Chương 119: Family Banquet

Liu Ce thought to himself: Zhang Jiao, Zhang Jiao, this gift you've given me is truly a godsend. Zhang Ning accepted it; this deal is known only to heaven, earth, Zhang Jiao, and me. Now that Zhang Jiao is dead, and most of the Yellow Turban Army's high command is also dead, this secret can be buried forever.

With this money and grain, this rotten place of Youzhou might actually be salvaged.

He gave a few more instructions, then said, "Alright, that's all for today. Everyone has had a long journey, go back and rest."

After everyone dispersed, Liu Ce wrote a memorial explaining the reasons for temporarily establishing the governor's office in Zhuo County and the current situation in Youzhou, and sent it to Luoyang by fast horse.

Then, Liu Ce returned to the Liu residence.

As soon as I entered, Uncle Liu came up to me and bombarded me with a barrage of questions: Were you tired from the journey? Did you eat well? Were you injured?

Liu Ce felt a warmth in his heart: "Uncle Liu, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? Look, I'm all right here, not a single hair is missing."

Uncle Liu looked Liu Ce up and down, making sure he was truly alright, before bursting into a smile through his tears: "Good, good! It's good that you're back! This old servant will go prepare some hot water right away, young master, so you can take a bath and relax!"

"No rush," Liu Ce said with a smile.

"I'll go check on Yan'er and the others first."

Uncle Liu smiled knowingly: "The young ladies are in the backyard."

Liu Ce walked towards the backyard.

As soon as I entered the moon gate, I heard a woman's laughter.

Upon closer inspection, three people were sitting on the stone bench: Cai Yan, Zhang Ning, and Ren Hongchang.

Cai Yan was playing the zither, Zhang Ning was listening, and Ren Hongchang was pouring tea.

Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a warm and beautiful scene.

The three of them stood up at the same time when they saw Liu Ce.

Zhang Ning was the first to speak, her voice soft:

"My husband."

Liu Ce was stunned for a moment.

He remembered that when he left Luoyang, Zhang Ning's attitude towards him was somewhat distant—after all, it was a political marriage, with little emotional foundation. How could things have changed so much in just a few months…?

Zhang Ning seemed to sense his confusion and said softly:

"I've thought it through. My father entrusted me and the Yellow Turban brothers to my husband, and he has indeed treated us well."

General Guan escorted me back to Zhuojun, and I have kept everything I saw and heard along the way in my heart. My husband is a man who truly wants to serve the people.

She paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "So... I am willing to treat my husband with all my heart."

These words were spoken sincerely, and Liu Ce thought to himself: This girl, from the Yellow Turban Holy Maiden to his concubine, has had a difficult journey.

He nodded: "Yes. I'm glad Ning'er thinks that way."

Then he looked at Cai Yan, his eyes filled with expectation.

Cai Yan blushed even more. She lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and after a long while, she softly called out, "Husband."

The sound was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz, but Liu Ce heard it.

He smiled broadly: "Yan'er."

Finally, it was Ren Hongchang's turn. The girl was still confused, looking at Zhang Ning, then at Cai Yan, and then at Liu Ce.

Liu Ce teased her, "Hongchang, His Majesty has already issued a decree betrothing you to me as a concubine. So, what should you call me now?"

Ren Hongchang exclaimed "Ah!" and his eyes widened.

Since being brought back by Zhao Yun and Dian Wei and becoming their maid, she never thought she would have a formal title.

"Really... really?" Her voice trembled.

"Really." Liu Ce nodded with a smile.

Ren Hongchang's eyes reddened, and he knelt down with a thud: "Thank you, my husband!"

Liu Ce quickly helped her up: "You don't need to kneel anymore. We're family."

Ren Hongchang stood up, looked at Liu Ce, and tears streamed down his face, but they were tears of joy.

Looking at the three women in front of him, Liu Ce thought to himself: I've managed to marry quite a few wives during this time travel.

He opened his arms: "Come on, give me a hug."

Cai Yan was shy, but she still slowly walked over. Zhang Ning was more outgoing, while Ren Hongchang was the most proactive—she threw herself directly into Liu Ce's arms.

Liu Ce embraced the three of them, feeling incredibly happy.

In the evening, Liu Ce decided to host a family dinner and invited everyone to eat.

He wrote down a list and handed it to Dian Wei: "Go and invite these people here."

Dian Wei took the list, stared at it for a long time, then scratched his head:

"Brother, I know the others, but who is this 'dog'?"

Liu Ce was taken aback: "Dog goods? What dog goods?"

"This is it." Dian Wei pointed to two characters on the list, "Gou Huo? That's a really interesting name."

Liu Ce leaned over to take a look and almost burst out laughing—the list read "Xun Yu," but Dian Wei was illiterate and guessed the character by looking at the radical. He mistook "Xun Yu" for "Gou Huo," and because of his accent, he pronounced it as "Gou Huo."

"Hahahaha!" Liu Ce slapped his thigh and laughed, "Er Lai, Er Lai, those two characters are pronounced 'Xun Yu,' not 'Gou Huo'!"

Dian Wei suddenly realized, "Oh! I see! Xun Yu...

'dog scoundrel'... that does sound quite fitting. But brother, why did he choose such a name that sounds like 'dog scoundrel'?"

Liu Ce, barely suppressing a laugh, kicked Dian Wei: "Stop talking nonsense! Go and fetch someone! If you keep spouting this rubbish, you won't get dinner tonight!"

"No, no, no! I'm going right now!" Dian Wei took off running.

As Dian Wei ran, he muttered to himself:

"They really do look alike... Xun Yu, you scoundrel... Heh, they really do!"

Liu Ce watched his departing figure and laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

In his past life, when he was a child, he read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and pronounced "Xun Yu" as "dog-good-for-nothing." He never expected that after time-traveling, he would meet a kindred spirit. History always repeats itself in surprising ways.

Dian Wei was efficient, and before long, all the people on the list had been invited.

In the dining room of the Liu residence, there was an extra-long table—a modern conference table that Liu Ce had specially commissioned a carpenter to make.

There were more than a dozen copper pots on the table, with charcoal fire burning brightly underneath.

The pot was simmering with a bright red broth, and the aroma filled the whole house.

Xun Yu and the others entered, smelled the fragrance, and were all curious:

"My lord, what kind of way is this to eat it?"

Without Liu Ce needing to explain, Zhang Fei, Dian Wei, and Cheng Yaojin, who had eaten hotpot before, started showing off.

"This is called hot pot!" Zhang Fei shouted.

"You put meat and vegetables in the pot to cook, then dip them in sauce and eat—it's so delicious!"

Dian Wei added, "You have to eat it like this—take a slice of meat, dip it in the pot for a count of three, take it out, and dip it in this sauce..."

Cheng Yaojin demonstrated directly, picking up a slice of mutton, dipping it in the broth, and stuffing it into his mouth with a look of pure enjoyment:

"Mmm! Delicious!"

Everyone watched with envy and took their seats.

Liu Ce prepared a generous amount of ingredients: sliced mutton, sliced beef, various vegetables, tofu, vermicelli... and special dipping sauces—sesame paste, chili sauce, fermented bean curd...

At first, everyone was reserved. The scholars ate in a refined manner, and the military officers did not dare to be too unrestrained.

But after a few drinks, the atmosphere became lively.

Guo Jia cooked a slice of mutton, dipped it in the sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth. His eyes widened instantly.

"Mmm! Delicious! My lord, this hot pot is amazing!"

Xun Yu nodded in agreement: "The broth is delicious and the mutton is tender; it is indeed a delicacy."

Jia Xu was a man of few words, but his chopsticks never stopped moving.

Needless to say, the military generals were even more eager—Zhang Fei and Dian Wei had already started fighting over the meat.

"This piece is mine!"

"I was the one who took it first!"

"You didn't manage to clamp it properly!"

"Mind your own business!"

Liu Ce found it amusing and ordered several more plates of meat to be served.