My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Just as Chen Mo was about to take Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao upstairs to see the house, his phone rang again.

"Your takeout has been delivered to your door. Please pick it up promptly."

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped and turned his gaze to Chen Mo.

"Is it the same braised pork knuckle rice from last time?"

Chen Mo's lips twitched, and he nodded.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang simply stopped going upstairs and grabbed Zhu Biao.

"Biao'er, that braised pork trotter rice is absolutely delicious! You have to try it!"

Then, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Chen Mo.

"I hope it's okay if I have another serving of your braised pork knuckle rice?"

Chen Mo was both amused and exasperated.

"No problem, of course no problem."

Anyway, with the money your son Zhu Di gave you, you could buy out the whole pig's feet rice shop, let alone a single serving of pig's feet rice.

Seeing Chen Mo's expression, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction and spoke.

"I admit I had a bit of a temper before, I hope you can understand."

"But that doesn't mean we'll sheathe our swords; those who deserve to die will still be killed!"

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang gave a cold snort.

"I cannot quell my anger without killing those corrupt officials!"

His family was ruined because of those corrupt officials, so he had no good feelings towards them whatsoever.

Of course, Chen Mo was the same.

"Kill! Of course they should be killed!"

"Those who harm national interests and embezzle state property should be killed!"

"They take the people's money but do nothing of substance, spending their days in pleasure."

"While ordinary people couldn't even afford a decent meal, the rice in the corrupt officials' households was about to go bad!"

"If they can't stand up for the people, can't do practical work, and even embezzle state property!"

"Why keep someone like that alive if not killed?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"Interesting. Judging from your expression, you probably hate those people quite a bit, right?"

"So, there are quite a few corrupt officials these days?"

"No way! There are no corrupt officials anymore!"

Chen Mo smiled.

"They are all public servants serving the people! How can they be called corrupt officials?"

Things are different now than they were back then!

Zhu Yuanzhang gave Chen Mo a deep look and waved his hand.

"Forget about it for now! Let's hurry up and bring in the braised pork knuckle rice! We're getting a little hungry!"

"Alright!"

Chen Mo went out the door and brought in the braised pork trotters rice.

One copy was given to Liu Che, and the other was handed to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang eagerly opened the lunchbox.

Instantly, a rich aroma wafted over.

"That's the smell!"

Zhu Yuanzhang took a bite and handed the lunchbox to Zhu Biao.

"Biao'er, you should try it! It tastes really good!"

Zhu Biao accepted the lunchbox without ceremony, but did not eat it immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to Chen Mo.

"Manager Chen probably hasn't eaten yet, right? Why don't you have this first? I'll wait for the rest..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Mo waved his hand.

"It's alright, you guys eat first, I'll order more later."

Zhu Biao nodded upon hearing this.

Old Zhu was somewhat displeased.

"Just eat it! Why should you care?"

"You almost choked on your own breath just now!"

"And you let him eat first!"

"Just eat it! What kind of talk is this, pushing it back and forth like this! Hurry up and eat it while it's hot!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao smiled apologetically at Chen Mo.

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Biao picked up a piece.

The tender pig's trotters fall easily from the hands, the skin as sticky as glue, and the meat as soft as cotton.

Instantly, the unprecedented complex aroma of soy sauce, the richness of oil, and the soft, chewy texture of gelatinous food exploded in his mouth.

Zhu Biao's eyes widened slightly, his chewing paused for half a second, then quickened, revealing obvious amazement on his face.

But he quickly restrained himself, chewed slowly and carefully, and then softly praised.

"The taste of this dish is... quite unique, rich and fragrant, soft and glutinous, melting in your mouth, truly delicious. Thank you, Manager Chen."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Biao looked at the braised pork trotters in his hand, as if he had suddenly thought of something, and cupped his hands to Chen Mo and asked.

"I wonder if everyone can afford this pork trotter rice now?"

Chen Mo pondered for a moment.

"Pretty much! As long as you don't waste money or are lazy, you can afford to eat it every day."

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

He looked down at the bright red pig's trotters and plump grains of rice in the lunchbox, and couldn't help but sigh again.

After a long while, he finally sighed.

"If one day, every citizen of our Great Ming Dynasty could eat a bowl of pork trotter rice like this, how wonderful that would be."

"Even if it's just occasionally, it wouldn't have to be so extravagant, which would be perfect."

As soon as the words were spoken, the hotel lobby, which had been somewhat relaxed, fell into an eerie silence.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was just savoring the lingering taste of the braised pork trotter rice in his mouth and even thinking of asking Chen Mo for another serving, suddenly froze on his face.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at his son, his eyes deeply disturbed by some deliberately forgotten memories and emotions.

He recalled the tragic loss of his family and the hunger he suffered in his youth, and the hellish scenes of devastation after droughts and locust plagues, where people even resorted to cannibalism...

"Everyone can eat meat."

For an emperor who started from scratch and rose from the very bottom, this was a dream that was too distant and he dared not even think about.

Zhu Yuanzhang's lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end it only turned into an extremely heavy and suppressed sigh.

He raised his hand and patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder.

"Truly worthy of being our future heir, it's excellent to have such ambition!"

"Things we can't do, we'll have to leave to you from now on."

"Remember what you said today!"

"If you can't finish your tasks in the future, don't come looking for us! Otherwise, even if you do come, we won't see you!"

Zhu Biao turned around, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's serious face, and nodded heavily.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and continued.

"And another thing! Live well! Live well!!!"

"Don't let him get ahead of us!!!"

"If you dare to walk ahead of us! We'll...we'll..."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know what to say for a long time, so he simply glared at Chen Mo.

"Let's settle the score with him!"

"???"

Chen Mo was dumbfounded.

No!

Old man, please be reasonable!

What does it have to do with him?!

but……

Chen Mo glanced at Zhu Biao, whose face was filled with determination.

He also wanted to see what the Ming Dynasty would be like if Zhu Biao were alive.

Perhaps then the Ming Dynasty will truly take off and won't be replaced by some later dynasty with queues.

Chinese civilization would not have suffered so much humiliation.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Liu Che, who might have initially seemed to have a slight, insignificant urge to eat, also became more composed.

He lowered his head, looked at the braised pork trotter rice in his hand, picked up a piece, and put it in his mouth.

The texture is soft, savory, and fragrant; the aroma of oil is rich yet not greasy; the flavor penetrates to the bone...

Liu Che took a deep breath.

He never imagined pork could taste so delicious.

Previously, pork was only eaten by the lowest of the low because it had a foul odor that could not be removed.

Anyone with a certain status will choose lamb, which has a better texture and taste.

As for pork, because it's eaten a lot and doesn't taste good, nobody eats it.

And now...

Liu Che looked at the braised pork trotters and rice in his hand again.

His childhood name was Liu Zhi.

"彘" means pig.

He once felt that the name was not very elegant, and even somewhat taboo.

But at this moment, he formed an incredible connection with the bowl of braised pork trotters rice in front of him, which amazed his taste buds and warmed his stomach.

"Snapped!"

Liu Che slammed his chopsticks on the table, stood up, and glanced at Zhu Biao and the others.

Finally, he looked at Chen Mo with burning eyes.

"Shopkeeper Chen! I... my great Han Dynasty, also want my people to have meat to eat!"

"It's good that the young Zhu has a kind heart. But kindness alone is not enough! I have the determination, and even more so, the ability!"

"One day, I will make this braised pork trotter rice no longer a rare delicacy! I will make sure the children of my great Han Dynasty know nothing of hunger! Since my name is Zhi (meaning pig), I have an inextricable connection with this pig! This is... the will of Heaven!"

"Shopkeeper Chen! Tell me! How exactly can this be done?"

Liu Che's eyes burned with fervor.

Zhu Biao also turned to Chen Mo, cupped his hands, and asked.

"Please inform Mr. Chen!"