Chapter 81: Fast Food Trial

Erhu, bundled in a thick, coarse cotton quilt, stuck his big butt out, lying prone by the small square window of the lookout tower. The small square window was just the right size to frame his large, bearded face.

Outside, the snow was still falling, and the window sill was piled with snow, which Erhu tirelessly swept away. He had been like this since noon, eagerly pulling his face out of the window whenever he saw someone vaguely resembling Shen Miao, shouting, "She's coming!"

After mistaking several people for her and getting a few kicks from Hu Mazi, he finally calmed down.

Although the snowy weather was cold, it was less prone to fires. This year, the districts overseen by other Drill Instructors only had two small fires, both of which were quickly extinguished without causing major disasters—a stroke of luck in bad times.

The lookout tower at the north of the bridge, where Hu Mazi, Zhang Liubao, and Cao Xing were stationed, wasn't very large. Usually, four people were on duty, while the rest of the brothers were either patrolling the streets, guarding the gates, or sent to sweep snow on the imperial street.

On ordinary days without major incidents, as long as they endured the cold and hunger, the job wasn't too tough, certainly better than shoveling snow out of ditches. At the moment, they were gathered around playing a guessing game with beans, waiting for Shen Miao to deliver the food.

Cao Xing casually scooped up some beans, dropped them into a cracked bowl, and shook it on the table. He glanced at Erhu before leaning in to tease Hu Mazi and Zhang Liubao, "Quick, guess the number! The loser washes the dishes. Hey, look at Erhu—it’s handy having him by the window; his face seals it so tight, not a whisper of wind gets through, making the room feel much warmer."

Listening to the sound of beans in the bowl, Hu Mazi pondered, "Fifteen!"

Zhang Liubao followed, "Nine!"

Erhu pulled his face out of the window, leaving a window frame imprint on it, and turned around scratching his butt, saying, "Ten!"

Cao Xing squinted and chuckled, "Hu Mazi's guess is too high, Zhang Liubao's too low—guess again!"

Just as Erhu was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of something in the distance, jumped up, and rushed to the window hole, shouting, "No more playing—she's really coming this time, I see her! Shen Miao is driving a donkey-drawn cart!"

No one paid him any attention. Hu Mazi thought for a moment and continued, "Twelve." Then he said to Cao Xing and Zhang Liubao, "In the past hour, he's shouted 'Shen Miao is coming' six times—he must be mistaken again."

Zhang Liubao didn't move, saying, "Fourteen."

Erhu was frantic, "She's really coming!" He grabbed Zhang Liubao beside him and pulled him to the window, "Look! Isn't that her? Hurry down, aren't you the so-called squad leader?"

Zhang Liubao rubbed his eyes and stuck his head out to look.

It really was her!

"He's not lying this time—it really is Shen Miao." He quickly threw off his quilt and hurried downstairs to receive the food.

The lower floor of the lookout tower was originally a storage room for firewood, dry rations, clothes, fire forks, water buckets, and other items.

Zhang Liubao swiftly found the bowls and chopsticks the four of them usually used from a pile of junk and stacked them together.

Just then, Shen Miao arrived.

The donkey-drawn cart was covered with a thick quilt, and underneath was a stove. When the quilt was lifted upon entry, warm steam and a savory aroma wafted out. Zhang Liubao couldn't help but salivate.

Six hefty basins of food were neatly laid out, with two additional basins—one for steamed buns and one for multigrain rice.

Following the list from the previous day, Zhang Liubao handed over the bowls and called out the dishes. Shen Miao, holding a large ladle, suddenly felt like a lunch lady.

She first filled the bowls with rice, pressed it down, then topped it with dishes, giving each a hearty scoop without a second thought. But as she dished out the food, Shen Miao spotted an issue: the bowls varied in size, some brimming with food while others were barely half-filled.

The food and rice mingled, with sauces seeping into the rice, slightly altering the taste. Over time, this might stir up feelings of unfairness.

Shen Miao noted this small detail in her mind, thinking to herself, should she provide standardized tableware next time? Although the cheapest bamboo bowls could be used, this would increase costs.

If she encountered Drill Instructor Lin later, she'd have to discuss it with him and find a solution.

Once the food was served, Shen Miao gathered the tickets, set out the next day's menu, and got ready to move on to the next lookout tower.

She walked from one end to the other and back, collecting meal orders from the Garrison Troops along the way. This way, she could see what dishes they had ordered and learn their dietary preferences. It also made it easier for her to prepare the right quantities, knowing which dishes to make more of and which to make less, thus avoiding waste.

She gave Zhang Liubao a polite bow and said goodbye, patted the donkey, picked up her umbrella, and drove the donkey-drawn cart away.

Zhang Liubao saw Shen Miao off and was surprised to find her donkey-drawn cart quite unique. Not only did it have an oilcloth canopy with the "Shen's" logo, but even the donkey pulling the cart wore a carefully woven small bamboo hat and a snow-proof straw raincoat.

Around the donkey's neck hung a bell, and below the bell was a specially made small wooden plaque engraved with "Beloved Donkey Eleven," with a line of small text below it. He didn’t look closely, but it likely had Shen's address on it.

Zhang Liubao was baffled. Who names their donkey Shen Eleven?

As the sound of the bell around the donkey's neck gradually faded away, Zhang Liubao quickly turned back and found that no one had come down to get the food. Angrily, he yelled up the stairs, "The food’s here! Are you guys really expecting me to bring it up for you? Come down and get it yourselves! I'm not your maid!"

"Coming, coming!" Erhu was the first to rush downstairs, grabbing his own big bowl and steamed buns, and even taking Hu Mazi's portion upstairs. Seeing this, Cao Xing snapped, "Why didn’t you grab mine too?" Fortunately, just as he was halfway down, Zhang Liubao handed him his meal.

The four of them finally gathered around the fire and started eating heartily.

"This braised pork is amazing!"

Erhu took his first bite of the fragrant braised pork with preserved vegetables.

He shoved a big, glistening piece of red-braised pork belly into his mouth. The fatty part, along with the skin, was steamed to a soft, glutinous texture, and it didn't feel greasy at all. The lean part absorbed the savory flavor of the preserved vegetables and rich sauce, becoming more flavorful with every chew.

Even the preserved vegetables by themselves were incredibly tasty. Unlike pickled vegetables, they had a unique aroma and, after being cooked with the pork belly, became oily and soft, salty with a hint of sweetness. Drizzling the preserved vegetable sauce over the rice, Erhu felt he could easily down three bowls of rice with just this dish.

"This preserved vegetable is really well-made. I’m not good with words, but it’s just good, really good," Erhu said while eating the preserved vegetables and shoveling rice into his mouth.

After eating too much meat, he grabbed some vinegar-braised Chinese cabbage. After a couple of bites, he mumbled excitedly, pointing at the dish with his chopsticks, "The Chinese cabbage is also great!"

"Let me try," Hu Mazi said, grabbing a bite of the vinegar-braised Chinese cabbage without hesitation. He nodded in approval after tasting it.

Indeed, it was crispy, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with sweet and sour flavors.

Chinese cabbage is a staple winter vegetable, and Hu Mazi thought he had grown tired of it. But this unique sour taste was entirely different. The stems were crisp, while the leaves soaked up the sourness, becoming smooth and soft. The vinegar, sauce, and savory flavors all clung to the leaves, making it especially refreshing.

There was also stir-fried winter melon, which looked plain at first glance but was actually cooked to perfection. The top part was crisp, while closer to the core, it was softer and sweeter.

After the rich, flavorful braised pork with preserved vegetables, tasting the winter melon brought a refreshing aftertaste.

Everything hit the spot! Erhu ate so enthusiastically that he even scraped the bowl clean, finishing every last drop of sauce.

Hu Mazi was the same. After finishing, he lazily sprawled there, holding an empty bowl, still savoring the flavors of the dishes.

The Kung Pao chicken was unexpectedly delicious! No wonder General Yue also liked it! The chicken was tender and springy, with a hint of spiciness at first, followed by sweetness. It wasn’t too spicy or too sweet, but it perfectly highlighted the tenderness and freshness of the chicken.

The dish also had a sour note, probably from vinegar, but it didn’t taste odd at all. The vinegar flavor coated the crispy peanuts, making them crunchy and fragrant. The carrots and cucumbers inside were also stir-fried to a perfect crispness, making him unable to stop eating.

The garlic-flavored turnip was also delicious. Each piece of turnip was coated with minced garlic and stir-fried to a crisp texture, which was even better than stewed turnip. The strong garlic flavor perfectly balanced the otherwise bland turnip.

No matter what, everything tasted great. Even though they were just simple dishes, they were incredibly satisfying.

This was Shen Miao's skill.

She always managed to make ordinary dishes taste much better than those from other eateries. She didn’t use any rare ingredients or special seasonings, just simple home-cooked methods, but the flavors were always different, always better.

Zhang Liubao wiped his mouth, let out a loud burp, and muttered to himself, "Instant soup noodles are tasty, but eating them every day gets boring. It's great to have a hot meal like this today. After this meal, even my hands and feet feel warm."

Cao Xing, on the other hand, ate with such focus that he didn’t want to talk at all. After finishing, he even picked up the grains of rice that had fallen on him and popped them into his mouth. Only then did he let out a sigh of satisfaction, "I usually don’t get tired of pouring sauce over my rice, but Shen Miao's cooking is so good that I didn’t get tired of it at all. Even though I’m full now, my mouth still feels like it wants more."

Hearing this, Zhang Liubao suddenly remembered tomorrow's menu and quickly pulled out the order sheet, "Shen Miao gave us tomorrow's menu. Let me read it to you... Huh, weird, it seems different from today's? The first one is Jiangnan West Road (Jiangxi) three-cup chicken rice? It comes with steamed egg and fermented black bean cabbage. Hey, does Shen Miao even know how to cook southern dishes from different regions? She must have learned from traveling merchants. Last time I saw someone selling tea from Hongzhou. Shen Miao is really amazing."

"The next one is braised pork with rice, with eggs and cabbage as side dishes. The last one is garlic chives with cured meat and rice, with the same side dishes. But there's also a soup today, a clear soup with pickled vegetables. Which one are you guys going to order? I want to try the chicken from Jiangnan; I've never tried it before."

"I'll have the chicken too."

"Braised pork, I love braised pork the most!"

"Then I'll order the garlic chives, so we can all swap and try each other's meals."

The four of them gathered around the menu, their stomachs full and satisfied, yet they still discussed enthusiastically. Being on duty, the prospect of delicious meals gave them something to look forward to, making their days not feel dull at all.

After delivering the meals, Shen Miao happened to meet Drill Instructor Lin on her way back from patrolling the streets. She had already come up with an idea to adjust the meal boxes in her mind. After discussing it with Drill Instructor Lin and getting his approval, she went straight to the pottery kiln to commission several dozen square plates.

The plates had slightly raised edges and a slightly concave middle, similar to the stainless steel trays used in later times. Shen Miao also asked the pottery master to create three compartments, ideal for keeping the dishes and rice separate, preventing flavor mixing.

When she delivered the meals, she would bring these plates, and the Garrison Troops who ordered the meals only needed to pay a deposit for the plates.

If they no longer wanted to order, they could return the plates and get their deposit back. This way, there wouldn't be any complaints about additional packaging fees.

Shen Miao was already planning to grow her fast-food venture. In the future, she would rent a small store dedicated to fast food, separate from her soup cake shop. This fast-food shop should ideally be located at a central location between most watchtowers and the Kaifeng government office. The space inside didn't need to be too large, as it would mainly serve group meals, so a small space would be enough, and the rent wouldn't be too expensive.

However, it would be best to have a few tables in the shop so that occasional customers dining in could still be served, but the main focus would be on takeout and group meals.

She planned to visit Deng Lawyer in a few days. She would offer some silver and use his government connections to have him help introduce her to the clerks of various departments in the government office to discuss the potential for group meal orders.

If all went well, after the Lantern Festival, when the government offices resumed operations, she could expand group orders for boxed meals from the Garrison Troops to the Kaifeng government office.

With that, she would also need to hire duck farm workers after spring, solving both issues at once.

The fast-food shop would serve homestyle stir-fry dishes, which were already common in the Song Dynasty, so there was nothing particularly special or secretive about it. Therefore, regular hired workers would be enough.

Shen Miao planned to have Shorty Yabao serve as a go-between to find workers for the duck farm and chefs skilled in stir-frying. She would also hire two delivery boys and an accountant. Her fast-food shop wasn't meant to be too big; these three people would be enough to support daily operations.

As for the dishes in the fast-food shop, Shen Miao didn't plan to personally cook but would leave it to the hired chefs. She would mainly focus on her soup cake shop. For the fast-food shop, she would control the daily menu and quality control before introducing new dishes—she would have the chefs prepare them first, taste them herself, and set the standards and flavors accordingly.

After all, the positioning of the fast-food shop wasn't to pursue ultimate deliciousness but to provide convenience, speed, and affordability. Therefore, as long as the food met her above-average standards, it would be sufficient.

Shen Miao carefully calculated her recent profits from business operations, the extra income from managing banquets, and other savings, estimating that it would be enough to cover these investment expenses.

Money stashed in the cellar wouldn't multiply.

In her previous life, when she hesitated and was too cautious to move forward, her grandfather often told her that to learn how to do business, one must first learn how to spend money. Only by continuously expanding the business could money generate more money, leading to increasing wealth.

Of course, one shouldn't take too big a step, or it might backfire.

Shen Miao felt that she had been quite cautious in her journey so far, and the business opportunities she chose were all well-considered. Where there's demand, there's supply. With her foresight from a later era, she noticed these demands and aimed to seize the opportunity, cultivating customers' dining habits early on.

People have habits. Once they get used to a certain shop's flavors, dishes, operational model, or opening hours, they would subconsciously return to eat there.

Her group meal model was perfect for those ancient laborers, workshop craftsmen, artisans, and students confined to academies or private schools who could only eat in canteens.

The former had tight schedules and no time to go out for food; the latter had no other choices and would order a few times to diversify their tastes.

From the very beginning, Shen Miao had precisely and narrowly defined her market positioning. Her fast-food shop wasn't for ordinary customers but specifically tailored for busy people.

The Garrison Troops were one such group. Although they weren't extremely busy, they couldn't leave their posts and had no canteens. Most of them were single men, creating a huge demand for group meals.

As for the Kaifeng government office, Shen Miao had visited several times while investigating Chen Chuan's kidnapping case. She observed that the officials were indeed extremely busy.

Especially the clerks in the government office, they were the most grassroots and hardworking. They had no official rank, their salaries were meager, and they relied on "gifts" from people like Deng Lawyer to earn gray income and live decently.

However, often this secure job is not easy to maintain, as there are many superiors above them who require their flattery and socializing, with each level pressing down on the one below.

This was all revealed to her by Deng Lawyer during casual conversations.

From her observations, most of the minor officials in the yamen seem quite glamorous on the surface, but only a few bring their own meals or have servants deliver food. Most of them are not that wealthy; some have to support a family of more than ten people, some have both spouses working, with wives taking on odd jobs to supplement the family income; and some are burdened with mortgages.

Shen Miao's fast food is perfectly positioned—offering good quality at a low price with a pleasant taste. Now is the perfect opportunity to start with the Garrison Troops as a pilot, and then see if it's possible to seek cooperation opportunities with the Kaifeng Prefecture Yamen.

If it goes well, perhaps in the future, the Imperial College and other yamens could also be approached for business and cooperation.

The small dining table at the Piyong Academy where Ji Geer studies could also adopt this group meal model. With a dedicated fast food shop, there would be no fear of being too busy. Even if the distance is far, it can be delivered by cart.

Therefore, Shen Miao considered that she might need to buy two donkeys and two meal carts. The meal carts should be designed to hold large buckets of food inside, enclosed on all sides, and able to keep the food warm, so the meals won't get cold.

Shen Miao had experience in supplying group meals to office buildings in her previous life. It was easier then, with large foam takeout boxes, covered with wheeled outdoor canvas carts, transported by truck to the basement, loaded and ready to go. In later generations, there were too many ways to keep food warm, no need to worry.

In the Song Dynasty... Shen Miao decided to find Old Man Yang, draw a diagram, and have him first make a box-style meal cart that can be pulled by a donkey to try.

As Shen Miao led her Eleven (the animal) home, she slowly thought it all through. In fact, this was the path to wealth she had taken in her previous life. Now it's like retracing her steps a thousand years ago.

One, two, three, four... counting carefully, she has a lot to do, and Shen Miao is full of energy again. She likes this feeling: all the efforts she has made are converging towards her future self, she is moving forward step by step, making progress every day.

Every day brings a new self, which is wonderful.

She works for herself, so she doesn't feel difficult, nor does she complain, every copper coin she earns is for herself, what is there to complain about?

Humming the song "Roll is just one word, I only say it once," she had just reached the entrance of Willow East Alley when she saw Generals Yue and Xi coming again.

This time, they were leading large horses, dressed in warm riding gear, draped in fur cloaks, and wearing fur hats, clearly preparing for a long journey.

Yue Teng heard the bell, turned around, saw Shen Miao, and with a slight bow of his hands, smiled: "Before leaving, I want to taste Madam Shen's cooking again."

Xi Feijing tied his all-black horse with not a single white hair at the door of the noodle shop, also turned his head, very amiably said: "Madam Shen, don't mind, we are disturbing you again in the first month."

Shen Miao glanced at Xi Feijing's horse, thinking it should be considered a Ferrari horse. While mentally comparing the horse to a Ferrari, she parked the donkey cart and asked them what they wanted to eat.

Yue Teng didn't hesitate: "I still want to eat tofu."

Xi Feijing then added: "I'll have lamb."

Shen Miao then said with a smile: "Then I'll make Dongpo tofu, which is fried until golden and then stir-fried, added with some torreya nuts and stewed in a small clay pot. It's very fragrant, and General Yue should like it. General Xi, how about trying the lamb's Bo Xia Gong? It's most comforting to eat on such a snowy day—a clear soup with just a bit of green onion and radish, simmered on the stove, with thin slices of fresh lamb leg dipped in sesame sauce. It's very delicious."

Hearing this, both were enticed and agreed.

Shen Miao led the two generals into the shop, asked them to sit for a while. She then went into the kitchen to prepare the dishes, squatting down to pick meat from the meat basket. She wanted to find a tender lamb leg to slice.

In the shop, Yue Teng had already sat down to wait, but Xi Feijing noticed that he had gotten his hand dirty while tying the horse—a black smudge. Being somewhat fastidious, he couldn't clean it with a handkerchief, so he went to the counter and asked, "Madam Shen, may I borrow some water to wash my hands?"

Shen Miao was already boiling water and slicing lamb, busy, she looked up and replied: "General Xi, just come into the backyard."

Then she called out to A Tao, who was organizing threads in the yard: "A Tao, help me prepare a basin of warm water for the guest to wash his hands."

A Tao quickly put down the basket and said, "Coming!"

Xi Feijing said softly, "Sorry to trouble you." Then lifted the curtain and walked into the Shen family's backyard.

He looked curiously at the small courtyard of the Shen family.

This small courtyard was very neatly arranged, the snow was not completely cleared, it seemed intentionally left for play, a row of snowmen of various sizes made of snow were lined up by the vegetable beds.

As far as the eye could see, the walls were adorned with various items like bamboo hats, brooms, and dustpans. Mrs. Shen's way of tidying up seemed quite different from others', but the neatly hung items, with nails perfectly aligned, brought an inexplicable sense of comfort.

He couldn't help smiling as his gaze swept over the makeshift donkey shed in the corner. The donkey that had just pulled the cart was leisurely munching on wheat stalks, a name tag hanging around its neck.

Turning around, he saw a small frozen pond not far behind him. The pond's edge was piled with unmelted snow, and a wooden sign with writing was stuck there: "Frogs are hibernating, see you in spring."

In the yard, there were two dogs. One was curled up in the foot warmer under the corridor, its front paws hugging a fat cat, diligently licking its fur. The other dog kept chasing the chickens.

It was a bit strange. He wondered why the smaller dog kept going after the chickens' rear ends.

Just as he found the dog peculiar, he suddenly heard children's voices behind him. Turning his head, he saw a little girl in a red cotton-padded jacket and a boy of similar age hiding behind a corridor pillar not far away, whispering something.

The two children looked very serious, whispering something.

Always mischievous, Xi Feijing leaned against the pillar, straining to eavesdrop on the children's conversation.

The plump little girl whispered, "Xiao Chuan, Liu Douhua and Gouer have more people, and our brother is no help, already 'dead.' If we want to win, you have to listen to me. Later, I'll go out and lure them in. You hide here, and when they come in, after a few steps, you pull the rope to trip them. Then I'll rush out and capture them all. Got it?"

The little boy nodded, "Okay."

Xi Feijing understood—these kids were playing a "commanding troops" game. He couldn't help feeling intrigued.

With that, the little girl tiptoed to a more visible hiding spot—behind the chicken coop, her back to the yard gate, deliberately revealing half her head.

Not long after, two sneaky figures appeared at the backyard gate, presumably the Gouer and Liu Douhua she mentioned. The two children cautiously peeked out from the gate, immediately spotting the little girl's hiding place. Their faces lit up, thinking they had a shot. After exchanging glances, they eagerly rushed forward to catch her.

Unbeknownst to them, the little girl and boy had hidden a rope in the snow. The boy seized the moment and pulled the rope. Gouer and Liu Douhua, caught off guard, tumbled to the ground with a "thud."

Seeing this, the little girl dashed out, using her chubby body to pin them down in the snow before they could get up. She then shouted, "Xiao Chuan, come help!"

Liu Douhua and Gouer struggled beneath her, flailing their limbs, but couldn't escape her hold.

Next, the little girl pretended to stab Gouer, shouting, "Gouer's 'dead'!" But she didn't finish off Liu Douhua. Instead, she "captured" her, whispering some instructions.

Humiliated, Liu Douhua pretended nothing had happened and stood by the gate, shouting, "Zeng Snot, we've got Xiang Jieer. Come help!" The last snotty kid outside fell for it and rushed over.

He watched as the little girl managed to defeat her opponents against the odds.

So this was the Xiang Jieer Ninth Geer often mentioned—probably Mrs. Shen's younger sister.

Xi Feijing quickly figured it out and couldn't help feeling a bit impressed. He thought to himself: At such a young age, with no one to teach her, she instinctively used military tactics while playing with her friends...

The defeated kids hung their heads in disappointment, obediently handing over a bag of candy each to Xiang Jieer. Xiang Jieer, thrilled, grabbed two handfuls of candy and skipped back, generously sharing with Chen Chuan.

Xi Feijing, having just washed his hands with the water ladle A Tao gave him, didn't leave. Instead, he crouched down, looking at Xiang Jieer, and asked gently, "Little one, are you Mrs. Shen's sister?"

Xiang Jieer, her mouth full of candy, turned her head and answered crisply, "Yes."

Xi Feijing asked again, "Who were you pretending to be just now?"

Xiang Jieer proudly lifted her little face, "Hua Mulan! I'm a female general." She pointed to Chen Chuan beside her, "Xiao Chuan is my personal guard."

Chen Chuan, his cheeks bulging with candy, nodded in agreement—he didn't care what role he played, as long as he was on Xiang Jieer's team. Because Liu Douhua's team was always the losing side, no match for Xiang Jieer.

He didn't want to keep losing.

Xi Feijing couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Then what's your name?"

Xiang Jieer, being very sharp, immediately became alert upon hearing this and stared at him: "My sister said I shouldn’t tell strangers my name, nor should I eat anything given by strangers. What are you doing in my house?"

Xi Feijing, mistaken for a bad guy, burst into laughter, then pointed at her hand and asked, "Then can I take a look at your palm? It seems quite broad, and your feet aren’t short either."

This child, bundled up and chubby, runs quite fast without any trouble, surely a good prospect.

Unexpectedly, Xiang Jieer became even more alert and loudly said, "No! My sister said a young lady’s hand shouldn’t be shown to just anyone, especially boys. How can you be so impolite in someone else’s home!"

Xi Feijing laughed so hard he was out of breath, repeatedly saying, "Alright, alright." After laughing, he continued to ask, "When Ninth Brother returns, would you like to learn our Xi family’s staff techniques from him? After the New Year, let Ninth Brother teach you, okay?"

Xiang Jieer, now puzzled, forgot her anger and blinked curiously: "You know Ninth Brother? How do you know Ninth Brother?"

Xi Feijing nodded, "Of course I know him, half of Ninth Brother’s staff techniques were taught by me."

Xiang Jieer still didn’t understand: "Then why do you want me to learn?"

Xi Feijing countered, "Don’t you want to be a female general?"

Xiang Jieer tilted her head, puzzled: "Will learning that make me a general right away?"

Xi Feijing smiled, "Learning it won’t make you a general immediately, but it will help you defend yourself and stay healthy, not be bullied. When you grow up, if you still wish to be a female general, you can have Ninth Brother send a letter to Youzhou, and I will send someone to fetch you."

Since he knows Ninth Brother, he probably isn’t a bad guy.

Xiang Jieer thought seriously and responded, "Alright, but I don’t know if I can learn it. My brother says I can’t even climb a tree, I might not have the talent."

"Your brother isn’t a good judge of people, I see you have great talent. Brave and careful." Xi Feijing looked at her clever and intelligent appearance, also reminiscing about his own two daughters when they were young.

He chuckled softly, "Learn first, anyway, our families will be united sooner or later, learning won’t do any harm."

As they were speaking, Shen Miao came out of the kitchen with a pot and called out to him, "General Xi, why are you chatting with the child? The ‘Bo Xia Gong’ is ready."

Hearing this, Xi Feijing patted the snow off his knees, stood up, and gently said to Xiang Jieer, "Then I’ll be off, little general. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday."

Xiang Jieer, holding her candy, nodded, then suddenly looked up and asked, "Where is Youzhou? What if I want to be a female general, but you forget me? How will I find you in the future? Ask Ninth Brother?"

Xi Feijing thought for a moment, then simply took out a small jade dagger from his pocket and handed it to Xiang Jieer: "This is a trinket, you keep it. But since you’re still young, give it to your sister for safekeeping, don’t lose it. No need to show it off often. When you still wish to be a general in the future, take it out then. Consider this my pledge to you."

The jade dagger was only half a palm long, with the name "Xi Feijing" engraved on the handle. Xiang Jieer held it in her hands and studied it for a while, only recognizing one character "Fei" among the three, and scratched her head a bit embarrassed.

"Then it’s settled, you practice martial arts well, and grow up well too."

Xi Feijing smiled, his eyes crinkling, flicked his sleeves, and easily went back to the front to enjoy his lamb "Bo Xia Gong".