After listening to Gao Yiye's recount, Feng Jun was completely stunned.
Li Dao Xuan laughed, "I'm up here, so I don't have to follow your rules down there. I don't care if the court's happy or not. I know this is going to cause you trouble, so just bring your family here. I'll protect them."
Feng Jun sighed deeply, and to make matters worse, his nose started bleeding slowly. He couldn't even muster the energy to wipe it, and with a resigned fist to the sky, he turned to the He Yang District Inspector behind him. "You heard what Tianzun said, right?"
The He Yang District Inspector nodded.
Feng Jun added, "Right now, we're like grasshoppers on the same boat. If anything goes wrong, both of us are guilty of rebellion. So, the only thing we can do is lie to the court. When the time comes, you take your troops and station them at Qiachuan Fort. Put up your banner and pretend that both the fort and the blacksmith shop are under our government's control. If any passing generals see it, just tell them we, He Yang County, have received the Emperor's secret order to build cannons and warships to fight bandits. As long as they don't ask the Emperor directly, they won't know if it's true or not."
The He Yang District Inspector's eyes lit up, "That's a good plan."
Feng Jun sighed again, "But if anyone really asks the Emperor, then we're as good as dead."
The Inspector lowered his voice, "Not necessarily. Didn't Tianzun say that if we bring our families, he'll protect us?"
Feng Jun's face fell, "If Tianzun really protects us, then we'll be full-fledged rebels. Sigh, let's just take it step by step."
Just as he was sinking into despair, Gao Yiye walked over again, waving at him, "Feng Sir, this is the first time I've seen the Yellow River. It's so big! It must have a ton of fish, right?"
Feng Jun nodded, "Of course!"
Gao Yiye grinned, "Are the fish tasty?"
Feng Jun tried not to laugh, "This place produces a special fish called the Xiachuan black fish. It's incredibly tender and has medicinal properties. It's famous for promoting circulation, improving skin, and nourishing the blood."
Gao Yiye's mouth immediately started watering, almost like a cartoon character.
Li Dao Xuan's mouth joined in the waterworks, clearly jealous.
Feng Jun saw the look on Gao Yiye's face and immediately knew what to do. He turned to the constable beside him, "Go to a fisherman's house and ask if they have any Xiachuan black fish. Buy a few."
The constable quickly scurried off and returned with four Xiachuan black fish not long after. These fish were dark and long, looking like they were begging to be eaten.
The constable, wanting to impress both the county magistrate and the Saintess, insisted on carrying the fish himself, even though the bucket was heavy enough to crush a small army.
Feng Jun said, "Saintess, I've got the fish. Let's head back to the county city. The cooks here by the river are a disaster. They'll ruin the fish. Only the chefs in the county city can cook them right."
Gao Yiye beamed, "Then I'll trouble you, hehe."
She, along with Qiu Ju, Dong Xue, the Flat-Rabbit, and a hundred guards, followed Feng Jun to the county city.
While Gao Yiye was about to savor the Xiachuan black fish, Li Dao Xuan was still out of luck.
He didn't even bother searching for it on the delivery platform, knowing it was hopeless in Shuangqing City. He stared at his box with a heavy heart, thinking, Why the hell did I open my view to He Yang County? This place, a food lover's nightmare, is literally torturing me with every new bizarre dish.
In the end, he just shrugged and ordered some sour soup with yellow catfish for dinner. At least that would ease his tortured soul.
Later that evening, Li Dao Xuan's sour soup with yellow catfish arrived. Just as he was about to dig in, Gao Yiye and her entourage arrived at Qiachuan County City.
The constable with the fish was leading the way. He was in such a rush to get the fish to the kitchen that he almost turned into a blur. Every few steps, he checked the bucket like it was the Holy Grail, terrified the fish would die before they made it.
But when you're rushing, accidents happen.
The constable darted around a street corner and, "Bang!" collided with a dark, burly man. The man let out an exaggerated "Ah!" but, miraculously, he wasn't hurt. The constable, however, went flying and crashed to the ground with a dramatic thud.
The bucket flipped over, and water splashed everywhere. The four fish were bouncing all over the place like they were auditioning for the next action movie.
The constable scrambled to his feet, frantically trying to collect the fish like his life depended on it.
The dark man, seeing what happened, sighed and begrudgingly started helping pick up the fish. The two of them fumbled around for a while, but eventually, they managed to get all the fish back in the bucket. The constable rushed into a nearby shop, scooped up some water from a tank, and poured it into the bucket. He sighed in relief when the fish seemed to be okay.
Li Dao Xuan watched the whole scene unfold and couldn't help but chuckle internally, Look at you, panicking like the world is ending. Sure, trying to please the big shots is a survival tactic, but overdoing it just makes you look ridiculous.
After the fish were safely back in the bucket, the constable straightened up, his anger now taking over. He grabbed the dark man, "You almost killed my fish! If they die, you'll be responsible!"
The dark man, now seeing the constable was, well, a constable, probably figured out what was going on. He clicked his tongue and said, "Clearly, these fish are for the county magistrate, right? Why are you panicking so much? It was you who bumped into me! I helped you pick up the fish, and you still want to blame me?"
The constable sneered, "How dare you!"
The dark man wasn't intimidated in the slightest. "Don't talk to me like that just because you're a constable. Besides, I haven't even yelled at you yet!"
The constable's patience was wearing thin. "You want to talk back? Fine, I'll just say one thing, and you'll apologize."
The dark man crossed his arms, "No way. Not gonna happen."
The constable held up the fish bucket with a dramatic flourish, "These are the fish for the Saintess of Gaojia Village."
The dark man's face immediately changed, "Oh no, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Get the fish to the kitchen, quick! Don't let them die!"
Trivia:
Why He Yang is Famous for Its Culinary Scene:
He Yang's fame in culinary circles can be traced back to its geographic and historical significance. The Yellow River, one of the longest and most important rivers in China, flows right through the county, offering abundant water resources that have long been integral to local cuisine. The fertile land and proximity to the river make He Yang a natural center for agriculture, especially fish farming. This is why river fish such as the Xiachuan black fish (Xiachuan wu li) have become a staple in local diets. Furthermore, He Yang's role as a major trade route during various dynasti periods brought in culinary influences from all over the country, further enriching its food culture. The area has been renowned for its hearty, flavorful dishes that combine medicinal herbs and fresh, local ingredients, making it a destination for both food lovers and those seeking nourishment for health.