Zhongshan Shenzhu Chi

Zhao Ying walked down the street, carrying a piece of oil paper in her arms, inside which was a whole, steaming hot roast chicken.

She strolled from the mansion in the city center all the way to the East City Commercial Street, her steps never stopping and her mouth never idle.

Her pouting lips never stopped pursing.

Sugar figurines, meat buns, hawthorn berries, pies, oranges, apples... he'd eat anything and everything.

It doesn't matter if she doesn't have enough money; she can just hang it on the city lord's mansion, and her nephew will settle the bill for her.

"That's how martial artists should be," she muttered righteously as she chewed. "How can you fight if you're not full?"

"Xia'an City is truly unique, nestled between mountains and water; you can find any food you desire."

"In Chunhua City, fish was an indispensable part of every meal. Fish cakes, fish balls, fish soup, fish heads, fish maw, fish intestines, and fish roe were all available. Li Zhengyuan was even able to get used to eating fish."

"Huh?"

As she was walking, Zhao Ying spotted a noodle shop. It was quite crowded, but no one was talking. They were all silently slurping their noodles and then taking a satisfied sip of the soup.

"It looks delicious." Zhao Ying wiped her mouth with the back of her hand in an extremely inelegant manner and quickly went to the noodle shop to sit down.

"Boss, give me a bowl of beef noodles, lots of meat and little noodles..." The woman put down the oil paper package, looked left and right, and noticed that almost everyone on the other tables had ordered braised eggs. "And bring me three more braised eggs."

"The account is recorded at the city lord's mansion."

"Ah? Miss, you..." The short, fat boss, who had just been all smiles, suddenly looked pale when he heard the name of the City Lord's Mansion.

He looked up and glanced at Zhao Ying.

He was dressed in a dark, fitted outfit, like a chivalrous knight-errant.

I dared not look at her curves, only glancing at the cuffs of her wrists, which showed no signs of wear. Then I looked at her boots, embroidered with red patterns, without a single stain.

Look at her face again...

"What, are you worried I'll renege on your debt?" Seeing that the boss hadn't responded for a long time, Zhao Ying took out a token and slammed it on the table.

"Did you see this?"

"I... the girl is so beautiful, I was stunned for a moment." The shopkeeper was startled, and when he looked down and saw the city lord's token, he immediately gave up the idea of ​​taking the money.

"Are you all so honest when you talk?" Zhao Ying asked with interest.

"Hey... Under the watchful eye of the Mountain God, we can't lie."

The owner raised his hand to touch his head, stepped aside, and let the customers see the red serpent statue enshrined in the shop.

"But girl, I apologize for being so talkative."

"You're fine in the city, but once you leave the city, especially Zhongshan, you absolutely must wear a face mask to cover your face..."

"Of course." Zhao Ying looked at the statue, then suddenly remembered something and asked again, "Is there only one Red Serpent God in Zhongshan?"

"There was once a Black Serpent God who granted our Xia'an City hundreds of years of peace..."

After explaining to the waiter that Zhao Ying wanted more meat, less noodles, beef noodles, and three braised eggs, the boss was happy to chat with the pretty girl a bit more.

"But she's old now and unable to take care of ordinary people like us, so she's handed it over to her children."

"You really believe in this Red Serpent God that much?" Zhao Ying asked.

"Of course I believe you! Of course I believe you! Those skin-scraping demons from the Crimson Immortal Sect were driven away by this Crimson Serpent God!" the boss said with great conviction.

The Red Serpent God feigned sleep to lure the enemy, drawing in ice and fire to shed its old skin.

What heavy rain will bury all enemies on Zhongshan Mountain? When the rain stops, heads will fall to the ground.

Zhao Ying listened with great interest, almost to the point of cracking sunflower seeds.

"Sir, here's your noodles and braised egg." The waiter brought over a large bowl, covered with a layer of oil, with scallions and cilantro floating in the air, and the aroma of meat filling the air.

"Please continue eating, I'm going to attend to other customers." The owner got up and left.

"Uh-huh."

Zhao Ying first took a sip of soup, then put two square pieces of beef into her mouth. The meat was soaked in the braising liquid, with a rich flavor, and it was tender and soft to the touch, neither chewy nor stringy.

"Delicious, delicious!"

The woman ate a large bowl of noodles with three braised eggs very quickly.

For her, unpalatable foods, such as military rations, had to be eaten quickly, otherwise they would feel uncomfortable in her mouth.

It's so delicious... I couldn't resist.

It disappeared in the blink of an eye while I was eating.

"Burp—!" After finishing the noodle soup, Zhao Ying instinctively opened her mouth, but as soon as the sound came out, she immediately covered it with her hand.

Fortunately, the noodle shop was noisy, and no one paid attention except for the red serpent statue inside.

It seemed to be staring intently at me.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen someone burp after eating?" The woman's pretty face flushed as she muttered.

A large bowl of noodles and meat, along with three braised eggs, filled her stomach temporarily.

After I've eaten my fill, I like to think about other things.

"I wonder when Qingyan will be able to get me a job..." Zhao Ying looked up at the ceiling, her eyes glancing at the red serpent statue in the shop.

"The statue is right here; can't I just ask if I want to go into the mountain?"

Thinking of this, Zhao Ying got up and walked to the statue of the Red Serpent God.

There was a homemade incense stick on the table.

It's the kind made with bamboo sticks as the frame and herbal powder wrapped in red paper.

It burns very slowly, smells nice, and repels mosquitoes.

"The Red Serpent God..."

Zhao Ying took out three sticks, lit them, and held them high on her forehead. But then she suddenly remembered that the Red Serpent God was actually a few years younger than her, so she changed her mind.

"May the Black Serpent God protect me. This humble woman wishes to enter Zhongshan to enjoy the scenery and has absolutely no intention of disturbing anyone."

"If you agree..."

"Can."

"Um?"

Suddenly a voice rang in her mind, and Zhao Ying became alert and looked around.

"Go into the mountains, and no one will be able to find you." It was that voice again, gentle and soothing.

The woman felt as if she were talking to her own mother.

"The Black Snake God?"

"They really are mother and child... they even share the same idol."

He put down the three incense sticks in his hand and inserted them into the ash basin.

Zhao Ying walked around and sensed that her surroundings had changed.

Wherever she goes, she inevitably attracts stares, but now...

The woman waved her hand in front of a diner's eyes twice, and he could clearly see the reflection of his own hand in his eyes.

But the diner was completely oblivious and continued chatting with his friends.

"Boss!" Zhao Ying suddenly called out.

It was as if a pebble had been thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples. The boss turned around at the sound, saw Zhao Ying, and then looked back at the table where she had just sat, his face full of surprise.

"Sir, you're truly amazing... Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Remember to go to the city lord's mansion to collect the debt; they won't refuse to pay," Zhao Ying instructed.

"Well... sir, that bowl of noodles is on me." The short, stout proprietor was still a little scared. It was just a bowl of noodles, no need to go all the way to the city lord's mansion.

"What do you mean you invited me!"

"Never mind, you can have this."

With a pang of regret, Zhao Ying handed the owner the large roast chicken, which she hadn't even touched yet and which was wrapped in oil paper.

"This chicken is my payment for noodles."

"This... I can't take it, I can't take it."

"Take it if I tell you to." Zhao Ying could only glare at him and let the boss accept it.