“Gurgle…”
Somewhere in the crowd watching, no one knew whose stomach growled first.
“Boss!”
A young man couldn’t hold back and squeezed forward.
“That… the golden sticks the princess is eating, how much are they?”
Qiao Da paused his hands and smiled gently.
“This item is called fries. Five wen per serving.”
Five wen?
That price was cheaper than even the most basic bowl of plain noodles sold on the street!
“I’ll take one!”
“I want one too!”
“And that green one, give me a bowl of that as well!”
“I want the roasted one!”
In an instant, a queue formed, stretching from the shop entrance all the way down the street.
Qiao Er put away his long sword and hurried inside to help.
“Everyone, please stay calm! One at a time!”
“We have plenty for everyone!”
At that moment.
A figure quietly appeared at the end of the line.
Fang Ziqin was wearing a simple blue cloth robe, a hint of shyness on his face.
His gaze kept drifting toward Xiao Mingxi not far away.
After waiting a long time, it was finally his turn.
“One potato salad, please.”
He took out copper coins, his voice slightly nervous.
The shop assistant quickly packed it and handed it over.
“Enjoy, sir!”
Fang Ziqin held the bowl and walked through the crowd.
He stopped in front of Xiao Mingxi, his ears completely red.
“Princess…”
He handed her the bowl.
“Please try this.”
Xiao Mingxi looked up at his awkward, uncertain hands.
Her eyes softened as she gave him a gentle smile.
“Thank you.”
She took the bowl and began eating slowly with a small spoon.
“Mmm… it’s very delicious.”
Fang Ziqin stood beside her, grinning foolishly, his face even redder.
Above, Feng Zexuan was watching from upstairs, thoroughly entertained.
Feng Zexuan thought excitedly:
【Aaaah! I’m shipping it! Shipping it!】
【Princess and loyal dog vibe! What kind of heavenly romance is this?!】
【Look at Fang Ziqin’s expression—his tail is basically spinning like a windmill!】
【System, take a picture! I need to keep this forever!】
【Got it, got it! Picture saved.】
Xiao Mingyue glanced at her elder sister’s interaction with Fang Ziqin and rolled her eyes.
Then she raised her voice deliberately:
“Sisters, what are you waiting for!”
“Eat potatoes and you’ll find sweet, sweet love!”
That single sentence was like a spark thrown into dry straw, igniting the hearts of all the young ladies present.
“Boss!”
A girl rushed forward.
“Give me ten servings of the prince consort’s salad!”
“I want twenty servings! Takeout!”
“Ahhh I want it too!”
“Will eating this really let me meet someone like Young Master Qiao?”
The girls screamed as they surged toward the counter like a storm.
The orderly queue collapsed instantly.
Everyone crowded around the small window, waving copper coins wildly.
Qiao Da was startled by the chaos and quickly called for more hands.
“Everyone, everyone!”
“One at a time! There’s enough for all!”
Qiao Er had no time to wield his sword anymore either and rolled up his sleeves, rushing into the kitchen.
“Brother, I’ll help!”
Inside the kitchen, oil splattered loudly in the pan.
Baskets of potatoes were being sent out nonstop.
The chefs worked furiously—cutting, frying, barely touching the ground as they moved.
The potato shop opened straight at peak success.
Shredded spicy potatoes, wolf-teeth potatoes, crispy pan potatoes, cheese-baked potatoes…
Countless unheard-of snacks swept across the capital with their low prices and incredible taste, quickly conquering everyone’s palate.
In less than half an hour, more than half of the prepared potatoes were sold out.
Qiao Da immediately sent people back to restock.
On Zhuque Street, everywhere people walked while holding potato snacks.
“This wolf-teeth potato is insane!”
“I like the fries more! Dipping them in that red sauce is amazing!”
“The mashed potatoes are great too—so soft, they melt in your mouth.”
People walked and ate, praising nonstop.
Feng Zexuan looked down from upstairs, satisfied.
【System, step one is a success.】
【Next… it’s time to invite the emperor to the stage.】
【Host, you already arranged everything?】
【Of course. I set the whole thing up long ago.】
Three days later.
The potato craze spread across the entire capital like wildfire.
Tea houses, taverns, street corners—everywhere people talked about potatoes.
“Did you hear? Those potatoes yield three thousand jin per mu!”
“Seriously? That high?”
“Absolutely true! They’ve already been grown in Yanmen Pass!”
“If that’s real, we won’t have to worry about food anymore!”
This wave of talk finally reached deep into the imperial palace.
Inside the Imperial Study.
Xiao Juechen rubbed his aching neck.
Wang Dehai entered holding tea, wearing a flattering smile.
“Your Majesty, you must go try those potatoes!”
“This servant secretly went to the potato shop two days ago.”
Xiao Juechen looked up.
“Oh?”
“Is it really that good?”
Wang Dehai’s eyes lit up.
“Oh Your Majesty, you have no idea!”
“The fries are golden and crispy, dipped in that sweet-and-sour red sauce—one bite and it goes ‘crunch!’”
“Ahh, that taste… even immortals would stagger!”
He spoke with great excitement.
“And the roasted potatoes!”
“The skin is fragrant and slightly charred with salt and spices.”
“Scoop it open with a spoon—it’s soft, hot, and fluffy inside!”
“So fragrant you feel like swallowing your own tongue!”
Xiao Juechen’s brush paused.
A drop of ink spread into a small blot on the memorial.
His stomach unexpectedly gave a soft “gurgle.”
He coughed to cover his embarrassment.
“Is it really that good?”
“Your Majesty, don’t you know the Northern Frontier Prince’s personality?”
Wang Dehai smiled.
“If it’s not good, would she put in so much effort?”
“And those potatoes—three thousand jin per mu!”
“If it spreads across the empire, the people of Great Xia will be blessed!”
Xiao Juechen stood up.
“I want to see what kind of mystery lies inside these ‘muddy little eggs.’”
“Go, call the Northern Frontier Prince’s father and the Prime Minister.”
“We’ll leave the palace in disguise and take a look.”
Wang Dehai was delighted.
“This servant will arrange it immediately!”
Half an hour later.
Three middle-aged men dressed as ordinary merchants stood outside the potato shop.
Leading them, Xiao Juechen looked at the long queue stretching from one end of the street to the other.
His eye twitched hard.
In forty-five years of life, he had never seen such a scene outside a restaurant.
Behind him, Feng Huai’an and the Prime Minister were equally shocked.
“This…”
The Prime Minister stroked his beard.
“The Northern Frontier Prince’s business sense is truly… remarkable.”
Feng Huai’an, however, felt proud and straightened his back.
As expected of his daughter!
The three obediently joined the end of the line.
Listening to the crowd’s endless praise of potatoes, their curiosity—and hunger—grew stronger by the second.
“This potato is amazing!”
“I bought one yesterday and came back again today!”
“The fries are incredible—my son finished one serving and wanted more!”
“If it really yields three thousand jin per mu, we’ll never worry about food again!”
After finally reaching the counter…
A figure “just happened” to walk out from the kitchen.
Feng Zexuan wore an apron and carried a tray.
Seeing the three of them, a hint of amusement flashed in her eyes, though her expression remained calm.
“Oh? You three look unfamiliar.”
“First time here?”
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