"I'm throwing silver over to you, Jing people! You throw some hotpot back!"
"What about the grilled fish?! I'm pelting you with silver!"
Splash, splash—
Skilled throwers from Chu State, separated by a river, kept tossing silver pieces and even silver treasures towards the opposite bank.
But even at the river's narrowest point, one would need to swim across. No matter how strong one's arm, it was impossible to throw anything to the other side.
As a result, countless silver pieces plunged into the river in no time!
Wealthy Chu people, cursing from above, continued to throw silver into the river.
"Hurry up and send me some skewers!"
"It's your turn now! I dare to send you silver, do you dare to send food over?!"
Hearing this, the people of Jing Country on the opposite bank got equally excited.
Those holding barbecue skewers and deep-fried snacks, and those fanning themselves while eating hotpot by the shore, all stood up.
They raised their fried and grilled skewers, picked up lamb rolls from the hotpot, and waved their arms towards Chu State across the river. But in a split second, their expressions changed. They made a feint, swung the grilled meats, fried vegetables, and lamb rolls dripping with spicy oil in a circle, and popped them into their own mouths.
The Chu people across the river: "???"
The Jing people chuckled, "Do you take us for fools? Why would we throw such delicious food into the river instead of eating it ourselves?"
"!!!"
The Chu people on the other side of the river were furious.
The situation on both banks was clearly spiraling out of control, especially on the Chu side, where even the Chu soldiers could barely maintain order.
Without further orders, the soldiers and constables couldn't do much to their own citizens.
Even the Chu soldiers guarding the area were somewhat stirred by the atmosphere. "Boss, those Jing people are shameless! I want to taste their food too! If it's not good, let's see how they explain their lies!"
Before the Chu King issued his edict two days ago, only a few Chu citizens had ventured to Jing Country's gathering to eat and explore.
Crossing mountains and rivers was inconvenient after all.
Many Chu people had only smelled the aromas but hadn't tasted the food.
Now, with the Jing people's provocation, they simply couldn't contain themselves anymore.
[The sound of monkeys crying on both banks is incessant. Who could have imagined that the exchange between our two countries would be so lively~]
Xiao Chuchu had never seen such a heated scene even in modern times.
Xiao Yunzhou didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he too had his eyes opened today.
"Old Fu, when you used to teach me, you said that it's better to channel than to block. I didn't quite understand it then," Xiao Yunzhou said, looking back at Chancellor Fu Cha with emotion.
Chancellor Fu Cha, also in plain clothes, twitched his mouth. Old Fu?!
The Emperor was getting more and more casual!
But hearing Xiao Yunzhou's following words, Chancellor Fu Cha's eyes widened in surprise.
"Old Fu, seeing the Chu people like this today, I finally understand firsthand what it means to channel rather than block."
"The common people and all things in the world are like rivers. If they're blocked for years, sooner or later, great chaos will ensue," Xiao Yunzhou mused, looking at the opposite bank.
Chancellor Fu Cha couldn't help but show an expression of approval. "Your High... ahem, young master, you've truly grown up."
Xiao Yunzhou's mouth twitched. What kind of talk was that? He had grown up long ago!
Just as they were chatting, many Chu boats arrived from upstream to this downstream section.
"Sir, we've always been in the ferry business here!" a ferryman leaning on his pole said, "We have no intention of going to the market in Jing Country!"
These boatmen had clearly sniffed out an opportunity to make money and had all rushed downstream!
"That's right, we're just doing our usual ferry and cargo transport business. Surely this can't be considered defying the royal edict? Otherwise, will the government compensate us for today's losses?"
The Chu soldiers and constables couldn't argue with that!
The Chu boatmen immediately steered their boats to the shore, coming to a near stop, and looked towards the Chu people.
"What do you want? Tell us!"
"Grilled fish, skewers, hotpot!"
"If you want it, pay up quickly!"
"We don't know how much it'll cost, so pay a deposit first!"
The Chu people on the shore, after a moment of stunned silence, swarmed forward in an instant.
Seven or eight money pouches were thrust at the boatmen.
The boatmen could barely keep track as they pushed their boats away, heading to the opposite shore!
The Chu soldiers were dumbfounded. "This..."
"The edict only said we couldn't go to the gathering. Did we go? No!" The Chu people were on the verge of rebellion.
But even though they had paid, they weren't about to be quiet when facing the Jing people!
They shouted across the river, "If it's not delicious, I'll have the boatmen bring you dung!"
The Jing side was also in an uproar, "Come on, if it's good, you swim over here and kowtow to me!"
"Hey, boatman, take the leftovers from my plate back to your Chu people!"
"Even our Jing leftovers smell better than your meals!"
The Chu people on the other bank were indignant. Chu scholars, rich merchants, and even the children of officials were all provoked into a competitive spirit!
Even the Chu soldiers could hardly bear to listen anymore. They had been hesitating whether to stop the boatmen from transporting items from the gathering.
Now they decided not to act, turning a blind eye!
The Chu soldiers also wanted to see if the Jing food was really that good!
With this wavering, the boatmen set off.
In no time, under the watchful eyes of the Chu people, these Chu boats docked at the Jing border, as if carrying the hopes of the entire village!
"Great!"
"Old Zhou, that's some nice docking!"
"Excellent!"
The Chu people on the shore cheered excitedly as they saw the Chu boats successfully reach the other side, as if it were some great achievement.
The boatmen, with their incredibly loud voices, quickly began to trade with the Jing people on the shore.
"We want a bit of everything. How much?"
Now the Jing people were also fired up, "Good, you've come at the right time! Let us show you our delicacies."
"One taste, and you'll be begging on your knees for a second!"
The Jing people were beside themselves with joy, full of a sense of superiority and pride on their faces.
They even started playing the role of tour guides on the spot, "Grilled pork belly, two skewers for one copper coin."
"Deep-fried cabbage, ten skewers for one copper coin."
"!"
"!!!"
The Chu people on the opposite bank, and even the Chu boatmen on the boats, were stunned.
So cheap?
"Milk tea, five copper coins a cup! Buy ten get one free. If you Chu people want to drink, why not team up?"
"Grilled fish grand opening special! For the first ten days, spend 300 coins and get 30 coins back!"
"The hotpot pot is for rent, return it later. This lamb roll and noodle combo meal, originally 599 coins, if you bring your wife and daughters to eat, it's only 399~"
"!"
It's not expensive at all.
Really not expensive.
The Chu people on the opposite bank found it all very novel. How could there be so many interesting interactions?
Buy ten get one free! Spend 300 get 30 back!
Bring women and save 200 coins?
Not only did the food from Jing Country smell good, but it also felt like they were getting a great bargain!
Originally, they thought Jing Country would raise prices and make a big profit from them. Unexpectedly, the cost of food was just a few coins here and there.
It was completely different from the expensive meals they usually had, costing several taels of silver!
The Chu people suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. Were the Jing people across the river, who they thought had stiff upper lips and wanted to teach them a lesson, actually quite kind-hearted?
Jing and Chu had never gotten along.
Chu State even looked down on Jing Country for its poverty.
But now, they discovered that the Jing people were so genuine! They were all honest folks!
The Chu people felt ashamed of their earlier impolite shouting.
[Oh my, I just thought of something,] Xiao Chuchu narrowed her eyes.
[The Chu King only forbade Chu people from crossing the river. He didn't say anything about us Jing people going onto the river, did he?]
[We could send our barbecue and fried skewer vendors onto boats and do business right on the river! We won't even go ashore!]
"!"
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes widened, and he immediately turned to whisper in Wei Zheng's ear.
Before long, several Chu boats returned fully loaded, much to the anticipation of the Chu people.
Not only were there neatly arranged cups of milk tea, but there were also barbecue and fried skewer chefs!
Even entire hot pot tables...
Instantly, the Chu people's eyes lit up.
In no time, skewers of grilled pork belly and fried cabbage were passed to the first batch of people by the riverside.
Taking a bite, the Chu people's expressions became complex.
Although each wooden skewer only had a few thin slices of cabbage,
The extreme cheapness of ten skewers for one coin, and the joy of having multiple skewers – who could understand?
They tasted the youtiao and lamb rolls from the hot pot, dipped in sesame oil.
"!"
"!!"
"The Jing people truly do not deceive us!"
"Such tender meat must only exist in heaven!"