Chapter 90

But now, this man not only showed no arrogance before her, but even rarely revealed a touch of foolishness, becoming flustered and anxious over her every word, a stark contrast to his calm composure when facing the crowd of heroes on Drum-Beat Mountain.

This made her realize that this man was likely displaying all his tenderness solely before her.

With such a comparison, it appeared all the more precious.

Various thoughts flashed through her mind; Huang Rong rolled her eyes at him and said peevishly, "Why are you still standing there foolishly? Hurry and find a spot to take out the food; if you aren't hungry, I am."

Jiang Sishui came to his senses, turned around, and went to find a large stone to serve as a dining table.

Huang Rong toyed with a lock of black hair hanging before her chest with her fair hands, a smile on her lips, her steps light as she pulled Feng Heng to follow behind.

Huang Huang Yaoshi watched the backs of Jiang Sishui and Huang Rong, frowning slightly.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he ultimately said nothing.

A grown daughter cannot be kept at home; keeping her only breeds resentment, and besides, this young man seemed... not bad?

Although he did not intend to meddle blindly for now, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

Jiang Sishui fetched several stones, and the four sat around their "table," bringing out dish after dish of food.

Huang Rong's culinary skills had been taught by Feng Heng, yet she had surpassed her teacher.

Unfortunately, she was only willing to cook when in a good mood, which made Huang Huang Yaoshi crave her dishes intensely.

Jiang Sishui looked at those dishes; the ingredients used were merely ordinary, far less rare or particular than those in the imperial kitchens of the palace.

But he knew that true masters of cooking reveal their marvelous skills most profoundly within the most commonplace dishes.

As for this table of food before him, he needed only to smell it once to know that not only was their appearance excellent, but they were also golden jade within.

While Jiang Sishui was still observing, Huang Huang Yaoshi had already begun, his chopsticks rising and falling over the dishes without the slightest courtesy.

Seeing this, Jiang Sishui stopped sighing in admiration and immediately began picking up food as well.

Just as he lifted a piece of silver-thread roll, his movement suddenly paused; seeming to hesitate for a moment, he then placed the first piece into Huang Rong's bowl.

"Miss Huang has worked hard," Jiang Sishui said with a sincere smile.

Huang Rong's face instantly flushed red with embarrassment: "You... just eat your own; stop serving me."

As she spoke, she casually glanced out of the corner of her eye toward Huang Huang Yaoshi and Feng Heng.

Jiang Sishui smiled, picked up another piece of silver-thread roll, and put it into his mouth.

With just one chew, a long-forgotten deliciousness spread between his lips and teeth, relaxing his entire body.

Since awakening his memories in this life, he had felt that compared to his previous life, many meals were simply inedible.

Fortunately, he had now met Huang Rong; his bitter days were finally coming to an end!

Seeing that Huang Rong had prepared enough food, Jiang Sishui ate freely, his chopsticks falling like rain, not treating himself as an outsider in the least.

Watching from the side, Huang Rong thought, "To capture a man's heart, first capture his stomach. Bai Bai Bai Feifei, beautiful, weak, and miserable? Hmph! Let's see how you little bitch can compare to me!"

Thinking of this, a bit more joy appeared in the corners of the young lady's smiling eyes.

After the meal, Jiang Sishui hurriedly helped Huang Rong clear the bowls and chopsticks, then asked Feng Heng to remain seated while he accompanied Huang Rong to the well to wash the dishes.

Huang Huang Yaoshi immediately saw that Jiang Sishui's "drunkard's intent was not on the wine"; although he was fairly satisfied with this young man, he still felt it was moving too fast.

Just as he hesitated over whether to speak up and stop them, Feng Heng tugged his sleeve and shook her head at him.

Huang Huang Yaoshi then abandoned the idea.

After leaving the courtyard gate, Jiang Sishui walked while silently turning over thoughts in his mind.

Now that he had finished learning the "Flicking Finger Technique," he had no reason to stay; furthermore, Huang Rong would not necessarily remain by Huang Huang Yaoshi's side.

Therefore, he had to woo Huang Rong within such a short time, or even spirit her away.

"What excuse should I use?"

Jiang Sishui carefully weighed various plans.

Today counted as their second meeting; of course, the first had been from a distance, but it seemed Huang Rong's first impression of him was quite good.

Otherwise, given her nature, she would never treat a stranger so kindly.

Jiang Sishui was no fool; naturally, he had discerned many clues from today's events.

If that were truly the case, then the difficulty of his "abduction plan" would be reduced considerably!

Thinking of this, Jiang Sishui could not help but chuckle.

Huang Rong, walking half a pace ahead, heard his low laugh, turned her head, and let her gaze sweep over Jiang Sishui's face: "Laughing foolishly while walking, you really look like an idiot; aren't you afraid others will mock you?"

Jiang Sishui snapped out of his reverie, felt no embarrassment, and countered, "Then would Miss Huang laugh?"

Huang Rong giggled: "What do you think?"

Jiang Sishui laughed happily: "If I can earn a smile from Miss Huang, then no matter how many others mock me, it does not matter."

Huang Rong's face flushed slightly; she quickly turned around, facing away from Jiang Sishui, yet her clear and tender voice drifted back: "During that meal just now, did you only pick the sweet things to eat?"

Jiang Sishui nodded, looking serious: "Having lived for twenty years, it is rare to encounter a young lady with such skillful hands; your cooking is so superb, the dishes so sweet and delicious, that I could not help but eat a bit more."

Hearing his answer, Huang Rong secretly cursed in her heart: "So skilled at sweet talk; who knows how many girls he intends to deceive."

However, despite scolding him inwardly, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved upward.

Afraid Jiang Sishui might see, she quickened her steps even more, like a joyful lark vibrating its free wings, innocent and romantic.

Jiang Sishui watched the young lady's back, as if seeing an elf of the human world.

Steadying his mind, he hurried to follow behind.

Upon reaching the inn where Huang Huang Yaoshi's family was lodging, Huang Rong directly stuffed the food box into the waiter's hands, handed him a letter, and asked him to deliver it on her behalf.

Afterwards, she jerked her chin toward Jiang Sishui: "Let's go!"

Jiang Sishui paused, stunned: "Where to?"

While asking verbally, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the letter in the waiter's hand, a vague suspicion stirring in his heart.

With her hands behind her back and her head held high, facing the sky with a bare face, Huang Rong said, "I have long wanted to go out and roam the martial world, but that stinky father keeps watching me, not letting me run around freely. Now that heaven has bestowed this golden opportunity, how can I miss it?"

Speaking thus, she turned to look at Jiang Sishui: "Hey, this young lady is traveling the same route as you; are you unwilling? Don't think you can escape, I tell you; you still owe this young lady one million taels of silver!"

Hearing that Huang Rong intended to travel with him, Jiang Sishui had not yet recovered from this unexpected joy before her final sentence stunned him silly.

"I owe you one million taels of silver? When did I ever owe that?" Jiang Sishui asked in bewilderment.

Counting on her fingers, Huang Rong said triumphantly: "Silver-thread rolls, dumplings, Eight-Treasure Fat Duck... you ate ten of my dishes in total, front and back; one hundred thousand taels per dish."

"What? Trying to renege on the debt?"

As she spoke, she leaned her upper body forward, glared at Jiang Sishui, her eyes full of threats.

Slap!

Clatter-clatter—

A heavy thud of an object hitting the ground and a series of shattering bowls and plates rang out; the waiter, startled by Huang Rong's "bill," had dropped the food carrier from his hand, smashing the dishes inside to smithereens.

With no time to lament the wages his boss would deduct, the waiter snatched up the food carrier and ran, clutching the letter Huang Rong had given him tightly, terrified of losing it.

"Miss, rest assured! This humble one will definitely deliver the letter to your honorable father and mother; this humble one has other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first!"

The waiter departed without looking back.

He feared that if he listened a moment longer, Huang Rong would catch him and demand a "eavesdropping fee" as well.

By that little miss's calculation, even if he bankrupted himself and worked for others for eighteen lifetimes, he could never repay such a debt!

Too dangerous to provoke, too dangerous; he was afraid, truly afraid.

Seeing him flee in such a sorry state, Huang Rong could not help but burst into laughter.

Jiang Sishui also found it amusing and likewise broke into a smile.

Catching sight of this, Huang Rong said irritably: "You owe me one million taels, yet you still manage to smile."

Jiang Sishui replied helplessly: "Whether I laugh or cry, I cannot repay it anyway; naturally, I prefer to laugh."

"If you cannot repay it now, then repay it slowly until you have paid off the full million taels; in any case, do not think you can renege! Enough talk; hurry and run, or my stinky father and mother will return." Huang Rong reached behind him and pushed.

Hearing this, Jiang Sishui deeply agreed; they must not let Huang Huang Yaoshi spoil their good fortune.

Thus, he seized Huang Rong's arm, leaped upward, and soon vanished from the inn.

On the way back to Leigu Mountain, Jiang Sishui could not suppress the joy in his heart; his spirit was complete and his Qi abundant, as if his entire body were about to burst into laughter.

He never expected that while he was still pondering how to trick Huang Rong into coming with him, this girl would actually volunteer to leave with him.

Truly, this was: obtained without any effort at all.

— Author's Notes —

?? ???????Seeking flowers??? ???????