21 Zhang's Soy Milk

  "This humble servant dares not." The middle-aged man slightly bowed to the Peony Fairy, turned around and waved his hand at those warriors. They took the young man several meters away to the side of the street, released him, and returned to the horse carriage.

  That young man who had narrowly escaped death was grinning from ear to ear, turned around and ran away, shouting as he went: "Sir, I touched the foot of the Peony Fairy! I touched the foot of the Peony Fairy!..."

  Those around him responded with a burst of understanding laughter to his infatuated and absurd enthusiasm.

  Fei Long stood in the crowd, his eyes dazed and infatuated as he stared at Mudan Xianzi, who was scolding a middle-aged man. He muttered to himself, "Even when she's angry, she looks so beautiful... if I could just touch her feet, I'd be willing to die..."

  He was too engrossed and didn't notice the strange expression on Zhen Ming's face, a mixture of shock and incredulity.

  He stared intently at the beautiful little girl Miao Yu, who bent down to pick up a small black object that was square and round, transparent and smooth, with a gemstone luster and a unique shape, as she handed it over to Master Peony.

  The peony fairy took it over with a heart-aching face, wiped it clean with her sleeve, and put it back in her bosom. From her appearance, it was obvious that she loved this small object extremely, otherwise she wouldn't have brought it with her every time she went out.

  After a group of flower fairies left in their carriage, the onlookers dispersed one after another, and the streets of Luoyang regained their usual bustle and prosperity.

  Fei Long only then discovered that Zhen Ming's hands were trembling slightly, his expression agitated, and he said with understanding: "Zhen Ge, they have already left, if you want to see them again, you can only wait until the next Hanshi Festival."

  Zhen Ming finally came back to his senses from the shock and excitement, turned around, laughed loudly and patted Fei Long's shoulder: "Fei Long, today is the happiest day since I arrived in Luoyang. Let's go, I'll treat you to something! What do you want to eat? As long as it doesn't exceed 50 copper coins, I'll pay for it!"

  "Zhang's soy milk!" Fei Long blurted out loudly, and then gulped down a mouthful of saliva.

  Zhen Ming smiled bitterly: "Fine, let's drink soy milk then. Drink until you're full. By the way, how much is it per bowl?"

  "Five copper coins."

  "......" Zhen Ming was shocked and asked, "So expensive?"

  "The most beautiful tofu in Luoyang, Xishi's soy milk is so expensive, just smelling it makes me feel like it's worth it."

  ……

  Fei Long is right, this fragrant and thick soy milk is worth five coppers just by smelling it.

  Even from a distance, you can smell this peculiar bean fragrance, which fills every street and alley.

  Compared with other soy milk, its aroma is quite different. It must have added some special spices to make this unique and unforgettable fragrance.

  Zhen Ming stopped in his tracks: "Fei Long, what did you just say the name of this soy milk seller was?"

  Fei Long turned his head and looked at him in confusion: "Tofu Western beauty Zhang, what's wrong?"

  "Is the soy milk made by herself?"

  "Of course it's her own personally ground and brewed, those who have drunk it know that the flavor is unique to this family, there's no other branch, you can't buy it anywhere else."

  Her fate was bitter as if she had something on her mind.

  Fat Dragon chuckled: "Let me tell you, whether the soy milk is good or not is secondary. The key is the person selling it. In Luoyang City, apart from Peony Fairy, this tofu beauty is the most stunning. Her figure, her looks - no man can resist her charm. Unfortunately, she got married a few years ago to a martial arts champion, who was short-lived and ill-fated. He died on the battlefield during an expedition to Korea a few years ago, leaving her a young widow. Now, she's running a tofu stall with her father-in-law by the Luo River, selling soy milk, tofu flowers, and whatnot. Business is booming."

  Zhen Ming silently listened, without saying a word, and walked forward.

  Fei Long followed from behind and asked with a strange smile: "Zhen Ge, what's wrong? You didn't get excited because you heard she's a widow, did you?"

  "You think people's hearts are like the meat on your belly, saying move and it moves?"

  Zhen Ming's bitter smile landed a loud slap on his plump belly, the flesh rippling and emitting a drum-like sound.

  Fei Long also laughed: "Zhen Ge, there's something I need to tell you beforehand. This Tofu Xixi, although she's a widow and a beautiful woman, you can only look but not touch, and definitely not sleep with her. Otherwise, disaster will befall you. You don't know how many rich young masters in Luoyang have their eyes on her, every day dozens of them go to her stall and sit there for half the day, and they can't even be chased away. But I heard from a fortune teller that she's born with a 'husband-killing' fate, whoever marries her will die within two years. I think it's true too, who wouldn't want to mess around with such a beauty every day? If you can live for two years, that's already quite good..."

  Fei Long has a special fondness for the word "sleep", which makes Zhen Ming feel very helpless.

  Two people walked and talked, soon they arrived at the end of Luoyang Street, turned a corner, and a big river appeared in front of them. The river's surface was sparkling, willow trees lined the riverbank, and along the road on the embankment, every few dozen meters there was a large banyan tree. The branches and leaves of the banyan tree were lush, under the shade of the tree, many vendors set up their stalls.

  There are vendors selling snacks, vegetables and mountain specialties, vendors selling self-produced hemp and linen fabrics, and so on. They shout rhythmic hawking calls to attract passing customers.

  Among so many stalls, one was particularly lively. Under a big tree, several small square tables were set up, and they were all filled with people.

  "There is Zhang's tofu stall." Fei Long pointed at the crowded stall and said.

  The fate of the investigation was actually seen early on, and in front of that stall, a white cloth sign floating with the river wind had written several large words - Zhang's Tofu Stall, which was particularly eye-catching.

  The tofu stall consists of a mobile stove with small wheels, on which there are pots and pans, and a black iron pot is placed on the stove, burning coal fire, boiling the soy milk in the pot to a scalding hot and fragrant aroma that can be smelled hundreds of meters away.

  A faintly discernible figure stood inside the stove, with a white scarf wrapped around her chest and a red headscarf tied on her head, holding up a head of raven-black long hair.

  They were too far away, and he couldn't see her face clearly. However, her fair and smooth skin was visible at a glance, and it shone brightly in the sunlight. "Zhen Ge, let's slow down," Fei Long called out softly from behind, reminding him: "After we pass the tofu stall, don't keep staring at her. Just take an occasional glance, buy some soy milk, and then walk away a bit. Don't talk to her, or else we'll provoke those people and won't be able to leave with our lives."

  As he spoke, he made a signal with his eyes towards the stall behind the tofu stand.

  Zhen Ming's gaze followed his eyes and looked over, only to notice that there were more than a dozen young men sitting on the stools at the stall, wearing luxurious clothes, rich family sons.

  In their hands, some were holding folding fans and fanning themselves, some were holding books and pretending to read with a serious expression, some were staring intently at the shadow of Tofu Xishi, and others were drooling and actively approaching her to strike up a conversation.

  These young and handsome masters have two to four strong-looking house slaves following behind them, with a ferocious appearance.

  Zhen Ming suddenly realized why Fei Long had specially warned him earlier. It turned out that if he dared to say a few more words to Zhang Shi or look at her for two more eyes, in no time, a group of people would rush up to clean him up, just like when he was queuing for porridge at Hong Xing Inn. In this era, looking at beauties also requires qualifications and background.

  "Zhen ge, I won't go over there, can you help me buy a bowl and bring it over?" Fei Long stopped about ten meters away from the tofu stall, speaking to Zhen Mingxu with some trepidation.

  He looks timid, as if he had been taken advantage of at a tofu stall before.

  Zhen Ming was bitter and lost his voice in laughter. This fat dragon's brain is not stupid, but the person is a bit timid. When encountering weakness, he becomes strong; when encountering strength, he becomes weak.

  He turned around and walked towards the woman in front of the tofu stall.