It was not as if the clouds were pressing down on the border or the wind was blowing. Passersby occasionally asked about the object in the carriage. It was as white as snow and sparkling as crystal.
The introduction of the yellow chives seemed to have a tendency of overtaking the garlic sprouts.
In the palace, Li Longji was eating the dumplings made with yellow chives and drinking a bowl of garlic soup. He seemed to be talking to the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall, "How was it? How was it? How was it? Did I guess it? Luo Bin, you tell him. "
Luo Bin was at a loss, he didn't understand what His Majesty was asking. When he saw His Majesty looking at him, he quickly said: "Your Majesty is really a God. The meaning of your words a few days ago, I didn't expect it to come true today. Your Majesty's power makes people sigh.
Hearing Luo Bin's praise, Li Longji happily ate another dumpling. He asked Luo Bin again, "Do you know how I guessed the specifics?"
Luo Bin was confused. Specifics? Who knew what specifics?
Just as he was fretting, Gao Lishi walked in with a tray in his hand. He helped Luo Bin out of his predicament and said, "Your Majesty, I am well aware of what you said a few days ago. Zhang Xiaobao still has a backup plan that has yet to be revealed. When it is revealed, the Zhang and Wang families will definitely be able to earn a lot of money. Your Majesty's scheming is truly admirable."
"Hmph, a small trick, a small trick. Even if Zhang Xiaobao is as cunning as a fox, he won't be able to deceive me. Without the garlic sprouts first, how could the yellow chives sell so well?"
Li Longji had a scheming and astute appearance. He slightly raised his chin and acted as if he did not care about anything.
"Your Majesty, the sweet garlic is marinated. Please try it. In the future, if you want to eat yellow chives, you can ask the Agriculture Temple to specially plant them. The method is simple. If it is kept in the shade for a long time, its leaves will definitely turn yellow."
Gao Lishi replaced Li Longji's chin and put the tray on the table. He then introduced the method of planting chives.
Li Longji paused for a moment. He hadn't expected that growing yellow leeks would be so simple. Looking at the garlic on the plate, he picked up a piece and placed it in his mouth, nibbling on it. Immediately, he nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, good, good, good. This garlic tastes very good. It can be eaten with rice and is refreshing and appetizing. From now on, my Great Tang will have another delicacy."
"Your Majesty's words are extremely correct. However, in the future, there will definitely be countless garlic sprouts in the fields of our dynasty. This subject is afraid that the garlic will always be abundant and the garlic farming will suffer losses. This subject must carefully consider."
Gao Lishi reminded. His eyes were fixed on the skin of the garlic that Li Longji had peeled off. It was translucent and lustrous. He continued, "Your Majesty, you may not know, but the skin of the sweet garlic is still edible. It is crisper than the garlic cloves and is more chewy. If you choose to marinate it with green garlic, its skin will be chewy but not dry.
When Li Longji heard Gao Lishi's words, he couldn't help but pick up another one. This time, he ate it along with the skin. He nodded and said, "It's indeed not bad. We'll discuss this matter in the morning assembly tomorrow."
Gao Lishi took note of these words and said to Li Longji, "Your Majesty, when this subject went to get the garlic just now, I received a telegram about Xinluo."
"What's the matter?"
"That's one part of Xiao Bao's chain of plans. Some time ago, he transferred garlic from Xinluo into our Tang Empire. He used the sweet garlic formula to exchange for it, so Xinluo collected garlic in the country to make sweet garlic. However, the sweet garlic formula requires a lot of sugar. Xinluo has no sugar available, so they want to buy it from our Tang Empire."
Gao Lishi unhurriedly explained the contents of the telegram.
"Oh? There's such a thing? " If it was the Li Longji of the past, he might not have had much of a reaction. But now, he was very interested in what Zhang Xiaobao had done. He felt that this matter was definitely unusual.
"Yes, there are already people who want to transport sugar from other places to Dengzhou and sell it to Xinluo, but …"
"But Xiao Bao stopped them, didn't he?" Without waiting for Gao Lishi to finish, Li Longji continued to ask.
"Your Majesty is wise. Xiao Bao ordered people to buy sugar in Dengzhou. He said that when a large number of new garlic arrived, they would be able to gather and make sweet garlic. Therefore, the merchants who wanted to sell sugar to Xinluo immediately sold it to the Zhang Family and Wang Family. No one dared to stop them. The sugar carts gathered over there were endless."
Gao Lishi replied with a face full of pride.
Li Longji put down his chopsticks and said, "How can there be so much sugar? It's probably because the merchants brought empty carts and wanted to exchange more things from Xinluo. With Xiao Bao's help, naturally no one dared to object. The logistics of the wind was like yesterday. Do you know why Xiao Bao did this? "
"This subject doesn't know. I think there must be a deeper meaning."
"Do I need you to tell me? When did Xiao Bao say he would come back? Tell him to come as soon as possible. I want to punish him in the Hibiscus Garden. You're in charge of it. Also, you can bring the cookware from the imperial kitchen and promise to make chili fried potato slices for me. I've been waiting and waiting. I'm guilty, yet I still dare to delay time. "
Li Longji couldn't think of Zhang Xiaobao's follow-up actions, but he remembered the dishes that Zhang Xiaobao promised to make. He still didn't know what potatoes looked like.
"Yes, this subject will remember. Xiao Bao might have already set off. Along with Xiao Bao will be the leaders of the various Turkic tribes. When the time comes, Your Majesty will need to personally confer officials to show the kindness of the Great Tang."
Gao Lishi agreed. At the same time, he was looking forward to the potato fried chili.
*****
"When we reach the capital, we'll probably be able to settle the marriage and continue to live together?" On the small river that connected the Luoshui River to the capital, Zhang Xiaobao personally rowed while Wang Juan sat across from Zhang Xiaobao. The two of them slowly made their way forward while chatting.
The two of them were the only ones on the small boat. The others were on another boat. Zhang Xiaobao recalled the matter that he had received from his family before leaving and asked Wang Juan.
"We've always lived together since we were young. Could it be that we're deliberately separating just because of the engagement? I'm not that hypocritical. Who would dare speak ill of us behind our backs and ruin our reputations? "Wang Juan didn't think too much about it and directly replied.
"No, that doesn't matter. What I mean is that you see, the two of us aren't young anymore. Nowadays, we're also advocating for late marriage. The main reason is because of late childbirth. After all, giving birth to Xiao Bao's baby has a negative effect on a woman's body. Generally speaking, it's about right around the age of twenty.
But … that … actually … if we … don't … don't carry out human reproduction, at our age, it's also … right? "
Zhang Xiaobao's words were spoken intermittently. In the end, he didn't directly say what he wanted to do. Not only did he stutter, but his face was also red. His hands were still rowing, but if one looked closely, they would discover that when the oar touched the surface of the water, it actually created continuous circles of ripples. It could no longer display the level of a single oar gently pushing against the shore.
Wang Juan looked at the sky and sniffed. Seeing that he had been silent for too long, she asked, "If you want to do something, just say it. Is there a need to be polite between the two of us?"
"Ah? Say it directly? Alright, then I'll say it. Now that the weather is warm, after the engagement, when we go to bed at night, can we … can we … count the stars together? "
Zhang Xiaobao, who had mustered up his courage, finally said it. After saying it, his whole body collapsed, and he lay there on the ground.
Wang Juan stopped looking at the sky and turned back to Zhang Xiaobao. She said earnestly, "Xiao Bao, your EQ is a little lacking. Don't count the stars, you should count the moons. Be good."
After Zhang Xiaobao counted the moons for a period of time, the group entered the capital. Mo Ji and company bid farewell to Zhang Xiaobao and reported first to learn the etiquette of meeting the Emperor. They couldn't be rude.
Zhang Xiaobao muttered, "There's a moon in the sky, and a moon in the water. The moon in the sky is in the water, and the moon in the water is in the sky." Along the way, Wang Juan, who was always smiling, stayed at Savant's Restaurant. They didn't even return to their home in the capital.
What arrived before Zhang Xiaobao's group were the new vegetables produced by the Jian An Greenhouse. There weren't many, and they were preparing to keep the seeds. The vegetables they brought were given to Li Longji, and the rest were eaten at home.
When Li Longji, who was thinking about the chili fried potatoes, heard that the eunuch on duty had arrived, he didn't care about Mo Ji at all. The first thing he asked was, "Where is Zhang Xiaobao? Why didn't he enter the palace? "
"Replying to Your Majesty, Little … Jiedushi Zhang and Deputy Jiedushi Wang have returned to Savant's Restaurant. They didn't even go to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Jiedushi in the capital. I heard someone report that Jiedushi Zhang said something about a moon in the sky, and a moon in the water. He's probably sick. Maybe he caught a cold?"
The eunuch on duty even found excuses for Zhang Xiaobao. He had taken money from him, so he naturally had to protect him.
It would be strange if Li Longji believed him. "The cold hasn't been treated yet? He kept muttering along the way? Then I will immediately give an edict to De Yi Medical School. If he brings his younger brother and sister, won't he bring good doctors?
Oh, the sky, the moon. Yes, I understand. What's in the moon? Chang 'e, Xiao Bao is old. It's time to set the marriage and arrange for people … You should go personally. Tell Xiao Bao that tomorrow morning, I will first discuss the marriage of Bohai Jiedushi and Deputy Jiedushi with the officials. I'm hungry. "
Li Longji was finally smart. Although the clues he guessed were wrong, the result was the same.
As for whether it was appropriate to put the marriage of an official before the court, where only fifth-rank officials could participate, he didn't think too much about it. He believed that those who understood would naturally understand, and those who didn't would also understand.
The eunuch on duty was smarter, but he wasn't stupid. He didn't arrange for Li Longji to eat. He agreed and respectfully retreated, rushing to Savant's Restaurant with the fastest speed.
When he arrived, it didn't take him long to see Zhang Xiaobao, who was counting the moons in a daze. Although Zhang Xiaobao didn't understand how to count the moons, he was very clear when it came to other things. At this time, he was holding onto his brush. His eyes were fixed on the paper in front of him. His other hand was lightly tapping his face as he muttered to himself.
"A moon in the sky, a moon in the water … Looking at the moon, homesick, one in the water, one in the sky."
He repeated it a few times, then said, "I told you all to count the moons for me. You want to buy candy in my Great Tang? Wait until I can count the stars. "
The eunuch on duty was stunned. What was wrong with this Zhang Xiaobao? He was singing and talking.
Wang Juan, who had been beside Zhang Xiaobao all this time, burst out laughing. She pinched the brush and took it out from Zhang Xiaobao's mouth. She glanced at him and said, "Aiya, Xiao Bao, I have to admit that your EQ is a little lacking, but your IQ is definitely not a problem.
If I let you count the moons for a few days, you can use it to scheme against others. Fine, in a few days, I'll let you count how many stars there are. En, the Emperor has sent someone to see you. Aren't you going to welcome him? "
"How many?" Zhang Xiaobao looked at the eunuch and asked as he stood up.
"A lot, a lot." Wang Juan turned her face away and said.
"Of course I know a lot, but …"
"Aiya, Young Master Zhang, please take a seat. I'm just here to take a look. I heard that Young Master Zhang and Miss Wang are back. I wish I could grow wings and fly over to take a look. But I'm on duty. Fortunately, His Majesty is kind enough to send me here."
The eunuch on duty didn't dare to let Zhang Xiaobao say welcome words. If he wasn't confused by the conversation between the two, he wouldn't let Zhang Xiaobao stand up.
"What's the matter? You can leave after you finish eating here. Someone, come and tell the kitchen to make an Earth Class One Star Set Meal. Remove one dish and add a dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes brought back from overseas. "
Zhang Xiaobao didn't bother to exchange pleasantries with the eunuch and gave the order.
When the eunuch on duty heard the word 'overseas', his smile was filled with gratitude. He had never eaten before. He wasn't afraid that Zhang Xiaobao would ask him to stay for a meal. Just now, he said that he was on duty. He thought that he would put the food in a box and take it away. He quickly said, "Thank you, Young Master Zhang. I'm hungry. "
"En? Oh ~ ~! Go back and tell the Emperor. I will immediately give the order to transfer a thousand dan of refined rice from the Bohai Protectorate into the palace. " Zhang Xiaobao was slightly stunned. He understood that the eunuch was imitating Li Longji's words. Because the northeastern rice had a longer maturity period, it tasted better. So, he followed the eunuch's words.
The eunuch on duty blinked and looked at Zhang Xiaobao. He said, "Young Master Zhang, it's not about transferring rice. It's … I suddenly remembered something. The Emperor has said 'first'. Tomorrow, in the court, other matters will be postponed. First, we will discuss the marriage of the Bohai Protectorate Governor. Young Master Zhang, it seems that the Emperor wants to give the Bohai Protectorate Governor a morning greeting."
"Ah? There's such a thing? Cuckoo, don't look at the wall. Come with me. The Emperor is hungry. I have to personally cook for the Emperor to show my loyalty. To be able to take care of the Bohai Protectorate Governor like this, as a subject, I am honored. "
Zhang Xiaobao stopped tidying up his desk. He pulled Wang Juan, whose face had suddenly become rosy, and hurriedly walked out. When he reached the door, he turned around and said to the eunuch on duty, "Let's go together. Don't wait for the food. We'll talk later."
"Okay, okay. Young Master Zhang, wait for me. Young Master Zhang …"
*****
"Good, very good. These two things are fried together. The taste is fresh, spicy, and refreshing. Xiaobei, Xiaoyuan, and all of you, try it."
In the Hibiscus Garden, Li Longji was happily eating. The food was still hot and had just been fried. There was no need for others to test the poison. When he saw Xiaobei come over with Zhang Xiaobao, he lowered his head and worked hard to deal with the venison in front of him.
Xiaobei was no different from returning to the palace. He did not have the slightest fear of meeting the Emperor. Hearing this, Weiwei looked up and curled her lips, "It's not good. I like to eat mashed potatoes. Brother made the sauce himself. When it's paired with thin chopped green onions, it's fragrant."
"Oh, can it be made into other dishes?" Li Longji knew something. When he saw the sauce around Xiaobei's mouth, he laughed and asked, "Xiaobei, I gave you the task of inspecting all the officials of the Tang Empire. Did you find them?"
When he said this, Xiaobei was happy. He had more power. He stuck out his tongue and licked the sauce back. He replied, "Not yet. When I received the news, I was already at San Shui County. Who did I check? Before I met the Emperor, all the officials were very obedient. No one spent money to welcome me. I'll endure it for now. We'll talk about it again when we reach another place. "
"Then I'll wait for our Xiaobei to go on a killing spree." Li Longji did not know why, but as long as he saw Xiaobei, his mood would become very good. Unfortunately, he could not find him in the palace. He could only hope that Pan 'er would perform well.
"En, this subject will definitely help Your Majesty solve your worries. If anyone dares to not listen to the Emperor, I'll go and teach them a lesson." Xiaobei said righteously.
Looking at Xiao Bei's serious expression, Li Longji laughed out loud. He thought to himself, 'Even if there's no problem with the person Xiao Bei found, with Xiao Bei's cute appearance, I'll still be able to convict him.'
As he watched, Li Longji was a bit absent-minded. He then looked at Zhang Xiaobao, who was busy cooking, and Wang Juan, who was wiping his sweat from time to time. He let out a long sigh. Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, the two of them had grown up.
He remembered that when he was asked to draw a portrait of the two of them, weren't they just like Xiaobei? It was like a dream. Many places in the palace had changed. The capital had changed. The Great Tang had also changed. Many of the court's officials had retired, while others had left. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo had also changed. But no matter how he looked at it, it seemed that the only thing that had changed was their appearance. Their calm and collected eyes still did not show any anger.
Pa. While Li Longji was immersed in his memories, Zhang Xiaobao brought out the last dish. There were four meat dishes and four vegetable dishes. Four were cold and four were hot. There was a vegetable soup. The fried shredded potatoes on top of the soup were golden brown, making it seem like a work of art.
There were not many dishes, but there was a lot. Everyone who saw it was given a share. Li Longji was so happy that he even let the palace maids and eunuchs waiting to the side have a taste.
Li Longji and Zhang Xiaobao did not stand on ceremony. They did not say anything and just casually pointed at a chair for them to sit next to him.
After washing his hands, Zhang Xiaobao threw the towel he used to wipe his hands to a eunuch and then lazily sat next to Li Longji. He leaned back and also did not say anything.
"Xiao Bao, of the things you had people bring back from faraway places, are the yields of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn really high?"
"They're tall, especially potatoes. They're easy to grow and can be eaten as a vegetable or as a meal. Yes, they can also be eaten as snacks," Xiaobao said confidently. The snacks at the end were added when he saw Xiao Bei look over.
"Oh, that is to say, even if our Great Tang is hit by a disaster at the same time and the production of rice and flour drops sharply, we can still survive by planting crops that are not picky about the soil. Is that right?"
"Yes."
Seeing Zhang Xiaobao's bored expression, Li Longji was not angry. If it were anyone else, with the exception of Zhang Zhong, who dared to have such an attitude, he would have already pulled them down and beheaded. Weiwei smiled. Li Longji looked up at the sky and said to Zhang Xiaobao, "Xiao Bao, look at the round moon in the sky. Look carefully, do you see Jade Rabbit?"
Zhang Xiaobao did not even look up. How could there be a moon in the middle of the day? Besides, even if it was night time, there should only be a waning moon today.
'Li Longji must be doing this on purpose.' Zhang Xiaobao, whose face was about to turn green, muttered to himself. He then turned to look at Wang Juan and found that after coming out of Savant's Restaurant, Wang Juan seemed to have changed into a different person. She liked to lower her head and the tips of her ears were red.
The puzzled Zhang Xiaobao said to Li Longji, "I see.
"I see it. Jade Rabbit is crushing medicine."
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