"Dad, I know what it is," Yu'er said, leaning into his mother's embrace, but not forgetting to turn to tell his father, "This is a potato. Sister and Brother Qi and the two uncles found it in the rain back then. Sister also said that potatoes are delicious."
After Yu'er finished, he couldn't help but smack his lips and take another deep breath. He really wanted to taste what potatoes were like now, and if they were as delicious as his sister said.
In fact, he really wanted to say that his stomach was still empty, and he wanted to eat something.
...
Led by Old Master Wu, several merchants were borrowing the firelight to warm themselves by the campfire. When they heard Yu'er's description, their stomachs rumbled even louder. The grown men all blushed and desperately clutched their bellies.
Qi He and Nianzi exchanged a look and did not smile. Their thoughts coincided with Yu'er's. The two of them, regardless of how many more people had joined them, skillfully picked up the potatoes they had just placed on the broken tile.
Fortunately, although the two of them were fond of food, they were not greedy. They knew to only pick up medium-sized ones and break them apart to share.
However, when Nianzi broke open the roasted, blackened skin, revealing the steaming potato flesh inside, he immediately blurted out two words: "So fragrant."
"Brother Nianzi," Yu'er licked his small lips, looking like he wanted to eat.
Before Nianzi could speak, Qi He had already stuffed his half of the small potato into Yu'er's hand. He couldn't resist adding, "This potato is still hot, Yu'er, be careful not to burn yourself."
"Thank you, Brother Qi," Yu'er took the potato and exclaimed, "Wow, it's so hot."
Seeing his son's face, which was not exaggerating, Fu Yu immediately took the potato from his son's hand. "It is indeed hot. Daddy will blow on it for you to eat." Fu Yu said, smiling gratefully at Qi He, then broke the potato into small pieces, blew on them, and when he felt they were not too hot, he put them into his son's mouth.
"Mmm, it's really delicious," Yu'er swayed his little head, looking very satisfied.
At this moment, Fu Xinci finally had a moment to spare. She gave her grandfather a look, signaling him to break the small potatoes and share them with the children.
No one was more suitable for this task than her grandfather. She was afraid that by the time Jiang Tou'er reacted, all these small potatoes would have ended up in his old stomach.
As expected, Fu Xinci's worries were not unfounded. Just as Meng Qingping was distributing potatoes according to his granddaughter's request, Jiang Tou'er stroked his goatee and walked over steadily.
He was wearing the black uniform of an official and had a saber at his waist. Wu Laoda and the merchants at the head of the group wisely moved aside, clearing a path for him.
Jiang Tou'er was pleased with their actions and, as usual, squatted casually next to Meng Qingping, speaking to him.
Meng Qingping did not stand on ceremony with him and took the opportunity to introduce his son and daughter-in-law to him.
Looking at the dignified Fu Yu, Jiang Tou'er said with some regret, "Second Brother Meng, if you hadn't been implicated by that damned Meng family, my nephew would surely have become a good official like you in the future."
Meng Qingping naturally understood that his son's knowledge surpassed his own, and if he had pursued a career in officialdom, his future would have been limitless. But now, there was no use in saying more. He could only wave his hand and say indifferently, "Brother Jiang, let's not mention the past."
"Alright, let's not talk about those past events. Don't scholars always say that we should focus on the present and enjoy ourselves in time?"
Meng Qingping: "..."
After Jiang Tou'er finished speaking, he stopped pretending to be refined. Without waiting for Meng Qingping to be polite, he picked up a potato, peeled off the scorched skin, and took a bite.
"Mmm, this is delicious," Jiang Tou'er said, taking another bite. He then continued to Meng Qingping, "Second Brother Meng, it would be even better if this potato were mixed with some green sauce."
However, the food they had made along the way was such that, let alone green sauce, they could only add a little coarse salt. There was no more if they added more.
Alas, they couldn't help it. Their money bags were empty, and the money given by their superiors was so little. It was already quite good for them to beg for food at the yamen they passed by. In such wilderness, they saved as much as they could. Who would make good food for exiled criminals? That would be crazy, and seriously crazy.
Meng Qingping had already anticipated that Jiang Tou'er would like the roasted potatoes as soon as he smelled their焦香 (scorched fragrance). However, he had not expected Jiang Tou'er to still be thinking about green sauce while eating potatoes.
Green sauce was considered a valuable item. Even in the capital, not every ordinary family had it, let alone on the road of exile.
Jiang Tou'er: It wasn't that he absolutely had to have green sauce; he was just speaking his mind.
However, Wu Laoda found an opportunity in Jiang Tou'er's words and approached him fawningly, saying, "Esteemed officer, we travel all over the country and often camp in the wilderness..."
"Just say what you want to say, and don't beat around the bush with me." Jiang Tou'er did not like Wu Laoda's preamble. Perhaps it was a habit developed from his profession, he liked straightforwardness, like pouring beans out of a bamboo tube.
"Heh heh," Wu Laoda chuckled a couple of times before continuing, "We have pots, bowls, and utensils. Although we don't have all the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, we still have half a pottery jar of bean paste."
Jiang Tou'er's small eyes lit up again at the mention of "bean paste," his gaze clearly telling Wu Laoda that he wanted some.
Wu Laoda, who understood his intentions, shot his brother a knowing glance. Old Third Wu immediately opened a basket where food was stored, took out a wooden bowl, and scooped a spoonful of bean paste from a pottery jar, quickly placing it in front of Jiang Tou'er.
To be able to eat authentic bean paste in a dilapidated temple in the mountains, Jiang Tou'er smiled a little smugly. He thanked him and took the wooden bowl containing the bean paste.
However, the small potato he had just eaten was a bit small and had already been finished by him. His eyes flickered to the small piece of potato in the children's hands, and he felt too embarrassed to say that he wanted more.
Even though the gluttonous worm in his stomach was crawling around, he dared not say anything.
Wu Laoda was also a sharp person. As soon as he entered the dilapidated temple, he had secretly scanned the people present. The information he gathered was that a group of officials was escorting a group of exiled criminals.
Others would surely spit and say it was bad luck to encounter such a group. But he was not. His heart was already blooming with joy.
Officials escorting exiled criminals – what a great opportunity! If they could travel with this escorting team, the mountain bandits and robbers probably wouldn't dare to target them. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was true. If Wu Laoda were not afraid of being scolded by these officials, he would have wanted to carry that thin old man and run barefoot in the heavy rain for a few laps with his unspeakable thoughts.