The strongest eldest son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 74 Hot Pot Base: Lao Gan Ma is a place where you can freely order all the best stuff!

Empress Ma also looked surprised, her brows furrowed slightly, and she gently offered her advice.

"Yao'er, it is common for men to have three wives and four concubines, but for you to meet more than twenty people at once is a bit too exaggerated."

Upon seeing this, Zhu Yao quickly waved his hand and explained with a smile, dispelling the misunderstanding between the two.

"Father, Madam, you've misunderstood me."

"I don't intend to marry them all, but I feel that marriage is an important matter that should not be taken lightly. A portrait and a few words about a resume are not enough to determine one's lifelong commitment."

"These girls are all outstanding. I want to meet them one by one, get to know them, and chat with them to see if we are compatible and find a true match."

After hearing this explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma finally relaxed, relieved that it was a false alarm.

However, upon further reflection, the two felt it was rather inappropriate to have Zhu Yao meet more than twenty women from prominent families in one go. It was too ostentatious and also against etiquette.

Zhu Yao noticed their concerns and immediately offered a compromise.

"If Father feels it is inappropriate to see too many girls at once, then from now on Father can send one or two girls each time."

"Let's proceed step by step, gradually getting to know each other and making our selections. There's no rush."

He pondered for a moment, then added with a smile.

"If Father finds the journey troublesome, then it would be more prudent for me to accompany Father and Madam back to Jinling and personally visit the residences of the young ladies."

Upon hearing this, both Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma felt a pang of anxiety and immediately refused without hesitation.

"No! Absolutely not!"

The two reacted violently and in sync, fearing that Zhu Yao would step into Jinling territory, glimpse the truth of the palace, and completely expose all the secrets.

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly composed himself and tried to smooth things over.

"The journey to and from here is arduous; why should you go through all that trouble? You can stay in Chenzhou without worry."

"We'll do as you say. From now on, we'll bring one or two girls over each time, so you can get to know them slowly and choose carefully."

Empress Ma quickly and gently agreed, thus finalizing the matter.

"Yes, this arrangement is the most appropriate. You just need to wait patiently."

Zhu Yao: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Father and Madam!"

.....

Zhu Yuanzhang stayed peacefully at Liu's residence in Chenzhou for one night, and the next morning he planned to set off with Empress Ma back to Jinling.

Zhu Yao got up early and personally escorted the group to the main road outside the mansion, showing great courtesy and warmth.

He had prepared many gifts in advance, packed them up, and handed them to everyone in turn.

The first thing handed to Zhu Yuanzhang was several sealed packets of hot pot base, which were well-packaged and not easily affected by moisture or spoilage.

Zhu Yao patiently instructed and explained the usage in detail.

"Dad, this is my special hot pot base. Just boil it in water, add meat and vegetables, and you can cook them directly."

"Compared to the hot pot broth cooked fresh in the mansion, the taste is slightly inferior and cannot compare to the rich flavor of freshly brewed broth. However, it is enough to satisfy one's cravings when traveling or eating at the mansion."

Then Zhu Yao handed several jars of fine seasonings and a bottle of bright red Lao Gan Ma to Empress Ma.

"Madam, these are seasonings and 'Lao Gan Ma' chili sauce. Our food is usually bland and tasteless, but adding a little bit will enhance the flavor and aroma, making it more appetizing."

Zhu Yuanzhang held the hot pot base in his hands, looking at the novel packaging, his eyes filled with excitement and joy.

He couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You little rascal, you actually had such a good thing hidden away! Why didn't you bring it out sooner!"

Empress Ma held the condiments and Lao Gan Ma (a popular chili sauce brand) in her hands, feeling warm inside. She smiled gently and thanked Zhu Yao, praising him for his thoughtfulness and attentiveness.

Why is she called Lao Gan Ma (Old Godmother)?

"It was caused by an old woman."

Finally, Zhu Yao looked at Erhu beside him and handed him a close-fitting, lightweight alloy soft armor.

"Erhu, you often face dangers while protecting others on your journeys. This alloy soft armor is close-fitting and flexible, does not hinder your movements, and has extremely strong protective properties. It can protect you completely and make your journeys safer."

Erhu took the soft armor and found it light and sturdy. He was deeply impressed and bowed respectfully to express his gratitude.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased to see the heartwarming scenes before him. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he made a suggestion.

"Yao'er, you are so thoughtful to have prepared such good things for us and the guards."

"Since we'll be meeting up with those girls from Nanjing on blind dates soon, why not prepare a unique gift for them?"

"With a sincere gesture, the girl will definitely be more willing to come and meet you, and she will have a better impression of you."

The sudden suggestion stunned Zhu Yao, who paused for a moment, his face showing hesitation.

"Prepare a gift for a woman you're meeting on a blind date? I've never had this experience before, and I'm not sure what to prepare."

Seeing this, Empress Ma smiled gently and spoke softly to offer some advice, thus easing his embarrassment.

"There's no need to prepare such valuable items as gold and silver jewelry; anything too precious would seem pretentious and abrupt."

"Just find some unique, novel, practical and thoughtful items. It's best if they are original and rare in the world, so that they can better show your feelings."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he instantly came up with a suitable object.

"Now that you mention it, I do have something suitable."

After saying that, he turned around and quickly returned to the mansion. A moment later, he personally led his servants to carry out an exquisite wooden box.

The wooden box is finely crafted, tightly sealed, and has a clean, elegant, and exquisite appearance.

Zhu Yao placed the wooden box in front of everyone and began to introduce it with a smile.

"This thing is something I came up with in my spare time, and I named it the Freedom Point."

"It is specially designed for women during their menstrual period. Using it will greatly relieve the discomfort and fatigue of women during those days, and make walking, sitting and lying down easy and comfortable."

"I've pre-packaged everything, one small packet at a time, so it's clean, hygienic, and easy to use."

"Each small bag is wrapped in a fine cloth for protection, and I have personally marked detailed instructions for use on the cloth. They are simple and easy to understand, and you can learn how to use them at a glance."

"Women of childbearing age can use it safely during their menstrual period."

Zhu Yao looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang and entrusted him with a sincere tone.

"Father, please give this small token of my appreciation to each of the girls who come to see me after you return home."

.....

The carriage traveled slowly on the road back to Jinling, the carriage was smooth and comfortable, and the atmosphere was warm and cozy.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head to look at Empress Ma beside him, scrutinized her for a moment, and couldn't help but smile and praise her.

"Girl, we've only been apart for a few days, but you look so much better."

"Even the skin on my face has become much smoother and fairer, making me look several years younger, more energetic and beautiful."

Empress Ma's eyes crinkled with joy upon hearing this, and she gently touched her cheek, her eyes filled with delight.

"Is it really that obvious? I suppose it's because you're feeling comfortable and relaxed staying with Yao'er."

"Every morning I do morning exercises to loosen my muscles and bones, in the afternoon I sunbathe to nourish my blood and qi, and at night I apply a face mask that Yao'er gave me to condition my skin."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked puzzled upon hearing this and leaned closer to ask more questions out of curiosity.

"Face mask? What kind of novel thing is that? I've never heard of such a thing before."