic prepared today and was planning to chat randomly with Robb. Suddenly, she saw through her crystal ball that there was a plate on Robb's stone table with so soy sauce and several black eggs cut into petal shapes on it.
Miss Queen's eyes suddenly sharpened, "What on earth is on that plate? Why are there these black eggs? Even the egg yolk has turned blackish-green. Can you even eat this stuff?"
Robb chuckled, "These are salted duck eggs. Haven't you seen them before? If you pay a hefty sum, I can consider letting you try them."
Miss Queen was tempted, but as soon as she thought about the huge sum, she hesitated. Wasn't this guy deliberately showing her this to extort her out of money? She couldn't fall for his trick.
Besides, things dipped in soy sauce were usually salty, and she didn't really like salty food.
She snorted, "Don't even try to fool . Am I soone who can be easily cheated out of money? I won't even give you a penny. I'm no longer the fool who can be led by the nose with delicious food."
As soon as she finished speaking, Robb pulled out another plate from behind with two white osmanthus cakes, which were decorated with a lot of white sugar and looked crystal clear and very beautiful.
Robb picked up one of the cakes with one hand, put it in his mouth, then narrowed his eyes and showed a satisfied expression, "I really like the sweet and sticky feeling of Eastern osmanthus cake... But unfortunately, there are only two pieces, and once they're gone, they're gone."
"Bang!" Miss Queen slapped the table and exclaid, "I'll pay you, I'll pay you! Stop eating and give the remaining one!"
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