Rise From the Humble

After chatting and chatting, it was time for dinner. Zhu Pingan saw that neither Zhao Wenhua nor Hu Zongxian had any intention of leaving, so he had to arrange for meal preparation.

"Oh, Zihou, look at you. But don't be extravagant. Three dishes and one soup are enough for us."

Zhao Wenhua was polite.

Zhao Wenhua sat at the head of the table, facing north and south. Zhu Ping'an and Hu Zongxian sat opposite each other. Six dishes, one soup and a pot of tea were placed on the table.

"Look at you, you're so stupid. Didn't I just say that you can just have three dishes and one soup? You don't have to do six dishes and one soup. I won't be an exception next time." Zhao Wenhua was complaining at the dinner table, but his face was full of anger. Extremely satisfied.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhu, for your kindness. I am so shameless." Hu Zongxian smiled and clasped his fists to thank Zhu Pingan.

Zhao Wenhua moved his chopsticks first, put a chopstick into his mouth, chewed it, and his eyes suddenly widened.

"What's going on? There's poison in the food?" When Hu Zongxian saw Zhao Wenhua's expression, he was so frightened that his chopsticks stopped when he reached for the food, and he didn't even dare to pick up the food.

"Merlin, try it quickly. This dish is so delicious. It tastes better than the royal meal, and the chef from my hometown is not bad either."

Zhao Wenhua asked Hu Zongxian to try the food quickly.

Hu Zongxian took a bite, and it was indeed delicious. As for saying it was better than Yushan, he couldn't taste it because he had never eaten Yushan, nor Yange's hometown. He had never even been to Yange's hometown, and he was even more presumptuous. Let’s talk about eating.

"Master Zhao, thank you for the award. I was lucky enough to taste the imperial cuisine and the banquet at Yange's hometown. The taste was far better than mine."

Zhu Pingan shook his head. What he said was true. Although his food was really delicious, to say it was better than Yushan's than Yan Song's would be an exaggeration. Not only had he seen pigs run away, he had also eaten pork.

"Alas, the taste is different. The royal meal is extremely grand and not suitable for the stomachs of ordinary people like us. The banquets in Ge's hometown are famous for their extravagance, exoticness, rareness and fineness. At first glance, people admire them highly, but after eating too much, it just becomes like that. , No food, otherwise why would Mr. Ge visit Liubiju every once in a while? Otherwise, why would Donglou often go out to hold banquets, just to change his taste? Zihou, your family is different, your family is both sophisticated and down-to-earth. Even if you are angry, you still have to eat, this is the delicacy of the world.”

Zhao Wenhua commented with great experience.

"Indeed, Mr. Zhu, although I have never eaten the imperial meal or the banquet in my hometown, this meal is indeed the most delicious meal I have eaten since I came to Jiangnan, especially the pickles that accompany the meal. It is really crisp and refreshing. When people move their index fingers, their appetites will increase." Hu Zongxian echoed, his chopsticks flying up as he spoke.

"Well, yes, Merlin is right. I have had a big banquet almost every day since I came to Jiangnan, but this is the best meal I have ever had, bar none." Zhao Wenhua raised his thumb and said in agreement.

"Haha, if it tastes good, eat more." Zhu Pingan smiled.

Zhao Wenhua did eat a lot, even showing off two bowls of rice, and Hu Zongxian did the same, with the same two bowls.

"How handsome you are, can you give up your love and transfer the cook to me, and I will give you ten horses that are thousands of miles apart."

Zhao Wenhua was full of tea and food, and said half jokingly and half seriously.

"I'm disappointed Master Zhao. My wife loves the chef's skills so much that she can't leave her. If I transfer the chef to Master Zhao, I'll never be able to live in peace from now on." Zhu Ping'an smiled and shook his head, half-heartedly. He replied jokingly and half seriously.

"Hahahaha, it's true that a hero is saddened by a beauty. Since I am loved by my virtuous nephew and daughter-in-law, I will not take away others' love."

Zhao Wenhua laughed, waved his hand, and gave up asking for the cook.

"When it comes to eating, we have to talk about our lifetime. Seventy years is rare in ancient times. How many people can live as long as my adoptive father Yan Ge? In these short seventy years, there are still ten years. It’s a small matter. After ten years of old age and weakness, there are only fifty years left. These fifty years will be divided into half day and half night, leaving only twenty-five years. In addition, the wind blows Rain, three disasters and six diseases, running around here and there, do you think, how many years of good life can you really enjoy? It’s short, and people who are short have panic. So, Zihou, Mei Lin, life is short, enjoy it in time. "Whether it's the desire for food or the pursuit of fame, it's all about enjoyment, and benefiting the world doesn't affect our enjoyment."

When drinking tea after the meal, Zhao Wenhua held the tea cup and gently scraped the tea with the tea lid. He spoke to Zhu Ping'an and Hu Zongxian like a life mentor.

Zhu Ping'an twitched the corners of his mouth slightly, showing a polite smile, and kept the words in his heart.

"Master Zhao is reasonable and has the world in mind. It does not affect my own good. I make decisions for the people and ask for orders for the people. I cannot stop eating meat and drinking wine just because the people eat chaffy vegetables." Hu Zongxian agreed with Zhao Wenhua very much. words.

"If we want to benefit the world and enjoy ourselves, we must have the word 'harmony'. As the saying goes, harmony brings wealth."

Zhao Wenhua continued with a smile.

"So, Zihou, I really appreciate you. To tell you the truth, Donglou asked me to take care of you when I came here, but you also saw that there were so many people, including Mei Lin, at the Great Victory of Sea Sacrifice. I repaid you for your first meritorious service, and for all your subsequent meritorious service, I went to the Holy Father to ask for merit for you; and for the difficulties you just raised, I tried my best to solve them for you. Why, why am I? I didn’t listen to Dong Lou, not only did I not make things difficult for you, but I also supported you, just for the sake of ‘harmony’.”

Zhao Wenhua got more and more excited as he talked, and even told Yan Shifan's ulterior instructions before leaving Beijing.

Hu Zongxian was a little surprised to hear Zhao Wenhua mention Yan Shifan's secret instructions, but given his understanding of Zhao Wenhua, he knew that Zhao Wenhua's words must have a deep meaning, so he did not stop and remind him, so as not to be too smart and ruin Zhao Wenhua's good deeds.

Zhu Ping'an was not surprised to hear Zhao Wenhua mention that Yan Shifan told Zhao Wenhua to deal with him before leaving Beijing. Even if Zhao Wenhua didn't say it, Zhu Ping'an knew that Yan Shifan and Yan Song would definitely ask Zhao Wenhua to come to Jiangnan to offer sacrifices to the sea commander and deal with him.

The reason why he left Beijing was because he helped Yang Jisheng impeach Yan Song and offended the Yan Party. It would be strange if the Yan Party didn't deal with him.

Zhao Wenhua, a senior member of the Yan Party, came to Jiangnan from Beijing. It would be strange if Yan Song and Yan Shifan didn't ask Zhao Wenhua to deal with him.

As for the victory of Jihai, Zhao Wenhua claimed that he was the first to achieve the credit. Of course, it was not what Zhao Wenhua said. The victory of Jihai was because he saved the day. So many officials and generals were witnesses, and so many ordinary people saw it with their own eyes. He also had the power to submit secret memorials. It was difficult for Zhao Wenhua not to claim the credit.

Moreover, Zhao Wenhua reported the victory of Jihai, saying that he used himself as bait to lure the Japanese into the depths. Bullshit. That was because he noticed it in advance, took precautions in advance, and saved the day. Zhao Wenhua knew nothing in advance. He only knew it when the Japanese pirates came to kill him. He could report that he used himself as bait to lure the Japanese into the depths. That was all to flatter himself, and he had to cooperate with him. How could he not claim the credit for his first achievement?

As for his solving the difficulties today, it was not the exchange of interests for him to claim the credit for the victory of the commander-in-chief in northern Zhejiang.