17：Young Master, What Is This

Shen Hao strolled around the bustling streets, ready to head back when he noticed a crowd gathered, engaged in heated discussions.

Curiosity piqued, he approached to see what was going on.

Upon closer look, he found everyone focused on an announcement freshly posted by the county office—a Recruitment Order.

The notice declared that the bandits of Liu Family Stronghold were heinous criminals deserving death. The county was calling upon heroes from all walks of life to join the campaign against the bandits.

The rewards were enticing:

10 taels of silver just for participating,

100 taels for notable achievements in battle,

and a whopping 500 taels for slaying the bandit leader, Liu Baoshan.

Shen Hao glanced around. While the crowd was thick with curious onlookers, very few were actually signing up.

No surprise there.

Taking on bandits wasn't child's play—it required real skill. Without it, volunteering was tantamount to throwing one's life away.

Shen Hao stared at the notice, deep in thought. After pondering for a while, he decided—this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

His goal was clear: to obtain Liu Baoshan's corpse.

To do that, he needed to get close to Liu Baoshan. Besides, the county wouldn't launch such an operation without thorough preparation. Surely, there'd be skilled fighters involved, perhaps even on par with Liu Baoshan.

And their corpses?

Also potential targets.

Worst case scenario, if things got too dangerous, Shen Hao could simply retreat into his hidden space.

No big deal—if things get too hot, just vanish!

Moreover, thanks to absorbing Liu Dabiao's memories, Shen Hao was intimately familiar with Liu Family Stronghold. Navigating it would feel like walking through his own backyard.

Aside from Liu Baoshan, a postnatal stage six expert, there were only two others to watch out for:

The Second-in-Command, at postnatal stage four,

And the Third-in-Command, at postnatal stage two.

Everyone else?

Just basic body refinement fighters—not even worth worrying about.

The more he thought about it, the more perfect this plan seemed.

Decision made.

Dressed in sleek black combat attire, Shen Hao headed straight to the county office to sign up.

The clerk, tasked with recording names, glanced up, visibly surprised by Shen Hao's shaved head.

A monk signing up to fight bandits?

Now that was something you didn't see every day.

"Name?" the clerk asked, eyebrow raised.

Shen Hao opened his mouth, intending to give his childhood friend's name, Wang Laosi, but the words changed as they left his lips:

"Wang Laoji."

The next morning, Shen Hao went to the county office and signed up for the bandit elimination mission. The officer handed him a token and informed him that the payment would be made after the mission was completed.

Shen Hao took the token and left the office.

Back at home, Song Yongci was still asleep. During his free time, Shen Hao decided to go over the medical books that Song Yongci had given him. He had never been interested in them before, but now he found himself thoroughly engrossed. As a modern man, Shen Hao preferred the simplicity and directness of Western medicine, but he couldn't deny that Chinese medicine had its own appeal.

Despite the criticism of Chinese medicine online, in reality, it was expensive, with even a decent doctor charging hundreds for consultation, and weekly treatments costing over a thousand. Still, patients flocked to see them. Now, Shen Hao was a master in Chinese medicine himself, albeit lacking the practical experience to truly prove his skills.

That evening, Song Yongci woke up. She looked much better and seemed full of energy. After washing her face and tidying up her hair, her overall appearance became significantly more refined. Her beauty shone through, even in the plain coarse cloth she wore. Her fair skin made her look even more delicate, and her soft, gentle gaze made her seem like a natural beauty, the kind typically found in the women of Jiangnan.

But her health was still frail, and her face looked pale, almost like a sickness-stricken beauty—reminiscent of Lin Daiyu. When she caught Shen Hao staring at her, she felt a mixture of shyness and joy, her face turning red. She nervously brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and softly asked, "Master, it's so late. You must be hungry. What would you like to eat? I'll prepare it for you."

Shen Hao shook his head. "No need, just wash your hands and we can eat."

He didn't particularly want to eat the food she cooked. It was too bland, and honestly, it made him lose his appetite.

"Yes, Master," Song Yongci replied, bowing slightly before leaving to wash her hands.

Dinner was simple: stir-fried potatoes with green peppers, porridge, steamed buns, cucumber salad, and pork rib soup. Of course, all of these were takeout that Shen Hao had ordered from a nearby restaurant.

Seeing the feast before her, Song Yongci was astounded. She had never seen Shen Hao cook, so she was puzzled by the spread.

"What are you standing there for? Sit down and eat," Shen Hao said with a hint of annoyance, seeing that she was still standing still.

"Master, as your servant, I cannot eat with you. Please, go ahead. I'll wait by your side to serve you," Song Yongci smiled softly.

Shen Hao replied sternly, "Enough with the talk. Listen carefully, when I say go east, you go east. Do as I say. If you disobey, I won't be pleased."

Song Yongci immediately agreed, afraid to upset Shen Hao. She lowered her voice and said, "Yes, Master."

"Good."

With that, Shen Hao handed her a steamed bun. "Eat."

Song Yongci's heart fluttered with sweetness. She took a bite of the stir-fried potatoes, which were slightly tangy and crunchy—delicious.

Her eyes lit up. "What is this dish? It tastes so good."

She couldn't help but be curious about Shen Hao. The fruits and dishes were all new to her.

Raised in the capital of the Great Yang Dynasty, a city located in the south, Song Yongci had seen many things. But in front of Shen Hao, she felt small, like a frog in a well who thought it knew the world.

Shen Hao smiled faintly but didn't explain further.

"Since you like it, eat more. No need to ask too much."

The five-thousand-year-old cultural history of China has not only passed down writing but also its cuisine.

Since ancient times, the way Chinese people greet one another has not been with a simple "hello" or "how are you?" but with "Have you eaten?"

This word "eat" carries deep meaning, symbolizing that the Chinese people understand the taste of hunger.

That's why they ask.

Additionally, the fruits and vegetables brought back from abroad by our ancestors were all carefully selected and tested. If they weren't delicious, they would never have been brought back.

After all, it's a matter of strict family selection, with quality assured.

After the meal, both the master and servant were happy.

Afterward, Song Yongci obediently went to wash the dishes.