Chapter 140: The Emperor’s Summons

Wei Renshi bought some gifts and spent the past few days visiting the people in the neighboring households, getting acquainted with them.

In this age, relations among neighbors were still extremely important, for the opinions they voiced about you determined your reputation to a considerable extent.

And in this age, reputation was far more than mere talk. It could truly be turned into money.

That was why Wei Renshi had instructed the Dream One Pavilion to devote itself to repairing the river embankment. It was also why the other nine pavilions and one tower, after seeing what the Dream One Pavilion was doing, had realized the benefits and hurried to get involved.

As for the embankment outside Luoyang, Wei Renshi was not particularly worried. Xu Mingli, an experienced inspector of river embankments, was directing the work there. The two of them had also discussed Wei Renshi’s plans in detail, and Xu Mingli fully understood what Wei Renshi intended. Thus, Wei Renshi had no fear that the embankment would be built contrary to his wishes.

Xu Mingli had originally taken great interest in the equipment at the embankment works. In order to learn how it was made, he had devoted himself wholeheartedly to the project outside Luoyang.

Now that he knew Wei Renshi had been formally ennobled by the imperial court as a county baron and had become a member of the nobility, he would naturally work even harder.

As for the Dream One Pavilion and the distillery, Wei Renshi felt that it was time to begin expanding toward Chang’an.

The Dream One Pavilion could wait. Finding a suitable shop was no easy matter. But a new distillery absolutely had to be built somewhere near Chang’an.

As for the location, it would naturally be on his fief in Weinan.

It seemed he would have to find time to make a trip to Weinan, Wei Renshi thought.

“Master, Mr. Zhang has arrived with several people. They knocked at the gate and said they wished to see you.” Just then, the gatekeeper came running over. When he reached Wei Renshi, he bowed and reported the matter.

“Invite them in.” Wei Renshi nodded.

Before long, Zhang Ji, Liu Yuxi, Liu Zongyuan, and Han Yu arrived together in the rear courtyard.

“This garden is a vision of beauty. Congratulations, Lord Wei,” Liu Yuxi said with a smile as soon as he saw him.

Zhang Ji sighed. “Miss Huang understood the matter more clearly than I did.”

Hearing this, Wei Renshi knew that Zhang Ji had finally grasped the crux of the situation. He smiled and said, “Mr. Zhang, it is not that you failed to see clearly. You were simply confused by your concern. Besides, Miss Huang left you a letter, did she not? You could have gone to see her after this period had passed.”

“We have no need to hear about the gifted Mr. Zhang’s romantic entanglements,” Liu Yuxi said with a laugh. “We are only interested in that grilled-and-boiled feast you mentioned the other day. Take us to see it.”

“Very well.” Wei Renshi had prepared everything in advance and led them to a garden.

There was a small open space paved with pebbles. A stone table and several stone stools stood there for use as a tea table.

Beside it stood a barbecue brazier—the very one Wei Renshi had commissioned a blacksmith to make.

Along its length was a trough for charcoal. The top was divided into three sections: a grill at one end, an iron griddle at the other, and a round opening in the middle for a hotpot or a basin in which food could be swished and cooked.

He had servants bring low stools, and the four men sat down. He then sent someone to the kitchen to fetch glowing embers, which were poured into the brazier. Charcoal was piled on top, and soon the fire was blazing.

Wei Renshi had marinated the meat beforehand, and the servants had threaded it onto skewers. They brought it all over, and in the blink of an eye the stone table was covered.

“Let me first give you a taste of my skill!” Wei Renshi said with a smile.

He laid the iron skewers across the grill, brushing some with oil and smearing others with seasoning.

Before long, an enticing fragrance began to spread.

Wei Renshi took out more seasonings and sprinkled them over the meat, then brushed on another layer of oil. As the fat hissed and sputtered, an aroma capable of making one’s mouth water instantly filled the air.

After a while, Wei Renshi lifted the skewers from the grill and handed them to the others. “These are ready. Try them first. The ends of the skewers are very hot, so be careful not to burn yourselves.”

He pulled two skewers from the middle for himself and took several bites before nodding. “Not bad. I have still got it.”

The others had already been drooling at the tantalizing aroma. They immediately took the skewers Wei Renshi offered them and, imitating him, opened their mouths and tore off the meat, chewing heartily before swallowing.

Their eyes widened at once.

“Delicious!” Liu Zongyuan exclaimed.

“Is it not a hundred times better than any grilled meat you have eaten before?” Wei Renshi asked smugly, amused by their astonished expressions.

“Indeed!” Zhang Ji cried. “I have eaten plenty of grilled meat, but none of it can compare with what Lord Wei has made! Hey—Mengde, leave one for me!”

“Of course.” Wei Renshi laughed. “The grill is long enough. Take whatever you want and cook it yourselves. The pleasure of a barbecue lies in doing it yourself and making sure you have enough to eat. Food you choose and cook with your own hands always tastes best. Try it and see.”

The four men found this immensely amusing and immediately went over to grill the food themselves.

Wei Renshi moved aside and began preparing the food on the iron griddle.

Each of them chose what they wanted and cooked it for himself. At first, naturally, none of them had any idea what they were doing, and they kept asking questions. Much of what they cooked turned out inedible, sending them all into peals of laughter. Before long, they were even comparing whose food tasted the strangest.

But soon they became proficient, and the things they grilled grew more and more delicious.

“Excellent, excellent! This is great fun!” Han Yu said with a laugh. “Lord Wei, you truly have a fine mind and a refined taste!”

Wei Renshi was about to reply when the gatekeeper came running over once again. He approached, bowed, and said, “Master, an imperial attendant has arrived outside. He says he bears the Emperor’s oral summons and has come to escort you to the palace.”

“What?” Everyone was startled. “An imperial attendant?”

Wei Renshi’s heart jolted. He had only just bought the residence, and already someone had come looking for him!

“Invite him in at once.” Wei Renshi frowned, then turned to Dog Two. “Brother Dog Two, stop eating for now and prepare two strings of cash.”

Dog Two nodded and hurried away.

Before long, he returned with the money to the main hall, where Wei Renshi had already gone and met the imperial attendant.

“I was unaware that Your Excellency was coming,” Wei Renshi said, stepping forward.

“Please do not call me that. I am here to deliver the Emperor’s oral decree.” The attendant bowed. “His Majesty commands that Lord Wei Renshi, County Baron of Weinan, enter the palace at once for an audience.”

Wei Renshi bent at the waist to receive the summons. “Yes. I shall accompany you immediately. Many thanks for delivering the decree. I have troubled you.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Dog Two.

Dog Two came forward and placed a string of cash into the attendant’s hand.

Seeing Lord Wei give him an entire string of cash without hesitation, the attendant’s face lit up. With a deft turn of his hand, he slipped the money into his sleeve and immediately broke into a broad smile.

“This servant thanks Your Lordship for the generous reward!”

Wei Renshi smiled and asked, “May I inquire, Your Excellency, why His Majesty has summoned me so suddenly?”

“How could this servant presume to guess His Majesty’s thoughts?” the attendant replied. “But Your Lordship need not worry. His Majesty is in good spirits today, so it is probably nothing bad.”

The attendant could not speak too plainly and could only offer this hint.

Wei Renshi smiled again. “Many thanks.”

At that, Dog Two stepped forward and stuffed another string of cash into the attendant’s hand.

The attendant was first startled, then delighted. His face flushed with pleasure, and he hurriedly said, “Oh, Lord Wei, you are truly generous! This servant thanks Your Lordship for the reward!”

He accepted the money, rolled his eyes thoughtfully, and glanced around. Then he suddenly leaned closer and whispered, “This servant has heard that His Majesty summoned Your Lordship after learning that you spent a fortune in Chang’an to purchase this residence—and after hearing that in little more than half a year, you rose from a destitute household to possess wealth beyond measure. His Majesty himself is not blessed with a full treasury and lives frugally. To speak with all due irreverence, we servants cannot help but feel distressed when we see it!”

When he had finished, he winked at Wei Renshi, then straightened and resumed his former expression, standing with a faint smile.

“Lord Wei, His Majesty is still waiting. Shall we be on our way?”