Generally speaking, these rewards should be carried to each official's residence by designated personnel after court is dismissed, not distributed in front of everyone. But The Old Emperor, who climbed up from the bottom, understands better than anyone what it means to “give face” and “bestow honor”...

Is it the same to have the rewards delivered to your residence afterwards, compared to receiving them in front of all the officials?

Didn’t you see that several clerks were so excited they fainted on the spot!

The Old Emperor was feeling both proud and pained.

He didn’t really want to give away so many fresh winter vegetables, but...

The Old Emperor smacked his lips.

The things revealed in Evan Foster’s inner thoughts were truly tempting.

Author’s note:

The Shandong drought here is based on the Gansu famine relief case.

＊

Chapter 4 Wow! The Imperial Son-in-law Wipes Out His Own Nine Generations!

【These vegetables...】

Evan Foster frowned, the muscles on his face tensed.

The Ministry of War clerk beside him noticed that even his nose was wrinkled, his eyebrows knotted together, his whole face radiating an anxious air, as if he was deeply troubled by something.

What’s going on?

The Ministry of War clerk couldn’t help but crane his neck toward Evan Foster.

【So yellow and wilted, how are you supposed to eat this?】

【I heard you can’t just give away things bestowed by the emperor. So many rules—whatever, I’ll just make a hotpot at home, make do and finish it in one meal.】

【Such a grand royal family, yet in winter there’s not even a bit of green vegetables. Look at these wilted leaves, and they still have the nerve to hand them out as rewards—how stingy...】

“Thud—”

Evan Foster turned his head in confusion, only to see that the previously timid Ministry of War clerk had already collapsed to the ground, fainting.

He blinked.

【So moved by imperial grace that another one fainted?】

No!!!

That was you scaring him!

All the civil and military officials screamed in their hearts.

The Minister of War nervously wiped his sweat with his sleeve again. He subconsciously sniffed his sleeve, caught a strong smell of sweat, and immediately showed a look of disgust.

At the top, The Old Emperor slapped the armrest of the dragon throne, the gold ring inlaid with turquoise on his finger clinking against the wood, the crisp sound echoing clearly through the silent court.

Everyone looked at The Old Emperor.

The Old Emperor’s face was flushed with anger.

What do you mean yellow and wilted! What do you mean so many rules! What do you mean just make do and eat it! What! Do you mean! Stingy!!!

Have you ever tasted fresh, crisp winter vegetables!

Such a great honor, don’t be ungrateful—

【Seems like Daxia only has boiled lamb, not sliced lamb hotpot. I’ll ask the chef to slice some after work.】

【Luckily chili peppers have already been introduced. Eating spicy hotpot in winter is the best!】

【The steaming hot red chili oil, beef sliced as thin as gauze, held steady with chopsticks and dipped into the broth, a few swishes and it changes color. The beef is thin and tender, the broth spicy, and when you take it out and bite into it... that texture, amazing!】

—Daxia bans the slaughter of oxen, but only plow oxen, not beef cattle.

When it comes to beef cattle, they eat it in all sorts of ways: pan-fried, stewed, roasted, grilled, or made into meat sauce, five-spice jerky (dried meat), summer white jerky (cured meat), eating the meat, the tendons, the liver, the brisket, the tongue...

As he thought about it, Evan Foster’s eyes glazed over, clearly lost in his imagination, oblivious to the outside world.

【And lamb, also sliced thin, tossed into the pot, listen to the sizzle at the bottom, then scoop it out to eat.】

【Then have someone hand-roll a dozen or twenty fish balls, they must be especially plump, that’s the only way they’ll be springy!】

【And then... lean meat slices, fatty meat slices, chicken slices, crystal vermicelli, fish tofu, beef tripe...】

【As for condiments, you must have sesame oil and mashed garlic!】

Gulp—

The Old Emperor’s throat moved.

The anger on his face also stalled, dissipating as his thoughts drifted away.

“This Evan Foster...”

The Old Emperor mentally pictured the delicacy called hotpot, unconsciously licking his lips, a hint of anticipation and enjoyment showing on his face.

“He really does seem to know how to eat.”

But... what is crystal vermicelli? Why have I never heard of it?

＊

After the morning court, there was still the inner court, but that was only for second-rank officials and above, and had nothing to do with a minor official like Evan Foster. He just needed to dutifully leave court and go to his office to handle his duties.

That’s how it was supposed to be.

But today...

“Announce—”

“Ministry of Personnel clerk Evan Foster, audience—”

The eunuch’s voice rang out from both sides of the golden dais, passing over the tiers of steps. Sunlight cast shadows that divided the civil and military officials, the crowd turning their heads one by one, layer upon layer stretching to the end, all faces filled with astonishment, exchanging glances with the minor official from the Ministry of Personnel.

“Me?” Evan Foster, who had just been savoring the wonders of hotpot in his mind, was jolted back to reality by the summons, his hotpot fantasy flying away, leaving him dazed.

The Ministry of War clerk who had just woken from his faint gave him a kick on the heel.

Evan Foster stumbled forward a few steps, suddenly realizing this was no time to daydream, hurriedly straightened his official hat, and walked from the center of the civil and military ranks toward the golden dais.

Past the ninth-rank officials...

Past the eighth-rank officials...

Past the seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third ranks...