Gao Lishi did not ride the horse anymore. He pulled Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, one in each hand, and walked back.
Zhang Zhong and the others also followed them into the city. When the time came, they would go to different places. The people in the capital had already arranged a place for them. This year, the Savant's Restaurant in the west and the Complacent Residence in the east would not allow guests in.
"Did you see that? During the first year, I saw him. At that time he came here on a boat, his pomp and circumstance was not small at all. Who would have thought that after a few years, his power and influence would be even more magnificent. The Zhuangyuan of the Zhuangyuan Tower came out, one must be proud of being in the middle. That year the new Zhuangyuan was him. "
Someone in the crowd recognized Zhang Zhong and hid in a corner to show off.
"I know, I know. The two best restaurants in the capital. What are their cooking skills called again? Yes, it's called leading the trend. Big waves hit the willow embankment. Only standing at the head of the tide. "
Another person responded enviously.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were led and walked in front. There were countless envious gazes on both sides, but the two did not care. They had seen many big scenes and did not care that they were the center of attention again.
As they walked forward, two people rushed in front of them. They were wearing official robes. One of them had a lot of mud and snow on his clothes and looked very embarrassed. The other was supporting him.
Zhang Xiaobao saw the two people and was stunned for a moment. He then smiled and greeted them, "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Zhang, are you two checking the removal of the snow?"
"Xiao Bao? Cuckoo? Aiya, you're bigger and taller. What do you mean by checking the snow? I fell, I accidentally fell and did not come in time to welcome Brother Yongcheng. Please forgive me. "
The people who came together were the county magistrate of Sanshui County, Cheng Lingxiang, and the deputy county magistrate, Zhang Mingsheng. The chief secretary, Zhao Xiang, had arrived a long time ago. When he saw Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, he happily greeted them.
Zhang Xiaobao also felt very cordial, so he replied with a big smile. "Uncle Cheng, you're not late. There's still the fragrance of the earth on you. My father is behind us. Cuckoo and I will follow Uncle Gao into the palace first. When we come back, we'll toast to Uncle Zhang and Uncle Cheng."
"General Gao." Only then did the two of them notice Gao Lishi. Earlier, they had only been paying attention to Xiao Bao and Cuckoo.
Gao Lishi waved his hand to stop the two from saluting and praised, "Not bad, the people from Sanshui County are not bad. Go, this year you two should change your positions."
After speaking, Gao Lishi pulled Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan and continued to walk forward, leaving behind Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan with happy expressions. They were promoted just like that? The people from the Zhang Family and Wang Family were indeed benefactors.
It wasn't the first time Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan came to the capital, but they had never entered the palace. They didn't know what the palace looked like at this time, so they followed with anticipation.
As they walked, Gao Lishi pulled the two of them to a side shop. After passing through the shop, they got into the carriage behind and continued to walk.
Wang Juan sat in the carriage and touched the curtain blocking the window to ask in a low voice, "Uncle Gao, are we going to enter the palace quietly without making a fuss?"
Gao Lishi chuckled. "From what Cuckoo said, it seems like we're spies. We don't want to enter the palace because we're afraid that too many people will greet us on the way. It's troublesome. Let's go to the Hibiscus Garden. Her Majesty is waiting there."
"Oh! We're not going to the palace. "Wang Juan was a little disappointed, and Zhang Xiaobao was also discouraged.
Seeing the reaction of the two children, Gao Lishi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Other people would be very happy to see the emperor, but at the same time, they would be nervous. The two children were only excited to see the palace and ignored the people who really needed their attention.
Gao Lishi stretched out his hand and patted their heads. He comforted them. "It's easy to go to the palace. If you want to go in the future, I'll take you there. The emperor is not someone who can meet just anyone. Let's go see the emperor first. Don't be afraid, the emperor doesn't kill people easily."
"Well, then let's go see him first. I'm not afraid of killing people, as long as I don't kill them personally. I'm tired of killing." Wang Juan thought that it was fine to see Xiao Li. After all, he was an important person.
"Yes, don't be afraid. Cuckoo is a great general who can defeat many people with fewer people. Xiao Bao, are you really going to be a local official? His Majesty said that he will arrange a deputy county magistrate position and a chief secretary position for you. The county magistrate position is to find a proud and incompetent person. You must be careful. "
Gao Lishi suddenly realized that the little girl sitting in front of him was not an ordinary person. He was confused by her cute appearance. She was also a killing god. It was said that the more ruthless she killed, the sweeter her smile would be. En, I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid.
Zhang Xiaobao sat at the side and thought about why Li Longji wanted them. It couldn't be just to meet them. After listening to Gao Lishi's questions, he helplessly sighed.
"Uncle Gao, how can the emperor do this? Why must he throw a useless person to our side? This is killing with a borrowed knife. Have you chosen a county? "
"What borrowed knife? This is a chance for you to train. Don't think that he is a county magistrate. If he needs to be dealt with, you don't need to be soft. It's best if you can change him so that he can do more practical things for the people in the future. If you have chosen a county that is not too poor, it is less than 300 li away from Luoyang. It is a middle county and is not an important place. It is also not a part of the capital. It is very fun.
If you want to use it, write a letter. "Gao Lishi said with concern. He really wanted to get rid of the title of" uncle "right now, but he had not done the proper etiquette, so he could only call him that for now.
Zhang Xiaobao nodded. He reckoned that this godfather and Xiao Li were afraid that he and Cuckoo would have a bad future if things went too smoothly. Wasn't it just dealing with a person? It was simple. Otherwise, life would be too monotonous.
Seeing that Xiao Bao did not object, Gao Lishi smiled happily. He suddenly thought of something and asked: "Xiao Bao, do you think there is a trick to managing a logistics organization? Uncle has been very busy these past few days. "
"Oh, there is. This is actually a kind of knowledge in terms of overall management. It can also be said to be the study of organization. It can be said to be simple, but it can also be difficult. I will organize it and show it to Uncle Gao. In fact, the people in my family have already learned it. There are many fixed patterns that can be used for reference, but they can't be followed by the book. They can be used flexibly.
Zhang Xiaobao did not keep this knowledge a secret. He was not afraid that he would lose his stage when others learned it. In the past, there were many people who learned this kind of knowledge, but how many of them could compete with him?
"But you can't teach it to foreigners. Keep all the good things." Zhang Xiaobao added another sentence.
"Sure enough, Xiao Bao, don't worry. Keep all the good knowledge. We will do as your family said and set up a school in a coastal area to earn money from other countries and educate them. After they learn the way of the ruler and minister, we will talk about other things. We have earned a lot of money. Every time the Emperor talks about it, he is very happy."
Gao Lishi got a definite answer from Xiao Bao and finally felt relieved. It would be easier to do things in the future. At the same time, he had a higher opinion of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family. They were loyal to the Emperor and patriotic. They did not lack good skills and were not stingy. However, they also repeatedly asked not to let other countries learn it.
In terms of effort and gain, the imperial court lost out to the two families.
The carriage was not slow. After wandering for about two hours, they arrived at Hibiscus Garden. No one stopped them on the road and they directly entered.
Gao Lishi got off the carriage first. He did not need other people's help. He wanted to personally carry Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan out of the carriage. He grabbed their hands and walked in a certain direction.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan looked at their clothes to see if it was appropriate. They still had to show the proper etiquette. After all, Xiao Li was the Emperor. Even if Cuckoo had seen the Chairman and the Premier many times when she was young, she could not be rude.
As they turned, the two of them sniffed at the same time and smelled the smell of oil and smoke.
After another two turns, they appeared in front of a house. Zhang Xiaobao finally could not help but ask, "Uncle Gao, where are we going?"
"A good place. The kitchen behind the Imperial Banquet Palace in Hibiscus Garden," Gao Lishi replied.
"Why are we going to the kitchen? We are not hungry yet. "Zhang Xiaobao felt that something was wrong.
"Isn't it because of the Roasted Camel Hump you sent last time? Bi Shu and Yao Chong often write to praise the two of you for cooking well. They are very considerate. First, make a few dishes, then go to Qujiang to eat and drink."
Gao Lishi's face reddened. Weiwei found the two little guys and asked them to cook. It was too much of a bully. But who asked the Emperor to think about it?
Zhang Xiaobao's lips moved toward Wang Juan. "I admit defeat. Does it mean that I don't have to go to other places after cooking and can be an imperial chef in the palace?"
"Opportunity, opportunity. Give the restaurant a chance to advertise. Remember to ask for a title. Something like the world's best restaurant or the world's best dish is fine."
Wang Juan replied.
Zhang Xiaobao accepted his fate. Considering that he still had to drink, he planned to make two light dishes and two salty dishes. They could not be oily. If it was not enough, he would barbecue by Qujiang. Don't count on his carving skills. He did not have time to practice it.
Wang Juan asked Gao Lishi, "Uncle Gao, to eat and drink in Qujiang, do you want to drink in Qujiang? Did it freeze? "
"It did, but it was broken. Enclose a large area to prevent it from freezing again. It is like Between the Clouds and the Water. The kitchen has prepared a lot of ingredients, you can cook."
While Gao Lishi was talking, he took the two children into the kitchen. At this time, there were many cooks waiting inside, preparing to cook for the Emperor. They didn't expect that General Gao would bring the two children in, so they all saluted.
With a straight face, Weiwei nodded. Gao Lishi lowered his head and said to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan with a smile, "Choose. If you don't have anything, ask someone to get it."
Zhang Xiaobao looked around. It was really good. There were a lot of tools, and it was clean. There were no rats drilling around, no cockroaches crawling around, and no spider webs and gray pipes in the corners. How could it be so clean?
He went forward to look at the seasonings. It was really complete. There was even the chicken essence that his family had just made in Yizhou, not to mention the monosodium glutamate made from boiled seaweed and spoon worms. It was basically the same as his family's kitchen. It was just missing one thing, the microtoxin of the blowfish, which was usually used when eating hot pot.
"Get a cold melon." Zhang Xiaobao ran to the place where the ingredients were placed and was shocked again. How many people would eat this? The variety was enough, but he did not find a cold melon. He ordered someone to bring it.
The cooks looked at Zhang Xiaobao as if they were looking at a fool, but no one moved.
Gao Lishi saw that his son asked for a cold melon, but no one took it. Could it be that his words were not useful? Am I not the head of the Department of Internal Servants? He stared at him, "Cold melon."
"General Gao, look at the season now, where is the cold melon?" A eunuch at the side, who should be the head chef, helped the cooks to solve the problem. His voice was soft, afraid that Gao Lishi would wave his hand and ask someone to drag him out and beat him to death.
"Why not? No wonder His Majesty has been uncomfortable eating recently. It turns out that the ingredients are not prepared. Ask someone to get a big one from Savant's Restaurant. The day before yesterday, Savant's Restaurant sent two over. You don't have them? "
Gao Lishi did not continue to pursue the matter. Otherwise, ten whips would have landed on the eunuch. Today, his son and daughter-in-law were here, so he should be more amiable.
As for the Emperor not eating well, he knew what was going on. When he heard that Xiao Bao and Cuckoo were coming back, he was thinking about the food he ate last time. No dish was good, but there was cold melon. Savant's Restaurant did send it over.
"Also, bring some Desert Cistanche over. There are marinated ones and dog meat. Forget it, this can't be on the table. Prepare the deer marrow and carrots."
Zhang Xiaobao added. The eunuch in charge of the kitchen looked at Zhang Xiaobao and then at Gao Lishi.
"Why aren't you going? What Xiao Bao said today is what I said. "Gao Lishi suddenly realized that this subordinate of his was so insensible today.
The eunuch ran out to arrange for people to get the things quickly. After he was done, he realized who Xiao Bao was. Xiao Bao? There was a little girl next to him. Two little girls, one was called Xiao Bao, and the other was called Cuckoo?
Oh my god, no wonder Gao Daren brought me here to see the Emperor. I heard that the Burning Camel Hump was made by the two of them for Gao Daren and the Emperor to taste. It turned out that I was fine after meeting the Killing God just now. I heard that people who saw her smile would bleed to death from all seven orifices. She didn't smile at me just now?
When they came back, the eunuch in charge of the kitchen trembled. He wanted to look at Wang Juan but didn't dare to. His expression changed. Others thought that he was just scolded.
Zhang Xiaobao didn't care about the others. He asked someone to bring tofu and shallots. He added a few spices, stir-fried the black bean sauce, and poured it over. A dish of shallots mixed with tofu was ready.
Then he prepared to make a dish of fried shrimps with chives. The other two things were removed from the watermelon pulp and the skin. After kneading it, he made a cold melon rind. Together with the Desert Cistanche dish, there were four dishes in total. It was very simple.
Wang Juan also asked someone to spread out a few pancakes. She asked Xiao Bao to re-mix the sauce and peel a few shallots. Later, she would roll them up and eat them.
The cooks in the kitchen watched the tall man take the two little girls and leave with the four dishes to send to the Emperor. They looked at each other and thought that this was obviously a lie to the Emperor. They gave the Emperor melon rind and the shallots mixed with tofu that poor people usually eat. If the Emperor blames them, will he find trouble with them?
"Steward, where did Lord Gao get this liar from? He actually made such things for the Emperor. What if …? "A cook asked the steward eunuch worriedly.
"Shh! Keep your voice down. Don't let them hear you. Who saw that girl smile just now? Say it yourself. Hurry up and go back to prepare for the funeral. Otherwise, it will be too late. "
The steward eunuch's face was full of fear. He looked in the direction where the three people left.
*****
Gao Lishi and the others didn't know what happened in the kitchen. They walked all the way to the bank of the Qu River.
Li Longji had been waiting for a long time. He found a storyteller to talk about the things in Yizhou. Although most of the stories were exaggerated, he still liked to listen.
When he heard that Gao Lishi led Xiao Bao and Cuckoo over, he immediately asked someone to warm the wine. This wine was a low-alcohol tonic wine from the hospital. He threw in two sour plums to taste it. He didn't know what he was thinking.
The storyteller was talking about how Cuckoo led the troops to burn the Tibetan grain and how light cavalry galloped across the border. This time, Gao Lishi and the others came over. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo handed over all the miscellaneous things on their bodies. There were guns, hidden arrows, poison needles, knives under boots, necklaces with poison, belts with spring thorns on them, daggers tied to their calves, and bracelets that could be pulled out of a thin steel wire that was a zhang long.
There was no need for others to mention these things. He took them out himself. The person in charge of collecting the things and Gao Lishi were speechless.
"Keep them. When we go back, Xiao Bao and Cuckoo have to carry them." Gao Lishi instructed the person in charge of collecting the weapons.
The person nodded. If it wasn't for Gao Lishi, he would have pried open the two children's mouths to take a look.
After walking past the person, Gao Lishi asked, "Xiao Bao, Cuckoo, why are you two carrying so many … things?"
"For self-defense. Cuckoo and I are young, so it's easy for others to use them to threaten our family. If anyone has any ideas about us, Cuckoo and I will make them regret it. Oh, tell that person not to touch them. Some of the things are poisonous. It's the kind that kills upon contact with blood."
Zhang Xiaobao told the truth.
Gao Lishi patted their heads again. "It's really not easy. It's been hard on you two. In the future, Uncle Gao will assign a few more experts to you so that you won't be harmed by others. Don't worry, no one will touch your things. If they do and you get poisoned, you deserve it. I won't save you even if I can."
When the three of them saw Li Longji, he was throwing sour plums into the wine. Zhang Xiaobao was stunned. He looked at the sky. What was the meaning of this? Drinking sour plums to talk about heroes? There probably wouldn't be thunder.
After throwing the sour plums into the wine, Li Longji raised his head and saw the three of them. He stood up and hurriedly walked over to them. He didn't say anything and just stood in front of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, staring at them.
"Your subjects greet Your Majesty." Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan bowed to Li Longji.
"Good, good, come over here. We were just waiting for you two distinguished guests to arrive. It's really nice, better than the painting. When I heard that you two were about to return to the capital, I was very happy. Back then, when you were fighting outside, I couldn't sleep well and couldn't eat well. I was afraid that the Tubo people would harm you. You guys are also too much. I told you to come back early, but you just had to run around in the desert. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have sent you a decree to come out of seclusion to provide reinforcements.
Li Longji changed his usual manner of speaking to his subjects. He snatched Zhang Xiaobao and Cuckoo from Gao Lishi's hands and pulled them to the place where they came from. He spoke as he walked.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Your Majesty gave us a chance to contribute. If we didn't come out of seclusion, wouldn't we have let Your Majesty down? The Tubo people are actually very stupid. They were confused after going around in circles and didn't dare to enter the desert. Your subject found good things in the desert and trained the soldiers at the same time."
Wang Juan followed along.
"You can't do that next time. If you want to go, you have to bring more elite soldiers. Well said, the Tubo people are indeed very stupid. Hahaha, an army of forty thousand, but they didn't dare to take a step into the desert. The courage they had to invade the border every year was beaten to death by Cuckoo. Come, let us toast to the two heroes.
Do you want to drink? "Li Longji didn't believe that the Tubo people were stupid. However, when he heard Wang Juan's words, he was still happy. This battle was awe-inspiring and he fought to his heart's content.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan smelled the alcohol in the cup and knew that it was a low-level remedy. They looked at the cup and saw that it wasn't big, so they nodded and accepted the cup. Then, they downed the wine with Li Longji and Gao Lishi.
After drinking a cup of wine, Li Longji couldn't wait and said, "Quickly bring Cuckoo and Xiao Bao's dishes over. Let's try it."
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