Zhao Changhe couldn't tell the expression of the boss lady, nor could he tell if there was anything special about her words, but he didn't argue. He just smiled slightly, shook the menu, and asked, "It all looks like hand-pulled this and hand-pulled that. I don't feel very interested. Since you have Jiangnan osmanthus wine, do you have Jiangnan stir-fry?"

The boss lady smiled and said, "Most people follow local customs when they are in a foreign land. They prefer to try the local specialties. Who would come to the northern border and ask for something from Jiangnan?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Just asking, don't you have it?"

The boss lady's eyes flickered, "If you really want it, we do have it, but it will cost extra."

"Is it because rare things are valuable?"

"It means it's more troublesome to make." The boss lady said, "Different ingredients, utensils, and seasonings. If there's no demand, they'll go bad if we keep them for a few days. Naturally, we won't keep them in stock. If you want something customized, we'll go out and buy it now. The cost and labor will be on you. Don't accuse us of robbing you. Is that fair?"

Zhao Changhe clapped his hands and said, "You have a point, it's fair indeed."

"Hey, San Niang!" The drinkers were not happy, "Why is this kid chatting with him as soon as he arrives? He's not even that handsome, but he's making a fortune here!"

San Niang glared at them, "I'll talk to whoever I want to talk to. Do you have a problem with that?"

Someone said, "Just because he wants to eat Jiangnan cuisine? Then we can order it too."

Zhao Changhe sighed, thinking, "You guys are so petty. If I don't say anything back, it's already good enough. Why bother?"

Sure enough, San Niang smiled and said, "Because he doesn't want to be flirted with. So I'll be a little more reserved. That's how you treat guests."

The crowd fell silent.

Zhao Changhe put down the menu and said, "Just bring me a portion of the hand-pulled lamb leg, no need for extra trouble."

San Niang seemed a bit disinterested and asked half-heartedly, "Do you need someone to chat with? Just for conversation."

Zhao Changhe could tell she was being insincere, so he said, "I want to eat, your perfume is affecting my appetite."

"Ugh." San Niang was a bit put off, and she walked away muttering, "Hurry up and bring the wine. What are you dawdling for?"

The people saw that a bowl of water was level, so they stopped being jealous and started chatting happily again. Someone said to Zhao Changhe, "Brother, pretending not to be interested in this trick. Many people have tried it over the years, it's useless... If you overdo it, you might get beaten up."

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

Zhao Changhe just smiled and didn't reply.

Everyone was itching to talk to San Niang, as if they were all the same... It's just that Huangfu Qing has a similar figure and charm, but San Niang is a bit too flirtatious. Huangfu Qing's demeanor is more moderate and noble. Huangfu Qing is better!

To be honest, with such precious people in front of him, he really wasn't very interested. Who knows whose forbidden fruit it is, and it's better not to provoke them after eating.

Soon, the hand-pulled lamb leg and osmanthus wine were brought out. Zhao Changhe also gave the waiter a piece of silver and asked him to take care of the black horse, then he ate his meal and pondered the situation.

His conversation with San Niang was all about testing each other. Just like Jiangnan cuisine, as long as someone can make it, it means the chef is from Jiangnan, not a local hire. This shows that this is a small group organization composed of people from Daxia, and they are from Jiangnan. It's not just about selling osmanthus wine here.

San Niang indicated that although someone can make it, they don't eat it themselves, so there are no regular Jiangnan ingredients here. This also proves that there is no long-term communication with Jiangnan, so there's no need to probe. At the same time, she also tells you that if you want something customized, you can pay extra, and it's a fair trade.

How could these drinkers, who only have mountains and waists in their minds, understand?

From San Niang's hint that there could be people from Huangfu Yong, the Demon Suppression Division, or some force on the grasslands, these three possibilities can be almost ruled out, and it's more likely to be someone from the Warring States or the Four Elephant Sect.

But neither of these possibilities can be trusted too much. He doesn't have a token from the Four Elephant Sect, and in the general knowledge of the Four Elephant Sect, he is still considered an enemy, just with a lower priority. Who knows what will happen if he runs into them.

As for the people from the Warring States, although the organization's position is to trade fairly for information, the specific views of each responsible person may not be consistent. After mixing here for so long, who knows if there is any bias. They don't have much friendship, so they dare not trust each other.

But since his identity has not been exposed, it should be okay to buy some less sensitive information under a disguise.

Just as he was thinking this, two more people came in. Zhao Changhe subconsciously glanced at them and his eyes became colder.

It was the leader of the caravan from that night, one middle-aged and one young.

San Niang came to Zhao Changhe again and asked with a smile, "Young man, there are more customers coming, and your table is the only one with an empty seat. Can they join you?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Business is really good here, San Niang."

San Niang smiled, "The location here is good. Foreign guests who have just entered the market see the wine flag at a glance and can't help but salivate."

Zhao Changhe nodded. The location is really good. Isn't that how he came here? "If I don't want to share a table, will you ask me to leave or ask them to leave?"

San Niang sighed and advised, "Why be so reclusive when you're away from home? More friends mean more paths."

The two men, who had been listening to the conversation, seemed impatient and stood on either side of Zhao Changhe. "Brother, we're all guests from the Central Plains. Can we join you?"

Now you feel like you're from the Central Plains? Why didn't you say you were from the Central Plains when you were selling grain to the Huns during the war?

Zhao Changhe knew that he could probably dig up a lot of information by chatting with them, but no matter how he looked at it, he felt disgusted and couldn't keep up the act. He said coldly, "This kind of thing can be discussed with San Niang, and I can give her face and let them join. We haven't finished discussing yet, so when is it your turn to accuse me of being rude? Now that I don't want to share a table, you can join whoever you want."

"The one who refuses a toast is punished with a drink!" The young man's eyes showed a fierce look, and suddenly slapped Zhao Changhe.The patrons' spirits were lifted again; the variety of performances at the Yellow Sand Gathering was endless, with no repetition day after day.

With a "slap," it was the young man who had moved to strike, yet everyone saw as if he had slapped his own face, spinning on the spot like a top for several turns before coming to a halt. Then, clutching his mouth, he spat out something. Upon inspection, it was a bloodied tooth.

People were astonished that they hadn't seen how Zhao Changhe had counter-slapped so swiftly!

Sanniang looked at Zhao Changhe with great interest, deep in thought.

The middle-aged man flew into a rage: "How dare you!"

"Shing!" The sound of a sword being drawn, as a blade thrust towards Zhao Changhe's back.

Zhao Changhe continued to eat his lamb leg and drink his wine, his body twisting slightly in a way that the sword missed under his ribs. Then, with a casual clamp, he trapped the assailant's hand under his arm. With a "snap," the assailant's wrist was broken, and a scream echoed through the hall.

The crowd gasped in shock, their gazes towards Zhao Changhe changing somewhat.

His martial skills were one thing, but the strength he displayed was outrageous. What did it mean to break someone's hand under one's arm?

Someone subconsciously mimicked the arm-clamping motion, then shook their head, feeling that no matter what, they couldn't achieve such a feat. What kind of divine strength was this?

Zhao Changhe released the man, saying indifferently, "Such trash dares to provoke..."

The two men looked at Zhao Changhe with a mix of shock and fear, quickly retreating towards the door, leaving behind a threat: "You just wait!"

Zhao Changhe picked up two chopsticks, considering striking them down, but then thought better of it and put them down. These two were likely leaders of a merchant caravan; there might be a need for evidence or something of the sort, and it wasn't the time for killing. Besides, if it led to a retaliation from a thousand men, it would disrupt his plans here.

With this in mind, Zhao Changhe turned to Sanniang, who was watching the drama with sparkling eyes, and asked lightly, "Sanniang, they started a fight with your guest, and you say nothing? Is it because their money is more than mine, or because Sanniang doesn't protect her own guests?"

Sanniang, as if waking from a dream, smiled and said, "Oh my, brawls are common in the inn, I didn't realize the seriousness of the situation for a moment. Please forgive me, young master."

Zhao Changhe asked, "So if they come back for revenge, will Sanniang protect her guests?"

Sanniang replied with a smile, "Within the inn is a safe zone, no one dares to touch my guests. Once outside, I'm not responsible."

"Why didn't you mention it was a safe zone earlier?" Zhao Changhe was noncommittal, "That's fine... Does Sanniang know them?"

Sanniang smiled, "Why? You want to take revenge proactively, to nip the problem in the bud?"

"Is that not allowed?"

"I'd advise you to take it easy. They have a lot of people..."

"So who are they?"

"Jinzhong's Qiao family's Second Master Qiao. That young man is probably out for the first time; I don't recognize him."

Indeed, it was a merchant from Shanxi... Zhao Changhe thought hard but couldn't recall anyone from the Qiao family on the Chaotic Era List. He then asked, "What business do they do, and who is in their family? Are you familiar with them, Sanniang?"

Sanniang's eyes held a meaningful look: "I have the information, but it'll cost you extra."