Chapter 201 – Asking Long Yu for Help
Tian Dazhuang bore an unsatisfied expression, filled with a sense of helplessness. It was clear to anyone with eyes that General Zhan was pestering Xiaosi.
Upon reconsidering, Yan Xiaosi looked at Long Yu, her lips curling into a calculating smile.
“This goat was hunted by Brother Dazhuang and me. My mother’s words don’t count here. If General Zhan wishes to stay and share the roasted goat with us, he must agree to a condition of mine,” Yan Xiaosi declared.
Murong Qinjian couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Long Yu was negotiating terms with this youngster, and here she was, turning the tables on Long Yu. It was truly amusing.
Long Yi and Long Er secretly worried about Yan Xiaosi’s bold behavior.
“Xiaosi, you must not be disrespectful to General Zhan.” Even Ms. Zhong couldn’t stand to watch her daughter’s daring actions.
The Yan sisters, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun, incessantly shook their heads and gestured with their eyes, urging her not to argue with General Zhan before them.
“It’s just a goat,” Tian Dazhuang whispered, , being closer to her, he pulled on Yan Xiaosi’s sleeve.
Although he wasn’t fond of Long Yu, the latter was a high-ranking, powerful general who could easily crush Yan Xiaosi as if she were an ant.
“Xiaosi, a true hero knows when to back down,” he advised.
Yan Xiaosi, fearless as a pig towards boiling water, stared directly at Long Yu.
After a moment of silence, Long Yu said, “Daring to negotiate terms with me, Yan Xiaosi, aren’t you afraid I might behead you in anger and use your head as a stool?”
Of course, Yan Xiaosi was afraid. Her fearlessness stemmed from her confidence that Long Yu was not the type to kill innocents without cause.
“My humble head is too small. Using it as a stool for General Zhan might be uncomfortable for his sitting,” she retorted.
“Ahahaha,” Murong Qinjian couldn’t hold back his laughter, finding immense amusement in her response. If not for Long Yu’s interest in her, he would have wanted such an interesting person for himself.
Long Yi and Long Er couldn’t help but smile.
Ms. Zhong and the Yan sisters didn’t know how to react to such vulgar yet novel words coming from a girl like Xiaosi.
Ms. Zhong’s face twitched slightly, apologizing to Long Yu: “Xiaosi is young and has never been schooled; she doesn’t know how to speak properly. Please, General Zhan, forgive him.”
Long Yu, with a faint smile, glanced at Yan Xiaosi and waved his hand to Ms. Zhong, indicating it was alright.
“Speak, what’s your condition?”
Realizing General Zhan wasn’t angry enough to behead her, Yan Xiaosi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly spoke, “General Zhan, could you help bring Yan Shujing outside the day after tomorrow evening?”
The Yan family had decided to marry Yan Shujing to Tian Dazhuang, and there must be some hidden motives behind it.
Previously, Yan Xiaosi had devised a plan for Tian Dazhuang to investigate these motives, with the most critical step being to lure Yan Shujing out of the Yan household.
The original plan was for Tian Daniu to set a fire near the Yan residence the day after tomorrow evening, making the Yan family think their house was on fire. In the ensuing chaos, Tian Dazhuang would abduct Yan Shujing. Although feasible, the plan risked failure. Having Long Yu intervene to draw Yan Shujing out from the Yan household would ensure a foolproof plan.
Long Yu asked, “Yan Shujing, which Yan Shujing?”
Seeing that his master seemed to have no recollection of the woman, Long Yi had to remind him, “Master, you’ve forgotten. Yan Shujing is the goddaughter recognized by Yao Jin. She also secretly infiltrated your—”
Long Yu immediately remembered who Yan Shujing was. A frown formed beneath his mask, cutting off Long Yi’s words.
“I remember now.”
Hearing only half of the secret, Yan Xiaosi’s gaze on Long Yu was filled with suspicion. Could it be that General Zhan had an affair with Yan Shujing? Perhaps after growing tired of her, he abandoned Yan Shujing, who had then lost her innocence. This rushed the Yan family into finding a scapegoat to marry her off to. This line of thought made sense to her.
Yan Xiaosi’s look made Long Yu uncomfortable, and he frowned, “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Yan Xiaosi blinked, concealing the suspicion in her gaze.
“I’m waiting for General Zhan to finish speaking.”
“What is your relationship with Yan Shujing, and why do you want me to help summon her?”
It seemed that General Zhan didn’t quite like Tian Dazhuang. If it was to help Tian Dazhuang, he certainly wouldn’t intervene. Yan Xiaosi thought for a moment and replied, “I have a grudge against Yan Shujing. That woman, relying on her status as the eldest miss of the Yan family, has bullied me before. I simply want my revenge. That’s all.”
From their previous interactions, Long Yu felt that Yan Xiaosi was indeed the type to hold grudges and seek revenge, so he believed her.
“Long Yi, go to the Yan family the day after tomorrow in the evening and say that I wish to see Miss Yan.”
Yan Xiaosi was delighted.
“Have Yan Shujing wait alone at the foot of Four Sisters Mountain.”
Long Yu gave Long Yi a look, signaling him to follow Yan Xiaosi’s instructions.
“General Zhan, you must be hungry. Let’s go outside the cave to roast the goat,” Yan Xiaosi suddenly changed her demeanor, smiling warmly and inviting Long Yu enthusiastically.
“Roasting a whole goat requires a strong bonfire. It’s inconvenient inside the cave.”
Yan Xiaosi’s sudden enthusiasm was quite pleasing to Long Yu.
“Long Yi, Long Er, you two go help.”
“Yes, master.”
Tian Dazhuang moved the goat outside the cave, with Long Yi and Long Er assisting in skinning and gutting it.
Yan Shuxue and Yan Shuyun gathered firewood for the bonfire, while Yan Xiaosi prepared the marinade for the roast goat. Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuqin cooked a couple of side dishes inside the cave.
Having shopped in Daxing Town the day before, they had oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, chili, Sichuan peppercorns, spring onions, and even liquor in the cave.
Yan Xiaosi took the marinade outside the cave, where Tian Dazhuang and the others had already skinned and gutted the goat, and a strong bonfire was burning, thanks to Yan Shuxue and Yan Shuyun.
However, most of them were novices at roasting a whole goat.
Thinking it was Yan Xiaosi’s idea to eat the roasted goat, they all eagerly looked at her.
Tian Dazhuang asked eagerly, “Xiaosi, how do we roast this goat?”
In her past life, Yan Xiaosi had eaten roasted goat but never had to do the roasting herself.
Tian Dazhuang’s question left her a bit puzzled.
After thinking hard about the roasting method, she finally had an idea, “First, chop two branches to make a cross-shaped support. Tie the goat to the cross and then place it over the bonfire to roast, brushing the marinade on it as it cooks.”
She remembered this technique from the movie where Stephen Chow roasted chickens, continuously brushing them with soy sauce and honey.
