CHAPTER 321: CHAPTER 318: THE BLINDFOLDED YOUNG MASTER

Lin Wanwan asked Hua Nong to prepare a new dining table and cutlery, then brought new dishes, just waiting for Xiao Chong to come over.

Tonight, Hua Nong prepared a dinner of sour soup beef, spicy crab, steamed pomfret, scallion oil clams, sliced beef, and several vegetable dishes.

Among them, the chili peppers in sour soup beef and sliced beef were appearing in the Tang Dynasty for the first time; historically, chili peppers were introduced to Huaxia from America during the late Ming Dynasty along the coastal routes.

They were first introduced to the Southeast Coastal Area, but people there preferred sweet and mild flavors and loved seafood, showing little interest in chili peppers. Instead, the inland people embraced chili peppers earlier due to regional and salt issues.

Though the appearance of chili peppers diversified Huaxia’s dining tastes, it couldn’t compare to the status of pepper. This was because the aristocrats considered chili peppers as vulgar, even if they privately enjoyed them, they had to pretend otherwise publicly.

Lin Wanwan was indifferent to chili peppers. She introduced them simply by chance, having casually sprinkled some seeds in the garden initially, which grew on their own.

Chili peppers are super easy to grow. How easy? Due to certain reasons, a modern university was sealed for eight months. When students returned to the dormitory, they found a chili pepper growing out of the toilet!

Looking at tonight’s food, Lin Wanwan wondered if Xiao Chong would enjoy the spice. As a direct descendant of the Xiao Family, representing half of Li Tang’s empire, his taste probably represents the Great Tang’s high society.

A few figures walked into the courtyard beneath the moonlight shortly after.

The sight of a prominent figure first caught the eye; whenever Xiao Chong was present, the moonlight seemed to become hazy, reflecting the elegance of a gentleman, refined and polished.

Lin Wanwan greeted them, and after the greetings were exchanged, Xiao Chong introduced a very special person to her: "Cousin, this is my cousin, Dugu Xiweng."

The young man behind Xiao Chong stepped forward and bowed with clasped hands, his pleasant voice echoing in Lin Wanwan’s ears: "I am Dugu Di from Yunzhong, styled Xiweng, greetings to Village Lady Le’an."

Lin Wanwan returned the greeting: "Greetings to Dugu Jun."

Bearing the surname Dugu and being Xiao Chong’s cousin, he must belong to the Dugu Clan, famous for producing nine Empresses. The Empress Dowager of the Sui Dynasty was from the Dugu Family; Li Yuan was her nephew, and Xiao Chong’s grandmother was also a Dugu, showing deep ties between the families as both royal kin.

Despite the Dugu Clan’s prestigious reputation and high status in the pre-Tang dynasties and being maternal relatives to Li Tang, they left no significant mark in Tang Dynasty history, with most descendants remaining relatively unknown.

Especially after Li Zhi and Wu Zetian ascended to power, the aristocrats of Longxi, with overwhelming influence, were purged severely, weakening their prowess. Perceiving the unfavorable changes, the Dugu family began to conceal their strength, influencing the great affairs of the world only from behind the scenes.

In contrast to the Xiao Family from Lanling’s Nanliang Branch, who produced seventeen emperors in previous dynasties and held eight prime ministerships in the Tang Dynasty, the situations vary greatly.

The gentleman before her was definitively of captivating charisma; even beside Xiao Chong, he wasn’t overshadowed, speaking with a refined and pleasant voice, each word clear.

Though separated by a distance, the impression given to Lin Wanwan felt as if his words were softly spoken right by her ear.

Xiao Yixun, who accompanied Lin Wanwan to town, had been quietly eating the dinner like a shadow, raised her eyes upon hearing the voice, glancing at the newcomer indifferently, with an inexplicable gleam flashing in her eyes.

Dugu Di’s eyes were bound with a two-finger-wide white silk band, yet from his graceful demeanor, he didn’t appear visually impaired at all.

Little Qingyu gently tugged at Lin Wanwan’s hand, lifting her head and quietly asked, "Mother, why does he have a band around his eyes? Is he playing hide and seek?"

Lin Wanwan gently shook her head, without answering.

Dugu Di apparently had superb hearing, laughed gracefully and said, "Recently, my old ailment relapsed, causing eye pain and sensitivity to wind, thus the band. Forgive the sight."

Lin Wanwan apologized: "Children speak without intent, Dugu Jun, please forgive."

Dugu Di opened the fan in his hand, gently shook it twice, and softly said, "Village Lady, no need to worry."

Xiao Chong glanced at Xiao Yixun, who remained silent, then withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Let’s stop the pleasantries; once the food cools down, it won’t be as tasty. Let us begin dining."

Everyone took their seats; as Xiao Chong brought more guests unexpectedly, they originally lacked a table. While they were exchanging pleasantries, Hua Nong quietly went to fetch one and now brought it over.

Sour soup beef, sliced beef, and other dishes were divided into small portions and placed on everyone’s table.

Being a lover of gourmet food, Xiao Chong always discussed serious matters after enjoying the meals, so Lin Wanwan didn’t inquire about his purpose and enthusiastically introduced the day’s dishes.

"Cousin, this sour soup beef is great with rice, the beef is rich but not greasy, and it’s tangy and appetizing; try it."

"Alright, let me give it a try." Xiao Chong picked up a slice of beef and put it in his mouth, while Xiao Yixun’s lips barely concealed a trace of a faint smile, eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

The first time Xiao Yixun had this dish, she was instantly overwhelmed by the spice, teary-eyed, and in disarray, frightening little Qingyu so much she didn’t dare touch her chopsticks. Thus, she believed Xiao Chong would be affected by the spice too.

But she was disappointed, for Xiao Chong was someone who, even if Mt. Tai collapsed before him, would remain unflustered, hence unlikely to lose composure over a dish.

The beef entered his mouth, its unique tangy spice surged through the nerves, certainly sharpening Xiao Chong’s senses with enlarged pupils, yet on the surface, there was no trace of embarrassment.

After silently swallowing it, Xiao Chong slightly pushed aside the bowl containing sour soup beef, lifting his cup to drink it in one gulp, and then smiled: "Cousin brews amazing wine. Xiwen Brother, I toast you a cup, please try this fine wine too."

Without waiting for a reply, he directly finished another cup.

"Good, since Zifang praises it so highly, this wine must be exceptional; I’ll have a cup." Dugu Di tucked his fan into his sleeve, reached out to pour wine for himself, astonishingly without a single drop spilling.

If not for the white band covering his eyes, it truly wouldn’t show that he couldn’t see.

Unsure whether Dugu Di had extraordinarily adept sound location skills or sneakily peered under the band at shadows.

Little Qingyu became deeply curious about Dugu Di, frequently glancing at him during the meal. She was well-behaved, knowing guests were present, not interrupting adult conversations.

The first spicy promotion failed utterly, as gourmet Xiao Chong surprisingly had no interest in spice, ceasing his chopsticks after tasting a bit of sour soup beef and sliced beef.

As for Dugu Di, he simply didn’t touch the two dishes at all.