Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 377: Food, Drink, Man, Woman (Additional chapter for JJM leader)

Du Rangmei and Yu Jiguang took Monk Jinghai, government official Yoshida and others to the dock, checked their credentials, and sent them to the inn for settlement.

The staff at the inn were quite curious about the Japanese musicians among the entourage.

However, after just one look, they didn't dare to look at it again.

That pale face with two red circles on it, when I looked closely, it felt like the paper doll on my grandmother's grave suddenly came to life.

Yu Jiguang accompanied the chief envoy Du Rangmei, and invited the Japanese envoys into the inn and arranged for their food and lodging. He also asked Chen Lixing, Mao Shaofan and Da Chu to confirm the escort fleet for the next morning.

He also sent someone back to Lin'an overnight to go to Banjing Hall to prepare for the reception.

After a busy day, it was already late at night.

In an average-sized building in the inn, Kanon Yazawa and Konami Tsubakiya, who had washed off the thick white powder on their faces and restored their beautiful natural looks, stood side by side at the window, gazing at the quiet night in the building.

"I wonder how Sister Ji Xiang is doing now?" Xiao Nai sighed softly.

She spoke in Chinese, so she wasn't worried if people at the Song State Inn heard some of her nonsensical words.

However, this delegation is mostly composed of ninjas, so some things are more inconvenient for them to hear.

Along the way, they had learned that, apart from upper-class figures like Monk Jinghai and Officer Yoshida, they were the only two people in the delegation who could speak Chinese, so sometimes it was safer to speak Chinese.

Hanane squinted at her and asked, "Xiao Nai, are you really missing Sister Ji Xiang?"

"Ah! Why do you say that?"

Xiaonai's beautiful face suddenly turned red: "Don't you miss Sister Jixiang?"

Hua Yin curled her lips and said, "I do think about her, but no matter how much I think about her, I won't think of shouting in my dream, 'Ah, Sanyuan Jun, Xiaonai is no longer able to bear it, please let Xiaonai go.' Such shameful words."

"Ah? Really? How is that possible? When did I ever shout..."

Tsubakiya Kona was blushing and trying to "quibble" when she suddenly realized something was wrong.

"That's impossible. I'm a strictly trained ninja and I definitely won't talk in my sleep. Are you lying to me?"

Hanane laughed slyly, "Ahaha, I was just lying to you, but it's obvious that you did dream about that guy, didn't you?"

Tsubakiya Kona said angrily, "But it wasn't last night."

After she said this, she realized that Kanon was asking her questions again.

Xiaonai was so embarrassed that she threw herself into Huayin's arms, twisting her body unwillingly, and enjoying the "facial cleanser".

Yazawa Kanon couldn't help laughing. The two of them played around for a while, and then suddenly fell silent at the same time.

After a while, Yazawa Kanon sighed softly and said, "Himeka and that guy are together day and night, so they should fall in love with each other, right?"

Tsubakiya Kona's eyes sparkled: "I really hope so. If so, the four of us can live happily together in the future."

Yazawa Kanon said in a faint voice: "Let's live together, then. What does this happiness mean?"

"Ah~~, Xiaonai is very angry, don't run!"

There was noise of fighting in the room again.

Soon, the noise of fighting turned into the decadent music of "fake phoenix and false phoenix"...

……

Fujiwara no Himeka was determined to become an indomitable hero like Liu Bei, but Zhang Mi was already indomitable.

I was teased by Yang Yuan yesterday, and he was making trouble again early this morning.

He stood at the gate of the East and West kitchens early in the morning, recording the time when the chefs and cooks came on duty one by one. All latecomers were recorded by him.

Then, he proudly summoned all the cooks and told them in front of Yang Yuan that from now on, their on-duty and off-duty hours would be strictly evaluated, and anyone who was late or left early would have five days' wages deducted at a time.

Afterwards, he posted a bunch of newly formulated rules and regulations on discipline and hygiene on the wall, and said with a sneer that from now on he would personally arrest people according to the rules every day, and anyone who fell into his hands would be severely punished. Then he walked away triumphantly.

The cooks are used to being lazy. Do they need to be on duty so early in the morning?

Disciples, come first and make the preliminary preparations. Then we can serve the food to you on time when it’s time for dinner. Why do you have to come so early?
Sometimes you guys drink a lot at night and cook for us, making us work overtime, but I never see you give us a raise.

Everyone knew that Zhang Mi was targeting Yang Yuan. As long as Yang Yuan was the head chef here, they would not have a good life.

So, the two head chefs of the East Kitchen and the three head chefs of the West Kitchen discussed it and then rushed into Yang Yuan's signing room with resentment.

"Chef Yang, our East Kitchen originally had a purchase fee of 1,000 guan per month, but now it has been halved.

There was a subsidy of 300 guan, but now it has been cancelled. The eaters are complaining. What do you think we should do about this matter? "

He Yuzhu said loudly: "It's the same for us in the western kitchen. We work hard and earn these hard-earned money. There is no need for us to suffer because of the fight between you two, right?
I won't hide it from you, Chef Yang, you have heard of the 'Shuiyunjian' restaurant on the bank of West Lake, right?
Their female shopkeeper has opened several branches now. She heard that I have great skills and wanted to recruit me to be the head chef. The monthly salary I offered is higher than that of the Privy Council.

Originally, Lao He was still hesitant, but the post was gone, and I was disappointed. This is not over yet, and they started to play tricks on me again.

Hey! If the Privy Council does this, I will quit my job and apply for the position of head chef at Shuiyunjian!"

"Yes, and there are also morning and evening assessments..."

"Shut up, what are you arguing about?"

Yang Yuan slammed the table and shouted with confidence: "The purchase cost of one thousand strings of cash, and the standard dish of one thousand strings of cash, has become five hundred strings of cash, so this dish can't be made?
I think, even if I only get 50 guan a month, I can still cook this dish."

"And the subsidy money is originally a subsidy for officials. Who among you is an official? Who is an official? I am the only one!
You have taken advantage of us for so many years, so just be happy about it. Why are you now asking for justice with such a righteous indignation?
You've gotten used to taking advantage of others so you think it's natural, right? I've let you do that."

The five chefs thought that Yang Yuan would comfort them at least a little, but they didn't expect that Yang Yuan's temper was even worse than theirs. They were so angry that their faces turned purple.

The chief chef of the East Kitchen said angrily, "Chief Yang, this is what you said. If the officials are not satisfied with the food, they can't blame us."

Yang Yuan sneered, "If you deliberately made it too salty, then it's your responsibility, and I, the head chef, will deduct your wages!
As long as you do it seriously, who would be dissatisfied? If anyone is dissatisfied, tell him to come to me! "

The head chef of the East Kitchen laughed to the sky and bowed to Yang Yuan: "Okay, since you said that, I won't complain about anything. I will do as you say. Goodbye!"

The four chefs from the east and west kitchens turned around and left. Yang Yuan looked at He Yuzhu coldly and said, "Why aren't you leaving yet? What are you waiting for?"

He Yuzhu yanked his sleeves and threw them heavily onto Yang Yuan's desk, stiffening his neck and saying, "What are you waiting for? Waiting to resign! I quit!"

Yang Yuan was even more ferocious than him. He grabbed his sleeve and threw him out of the window: "It's up to you to do it or not. Without you, Zhang the Butcher, I have to eat that hairy pig? Ugh! Get out now!"

Chef He turned around and left without saying a word.

He returned to the west kitchen, took a basin, and knocked it with a spoon. When everyone looked at him, He Yuzhu said, "Look, now it's the devil fighting, and the little devil is suffering. I resign."

He Yuzhu stepped onto the chopping board and said loudly, "The 'Shuiyunjian' restaurant has opened a branch. As long as you have good skills, you will be paid a high salary. Isn't it better than being bullied here?

We are all cooks who cook for the officials of the Privy Council. How are our cooking skills? I am not bragging, but we are all good, right? I resign and leave now. Apprentices, pack up quickly.

Everyone, if anyone is willing to go with us, hurry up and go! I heard that Fengweilou has also opened a branch. It is also the business of the owner of Shuiyunjian. They are in need of people. This opportunity is rare and will never come back again! "If a chef like this leaves, he will leave with his whole group, and everyone on his line will follow him.

Among the twenty-three cooks in the west kitchen, eight were his men, and they immediately started to clean up.

One of the other two chefs in the West Kitchen is old and has lost the desire to start his own business as he feels that there is less work and less leisure in the East and West Kitchens of the Privy Council.

Another person who was of the same age as He Yuzhu couldn't help but hesitate.

"Master He, what you said... is it true?"

He Yuzhu said: "Needless to say, let me tell you, the two chefs in the east kitchen have also put in some thought.

You also know that the Eastern Chef specializes in small pot dishes, and his cooking skills are even better than our Western Chef's. If you are interested, then come with me and I will help you talk to the shopkeeper.

Both of us are Western chefs, so we can take care of each other when we go out.

If you go too late, you won’t be able to get a good seat until the two chefs from the East Kitchen get there first.”

The chef thought about it and slapped his thigh: "I trust you, I'll follow you. Apprentices, pack up."

There was a clanging sound in the west kitchen.

After an incense stick of time, the two chefs led their fifteen apprentices, who carried the kitchen utensils they had made themselves, and left through the corner door of the back yard of the Privy Council.

……

Fei Tianlu of the "Skinning House" is responsible for the job of eradicating and punishing traitors. He seldom takes action, but once he does, it is bound to cause a bloody storm.

In recent years, Fei Tianlu has rarely led the team to fight against traitors.

Normally he is like a real businessman, talking about business with people every day and always smiling.

Who could have imagined that this fat man from the "Moshanghua" embroidery workshop was actually a big devil who killed people without blinking an eye.

Today, Zheng Yuandong, the commander of the Mechanical and Electrical Department, invited him to discuss an action: to punish the rebel general Kong Yanzhou.

Kong Yanzhou was from Linlu, Xiangzhou. He was originally a scoundrel who killed people and stole things.

In the first year of the Jing Kang period, Kong Yanzhou volunteered to join the army and was promoted to the commander of the military forces in the east and west routes of Beijing.

When the Jin soldiers invaded Shandong in the second year of Jianyan, Kong Yan led his troops to flee south, killing and looting residents along the way and asking for rewards. He was even promoted to the position of Yangtze River Recruiting Envoy.

In the second year of Shaoxing, Kong Yanzhou rebelled and began to attack the Song Dynasty, following Wanyan Zongbing in conquering many Song Dynasty territories.

Therefore, he was highly valued by the Jin people and served successively as the Yin of Henan (now Luoyang) and the governor of Nanjing (now Kaifeng, Henan).

Most of the generals who surrendered to the Jin Dynasty were afraid of death, but Kong Yanzhou was not one of them. He was a fierce bandit and was not afraid of death.

He simply joined whoever was stronger, and took advantage of the situation to gain power, so he turned around and massacred the Han people without mercy, even worse than the Jin people.

After Wanyan Liang proclaimed himself emperor, Kong Yanzhou repeatedly petitioned Wanyan Liang to send troops to attack the Song Dynasty.

Kong Yanzhou was originally a general of the State of Song. He was familiar with the mountains, rivers and geography of the State of Song. Therefore, his memorials were meaningful and touching.

According to news from the secret spies of the Song Dynasty, Wanyan Liang was very interested in Kong Yanzhou's memorial, and recently he suddenly bestowed upon Kong Yanzhou the title of Prince of Guangping without any merit.

This kind of grace and title was usually a signal. The emperor implicitly expressed to the court and the public that he agreed with the ideas of the person being rewarded, and used this to test the will of the army and the ministers.

Therefore, the Jisufang decided to eliminate Kong Yanzhou, the die-hard traitor of the Song Dynasty, with thunder-like means in order to deter those who rebelled and surrendered to the Jin Dynasty.

At the same time, the absence of someone like Kong Yanzhou, who was familiar with the geography of the Song Dynasty, proficient in military affairs, and who strongly advocated the southern expedition, might have dispelled Wanyan Liang's still wavering ambitions.

It was almost noon, and the two had not yet finalized the details, so Zheng Yuandong invited Fei Tianlu to have dinner at the "East-West Kitchen".

Those who ate in the "East and West Kitchens" were all high-ranking officials of the Privy Council. Even the so-called Western Kitchen was also an officials' canteen. The food was naturally not bad, and the environment was also good, very elegant and quiet.

However, as soon as he entered the cafeteria today, Zheng Yuandong felt it was very noisy.

A group of officials were gathered at the food counter, and no one knew what they were arguing about.

Zheng Yuandong and Fei Tianlu walked over in surprise, and saw the Privy Council editor Lin Yifei shouting angrily into the kitchen:
"What the hell is this bland soup you guys made? Is this what you're serving to the officials for lunch?"

A man in a shirt and holding a rice spoon in the kitchen shouted, "What's wrong? What are you yelling about?

There are meat, vegetables, soups and water here. Which dish is not carefully prepared by gourmets? What are you complaining about?"

Zheng Yuandong frowned as soon as he saw him: "Yang Yuan? Why is he dressed like this?"

Fei Tianlu heard his daughter talk about Yang Yuan last night. It was said that he was demoted to the East and West Kitchens because he beat his superior because of a woman.

However, the Privy Councilor can stop his work or delegate his work, but cannot dismiss him from office.

He is an appointed official, and his appointment and dismissal must be approved by the Ministry of Personnel.

Especially officials like Yang Yuan who were appointed by the emperor's imperial seal still had to ask for the emperor's approval in the end.

Therefore, even if he was demoted to the "East and West Kitchens", he was still an official, so how could he serve meals for others with his clothes tied on his shoulders?

Lin Yifei was so angry that he was shaking. He shouted, "Meticulously prepared? Look at this rice, it's half-cooked."

Yang Yuan said lazily: "Today, two chefs and fifteen cooks left the West Kitchen, leaving only a few people. It's hard to recruit anyone for a while.

Didn't you see that I was working so hard to serve food to everyone? I just don't have enough manpower!

I was in a hurry, so the rice is not so soft. I hope you can forgive me, Editor Lin."

Lin Yifei slammed the plate on the table and said, "What am I forgiving? Open your eyes wide and look at this. What is this?
There are meat and vegetables, right? What kind of meat is this? What is the bulge on the meat? "

Yang Yuan said with a sigh, "Editor Lin, you are really lazy and don't know how to distinguish between grains.

You can't even recognize this? Could it be that you grew up eating rice porridge and never had milk?"

Lin Yifei roared: "Why do you want to buy the skin and meat from the belly of an old sow?"

"It's cheap!"

Yang Yuan replied: "The funds allocated by Supervisor Zhang of the 'Ji Shang Ku' are limited. If we don't buy meat like this, there will be no more meat to buy."

Zhang Mi jumped out in a rage: "You are talking nonsense! Yang Yuan, don't put the blame on me!
I will start reducing your spending on the "kitchen" from next month.

The expenses were allocated at the beginning of this month. How can you say you don’t have the money?”

Yang Yuan rolled his eyes at him and said, "Nonsense! I know I won't have any money next month, so I have to be frugal this month.

Dear colleagues, please give us your opinions on this. If someone knows that he will soon run out of money and still dares to spend lavishly, wouldn’t he be a spendthrift? "

PS: I don't know if I can write two chapters for the update at midnight. I will write one chapter first. If I can't make it in time, I will write the second chapter during the day.

(End of this chapter)