Golden Branch

"Reporting to the prince, he is Lou Yu, the eldest son of the Lou family."

Behind the man in apricot-colored Hu clothing stood a man also wearing Hu clothing. He was dressed in black with a sword hanging from his waist, looking strong and capable.

The man in apricot-colored Hu clothing was in his twenties, with delicate features and elegant temperament.

He rested his arms on the railing, his back was not very straight, but he did not look sloppy. Instead, he had a casual and lazy air of nobility.

“…Mischievous!”

After watching for a while, the apricot-colored man cursed with a low laugh.

The man in black was also looking downstairs, so he knew what his prince meant.

This, the eldest son of the Lou family, is more than just mischievous, he is clearly mean and evil——

In the lobby, the waiter has started serving the food.

First there were four cold dishes, followed by steaming hot stir-fried dishes.

Yes, stir-fry!

Wang Mian finally "invented" stir-frying. Relying on the relationship between the Wang and Lou families, he got an iron pan and the lard accumulated from his own farm. He cooked it over high heat and the dish was delicious and fragrant.

This largest restaurant in Hedong was opened by Wang Mian together with his two major backers - Wang Heng and Lou Yu.

The signature dishes are various stir-fried dishes.

Braised pork, fried pork intestines, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, dry pot dishes...

The color is bright and the fragrance is overbearing.

Zheng Chi was surprised at first, as she had never seen such dishes before.

Then, Zheng Chi's face turned pale.

The portions of the dishes were indeed very large; the plate was even bigger than her head.

The huge plate was piled full.

The point is, it's very greasy.

Thick and greasy sauce, full of oil.

Zheng Chi was used to light meals, so when he saw such dishes, he felt greasy and full just by smelling them, let alone eating them.

But...

"Achi, try it!"

Lou Yu, like a friendly older brother, picked up the serving chopsticks and picked up a piece of braised pork the size of a mahjong tile for Zheng Chi.

The three layers of meat were caramel-colored, but it still couldn't cover up the layers of trembling fat.

Zheng Chi's little face was full of resistance.

Although she had never eaten this braised pork, just looking at the color, she felt that if she ate it in one bite, she would be so sick that she would die.

"Cousin—" I don't want to eat! I don't want to eat!

Seeing this, Lou Yu's eyes flashed with a smile.

He still deliberately acted eager, as if he had obtained something good and was eager to share it with those close to him.

Unfortunately, the other person did not appreciate it. Instead of accepting it with joy, he tried to dodge it.

Lou Yu's hand holding the serving chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

The smile on his face remained, but it revealed a hint of doubt and loss: "Achi, you don't like it?"

“…”I really don’t like it.

Zheng Chi almost told the truth.

However, seeing Lou Yu's enthusiasm turn into disappointment, Zheng Chi felt a little embarrassed.

My cousin means well!

He was warm and hospitable. In order to entertain her, he specially found the best restaurant in Hedong and ordered the best signature dishes.

Just when Lou Yu was ordering food, Zheng Chi was nearby.

The braised pork and other dishes were not ordered by Lou Yu, but were strongly recommended by the waiter.

Looking at the diners around, I can’t say that everyone must order it, but most tables have a serving of braised pork.

From this, Zheng Chi could conclude that this new dish that she dared not try was indeed the restaurant's signature dish.

The cousin had no bad intentions in ordering this dish, and it wasn't the conspiracy she was worried about!

After confirming that his cousin had no ill intentions, Zheng Chi's refusal seemed a bit "ungrateful".

People are welcoming you warmly, but you want to reject their kindness.

This is somewhat rude.

Especially, Zheng Chi still wants to be on good terms with his cousin. If he doesn't even give his cousin this little bit of face, how can they get along well in the future?

Mi Li bit her lower lip lightly, and Zheng Chi finally reached out and grabbed the chopsticks.

"Cousin, I don't dislike it! I just have never seen dishes like this before."

Zheng Chi explained as he picked up the piece of braised pork, "Thank you, cousin!"

While saying thank you, Zheng Chi tried hard to convince himself to have a taste, but the little hand holding the chopsticks was reluctant to put the meat into his mouth.

Lou Yu did not continue to stare at her. In such a situation, it was not wise to keep urging her. She still needed "stimulation".

Lou Yu took the serving chopsticks and picked up another piece for Wang Heng, "Ajiu, eat it!"

Wang Heng raised her chubby face and smiled, "Thank you, brother!"

Almost at the same time as she spoke, Wang Heng quickly picked up the braised pork with chopsticks.

The little red mouth was obviously not big, but it opened wide with an "ah-wu" sound.

Wang Heng bit off one-third of it in one bite, and felt the soft, salty and sweet taste between her lips and teeth.

Smells good! It smells really good!

The fat is not greasy and the lean meat is not dry. One bite and your mouth is full of oil.

Wang Heng's cheeks were puffed up, and her lips were stained with oil, becoming even more rosy and shiny.

Ugh!

Wang Heng took one bite and then another.

The braised pork, the size of a mahjong tile, was finished in just three bites.

Zheng Chi: ...

Although I am still worried that the meat is too greasy, I must not let it be outdone by Wang Jia Jiuniang.

Zheng Chi could see that his cousin was very close to Wang Jiu, the girl next door.

The two of them were the ones who truly grew up together. They had no blood relationship and no engagement, but they were closer than anyone else.

Zheng Chi was not a truly well-behaved little lady. She was proud and even a little arrogant in her bones.

She is the first among all the sisters and even the grandchildren in the family.

When I go out and come to the Lou family, I can't let myself be outdone by an obese fat guy.

She wanted to stay in the Lou family and become the best "brother and sister" with her brother, and she must not let Wang Jiu come before her.

Just as Lou Yu had planned, Zheng Chi was indeed "stimulated" and became jealous of Wang Heng, and also had a desire to compete with her.

Zheng Chi no longer hesitated, gripped the chopsticks tightly, lowered his eyelids, and put the piece of braised pork into his mouth.

However, Zheng Chi still couldn't eat as much as Wang Heng.

Zheng Chi bit the braised pork lightly with his upper and lower teeth, and only bit a very small corner, causing some skin injuries to the braised pork.

Zheng Chi bit down and licked it gently with the tip of his tongue. Hmm? Salty and sweet?

Although the taste was a bit strange, it was not as greasy as she had imagined.

It’s quite delicious!

This discovery finally made Zheng Chi, who had been worried, feel a little relieved.

She continued to eat in small bites.

She ate more than ten bites of the same piece of braised pork.

Lou Yu: ...It's just like a little bird, pecking again and again. It doesn't make people feel elegant, but rather very artificial.

At least Lou Yu couldn't appreciate it.

He still prefers to watch the fat girl eat.

He is not rude and has perfect etiquette, but after watching it, people feel their mouths water and their appetites increase.

Lou Yu was too lazy to pay attention to Zheng Chi's pretentiousness and turned to feed Wang Heng.

"One more piece!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Give me a piece of the pig intestines too!"

"...Brother, it's a little spicy, but it's delicious!"

"And braised fish slices!"

"Yeah! Brother eats too!"

As long as the feeding mode was turned on, Lou Yu and Wang Heng forgot about Zheng Chi's existence.

They have long been accustomed to one feeding and the other eating.

One picks up the food patiently and attentively, the other enjoys it seriously and happily.

The two of them are a complete, independent world that no one else can interfere with.

Zheng Chi: ...

The little bit of meat in my mouth doesn't seem sweet anymore.

My cousin and Wang Jiu have a really good relationship. Not only are they close, but they also have a tacit understanding that outsiders cannot fit in.

At Wang Heng's glance, Lou Yu brought the warm tea to her lips.

She didn't hesitate to take it, but lowered her head slightly and took two sips from Lou Yu's hand.

Zheng Chi swallowed the last sip with difficulty, and she drooped her eyelids slightly.

With his lowered eyes, he casually glanced at Wang Heng who was sitting cross-legged opposite him.

Just now, when Wang Heng lifted the hem of her skirt, she slightly revealed a pair of exquisite embroidered shoes.

The shoes were red, embroidered with colorful threads, and decorated with a large pearl.

The pearl was really big, almost as big as a grape.

The beads are perfectly round and have excellent color. They are top-quality Hepu sea pearls.

Such beads, not to mention the already impoverished Zheng family, even the wealthy new rich families would only cherish them and use them to make jewelry.

Wang Heng, on the other hand, just sewed it on her shoes so casually.

No need to worry about the beads getting lost or broken on your shoes!

Having witnessed Lou Yu giving gifts to Wang Heng, Zheng Chi could guess, even without asking, that the two top-quality pearls on Wang Heng's shoes were probably given to her by Lou Yu.

Cousin, you are really rich!

He is also really good to Wang Heng, who grew up with him!

"...If I can surpass Wang Jiu and become my cousin's most valued 'sister', then I should be able to get more!"

Zheng Chi was still young, and she had no romantic feelings for Lou Yu.

To her, Lou Yu was more like a marriage partner, a partner who could provide her with a rich and luxurious life.

Zheng Chi was jealous of Wang Heng, but he was simply jealous that she could get good things from Lou Yu.

Obviously, these should belong to her!

"Achi! Try this pig intestine too!"

Zheng Chi was lost in thought when Lou Yu's voice rang in his ears again.

Before Zheng Chi's brain could react, his hands had already moved.

She picked up the pig intestines that Lou Yu had given her, brought them to her mouth, and sipped them in small sips.

Ok?

A bit spicy!

But it’s surprisingly delicious!

Zheng Chi seems to be more accepting of spicy food.

I took more than ten bites of a piece of braised pork, but only seven or eight bites of a piece of braised pork intestines.

"Achi, you like pig intestines? Then give me another piece!"

Lou Yu smiled, his deep eyes seemed to be filled with doting.

Zheng Chi was not familiar with Lou Yu, let alone understood him, so she didn't know that Lou Yu's smile was actually a smirk.

Wang Heng, who was still busy eating, swallowed a mouthful of pork tenderloin and silently lit a row of candles for Zheng Chi: Brother is playing a trick on me again!

Alas, I just hope that the little girl from the Zheng family won’t be angry and cry again!

"...Thank you, cousin!"

Although it is greasy, it is really spicy and refreshing.

A layer of sweat oozed out of the tip of Zheng Chi's small nose, and his lips seemed to be burning.

After eating his favorite food, Zheng Chi felt less anxious and more happy.

She raised her head, looked at Lou Yu with a smile, and asked, "Is this pig intestine? What is pig intestine?"

"..."

Lou Yu did not answer immediately.

There was a hint of hesitation on his handsome face, as if he was wondering whether to tell Zheng Chi.

Zheng Chi's smile froze, and the uneasiness in his heart came over him again.

Is there something wrong with this pig intestine?

"Cousin?"

Zheng Chi's voice couldn't help but rise two degrees.

"...Well, Ah Chi, as long as you like it and think it tastes good, that's all that matters. There are some things you shouldn't get into too much detail about!"

Lou Yu started to laugh.

The more he tried to hide it, the more worried Zheng Chi became.

"Cousin! What exactly is pig intestine?"

It can't be something dirty!

肠？

Intestines?

Zheng Chi is not stupid.

As Mrs. Lou's favorite granddaughter, she doesn't dare to act arrogantly in the Zheng family, but she is still a superior person.

She was not really gentle and elegant. In the Zheng family, she often relied on the favor of her eldest mother to tease, play with and even bully her illegitimate sisters.

Since he himself had done evil, Zheng Chi didn't mind assuming the greatest evil of others.

Especially with Lou Yu still like this... Damn it, she was too familiar with this. A few months ago, when she was "dealing with" Zheng Shisan, he had been "evasive" and "hesitant to speak" like this!

“It’s pork!”

Lou Yu seemed to be forced into a corner and had to give the answer.

However, he still had "good intentions" in his heart and was unwilling to tell the truth, and still had some reservations.

Zheng Chi: ...Damn it! I'm even more worried!

It must not just be pork!

And, pork?

"Stinky meat? Cousin, you, you... pork is only eaten by inferior people, you, I..."

Zheng Chi was extremely ashamed and angry.

Although the Zheng family fell into decline, they basically didn't eat pork.

Pig, how filthy.

The meat is still smelly and is a lowly food.

The Zheng family did not dare to slaughter beef at will, but they could eat mutton, chicken, duck and fish.

Pork was basically extinct from the Zheng family's dining table.

It was the first time Zheng Chi ate pork when he was ten years old.

The key point is, looking at Lou Yu's appearance, Zheng Chi dared to bet that this so-called pig intestines were not ordinary pork.

It should be something even more despicable like pork.

Pig intestines?

Intestines?

Pig intestines?!

Zheng Chi began to imagine things crazily, and then he successfully made himself sick.

She is not used to eating greasy food.

She took an extra bite of the pork intestines because they had a spicy flavor she had never tasted before.

...and just got infected?

In fact, Zheng Chi was still okay. She simply thought of pig intestines, but had not seen the most original appearance of pig intestines with her own eyes.

If she had seen it and knew how to clean pig intestines, she probably wouldn't just be disgusted.

Lou Yu: ...You haven't seen it? No problem, I can explain it to you!

It turns out that Lou Yu’s nature is hard to change.

He is a bad kid at heart.

At first, he liked the fat girl Wang Heng and even used Tutu to plot against her.

Now, he hates the Zheng family, including Zheng Chi, so naturally he will not show mercy.

"Achi, why don't you stop asking!"

"...Well, since you really must know, then, then I'll tell you!"

"Fat intestines are the large intestines of pigs, which contain the food that pigs eat, undigested residues, and feces..."

Although Lou Yu wanted to disgust Zheng Chi, he didn't want to ruin Wang Heng's good mood for the meal.

He deliberately turned his head, leaned close to Zheng Chi's ear, and described it in a low and careful voice.

really--

"vomit!"