I started on a deserted island and encountered Ying Zheng, who insisted I was an immortal.

Zhang Ying looked at the dark mass of people in front of her.

Three thousand elite troops and five hundred Xuanwu Guards.

On each face, whether young or weathered, was the sallow complexion left by long years of drifting at sea.

He was just being polite, thinking of giving Ying Zheng and the others some extra help.

But now, looking at those thousands of eager eyes, almost glowing with green light, his plans changed instantly.

How many dishes should I make?

That's enough for whoever wants to eat it.

It's not even enough to fill a gap between your teeth.

"Yes, of course we'll do it."

Zhang Ying clapped her hands and gestured with her chin toward Ying Zheng.

"But it's not just a few dishes, it's a big pot of rice."

"Everyone has a share."

These words caused an uncontrollable commotion among the crowd.

The soldiers, seasoned by many battles, all wore expressions of disbelief.

Are you, immortal, going to cook for them yourself?

"Call all the cooks from your ship over. I have plenty of work to do here, so let them help out and learn a thing or two." Zhang Ying's tone was like that of someone directing a construction crew.

Ying Zheng showed no displeasure; instead, he nodded.

"allow."

"Yin Xu, go and relay the order."

Soon, dozens of burly men dressed as cooks were led to the open space in front of the bamboo house. They were all uneasy and didn't know where to put their hands.

Without wasting any words, Zhang Ying immediately began assigning tasks.

"You guys go over there and build a few stoves right there, the bigger the better."

"You all, go and bring all the usable pots and pans from the ship."

"And you, go to the woods on the island, gather some dry firewood, and cut some fresh bamboo while you're at it."

He commanded with composure and clarity.

A cook foreman mustered his courage and approached, asking in a low voice, "Sir, what...what are we going to make? I'll prepare the seasonings."

"I have the seasonings."

As Zhang Ying spoke, she turned and went into the bamboo house. A moment later, she came out with a pottery jar that was about half a person's height.

It was put on the ground with a "bang".

He lifted the lid.

All the cooks crowded around.

The jar was filled with a pure white powder, as fine as sand.

"This...this is?" The cook leader stretched out his finger, carefully dipped it in, and put it in his mouth.

The next second, he froze completely.

"Salt! It's salt!"

"It's top-quality white salt! Not bitter at all!"

The other cooks followed suit, and after tasting it, they all looked astonished.

They usually use coarse salt issued by the government, which is bitter, astringent, and black in color. They have never seen such a divine substance before.

"Immortal! This must be immortal salt refined by an immortal!"

"Good heavens, I've actually tasted divine salt!"

Dozens of cooks suddenly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to Zhang Ying.

They believed it completely.

Who else but an immortal could turn stones into salt and grow grains that yield a thousand catties per mu?

Zhang Ying was a little confused by this scene, and waved her hand: "Alright, alright, get up and get to work, there's plenty of salt."

On the other side, Meng Yi and Wang Ruoshu also stepped forward upon seeing this.

"Sir, is there anything we can do to help?" Meng Yi asked.

Zhang Ying thought for a moment, then pointed to the sweet potatoes and several bags of flour in the basket next to her.

"Please wash these sweet potatoes clean and steam them. Also, make some dough and steam a few batches of buns so everyone can have something to eat first."

Wang Ruoshu came from a military family and had learned some household chores since childhood, such as kneading dough and steaming buns.

Although Meng Yi, a civil official, was somewhat inexperienced, he followed Wang Ruoshu's example and began to work in a respectable manner.

Upon seeing this, Wang Ben removed his armor, revealing a short, fitted outfit underneath, and burst into laughter.

"You've all been working, I can't just sit idle!"

He grabbed an axe, walked to the woodpile, and swung it down on a thick log.

"Snap!"

The wood split open with a crack.

"I'm good at starting fires and chopping wood!"

Marquis Tongwu personally chopped firewood, while the high-ranking officials and the imperial censor personally kneaded the dough.

This scene filled the surrounding soldiers with excitement and deep emotion.

To be able to see the Marquis and the High Minister cook for them—this is something they can brag about for a lifetime.

Looking at the bustling scene, Zhang Ying felt a sense of emotion.

He was willing to go to this lengths not just to win people's hearts.

Looking at the soldiers' sallow complexions and somewhat swollen eyelids, he knew that these people had serious health problems.

Scurvy is inevitable when people are at sea for extended periods and cannot get fresh vegetables.

In the Qin Dynasty, this disease would probably be considered incurable, or even a curse.

There are no oranges or tangerines on the island, but there are other things.

He turned and walked towards the small vegetable garden he had cultivated.

Tomatoes, watermelons, sugarcane, and bananas.

These fruits and vegetables, rich in vitamin C, are the best medicine.

He picked several large baskets full of tomatoes and instructed a cook leader, "Make two soup dishes today: scrambled eggs with tomatoes and tomato and egg soup."

"Remember, this thing is called a tomato, and it's very good for your health. When you're cooking it, make sure to keep all the seeds inside, not a single one."

The head cook nodded repeatedly and solemnly accepted the task.

In addition to supplementing vitamins, you also need to have some substantial dishes.

Zhang Ying then had several hundred kilograms of potatoes dug up from the fields and led out several of the fattest sheep from the sheepfold.

Stewed mutton with potatoes, it's filling.

Smash a few more cucumbers and make a cold dish; it's refreshing.

But looking at those three thousand mouths, Zhang Ying did some calculations and still felt it wasn't enough.

He gritted his teeth and shouted to Wang Ben, "Brother Wang, could you do me a little more trouble and take some men to catch three hundred chickens from that island for me?"

"Okay!"

Wang Ben threw down his axe, gathered a group of men, and charged into the woods with a whoosh.

Soon, chaos erupted in the woods.

Li Si stood not far away, watching Zhang Ying direct everything in an orderly manner, his heart already in turmoil.

He watched as the cooks handled the ingredients in a way he had never seen before.

Watching Wang Ben chop wood with all his might, just like a cook.

Looking at Meng Yi and Wang Ruoshu, two important officials in the court, their hands were covered in flour.

All of this overturned his understanding of things that he had held for decades.

"Your Majesty..." He walked to Ying Zheng's side, bowed, and said, "This Mr. Zhang is truly..."

Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, watching the bustling scene, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"Prime Minister, you will soon understand."

"He is the Qilin of my Great Qin."

Before long, the aroma of food began to fill the entire camp.

The main table was set up in the open space in front of the bamboo house.

One dish after another was served.

The steaming hot, plump, white steamed buns are steaming hot.

The steamed sweet potatoes, which have split open, are sweet, soft, and glutinous.

A plate of vibrant green cucumber salad.

There was also a plate of brightly colored, red and yellow dishes... of unknown origin.

Li Si was restless, looking at the unfamiliar food on the table, and for a moment he didn't know where to start.