Chapter 98: Gold and Silver
The river market was as interesting as Anji thought it would be. At first, her brother was visibly uncomfortable, but as he gradually warmed up to the bustling scene, they started to explore the merchant boats near the banks.
"If you’re into exploring different kinds of food, I would recommend visiting those boats," Zhou Fu pointed at a row of narrow boats tied together like a raft.
Listing the exotic food that they sold, the handsome boatman watched as the young master’s face scrunched up in disgust. In contrast, the ladies seemed more excited about trying different food combinations.
"Smoked freshwater snails sound interesting," Anji commented. "I’ve always wanted to know if they tasted like shellfish."
Having eaten their local delicacies before, Zhou Fu described them closer to chewy salted mushrooms.
"Most tourists enjoy them paired with strong fruit wine, but I think you should wait until you’ve reached adulthood to try that. Children normally enjoy these grilled snails mixed with meat skewers and rice."
To reduce the pressure of manning up to the challenge of trying new dishes he was uncomfortable with, Anji suggested sharing her food with Mingshen, using the excuse that she still wanted to eat dinner later. Gracefully accepting his younger sister’s excuse, Mingshen ordered two skewers of snail and meat that came with generous dipping sauces.
The freshly grilled snail skewers smelled delicious. Anji told Gu Ying to order an extra skewer so she could give it to Zhou Fu. Her generosity surprised the boatman. However, Anji did not think much of it. She simply treated him the same way she treated the servants in the Celestial Dragon Sect.
Touched by the generosity of his passengers, Zhou Fu thanked them and enjoyed the expensive local delight.