Royal Gold Magistrate

“Move aside! Move aside! Don’t embarrass yourselves on the street! You, go fetch water too! Hurry up and deal with this, don’t hold up people’s business!”

“You gave the guests laxatives! Every single one of them is shitting their guts out!”

The innkeeper glumly let go of Fang Zheng’s thigh and ran off with a bucket.

By now, Emperor Jing’s trio had come downstairs. Fang Zheng spotted Emperor Jing at a glance.

Smiling, he walked over. “Old Li, you’re here! Looks like the tea business is going well in the capital, eh?”

Guo Tianyang curled his lip disdainfully.

Now that they’re making money, he’s sucking up. Before it was “Mr. Li,” and now that they’re raking it in, suddenly it’s “Old Li”!

Li Yuanzhao was also chuckling to himself. It was the first time he heard someone bold enough to call the Emperor “Old Li” to his face.

Emperor Jing paid it no mind and said bluntly, “Thanks to Magistrate Fang’s good fortune, the tea is selling well. This trip back to Taoyuan County, I plan to stock up on more goods.”

“No problem! No problem at all. You gentlemen must be hungry after your long journey.”

“Come, let’s go somewhere else. Our county has a restaurant called Qingchang Tower. Today I’ll treat you all to a meal!”

The group didn’t stand on ceremony and headed straight for Qingchang Tower.

Along the way, Li Yuanzhao was still gawking at everything, finding it all novel. Only after they arrived at Qingchang Tower and took their seats did he settle down.

Before Fang Zheng could speak, Emperor Jing introduced, “Magistrate Fang, this is my son Li Yuan. I brought him along to see the world.”

Li Yuanzhao casually cupped his hands in greeting. “Pleased to meet you, Magistrate Fang.”

“Oh, what an impressive young man! Like father, like son!” No matter what, start with some flattery.

Li Yuanzhao held his head high, pleased with himself.

Hmph, naive dolt.

With introductions out of the way, Fang Zheng ignored the two and got straight to the point. “Old Li, how were the sales for those twenty catties of tea last time?”

“13,200 taels!”

Fang Zheng sucked in a breath.

Whew! Damn, this Old Li is ruthless! Selling that crappy stuff for so much money, he’s truly talented!

“Then…how much do you want this time?”

“How much can Magistrate Fang provide?”

“However much you want, this official can supply it!”

Fang Zheng was grinning from ear to ear. It seemed Old Li had gotten a taste of success and was preparing to go all-in on a big batch of tea this time.

When it came down to it, this low-quality product might only stay popular on the market for a while longer before they’d need to start developing some truly good tea.

While it was still hot, he’d let Old Li make a killing! At a time like this, everyone could make money!

Emperor Jing sipped his tea, lowering his eyes in thought.

As expected, this tea was nothing special. The so-called rarity makes for value – how much could something so readily available be worth?

It seemed the Celestial Immortal Tea could only last for one or two more harvests at most!

“Two hundred catties. I want two hundred catties this time.”

“No problem. After we’re done eating, I’ll have someone prepare the stock for you.”

As they spoke, the waiter began bringing out dish after dish. By now, Emperor Jing and the others were famished.

Seeing the table filled with all sorts of delicacies, their mouths watered.

In high spirits, Fang Zheng pointed to a dish and introduced it to Emperor Jing.

“Come, try our Taoyuan County’s most popular pork braised with noodles. It’s rich and fragrant, guaranteed to leave you craving more!”

Li Yuanzhao’s chopsticks, halfway to the dish, suddenly stopped and slowly withdrew.

“Pork?”

“That’s right, pork. Pork belly, fatty but not greasy. One taste and you’ll never forget it!” Fang Zheng glanced askance at Li Yuanzhao.

Heh, a naive little brat was still a naive little brat.

Li Yuanzhao said distastefully, “Pork is smelly! No one eats it. Is this how Magistrate Fang treats his guests?”

Oh-ho! Getting feisty now, are we?

Fang Zheng was amused. It had been a long time since he last dealt with a troublemaker!

He was just about to retort when Emperor Jing cut him off coldly.

“Li Yuan! Cease this nonsense! Magistrate Fang, don’t take offense. My foolish son is young and ignorant, forgive his lack of manners.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand. “No worries! No worries at all! If he weren’t a little hotheaded, he wouldn’t be young, right? Young people should be like this!”

Li Yuanzhao was a bit surprised, but then obediently lowered his head and started eating.

Fang Zheng continued to explain, “This pork, although it’s a lowly meat, is a rare delicacy here in Taoyuan County.”

“The pork in our Taoyuan County is incredibly fresh and fragrant, without any foul odor. It far surpasses mutton. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourselves!”

Trusting his words, Emperor Jing reached out with his chopsticks, picked up a slice of pork, and carefully chewed it in his mouth.

Then he exclaimed in admiration, “Indeed! Fatty but not greasy! It has a rich, wonderful aroma! Amazing! Truly amazing!”

Hearing this, Guo Tianyang and Li Yuanzhao each took a piece as well.

After savoring it, they both showed expressions of pleasant surprise.

Not too salty, not too bland. The flavor was exquisite!

Guo Tianyang couldn’t help but ask, “For the pork to be so incredible, are the pigs in Taoyuan County a different breed, Magistrate Fang?”

Fang Zheng shook his head with a smile. “No, no!”

“Actually, this is no secret! The truth is, these pigs are castrated!”

Guo Tianyang’s face instantly darkened.

“Pigs are fierce by nature, but after being castrated when young, they become extraordinarily docile, put on weight quickly, and don’t develop any foul odors when grown.”

“It’s the same with people! You see, castrated men are usually tall and sturdy, with gentle temperaments. Most importantly, it can even extend their lifespans! Hmm… though I suppose people would be smelly after castration.”

“So castration is quite a profound art! Castrated is better!”

Fang Zheng held up his thumb and wagged it, flashing two rows of gleaming white teeth.

Fuck!!!

Guo Tianyang was so angry he wanted to stab Fang Zheng right then and there.

We’ve only eaten together twice, and each time you have to take a jab at me! What grudge do you have against me?

Li Yuanzhao kept sneaking glances at Guo Tianyang, his shoulders shaking nonstop.

It looked like the food in his mouth was about to spray out at any moment.

A pinch on the thigh from Emperor Jing under the table finally made him stop.

“Hey, eat up. Why aren’t you eating, Mr. Guo?” Seeing Guo looking a bit glum, Young Master Fang’s bad habit of meddling flared up again.

He put a piece of pork belly into Guo Tianyang’s bowl.

“Mr. Guo, you mustn’t let the fact that this pig was castrated put you off.”

“Not only does this pork taste great, it’s also invigorating and can boost virility! Eat more and maybe it’ll help you recapture the vigor of your youth! Come on, eat!”

“Pffft!” The pork in Emperor Jing’s mouth that he hadn’t managed to swallow sprayed out.

“Sorry! *cough cough* Choked on it… *cough*…”

“Hey, Old Li, be more careful!”

With a blank expression, Guo Tianyang shoved the pork into his mouth, grinding it fiercely with his teeth…

Fang Zheng, this isn’t over between us!!!