Xu Hengyi could now clearly see the dishes on the table.
The entire table was filled with all sorts of seafood! Half of them were also seasoned with chili peppers!
Seafood with chili peppers! Xu Hengyi had never eaten it before, but the aroma alone made it smell incredibly delicious, and his mouth was watering!
Could all this delicious food not stop the old men from talking!
Why were they still drinking wine!
Eat!
Xu Hengyi was anxious for the old men.
Seeing that Xie Jiang was completely unmoved, as stubborn as a rock in a latrine, nothing they said would work. Xie Taihong was even less dependable. Zhao Guogong and Yongxin Hou had no choice but to quiet down.
Xie Taihong silently breathed a sigh of relief.
He really hoped they wouldn't try to make him use his fatherly authority to restrain the demon Xie again.
What authority did he have?
He wouldn't dare to act like that even if it were an act.
Even though he was still the living Duke of Xie, if he truly angered the demon Xie, he would be the corpse of the Duke of Xie by tomorrow morning.
Only two pots of wine were left on the table. Zhao Guogong picked one up and shook it. Both pots were only half full.
How could this little bit of wine satisfy anyone's craving?
Zhao Guogong and Yongxin Hou quickly poured themselves a full glass each.
Yongchang Hou and Qian Guogong dared not fall behind.
"Half for each of us, half for each of us, you can't take it all..."
"Don't think I didn't see you two sneakily drinking several glasses just now. Why are you so calculating..."
While Zhao Guogong and Yongxin Hou were protesting and arguing with Xie Jiang, Qian Guogong and Yongchang Hou remained silent, seizing the opportunity to gulp down glass after glass.
The four old men fought over the wine like children fighting over snacks.
Yongxin Hou looked at Xie Jiang and lamented, "It would be so good if you opened a restaurant!"
That way, they wouldn't have to run to the Nanhai Hou Mansion every day and be controlled and manipulated by this brat! They were only allowed to drink a little bit each time! They were managed more strictly than their own family members!
Xie Jiang said, "I don't lack this little bit of money."
Look at that arrogant and rich demeanor!
How infuriating!
Although it was a pity that there wasn't much wine left to accompany the meal, the seafood on the table was very much to their liking. Old Qin Guogong beckoned his brothers to eat quickly.
Zhao Guogong and Yongxin Hou both had the air of wanting to eat the Nanhai Hou out of house and home.
Such pale and powerless threats had no effect on Xie Baiwan, who was immensely wealthy.
How much could a few old men eat?
Besides, they never came empty-handed.
If she really calculated it, she might even be making a profit.
The Nanhai Hou Mansion, which was originally empty, gradually began to have some signs of life.
Xie Taihong instructed the servants to serve them well. If any dish was particularly to the old men's liking, he would immediately have the kitchen make another portion and send it up. Although he had little status in the mansion, he could still make decisions on such matters.
Tian Kangtai came in to invite Xie Jiang and the others to eat in the adjacent hall. Another table was set in the adjacent hall, as this table for the old men couldn't accommodate so many people.
Xu Hengyi eagerly shuffled his small steps towards the door.
The old men originally had questions for Xie Jiang, but she had cut off their wine as soon as she appeared, diverting all their attention.
Seeing Xie Jiang lead the way to the next room, they suddenly remembered.
Qian Guogong thought it was best to eat first and then talk later.
Xie Taihong moved to the adjacent side hall to eat with the younger generation.
The dishes were similar to those on the old men's table, all seafood that had been transported from the coast that morning.
The capital was not by the sea, but seafood was not a rare item for these powerful young men.
What was rare was the Nanhai Hou Mansion's distinctly different cooking methods.
After just a glance at the table, the three of them were filled with anticipation for the meal.
Xie Jiang ignored Xie Taihong and walked forward to take her seat.
Seeing this, Xie Taihong's eyelids twitched. He quickly followed and sat down, enthusiastically inviting everyone to eat.
Fortunately, everyone's attention was on the table, and no one noticed Xie Jiang's actions.
Xie Taihong didn't expect the great demon to pretend in front of outsiders. She was so used to being a boss that she couldn't see others at all. In her eyes, everyone she saw should prostrate themselves at her feet.
If anyone thought she was unfilial or disrespectful, it must be because he, as her father, was incompetent.
After sitting down, Lu Yuqing couldn't help but say, "Are these all Lan Yong's cooking techniques? They are truly different from our Da Yu."
Xu Hengyi started eating without politeness and praised as he ate, "This mantis shrimp is too delicious, crispy and fragrant, filling the mouth with fragrance..."
Xie Taihong introduced gracefully, "This is salt and pepper mantis shrimp."
While dining elegantly, Xie Taihong also took the opportunity to explain the general methods of each dish to Xu Hengyi and the other four.
"What is this steamed large shell? It's so fresh..."
"Squid can be eaten like this too! It's so flavorful!"
"Leave some for us too, will you? One chopstick and half the plate is gone!"
"This crab is also delicious, fresh, fragrant, numbing, and spicy..."
"We used to eat them steamed or boiled, but I never thought stir-frying them with chili peppers could be so delicious, and without any fishy smell at all..."
"With so many chili peppers added, even the strongest fishy smell can be masked..."
"Ah, so spicy... hiss hiss..."
"Have some fruit juice. There's grape juice and pear juice with ice over there. They not only cut through the richness but also relieve the spiciness."
Lu Yuqing took a sip of the grape juice, his eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, "I didn't expect grapes could be consumed this way. Blending them into juice is quite delicious. Bring me a cup of every other juice too."
Xu Hengyi said, "Xie Jiang has countless varieties of food and drinks here."
Lu Yuqing then seemed to realize something, "My grandfather came to the Nanhai Hou Mansion every day regardless of the weather. I originally thought it was because Physician Lou put on airs, but only today did I realize I had misunderstood Physician Lou."
Everyone at the table laughed at his words.
Lu Yuqing said to Xu Hengyi, "I've heard for a long time that you and His Highness the Fifth Prince are frequent visitors to Marquis Xie's. Now I know why."
It was all for the food.
Otherwise, what else?
Xu Hengyi glanced back at Lu Yuqing as he ate.
Could it be that he was captivated by Xie Jiang's character and charm?
He wasn't some scumbag who felt uncomfortable if he didn't get kicked by Xie Jiang twice a day.
A servant quickly brought two cups of juice and placed them in front of Lu Yuqing, "This is pear juice and pomegranate juice."
Yue Lin and the other two were not new to spicy food. Thanks to the old men, they had all tried it to varying degrees.
When they first returned from Ninghe, the old men had also gotten a lot of chili sauce from Xie Jiang. Since the mansion's cooks couldn't replicate it, the old men simply mixed it with rice and noodles.
They had also eaten a few dishes with chili peppers at Chunse Manyuan last night.
However, they were still a bit unaccustomed to it, but they didn't resist, and even found the spiciness somewhat exhilarating.
"Your Lan Yong chili peppers are too magical. After eating them, it feels like there's a ball of fire burning in your stomach, as if you've drunk several jin of strong liquor. No wonder my grandfather and the others exclaimed with great enjoyment."
"You're just starting to eat spicy food, so it's a bit stimulating to your stomach. Once you get used to it, you won't feel it anymore."
Xie Taihong's demeanor was warm and talkative. Although he was an elder, Xu Shuo and the others didn't feel constrained.
Not all the dishes on the table were seasoned with chili peppers, but the ones that were particularly caught people's attention, and everyone was willing to try and challenge them.
Lu Yuqing, while gasping and wiping his sweat and drinking the iced fruit juice, said with great satisfaction, "Starting tomorrow, I will accompany my grandfather to the Nanhai Hou Mansion for consultations every day."