Simplified Angelica Chicken Soup

In the afternoon, Su Yang practiced a set of Breaking Edge Saber Techniques with great skill, sweat rolling down his forehead.

He deliberately slowed down to ensure that every chop and block was precise—this was both to solidify his foundation and to show those who might be watching him.

He sheathed his sword and stood there, slightly out of breath.

He caught a glimpse of instructor Yang Yunxing standing under the eaves, talking quietly with a manager, and waited patiently.

A moment later, the steward left, and Su Yang quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Instructor Yang."

Yang Yunxing turned around, his square face expressionless: "Hmm, your swordsmanship has improved, but your lower body still needs to be more stable. What is it?"

"The instructor is astute."

Su Yang respectfully said, "This subordinate would like to request half a day's leave to go to the street outside the mansion to purchase some personal items."

Yang Yunxing's gaze swept across Su Yang's face, as if trying to discern something, but in the end he simply nodded: "Granted. Remember you must be back at the manor before 5 PM. The guards must report for duty at night. The area outside the manor is not peaceful, so don't cause trouble, especially..."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Avoid conflict with the people from Duba Manor, and avoid anyone from their affiliated businesses."

"Understood, thank you, Instructor."

Su Yang felt a chill run down his spine. Yang Yunxing had specifically warned him that the person who monopolized the manor was quite domineering.

..........

After exiting the side gate of the Huang residence, Su Yang merged into the afternoon crowds of Jingling City like a fish swimming in water.

He deliberately avoided the shops with gilded signs on the main street and chose a quiet alley—he wanted to find an affordable place to drink nourishing soup and see if the soup could be simplified, and he also planned to buy some throwing knives from the blacksmith shop on the way.

After turning two corners, a street paved with bluestone slabs comes into view. It is much quieter than the main street, but it is still full of life.

Before long, a two-story wooden building with a facade painted with tung oil and a blue cloth sign hanging at the entrance that read "Delicious Soup" appeared—it was Good Luck Restaurant.

Su Yang had heard of this place before. The prices were slightly higher than those of ordinary food stalls, but far from extravagant. The dishes were hearty and plentiful, making it a popular spot for porters, merchants, and even those from the martial arts world who were short on cash.

Here, you can buy nourishing soup without attracting attention.

"Please come in, sir!"

The waiter at the door, with his sharp eyes, noticed his tall and upright figure and composed demeanor despite his simple clothes. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Are you alone? Our angelica and astragalus chicken soup is freshly made. The aroma of the herbs has permeated the meat, and it's perfect for replenishing qi and blood. Gentlemen on their journeys love to order it!"

Su Yang's heart stirred.

This Angelica and Astragalus Chicken Soup is mainly for warming and nourishing, so it's perfect for trying out a simplified version of a nourishing soup to enhance its effects. He nodded and said, "One pot of Angelica and Astragalus Chicken Soup, a bowl of white rice, a plate of braised pork, and a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables."

"Alright! One pot of Angelica and Astragalus chicken soup, one dish each of braised pork and stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and one bowl of white rice—"

The waiter called out loudly, his tone melodious and rhythmic, leading him to a square table against the wall on the first floor: "Please wait a moment, the soup is ready, and the dishes will be here shortly!"

"Have you heard? Yesterday, the Canal Gang seized a grain ship belonging to the Small Swords Society outside the city, and the two sides almost came to blows. In the end, the Peng Liang Society got the better of them and intercepted half a ship of rice!"

"That's right, grain prices are going up again. It might be difficult for us to come to Lucky Restaurant in the future..."

As soon as Su Yang sat down, two men who looked like porters at the next table started chatting animatedly.

He sipped his soup with his eyes lowered, but he took in all the words he heard.

Jingling City is a melting pot of all sorts of people. The Canal Gang and the Small Knife Society are deeply entrenched and could become involved with the Huang family any day. It's always good to listen to their advice.

Not long after.

A rough earthenware stew pot was placed steadily on the table, with fresh chicken fat still hanging from its rim.

The waiter lifted the wooden lid, and a burst of hot air rushed up, mingling with the sweet aroma of angelica and the mellow flavor of astragalus, instantly dispelling the afternoon drowsiness.

The soup is thick and milky white, with a few slices of angelica and astragalus floating on the surface, and large pieces of bone-in chicken sinking at the bottom. The meat is stewed until it is slightly swollen, and it looks very tender and flavorful.

Su Yang scooped up a spoonful, blew on it until it was warm, and put it in his mouth.

The broth had a homely sweetness, and its warmth slid down his throat, spreading to every part of his body, even warming his fingertips. He sipped it slowly, focusing his mind on the control panel.

The numbers were jumping several times faster than when I ate brown rice, almost as soon as the broth entered my stomach: [56.1…56.4…57.8…]

He deliberately slowed down, savoring the soup slowly. After finishing the entire pot of chicken soup, including the meat and herbs, he lightly tapped the edge of the table with his fingertip—the number on the panel stopped at [Simplified Point: 58.7].

"A can of chicken soup has increased by 2.6 points. Although it is not as refined as Old Zheng's pill, it is more affordable and lasting."

Just as Su Yang made up his mind, the waiter quickly brought over the food. The large, rough porcelain plate was piled high with meat, chunks of lean and fatty meat soaking in a rich, dark sauce, trembling and exuding aroma, stewed until they melted in his mouth.

Stir-fried vegetables are crisp and refreshing, which is perfect for cutting through the richness of the dish.

He ate heartily with the white rice. Although ordinary food is not as nourishing as chicken soup, it can still provide the body with basic nutrients.

As the rice grains mixed with the meat broth were swallowed, the numbers on the control panel slowly increased again: [58.7…58.8…59.1…]

After the food was all eaten, the final number was: [Simplified: 59.7]

"Chicken soup contributed 2.6 points, braised pork and rice dishes added 1 point, totaling 3.6 points."

Su Yang calculated in his mind that in the Huang residence, the guards' three meals a day would increase by about 3.5 simplified points, and this extra meal would increase by 3.6 points. In total, eating four meals a day would increase by 7 points.

After a full meal, practice knife skills to aid digestion.

"Waiter, the bill!"

Su Yang raised his hand and called out.

"Sir, the total is one hundred and ten coins."

The waiter quickly announced the prices, his fingers clicking rapidly on the abacus: "Angelica and Astragalus chicken soup, eighty coins; braised pork, thirty coins; vegetables and rice are extra, no charge!"

"A pot of soup costs eighty coins, which can be exchanged for a little over two points of simplified food. Not bad!"

After paying the bill, Su Yang was very satisfied with the price-performance ratio.

He also considered buying ready-made pills like "Qi Xue Wan" directly from the pharmacy, as they would undoubtedly be more effective.

But the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment before he suppressed it.

Firstly, the nine taels of silver he carried were simply not enough to cover the cost of pills that cost several taels each.

Secondly, if a guard frequently visits a pharmacy to buy martial arts pills, it's tantamount to putting himself in the spotlight, making him too conspicuous. In contrast, going to a restaurant for a bowl of inexpensive medicinal soup, though slower, is much safer, more discreet, and more cost-effective.

At this stage, this is the most suitable path for him.

As I walked out of the Good Luck Restaurant, the afternoon sun shone through the tree canopy at the alley entrance, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Su Yang touched his warm lower abdomen and decided that he would drink more soup in the future.

Just as Su Yang walked out of the Good Fortune Restaurant, a thin, dry hand lifted a crack in the greasy blue cloth curtain of the restaurant's kitchen, and a lean young man, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, came out.

If Su Yang were to turn around, he would definitely recognize this person as Zhao Liu, who was close to Fei Jianhua.

Zhao Liu squinted, staring intently through the gap in the direction Su Yang had gone, until the figure was completely out of sight.

He lowered the curtain, turned, and leaned against the corner piled high with vegetable baskets, his face a mixture of doubt and the excitement of discovering prey. The kitchen smelled pungent, but he paid no attention, his mind racing: "Angelica and astragalus chicken soup... braised pork... white rice... is it really that good to eat out like this?"

Going to a restaurant alone, and ordering nourishing meat soup and hearty dishes?

This cannot be explained simply by "being greedy".

"This kid... there's definitely something wrong with him."

"Such sudden extravagance must mean they've acquired some ill-gotten gains."

"By the way, that mess at Liu Family Village... did it come from the man in black? Or did he use the pretext of escorting the delivery cart to embezzle the manor's money?"

Zhao Liu licked his slightly chapped lips, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, his thoughts racing like a venomous snake.

Without further delay, he wrapped his oil-stained old coat tightly around himself, quickly left from the other end of the back alley, and took a shortcut to the Huang residence.

We need to tell Master Fei as soon as possible. Su Yang's extravagant behavior might just be the first clue they've been waiting for—the key to getting to him.

...........

After leaving the Good Fortune Restaurant, Su Yang did not return directly to the Huang residence. Instead, he walked steadily through several relatively quiet streets and alleys, finally stopping in front of a blacksmith shop with a small storefront but a very strong fire in the furnace.

This place is a bit far from the main street. The ironware hanging at the entrance is mostly sickles and kitchen knives, but there are also a few short blades and hidden darts mixed in, which obviously indicates that they also do business with some江湖人 (jianghu people, people of the underworld).

As soon as he stepped into the shop, a wave of heat and the smell of rust hit him.

A dark-skinned, burly man was swinging a hammer and striking a hoe, sparks flying. Seeing a guest arrive, he merely raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Shopkeeper, I'd like to buy darts."

Su Yang spoke softly, making sure his voice could drown out the sound of hammering.

Without looking up, the blacksmith swung the hammer one last time, then plunged the red-hot hoe into the water trough with a "sizzle" and white steam rose up.

He then turned around, hastily wiped his face with the towel hanging around his neck, walked to an open wooden box in the corner, bent down, grabbed a few dark iron objects, and casually tossed them onto the coal dust-covered wooden platform.

Several crisp "clang" sounds rang out.

Those were just a few ordinary willow-leaf darts.

Or rather, they resembled several iron bars with one end roughly flattened and sharpened.

The dart is rough, covered with forging marks, and doesn't even have a blood groove. It also lacks a tassel at the end, making it a "common" dart used by the lowest-level martial arts practitioners.