304 Recipe
Yue Jiaojiao raised her head to look at him.
His expression was serious, and there was a hint of uneasiness in his eyes. He was a little nervous.
Yue Jiaojiao silently sighed.
Zhao Zhan had good intentions, and the decision he was making now was all for her.
“I guess you can go…” Yue Jiaojiao took a deep breath, stood on her tiptoes, and ruffled Zhao Zhan’s hair. “But going to Bei City from here, and especially with that group of westerner merchants… you’ll have to protect yourself well.
“Of course.”
Zhao Zhan’s throat was stuck.
He hadn’t left yet, but he had already begun to miss, worry, and think about his lover.
“There’s still some time before you set off. Let’s talk about this later,” Yue Jiaojiao’s lips curled into a smile. She held Zhao Zhan’s face with both hands and rubbed it. “There’s no point in being sad now, okay?”
Zhao Zhan nodded obediently.
Yue Jiaojiao held his hand and walked in front, while his burly figure followed behind, following his every step like an obedient puppy.
Madam Qin sat at the kitchen door and saw the two of them. She stood up and greeted them. “I’ll bring the dishes out.”
“I’ll go and get Doctor Sun.”
After dinner, Zhao Zhan returned to his room with his lover in his arms.
Yue Jiaojiao couldn’t stop being pestered by him.
In the beginning, she could still hold it in, but towards the end, this man seemed to be biding his time. He didn’t stop at all every night until Yue Jiaojiao couldn’t take it anymore and kicked him off the bed.
“Sleep on the sofa for the next two days.”
His lover’s face was red, and she was covered in roses.
She threw the pillow into Zhao Zhan’s arms.
Zhao Zhan took the pillow and stood pitifully by the bed, looking at the other person. “I…”
“Don’t say it.” Yue Jiaojiao hugged the blanket and turned around to face him. If she looked at him any longer, her heart might soften again. “Let me have a quiet night.”
It was because Zhao Zhan had been all over her for the past two days.
It was as if he wanted to merge with her and bring her to Bei City with him.
“Jiaojiao…”
Yue Jiaojiao subconsciously wanted to turn around, but she held back and didn’t move.
A rustling sound came from behind her. Yue Jiaojiao waited for a long time before she turned around and stole a glance.
The man’s tall body was curled up on the bed.
After being cold for an entire night, Zhao Zhan finally became more normal for the next few days.
It wasn’t until Wagler returned to Willow Village.
“Zhao Zhan,” Wagler changed into a new set of clothes. “I’m here to collect the goods. Have you considered the purchase of the recipe that I told you about last time?”
“I have a way to get the recipe that you want.”
Zhao Zhan clapped his hands, and his attendant, who had been busy in the workshop with him, came in with a small clay pot and placed it on the table.
“What’s this?” Wagler lifted the wooden cover and sniffed it. “Why does it smell…”
He didn’t speak very well. He wanted to describe it but couldn’t find the right words.
“This thing is called vinegar.”
The attendant brought over a bowl of mutton soup.
Zhao Zhan scooped a spoonful of vinegar and placed it in a bowl, then pushed it to Wagler. “Have a taste.”
Mutton soup was common in the westerners.
Wagler glanced at Zhao Zhan, then picked up the bowl and tasted it without hesitation. “This…”
He muttered a few words to his clansmen. The few of them nodded and quickly finished the bowl of mutton soup.
Zhao Zhan had been observing their reactions.
Some of them frowned, while others looked relaxed and couldn’t help but take a few more bites.
“Zhao Zhan, is this also something produced by your workshop?” Wagler smiled and placed the bowl that was so clean that one could see his reflection on it to the side. “But what does this have to do with me buying the recipe?”
Zhao Zhan’s face was calm. “This is the recipe you wanted.”
“Are you playing with me?”
Wagler slammed the table and stood up. He revealed a pair of cold eyes and glared at Zhao Zhan, “Do you think that I don’t know what brine is?”
“I’m not lying to you.” Zhao Zhan sat in his chair calmly, his expression not showing any fear. “If you don’t believe me, I can take you to my tofu workshop to have a look. This thing, besides being a kind of seasoning, can also replace brine.”
After Zhao Zhan finished speaking, he stood up first. “Why don’t you come with me and take a look?”
Wagler quickly followed closely behind.
Yang Dashan had already received Zhao Zhan’s instructions. When he saw him bringing people over, he walked over unhurriedly and took the jar of vinegar from Wagler’s arms. Then, he took an appropriate amount and put it into the bucket.
“Just like that?”
Wagler was sure that his eyes never left.
It was impossible for the other party to do anything sketchy under his gaze.
“Just like that.” Zhao Zhan stood up straight and looked directly at the other party. “This thing can be stored for a year. There won’t be any problems if it gets transported from here.”
Halfway through his words, his gaze hardened. “If you think it’s too expensive to transport it from the mountain gaze, what about from Bei City?”
Wagler narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“Why don’t you stay in the village for dinner?”
The workers in the tofu workshop peeked at them from time to time.
Zhao Zhan left the workshop with Wagler. “I’ve heard that in the Western region, the tribes often gather around a bonfire to eat roasted meat. You’ve been traveling for long, so I’m sure you haven’t had any in a long time, right?”
“I’ve already spoken to the guys in the workshop. If you’re willing, you can stay in the workshop and rest for a while. When dinner is ready, I’ll come and invite you.”
Wagler turned around and spoke to his fellow clansmen in their native language.
Zhao Zhan had been learning the language from Yue Jiaojiao for the past ten days. He could still pick up a few words when they spoke slowly, but now that they were speaking so quickly and excitedly, he could not understand even if he perked up his ears.
“Thank you for your concern, Zhao Zhan. We will gladly accept.”
Wagler placed his right hand on his left shoulder and bowed to Zhao Zhan.
Zhao Zhan cupped his fists and bowed slightly in return.
Two days ago, when Yang Lizheng found out that he was going to hold a banquet for the westerners, he had been tossing and turning at night, unable to fall asleep. He had put in all his effort to do this job well.
No matter what, they couldn’t let these westerners see them as a joke.
The night came quickly.
The bonfire was built in front of Yang Dashan’s house.
Anyone who worked in the workshop was allowed to bring their family.
Other than these people, Yang Lizheng had also made the decision to invite the other village chiefs from the surrounding villages to come along.
If this was done well, it would be a big deal that could be bragged about for several years.
The bonfire was burning brightly when the people arrived.
The faces of the people around him were a little red.
In addition to preparing a few lambs, Zhao Zhan had also specially hunted a wild boar in the mountains.
Yue Jiaojiao brought Madam Qin, Doctor Sun, and Li Miao to a corner.
When Zhao Zhan brought Wagler and the others over, the already lively atmosphere instantly reached its peak.