The Ming Dynasty: Starting with taking Old Zhu on a journey to the future

As they talked, it grew dark.

The sun gradually set.

Wang gazed at the distant road, but could not see her husband and the others.

Farmers typically rest at sunset.

The sun was almost setting, but Zhu Chongsi and the others were still nowhere to be seen.

Just as Wang was about to go out to look for it.

Zhu Wusi carried a hoe and returned home covered in mud.

They went home together.

There are also four others: Zhu Chongsi, Zhu Chongliu, Zhu Chongqi, and Zhu Chongba.

Only when she saw Zhu Wusi and the others return home did Wang feel at ease.

Upon seeing this, Chen quickly started a fire and prepared to cook.

I saw Zhu Wusi go home.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly stood up.

My father is fifty-seven years old this year, younger than me, but he looks much older.

In addition, the wind and sun exposure have made his skin dark.

Wang immediately stood up, and Zhu Chongsi quickly helped her up.

Then, Madam Wang introduced, "This is my maternal uncle Zhu Wusi, my husband Zhu Chongsi, my second brother Zhu Chongliu, my third brother Zhu Chongqi, and my fourth brother Zhu Chongba. Come to think of it, I forgot to ask your names."

The Zhu family members all stared at the three of them.

An old man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies, and two young people.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "My name is Zhu...Wu."

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Xingzong, and Zhu Chongba are all his names.

However, since I was a child myself, to avoid unnecessary trouble, it's best to just pick a random name.

Jiang Huan clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Jiang Huan."

"Lan Chen".

Just then, the aroma of chicken soup wafted out of the kitchen.

This instantly attracted the attention of the four Zhu brothers.

After all, they hadn't had any meat in a long time.

Especially during Wang's two years of childbearing, the best food was given to her to nourish her body.

Zhu Wusi looked at this scene and said with a helpless smile, "Honorable guest, please don't take offense. We are all rough men and don't know much about etiquette. Please don't mind."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head slightly.

"It's alright."

While waiting for food.

Zhu Wusi and Zhu Yuanzhang then sat outside and chatted about farming.

"Alas, these past years, the imperial court has made it impossible for people to live, and even Heaven itself has made it impossible for people to live—natural disasters and man-made calamities..."

Zhu Yuanzhang listened quietly to his father's complaints.

Listening to the croaking of frogs in the fields and my father's nagging, I smelled the gentle breeze carrying the faint scent of rice.

My restless heart finally calmed down after a long time.

"So, where are you headed as you pass through our Taiping Township? These are not peaceful times."

"Looking at the two guards you brought, one looks listless, while the other is quite a valiant warrior."

The fact that Zhu Wu could afford to buy two chickens was enough to prove that he was a wealthy man.

The world was in chaos, the imperial court levied heavy taxes, and the currency issued by the court was severely devalued, compounded by natural disasters and man-made calamities.

Prices are soaring.

Decades ago, a chicken cost only forty coins.

It has now risen to 250 coins.

Zhu Wu can casually produce eight qian of silver, so he must be a wealthy man.

The richer you are, the more dangerous it is.

With bandits running rampant, two people alone couldn't stop them from plundering.

Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless for a moment.

Actually, he came specifically to see Zhu Wusi, but he couldn't say it.

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was wondering how to explain, Chen's voice rang out: "Dinner is ready."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wusi immediately stood up and dusted himself off.

"Let's go, let's eat and chat."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

A square table with four stools can seat eight people.

However, since Zhu Yuanzhang and others were guests, women were not allowed to eat at the main table.

We need to separate tables.

Therefore, with Zhu Yuanzhang and the other two, the seats were just filled.

However, they didn't have enough tables, so Chen, Wang, and Zhu Wenzheng had to eat in the kitchen.

After all the dishes were served.

Zhu Wusi immediately pulled Zhu Yuanzhang to sit in the seat of honor.

Zhu Yuanzhang was almost seventy years old.

He was still a little apprehensive about sitting in the seat of honor with his father.

"No need, we can just sit on the side."

Zhu Wusi then pulled Zhu Yuanzhang aside, saying, "Hey, you're over sixty years old, older than me. If you don't sit down, who will?"

The whole room was filled with people watching as one person pulled and the other declined.

However, unable to refuse such hospitality, Zhu Yuanzhang took the seat of honor, standing shoulder to shoulder with his father.

After everyone sat down at the table.

Looking at the fragrant stewed chicken in front of them, Zhu Chongsi, Zhu Chongliu, Zhu Chongqi, and Zhu Chongba couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

smell good!

Their eyes were fixed on the stewed chicken on the table.

Zhu Chongba couldn't contain himself any longer and wanted to reach for his chopsticks, but Zhu Wusi slapped them back.

"Father, I want to eat!" Zhu Chongba muttered to himself, covering his hands.

"Even if you want to eat, you have to wait until the guests and elders start eating."

Zhu Wu bought this chicken.

They even received money, so logically, both chickens should have been given to Zhu Wu and the other two to eat.

It's a favor to let them eat together, but it's perfectly fine not to let them eat together.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched this scene and smiled calmly: "It's alright, everyone, start eating, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang stood up.

He immediately broke off the two chicken legs.

Then I ladled out some soup.

Zhu Chongba's eyes lit up when he saw the two chicken legs in Zhu Yuanzhang's hand.

Just when they thought Zhu Wu was going to eat the chicken leg himself...

Zhu Yuanzhang placed two chicken legs into Zhu Chongba's bowl and said, "Could you please send these to the women in the kitchen?"

Zhu Wusi was somewhat surprised.

After a moment of silence, he looked at Zhu Chongba and said, "Chongba, go and take this to your mother and sister-in-law. Don't eat it!"

"Understood." Zhu Chongba carried the two chicken legs steadily, as if afraid of dropping them on the ground.

In less than ten breaths, Zhu Chongba hurried back to the table.

After everyone had arrived, Zhu Yuanzhang began to eat, saying, "Eat, don't be shy."

Upon hearing this, the four brothers, Zhu Chongsi, Zhu Chongliu, and the others, disregarded everything else and began scrambling for the chicken.

First come, first served.

Seeing the four brothers who looked like wolves, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly grabbed a piece and put it in his father's bowl.

However, to Zhu Yuanzhang's surprise, he saw Lan Chen in the crowd.

Lan Chen swiftly snatched a chicken leg, prompting Zhu Yuanzhang to curse inwardly.

That little rascal! We're hosting a dinner for our childhood family, and he's already eating there?

With Lan Chen's status, he can eat as many chickens as he wants without any problem.

But for his father and brothers, this might be their only chance in their lifetime.

I finally get to eat here, and this little brat tries to steal it.

It's not that he's stingy.

However, since Lan Chen is eating less now, his family is eating more.

Jiang Huan noticed that Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was off, and quickly elbowed Lan Chen twice.

Lan Chen ignored Jiang Huan's elbow strike.

The physical exertion required to go against the current is simply too great.

I need to take good care of myself.

Otherwise, there simply wouldn't be enough strength to maneuver the ship back.

In just a few moments, the chicken was eaten, leaving not even bones behind.

Zhu Wusi, looking at his sons who were eating without restraint, couldn't help but scold, "You bunch of little brats, the guests haven't even had a bite yet, and you've already finished it all?!"

As he spoke, Zhu Wusi prepared to discipline his sons.

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly stopped him, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. We're used to simple meals, it's fine."

These two chickens were originally bought for his parents, brothers, and others; it doesn't matter whether he eats them or not.

As an emperor, putting aside everything else, if he wanted to, he could eat chicken every meal.