When the black-faced man stepped out of the porridge line, he appeared tough, but once he actually reached the sweet potato stand, his voice immediately weakened. He looked at the relief worker behind the stand, forcing a clearly fawning smile onto his face:
"Sir, can I really eat these sweet potatoes? They won't hurt me, will they?"
"If you want to eat, just eat. Why ask so many questions?" The bearded man at the sweet potato stand said impatiently. "If you're scared, go back to your porridge line!"
The bearded man's voice was thunderously loud; even the refugees waiting in the porridge line could hear him clearly, though they weren't nearby. Many faces showed a hint of relief, glad they hadn't gone over. At the same time, they looked at the black-faced man with obvious sympathy.
In the refugees' eyes, the black-faced man would now have to rejoin the back of the line, wasting even more time. The refugees already felt light-headed from hunger; many were barely holding on by sheer will, so everyone was eager to get their relief porridge as soon as possible.
Below the Sky Canopy, in the palace, a young minister at the banquet saw the bearded official's rude attitude toward the black-faced man and couldn't help but angrily and anxiously say to the others, "At a time like this, these people are still like this! Can't they speak gently and explain things to the refugees? If they mess up the relief efforts because of this, they should all be executed!"
Yin Ning had followed her little orange cat, which had suddenly jumped out of her arms, to this corner of the banquet. She happened to overhear the young official's impatient and angry words. She picked up the cat and held it close, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face. She now understood that she was indeed the historical Emperor Jingwu.
After all, when she had exchanged for it in the system mall, those sweet potatoes with a yield of two thousand jin per mu had cost her over four thousand points—nearly a third of her total points over the years. As for the impasse on the Sky Canopy where the sweet potatoes were being rejected, after hearing the conversation between the black-faced man and the bearded man, she had already guessed the solution.
She held the orange cat and looked calmly toward the Sky Canopy.
On the Sky Canopy, a commotion suddenly broke out in the porridge line. The cause was that after the bearded official finished speaking to the black-faced man, he himself picked up a steamed sweet potato from the table, peeled it, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Seeing this, the black-faced man was shocked. "Sir, you're eating the sweet potatoes too?"
"What, I can't eat them?" The bearded man glared at him and said loudly and righteously, "These sweet potatoes were brought here by me through all kinds of hardship. Since you're not eating them, what's wrong with me having one more?"
"S-sir, could I have one? I feel like I'm about to faint from hunger."
As soon as the black-faced man spoke, his stomach growled loudly.
The bearded man clicked his tongue, then picked up a steamed sweet potato from the table and tossed it to the black-faced man.
Clumsily catching the sweet potato, the black-faced man barely peeled off a bit of skin before stuffing it into his mouth. After tasting its soft, sweet texture, he widened his eyes in utter astonishment.
The refugees in the porridge line had been secretly watching him. Seeing his shocked expression, one refugee gasped and said shakily, "Is he being poisoned by that sweet potato..."
"Damn! How is this sweet potato so delicious!" The black-faced man's roar cut off the refugee's words and drew even more attention.
The black-faced man seemed completely unaware that he had become the center of attention. He wolfed down the sweet potato, not even bothering to peel off the remaining skin, finishing the whole thing in just four or five bites. After finishing, he looked at the bearded man with eager eyes. "Sir, could I have another one? Just one!"
The bearded man said, "You have hands, don't you? Help yourself!"
The black-faced man immediately grabbed another steamed sweet potato from the table as if snatching it. This time, perhaps because he had already eaten one, he ate more slowly, though not by much. Soon, he finished another sweet potato, his face filled with reluctance as he ate the last bite.
Seeing this, the bearded man burst out laughing. "Look at you, so pathetic! This steamed sweet potato is nothing. There are things a hundred times tastier!"
Eager to play along, the black-faced man asked loudly, "Brother, you're well-traveled. Tell me about them!"
The bearded man said impatiently, "You've never tasted them, so I'd be wasting my breath. It's like playing the lute to a cow."
"But..." He glanced at the black-faced man. "Since you're not that annoying, I'll have someone make you something." With that, he turned and shouted to another official not far behind him, "Old Xu, heat up the oil and make this country bumpkin some candied sweet potato fries. Let him see the world!"
The official called Old Xu began to work upon hearing this.
The refugees in the porridge line watched the sweet potato stand intently. When they saw Old Xu pouring oil into the wok and bringing out starch, many couldn't help swallowing their dry throats. As the aroma of fried sweet potato strips wafted over, a child almost walked toward the stand, but his parent quickly pulled him back into the porridge line.
The bearded official and the black-faced man seemed completely indifferent to the commotion in the porridge line, focusing all their attention on the perfectly fried candied sweet potatoes.
After sprinkling candied powder over the crispy fried sweet potato strips, the bearded official immediately took one and put it in his mouth. Despite being scalded by the fresh-from-the-wok treat, he chewed occasionally, unwilling to spit it out to let it cool.
Seeing him eat so eagerly, the black-faced man couldn't help but reach for one himself. Learning from the bearded official's lesson, he blew on the candied sweet potato strip to cool it down. But soon, unable to wait any longer, he shoved it into his mouth.
The freshly fried candied sweet potato strips were crispy and thin on the outside, yet soft, powdery, smooth, and sweet on the inside. The black-faced man immediately became as impatient as the bearded official. After finishing the strip, he even licked his lips hard and looked at the bearded official with pleading eyes.
The bearded official waved his hand in disgust. "Stop looking at me like that. I'm not a woman. If you want more, take it yourself!"
Before he finished speaking, the black-faced man had already grabbed another candied sweet potato strip and put it into his mouth. Seeing this, the bearded official laughed and cursed, "Hey, you starving ghost, eat slower! I want some too!"
The black-faced man paid him no attention until the plate of candied sweet potato strips was completely cleaned. Then, still savoring the taste, he said to the bearded official, "Brother, things made from these sweet potatoes are amazing. I've never eaten anything so delicious in my life!"
The bearded official's voice boomed, "Of course it's delicious. Even our emperor often eats these sweet potatoes!"
"What?" The black-faced man exclaimed loudly. "Even His Majesty eats these sweet potatoes?"
"What's so surprising about that? Do you think they're not tasty?"
"Delicious! Of course they're delicious! They're much better than that bland porridge!"
"Since you find them tasty, His Majesty knows quality food too. He'll naturally pick what he likes!"
"Hehehehe!" The black-faced man laughed and scratched the back of his head. "I never thought that in all my years, I'd one day eat the same thing as His Majesty!"
"Hmph, at least you have good taste! Are you full? If so, get out of here and don't bother me while I rest."
"Hehe, big brother, could I take a sweet potato with me? I'm afraid I'll be hungry tonight."
"Take it yourself."
The black-faced man picked a larger steamed sweet potato, then flattered the bearded official a bit more before walking back, whistling.
In the porridge line, the refugees now looked at the sweet potato stand with a mix of scrutiny, suspicion, curiosity, and temptation. Eventually, a few refugees tentatively stepped out of the line and went to the stand. Like the black-faced man before them, they tasted the steamed sweet potatoes and candied sweet potato strips. When they left, each carried several sweet potatoes in their arms.
But apart from these few, the other refugees still dared not take the first step and insisted on waiting in line for porridge. However, that night, when they gathered with their families and friends, all they talked about was the sweet potatoes. Clearly, many had begun to doubt the rumors about sweet potatoes, though they were still wavering.
When dawn broke and a new day arrived, the porridge stand once again had a long line. But when they saw the black-faced man still lively at the sweet potato stand, many refugees' eyes flickered with thought. So that day, more refugees went to the sweet potato stand than the day before, one after another stepping forward to receive steamed sweet potatoes and enjoy some freshly fried candied sweet potato strips.
However, at lunchtime, a commotion suddenly broke out at the sweet potato stand. "It's only noon, and you're already out of sweet potatoes?" a young man asked the bearded official angrily.
The bearded official looked indifferent. "I said there aren't any more, so there aren't. The sweet potatoes we brought today are all gone! If you want some, come early tomorrow. First come, first served. Blame yourself for not being earlier!"
Since it was mealtime, the largest number of refugees were present. The argument quickly attracted many eyes. Seeing the young man turn away dejectedly and join the porridge line, the refugees began to discuss.