Nie Tong nimbly stepped forward to take all seven fish, then, with a swagger, asked Wen Feng to help him take out the bottles and jars from his satchel.
Wen Feng was truly enlightened. Small, exquisite metal cans, containing everything from oil and salt to soy sauce and vinegar.
Did they bring seasonings for field work?
Truly worthy of Miss Xie's people.
Marquis Yongchang looked and said, "Oh, there's grilled fish to eat, is there any for us?"
Xie Jiang smiled politely, "The evening banquet is already being prepared. Besides the sweet potato feast, there are other grand dishes. Since the esteemed old lords and old marquises are gracing my place for a meal, how could I possibly dismiss them with just a sweet potato feast? Marquis, if you want grilled fish, no problem. My cook can grill it for you in various styles."
"Marquis, you shouldn't be thinking about grilled fish right now, lest your tongue becomes too accustomed to the taste and affects your enjoyment of the grand meal tonight. Marquis, you should eat more roasted sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes dug and roasted by your own hands, don't they taste exceptionally delicious?"
"It's been many years since you last worked the land, Marquis. Now that you've finally come to the fields with the esteemed old lords and old marquises, why not truly connect with the earth?"
Marquis Yongchang, while gnawing on a sweet potato, grumbled, "You say all this, boy, but you're just afraid I'll snatch the fish from you, aren't you?"
"There are only a few fish. If everyone eats fish, there won't be enough to go around. I might as well eat them myself."
Xie Jiang openly guarded her food. These old men were all shrewd individuals, having navigated the imperial court for decades. They were all seasoned veterans, and trying any petty tricks on them would be futile.
Marquis Yongxin expressed disdain for grilled fish, "Who hasn't eaten grilled fish a hundred or eighty times? How can grilled fish compare to the deliciousness of sweet potatoes!"
Xie Jiang heartily agreed, "Fish have too many bones and a strong fishy smell. How can they compare to roasted sweet potatoes? I'll eat the fish, and the old gentlemen can eat the sweet potatoes."
Xu Hengyan smiled as Xie Jiang walked over, "You seem quite energetic right now."
"I just stretched my muscles, so I'm not sleepy anymore."
Xie Jiang glanced back at Yi Yanheng, the hidden meaning in her words only Yi Yanheng could understand.
Xu Hengyan followed her gaze to Yi Yanheng. Yi Yanheng seemed to have spent the entire morning with her, and Xu Hengyan felt a vague sense of exclusion.
He couldn't help but find himself ridiculous. He had developed certain thoughts that shouldn't have arisen, and now he assumed everyone else was the same?
She and Yi Yanheng had been close for a long time. After not seeing each other for months, was it strange for them to spend more time together?
Yi Yanheng was in a very good mood at the moment. He met Xu Hengyan's gaze and even nodded politely in response.
At this time, the servants and attendants from each household were eating.
Luo Tie saw that the boiled water had cooled down and carried the pot to pour water for all the old gentlemen.
Seeing Duke Zhao holding a raw sweet potato, he asked while pouring water into Duke Zhao's bowl, "Old Duke, are you planning to eat a raw sweet potato? Shall I take it to wash it clean for you before you eat?"
Duke Zhao was somewhat surprised, "Sweet potatoes can be eaten raw?"
Luo Tie nodded, "Yes, they are quite delicious eaten raw."
Xun Geng, standing nearby, heard this and exclaimed, "Hmm," then instructed his servant, "Go get a raw sweet potato and wash it clean."
Duke Zhao looked at the sweet potato in his hand, wiped it on his trouser leg, and after removing the dirt and sand, took a bite.
Duke Zhao let out a surprised "Mm."
Xun Geng asked, "How is it?"
"Delicious! Crunchy!"
Duke Zhao crunched on it, bite after bite.
Xie Jiang hadn't even started eating her grilled fish, and the old gentlemen were already eating roasted sweet potatoes in one hand and raw sweet potatoes in the other.
Duke Qian exclaimed in surprise, "I never imagined they could be eaten like fruit."
Xie Jiang smiled politely and obediently, "As long as the esteemed old gentlemen are enjoying their meal, that's all that matters. I have something I'd like to request."
Duke Qian said, "Go ahead."
Xie Jiang said with a serious expression, "I can't really help much in the fields, so I'll head back this afternoon to oversee the cook preparing the grand meal for the gentlemen."
Duke Qian said, "The cook is enough to prepare the banquet. Why are you going back? Do you intend to cook yourself?"
Xie Jiang replied, "I must ensure that the esteemed old lords and old marquises come with high spirits and leave satisfied."
Duke Qian took a sip of water before slowly saying, "If the grand meal tonight doesn't satisfy us, you'll come with us to dig sweet potatoes tomorrow. No slacking off by the side; you'll have to do it yourself. You'll have to dig as much as we do!"
"It's a deal!" Xie Jiang didn't believe that people who could slice raw meat and raw fish into strips and consider them delicacies could escape her cook's culinary skills.
Duke Qian waved his hand, agreeing to Xie Jiang's early departure.
After filling their stomachs, the old gentlemen rested by the field for a while before continuing their work.
In reality, there were ample hands for harvesting sweet potatoes, and the county office had already arranged how many mu to harvest each day and how many days it would take.
But the old gentlemen simply enjoyed doing this work.
With each swing of the hoe, numerous sweet potatoes were unearthed, bringing them an indescribable sense of psychological satisfaction.
As the aroma of grilled fish wafted over with the wind, Marquis Yongxin and Marquis Yongchang exchanged glances, both suspecting they had been deceived.
The grilled fish smelled quite good. Even after being full, they were salivating. How could it not compare to sweet potatoes?
Xu Hengyan, busy for a while, subconsciously looked towards the edge of the field. He saw Xie Jiang holding a piece of grilled fish with a leaf in one hand, and with the other, she tore off a piece of fish meat and stuffed it into her mouth.
A smile involuntarily appeared in Xu Hengyan's eyes. He remembered their days of surviving in the wilderness after falling off the suspension bridge, when she also tore off pieces of fish meat like this.
She would eat one piece herself and feed him another, whether he wanted it or not.
Xu Hengyan suddenly craved grilled fish.
"Hey, hey, hey, young master..." Guang Baihua hadn't finished speaking.
Xu Hengyan walked over and saw that besides the one Xie Jiang was eating, Nie Tong had already grilled three more fish. He smiled and asked Xie Jiang, "Can you share a grilled fish with me?"
Xie Jiang looked surprised, "Didn't you eat lunch?"
Xu Hengyan smiled at her, "I did, but smelling the aroma of grilled fish, I'm a bit tempted."
Nie Tong immediately wrapped a grilled fish and handed it to Xu Hengyan.
Everyone else had either roasted sweet potatoes or food brought by the locals for lunch. Only his young master was picky and ate grilled fish. His young master couldn't possibly finish all seven fish.
Yi Yanheng glanced at Nie Tong and, with great eagerness, said, "Give me a fish too."
Nie Tong treated both young masters equally, handing another grilled fish to Yi Yanheng, and then continued to grill the remaining ones.
Xu Hengyan stood beside Xie Jiang, sniffed the grilled fish in his hand, and praised Nie Tong's craftsmanship. Then, looking at her profile, he asked, "Did you catch the fish in the river yourself?"
Xie Jiang felt a slight burning sensation on her back, "I only caught one. It was Yi Yanheng and Wen Feng who caught the rest."
Turning her head, she saw Yi Yanheng indeed looking at her. The murderous intent in this person's eyes was growing stronger.
"Then I must thank Young Master Yi greatly. Otherwise, I fear I wouldn't have had this culinary pleasure." Xu Hengyan said, turning his head and smiling at Yi Yanheng, who was sitting behind him.
Yi Yanheng gave a fake smile, "So much talk for eating a fish. Why don't they choke to death?"
"I just agreed with Duke Qian that I'll head back after I finish eating. I'll leave these old men to you," Xie Jiang said, taking a bite of fish and sighing, "It feels like escaping from a disaster."
Xu Hengyan said with amusement, "There are still people who give Young Master Xie a headache. Truly, one thing conquers another."
Xie Jiang said, "They act as they please, relying on their age. It's all my fault for being too respectful of elders and loving the young, and for having too good a character."