Chapter 297: Why Did You Kick Me?

The luxurious Eight Great Bowls of Xi’an seemed absolutely divine to Zao Ying and her 120 subordinates.Their chopstick-holding hands trembled slightly.

“How many years has it been since we last ate something so fine?”

“Th… three or four years?”

“Ah, the taste of pork knuckle… I feel like crying…”

“This Eight Treasures Rice is so sweet.”

The 120 men ate while sobbing.

While they had already started eating, the militia on the other side remained unhurried. After all, these men had seen fine food before—they’d experienced both the “Deity’s Unexpected Festival” and “Deity Hot Pot Festival”.

There was no rush for this Eight Great Bowls meal! They wouldn’t appear as though they’d never seen the world.

The group even headed back to their quarters first to remove their armor before returning to dine, eating with elegance—no shoving or grabbing.

As they ate, several leaders naturally gathered at one table.

Cheng Xu picked up a piece of steamed pork belly with glutinous rice flour with his chopsticks, remarking cheerfully to Zao Ying, “Boss Zao, how’s the food here?”

Zao Ying couldn’t possibly complain. She sighed, “Haven’t seen fare like this in years. Even in ordinary times, only wealthy nobles could afford such meals. Never imagined you serve these to soldiers.”

Cheng Xu thought: Best not boast too blatantly; must stay modest, or the truth might surface eventually.

He chuckled, “Well, we don’t eat like this often—just once every month or two. Our regular meals are pretty ordinary.”

Zao Ying murmured, “Once every month or two is still impressive. Most common folk never get such a meal in their lifetime.”

Cheng Xu laughed, “Haha, about that… our training intensity is high. The Deity said we must eat well to match it.”

Zao Ying raised an eyebrow, “The Deity?”

Cheng Xu pointed skyward, “The one above us…”

Finally, Zao Ying understood—there was even a wealthy lord above them.

Thud! Xing Honglang plopped down next to Zao Ying like a man, boldly producing a liquor jug. “Come on, drink.”

Cheng Xu waved his hand, “I can’t. Alcohol’s banned in the barracks—Deity’s rule.”

Xing Honglang laughed, “I’m no soldier—I’m a merchant. Boss Zao here’s a guest, so drinking’s fine.”

Cheng Xu smiled, “All right, you two drink. I’ll use tea as my wine.”

Zao Ying looked more bewildered than ever. “With grain costing a thousand coins for a dou of rice outside, you still have spare crops to brew liquor?”

Xing Honglang burst out laughing, “Who cares what grain costs elsewhere? Doesn’t concern us here. Come now—Luzhou Laojiao spirits specially awarded by the Deity. Let me pour you a full… oh wait, no… can’t pour full. First-timers with this stuff topple over fast. I’ll give you half a tiny cup.”

Zao Ying glared at the sesame seed-sized cup before her, erupting, “Who do you look down on? What kind of measly cup is this? Only half full for me? Fetch me a bowl—fill it up!”

Xing Honglang squinted sideways. “Don’t get cocky. Take a tiny sip first to test.”

Seeing her odd expression, Zao Ying hesitated. She lifted the cup, cautiously sipping a minimal amount. The moment the fine liquor touched her lips, her face transformed dramatically.

“This liquor… how fierce it is…!”

“Hahaha!”

Just then Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu also made their way over. The two big fellows walked together to the “management” table and promptly sat down, their bulk nearly toppling Cheng Xu beside them onto the floor.

He found these two dopes exasperating, but could only sigh and shift sideways to make room for them.

Gao Chuwu sat down beside Xing Honglang. As soon as he settled, he turned a silly grin her way: “Miss Xing, when can we have another match?”

Xing Honglang gave a snort. “You just lost to me a few days ago. Go train some more first.”

Gao Chuwu sighed. “Ahh.”

Zao Ying sensed something odd. “The two of you sparred? And you couldn’t beat her?”

Gao Chuwu sighed again. “Yes. I can’t beat Miss Xing.”

Seeing Gao Chuwu’s burly frame and imposing presence, Zao Ying thought to herself: No matter how capable Boss Xing is, she couldn’t possibly beat such a powerhouse? A man like this in the army would at least be a fierce vanguard; armored heavily and wielding a long spear, he could hold off a dozen ordinary men without much trouble.

Just as she pondered this, Xing Honglang leaned close to her ear and whispered, “This guy only uses Hong Fist when he spars with me, nothing else. That’s why he always loses. If he used all his skills, I wouldn’t stand a chance against him.”

Zao Ying finally understood. “You two…”

Xing Honglang shushed her. “Shh!”

Zao Ying got it; she understood perfectly.

Having spent so long drifting through the rough world, she found she simply couldn’t resist such tales. For a moment, she actually felt a small twinge of emotion, tears welling in her eyes: Even a woman like Yongji Xing Honglang has someone who cares for her? Maybe I have a chance too?

No! No! What nonsense was she thinking!

I’m a bandit! A deadly fierce bandit! I shouldn’t be wasting thoughts on this sentimental nonsense.

Meanwhile, Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu were already loudly clamoring for drinks.

Hearing Zheng Daniu’s voice, Zao Ying finally recognized him. This big dopey one, wasn’t he the Iron Man who’d grabbed her, saving her from Big Honglang’s arrow? He seemed to be called the Guyuan Reckless Bull or something?

Zao Ying clasped her fists towards him. “Reckless Bull, thank you for saving me that time.”

Zheng Daniu just chuckled goofily. “Small thing, not worth mentioning.”

He immediately lowered his head, his attention fixed on the Eight Treasure Rice. Scooping up a huge spoonful, he stuffed half the bowl into his mouth at once. He grinned foolishly. “This rice is so sweet! After I earn some merit, I’ll just ask the Deity to reward me with this rice!”

Gao Chuwu laughed. “Daniu, you used to always beg the Deity for happy fat water. You drank so much of it, the Deity said it wasn’t healthy and specifically cut you off. Now you’ve set your sights on this?”

Zheng Daniu protested, “This should be healthy, right? It’s rice!”

Cheng Xu scolded him mockingly. “That’s made from glutinous rice. Eating too much glutinous rice causes bloating and stomach ache. How could the Deity reward you with much of this? You don’t know moderation; you’d definitely eat yourself sick.”

Zheng Daniu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Eh? Eh eh eh?”

Seeing his reaction, Zao Ying couldn’t help laughing inwardly: This Reckless Bull seemed utterly guileless, pure of mind, and strangely endearing.

Zheng Daniu suddenly grabbed Gao Chuwu’s arm. “Ask your wife to help! Get some glutinous rice from Xi’an. We have sugar, we can make our own Eight Treasure Rice, right?”

Xing Honglang snapped, “I absolutely won’t help! Glutinous rice is hard to buy. Once bought, it’s hard to transport. Once transported, you’ll just stuff yourself and have a stomachache!”

Cheng Xu teased, “He only said to ask Gao Chuwu’s wife for help. He didn’t mention you. Why did you jump into it yourself as soon as you heard ‘Gao Chuwu’s wife’?”

Xing Honglang froze. “!!!”

After a brief, awkward pause, Xing Honglang sprang to her feet like she’d been scalded. She kicked Gao Chuwu to the ground, then buried her face and bolted, fleeing the scene.

Gao Chuwu climbed up from the floor, utterly bewildered. “Why did she kick me all of a sudden?”

Zao Ying was beside herself with laughter. “Hahaha!” She grabbed a wine cup from the table and threw its contents straight down her throat. Only after swallowing did she remember: Oh no! This isn’t the kind of wine I used to drink! This stuff hits hard! I shouldn’t have downed it like that!

But it was too late to regret it now. Soon after, Zao Ying let out a “Plop!” and toppled over onto the floor, stone-cold drunk.