"Let's go!"

Yi Xiaochuan took the lead, completely unaware of the pair of sorrowful eyes watching him.

In contrast to the eager Yi Xiaochuan, Cao Yi, Lü Su, and Xiang Yu lagged behind, seemingly taking their time to enjoy the sights as they walked past various houses and shops.

At this moment, twilight had fallen; people were either eating dinner or hurrying home, creating a bustling atmosphere throughout the county town.

"I definitely smelled something just now, but where did it go? My nose has always been sensitive," Yi Xiaochuan said as he looked around, drawing the attention of passersby.

Despite his quirks, Yi Xiaochuan was tall and handsome, dressed well, standing out in the crowd like a crane among chickens.

At this time, young women were not as restricted as in the Ming and Qing dynasties; many were walking on the streets. Seeing Yi Xiaochuan, several pairs of young women pointed and giggled, seemingly making jokes about him.

"I found it, over there!"

With a big smile, Yi Xiaochuan turned around, noticing that the three were far behind, and hurried ahead.

Cao Yi had actually spotted the dog meat shop long ago but chose to take his time. It took them three times longer than Yi Xiaochuan to arrive at the front of the shop.

Cao Yi glanced up at a wooden sign more than a foot long, tied to a thick wooden pillar, which was inscribed with the character "Fan." In Peixian, dog meat is sold by the Fan family, undoubtedly Fan Kuai.

"Gentlemen, this is the perfect time for dog meat; please come inside," a young man with a big beard, dark-skinned and sturdier than Xiang Yu, walked out.

Uh, is this Fan Kuai? He looks nothing like in the TV dramas.

As Cao Yi sized up Fan Kuai, he walked inside.

The shop was quite spacious, with seven or eight tables set up. Along the wall, hooks held not just dogs but also pigs, rabbits, deer, wild chickens, and ducks—this was not a pure dog meat shop.

In addition to Fan Kuai, three assistants stood behind a long counter, chopping meat, while some patrons who weren't eating there waited eagerly.

As for Yi Xiaochuan, he was kneeling at a table in the back, his hands moving constantly, undoubtedly playing on his phone.

"Gentlemen, please sit over here; it's spacious," Fan Kuai said, not realizing that Cao Yi and the others were together with Yi Xiaochuan, gesturing to a side table.

Hearing the voice, Yi Xiaochuan turned around and said, "Why are you so slow?"

Fan Kuai immediately understood and said, "Please wait a moment," before heading off.

Cao Yi, Lü Su, and Xiang Yu sat down at the table.

Suddenly, a voice from outside called out, "Fan Kuai, don't pull me in! Your dog meat is too expensive!"

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Then, Fan Kuai's voice replied, "If you can't afford dog meat, you can eat pig meat!"

"I can't afford pig meat either! Let go, or I'll report you!"

"Try it!"

"Just kidding, who doesn't know you and Liu Ji have sworn brotherhood with the great hero Wang Ling? Just let me go; I really can't afford it."

"Get lost!"

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Soon, Fan Kuai came back inside, looking somewhat displeased.

Over the next two to three incense sticks' time, similar forceful attempts to pull people in continued; what started as a not very crowded dog meat shop gradually filled up.

"Dog meat is here!"

Fan Kuai placed two large earthenware bowls filled with dog meat on the table.

The fragrant smell of meat wafted over.

"Shopkeeper, isn't it a bit rude to force people in?"

Cao Yi couldn't help but speak up.

Fan Kuai paused in surprise but quickly replied nonchalantly, "That's how I do business."

Uh, so straightforward!

"Chen Chi, I invited you in; you only ordered a small portion of dog meat and only paid three and a half taels."

Fan Kuai walked to another table, his face full of anger.

"Wasn't it three and a half taels before?"

"Prices have gone up; now it's five and a half taels."

"Five and a half taels? That's enough to buy twenty jin of millet!"

"Are you paying or not?"

"I… will pay."

"Hmph."

Under Fan Kuai's intimidation, the customer dropped five and a half taels and left.

"You—"

Seeing this, Xiang Yu stood up, unable to watch any longer.

Cao Yi quickly pulled him back down.

"Daoist Priest,"

Xiang Yu looked at Cao Yi in confusion, wondering when the Daoist Priest became so timid.

Cao Yi ignored him, rapping the table lightly: "Shopkeeper."

"What can I do for you?"

Fan Kuai strode over.

He was much more courteous towards the well-dressed Cao Yi than he was with the other customers.

"How much for these two bowls of dog meat?"

Cao Yi asked, looking at Fan Kuai.

Fan Kuai glanced casually and said, "Twenty-five and a half taels."

One hundred jin of millet!!!

Cao Yi didn't waste words. He took out a piece of gold he had secretly retrieved on the way and broke it into three parts, placing one portion on the table.

Fan Kuai's eyes widened at the sight of the gleaming gold.

"Do you sell pork here too?"

Cao Yi asked casually.

Fan Kuai nodded, suppressing his greed, "Yes, but that's meat for commoners, it has a strong gamey taste."

Isn't he a commoner too?

"Just cut it; I want ten jin of lean meat, minced, with no fat on it."

Cao Yi said in a deep voice.

"What's minced meat?"

"Cut into tiny pieces."

Fan Kuai turned to instruct the butcher: "Do it as this gentleman wishes."

"Wait,"

Cao Yi interrupted Fan Kuai: "I want you to cut it yourself."

Fan Kuai was taken aback; he hadn't handled a knife in ages. He glanced at the gold on the table and forced a smile: "Alright, I'll cut it for you."

He strode to the long counter, hung a piece of dark cloth from the wall around himself, took the knife from the butcher, and began chopping down ten jin of pork.

"What are you looking at, poor Daoist?"

Cao Yi smiled at the three.

Yi Xiaochuan picked up a large piece of dog meat from the earthenware bowl, eating it while grinning.

"What are you laughing at, Xiaochuan?"

Xiang Yu looked at Yi Xiaochuan in confusion.

He didn't find anything amusing about it.

"Don't mind him,"

Cao Yi closed his eyes to rest.

"Daoist Priest, why aren't you eating? It was the same at my place last time,"

Xiang Yu asked, puzzled, looking at Cao Yi.

"Daoists can't eat; since becoming a Daoist, I haven't eaten,"

Cao Yi replied with his eyes closed.

Xiang Yu then took a large piece of dog meat from the bowl and began eating.

Compared to Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan's eating habits, Lü Su, being a girl, was much more demure, picking at a small piece of dog meat, savoring it, occasionally glancing at the meditative Cao Yi, seemingly wondering when that sister would come out.

However, all thoughts of her were forgotten by Cao Yi, who was entirely focused on Fan Kuai.

Half an incense stick's time (thirty minutes) soon passed.

The chopping suddenly stopped.

"Alright, where's your residence? I'll have the butcher deliver it."

Fan Kuai said, wrapping ten jin of minced lean meat in several pieces of lotus leaves.

"Deliver what! Just put it down. I'll take another ten jin, all fat, and also minced, with no lean meat in it."

Cao Yi said without turning his head.