Stockpiling for an Exiled General Through My Store's Back Door

Chapter 147: Chapter 147: About Lingnan

Ling Qianjun had never actually been to Lingnan, but based on others’ descriptions and the videos Hua Buwan had shown him, he painted a vivid picture for Ling Qianfan.

”Lingnan is a place full of mystery and charm,” Ling Qianjun said. ”I’ve heard that the mountains there rise and fall, shrouded in mist, like a fairyland. The mountain streams murmur, crystal clear, with fish playing in the water. And hidden within those dense forests are countless rare herbs and mysterious creatures.”

Many creatures from the Northern Land experienced drastic changes when they reached Lingnan. Ling Qianjun recalled one example Hua Buwan had mentioned: cockroaches.

Cockroaches in the north were only the size of a pinky fingernail, and no one was particularly afraid of them. But in Lingnan, they were as big as a thumb—and they could fly! They would take to the air and fly right at you! Anyone who saw them would scream in sheer terror!

Ling Qianjun had never seen the kind of cockroach Hua Buwan described, and he was honestly a bit curious. Furthermore, she mentioned there was a type of water cockroach there that could be roasted and eaten! She insisted that Lingnan had many delicious foods and told him to try them all when the time came, opening the door to a whole new world.

Listening to Ling Qianjun’s descriptions, Ling Qianfan’s heart filled with yearning.

Ling Qianjun animatedly detailed the various Lingnan delicacies—steamed, boiled, stir-fried, deep-fried... Every dish seemed to exude a mouthwatering aroma, entrancing Ling Qianfan, who kept swallowing hard. As he imagined the feast, his stomach gave an embarrassing growl.

”The Lingnan people also especially love making soup,” Ling Qianjun noted. ”For instance, the soup Buwan made tonight was delicious.” After he had returned, he had first served them noodles and soup. They had praised the food nonstop while eating; clearly, they all loved the soup.

Recalling the broth he had just drunk, Ling Qianfan’s stomach growled even louder. ”Ah... that soup was truly amazing. I feel like I finished it before I could even savor its essence.” He swallowed hard again. ”Once we get to Lingnan, I’m going to learn how to make soup too! That way, I can make it myself whenever I want!” he declared, clenching his fists with fighting spirit.

”Well, I’ll be looking forward to it,” Ling Qianjun smiled, encouraging him. He hadn’t tasted Qianfan’s cooking yet. He knew he was good at roasting meat, but how would he fare at making soup? He found himself eagerly anticipating their days in Lingnan.

Ling Qianjun then showed off a few phrases of the local Lingnan dialect he had learned from Hua Buwan. Their tonal inflections were full of regional flavor. Sitting up straight and clearing his throat, he said a greeting in the dialect, ”Lei hou ah~”

Ling Qianfan quietly mimicked the unfamiliar sounds, his eyes shining with an eagerness for new knowledge. Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge stood quietly to the side, smiling as they listened, and couldn’t help but softly repeat the words as well.

”Lei hou? Qianjun, what does this phrase mean? Is it the cry of a type of monkey in Lingnan?” Ling Qianfan muttered the word a few times before he couldn’t hold back his question. Ling Yunge and Xu Panqing also looked at Ling Qianjun suspiciously; they were equally puzzled.

Ling Qianjun smiled and shook his head. ”It might sound like the word for monkey, but it actually means ’hello’.”

”Huh?” Ling Yunge, Xu Panqing, and Ling Qianfan exclaimed in unison.

After letting them process it for a moment, Ling Qianjun continued teaching them phrases, translating as he went. ”This next one is used to ask, ’Are you stupid?’”

Shocked by the bluntness, the three of them dutifully repeated the dialect sounds. ”Are you stupid?~”

Ling Qianjun moved on to the next. ”This means, ’Is that really true?’”

The three of them earnestly mimicked him. ”Is that really true?~”

Ling Qianjun smiled. ”And this one means, ’You are so smart~’”

The three of them beamed brightly as they echoed the phrase. ”You are so smart~”