The Demon Lords-Chapter 652 - 119 Departure Bell Rings!_1

"Here you go, esteemed guests, the roast duck is here!"

A waiter from Quande Building's roast duck restaurant called out in a drawn-out voice, serving the roast duck and pancakes. His companion behind him brought two plates of side dishes.

Once the waiter had departed, the three men dressed as government servants didn't rush to eat. Instead, they collectively cupped their fists towards Head Constable Yan, who was seated at the head of the table, and said, "Thank you for the treat, Big Boss!"

Yan Xiaoliu waved his hand. "Don't be formal. Dig in."

"Then we won't hold back! Haha, I've long heard that Quande Building's roast duck in Yanjing is the most famous."

"Absolutely! Otherwise, how could the Earl of North Border have eaten five ducks in one go?"

"Indeed, Lord Jingnan has eaten here too."

The three government servants wrapped pieces of roast duck in thin pancakes, dipped them in sauce, and popped them into their mouths. Instantly, expressions of pure enjoyment spread across their faces.

"Ah, I've never tasted such delicious roast duck in my life!"

"Yes, it melts in your mouth—rich but not greasy at all!"

"Delicious, truly delicious!"

Yan Xiaoliu chuckled, snapped his fingers, and instructed a passing waiter, "Two more."

"Right away, sir. Please wait a moment."

"We couldn't possibly, Big Boss! The duck here is quite expensive."

"That's right, just a taste is enough for us. There's no need for such extravagance."

Yan Xiaoliu shook his head. "If you want to eat, then eat your fill. I usually receive plenty from the neighborhood and your own contributions. I can certainly afford to treat you to a few ducks."

"Big Boss is truly magnanimous!"

"Worthy of being called Big Boss!"

While the others continued to feast heartily, Yan Xiaoliu also wrapped a piece of roast duck, put it in his mouth, took a bite, and then set it down.

The cooking wasn't quite right, and the duck itself wasn't what it used to be.

That Zheng fellow mentioned in his letter that many businesses tend to lose their original character once handed over to the government.

This Quande Building has indeed lost its true flavor.

Of course, to claim Quande Building's roast duck was incredibly delicious before would be nonsense. It was merely passable then; now, it's somewhat disappointing.

In truth, the difference between the two isn't that great. Ultimately, a duck is still a duck. No matter how fancy you make it, it's still a duck, and it will always have that duck taste.

"Hey, Big Boss, how do they make the duck at Quande Building? How is it so delicious?"

"I've heard that the ducks at Quande Building are fed the best feed every day, different from ducks elsewhere."

Yan Xiaoliu smiled upon hearing this and said, "There's nothing strange about it. To put it bluntly, it just comes down to two words."

"Big Boss, what two words?"

"Authentic."

"Authentic?"

"Hmm, authentic?"

"Yes, authentic. A duck is still just a duck. Frankly, in my opinion, the ducks from the Jixiang Duck Shop in our Nan'an County are far tastier than those here at Quande Building, and they're much, much cheaper.

The only difference is that when you come to Yanjing, the locals will shout from the rooftops that Quande Building's roast duck is the true, authentic taste of Yanjing. If you meet someone who likes to boast even more, they'll tell you that old-timers in Yanjing have been eating this since they were children, that it's 'the taste of their childhood.' So, you feel compelled to try it, and then, you convince yourself it's delicious. In reality, it's just... average."

"Hmm?"

"Wha?"

The three government servants clearly had a hard time grasping the meaning behind his words.

Yan Xiaoliu suddenly felt a sense of being misunderstood, like playing a lofty tune to an unappreciative audience. In this era, not many people understood the concept of food's added value. That fellow, however, seemed quite knowledgeable about it, often discussing it with him. He even coined a term for it: "marketing."

「Yanjing was exceptionally lively today.」

The Earl of North Border's daughter, the Commandery Princess, had arrived in Yanjing three days prior. However, she naturally did not enter the palace directly. Even common folk follow established procedures for weddings, let alone the grand marriage between a Commandery Princess and the Crown Prince.

Therefore, the Commandery Princess first took up residence in the West Garden, the same place the Earl of North Border had stayed when he first came to the capital.

And today was the wedding day. The Crown Prince himself would lead a procession to the West Garden to escort his bride, a gesture demonstrating the Ji Family's respect for the Li Family.

Before the Commandery Princess, the Crown Prince of the Ji Family would also set aside his so-called noble airs, acting just like any common young man on his wedding day.

For the Crown Prince's grand wedding, it was natural for all regions to present congratulatory gifts. However, His Majesty the Emperor had long issued an Imperial Edict: while offerings weren't forbidden, the requirements for these gifts were extremely stringent.

Tiancheng Commandery's Nan'an County wasn't truly poor, yet the county government had only dispatched a single cartload of cloth, rice, and flour. Consequently, Head Constable Yan, accompanied by three government servants, was tasked with escorting these meager items to Yanjing for delivery to the Ministry of Gifts.

Officials were the most astute. After the Emperor's Imperial Edict, no one dared to be the first to stick their neck out. If sending lavish gifts meant being investigated, who wouldn't bloody well keep a low profile? Better not to risk losing one's official cap trying to curry favor when it might backfire.

Yan Xiaoliu looked at the festive decorations adorning the streets. He could feel that the people of Yanjing were genuinely joyous about this wedding.

Not long ago, the 300,000-strong North Border Army cavalry had been like a great mountain weighing on people's minds, suffocating them. The current situation, however, marked the complete integration and reconciliation between the North Border Army and the imperial court. The common people no longer had to fear their own countrymen fighting each other. Therefore, this joy was truly from the heart.

According to the schedule, His Highness the Crown Prince should have already led his retinue to the West Garden. It likely wouldn't be long before they entered the city through the West Zhi Gate and proceeded to the palace via the Emperor's Broad Road.

Many citizens had already gathered along the route, eagerly anticipating the procession and having secured good viewing spots in advance.