There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 275 Injured by Others

Li Shuchen: "Let's wait and see."

Kong Craftsman's Shop

Li Shuchen took out the blueprints: "Craftsman Kong, could you please make a plaque for me?"

The craftsman Kong took the Xuan paper, unfolded it, and smiled, saying, "Miss Li's calligraphy is becoming increasingly unrestrained, making it difficult to decipher."

Indeed, her handwriting, like her personality, is captivating.

Hearing a familiar voice, Li Shuchen looked up and saw Cheng Zhian standing to the side with a smile on his face: "What are you doing here?"

Cheng Zhian: "Please ask craftsman Kong to make me a stove."

Li Shuchen laughed heartily upon hearing this, his shoulders shaking with laughter: "I never expected that the top scholar in the academy would be such a glutton!"

"Only when one's stomach is full can one avoid feeling empty."

Cheng Zhian spoke calmly, but Li Shuchen stood there stunned. She hadn't expected Cheng Zhian to answer like that, and then asked, "What do you want to eat?"

Cheng Zhian: Whole Roasted Lamb

Li Shuchen: "I remember there's a mutton restaurant on North Street; they might have whole roasted lamb."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhian softly asked, "Would you like to come with me?"

Li Shuchen nodded: "Alright, I've been craving mutton too. Craftsman Kong, the plaque needs to be finished by the 14th of this month."

Kong the Craftsman: "Success"

Li Shuchen waved to Cheng Zhian: "Let's go, I'll take you there."

Cheng Zhian obediently followed

Kong the craftsman stood there, puzzled. When had Chief Scholar Cheng become so compliant? Previously, when making the stove and pot, he had tried to add his own opinion, but Chief Scholar Cheng had always disagreed. It was truly strange, just as strange as Miss Li.

The two walked side by side on the road, and Cheng Zhian asked...

Why doesn't your inn serve roasted whole lamb?

"I've never eaten it before, I don't know what it tastes like, and I don't know how to make it."

Li Shuchen answered quickly, leaving Cheng Zhian stunned for a long time.

"What's wrong? Don't you believe me?"

Cheng Zhian shook his head: "No, I just didn't expect it."

Li Shuchen said casually, "My circumstances aren't very good, so I haven't tasted many expensive dishes. Since you've eaten roast whole lamb, your family background must be quite good."

Cheng Zhian: "Acceptable"

Li Shuchen nodded, without asking further questions.

"arrive"

The two stood in front of the mutton restaurant, the aroma of mutton wafting through the air, making Li Shuchen feel completely comfortable.

"It smells so good!"

Li Shuchen stepped inside: "Boss, do you have whole roasted lamb?"

The owner was overjoyed upon hearing this—a big customer! He immediately beamed and stepped forward, saying, "Of course! My restaurant is the only one in the entire capital that serves whole roasted lamb. Please come upstairs, gentlemen."

Li Shuchen glanced back at Cheng Zhian, then tilted his head and said, "Follow me."

Cheng Zhian followed closely behind with a smile.

In a private room on the second floor, Li Shuchen sat down by the window and glanced down, seeing several people standing in front of a stove listening to someone give a speech.

The owner smiled and said, "Since you two didn't make a reservation, our lamb needs to be slaughtered and roasted fresh. It will take a little longer than usual. You can order something else in the meantime."

Li Shuchen took the menu and flipped through it: "I'll have some cucumber salad and some mutton soup."

After saying that, he handed the menu to Cheng Zhi'an: "You order two dishes too."

Cheng Zhian took it and smiled, "Okay."

Li Shuchen continued to watch below. After the leader finished speaking, the others began slaughtering sheep and bleeding them.

Boss: "Alright, please wait a moment, gentlemen."

"and many more"

Li Shuchen stopped the owner and asked, "I see your roast lamb oven is right in the courtyard, and customers can see the whole process. Aren't you afraid someone will steal your skills?"

Upon hearing this, the owner confidently replied, "Young lady, you may not know this, but our whole roasted lamb marinade is a secret recipe that no one else can replicate."

Li Shuchen: "I see, boss is amazing."

Shopkeeper: "Thank you for your kind words. If there's nothing else, young lady, I'll be going now."

Li Shuchen: "Bring me a pot of hot tea."

Boss: "This young master has already ordered."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen waved his hand at the boss: "Go ahead."

"Hey"

Li Shuchen looked at Cheng Zhian and asked, "Does your stomach hurt too?"

Cheng Zhian smiled and said, "It doesn't hurt, but you look a little unwell, I think you've started your period."

"She's quite thoughtful."

Cheng Zhian: You flatter me.

Li Shuchen turned his head and continued looking down; the group had killed three sheep in total.

The dissection, binding, and placement in the furnace were all completed seamlessly and were quite a spectacle.

Hot tea served

Cheng Zhi'an poured Li Shuchen a cup of hot tea and said somewhat aggrievedly, "Why did you keep looking down while we were eating together?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen pointed to the yard and said, "Look, there's a girl over there who's really good at slaughtering sheep."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhian looked over and asked, "You want to learn?"

Li Shuchen: "Not bad, that girl was kind of cool killing the sheep."

Cheng Zhian smiled and said, "Have some hot tea to ease your menstrual cramps."

Li Shuchen turned around and gripped his glass: "You've never been in a relationship, but you know a lot."

Cheng Zhian: "This is common sense; everyone knows it."

"Really? Why are some men unwilling to even say 'drink some hot water'?"

After speaking, Li Shuchen blew on the hot tea and took a small sip.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhian cautiously asked, "Have you been hurt by a man? Is that why you don't want to get married?"

Li Shuchen laughed upon hearing this, then looked at Cheng Zhian and said, "No, I've never been in a relationship either. I just saw my friends do, and they all met the wrong people and ended up tragically. I was just feeling sentimental."

Cheng Zhian: "There are still good men in the world."

Li Shuchen raised an eyebrow and asked with a roguish air, "You?"

Cheng Zhian smiled and said, "I always have been."

Li Shuchen withdrew his gaze and continued looking into the courtyard.

Several people had already lit the charcoal fire and were rolling the lamb around.

"The cucumber salad and mutton soup are here!"

The waiter placed the dishes on the table one by one: "Please enjoy your meal, esteemed guests."

Li Shuchen picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of smashed cucumber, and put it in his mouth.

Sweet, refreshing, and fragrant, it seems to chase away much of the summer heat.

I couldn't help but eat one piece after another.

As Li Shuchen picked up his fourth chopstick, Cheng Zhian said, "Cucumbers are cold in nature; be careful not to catch a chill and worsen your abdominal pain."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen put away his chopsticks: "You know about these things?"

Cheng Zhian: "I learned it for fun in my spare time."

Li Shuchen took a sip of hot tea: "A top student is a top student; he studies even when he's bored."

Cheng Zhian smiled and said, "Drink more mutton soup; it's good for your health, as it warms and nourishes your spleen and stomach, replenishes your blood, and warms your meridians."

"Very well, since Chief Prosecutor Cheng has spoken, I'll certainly have a drink with him."

Li Shuchen reached for the soup ladle, but Cheng Zhian took it away.

"You should move less, I'll serve you."

Li Shuchen gave up struggling: "Okay, okay, I'll consider it as you taking care of me since I'm not feeling well."

Cheng Zhian: "It should be so."

Grape stood behind Li Shuchen, watching the two interact with a smile. "How wonderful! Young Master Cheng is so wonderful! It's so good that Miss met Young Master Cheng! It's so good that Young Master Cheng likes Miss!"

As for the young lady not liking Young Master Cheng, that's alright; she might like him in time.

It will be even better then, hehehe

Li Shuchen kept her head down, sipping her mutton soup, completely unaware that Grape behind her was already envisioning her future with Cheng Zhian.

"Is this the secret marinade the boss was talking about?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen looked into the courtyard. The three of them were applying a reddish marinade to the lambs, and they smelled it; it smelled very, very good.

"You'll know when you eat it."

Cheng Zhian: "You can taste the difference?"

Li Shuchen nodded: "More or less."