Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

Thinking of this, Grand Tutor Li returned to his study and wrote a letter to Shen Jingheng. Firstly, he told him that his goddaughter also wanted to go on the mission and asked if three more people could be added. Secondly, he asked Shen Jingheng to help procure some fine woolen clothes for Changyun and his goddaughter in the capital. Enclosed with the letter was a thousand-tael silver note.

The day after the letter was sent, Grand Tutor Li received an imperial decree ordering him to lead a delegation to the Russian border and to set off on a chosen date.

This "choosing an auspicious date" meant entrusting the decision of the departure date to Grand Tutor Li.

The eunuch Li, who was announcing the imperial decree, smiled broadly, his face beaming like a chrysanthemum.

"Grand Tutor Li, it's been a long time. How are you still in good health?"

“I am well, thank you for your concern. Why don’t you stay here with me, so I can host a welcome dinner for you?”

Grand Tutor Li and Eunuch Li were old acquaintances. Back when the Emperor was still a prince, Eunuch Li was just an ordinary eunuch in the Prince's residence. Once, when Grand Tutor Li was giving a lesson at the Prince's residence, he unexpectedly encountered Eunuch Li weeping in a corner of the garden. Upon further inquiry, he learned that Eunuch Li's mother was seriously ill and needed ginseng and other precious medicinal herbs. However, Eunuch Li was too weak at the time and unable to obtain them. Thinking of his mother's illness, he couldn't hold back his tears.

Upon hearing about the difficulties Li Gonggong was facing, Li Taifu went back to his own home and found half a century-old ginseng root for him. Although his mother did not survive in the end, Li Gonggong remembered the kindness in his heart.

"Very well, then I'll have to trouble Grand Tutor Li." Eunuch Li didn't stand on ceremony with him, and besides, the two hadn't seen each other for many years, so they did have a lot to talk about.

Eunuch Li turned and gave instructions to the people who had come with him.

"You should all go back to the inn. I'll stay here tonight."

“Godfather, they’ve all gone back. Let your son stay here and serve you,” said a young eunuch beside Eunuch Li.

"Alright, then you stay here. The rest of you can go back." Eunuch Li instructed his attendants and guards.

Having received Eunuch Li's instructions, the others carried Eunuch Li's sedan chair back to the post station.

"You're becoming more and more impressive these days." After everyone left, when only the two of them remained, they stopped speaking in official jargon and became much more casual in their conversation.

"Don't humiliate me. It's just because of the Emperor's influence that everyone calls us 'Eunuch' to our faces. You know what they say about us behind our backs," said Eunuch Li, but his face showed no sign of distress.

He's not young anymore, and he's long since stopped caring about the things people say about him. Now he has considerable power in the palace, and even the concubines who are not favored usually have to speak to him cautiously.

That evening, the two of them sat in the courtyard with lanterns lit, facing the moon, drinking and talking.

"How is the palace now?" Grand Tutor Li asked.

"As always, Consort Jiang enjoys the emperor's exclusive favor."

"How is the eldest prince?" Grand Tutor Li suddenly leaned closer and asked.

"He's still young, and the Emperor and Consort dote on him. He's a bit spoiled, but otherwise, that's about it," Eunuch Li whispered into Grand Tutor Li's ear. He then sighed, sounding somewhat regretful.

"I wish you could stay in the capital for a few more years."

"If we had stayed until now, the years of teacher-student relationship would probably have been worn away. Whether this old man of mine would still have the chance to drink with you is another matter." Grand Tutor Li held his wine cup, recalling some things in the capital, and said slowly after a long while.

"Are you doing alright here now?"

“Good! How could it not be good? Look at this vegetable dish, I grew it myself, and this chicken was raised by my own hands. Even the spring pancakes you’re eating are made from wheat I grew and ground into flour. Now, far from the strife of the capital, with no worries about food or clothing, I really do feel like a wealthy old farmer.” Grand Tutor Li spoke these words sincerely; having lived here for several years, he truly felt relaxed and at ease.

"Come with me to harvest wheat tomorrow. I need to grind this wheat into flour before we go to the capital and present it to the Emperor," Grand Tutor Li suddenly said to Eunuch Li.

Just as he was about to praise the chickens and vegetables he raised, he heard Grand Tutor Li telling him to do some work, so he sighed, feigning helplessness.

"I was hoping to enjoy myself here for a couple of days, but I didn't expect that even a simple meal would involve farm work. It's even more tiring than being in the palace." After saying that, he picked up a piece of what looked like meat with his chopsticks. He had already taken a few bites, but he couldn't tell what it was.

"What kind of meat is this? I don't think I've ever eaten it before."

After glancing at what he was holding with his chopsticks, Grand Tutor Li said unhurriedly...

"Braised pig intestines".

"Pig intestines?" Suddenly, Eunuch Li felt a wave of nausea rising in his stomach.

"Yes, it's pig intestines, stuffed with pig manure," Li Taifu thoughtfully explained.

"Ugh... Stop talking, I'm going to throw up. How could you eat this? Is there not enough money?" Eunuch Li covered his mouth, afraid that he would lose control and vomit.

"What's with that expression? You've already eaten several bites, and you didn't seem to mind. Why are you about to throw up as soon as you hear it's pork intestine? You're not young anymore; don't judge things by appearances. Be more composed."

“No, even the poorest families wouldn’t eat this. How could you, the Imperial Tutor, eat this?” Eunuch Li found it unbelievable. Even before he entered the palace, when his family was poor, his mother never gave them pig intestines to eat.

"Try these two dishes again." Instead of answering him, Grand Tutor Li picked up two more plates of braised dishes and put them on Eunuch Li's plate.

"Why don't you tell me which part this is first?"

Seeing that he was determined not to eat anymore, Grand Tutor Li sighed.

"This is pig liver, and the other is pig stomach. These are foods we would never eat in the capital. But in poor families in the countryside, they are made into delicious and satisfying snacks to accompany drinks. Using limited money, they try their best to eat well; this is the wisdom of ordinary people." After saying this, he picked up a piece of pig intestine with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, a look of enjoyment on his face.

Seeing him like this, Eunuch Li resisted the urge to think about what the food actually looked like, and tried to pick up a piece of pig's stomach with his chopsticks, putting it in his mouth and savoring it carefully.

I have to say, the taste is truly amazing. It's firm, chewy, salty, and slightly spicy, and the more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes.

"Did you make this yourself?"

"No, my kitchen doesn't have that skill!" As he said this, Li Taifu suddenly looked around to make sure Aunt Zhao wasn't there before speaking in a low voice.

"This was made by the Zhang family in Zhangjia Village."

“Zhangjia Village? Is that the place where the tribute watermelons were produced?” Upon hearing Zhangjia Village, Li Taifu suddenly thought of those watermelons with words on them.

"Yes, that's Zhangjia Village."

"This village is truly blessed with outstanding people and talents!" As he spoke, Eunuch Li unconsciously reached for the plate of braised pig intestines next to him again.