Chapter 53

“The food here isn’t even one or two tenths as good as what Rong’er makes; it’s truly a disappointment!”

After only a few bites, Lin Fan found it difficult to swallow; it seemed Huang Rong’s culinary skills had truly spoiled his palate.

“Lin Fan, if you want to eat, I’ll go make some for you!” Huang Rong also set down her bowl and chopsticks, saying with a smile.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Rong’er!”

“Sister Rong’er, we want some too!” Zhu and the other girls also chimed in with requests.

“Just wait!”

Huang Rong gave a mischievous smile, then ran into the kitchen like a gust of wind.

“Is this food not good? It’s much better than what Master makes!”

Seeing Lin Fan and the others start to eat, Hong Hong Lingbo and Lu Lu Wushuang, who had long been hungry, couldn’t help but quietly take their seats and start eating as well.

Yet they didn’t expect that the delicacies they considered rare treats were completely unappealing to Lin Fan and his group.

One must know that following Li Li Mochou as they drifted from place to place, sleeping in the open, they rarely had the chance to eat such good food.

In fact, because Li Li Mochou’s cooking was beyond description, their only requirement for food was that it be cooked.

When Li Li Mochou came to her senses and saw Hong Hong Lingbo and Lu Lu Wushuang devouring the food while Lin Fan and the others just watched silently without touching their chopsticks, she felt ashamed for her two disciples; it was simply disgraceful.

“You two, are you trying to make me lose all face?” Li Li Mochou scolded in a low voice.

“It’s fine, as long as they like it. However, I suggest they save some room, because I’m afraid they won’t be able to eat once Rong’er finishes cooking,” Lin Fan said with a smile.

“No, no, Young Master Lin, you are truly a good person; this food is already very good!”

Hong Hong Lingbo and Lu Lu Wushuang were both very grateful to Lin Fan for speaking up for them, and seeing that Li Li Mochou didn’t say anything more, the two of them started eating again.

“Miss Hong and Miss Lu, is your master abusing you? How can you be so pitiful? Miss Li, this is your fault!”

“Young Master Lin, we were busy traveling earlier and just missed lunch, so how did I abuse them? If you have taken a fancy to my two disciples, then I will give them to you, but do not slander me!”

Li Li Mochou looked at Hong Hong Lingbo and Lu Lu Wushuang’s ravenous appearance, feeling both angry and amused!

Wasn’t it just that they hadn’t encountered a town at noon? She had even roasted a wild pheasant for them herself, but if they didn’t eat it, who was to blame?

“Also, why do you call me Daoist Li one moment and Miss Li the next? Just call me Daoist,” Li Li Mochou said in a cold tone.

Lin Fan nodded and said nothing more. Li Li Mochou was currently like a rose with thorns, and she liked to keep people at a distance; being too deliberate in trying to get closer would only easily provoke her resentment.

Seeing that Lin Fan had stopped talking, Li Li Mochou thought her words had hurt his feelings and wanted to explain.

But she suddenly realized, why should she explain to him? They were just chance acquaintances.

Lin Fan had only treated her to a meal, and she hadn’t even eaten it herself—it was all eaten by her disciples—so she kept a cold face and said nothing more.

For a moment, there was no sound other than the soft chewing of Hong Hong Lingbo and Lu Lu Wushuang, and the scene was somewhat quiet.

“The food is here!”

After a while, Huang Rong brought up four dishes and a soup.

“Please!”

Lin Fan said with a smile, then he and the girls began to eat the dishes Huang Rong had made.

Hong Hong Lingbo and Lu Lu Wushuang swallowed the food in their mouths, looked at the colorful and fragrant dishes Huang Rong had prepared, then touched their own stomachs, their expressions falling.

Seeing them eating with such delight, Li Li Mochou also felt a bit hungry, so she tried the food Huang Rong had made. When it entered her mouth, her eyes lit up, and she quickened the speed of her chopsticks. No wonder her disciples were so unwilling to eat her cooking; when it came to cooking, how could the gap be so large?

Seeing their master also eating with relish, Hong Hong Lingbo and Lu Lu Wushuang exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but join in.

Even if they burst from eating today, they were determined to be well-fed ghosts!

By the time this dinner was finished, the two of them were so full they couldn’t walk. Fortunately, Huang Rong had made a small amount and there were many people eating, otherwise, they would likely have been in an even worse state.

“Many thanks for the hospitality. This Miss Huang Rong is truly clever and skillful; the food she makes is endlessly memorable!”

Li Li Mochou, who had kept a cold face the whole time, couldn’t help but reveal a smile and offered sincere thanks.

“Thank you for the compliment!”

Huang Rong replied with a smile, then looked at Lin Fan with expectant eyes.

“Why are you looking at me? Does your cooking need my praise? You are my exclusive cook, and you are going to cook for me for the rest of your life.”

Hearing this, Huang Rong felt a bit sweet inside, but she acted haughty, “You forgot, I only came to evaluate you. Once the evaluation is over, I’ll be leaving. Who would cook for you for a lifetime!”

Zhu and the other girls smiled without a word; they had long since witnessed Huang Rong’s habit of saying one thing while meaning another. It would be a miracle if she could escape the Young Master’s clutches.

“Once you’ve entered my Lin Fu, don’t even think about leaving. A cook for a day, a cook for a lifetime.”

Lin Fan grabbed Huang Rong’s hand and squeezed it gently. Huang Rong was startled, her heart racing like a deer. She shyly wanted to pull away, but then abandoned the thought; after all, Lin Fan’s Wu Gong was so high, she was no match for him.

“Alright, now that we’re full, it’s time to rest. Waiter, come here, open a few premium rooms for me, and open two rooms for this Daoist Li and Miss Hong and Miss Lu!”

Lin Fan called the waiter, preparing to get rooms to rest.

“I cannot accept a reward without merit. Having a meal from you is already owing you a favor, Young Master Lin; there is no need for the rooms!”

Li Li Mochou shook her head and refused. She was afraid of owing Lin Fan more and more, to the point where she would never be able to pay it back.

“Very well, then waiter, open four premium rooms for me!”

Lin Fan did not insist. It wouldn’t be easy for Li Li Mochou to avoid owing him favors; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

“I think you don’t need to open rooms; why not choose a graveyard instead?” A male voice came from downstairs.

“Oh?”

Lin Fan became interested. Could he run into enemies even here? He had only just stepped out into the world.

“You beat my son and killed my steward, thinking that by fleeing to this small town you could save your lives? Men, surround them for me!”

The male voice downstairs spoke again, and then a large number of footsteps could be heard. Lin Fan could feel that the entire inn had been surrounded.

“Let’s go down and see what kind of sacred being is making such a big commotion.”

Lin Fan took the lead and walked downstairs. The girls quickly followed, and Li Li Mochou, with an unreadable expression, also followed them down.

When Lin Fan reached the bottom floor, he found an officer in armor with a thick beard leading a group of soldiers who had filled the entire restaurant. As for the other guests, they had long since been driven away.

The innkeeper was trembling behind the counter, feeling that a great disaster was imminent.

“Who are you, and who is your son?” Lin Fan asked casually.

“I am Li Li Changyuan, the Garrison Commander of Wuxi City. You cut off my son’s arm, and you don’t know who I am?” The bearded officer said angrily.

“Oh, it’s that young man who likes to meddle in other people’s business. I only cut off one of his arms; sparing his life was already being benevolent. Are you still going to be relentless?”

“You arrogant brat, you cut off my son’s arm and call it your benevolence? Then I will be benevolent once today. I won’t kill you today, I will only cut off your four limbs. Men, prepare!”

Li Li Changyuan raised his arm, clearly intending to let his soldiers attack.

“The Great Ming imperial court is truly corrupt enough that even a small Garrison Commander dares to mobilize so many soldiers to handle private matters!” Lin Fan couldn’t help but mock.

“How bold, to dare to discuss state affairs! You must be a traitor who colludes with the enemy. Men, kill him for me!”

Hearing Lin Fan’s words, Li Li Changyuan’s expression changed. As a Garrison Commander, mobilizing troops privately was indeed a major taboo. If the imperial court found out, he wouldn’t escape disaster, so he couldn’t care about humiliating Lin Fan anymore and directly ordered his men to kill Lin Fan to prevent future trouble.

“Swish, swish, swish!”

Just as Lin Fan was about to make a move to kill Li Li Changyuan, Li Li Mochou, who was behind him, acted first.

With one move, she fired three Ice Soul Silver Needles directly at Li Li Changyuan.

“How bold! Who are you to dare attack an official of the imperial court!”

Li Li Changyuan was both shocked and angry; he had almost been hit just now.