Chapter 715: Forget Worry Lady

"Mistress Wangyou from Iron Bowl Ridge, I know her!"

Li Banfeng knew his wife had fought battles in the Desolate Wastes, and Iron Bowl Ridge was adjacent to it. His wife had also recovered many memories recently, so perhaps she had dealings with Mistress Wangyou. Indeed, Li Banfeng's guess was correct. Not only had Mistress Wangyou interacted with his wife, but their friendship was also quite deep.

"When I fought against Neizhou back then, Iron Bowl Ridge mobilized support from all over to ensure the front lines never ran out of supplies. Just for that friendship, I shouldn't forget her!"

Li Banfeng told his phonograph about Pan Dehai's desire to form an alliance with Mistress Wangyou. "My dear wife," he said, "why don't we take this opportunity to visit Mistress Wangyou?"

After much thought, his wife replied, "Husband, a visit wouldn't hurt. But you know Pan Dehai's character. What if Mistress Wangyou doesn't want to ally with him?"

Li Banfeng said, "Don't worry, my dear. There'll be no forcing anything. If Mistress Wangyou doesn't agree, we'll just consider it a chance for you to catch up with a friend."

His wife was overjoyed. "Then I'll wait for you in the main hall, husband."

Li Banfeng traveled to Iron Bowl Ridge. Finding Mistress Wangyou wasn't difficult; unlike other local deities, she didn't hide in the shadows but lived openly.

Iron Bowl Ridge was a city, smaller than Green Water City but slightly larger than Sea Feast Ridge. Sea Feast Ridge was divided into three ridges: the first was a city, the second a town, and the third a village. Iron Bowl Ridge was divided into two ridges: the first was considered the outer city, and the second the inner city.

Upon arriving at the First Ridge, Li Banfeng checked his pocket watch. It was half past noon, the peak lunch hour. He wanted to find a restaurant for a meal. The main street of the First Ridge was over ten li long, with more than a hundred restaurants of various sizes. Could so many restaurants really have so many customers? They did, indeed. Many large restaurants were full, and Li Banfeng tried several without finding a seat. Judging by the occupancy of the restaurants, Iron Bowl Ridge seemed to have a large and prosperous population.

Li Banfeng entered an alley and found a small, quiet eatery. Inside the less-than-20-square-meter room, two rows of tables were set, but there wasn't a single customer.

"Are you still open for business?" Li Banfeng asked.

The proprietor, a man in his fifties, sat behind the counter, staring at Li Banfeng for a moment. "Are you here for food?"

"Yes."

The proprietor pulled up a chair. "Please, sit."

Li Banfeng sat down, waiting for a menu.

The proprietor brought out a bowl of stewed meat and a bowl of rice. "Eat as you please," he said. "If you find it delicious, pay what you think it's worth. If not, just pretend you were never here."

Anyone else would have been scared away; who does business like this? Li Banfeng, however, didn't ask further. He picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed. The savory broth seeped into his mouth along the fibers of the meat, filling his nose and palate with rich aroma. The fatty meat was fragrant and tender, while the lean meat was firm. Li Banfeng chewed that bite for a long time, reluctant to swallow it. This person's culinary skill was exceptional.

Li Banfeng finished the entire bowl of stewed meat, then mixed the broth into his rice and ate it all. After estimating the value of the meal, Li Banfeng left two banknotes. As he stood to leave, the proprietor stopped him. "Sir," he said, "just tell me, was the meat delicious?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "It was delicious."

"That's enough then," the proprietor said, pushing the money back to Li Banfeng. "I'm not doing this business anymore. The shop will close tomorrow. This meal is on me. Please, take your time leaving."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Why aren't you doing business anymore?"

The proprietor lowered his head, clearing dishes and chopsticks. "Because I'm not worthy of being a chef."

"You're not worthy? Then who is?"

"Who is worthy depends on what Mistress Wangyou says. Those who are worthy all live in the Second Ridge." The proprietor finished collecting the dishes and chopsticks and smiled at Li Banfeng. "I've been in business here for thirty years. Every time I went to see Mistress Wangyou, I brought her this bowl of stewed meat. In those thirty years, I went hundreds of times, always trying my best to make it better. But every time, she said the same thing: 'You're not worthy.' If I'm not worthy of being a chef, why should I keep my shop open? My business ends here."

"Does she look down on your home-style cooking?"

"Who knows?" The proprietor placed the dishes and chopsticks in the sink and sat expressionlessly behind the counter. Li Banfeng walked to the shop's entrance and looked back at the proprietor. "What are your plans for the future?"

The proprietor shook his head. "There is no future. I will die today."

Li Banfeng watched the proprietor for a moment. This didn't sound like angry words. The proprietor said calmly, "Everything I just said was serious. I will truly die. I've spent my entire life on this skill, but it was all for nothing."

Li Banfeng paused at the doorway for a moment and asked, "Is there any more meat?"

The proprietor was startled. "You want more?"

"Put it in a lunchbox. Take it to the Second Ridge; I'll go with you. I want to ask Mistress Wangyou what kind of person truly deserves to be a chef."

The proprietor thought Li Banfeng was mad. Li Banfeng seized the opportunity. "Just assume I'm crazy. Anyway, you're a man who's about to die, so taking a stroll with a madman won't do you any harm."

The proprietor considered it and found some truth in it. He poured the meat and broth into an iron bowl, which had a lid, and sealed it tightly. Then, he followed Li Banfeng to the Second Ridge. As they walked, they chatted. Li Banfeng learned that the proprietor's name was Old Yue Tang, and he had spent most of his life in the First Ridge without ever having the opportunity to do business in the Second Ridge. Iron Bowl Ridge was a "three-part land" in the back, its geography unremarkable, but its people were unique. Everyone there took pride in being able to live in the Second Ridge, and there were plenty of people like him who remained in the First Ridge their entire lives.

The Second Ridge was slightly higher in elevation and significantly smaller in area than the First Ridge. Yet, despite its small size, it had more restaurants than the First Ridge. On its entire street, apart from one theater and two brothels, everything else was a restaurant. Li Banfeng had initially thought Mistress Wangyou looked down on the home-style cooking of small eateries, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

Old Yue Tang, carrying the iron bowl, arrived at Sea Bowl Street and entered Vinegar Dish Alley. This entire alley belonged solely to Mistress Wangyou. Upon entering the main gate, they found themselves in a courtyard that wasn't wide but exceptionally long, extending an estimated fifty meters from the entrance to the house. The courtyard was filled with people, each holding an iron bowl of identical size and style. Old Yue Tang explained, "These bowls were given by Mistress Wangyou. Everyone here is a chef from the First Ridge, presenting their dishes to Mistress Wangyou. As long as she's satisfied with the dish, they'll be able to move to the Second Ridge and do business there."

Before long, about a dozen people emerged from the house into the courtyard. They were men and women, old and young. Old Yue Tang recognized them. "These are all Mistress Wangyou's disciples." The disciples set up two rows of tables in the courtyard, and many chefs placed their iron bowls on them. Old Yue Tang didn't dare cut in line, placing his iron bowl on the very last table. A disciple called out, "Open the bowls!" The chefs all opened their iron bowls. Li Banfeng looked around and saw dumplings, noodle soup, roasted chicken, sweet rice balls, and one person who had prepared a bowl of tofu pudding with savory sauce, white sugar, and chili oil beside it.

Old Yue Tang snorted. "That tofu seller is too cunning. This forces Mistress Wangyou to season the tofu pudding herself, so the taste will definitely be passable!"

"The seasoning isn't the main point," Li Banfeng said, staring at the bowl of tofu pudding for a long time. He didn't believe a bowl of tofu could be more delicious than stewed meat!

Before long, Mistress Wangyou emerged from the house. In Li Banfeng's impression, most food cultivators were quite plump. Little Fatty had become thin due to eating gut silkworms, but other food cultivators he knew were quite large. He hadn't expected Mistress Wangyou to be an exception. She wasn't slender but had a very well-proportioned figure. She looked to be in her early thirties and was quite pretty. However, her attire was a bit gaudy. A golden hairpin was stuck in her hair, from which hung two enormous golden rings that jingled as she walked, as if deliberately announcing the weight of her hairpin. Her face was covered in thick, greasy makeup, her eye makeup was heavy, and her lips were a vivid red. She wore a green gauze shirt, its front partially open, revealing a glimpse of a bright red apron. Below, she wore a dazzling red gauze skirt and green embroidered shoes, committing fully to the red-and-green color scheme.

Mistress Wangyou entered the courtyard, went to a table, and first ate a dumpling. She was quite pleased with the dumplings. "You've improved. Make two jin of wontons next month and come again."

The dumpling seller happily agreed. Li Banfeng asked, "Does that mean he passed?"

Old Yue Tang shook his head repeatedly. "Far from it. If he'd passed, it would have been today. Asking him to come again tomorrow, I'd guess he won't make it."

Mistress Wangyou ate a few more dumplings, gave the rest to a disciple, then walked to the next chef. In two bites, she finished half a roasted chicken, licked her fingers, and commented, "A little undercooked. Go wait in the kitchen."

Li Banfeng asked Old Yue Tang, "Does waiting in the kitchen mean he passed?"

Old Yue Tang nodded repeatedly. "That's still a glimmer of hope. I've never had the chance to go to the kitchen, anyway."

Mistress Wangyou continued eating from each chef's offering. Some were told to come back tomorrow, others were dismissed on the spot. Only the chef who made tofu was immediately kept by Mistress Wangyou.

"Come and settle in the Second Ridge tomorrow."

The tofu seller rubbed his hands together. "I haven't saved enough money to move yet. If you'll let me push my cart to the Second Ridge and sell tofu tomorrow, I'll be perfectly content."

Mistress Wangyou continued eating until she reached Old Yue Tang's table. She frowned. "It's you again?"

Old Yue Tang lowered his head. "I just wanted—"

"Didn't I tell you? You're not worthy."

Li Banfeng spoke up. "Then who do you say is worthy?"

Mistress Wangyou looked at Li Banfeng. She hadn't even noticed his presence before he spoke. "What skill!" Mistress Wangyou exclaimed, admiringly. "Have you eaten his stewed meat?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes, I have. I think he deserves to be a chef."

Mistress Wangyou smiled slightly. "Alright, I, too, was afraid I might have misjudged. You can go wait in the kitchen as well."

Old Yue Tang was overjoyed and followed Li Banfeng to the kitchen. The person who made the roasted chicken was also there.

Mistress Wangyou instructed her disciples to prepare ingredients. Each person was given a small bag of flour, a piece of pork, two eggs, a head of cabbage, and various seasonings, instructing them to make a bowl of noodles.

Noodles were a chef's basic skill. The roasted chicken seller quickly made a bowl of zhajiangmian. Mistress Wangyou ate half a bowl, nodded, and said, "You can move your roasted chicken shop to the Second Ridge tomorrow."

"That's enough to move?" Li Banfeng was deeply skeptical.

Mistress Wangyou had a disciple serve the remaining noodles to Li Banfeng, who ate them. The taste was decent, but nothing particularly surprising. Li Banfeng put down his chopsticks and said, "This counts as passing?"

Mistress Wangyou nodded, then looked at Old Yue Tang. "His bowl of noodles has this quality, so he also passed."

Old Yue Tang made a bowl of noodle soup. Li Banfeng took a bite, then turned to Old Yue Tang, frowning as he asked, "Did you do that on purpose?" This bowl of noodles was quite disappointing. It wasn't delicious, and barely filling.

Old Yue Tang rubbed his hands. "I'm not good at making noodles."

Mistress Wangyou smiled. "But you sell noodles in your shop."

Old Yue Tang lowered his head. "I'm good at stewing meat."

Mistress Wangyou said, "But your shop doesn't sell stewed meat."

"We do sell it, just not much..." Old Yue Tang's voice trailed off.

"Alright," Mistress Wangyou said, waving her hand. She had a piece of beef brought and placed before Old Yue Tang. "Stew it. I'll wait."

Old Yue Tang lowered his head. "That might not be appropriate."

Li Banfeng asked Old Yue Tang, "Why wouldn't it be appropriate?"

Old Yue Tang remained silent, so Mistress Wangyou answered for him. "Because it takes him three days and three nights to stew one pot of meat. Selecting ingredients and preparing them takes a day, stewing the meat and making the broth takes another day, and letting the meat absorb the flavors takes yet another day. Is this even cooking? You've practically turned it into alchemy! When I get up early in the morning and go to the First Ridge, I love eating that bowl of tofu pudding. It's fragrant and smooth, a taste that can make one feel refreshed all day. You eat it today and crave it tomorrow—that's a true chef, the kind of person worthy of the Second Ridge. You pour your life's effort into that one pot of meat, producing a small pot every three days, just to come here and compete with me. Nobody else can even eat it. What would I call you to the Second Ridge for? What would people eat at your shop? That bowl of noodles they can barely swallow?"

Old Yue Tang lowered his head and walked away, clutching the iron bowl.

Li Banfeng looked at Mistress Wangyou, gaining a somewhat better understanding of this local deity's character.

Mistress Wangyou dismissed her disciples, leaving only herself and Li Banfeng in the kitchen.

"My friend, since you've come to see me, please state your name first."

Li Banfeng gave his name. Mistress Wangyou's face lit up with delight. "I've heard many things about you, especially about the Desolate Wastes. That battle was very dangerous. If the Desolate Wastes had fallen, Iron Bowl Ridge certainly wouldn't have held either. Those bastards wouldn't even leave a complete corpse. So, what brings you to me?"

For a moment, Li Banfeng didn't know how to begin. In front of such a spirited woman, it seemed inappropriate to mention Pan Dehai's name. "My wife is your friend. She wanted to come and catch up with you." As he spoke, Li Banfeng secretly pricked his fingertip and sprinkled blood on the ground. A faint, dark halo passed beneath Mistress Wangyou's feet, but she didn't notice. Li Banfeng knew his wife was waiting in the main hall, so he used the "Connected Wide Bridal Chamber" technique to switch his wife out of his Portable Dwelling.

Mistress Wangyou was startled to see a woman suddenly appear before her. After observing her carefully for a moment, she asked, "Is this your wife? Do I know her?"

Li Banfeng was also momentarily stunned. The woman in front of him was indeed his wife, whom he naturally recognized, but her makeup was quite unusual. His wife had her hair styled in a bun, adorned with a blue ribbon and kingfisher feather ornaments. A neat row of bangs lay across her forehead. Her eyes were rimmed with red, outlined in black, with long, slender eyebrows that turned up at the corners, exuding charm. Her cheeks were rouged with lotus-red blush, and her lips painted with bright red oil paint. His wife, in the guise of a Qingyi opera character, stood before Mistress Wangyou.

"Sister, do you not recognize me?" As his wife spoke, Mistress Wangyou recognized her voice.

"Yuxian! Is it really you?" Mistress Wangyou exclaimed with surprise and delight, pulling his wife into the main hall.

She dismissed her disciples and personally cooked for his wife. Mistress Wangyou was quick, preparing a table full of food and wine in the blink of an eye. The two sisters ate and chatted. Mistress Wangyou, being straightforward, directly asked, "When we were fighting back then, I heard you were captured by Neizhou. How did you escape?"

His wife shook her head. "How could I have escaped on my own? It was Dragon Princess who rescued me."

Hearing "Dragon Princess," Mistress Wangyou became excited. "Dragon Princess intervened back then? I didn't know at the time; I thought the war was lost for good. They urged me to flee, but my territory is here—how could I abandon it? I was prepared to lay down my life here, only later to learn that the tide of the battle had slowly turned."

Li Banfeng was confused. His wife was captured by Neizhou, and then rescued by Dragon Princess? Wasn't Dragon Princess his wife?

Li Banfeng asked Mistress Wangyou, "What is Dragon Princess's origin?"

Mistress Wangyou chuckled. "You'll have to ask your wife about that. All I know is that Dragon Princess won many battles in the Desolate Wastes. With her presence, the war went smoother and smoother. But even after the war ended, I never met this princess. Yuxian, where did you go after the war?"

"I escorted Dragon Princess home." His wife took a sip of wine.

Mistress Wangyou looked astonished. "You sent her back to Dragon King Mountain?"

His wife nodded.

"What does Dragon King Mountain look like?"

His wife thought carefully. "That place is huge, bigger than the entire Puluo Prefecture. I met some people there, and they were all very capable. Dragon Princess said they were all stronger fighters than her."

"So many people are stronger fighters than Dragon Princess?" Mistress Wangyou was even more surprised. "No wonder they say the people of Neizhou wet themselves just hearing about Dragon King Mountain."

Li Banfeng quietly listened to the two sisters chat. His wife spoke a little about Dragon King Mountain, then shifted the topic to Pan Dehai. "Looking at the situation these days, it seems another war is brewing. Old Pan has some dealings with my husband, and he wants to form an alliance with you so you can look out for each other in the future."

He had expected Mistress Wangyou to refuse outright, but after a moment's thought, she actually agreed. "I don't think highly of Pan Dehai as a person, but I trust you. The contract needs to be very clear: if I truly run into trouble, he must take action."

With the alliance settled, this meant Li Banfeng could learn the method of gathering popularity from Pan Dehai. His wife was happy for Li Banfeng, but not much joy was visible on his face. Li Banfeng was still thinking about other matters.

The two sisters chatted until late into the night. When his wife rose to take her leave, Mistress Wangyou was reluctant. "Sister, I wonder when I'll see you again?"

His wife laughed. "Sister, with so much good food and drink at your place, I'd come even if you didn't invite me. I just ask that you don't mention this matter to anyone."

Mistress Wangyou nodded. "Don't worry, sister. As far as I'm concerned, you were never here."

Back in the Portable Dwelling, Li Banfeng asked his wife, "Is there really a Dragon Princess?"

His wife shook her head and chuckled. "Didn't I tell you before, husband? I am Dragon Princess."

Li Banfeng was puzzled. "Then how do you explain Dragon Princess rescuing you?"

His wife took Li Banfeng's hand and caressed his cheek. "That depends on whether my husband will despise me."

Li Banfeng looked at his wife, perplexed. "Why would I despise you?"

His wife gave a wry smile. "Don't you despise actors?"

Li Banfeng said, "You don't despise a madman, so why would I despise an actor?"

His wife cupped Li Banfeng's face in her hands, her eyes filled with affection. "My husband doesn't despise me, but some people do. Coming to Iron Bowl Ridge, I remembered many things. When I was fighting in the Desolate Wastes back then, many people looked down on me because I was an actress. If I hadn't won a few battles, they wouldn't have recognized me as their general. But battles can't always go smoothly. When things went wrong, they all vented their anger on me. Then, in one battle, I was captured. I knew no one would come to rescue me. If I died in the enemy camp, the Desolate Wastes would be lost. Later, someone rescued me. When I returned to the military camp, I lied and told them that Dragon Princess from Dragon King Mountain had saved me. As soon as they heard 'Dragon King Mountain,' they were all convinced. After that, whenever we won a battle, I'd say a dragon maiden had secretly helped us. From then on, the war went smoother and smoother, so much so that by the time it ended, not many remembered Huang Yuxian, but many remembered Dragon Princess."

As she spoke, his wife's face wore a smile, but it could barely conceal a deep bitterness.

Li Banfeng took a piece of candy and put it into his wife's mouth. Her bitterness lessened somewhat.

"So who was it that rescued you from the enemy camp then?"

His wife looked toward the Second House. "Red Lotus's master, the Heavenly Maiden."

The Heavenly Maiden had already considered his wife an ally at that time.

"My dear, is there really a place called Dragon King Mountain?"

"That, I don't know," his wife shook her head. "I've heard that the Heavenly Maiden is from Dragon King Mountain, and Neizhou also has similar legends."

After resting for a night in the Portable Dwelling, Li Banfeng left Iron Bowl Ridge. As he walked through the First Ridge, he saw Old Yue Tang. He hadn't sought death but was still stewing meat in his small shop. The meat was ready in half a day, indicating he had made some progress this time.

Upon arriving at Sea Feast Ridge, Pan Dehai was overjoyed. He immediately took Li Banfeng to the Third Ridge, intending to personally teach him the technique of gathering popularity. Li Banfeng asked, "How quickly can one learn this technique?"

Pan Dehai estimated, "An ordinary person might take three to five years to learn, but my brother, you are a virtuous person, half a month should be enough!"

All talk of virtue was nonsense; the key was how Old Pan would teach. Li Banfeng was actually a bit anxious. He wanted to ask the Luo sisters about the origin of the Dragon King Mountain legend.

Shang Kingdom, Chaoge, Second Affairs City.

Luo Yanjun, in human form, sang zither ballads from "The Legend of the White Snake" in a teahouse. A snail shell, disguised to resemble a pagoda, was displayed beside her, making it difficult for ordinary people to discern its true nature. After two performances, the Precious Pavilion closed. One guest remained, wishing to speak with Luo Yanjun privately.

Luo Yanjun moved the snail shell backstage and invited the guest, a Mr. Zhao, to her private room. The guest lowered his voice. "The Ministry of Works found that many stone materials for the altar are missing, and the construction schedule will be delayed again. Lord Qiao is burning with anxiety, and his condition has worsened."

Luo Yanjun took a letter from her sleeve and handed it to the guest. "Give this letter to Lord Xie. Make sure he reads it carefully, and absolutely do not let Lord Qiao see it."

The guest took the letter and left the Precious Pavilion.

Second Affairs City, Qiao Yi's Residence.

Qiao Yi had eaten half a bowl of congee and just gone to sleep.

Xie Gong took out a letter and showed it to Zhu Jin. Zhu Jin read the letter, his eyebrows twitching slightly in surprise. Xie Gong glanced at the candlestick by the bed. Zhu Jin understood the hint and quickly burned the letter.

Qiao Yi slept soundly through the night, but Zhu Jin didn't sleep at all. At dawn, Zhu Jin woke Xie Gong and gave him a slight nod.