Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 50 Li Shimin freeloads a meal!
When Li Shimin and his companions arrived at the pool, they did not see Xiao Ran, but they heard noises coming from the ravine.

"He's not here!" Li Shimin was hoping to mooch off Xiao Ran's fishing rod to catch fish!
Li Lizhi lifted the curtain. "It should be in the village."

"There seem to be a lot of people over there, they should be there," Cheng Yaojin pointed in the direction of the ravine.

Li Shimin was very confident in Zhang Anan, Qin Qiong, and Cheng Yaojin, daring to bring several princesses out without needing the Imperial Guards.

A few people can take on a whole group.

"Little Nang-jun~" The little princess poked her head out.

The carriage stopped, and the princesses got off one after another.

"Big doggy~" the little princess called out.

"Let's go take a look!" Li Shimin wasn't worried about Xiao Ran being bullied or anything.

Xiao Ran has a noble title, and I previously followed Li Lizhi's advice to do Xiao Ran a favor.

Most of the normal people in the village wouldn't go against Xiao Ran.

As we approached the ravine, we heard a group of people chatting and laughing.

Seeing the scene inside, Qin Qiong murmured, "What's going on here?"

Wang Shen and the others who were working also saw Li Shimin and his group.

I don't recognize any of them; these people are of a higher rank.

The others instinctively looked at Wang Shen, but no one spoke; the room fell silent.

Li Shimin and his companions were all tall and imposing, clearly not ordinary men.

Wang Shen occasionally saw important figures in Chang'an, so he knew that the people in front of him were no ordinary people.

"What's going on here?" Li Shimin pointed to the ravine.

Wang Shen walked over and said, "Prepare to build a house."

Li Shimin already knew that this place was given to Xiao Ran by Qin Qiong.

"Is young master Xiao Ran here?" Li Shimin asked directly.

“We are building a house for young master Xiao Ran. He is currently in the village.” Wang Shen could tell that they had a good relationship and did not seem to be enemies.

"Sir, should we go and invite the young master over?" Li Shimin's imposing manner forced Wang Shen to lower his voice.

The pressure exerted on Wang Shen by Li Shimin and his group was greater than that of the county and prefectural officials.

The aura of someone in a superior position is something most people don't possess.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you!" Li Shimin said, "You may continue."

"Alright, alright." Wang Shen walked to Zhang Dalang's side. "Dalang, go tell the young master that someone is looking for him."

"Alright!" Zhang Dalang put down his hoe and looked at Li Shimin and the others.

Although Zhang Dalang knew that Li Shimin and his companions were not simple men, he was not afraid.

If these people were to harm Xiao Ran, Zhang Dalang would not hesitate to fight them to the death.

Anyway, I don't have much time left, so I have nothing to fear!

Zhang Dalang wanted to rid his family of some potential threats, and he considered Xiao Ran as one of them.

Xiao Ran is now family.

Watching Zhang Dalang's departing figure, Li Shimin asked, "How did you feel?"

"Although he's young, his bones and muscles are like iron. He's a good candidate for soldier. I just don't know why he has this kind of fearless attitude towards death." Qin Qiong said thoughtfully.

"A fearless look in their eyes, even a hint of wanting to fight to the death." Cheng Yaojin didn't understand either.

The characters on Zhang Dalang's forehead were covered up, so Li Shimin and the others didn't see them.

Zhang Dalang's abilities posed no threat to the group.

"That's how you have to be on the battlefield!" Li Shimin withdrew his gaze. "Why would you build a house in a ravine?"

"Maybe it's for convenient fishing!" Cheng Yaojin thought that could only be the reason.

Zhang Dalang ran back to the yard and saw Xiao Ran drying persimmons.

Zhang Jinhe helped prepare breakfast.

"Young master, someone is looking for you," Zhang Dalang called out.

"Who?"

"I don't recognize them, and there are four women too."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran understood.

"I know who it is. I'll go over first, Dalang. You can help deliver the food later. There's a lot, and Jinniang and the others can't deliver it all."

"Okay!" Zhang Dalang nodded.

Xiao Ran returned to the house, took out two boxes, and prepared to go fishing.

After all, it was the fishermen who came.

The thought that it was the emperor and several princesses truly changed Xiao Ran's state of mind.

But they'll pretend they don't know.

Everyone sees through it but keeps quiet.

"Third Sister, come on, I'll take you to play."

Xiao Ran called out while holding the items.

"it is good!"

The cat looked around, but didn't follow Xiao Ran. Instead, it squatted on the rammed earth wall, lazily basking in the sun.

Li Shimin and his companions, standing on the hillside, also saw Xiao Ran and Xiao Hei.

"It's a big dog!" the little princess pointed excitedly.

"Little Bag~"

"Woof woof woof!" Little Black barked.

Seeing that it was a friend she had met before, San Niang was also happy.

Although Xiao Ran and Gouzi were with her during this time, she was still different from other children her age.

"Hahaha!" Li Shimin laughed loudly.

Looking at his hands on hips and protruding belly, it overlapped with the picture in the textbook.

The portraits in the textbooks are not realistic, but their overall spirit and expression are quite similar.

"Good morning, Uncle!" Xiao Ran greeted.

Good morning, Little Nang!

"Hee hee~"

Good morning, big doggy!

The little princess gave Xiao Hei a hug.

"Good morning, Sizi!"

"Nephew, come on, let's go fishing." Li Shimin was pleasantly surprised to find that Xiao Ran had brought three fishing rods.

It's obvious that you can freeload off someone.

Xiao Ran looked at Li Lizhi, smiled and nodded as a greeting.

Knowing that Li Lizhi was a princess and that she was the fifth in her family, one would naturally recognize her as Princess Chang Le, Li Lizhi.

The sixth sister is Princess Yuzhang.

Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin each borrowed a fishing rod, and the group sat down on the shore.

It came with earthworms, but I don't want to use it.

Qin Qiong had tried it before; even with a good fishing rod, you might not catch any fish. You also need good bait.

This was the first time the group had seen how Xiao Ran made the bait.

The two little princesses and Third Sister were playing around Little Black.

Li Lizhi looked around but didn't see the cat.

The people working in the ravine also noticed the group of people by the pool and could tell that Xiao Ran did indeed know them.

"You can do that?!" Li Shimin exclaimed as he watched the bait take shape.

Xiao Ran divided the bait in two, handing one half to Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin, saying, "Uncle, put it over there for you."

"Very well, thank you, my dear nephew!" Qin Qiong quickly accepted the bait.

Li Shimin was not idle either; he began to bait the grounds.

Fishing alone is definitely not as fun; the experience is completely different when you're with several people.

Four fishing rods have been cast out; now there's no need to bait the area.

This pool is very deep, and there are not only large fish in it, but also quite a lot of them.

Li Shimin was the first to catch a fish. "Hahaha, Sizi, isn't Father amazing!"

This damn desire to win.

The two little princesses and the third sister ran over and looked at the fish in Li Shimin's hand.

"Tie the duck~"

Li Shimin was quite pleased with himself, but the little princess immediately followed up with, "Little Nangjun is even more amazing~" "Hahaha!" This time it was Xiao Ran's turn to laugh. Laughter doesn't just disappear for no reason; it just shifts.

"This little girl!" Li Shimin put the fish in the bucket and continued casting.

Enjoy the process.

They are all people who have no shortage of fish to eat.

Zhang Jinhe, Zhang Dalang, and the others prepared breakfast and delivered it over in a deer cart.

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang also saw acquaintances.

To Li Lizhi's surprise, a silver shaded cat also came with Zhang Erya.

Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya exchanged a glance, now understanding that Xiao Ran and Li Shimin knew each other because of fishing.

The deer-drawn carriage stopped at the same spot as before, a bit far from Xiao Ran, Li Shimin, and the others.

Wang Shen shouted and led a group of people out.

The number of people had doubled, and it took two deer carts to deliver the food.

Rich people eat three meals a day, while ordinary people eat two meals a day, and their mealtimes are definitely different.

Seeing the others taking bowls and chopsticks to serve millet rice, Third Sister took the two little princesses over.

Despite the crowd, the little princess was not shy.

"Little lady, would you like some?" Zhang Erya asked, looking at the two adorable little princesses.

"Hehe~ I want to~" The little princess definitely has to try it.

Zhang Erya gave each of the three little girls a small bowl.

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang rushed over, "Sizi!"

"Second Aunt, Jinniang," Li Lizhi greeted with a smile.

"Fifth Sister!"

The little princess tugged at Li Lizhi's sleeve, saying, "Sister, we need seven too!"

"You little rascal, didn't you already eat?" Li Lizhi also saw it; it was just millet rice and pickled vegetables.

The food eaten by royalty is definitely better than this.

"I'm hungry!"

"Try it! You might not like the taste," Zhang Jinhe said.

"Jinniang, give her a little bit, don't waste it." Li Lizhi knew that her younger sister was probably just joining in the fun.

The three little girls each held a small bowl and a flatbread.

Like the others, I sat down on the grass.

Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang were both amused and exasperated.

He really adapts to local customs instantly; his mannerisms and expressions are just like everyone else's.

It looks a bit funny.

Xiao Ran laughed too, "Uncle, would you like something to eat?"

Li Shimin looked over and immediately noticed the three little girls sitting on the grass holding bowls.

"Then bring three bowls, let's all try them." Li Shimin wasn't hungry, but he wanted to see what the people were eating.

“Okay!” Xiao Ran put down his fishing rod and walked over to Zhang Jinhe and the others.

"Have Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister eaten yet?"

Xiao Ran said something pointless: how could a princess not have eaten?

"Young master, you've already eaten, so you can eat as well," Li Lizhi said with a smile.

“Alright, Jinniang, prepare four bowls. The three uncles may also have a taste.”

"Okay!" Zhang Jinhe prepared four bowls, filled them with millet rice, and also took four flatbreads.

Princess Yuzhang asked for help carrying the bowls, as Xiao Ran could only carry two.

Li Lizhi went over to the three little girls and saw that the little princess was eating very well.

Li Lizhi knew what millet rice tasted like.

"Is the Sizi Sanskrit chant delicious?"

"Good, Qiya~" The little princess took a bite of the sesame flatbread.

Actually, what the little princess was really enjoying was the atmosphere.

The cat wandered over to Li Lizhi's side, and Li Lizhi squatted down and gently picked it up.

Li Lizhi prefers cats to Xiao Hei.

"Coco!" Third Sister called out.

"Is her name Coco?" Li Lizhi found the name strange; people in the Tang Dynasty wouldn't understand why she was called that.

"Yes, that's what the young master said." Third Sister nodded seriously.

"It's a duck!"

Li Shimin took the bowl, noticed the flatbread, and thought it looked pretty good. "You're still eating this?"

"Uncle." Princess Yuzhang handed the document to Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong.

The two quickly got up and took the bowl. Cheng Yaojin also saw the flatbread and exclaimed, "This is really good!"

Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong were somewhat familiar with the staple foods of ordinary people, and they rarely ate refined grains like flatbread.

Li Shimin, holding a bowl, looked at the others and then squatted down next to his third grandfather.

The third grandfather was a little surprised, wondering why this unusual-looking person had come to his side.

There was a certain degree of apprehension in my heart.

Li Shimin shoveled a mouthful of millet rice into his mouth and looked at his great-grandfather, "Father-in-law! How old are you this year?"

"I'm fifty-four this year!"

"Oh my, she doesn't look like it. She looks like she's in her early forties."

Praising an elderly person for being young and healthy is a valid compliment in any era.

“My lord, you’re joking. I’m practically halfway to the grave! Who knows how many more days I have left!” The third grandfather took a bite of a sesame flatbread.

"How could that be? You're in great health!" Li Shimin shoveled a mouthful of millet rice into his mouth. "This work must be quite demanding!"

"Fortunately, I'm a carpenter, so it's a bit better."

"So you're a master carpenter! This is quite an achievement!" Li Shimin said with a smile.

The great-grandfather was a little embarrassed. "It's all just about making a living. We're all the same."

"I've heard about the curved plow before, it seems to be from this area!" Li Shimin deliberately started a conversation.

"Hahaha!" The third grandfather was also happy when he talked about this. "What the young master said is right. It is from Kaolao Village. It was Xiao Ran, the young master from our village, who changed it."

"To tell you the truth, the young master had to consult an old man to change the straight-shafted plow to a curved-shafted plow!" My great-grandfather said with great pride.

"This is incredible! It will benefit countless people!"

"Thanks to the young master's merits, and thanks to the young master's influence, the county magistrate will also give the old man some rewards," the third grandfather also opened up and chatted with Li Shimin.

Without Li Shimin asking, he began to talk about Xiao Ran.

"Not just the curved plow, but also that... sugar-roasted chestnuts."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Shimin chimed in, "I heard about it in Chang'an. It tastes good, but it's a bit expensive."

"The young man is honest. He's lucky if he can sell chestnuts for five coins a bushel, while millet is only three coins a bushel. Later, he bought chestnuts from the villagers for ten coins a bushel."

"Not only is the food so thick, but there are no other dishes either. I've lived most of my life, and this is the first time I've ever eaten flatbread while working!"

Li Shimin nodded, surprised that Xiao Ran had such a good reputation in Kaolao Village.

Before we knew it, we were talking about the harvest.

"Does the old man think the taxes are too heavy now?"

"It's alright, not too heavy compared to before." My great-grandfather knew about the situation during the Sui Dynasty, when taxes were higher than they are now.

Li Shimin consistently advocated for light taxes and levies.

The pressure on ordinary people is indeed less.

"For the villagers, there's no need to worry about this for the next three years. Thanks to the young master's good fortune, His Majesty has exempted them from this problem for three years!"

My great-grandfather was so engrossed in his conversation that he suddenly realized everyone else had finished eating and gone to work.

"Oh dear! I'm the only one left. My lord, if you won't say anything more, let's get to work." The third grandfather finished his millet rice in a few bites, put down his bowl, and left.

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Father-in-law, there's no rush. It won't take long."

"That won't do. One must have a conscience." Xiao Ran was quite honest, and those who did the work felt embarrassed to slack off.

Although Li Shimin thought the millet rice was just so-so, he didn't waste it.

From the conversation just now, I know that the food Xiao Ran provided was not bad, and could even be described as very good, and I was quite satisfied with it.

Everyone else had left, and Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin came over.

"Before we leave, let's take a look around the village," Li Shimin said, putting down his bowl after finishing his meal.

(End of this chapter)