amaotonovel Chapter 423 Li Zhen's Incognito Visit to Daxing Prefecture
Chapter 423 Li Zhen's Incognito Visit to Daxing Prefecture
After dealing with the tedious affairs of state, Li Zhen quietly led Li Qianmin'er on a stroll along the outskirts of Daxing Prefecture. To avoid attracting unnecessary attention, he only brought four or five bodyguards in plain clothes, and the group traveled discreetly.
Perhaps the years within the high walls of the palace were too long, for once she stepped outside those many restrictions, every inch of the outside world made Li Qianmin'er's eyes sparkle with undisguised excitement. Whether it was ordinary flowers and plants by the roadside or the everyday life of people in the streets and alleys, everything became a rare and wonderful sight in her eyes. This pure curiosity and joy made Li Zhen, who was following behind, smile gently yet with a hint of helplessness, secretly admiring her innocent and untouched nature.
It was autumn harvest season, and busy people could be seen in the fields along the roadside. At this time, crops were harvested only once a year, and most of the harvest consisted of millet and sorghum.
Li Qianmin nestled in Li Zhen's arms, murmuring softly, "Husband, look how thriving this sunflower field is! It's truly unexpected to encounter such a magnificent sea of sunflowers in the heart of the Central Plains."
She grew up under the blue skies and white clouds of Western Xia, where fields were mostly planted with wheat and buckwheat, and sunflowers bloomed everywhere, becoming an indispensable part of the landscape, all because of the Western Xia people's fondness for sunflower seed oil. Now, facing this vast expanse of sunflowers before her, Li Zhen couldn't help but express her heartfelt admiration, her eyes sparkling with surprise and appreciation for this exotic culture seamlessly integrated into the Central Plains.
Just then, a discordant voice came from afar: "What are you doing up there? Don't loiter around my fields, or I'll arrest you as thieves."
Li Zhen and his entourage looked into the distance and saw an old man riding a thin donkey, accompanied by two servants, slowly entering their line of sight. The guards beside Li Zhen naturally gathered around, like a solid shield, protecting him and Li Qianmin'er behind them, watching the scene ahead vigilantly.
Before long, with the careful assistance of a servant, the old man shakily moved his body off the donkey's back and slowly landed.
Now, Li Zhen finally had a chance to examine the old man closely. He had a sharp chin, a thin goatee hanging from the corner of his mouth, and his triangular eyes gleamed with an unusual light, exuding an indescribable sinister aura. As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart; this old man's appearance undoubtedly suggested a sharp-tongued, scheming person. In this chaotic world, people often judge others by their appearance, and this old man was undoubtedly the kind of person who would inspire suspicion at first glance.
The old man glanced sideways at Li Zhen and his group, his voice tinged with a sense of vicissitude: "Are you all strangers who have come from afar?"
Li Zhen smiled warmly and replied, "Indeed, we come from Anyang and do some small business. We passed through this wonderful place and were attracted by the sunflowers in full bloom, so we couldn't help but stop and admire them."
Upon hearing this, the old man slowly stroked his white beard, his voice low and slightly somber: "This sunflower field is the result of my family's generations of hard work, but unfortunately, recently there have been petty thieves stealing our grain at night. Just now, seeing so many of you, I was momentarily alarmed and thought those thieves had returned."
Upon hearing this, one of the guards felt slightly displeased, but he still restrained his emotions and reminded him, "Sir, you should be careful. You can't just say whatever you want. You can eat whatever you want, but once words are spoken, you can't take them back."
The old man was about to step forward, intending to argue with the young man, Li Zhen, but when his gaze fell upon the four or five burly men surrounding Li Zhen, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. These men, their clothes revealing taut muscles, exuded the aura of seasoned martial artists. Though the old man was unwilling, he could only reluctantly give up, muttering, "If there's nothing else, hurry up and leave. Don't linger here any longer."
Having said that, he put his hands behind his back and slowly strolled towards the country path, leaving Li Zhen and his group standing there dumbfounded. Seeing this, the others didn't say anything more, and simply continued on their way under Li Zhen's leadership. Despite this little incident, it didn't dampen their spirits. The group continued walking, laughing and chatting, seemingly having already forgotten the unpleasantness from before.
At midday, under the perfect sunlight, they passed through a quiet little town. Though small, it possessed a unique charm. On a whim, Li Zhen led everyone into a hotel that seemed to have a distinct local character, intending to sample some authentic country cuisine.
At this moment, it was peak dining season, and the hotel was bustling with noise and activity. While waiting for the dishes to be served, Li Zhen casually leaned to the side, trying to catch the laughter and conversation of the diners around him, as if trying to glean the unique stories and charm of this small town from those fragmented daily conversations.
"Have you heard? The wealthy man in town, Master Wang, has taken another concubine. She's absolutely gorgeous! What a pity!"
"What a pity. At least he's living a life of luxury. I bet his concubine's family has also made a lot of money. Otherwise, who would marry their own daughter to a seventy-year-old man?"
"You know, Master Wang is really capable. This time, during the land reform, his family not only didn't lose any land, but actually gained a lot more. Do you think there's any truth to this new dynasty?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Don't you know that one of Master Wang's nephews is the county magistrate? If his family finds out, you'll be in big trouble."
As Li Zhen listened, he learned about this matter. From this glimpse, it was clear that the local government was in a state of chaos, and at the very least, there were various problems with land allocation.
Just then, the dishes Li Zhen had ordered were skillfully placed on the table one by one by the waiter. Among them, the most eye-catching was a deep-fried carp that had been carefully cooked. The fish had a golden and crispy skin, and its bright and tempting color made it look as if it had just leaped out of the water and was now frozen in the plate, lifelike. This skill alone was enough to reveal the chef's extraordinary skill and craftsmanship.
The remaining dishes were equally exquisite and mouthwatering. The braised pork knuckle was fatty yet not greasy, the meat tender and flavorful; the crispy pork belly was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, every bite a burst of happiness; the braised pork belly had distinct layers, a perfect balance of lean and fat, melting in your mouth; and the plump, round meatballs exuded an enticing aroma—all delicious dishes perfectly paired with rice. This feast not only satisfied the taste buds but also presented a visual spectacle, bringing joy and whetting the appetite.
At this moment, the waiter proudly introduced to Li Zhen, "Sir, you are truly blessed! Do you know? Our chef used to be a top chef who cooked for the King of Jin. Recently, due to the chaos of war, he was forced to flee here. Coincidentally, our manager recognized his talent and invited him to join the restaurant. The 'Golden Lionfish' you are enjoying today was once a delicacy that only the powerful and wealthy could afford."
Li Zhen picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the fish. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a rich sweet and sour flavor. The taste was really good.
At Li Zhen's command, the already hungry crowd began to feast, and in no time, the table full of dishes was almost completely eaten.