The Female Supporting Role Shows Out - Chapter 38
Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse
Reminiscing the peaceful and prosperous times while watching the flames set ablaze on the ruined mountains and rivers, Lin Dan found that she could no longer keep herself out of the matter. She dug out a wine jar buried in the cave and made a few trips before she arrived at the front lines, hoping to meet Marquis Weiyuan.
“Who did you say is here to see me?” Marquis Weiyuan thought he had heard it wrong.
“Sir, it’s Manager Lin Dan who came to see you. She has been waiting for you for more than 20 days outside the barracks. If I hadn’t seen her today when I was out of the camp, I won’t even know how long more she will have to wait.” The chief guard of Marquis Weiyuan used to follow his master to dine at the Hometown Kitchen every day, and it was no surprise that he could recognize Manager Lin. He remembered that the marquis’ health deteriorated badly and got very thin, but that it was all thanks to Manager Lin’s superb culinary skills that had helped the marquis to recover.
“She’s a vulnerable lady, why is she even here alone and not staying at home?!” Marquis Weiyuan frowned, seemingly displeased, but still hurriedly stood up and went to see her in person.
“Sir, it’s been a long time since. How have you been?” Lin Dan smiled and bowed.
“Let’s not stand here and talk. Come with me into the tent.” Marquis Weiyuan muttered as they walked, “Why are you here? Were you in danger on your way here? This is not a pretty place to visit. Soon, there will be rivers of blood and this place will be strewn with dead bodies. You better leave soon, I will send someone to escort you.”
“Sir, I’m here to present you with a gift.” Lin Dan placed a jar on the table.
“What wine is this?” Marquis Weiyuan finally showed his first smile in recent days. Since he got used to eating at the Hometown Kitchen, he had seldom drunk anymore because Manager Lin did not allow him to. He did not know why he was being so obedient, but he was right to listen to Manager Lin. His deteriorating and weakening body actually got better under Lin Dan’s meticulous care in his diet. Otherwise, he would have died long ago.
“This is the Thousand-Days Wine you have always wanted.” Lin Dan poured the clear wine into the empty bowl.
“But we have not seen each other only for less than three years? Good one, Lin Dan. Didn’t you say that it takes at least three years to brew the Thousand-Days Wine? Where did you get this jar of wine? Have you been lying?” Marquis Weiyuan stared at her.
“This is the wine that I stored elsewhere. It has already been kept for five years.” Lin Dan said with a smile, “But I came today, not to deliver this jar of wine but the contents of the wine. Look, Sir.”
When Marquis Weiyuan looked at it closely, he saw a slender worm with pink flesh wiggling out of the clear drink. As soon as the worm crawled out, the mellow and aromatic liquor actually exuded a more overpowering smell, which filled the air of the entire camp. Not to mention how much he was salivating when smelling it, even the soldiers guarding outside the tent could not help but take a whiff. Their heads shook and felt as if they were already drunk.
“Is this the wine worm?” Marquis Weiyuan could not believe his eyes.
“That’s right. This worm can only be born from the best wine. If you put this worm in clear water, it can even turn the water into a bowl of fine wine after a while.” Lin Dan took the wine worm out and put it into a bowl of water. After a short while, the surface of the bowl started to exude a strong smell of alcohol.
Marquis Weiyuan took a deep breath and suddenly laughed, “Lin Dan, I like your gift!”
Lin Dan narrowed her eyebrows and slowly said, “But sir, do you know that the wine worm can live in fine wine or in clear water, but it will die immediately if put into a turbid liquid?” As she spoke, she put the wine worm into an empty bowl and poured some brown tea. The worm started squirming and instantly became stiff before slowly turning into a stream of blood.
Marquis Weiyuan could feel his happiness dissipated instantly and glared at Lin Dan with his pair of eagle eyes. He seemed angry, but he could not bring himself to reprimand her. No matter how precious the wine worm was, she was still an extremely important figure in his life.
Lin Dan looked back at him fearlessly and continued, “Sir, let me just say this with confidence – there is magic in my pair of hands. No matter how unusual the ingredients are, I can always create delicious food with it. But there’s just one thing that can’t be made into a dish no matter how hard I try. Do you know what it is?”
“What is it?” Marquis Weiyuan asked patiently.
“It’s the Guanyin soil. When I was on my way here, I saw rivers of blood and people dying of starvation, losing their homes, and eating anything they see. They were so hungry that they grabbed a lot of Guanyin soil and stuffed it in their mouths. Those people soon died after their guts ruptured. Have you had a taste of the Guanyin soil? Do you know how it feels to be homeless and being unable to control your fate? The people of the Great Chu are like this wine worm struggling in the turbid liquid and will sooner or later turn into a stream of blood. Sir, just what exactly are you fighting for at the front lines?”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]
Marquis Weiyuan wanted to answer but Lin Dan interrupted him, “You are fighting for the imperial power, the Emperor, and his absolute dominance over the Great Chu. You pride yourself on being a loyal subject, but you fail to see how people are struggling under the ruling power of the Emperor. If you really launch a pincer attack against the coalition of Tang Jiu and the county lord from the back, Xiongnu’s cavalry will march straight into the Central Plains and crush our mountains and rivers. When that time comes, the Emperor will be able to keep his throne by letting go of a few cities. But did he even consider the people who are struggling to survive in these cities? I’m sure you know how the Xiongnus are, they are known for being violent and have no sense of governance. They will definitely take the lives of the people in the city and destroy everything. They will burn down the houses, and not even the chickens and dogs can be left unscathed. They will become more powerful after occupying these cities, but the Great Chu would be torn apart after losing the cities and weaken. In just five years, another war will break out between the two countries. When that happens, can anyone save the people and the nation? Can you?”
Lin Dan looked directly at Marquis Weiyuan and pressed, “Are you doing everything you can to defend the Great Chu and save the people, or are you playing a part in abusing the people and making the people suffer? Our nation has enjoyed peace in the past few years, but what is happening now?”
She poured the turbid water out of the bowl, and spoke in a calm tone again, “People who live in a troubled world are just like ants who can never escape the fate of being crushed to death. But if people live in a prosperous world where there are good wine and food, even if a wine worm is dead, we can still create thousands of new wine worms. Sir, you are someone of high status, even if the country is in ruins and the people are struggling to survive, I’m sure there is still a way for you to enjoy good food and fine wine. But do you know that when you enjoy the wine and the food, there are people eating soil or even their own kind? Please, sir, retreat and let the world enjoy some peace. Without this wine worm, I can raise more wine worms for you in the future, isn’t it?”
Marquis Weiyuan was looking gloomy but he was now in deep thoughts. After a long time, when Lin Dan was about to give up persuading him, he fiddled the ring in his finger and slowly said, “Lin Dan, it’s a promise. Do not forget about what you said, alright? You can’t stop how much I want to drink from now on.”
Lin Dan smiled and nodded, “Yes, it’s a promise.”
—
On the same night, Tang Jiu sat by the bonfire and was having a drink with the son of Lord Dianqian, or rather, the current Lord Dianqian. Since the Xiongnu will be launching an attack against them, he was sure that Marquis Weiyuan would take advantage of the chaos and perform a pincer attack. If they were flanked on both sides, there was a high chance they would lose in the war. However, retreat was not an option. If they were to take one step back, the Xiongnus would take one step forward, and the people of the Great Chu may lose their heads.
“It would be nice to persuade Marquis Weiyuan that old man.” Lord Dianqian said in a deep voice.
“I can’t, he won’t see anyone before the war.” Tang Jiu shook his head.
Lord Dianqian sneered, gritted his teeth, and said, “Then, let’s fight to our deaths.”
Just at this moment, Zhao Liu ran over in a hurry and handed a letter. He whispered, “General, this is sent by Marquis Weiyuan, please take a look.”
Tang Jiu opened the letter and skimmed through with a look of surprise on his face which had been solemn for the past few days. Lord Dianqian leaned over and took a look, and he, too, had a surprised look. In the letter, Marquis Weiyuan had not only promised to withdraw but was also willing to work with them by putting up an act to lure the King of Xiongnu into a trap and assassinate him.
“Do you think this is a trap?” Lord Dianqian got suspicious immediately.
“Find out whether Marquis Weiyuan has seen anyone recently. It’s impossible for him to take a drastic turn in his attitude for no reason. Regardless of whether it is a trap or not, this is probably our only hope.” Tang Jiu calmly analyzed.
The scout soon found out the news and said that a graceful and beautiful woman met Marquis Weiyuan with a jar of wine in her hands. The wine was so amazing that the aroma of the wine-filled the entire camp once the jar was opened. Both of them talked privately for a while, and Marquis Weiyuan had changed his mind after the woman left.
“It’s probably Manager Lin?” King Dianqian laughed, “Only Manager Lin can make that kind of wine. I’m sure she has managed to convince that old fart. Back when she told him not to drink, he didn’t even dare to touch the wine cup. When she instructed him to have breakfast, he would appear at her Hometown Kitchen before dawn and wait. I didn’t expect Manager Lin to be so understanding and righteous to go to the front lines alone and persuade the old man to withdraw his troops. We owed her our lives…”
Tang Jiu’s eyes glistened, seeming filled with joy and sadness at the same time. It took him a long time before he could respond and said, “It’s not just our lives but everyone’s. We all owe her a word of thanks. If that’s the case, I will meet Marquis Weiyuan in person tonight. Zhao Liu, send someone to escort Lin Dan back. It’s too dangerous here at the borders and I’m worried for her safety.”
However, Lin Dan disappeared after that night. The war ended with Xiongnu’s defeat. Although the king’s right arm was being cut away, he had made another narrow escape but was fearful of the Central Plains since. The secret correspondence between the Emperor and the Xiongnus to sell the cities was found by Tang Jiu which had forced him to abdicate as the Emperor. Tang Peng was the first general to invade the capital. He charged into the imperial harem and strangled Yan Langqing, who had lost the Emperor’s favor, alive. Her body was hung from the beams of the Cold Palace. He waited for her body to decay and reduced to bones before granting permission to let her down. She was hung on the same spot where Concubine Tang hanged herself.
The Yan’s Restaurant, which once flourished, had long since been turned into ruins. The second and third uncle of Lin Dan had nowhere to make a living and lived a pathetic life. One day, when they passed by the Three-Fork Alley, they saw that the Hometown Kitchen was still open, and business was very good. Tang Jiu, who had ascended the throne, was sitting in the shop in his casual attire, carefully looking through a stack of books. His face was filled with happiness and longing.
He was reading the travel journal written by Lin Dan, which was being sent to Chef Qiu in the capital as a learning material. This Hometown Kitchen was run by Chef Qiu. She recorded the wine and food she encountered by writing stories and her language was very vivid. While reading her writings, Tang Jiu could imagine how free and unrestrained she was. She would send a jar of fine wine to Marquis Weiyuan every once in a while, but Tang Jiu could always manage to intercept the delivery. He also tried to find her, but he was always one step too late. She was like a wisp of wind – just when he thought he could hold her, she would slip away through his fingers.
Someone once asked Tang Jiu what was the most delicious meal he had ever eaten. Tang Jiu closed his eyes and thought for a while before smiling and said, “Believe it or not, the most delicious meal I have ever eaten was on the execution ground…”[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]
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