Chapter 405: Kindness to Others Is Kindness to Oneself
"It doesn't matter if you dare to gamble!" The voice came from the staircase above the counter. Hua Zhi looked up, unsurprised to see quite a few people already watching the commotion. The speaker was none other than Liu Ruyi, whom she had briefly encountered at the dock.
She inclined her body slightly toward Liu Ruyi, who grinned and returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute. "Young Lady, you've chosen the wrong name for this shop."
Hua Zhi responded with good humor, "What name would be more suitable, then?"
"How about 'The Finest Delicacy Under Heaven'?"
"That sounds far too arrogant."
"No, no, I only wish there were better words to describe it." Liu Ruyi descended two steps and leaned on the stair railing, his noble bearing undiminished even in such a casual pose. "Young Lady, this shop of yours must endure forever. My family's matriarch adores a good bowl of soup, and now I have another way to show my filial devotion to her."
"Kindness to others is kindness to oneself"—this phrase filled Hua Zhi's heart. She bowed gracefully, mentally noting this act of goodwill.
Liu Ruyi's overt support was not lost on the others, and teasing urgings grew louder. The scholar found himself trapped, unable to advance or retreat. Hua Zhi had no intention of offering him an escape route, quietly waiting for his response.
"This is outrageous! This isn't a place of business—it's a den of bullying!" he exclaimed, attempting to shove his way out. The person he pushed happened to be Yu Xiasheng, who, fortunately, was no bookish fool ignorant of the world. Knowing the man couldn't be allowed to leave just yet, Yu Xiasheng stood firm, rooted to the spot.
In that moment of hesitation, Hua Zhi issued her instructions: "Manager Xu, please escort this guest to the clinic. And remind him that Sea Delicacies will keep mushrooms and taro ready at all times, awaiting his challenge."
Xu Biao immediately stepped forward with the guards who had been waiting nearby, politely but firmly leading the pale-faced scholar to the clinic a few shops away. Before opening, Hua Zhi had visited there both to establish relations and gather some information.
With the spectacle over, some returned to their seats while others voiced their curiosity. "Young Lady, how did you know that man wouldn't dare eat the taro and mushrooms?"
"May I ask, sir, if you developed such symptoms, would you rush to pick a fight or seek medical help first?"
"I'd see a doctor immediately, of course."
"And him?"
The questioning scholar understood. "Right, he acted as if he knew he'd be fine."
"Sea Delicacies is the first establishment in the capital to serve fresh seafood. Aside from this notice, I haven't publicized that seafood might cause allergies—meaning very few should know what an allergic reaction looks like. Yet, as you all saw, that guest was startled but not panicked. His performance was unconvincing."
Liu Ruyi, still leaning on the railing, asked, "Young Lady, can people truly be unable to eat seafood?"
"Yes. I previously consulted Doctor Chu, who said a small number of people are born different—certain things are utterly off-limits to them, like taro, mushrooms, or fish. That guest likely belongs to this group."
"But how were you so certain he was?"
"I bluffed him."
The crowd fell silent.Hua Zhi lightly covered the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief to conceal her smile. "He's far too confident, which shows he's fully aware of his own situation. I merely made a guess, never expecting to hit the mark."
Liu Ruyi gave a thumbs-up, shaking his head as he went upstairs, though the laughter in his eyes remained unmistakable.
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving the emperor and An Yi conspicuously standing by the second-floor stairwell, peering through the gaps to observe everything happening downstairs.
Hua Zhi was well aware of the probing gazes, but with countless eyes—both overt and covert—fixed on her, one more made little difference. She paid it no mind and turned to Yu Xiasheng, who had yet to leave. "Your chivalry is appreciated, sir. I am indebted."
Yu Xiasheng waved his hands repeatedly. "Young lady, you make this humble scholar blush with such praise."
Hua Zhi smiled and changed the subject. "What do you think of the food, sir? Is it palatable?"
"The flavors are quite authentic." Yu Xiasheng dared not be disrespectful to the young lady; though he lifted his head, his gaze remained lowered. "It's quite a coincidence—I am from Chu Yang in Jingzhou. Being close to the sea there, I grew up accustomed to such seafood. I was initially worried... but never expected it would evoke such a homely feeling. You, young lady, understand cuisine well. What sets seafood apart from other foods is its freshness. The most authentic taste comes from its original flavor. I enjoyed it greatly."
Hua Zhi smiled; such words pleased her. "Feel free to visit whenever you have time, sir. While I cannot promise much else, the taste will remain consistent."
"Naturally. During my stay in the capital, I fear I shall be visiting daily to satisfy my cravings." Yu Xiasheng bowed slightly and returned to his seat. Hua Zhi noticed he hadn't come alone—his table seated six.
"Send a few dishes they didn't order to Mr. Yu's table. Do not charge them."
Bao Xia responded crisply, her skirts swaying lightly as she headed to the kitchen.
The counter was temporarily unattended. Just as Hua Zhi was about to step in, she was gently pulled back. Nian Qiu entered the counter first, exchanging a glance with Liu Xiang. "Miss, allow me to handle this. Please go inside and rest."
Hua Zhi didn't insist. In her world, the notion of women avoiding public exposure had long been discarded—after all, wasn't she herself out in the open?
The emperor watched her leave until she was out of sight, his smile carrying a profound meaning.
"Your Majesty, you..."
"Let's return." The emperor descended the stairs leisurely, stood before the counter, and gestured for An Yi to hand over the token. "Settle the bill."
Nian Qiu had been recording entries in her ledger but instinctively set it aside and stood to greet them upon hearing the voice. Unnoticed, the ledger brushed against a wooden plaque inside the counter and reopened.
She took the token, flipped to the corresponding bill, and began calculating. The emperor, being tall, noticed her actions and let his gaze fall upon the ledger. He subtly shifted a step closer for a clearer view—this ledger was indeed different from any he had seen before.
"To inform you, after rounding down, the total is twenty-four taels."
"Not expensive at all."
The emperor smiled with an almost benevolent air. Nian Qiu smiled in return. "Originally forty-eight taels, but half-price makes it this amount."
An Yi handed over the silver. The emperor inquired further, "Even forty-eight taels wouldn't be costly. It mustn't be easy to transport these goods from the south."
"Indeed. To keep the seafood as fresh as possible, the ships carry large quantities of seawater. Only seawater can sustain marine life.""The more cargo the sea carries, the less water remains," the Emperor nodded in understanding. "Indeed, you have put thought into this."
"To receive such words from a guest is already worthwhile." Nian Qiu handed over the change.
"Keep it as your reward." The Emperor waved his hand and turned to leave. Once outside, the smile remained on his face, but his tone turned light. "Go now."
"Yes." An Yi assisted the Emperor into the carriage and watched as it slowly departed. Turning back to look at the words "Seafood" on the sign, his usually cold expression revealed a trace of complexity.
PS: The next chapter involves major plot developments. Kongkong is still hesitating whether to heavily revise or rewrite it, as it hasn't captured the intended intensity yet. So don't wait up - rest assured this chapter will be completed and it won't affect tomorrow's double update.
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