Chapter 104: A Huge Sum of Money
Uncle Ma sniffed the air. "Cumin powder. This is good stuff! So fragrant!"
The aroma drew the gazes of all the surrounding families.
Su Chen and his two guards sat off to the side, looking down at the roast chicken in their hands. Suddenly, it didn’t seem so appetizing anymore.
With the addition of potatoes, the rabbit dish filled a large basin.
Gu Fei took out two small bowls and filled them. She gave one to her younger uncle who was nearby and carried the other over to her aunt’s family.
Bao’er tried to reach for the food several times, but Gu Sanlang shooed him away each time.
Meanwhile, the pickled vegetable soup Lian’er was making was also ready.
Gu Zhang smelled the fragrant rabbit meat and couldn’t help but remark, "I never thought we’d be living like this while fleeing a famine."
Uncle Ma opened his wineskin and took a sip. He picked up a piece of rabbit, squinted his eyes to savor it, and nodded. "The rabbit is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Not the slightest bit of gamey taste, and the potatoes have soaked up all the flavor."
"I never would’ve thought potatoes would be so good in a dish."
Everyone ate and nodded in agreement.
Little Cao mumbled with her mouth full of rabbit meat, "Bunny is so yummy."
After a few bites, Gu Fei noticed Lian’er holding a bowl of plain rice, eating with her head down, not taking any of the other dishes.
She quickly put a piece of rabbit meat and a potato into her bowl. "Try some of what I made. See how it tastes."
Lian’er held her bowl, slightly dazed. ’Little Fei is so good to me. I’ll remember every bit of it. In this lifetime, I will do everything in my power to repay her kindness.’
The large basin of dry-pot rabbit and potatoes was soon wiped clean. Gu Fei poured some pickled vegetable soup over her rice and ate in big gulps. ’If I don’t get some fiber, I’m going to be completely blocked up.’
Su Chen and his two guards watched the lively meal, and the roast chicken in their mouths felt increasingly bland.
Chen Hu licked his lips. "Young Master, the cooked food we brought will only last a few more days. Uncle Ma said there won’t be any more inns. What are we going to do for meals?"
Su Chen shot him a sidelong glance. "I don’t know. What do you suggest?"
Zhang Ze laughed. "Young Master, Chen Hu is a simple man. Don’t tease him."
"Look, how about I go talk to Second Uncle Gu’s family? We can give them some silver to eat with them."
He swallowed. "That young lady is clearly a great cook. It smelled amazing."
Su Chen gave a slight nod. He also wanted a hot meal. ’Even roast chicken isn’t good when it’s cold.’
After the meal, as Lian’er, Mrs. Chen, and Li Chunhua were cleaning up, Zhang Ze walked over toward them.
All the families, with the exception of Uncle Ma, were quite curious about the three newcomers.
They were especially curious about the young master. Dressed in silk, he was clearly from a prominent family.
When they saw Zhang Ze walk over to Gu Zhang, everyone pricked up their ears to listen.
They heard Zhang Ze say, "Second Uncle Gu, I’d like to ask a favor of you."
"None of us know how to cook, and the prepared food we bought won’t last much longer. We were wondering if we could arrange to eat with your family."
"Well—" Gu Zhang glanced at Mrs. Chen, then at Gu Fei.
Mrs. Chen acted as if she hadn’t heard and continued to tidy up. Gu Fei turned her head away, ignoring the look her father was giving her.
’The Prefectural Governor’s son isn’t someone easy to please. If we mess something up and offend him, it just won’t be worth it.’
Seeing Gu Zhang’s hesitation, Zhang Ze quickly added, "I know grain prices have skyrocketed lately, and good ingredients are especially hard to come by on the road. We aren’t picky. We’ll eat whatever you’re having. This is one hundred taels of silver. Do you think that will be enough for a month?"