My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

翌日清晨，天光微亮.

Perhaps it was the unfamiliar environment, or perhaps the shock she experienced yesterday was too great, but Li Lizhi woke up after only a short time.

"Sister...I want to eat Rou Rou!"

She sat on the bed, looked at the little girl next to her who was still talking in her sleep and smacking her lips, smiled slightly, and quietly got out of bed.

Then, Li Lizhi went to the bathroom and looked at the room, which was completely different from the palace of the Tang Dynasty. She couldn't help but feel a sense of disorientation and emotion.

Soon after, Li Lizhi finished washing up, put on the clothes she had bought yesterday, and tiptoed to close the door.

As soon as I stepped onto the first floor, a fragrant aroma wafted over.

Li Lizhi was somewhat surprised and turned her gaze to the kitchen.

But all they saw was Chen Mo wearing a dark apron, standing in front of the stove, holding the pot handle with one hand and skillfully tossing the wok with the other.

Li Lizhi stood at the kitchen doorway, looking somewhat dazed.

Chen Mo seemed to notice her, wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled.

"Get up! How did you sleep last night?"

"Slept very soundly."

Li Lizhi replied.

She thought for a moment, then smiled and said.

"Sizi is sleeping even more soundly; she was still talking in her sleep when I woke up just now."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo couldn't help but laugh.

"That's good. She did stay up very late last night. Let her get some more sleep."

Li Lizhi nodded, her gaze returning to the pot.

The golden eggs and white rice were mixed together in the pot, making it look very appealing.

Li Lizhi pondered for a moment.

"Manager Chen, why...why are you personally handling the kitchen affairs? As the ancients said, 'A wise man keeps away from the kitchen...'"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo paused slightly, smiled dismissively, and scooped the egg and tomato fried rice from the pan.

The saying "A wise man keeps away from the kitchen" has been misunderstood by many people in later generations, or rather, taken out of context.

Chen Mo said as he took off his apron.

"Oh?"

Li Lizhi became even more curious.

"What do you mean?"

Chen Mo continued.

"This saying was originally said by Mencius. The original words were: 'When a gentleman sees animals alive, he cannot bear to see them die; when he hears their cries, he cannot bear to eat their flesh. Therefore, a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen.'"

"Mencius's original intention was to praise the benevolence and compassion of a gentleman."

"I feel sorry for the animals when I see them being slaughtered, and I can't eat meat when I hear their cries, so I choose to stay away from places where slaughtering and cooking take place."

"It's a kind of inner moral reluctance, not that a gentleman should be aloof, despise labor, or think that kitchen matters are dirty and lowly and should not be touched."

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly disdainful.

"Some so-called gentlemen in later generations who were lazy and ignorant of the five grains used this saying as an excuse for their laziness and contempt for labor, as if getting a little oily smoke would diminish their status."

"Little do people know that we should cherish every grain of rice and every bowl of porridge, and appreciate how hard it is to come by."

"Self-reliance and hard work are the true principles. What kind of gentleman can't even take care of his own basic survival? That's just useless."

Li Lizhi was slightly taken aback, staring at Chen Mo in a daze.

Chen Mo pointed to the stove and the fried rice he had just made, and smiled.

"At least in my opinion, being able to cook a hot meal for myself and the people I care about, and seeing them enjoy it, is a very fulfilling thing!"

"It has nothing to do with whether someone is a gentleman or a villain, male or female, noble or lowly."

Looking at Chen Mo, Li Lizhi felt a strange feeling welling up inside her.

She suddenly felt that Chen Mo might actually be closer to the true meaning of the Way advocated by the sages than many bookish gentlemen.

She remained silent for a long time, then, recalling Chen Mo's words, hesitated for a moment before finally mustering the courage to ask.

"Then what is Manager Chen's view on women?"

"What do you think...?"

Chen Mo pondered for a moment, then sighed.

"I was influenced by some ideas on the internet before, and I always had some prejudices, but after thinking about it carefully for a while, I realized that I might have been a bit extreme."

Chen Mo straightened his expression.

"We shouldn't generalize; we should have different perspectives on everyone."

"If someone is lazy and doesn't want to do anything but wants to reap the benefits of others, and then claims that they got all the benefits themselves, then such a person, regardless of gender, should be despised."

"On the contrary, people who earn their status through their own efforts and abilities, regardless of gender, should also be respected."

Chen Mo looked at Li Lizhi.

"Here, we advocate gender equality; women hold up half the sky."

"Anything a man can do, a woman can do too!"

"Whether it's a doctor, a judge, an engineer, or a teacher..."

"It just depends on whether you're willing to do it and whether you can endure the hardship."

"They also have equal rights to education, from primary school all the way to university."

"Of course, the above refers to women who are truly independent and self-reliant."

"They are independent and self-reliant, do not depend on men, and obtain what they want through their own abilities."

"As for those who cling to the other person while simultaneously using manipulative tactics on them, and then gossiping about how the other person is..."

Chen Mo shook his head and looked at Li Lizhi.

"If you were born today, you would probably shine the brightest in your chosen field as well."

After hearing this, Li Lizhi was stunned for a long time.

She felt her heart race, and a complex feeling welled up inside her.

Longing, awe, emotion, and... bitterness.

It turns out that women can live their lives in this way.

Rather than being used as a tool for procreation, or as a bargaining chip for exchange...

Chen Mo looked at her complicated expression, sighed, and smiled slightly.

"Forget about that! Come on! Try my fried rice, it won't taste good when it's cold."

Chen Mo pointed to the plate of golden-yellow, fragrant fried rice on the table.

"Exclusive recipe, each grain distinct. I'm not exaggerating! Mine is just as good as the ones sold outside!"

Then, Chen Mo chuckled at Li Lizhi.

"I only cooked this one pot of rice. Let's finish it and save some for Sizi. When Lao Li and the others wake up, they can eat their steamed buns!"

Li Lizhi was brought back to reality. Imagining her father's expression as he ate the steamed buns, she couldn't help but smile.

She didn't refuse and followed Chen Mo into the courtyard.

I had only taken a few bites when I heard a loud voice coming from outside the courtyard.

"Shopkeeper Chen, I..."