The next day, the "head waiter" of the hot pot restaurant brought the list of guests who had reserved private rooms. Sure enough, Qin Jin's name was prominently written on it.
As for the reservation time, it was exactly five days later.
"Boss, how should we deal with this?"
The townspeople had witnessed the lawsuit between Li Ying and Qin Jin. They knew it was inappropriate to serve him.
But he was hosting a banquet for the prefect, a person no one dared to offend. Even this "head waiter", a clever and capable person personally selected by Li Ying, couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed at the moment.
Li Ying waved her hand indifferently and smiled. "Naturally, we should serve them well. Arrange all our most expensive ingredients. It would be a huge fool not to make money when it's right in front of us, wouldn't it?"
The head waiter took the order and went to prepare.
A Man and the others were very confused, but seeing Li Ying's confident look, they knew she probably didn't want to say more, so they were sensible enough not to ask further.
Li Ying had some rare leisure time. In the past few days, she stayed at home peacefully, concentrating on enriching the snacks in the hot pot restaurant.
She cut the pork tenderloin into finger - thick strips, marinated them with yellow rice wine, pepper, oyster sauce, sugar and salt. Then she mixed sweet potato starch and egg liquid to make a batter.
These deep - fried crispy pork strips were golden and crispy. Taking a bite, the meat was tender and flavorful. Whether sprinkled with pepper salt and eaten as a snack on their own or cooked in the hot pot, they were extremely delicious.
She also kneaded some glutinous rice dough, wrapped it with brown sugar, and then coated it with fine dry steamed bun crumbs. The deep - fried glutinous rice cakes with a flowing filling had a shell as thin as a cicada's wing. They were soft, glutinous and sweet, but not sticky. The melted brown sugar flowed smoothly into the mouth, and the sweet taste made people squint their eyes in satisfaction.
The French fries that the children liked were also prepared. While waiting for the hot pot base to boil, ordering two snacks was the most suitable way to pass the time.
Mianmian was old enough to eat some complementary food. Li Ying steamed a bowl of soft egg custard and only added a few drops of sesame oil for flavor.
Xiaotuanzi had an unexpectedly good appetite. After finishing the egg custard, she babbled and stretched out her little hands to grab the crispy pork strips. Li Ying stopped her, and she pouted unhappily and grunted, making everyone's hearts melt with pity.
Just as the fishing village was filled with joy, a waiter from the hot pot restaurant rushed over. As soon as he entered the door, he shouted, "Boss! Qin Jin has come with the prefect!"
Granny Sun knew Li Ying had an arrangement. She took the daughter in her arms and said, "Go quickly. I'll take care of the family."
Li Ying didn't delay any longer. She bent down and kissed Mianmian on the face, rubbed against her daughter's good luck, and smiled sweetly.
If everything went smoothly, after today, there would be no place for Qin Jin in the town!
At the hot pot restaurant, Qin Jin respectfully invited the prefect to the main seat and politely bowed.
"Your Excellency is always busy with official duties. To spare some time to instruct this student, this student is really grateful."
He was wearing a newly - made moon - white long gown today, with his hair tied up with a green jade hairpin. He really looked a bit like a gentle and elegant scholar described in the phrase "The young scholar in his blue gown, lingers in my heart".
After all, Qin Jin had studied the classics for several years and had a bit of literary talent. He did come out on top in the prefectural examination. The prefect found it really hard to associate him with the crazy man who was said to be involved in the "drowning of six baby girls".
The prefect was a person who cherished talents. With the intention of giving some advice, after drinking a few cups of weak wine, he lowered his voice and said earnestly, "Qin Jin, I know your intention for this banquet."
"I've always enforced the law impartially. As long as you are diligent and responsible to the common people in the future and abide by your conscience, I won't make things difficult for you."
Qin Jin secretly rejoiced.
He put on a wronged look and knelt down in front of the prefect in awe.
"This student will surely remember your Excellency's teachings!"
He raised his head and then said, "I've long heard that your Excellency is just and honest. This student has been wronged. I beg your Excellency to give this student justice!"
The prefect didn't expect him to say such words and was slightly stunned.
Qin Jin said with a heart - rending look, "Your Excellency, that Li Ying is really too bullying. It's not a big deal if this student is slandered by her alone. But she has put such a big crime on the entire Qin family. This student really can't tolerate it!"
He clenched his fists tightly, his face flushed with anger, as if he had really suffered a great injustice.
"As the saying goes, listening to one side leads to darkness, while listening to both sides leads to clarity. Your Excellency, I beg you to listen to this student's words. Don't be deceived by that poisonous woman's one - sided story!"
There was indeed some truth in these words. The prefect put down his cup, frowned and said, "Get up and speak slowly."
Qin Jin bowed to him again as if he had received amnesty, and then slowly defended himself, "Your Excellency, the matter of tax evasion in the farmland was not something the Qin family did on purpose. It was just an oversight when measuring the property."
"Since my father passed away at a young age, only orphans and a widow were left in the family. It was not easy for my mother to raise my brother and me. She neglected to discipline the tenant farmers on the estate. Who would have thought that they were so unruly? They abandoned the public fields and only cultivated their private fields, deceiving those above and covering up for those below!"
"As for the so - called drowning of baby girls that everyone criticizes, it's simply nonsense! Your Excellency, this student has read the classics. How could I possibly do such a heinous thing?"
"This student really doesn't like Li Ying's daughter... This is a family scandal that shouldn't be spread, but that poisonous woman is so aggressive. This student has to expose his own wound to prove his innocence!"
He was vehement, his expression sincere. He stared firmly into the prefect's eyes and said word by word, "That baby girl is not of the Qin family blood. She is the bastard child of this immoral woman who had an affair with a man outside!"
"Her lover is Lu Xunguang, a coolie at the dock! He came to the Qin family to deliver goods. I was so absorbed in my studies that I didn't notice. Gradually, they got pregnant. It's only been a few months since their divorce, and they are openly flirting with each other. It's immoral and well - known in the town. Please, Your Excellency, investigate clearly!"
Thinking of the affectionate look between the two, Qin Jin felt extremely angry. His furious look seemed like every word was dripping with blood and every sound was full of tears in the eyes of the prefect, which made his words seem more believable.
"Are you saying that all the slurs on the Qin family were premeditated by Lady Li?"
Qin Jin nodded hurriedly and said, "That's right!"
The prefect had been busy inspecting the potato planting situation everywhere in recent days. He only had a vague understanding of the rumors about the Qin family. Now, hearing his accusation, he really began to have some doubts.
"Master Qin, you still have the audacity to slander me in my own restaurant. Should I say you're brave because you're skilled or just as stupid as a pig and extremely foolish?"
Just as the prefect was hesitating, a clear voice came from the door of the private room. Looking up, it was Li Ying, calm and smiling peacefully.