Royal Gold Magistrate - Chapter 301

After their discussion, Paba’s impression of Li Yuanzhao shifted once again.

Fang Zheng, however, had long since stopped paying attention.

Li Yuanzhao’s ideas were pure idealism, decisions made on impulse. They sounded beautiful but would be disastrous in practice.

His experience told him this could only end badly.

Seasoned officials like Paba who could serve as foreign envoys were surely old hands at this game.

How could they be so easily persuaded?

The only reason Li Yuanzhao had managed to impress him was because Paba had never heard of concepts like microbes before.

He had absolutely no experience with such things.

Thus he found himself at the mercy of Li Yuanzhao’s amateur theorizing.

It was like an experienced middle-aged person listening to some youngster lecture about quantum medicine’s health benefits. Though they couldn’t understand a word, it still sounded impressive somehow.

By now, Fang Zheng’s attention had completely shifted to Zhang Biao.

While the two were talking, the dishes on the table had been almost completely demolished.

In a display of skill, Brother Biao balanced five dishes on his chopsticks at once, giving Chilie a challenging look.

This masterful technique had clearly shocked him.

The Northern Rong people weren’t particularly skilled with chopsticks, but Chilie refused to back down. He simply shoveled half a bowl of rice into his mouth.

Fang Zheng felt choked just watching them.

These two had gotten so caught up in their rivalry they had forgotten all about dignity. They had even turned eating into a competition.

Paba, throat dry from all the talking and feeling as if a whole new world had opened before him, took a drink of wine and reached for some food, only to find the table completely cleared.

His chopsticks hovered uselessly in the air.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng called out loudly: “Waiter! Another round of dishes!”

Then he turned to Paba with a smile. “I had no idea Warrior Chilie had such a large appetite. Please don’t hold back today. This official is treating, and you must eat your fill!”

Paba glanced at Zhang Biao and smiled. “Chilie is a born warrior with quite an appetite indeed. He can eat a whole cow in one sitting! Though I must say your warrior matches him well.”

Such ridiculous boasting! A whole cow in one sitting? I would like to see that attempt!

Fang Zheng cursed inwardly but said nothing.

Li Yuanzhao was also holding his chopsticks, his eyes wandering over the empty plates.

Seeing there was truly nothing left to eat, he put down his chopsticks and secretly studied Chilie.

After a while, he suddenly broke into a mysterious smile.

Just then, Zhang Laoliu was busy bringing new dishes, and all the bowls and plates on the table were replaced with fresh ones.

As Fang Zheng was about to take a bite, Li Yuanzhao suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

He whispered: “Old Fang, with him being so tall… how big do you think he is?”

Fang Zheng’s face immediately crumpled as he whispered back angrily. “We’re eating! Can you not say such disgusting things?”

“Aren’t you curious?”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but glance at Chilie.

Damn it! Now he was curious!

“*Ahem!* Master, after the meal, how about we go take a bath?”

Li Yuanzhao secretly gave him a thumbs up.

Paba was startled. “A bath?”

“Yes, a bath! In our Great Jing, from high officials to common folk, everyone loves discussing matters while bathing.”

“It’s an essential way to build relationships. Two people can only be truly honest when they’re naked before each other. What do you think?”

By now Paba’s head was spinning.

This journey had shattered every preconception he had about Great Jing.

Did the Jing people really have such customs? Discussing matters while bathing seemed somewhat improper.

Yet the Crown Prince had suggested it so naturally, it must be normal!

Paba turned to ask Chilie’s opinion, then nodded in agreement. “Very well, I’ll leave everything to Your Highness and Lord Fang to arrange!”

Seeing him agree, Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao exchanged knowing smiles.

After a while, when everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and were preparing to settle the bill, Zhang Laoliu approached with a fawning smile, holding a bill. “My lords, you’ve eaten quite a feast today. This humble one has written up the bill for your review!”

Fang Zheng took the bill and glanced at it, immediately exploding in anger. “What the hell! Over a thousand taels? Were we eating gold? Do you not want to stay in business?”

Zhang Laoliu, you’ve got some nerve. I told you to fleece them, not gut them alive!

“Please hear me out, my lord!” Zhang Laoliu immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Our restaurant uses only the finest ingredients, and our cooks are top-notch. You’ve eaten four tables worth, so naturally the price reflects that.”

“Moreover, all these antique rosewood furnishings and tea sets… and the floor you’ve broken. I haven’t even included those damages!”

Fang Zheng glanced awkwardly at Paba and said, “Well, you have a point, but this is still too expensive. Since when were these antiques worth so much?”

“Every word I speak is true!”

Fang Zheng took a deep breath, touched his chest, his face flushing slightly as he mumbled, “Over a thousand taels is still too much! This official thinks a thousand taels is fair. We’ll put it on credit and settle up later!”

Zhang Laoliu suddenly fell to his knees, knocked his head on the ground three times with loud thuds, and wailed, “Impossible, my lord! This is a small business… please have mercy on me!”

His cry was so emotional, so miserable, it could move listeners to tears and break viewers’ hearts.

Fang Zheng hurriedly turned to Li Yuanzhao and the others, asking in a low voice, “Your Highness, did you bring any money? I didn’t bring any. Lend me some to cover this!”

Li Yuanzhao shook his head.

Zhang Biao shook his head.

Lu Fa shook his head.

Paba caught all of this, and Fang Zheng’s words had carried perfectly to his ears.

Truth be told, he didn’t want to pay a thousand taels either. Just hearing the number made him wince.

Not just in this life, but in his next life too he couldn’t imagine anyone spending a thousand taels on a meal!

But at this point, it seemed he was the only one who could pay.

Paba stood up and walked to Zhang Laoliu. “Alright, stop crying. I’ll pay.”

Fang Zheng immediately protested anxiously. “No! How can we let Master pay? If word got out, people would think Great Jing doesn’t treat its guests properly!”

As he spoke, he secretly held up five fingers toward Zhang Laoliu.

Zhang Laoliu immediately caught on. “Ah… my lords, I forgot.”

“Our restaurant is the finest in the capital, and VIP customers get half price, though the VIP treatment requires a monthly fee.”

“Usually it’s ten taels per person per month, but since this is everyone’s first visit, it’s six taels for the first month! You only need to pay five hundred and six taels!”

Fang Zheng gave Zhang Laoliu a sidelong glance.

What nonsense about six taels for the first month! You really live up to your name, Laoliu!

With the price cut in half, Paba felt much better about it.

“Lord Fang, no need to refuse. It’s my honor to treat Your Highness and you to a meal.”

Fang Zheng gritted his teeth and said reluctantly, “Very well! I’ll consider this money borrowed from Master. I’ll pay you back another day!”

Paba smiled. “Lord Fang is too kind. If you truly wish to repay me, perhaps you could help me purchase some Celestial Immortal Tea.”

“I’m quite interested in tea, you see.”

Looking at Paba’s innocent expression, Fang Zheng suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.

“You’re too kind, Master! I’ll get you a couple of catties when I have the chance!”