IDWBE -Chapter 99 Eat Well, Drink Well

What Sanhe lacked most was population!

Although they had taken in many refugees, even counting generously, the whole of Sanhe—wedged between Ayu Kingdom and Nanzhou—was practically a vacuum.

Lin Yi placed his hopes on the free port to attract immigrants.

Without people, there would be no domestic demand, no economic potential, no development.

And without development, those charming young ladies would never come to Sanhe.

His dream of living in indulgent pleasure would never come true.

Qi Peng smiled. “Your Highness is wise.”

Lin Yi said, “If you’ve nothing better to do, stay on Fangniao Island. The river water is filthy, you can’t go in—but you can swim in the sea. Train your body well. With strong vitality, your wounds won’t fester so easily.”

Qi Peng replied, “Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. I’ve already had a pool dug at the foot of Baiyun Mountain and diverted spring water into it.”

“You do know how to think,” Lin Yi nodded, then ignored him and turned to Wen Qian.

“You’re to manage naval affairs, and you’re also to keep an eye on the Maritime Trade Office. Anyone who dares take silver from my pocket is my enemy. Understood?”

“I understand!” Wen Qian replied firmly.

In a few days, he would officially become a Thousand-Household Commander of the navy.

From pirate second-in-command to imperial officer.

The thought was oddly thrilling.

That evening, Du Yinniang hosted a banquet.

After boarding the ship, Lin Yi looked around carefully. It felt different from other vessels. He scratched at the wood with his fingernail and smiled.

“No wood is better for shipbuilding than healing timber. But it’s far too precious. Sanhe doesn’t produce such trees.”

Du Yinniang smiled. “The southern islands are rich in this wood. It is indeed excellent for ships.”

The broad vessel was lavishly decorated. Lin Yi was no stranger to luxury, yet upon entering, he couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.

The tables and chairs were made of thousand-year dragon’s blood wood!

If he hadn’t been an online novelist in his previous life—having read countless random books, gossip columns, and watched endless films—he might not have recognized it.

“Your Highness has a keen eye. It is indeed thousand-year dragon’s blood wood,” Du Yinniang said with a slight bow. “This common woman admires you.”

“Sigh. It’s not easy for something like this to live so long. Cutting it down for furniture isn’t really necessary.”

Lin Yi ran his hand over the grain, thinking that father and daughter would probably face life imprisonment in modern society.

This was a globally rare species!

“Your Highness has a compassionate heart,” Du Yinniang said, straightening herself and gesturing. “Please sit.”

Lin Yi withdrew his gaze from her full bosom, sat down, crossed his legs, and cradled his teacup with a grin.

“With so much food, aren’t you afraid of waste?”

Living by the mountains, one eats mountain fare. Living by the sea, one eats seafood.

The table was piled high with it.

Tiger crabs bigger than his head. Abalone the size of a face. Goose barnacles larger than a palm. Most exaggerated of all was a geoduck clam as long as an arm—served whole, not even sliced.

These were things he couldn’t afford in his previous life, and had never had the chance to eat in this one.

In the palace, one commonly saw sea cucumber, shark fin, bird’s nest, dried scallops, fish maw, caviar—mostly preserved goods.

Occasional chilled seafood arrived already off-flavored.

Even the emperor received the same treatment.

“There’s plenty more in the sea. Please enjoy, Your Highness,” Du Yinniang said.

She watched in surprise as Lin Yi picked up a grotesque-looking “sea monster” with his bare hands.

Even local fishermen hesitated to eat such things.

Yet he skillfully cracked open the shell, removed the heart and gills, and sucked at it bite by bite.

As though he ate it often.

“Even hermit crabs are crabs,” Lin Yi said between mouthfuls. “Best steamed. If boiled, you lose the flavor. And you need dipping sauce—soy sauce, scallions, garlic at the very least.”

Du Yinniang clapped her hands. “Bring the sauce.”

“Excellent,” Lin Yi said.

When it arrived, he dipped and tasted, smiling. “Now that’s right.”

“Your Highness is clearly an expert,” she laughed.

Lin Yi said nothing more, focused solely on eating. A tiger crab this large—he wouldn’t have known where to buy one even if he had the money.

When the attendants had withdrawn, leaving only the two of them, Du Yinniang finally spoke.

“Your Highness, the navy has just been established. My father will henceforth follow Your Highness’s lead. If Your Highness has any command, simply say the word.”

“Shouldn’t that be the case?” Lin Yi curled his lip.

Such a trivial matter, and she was trying to sell it as a favor?

Did she think him a fool?

He was not so easily dazzled by beauty.

Though he swallowed unconsciously, he kept his head lowered, attacking the seafood.

Du Yinniang paused before saying, “Your Highness is correct.”

“Minister Shan took a risk by arranging the amnesty,” Lin Yi said, sipping tea and smacking his lips in dissatisfaction.

The tea was mediocre.

“That old gentleman is no simple figure. The Superintendent of the Navy must be his man.”

Carefree as he appeared, he was not careless enough to place weapons entirely in others’ hands.

Especially not a bunch of pirates.

If nothing unexpected occurred, the naval superintendent would be Zhang Mian, Commander of the Southern Gate Garrison in Ankang City.

As for why Zhang Mian was coming—rumor had it he had somehow offended a Vice Minister of Personnel.

The true reason was likely known only to Shan Qi.

“You speak wisely, Your Highness,” Du Yinniang replied, seemingly unsurprised.

“And tell your father to settle his mind,” Lin Yi continued. “All the eggs in Great Liang combined might not crack a single stone.”

“What does Your Highness mean?” Her expression shifted.

Lin Yi smiled. “Between myself and dignity, I would advise choosing dignity. But whether you can sell it for a good price next time—that’s uncertain. Don’t you agree?”

He met her gaze directly.

When affection endures, even staring contests can be romantic.

“There must be some misunderstanding between Your Highness and my father,” Du Yinniang finally said with a smile.

“Eat well, drink well, and live long,” Lin Yi declared after his fill, patting his belly.

He had grown plumper again.

Fortunately, he had once been thin.

According to his mother, at his lightest he weighed just over seven jin at birth.

Yawning, he stood. “Very well. Thank you for the hospitality. I must retire. Be sure to pass my words to your father.”

Pirates—leave them alone one day and they’ll climb onto the roof.

Granting them amnesty was already generous. Now they sought control of the navy?

Du Yinniang clapped again, and maids escorted Lin Yi to his quarters.

The sea air was heavy and humid. Lin Yi couldn’t sleep.

He took a jug of his homemade wine and sat at the bow, gazing at the star-filled sky.

Hong Ying draped a shawl over him. “Your Highness, the sea wind is strong.”

“Care to join me for a drink?” Lin Yi asked.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Hong Ying poured himself a full cup and gulped it down.

Too fast—he choked immediately, face flushed red, coughing uncontrollably.

Lin Yi burst out laughing, patting his back. “What kind of tolerance is that?”

“This servant is incompetent,” Hong Ying coughed.

Mingyue and Shen Chu exchanged strange looks.

A Grandmaster choking on wine?

Unheard of.

After reaching Fifth Rank, one could expel alcohol fumes with internal energy—thousands of cups without drunkenness.

Lin Yi patted his shoulder. “You’ll need more practice. The more you drink, the more you’ll get used to it. Want more?”

“I’ll try again,” Hong Ying said.

He lifted the cup carefully, taking small sips. After a long while, he said, “It’s somewhat sweet.”

“It’s grape wine,” Lin Yi replied. “Hard to get drunk. Drink up.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Summoning courage, Hong Ying drained the last of the cup.