Chapter 1224: Big Feast for Guests

"Luring the enemy?" Situ Yu, a seasoned veteran, understood instantly. "Does Mr. He already have a well-formed plan?"

He Lingchuan smiled. "I have an idea."

As it wasn't far, He Lingchuan simply hired all the chefs and assistants from Yaopo's best restaurant and brought them directly to Jishi Village to prepare a meal. Boss He had booked the restaurant for the evening and requested the chefs cook on-site. All the meat and vegetable supplies were transported from Yaopo, filling seventeen large carts. The people of Yaopo came out to watch, pointing and remarking on the wealthy boss's extravagance. The procession of so many large carts winding along the mountain road was quite a spectacle, fully escorted by Situ family guards, giving it a grand air.

Upon returning to Jishi Village, the guards turned back, while the restaurant chefs and workers used the village's rustic stoves to begin preparing the grand feast. That evening, the aroma filled the entire village.

He Lingchuan had a close relationship with the Situ family, so Situ Yu allocated four hundred men to guard Rolling Stone Valley, stationing them outside Jishi Village. Barely had the army set up camp that evening when the comforting delicacies sent by He Lingchuan arrived. Not only were they personally prepared by the chefs, but they were also served fresh from the kitchen, still steaming. Only wine was missing, but the troops were not allowed to drink while on duty. The soldiers ate with gusto, their mouths slick with oil, continuously praising the owner of Yangshan Trading Company for his thoughtfulness.

Furthermore, He Lingchuan invited every miner from Rolling Stone Valley and every household in Jishi Village to a celebratory banquet at the threshing ground—only the threshing ground could accommodate dozens of tables. Boss He treated the entire village to a feast! For those who preferred not to attend, He Lingchuan sent people to their homes with two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, a pot of wine, and some fruits. The meat dishes included braised chicken legs or red-braised pork, glistening with rich red oil. Some even featured smoked fish and stewed rabbit, making mouths water the moment the covers were lifted. The banquet at the threshing ground was naturally the most lavish, with eight dishes per table, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, and generously portioned to ensure everyone was full. At the same time, each table was supplied with a jar of wine. Before the banquet began, firecrackers were set off, crackling for over thirty minutes and filling the air with smoke. This small mountain village hadn't been this lively in a very long time.

He Lingchuan went from table to table to toast, especially the employees of Yangshan stationed in Rolling Stone Valley. They had all traveled across the ocean to Flash Gold Plain, risking their lives to expand the territory for Yangshan Trading Company. Beyond generous compensation, He Lingchuan ensured they were well-treated in every other aspect. With the boss treating and the toasts being so heartfelt, everyone ate and drank to their hearts' content. The primary aim was to ensure universal contentment.

He Lingchuan sat at the main table, accompanied by Jiang Lishui and others. Cups clinked, and flattery was plentiful, as laughter echoed over Jishi Village. The miners and villagers, letting the words go in one ear and out the other, paid no mind, focusing instead on feasting heartily. What did these discussions between foreign merchants have to do with them? They didn't understand anyway, so eating plenty of good food was their main priority.

After three rounds of drinks, Jiang Lishui voiced his concern: "Boss, you've offended Bixia and that Xuanlu Ghost King. You must be extremely careful for your safety, lest you fall prey to those devils."

He Lingchuan chuckled, "I haven't fought Bixia people; how can that be offending them? We are just merchants. What, do the Bixia people dictate who I do business with?"

Jiang Lishui suddenly understood. "Yes, yes, you're right."

"And about the Ghost King," He Lingchuan raised his cup and took a sip, "I'll depart first thing tomorrow morning and take a ship back to Giant Deer Port. No matter how powerful this Xuanlu Ghost King is, can he cross the ocean to pursue me?"

"No, definitely not," Jiang Lishui, having had too much to drink, was no longer as reserved. He slapped his thigh with an exclamation. "Boss is returning west tomorrow? Then tonight should have been our farewell banquet for you! Come, your subordinate toasts to your every wish coming true and boundless fortune!"

He Lingchuan patted Jiang Lishui's shoulder: "You don't need to worry. After I leave, the Xuanlu Ghost King will have no target and won't do anything thankless. Rolling Stone Valley will also be guarded by the Situ family's troops, so I don't anticipate any further invasions by ghosts or bandits. You can just mine with peace of mind."

Jiang Lishui patted his chest. "Your words put my mind at ease, Boss." As soon as He Lingchuan set his cup down, Jiang Lishui quickly filled it three-quarters full.

"You've done well here, showing courage, foresight, and the ability to seize opportunities," He Lingchuan swirled his cup. "Work for another two years in Flash Gold Plain, and I'll have another assignment for you." During its expansion phase, Yangshan Islands truly needed such talent. Jiang Lishui had earned the chance to prove himself and certainly deserved a reward.

Jiang Lishui was overjoyed and immediately toasted him. "Thank you, Boss!" His efforts had finally been noticed by the top leader! Promotion and advancement were now within reach. It wasn't in vain that he risked his life to brave the winds and waves in this God-forsaken land. Several members of the Yangshan Trading Company listened with envy, one by one raising their cups to toast. Dining at the same table as the Great Boss, even just getting noticed by him, would be greatly beneficial for future promotions. If there was a task requiring someone, and the Great Boss thought, 'That person seemed quite good,' and casually assigned them, wouldn't their future be secure? So, this round of toasts was again booming, its sounds carrying far and wide.

The miners and villagers at the threshing ground remained engrossed in eating and drinking, only wrestling with the delicious food on their tables. Some, sitting at adjacent tables, overheard the conversations of the Yangshan Trading Company members, occasionally looking up at He Lingchuan and the others.

It wasn't until around the first watch of the night that Boss He's celebratory banquet finally concluded. The miners and villagers returned to their homes, burping contentedly, while the restaurant chefs and workers cleared away the leftovers from the threshing ground and drove back to Yaopo that very night. This was also Boss He's request. Although it was exhausting, he paid so generously that the chefs and workers, despite their fatigue, happily returned to the city with their money. Every rich person has their eccentricities, don't they?

After the large group departed, Jishi Village finally returned to its former tranquility. The moon, which had been shyly hidden for half the night, emerged from behind the clouds, casting its clear radiance upon the world.

Returning to the village chief's house to rest, Dong Rui quietly asked He Lingchuan: "After putting on such a grand show, are you sure it will come tonight?"

"We'll see," He Lingchuan replied, lying down fully clothed. "I've given it the chance. Now we'll see if it's effective."

While He Lingchuan was hosting a grand banquet for guests in Jishi Village, the atmosphere at Ju City's government office was somber, a stark contrast. With Baixian Town captured, the Bixia people lost an important foothold here. From now on, all their personnel could only enter and exit through Ju City, significantly impacting their reconnaissance, lookout, and guarding capabilities. The Situ family would likely know precisely how many troops Bixia dispatched.

Commander Shi was utterly dejected. He had received severe reprimands from above, being called "lax and incompetent" and unworthy of his position. He remained in his post only because the Ghost King's personal arrival required a local official for liaison; otherwise, he would have been dismissed and investigated long ago. Commander Shi dared not utter a single "no." Situ He had been rescued right under his nose, which directly led to the fall of Baixian Town. These two incidents were indeed causally linked, leaving no room for argument.

Now, he needed an opportunity to atone for his failures.