APSIL -Chapter 49 Enjoying Music and Solving Problems, A Gluttonous Guest and an Unwelcome Visitor

Inside the Qingfeng Xulai Hall, when Zhang Shou spoke those words, Lu Sanlang and Zhang Chen looked at their “teacher” with completely different expressions.

Lu Sanlang was overjoyed and filled with gratitude.

Although Zhu Ying’s qin performance could not exactly be called a demonic assault on the ears, forcing himself to rack his brains to flatter her was even more terrifying than listening to demonic music.

He would rather solve ten or eight mathematics problems!

Zhang Chen, on the other hand, looked horrified and utterly hopeless.

He genuinely felt that Zhu Ying’s playing was quite good. Most importantly, she did not use any flashy techniques. The music was comfortable and pleasant to listen to.

Wasn’t that enough?

Why did they have to solve problems instead of enjoying good music?

Zhu Ying, however, secretly let out a sigh of relief.

She was not particularly fond of playing the qin. After all, everyone’s praise was obviously insincere. She was not a fool.

But after A-Liu had hurried over through a shortcut and brought the news, she had seen Lu Sanlang and Zhang Chen becoming so nervous that even her own heart had started pounding.

Therefore, when Zhang Shou suggested that she play some music to calm everyone’s minds, she immediately agreed.

Now that Zhang Shou had indicated she could stop playing and had sent Lu Sanlang and Zhang Chen to solve problems instead, she naturally had no objections.

She sat beside them with a smile, watching the scene unfold.

When Zhanjin brought over a basin of water for her to wash her hands, she smiled and gave Liuyin a small signal with her eyes.

Seeing that Liuyin immediately understood and brought a stacked box of pastries to Zhang Shou, Zhu Ying raised her eyebrows at him.

Zhang Shou knew that inside were walnut pastries.

He had to admit that his small personal preference had been completely figured out by Zhu Ying these past days.

However, he had deliberately eaten dinner early, and at this moment, he truly had little appetite.

Even though in his previous life he had experienced many storms, including enemies using every possible method to assassinate him, the situation was different.

Before, it had been a car accident and assassination.

Now, it was a siege by rebel soldiers.

Without question, the former was a moment of sudden terror, while the latter was a long and nerve-wracking process.

In modern society, actual life-and-death battles were truly rare…

Not to mention, this time he was not facing one person, but a group of people.

To be honest, Zhu Ying had repeatedly refreshed his understanding of the words “daughter of a noble family.”

Of course, Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang’s attitude was equally admirable.

They were clearly afraid, yet they still gritted their teeth and chose to cooperate.

No wonder he considered them the two most interesting people among this large group of spoiled young masters.

Their courage was truly not ordinary.

As Zhang Shou thought about it, he casually picked up a piece of walnut pastry.

Thinking about the almond cookies he loved eating in his previous life, he could not help sighing.

Domestic almonds were far superior to American almonds in terms of medicinal value, but the problem was that indescribable flavor was something he simply could not appreciate.

The same went for almond milk, which he had always disliked the most.

Therefore, after transmigrating, his taste preference had shifted to walnut pastries…

And peanuts had not even arrived from the Americas yet…

Thinking about how transmigration meant not only lacking delicious foods but also facing dangers to his life, while those unexpected guests who should have arrived long ago still had not appeared, Zhang Shou suddenly developed a mischievous mood.

He quietly began reciting:

“Better to eat without meat than live without bamboo.

Better live without bamboo than live without peanuts.

Better live without peanuts than live without tomatoes.

Better live without tomatoes than live without corn.

Better live without corn than live without potatoes.

Better live without potatoes than live without lobster.

Better live without lobster than live without chili peppers…”

Not only did Zhu Ying, who had initially listened with great interest, suddenly freeze.

Even Zhang Chen, who had been scratching his head unable to solve the problems, could not help raising his head and asking in confusion: “What are peanuts and tomatoes?”

Following his question, a deep voice came from outside the door: “I am also very curious. What are corn and potatoes?”

Zhang Shou immediately glanced at Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang.

Seeing that Lu Sanlang was already completely focused on his work, apparently not noticing the arrival outside at all, Zhang Shou gave Zhang Chen, whose expression had drastically changed, a warning look.

The next moment, Zhang Chen—knowing that his acting skills were not good enough and feeling extremely nervous—immediately lowered his head and pretended to work hard on the problems.

He did not dare raise his head again.

At this moment, Zhu Ying smiled sweetly and said: “Oh? At such a late hour, someone still came to visit and seek knowledge?”

“Zhanjin, quickly go lift the curtain and see who is so eager to learn.”

As soon as she said this, Zhang Shou noticed that Zhanjin, who was cutting pears, suddenly paused.

She seemed somewhat nervous.

Zhu Ying immediately glared at her.

“You only know how to please A-Shou, but now you don’t even listen to me?”

“Hmph, I want to see who came.”

“Grandpa Ge has already left for so many days. If someone truly wanted to ask A-Shou for guidance, they should have come long ago. Who would visit at this hour?”

Seeing Zhu Ying stand up and actually prepare to personally open the door, seemingly not caring at all that the visitors might be a group of vicious rebel soldiers, Zhang Shou instinctively shouted: “Yingying!”

How could he let a girl face such danger alone?

Seeing that Zhu Ying indeed stopped after hearing his voice, he took a deep breath and then smiled casually.

“Since the person who came is curious about corn and potatoes, then regardless of anything else, they must share my interest in food. How could I not personally welcome such a guest?”

As he spoke, he stood up and walked outside.

When he passed Zhu Ying, he laughed loudly: “A gentleman stays away from the kitchen. Unfortunately, I am not a gentleman. My greatest hobby is satisfying my appetite.”

“Corn is a grain that can fill the stomach, but there is a particular variety that is crisp, sweet, and bursting with juice. It is exceptionally delicious.”

“As for potatoes, they can also serve as staple food, but stir-frying them with vinegar creates an even more wonderful flavor…”

With these words, Zhang Shou calmly lifted the curtain.

Outside stood a lone middle-aged man.

Several followers guarded both sides of the steps below.

Zhang Shou smiled and nodded.

“Visitors are guests. Please come in.”

Seeing that Zhang Shou did not even ask his name, but simply turned around and entered the room openly, leaving his back exposed without concern, the middle-aged man narrowed his eyes slightly.

In the end, he calmly followed inside.

Although he had washed his face and changed clothes before entering Rongshui Village, removing the smell of blood from his body, he was still worried about being exposed.

But after entering and seeing Zhu Ying, Zhang Chen, and Lu Sanlang all present, he immediately felt relieved.

Even if the people secretly infiltrating other buildings made mistakes, as long as he personally secured these three people here, this operation would already be guaranteed success.

Therefore, he quickly abandoned any thoughts of pretending.

He straightened his back and stepped forward casually.

Then he raised his hand in greeting.

“Ding Hai, Left Army Commander of Linhai Camp, pays respects to Miss Zhu, Young Master Zhang, Young Master Lu…”

“Oh, and also this Zhang Shou, Young Master Zhang, the newly accepted disciple of Master Ge, who has a particular fondness for food.”

His words carried a trace of superiority and bloodthirsty cruelty.

Sure enough, the next moment, Zhang Chen suddenly jumped up like a startled frog.

Even his voice seemed to tremble.

“L-Linhai Camp?”

At this moment, Zhang Chen’s reaction was completely genuine.

The fear and confusion in his eyes were obvious, as if even his teeth were trembling.

“You… you are the rebel soldier they mentioned earlier?”

“You… what do you want?”