Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

"Knock knock knock..." Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the private room. Then, the waiter pushed the door open with a smile and said, "Dear guest, you may begin serving the dishes."

Soon, plates of exquisite dishes were brought to the table. These dishes were vibrant in color, fragrant, and exuded an enticing aroma, as if silently inviting people to join in. Sofia stared, stunned, at the delicious food before her. The aroma was simply too tempting; it was almost unfair. She hadn't eaten since morning, and her stomach was growling loudly.

"The dishes are all served. Enjoy your meal," the waiter said politely, then smiled and left. According to restaurant policy, waiters are not allowed to stay in small private rooms like this for extended periods, so as not to disturb the guests.

"Come, try this Youhe Daqu liquor." Solo smiled, picked up the bottle, poured a little liquor for Sophia first, and then poured himself a glass. He carefully put away the rest of the liquor, intending to take it back and savor it slowly.

"So pure?" Sophia stared at the white liquor in her glass, its clear, transparent liquid like crystal. She exclaimed in surprise, "Is this different from other ales?"

“Of course it’s different. This wine is the finest in the world.” Solo took a small sip, closed his eyes, and a look of enjoyment appeared on his face, as if he was savoring the wonderful taste. He said slowly, “Compared to this, other ales are like horse piss.”

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Sophia looked at her father's intoxicated expression and felt a little skeptical. She hesitated for a moment, then poured the little bit of liquor in the glass into her mouth. However, as soon as the liquor entered her mouth, her delicate face immediately scrunched up, she stuck out her tongue, and shouted, "It doesn't taste good at all, it's too bitter, this is not some kind of heavenly delicacy!"

"Hahaha..." Solo looked at his daughter's adorable face and couldn't help but laugh heartily. He said, "You're still young, you don't understand the pleasure of wine. How many girls really like wine?"

"Ha ha ha..." Sofia grinned, fanning herself with her hand to try and ease the pungent taste in her mouth. The liquor was really too strong; it burned her throat and brought tears to her eyes.

"Have some food!" Solo said with a smile, picking up a piece of fish and putting it in his mouth. He squinted his eyes and said with a satisfied look, "The food here is absolutely amazing. Even the food in the Yingluo Royal Palace can't compare to this."

"Really?" Sophia was somewhat skeptical upon hearing her father's words. After all, everyone knew that the palace had the best of everything in the entire kingdom—clothing, food, and other necessities. How could it possibly be inferior to this place?

She looked at the two small wooden sticks on the table, and then at how skillfully Solo and Ger used them, and couldn't help but feel a little envious. So she tried to imitate them and held the chopsticks, but her fingers seemed to have no will of their own, and she couldn't even pick up a piece of fish. She tried several times, each time ending in failure, and she was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Use a fork, you'll need to practice using chopsticks for a few more days," Solo said with a gentle smile, looking at his daughter's anxious expression.

"Oh!" Sofia awkwardly put down her chopsticks, picked up her fork, and speared a piece of fish, stuffing it into her mouth. After only a couple of chews, her blue eyes widened, her face filled with surprise, and she exclaimed, "This is so delicious!" Then, she eagerly speared another piece of fish and stuffed it into her mouth. From that moment on, she couldn't stop, eating one bite after another with great relish.

"That canned fish contains this kind of fish. I don't know what magical method the city lord used, but the cooked fish can be preserved for three or four months." Solo said calmly, looking at his daughter's satisfied expression.

"Cough cough cough..." Sophia choked on her words upon hearing this. She blinked and stared at Solo, saying incredulously, "That...you're not joking, are you? How could that be?"

“It’s true. You know how sought-after this kind of fish would be if it were sold in the capital.” Solo took another sip of wine and said slowly, “With a five percent profit margin on these goods, the city lord is quite good to us in this area of ​​the capital!”

Sophia lowered her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. She thought of the black-haired, black-eyed nobleman—Link. It was the first time a man her age had impressed her so much. He not only possessed a brilliant mind but also always came up with novel ideas and accomplished astonishing feats.

"So, young lady! Go and capture the city lord!" Solo had drunk quite a bit and was already slightly tipsy. He slurred his words and shouted half-jokingly.

"Shut up, you old lecher!" Sophia blushed deeply upon hearing her father's words and retorted, "How could you say such a thing?"

"What does it matter? You're smart, and the city lord is smart too. You two are a perfect match. If you don't make a move soon, you might regret it later," Solo teased, ignoring his daughter's shyness.

"Shut up, I don't want to hear it, I'm going back to Lydia..." Sophia covered her ears, stood up, her face flushed with embarrassment and panic, and hurriedly left the private room. She felt both shy and expectant, wondering what kind of story would unfold between her and Link. Inside the private room, Solo watched his daughter's departing figure, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

205. Scared

"I'm so hungry... Where did Sophia go?" Lydia rubbed her empty stomach helplessly, waves of hunger washing over her. She hadn't eaten all day—no, to be precise, not since last night, not a drop of rice or water. Her stomach was completely empty, and she could almost hear the acid gurgling in protest.

"Honestly, that guy said he was going out for a bit, and he's been gone for ages, and I haven't seen a soul in ages." Lydia pouted, her face full of dissatisfaction and grievance. She slowly lay down on the bed, the soft mattress gently sinking in as if tenderly embracing her weary body. She gently touched the soft blankets beneath her, the delicate touch sending a look of contentment across her face. She had to admit, the blankets here were far superior to those in her ducal mansion. While the ducal mansion's blankets were also luxurious, they were nowhere near as soft and comfortable against her skin.

She slowly turned her head and began to carefully survey the room. The room was exquisitely decorated; several elegant paintings hung on the walls, their landscapes so lifelike they seemed to transport one to a tranquil and beautiful world. In the corner was a stove, radiating warmth that enveloped the entire room. The dancing flames, like nimble sprites, frolicked joyfully within the stove, dispelling the winter chill. All of this was completely different from what she had seen in the capital. Rooms in the capital were mostly ornately decorated, displaying the grandeur and luxury of nobility, while this room gave off a warm and comfortable feeling.

"Is this the room in Winterfell? It seems quite nice, even better than the room in my ducal manor," Lydia murmured softly, her voice filled with a hint of amazement and curiosity. She closed her eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and savored the unique atmosphere of the room, as if trying to imprint it all deeply into her mind.

"Tap tap tap..." Footsteps suddenly sounded outside, growing clearer and clearer as they approached. This instantly put Lydia, who had been somewhat relaxed, on high alert. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her already pale lips pursed, and a sly smile appeared at the corner of her eye. She thought to herself, "Heh heh heh... Sophia, you're finally here. Let me give you a good scare." With that thought, she quickly pulled the blanket over her head, wrapping herself up tightly, leaving only her eyes showing, quietly waiting for her chance. She imagined suddenly sitting up and seeing Sophia's startled and panicked expression, a mischievous smile creeping onto her lips.

"Click!" With a crisp sound of the door opening, Link pushed it open and walked in, followed by a maid who carefully carried a bowl of fine rice porridge. The porridge emitted a faint aroma of rice that filled the air. This fine rice porridge was specially prepared for Lydia's dinner; Link knew she hadn't eaten all day and must be starving.

Link felt a bit helpless. Della, Luca, and the others absolutely refused to come. They even had the audacity to say that Link had seen a girl's bare bottom and should at least come and see her in person. Link smiled bitterly to himself, thinking, it was just an accident. The situation was urgent, and he had no choice but to do it to treat Lydia. She might not even care about anything. Did they expect him to be responsible for everything just because he saw her bottom? That was absurd.

Link took the rice porridge from the maid and waved for her to leave. He knew exactly what Luca and the others were up to; they just wanted to see what the duke's daughter looked like. He carried the porridge into the room, looking at the warm yet somewhat unfamiliar surroundings, a sense of感慨 (gan3 kai3, a feeling of mixed emotions, including nostalgia and a touch of melancholy) washing over him. He placed the porridge on the bedside table, then sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at Lydia with her head covered, a hint of doubt in his mind: "Is she the type to sleep with her head down? Or is she insecure? Does she have a fever? That shouldn't be possible. She already had a fever-reducing injection; at most, she's just a little weak, right?" Link didn't dwell on it and decided to pull back the covers to see what was going on. He slowly reached for the blankets, thinking, "I'll find out once I pull them back."

"Ah..." Just as Link's hand was about to touch the blanket, Lydia suddenly threw off the blanket, made a face, and sat up like a spring, giggling, "Sophia..." She was looking forward to seeing Sophia scream in fright, her face beaming with a mischievous and excited smile.

"Uh..." However, the scream Lydia expected from Sophia didn't come. She stared blankly at the unfamiliar man before her, her smile instantly freezing. And, most importantly, Link's hand had grabbed the wrong spot. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the air in the room became unusually awkward.

"Aaaaaah..." A sharp scream rang out, seemingly piercing the roof. Lydia grabbed the blanket, wrapping herself up like a frightened rabbit, and shuffled backward, staring in terror at Link's raised hand. Her eyes were wide open, filled with fear and panic, as if she had seen something horrible.

"Who...who are you?" Lydia asked in a trembling voice, her voice shaking with obvious fear, her face filled with terror. She never imagined that she would try to scare someone, only to be scared herself, especially by such a strange man. She gripped the blanket tightly, as if it were her only protection.

"I..." Link was stunned. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way at all; this misunderstanding was huge. He hurriedly explained, "Um, I mean, I was trying to pull back the covers, and then you suddenly pulled them back and bumped into me, do you believe me?" He put on an embarrassed and helpless smile, spreading his hands, trying to convince Lydia that he was telling the truth.

Link awkwardly withdrew his hand and continued, "I just wanted to check on your condition, so I suddenly grabbed... cough... it was a misunderstanding." He coughed lightly, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

"Hmph..." Lydia paused for two seconds, then tilted her head and thought seriously for a moment. Then, with her face puffed up and her golden eyes full of suspicion, she looked at Link as if he were a fraudster, thinking to herself, "Who would believe such a coincidence? This is clearly just sophistry." She wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, her body trembling slightly, her eyes filled with vigilance.

"Sigh!" Link sighed, shaking his head helplessly, and said, "It seems your illness hasn't gotten better yet. Your mind isn't quite right. It looks like you need some more treatment." He deliberately put on a serious expression, wanting to see Lydia's reaction.

"Huh?" Lydia's mouth gaped open, her face filled with surprise and confusion. How could she have expected this stranger to suddenly say such a thing? Could it really be a misunderstanding? Moreover, the treatment Sophia described seemed to involve acupuncture, specifically acupuncture in the buttocks. Just thinking about it made Lydia feel a dull ache in her buttocks, as if she were back in the scene of being pricked with needles. She clutched her buttocks in terror, crying out in panic, "No, I'm better, I'm better! I don't want needles in my buttocks!" Her voice trembled with tears, and her body shook uncontrollably.

"Uh..." Link blinked, looking at Lydia's exaggerated reaction, feeling both amused and helpless. This girl seems to have stopped misunderstanding? Looks like she's not sick anymore. Good, the misunderstanding is cleared up. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, come here, let me see if you're really better." Link beckoned, a gentle smile on his face. He just wanted to confirm whether Lydia's fever had truly subsided; after all, her health was the most important thing.

"Take a look?" Lydia's golden eyes widened, welling up with tears. Her soft voice trembled with a hint of sobs. "No, I'm all better now. I don't need to have my butt checked..." She thought Link was going to give her acupuncture again like before, and her heart was filled with fear and resistance.

"Cough cough cough..." Link choked on his words, coughing violently until his face turned bright red. He stood up and poked Lydia's forehead twice, saying irritably, "Please, can you not say things that make me sound like a pervert?!" He felt that Lydia's imagination was too rich; he was clearly trying to be kind, but she had misunderstood him like this.

"What?" Lydia was stunned, her golden eyes misting over as she looked at Link with a pitiful expression. She didn't understand what she had said wrong, or why Link was reacting so strongly. She felt completely innocent; she just didn't want to be pricked with needles anymore.

“That’s all,” Link said, reaching out and pressing his hand against Lydia’s forehead, then against his own, carefully comparing their approximate temperatures. His movements were very gentle, as if afraid of hurting Lydia.

"Are you still dizzy?" Link asked, his eyes filled with concern. Their temperatures were about the same, but Lydia's temperature wasn't as high as it had been initially, indicating her fever had subsided. He secretly rejoiced; his treatment had finally been effective.

"No!" Lydia pouted, covering her forehead and shaking her head blankly, her golden eyes staring into Link's black eyes and the hand that had touched her forehead. Then it dawned on her—this was the man who had cured her illness, and he was the one who had given her the acupuncture in her buttocks... Oh my god! Lydia's cheeks suddenly flushed red, like a ripe apple. She hurriedly pulled back the covers and hid, feeling both ashamed and angry. She hadn't expected to meet her savior under such circumstances, which made her feel incredibly embarrassed.

What's going on now? Link stared at Lydia, who was sticking her butt out and hiding her head under the covers, utterly puzzled. What was this all about? He shook his head helplessly, standing by the bed, unsure of what to do.

...

“I brought you some porridge, have some.” After a while, Link said softly, his voice full of tenderness and concern. He reached out and tugged at the blanket, trying to get Lydia out from under it.

"Okay! Put it there, I'll eat it later." Lydia's voice came from under the covers, muffled, with a hint of shyness and hesitation. She hadn't recovered from the awkwardness just now and didn't know how to face Link.

"Okay, I'm leaving then." Link stood up; he could tell she was shy. Not wanting Lydia to feel even more awkward, he decided to leave the room first, leaving her alone.

"Mmm!" Lydia responded softly, her voice almost inaudible. She heard Link's footsteps fade into the distance, and only when the door closed did she cautiously peek her head out from under the covers. She looked around and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw no one else.

"Phew..." Lydia patted her chest, her cheeks still flushed. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She muttered to herself, "He's not bad-looking, has a good temperament, and is my savior, so... it should be okay for him to take a look, right?" A hint of shyness and excitement flashed in her eyes, and she felt a special feeling for Link.

"Oh my god! Lydia, how could you think like that? Are you not pure anymore?" She then shook her head, filled with self-reproach and regret. She felt she shouldn't have such thoughts, after all, they had only just met, and in such an awkward situation.

“But what’s done is done, what can I do? Marry him? No, that’s too casual… and Father will kill people…” Lydia’s mind conjured up her father’s stern face, and a wave of fear washed over her. She knew her father would never allow her to make such a careless decision about her life.

"Should I thank him for saving my life? But how can I express my gratitude?" Lydia began to think again about how to thank Link for saving her life. She felt that Link had saved her life, and she must thank him properly.

"How about perfume? Two bottles together? Wouldn't that be too little?" Lydia frowned, somewhat hesitant. She felt that while the perfume was precious, it didn't seem enough to express her gratitude.

"This is so frustrating... Sophia, where are you?" Lydia sighed helplessly, her heart filled with conflict and despair. She desperately wished Sophia could appear beside her at this moment, offering advice and help.

The girl's hesitant mutterings continued, a testament to youth—a time filled with naivety, shyness, and confusion. At this crucial moment, Lydia's heart was overflowing with complex emotions. She didn't know how to face it all, and could only ponder and search for her own answers amidst her inner turmoil. Link, too, probably never imagined that his act of kindness would stir such a profound emotion within Lydia. Perhaps a wondrous story was about to unfold...

206. Joke

"Ugh..."

Lydia suddenly let out a long sigh, a sigh that seemed to contain endless worries and confusion. She frowned slightly, and with a hint of irritation, she forcefully pulled at her long, silky, sea-blue hair. At that moment, her heart was like a lake being stirred by an invisible hand, unable to find peace no matter what she did.

Her mind was like an old projector, constantly replaying three scenes that had embarrassed her to the extreme. The first scene was that in the chaos, her bare buttocks were seen, and the shame washed over her like a cold tide. The second scene was that someone suddenly reached out and grabbed her breast; the sudden touch made her body stiffen instantly, and her mind went blank. The third scene was that someone gently touched her forehead; the seemingly gentle action felt like a tiny needle pricking her nerves.

"Why?" Lydia muttered to herself, her voice filled with confusion. She instinctively lowered her head, placing a hand on her chest, her fingers involuntarily twitching slightly, gently pinching the soft skin. Her bright, sun-like golden eyes were now filled with doubt, as if searching for an answer. "Why don't I feel that racing heartbeat when I touch myself?"

Immediately afterward, as if to verify something, she quickly placed her other hand on her chest and gently squeezed it as well. She closed her eyes, focusing intently on the changes in her body, but apart from the familiar touch, she didn't perceive anything unusual. Her brow furrowed further, and she said in distress, "Is it really only when a man squeezes that my heart races? Why is that?"

Suddenly, scenes from those storybooks flashed through her mind, those romantic and passionate images appearing before her eyes one by one. "But why is that? Is it really like those storybooks say? Only when someone you like touches your breast will your heart beat faster?" Lydia became more and more troubled as she thought about it. She felt as if she was trapped in a huge mystery, unable to break free.

"But this is the first time I've met him! I don't even know him, how could I possibly like him?" Lydia slumped onto the bed, as if all her strength had been drained away. Her eyes revealed a deep sense of helplessness and confusion, as if questioning why fate was playing such a cruel trick on her.

"Click!" Just then, the silence in the room was broken by the sudden sound of the door opening.

Sofia stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide with disbelief at the scene before her—Lydia was clutching her breasts with both hands. A strange expression flashed across her delicate face, her eyes holding both surprise and a barely concealed smile.

"Ahem...you continue!" Sophia's blue eyes drifted slightly away, a sheepish smile on her face. She said awkwardly, and at the same time, her foot, which had just stepped into the room, seemed to be magically retracted. Then, she forcefully slammed the door shut, the slamming sound serving as a brief end to the awkward scene.

"Gaga!"

Lydia blinked her golden eyes, staring blankly at the door, as if she hadn't yet recovered from the sudden turn of events. After a long while, she slowly lowered her head, looked at her hands, and her face instantly flushed red, like a ripe apple. As if electrocuted, she immediately pulled her hands away, shouting angrily, "Sophia, you come back here right now!" Her voice was filled with shame, annoyance, and rage.

"Gaga!"

The door was gently pushed open a crack, and Sophia's blue eyes peeked in through the crack, a teasing smile on her face. She said, "I didn't expect Lydia to like this. I didn't mean to disturb you. You can continue!"

"Shut up and come in right now!" Lydia shouted, her voice trembling with anger. "They're not what you see at all. I'm just measuring how big they've grown." Her cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes revealed a hint of panic and shyness.

"Huh? Does that mean it will grow bigger if I squeeze it?" Sophia squinted her eyes, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"You..." Lydia was speechless, choked by Sophia's words. She turned her head away in embarrassment and annoyance, pouting as she said, "Hmph, where did you run off to?" Her eyes held a hint of reproach, as if blaming Sophia for teasing her at this time.

"Uh..." Sophia shut her mouth awkwardly, her eyes darting around. How could she possibly admit that she had gone out for a big meal with her father? She knew that if she said that, Lydia would probably spank her.

"I knew you were enjoying yourself," Lydia muttered, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction and jealousy. With that, she picked up the bowl of fine rice porridge from the table, its enticing aroma making her swallow hard. She didn't care about anything else, and began to eat heartily, as if trying to swallow all her troubles along with the delicious food.

"Wow! This rice porridge is so delicious!" Lydia was stunned after just one bite. Her eyes widened, and her face was full of surprise. The aroma of the rice grains spread in her mouth, a light and refreshing fragrance, as if carrying the scent of nature. And the soft, lean meat chunks were tender and juicy, making every bite an unparalleled pleasure.

She glanced at Sofia standing beside her, then quickly turned around with the rice porridge in her hand, stuffing her mouthfuls as if afraid Sofia would try to take it from her. Her cheeks were puffed up like little buns, and a grain of rice still clung to the corner of her mouth, making her look incredibly cute.

"It's just refined rice porridge, isn't it? Is it really that delicious?" Sophia raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt in her eyes. She knew that Lydia, as the daughter of a duke, was usually very particular about her food, clothing, and daily necessities; she could eat refined rice porridge or rice every day if she wanted. Why was she so eager for a bowl of refined rice porridge? Was she starving?

"Yes, it's not tasty at all!" Lydia nodded hastily, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes, as if afraid Sophia would snatch the delicious rice porridge from her. However, her hand never stopped scooping the porridge; the speed was dazzling.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." Sophia sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed softly. She was already about 70% full at the Oak Tavern; if it weren't for her lecherous old father constantly urging her to eat more, she probably would have eaten until she was stuffed.

"Mmm..." Lydia nodded, her mouth full of rice porridge, her words slightly slurred. She was truly hungry, and Sophia's interruption had temporarily made her forget about Link touching her chest and forehead. At this moment, all she could see was the delicious rice porridge, as if the whole world had become simple and beautiful.

Sophia sat quietly to one side, her gaze somewhat unfocused, as if deep in thought about something important. She was still pondering the five items, especially the perfume. Having the rights to sell perfume in the capital was undoubtedly a good thing, meaning immense wealth and business opportunities. However, she also knew clearly that if not handled properly, it could become a disaster, potentially bringing endless trouble to herself and those around her.

"belch!"

A loud burp rang out, drawing Sophia's attention. She instinctively looked over and saw Lydia licking the bottom of her bowl, her focused expression making Sophia's eyes twitch. "So, this is how you, the duke's daughter, lick the bottom of a bowl?" Sophia thought to herself, but she didn't say it aloud.

"Alright, stop licking. People will laugh at you if they see you like this." Sophia tugged at Lydia's clothes, a helpless smile on her face.

"What does it matter? You're all alone anyway," Lydia said nonchalantly, her eyes revealing an innocent charm. Reluctantly, she put down her bowl and spoon, even scraping the rim of the bowl with her finger to put the last grain of rice into her mouth.

“By the way, Sophia, how should I thank that savior named Link?” Lydia suddenly seemed to remember something, grabbed Sophia’s hands and said earnestly, “How about I give him perfume?” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, as if she thought her idea was brilliant.

“Uh…” Sophia’s blue eyes looked at Lydia strangely, and she couldn’t help but think to herself: To actually think of sending a cheap perfume to a perfume maker? That’s going to be a laughingstock. But she didn’t say it directly, instead saying tactfully, “Lydia, do you know what it means when a girl gives a man perfume?”

"What does it mean?" Lydia frowned, a hint of doubt in her eyes. The next second, a blush rose on her cheeks. She suddenly remembered the plots in those stories and novels: a girl giving a man perfume meant that the girl was giving her heart to the man, which was one of the ways a girl confessed her feelings.

"Wait, isn't this the kind of thing you read in romance novels?" Lydia smiled inexplicably as she turned to Sophia and teased, "Looks like someone's been reading books on how to date."

"I... I only read it because I was bored." Sophia's face was calm, but her ears turned red, as if they had been burned. She recalled the scene of her reading 'The Noble Girl's Love Notes' all night by candlelight, and couldn't help but feel ashamed.

"Tch...so what if you looked? I won't laugh at you." Lydia waved her hand teasingly, her eyes full of understanding and tolerance. She rested her chin on Sophia's shoulder and whispered, "Sophia, how about we sell the perfume tomorrow? I wonder if there are any pawn shops in Winterfell." Her eyes revealed anticipation and excitement, as if she could already see those glittering gold coins beckoning to her.

"This..." Sophia looked at the excited Lydia and covered her face, unsure how to explain it to her. She knew in her heart that the two bottles of cheap perfume had probably lost a lot of value. In this fiercely competitive market, cheap perfume had no competitiveness whatsoever and probably couldn't even fetch a price of gold coins. No, even silver coins would be difficult to obtain; perhaps, she could only exchange them for some copper coins. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless at Lydia's naiveté.

207. Taking a bath

In the slightly dim yet cozy study of the castle, candlelight flickered gently, casting dappled shadows on the surrounding walls. Link sat at the large desk, head bowed, completely absorbed in writing, the pen nib scratching softly on the paper. His brow furrowed at times, as if pondering something important; at other times, it relaxed, as if he had found the key to solving the problem.

"Jin Meiting, you need to set the price for the linen," Link said as he wrote, his voice steady and powerful. "Raise the price of medium-grade linen by 10%, as a suggestion for Sophia and the others. They put in a lot of effort in market research and sales strategies this time, so this is a way to encourage them."

Jin Meiting stood beside the desk, her posture upright. She nodded slightly, her face serious and focused, and said, "Okay." Then, she skillfully opened her notebook, the pages of which were already yellowed, densely filled with various notes. She picked up her pen and began to carefully record her tasks, because the shipment was due in a few days, and the quantity, transportation arrangements, personnel allocation, and so on all needed to be arranged properly, leaving no room for carelessness.

As Jin Meiting took notes, she pondered: Solo's fleet would return next spring. With increased market demand and expanded trade, their shipments would likely increase several times over. Moreover, next spring they would be forging new trade routes, a tremendous challenge, but also brimming with opportunity. She could almost see the future bustling trade routes and overflowing goods, and a surge of anticipation and enthusiasm welled up within her.

Link continued writing intently, his mind clear, meticulously listing all the necessary notes and plans on the paper. After a while, he finally stopped writing, let out a long sigh, and said, "Phew...done." Then, he gently shook a sheet of paper filled with writing; the paper swayed slightly in the air, making a rustling sound. He then stretched lazily, his body making a few soft cracking sounds, and said, "If they just followed the instructions on the form, they could have avoided a lot of extra losses."

At that moment, Luca was sitting in a chair by the desk, chewing on fried fish jerky, the crisp sound echoing clearly in the quiet study. Hearing Link's words, she turned her head curiously to look at the form in Link's hand, her eyes wide, muttering, "A form? A shipping and storage precautions form?"

Seeing Luca's curious expression, Link chuckled and explained, "Well, things like canned fish, perfume, and alcohol are all bottled in ceramic. Ceramic is very delicate; it can break easily if you're not careful. Think about it, each of these items represents money. If we lose too much, we'll all be eating plain water and dried vegetables." As he spoke, he deliberately made a pitiful expression, as if he were truly facing that predicament.

In fact, this was also what Link was truly worried about. The capital was quite far from Winterfell, and the entire journey was by water. While waterways were relatively convenient, they were also fraught with uncertainty. Even a minor accident, such as encountering a storm or a ship collision, could cause significant losses. Therefore, he wrote down all the precautions in detail, hoping to minimize these potential losses.

Everyone knew Link was joking. Ever since they were summoned by Link, they hadn't gone hungry; they were always well-fed, sometimes even to the point of being stuffed. Jin Meiting, who was originally quite slender, was starting to gain weight, though not in the places she wanted. Thinking about this, Jin Meiting blushed slightly and secretly glanced at her body.

“I can eat less,” Luca said calmly, her voice clear but with a hint of seriousness. “One bowl is enough for me.”

Link looked at Luca's serious expression and chuckled, "Alright, you'll still get your share of food. In this era, everyone cherishes food, unlike us, who don't have to worry about what to eat next."

In reality, people in this era were not wealthy, and they treated food with great care, fearing they wouldn't have enough to eat next time, or when they would be able to eat their fill. Many people had to work hard and even do dangerous things just to fill their stomachs. Although Link and his companions lived in the castle and had a relatively comfortable life, they were well aware of how hard it was to obtain food.

“Lord Link, your hot spring is finished, but you haven’t even taken a dip yet.” Della stood to the side, gently tucking a strand of hair that fell in front of her cheek; the smooth hair shimmered in the candlelight. She said softly, her voice as warm as a spring breeze, “We’ve all been to the hot spring a few times.”

Link blinked upon hearing Della's words; this was unexpected. He had assumed the hot springs were still in their final testing phase, but it turned out everyone had already used them. "Huh? You've all used them?"

"Hmm! It's been a long time." Della nodded, her beautiful eyes fixed on Link's face, a hint of expectation and reproach in them. She said softly, "Last time, Lord Link said he was going to go for a soak, but he got so busy that he forgot. Work is important, but you should also take care of your health."

Link scratched his head a little embarrassedly and laughed, "Okay, then everyone go to the hot springs today. We've been so busy for so long, it's time to relax."

"Della, I want red bean cake, green tea..." Bernice became excited when she heard that they were going to soak in a hot spring. She turned to Della and called out, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "A hot spring is only perfect with these kinds of food. Just imagine the soft and sweet red bean cake, paired with a sip of fragrant green tea, in the warm hot spring, it would be so pleasant."

"I want milk," Viya called out, raising her hand. Her voice was clear and melodious, and her face was beaming with anticipation.

“Okay, sure, we have everything.” Della chuckled in response, her smile as beautiful as a blooming flower. “Everyone likes to eat pastries while soaking in the hot springs, I’ll go prepare them right away.”

"Um, I have some official business to attend to, so I won't be going." Luca suddenly raised her hand and said seriously, her eyes revealing a hint of hesitation, but quickly becoming firm again.