Li Bai came to a room on the third floor in a daze. The room was humid, but it was stronger than the heavy rain outside. There was a mat on the couch, a pillow and a blanket beside it.
"Sir, please lie down first. The ginger water will be here soon." The waiter helped Li Bai lie down and ran out quickly. After a while, he came back with a charcoal brazier in his hand. He opened half of the window furthest from the couch in case Li Bai was poisoned. Another waiter came in with the ginger soup.
Li Bai felt very cold. He thanked the waiter with the blanket wrapped around him. He picked up the bowl and gulped it down. After drinking more than half of the red pond water, Li Bai finally felt better. He said to the waiter who looked at him with concern, "Thank you. Please cook me a dish. It's salty and meaty. I'm afraid I can't survive without nutrition."
The waiter looked embarrassed and said, "Sir, salty is fine. We don't have any meat. If you came two hours earlier, you could have eaten the last bit. Why don't you wait until tomorrow? The government office will send the meat to our restaurant tomorrow. We will have it then."
"Oh, the meat is also monopolized. Well, if I don't die this time, someone will die. If we don't have meat, do we have water? Bring me a pot of water. "
Li Bai gritted his teeth and said. He suddenly remembered that he still had the food Brother Mojie gave him when they parted. He could eat it.
There was no shortage of water. The waiter ran out and came in with a pot of water after a while.
At this time, Li Bai took out the aluminum foil package from his arms. Under the watchful eyes of the two waiter, he carefully tore a hole and asked the waiter to pour water into it. When the hole was full, he pinched it and tore the other hole. Then he put in the little thing that made the soup and asked the waiter to pour water into it.
The two waiter had never seen this thing. Considering that the inn was not busy at the moment, they were not in a hurry to leave. They waited with Li Bai curiously.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Li Bai's hand was hot when he touched the package again. He blew on it and opened the whole package according to the lines on the package.
The smell of spicy diced meat immediately filled the room.
"It smells good!" The two waiter couldn't help but exclaim at the same time. They opened their eyes wide and wanted to see what was going on.
Inside the large packaging, there were not only spicy diced meat, but also rice grains that were as translucent as white jade stretching out seductively.
Li Bai took a few deep breaths, stared at the food for a few seconds, and muttered, "Damn it, didn't you say that the chili was just planted and that there was no more edible chili left? Wasn't it said that the Super Polished Rice in the northern part of Hebei Province was still in the breeding period, so there wasn't much for people to eat?
They are actually in the bento boxes of the inner courtyard of the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. If I hadn't met Brother Mojie, I wouldn't have known such a good thing until the Spring Festival. When I go back, I will find a way to get some. "
"Guest, Guest, what are you eating? What is this? It smells so good. The red one and the rice, why haven't I seen it before? "A shop assistant couldn't help but ask, his nose twitching uncontrollably.
Li Bai continued to tear open the packaging to look for chopsticks as he said, "That's right. Have you seen the canned food before it came out? Do you know how it came out? Damn it, it is the food prepared by the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. Come, let me tell you, the red one is chili, and the jade-like rice is the Super Polished Rice in Bohai Province. After a few years, you may be able to eat it. Usually, I can't even eat it in the capital. "
While speaking, Li Bai had found the chopsticks, pulled them out, found a small piece of fermented bean curd, and was looking for the preserved vegetables. The two shop assistants swallowed their saliva and looked at it while smelling it.
"Eh?" Li Bai, who was looking for the preserved vegetables, was suddenly stunned. Then, he pulled out a small package in the big packaging, stared at the small words on it and read, "White tablets to relieve pain, yellow tablets to reduce fever, powder to stop bleeding, one tablet each time, twice a day. If conditions permit, go to the clinic quickly. Take care."
"There is medicine." Li Bai tore open the small package happily. There were five white and yellow tablets in it, and there was a smaller package inside. He pinched it and knew it was powder.
"Guest, uh! Sir, is this medicine? "The shop assistant didn't know how to read and asked curiously.
"Yes! Just eat it with the soup. As long as it's not a serious illness, you won't die in a short time. "Li Bai happily pinched a yellow tablet and held it in his hand, laughing.
The shop assistant also laughed, "Sir, why do people always say that being an official is good? You can actually carry such good things with you when you go out. There are vegetables, rice, and medicine. Haha."
"Go and get a small plate. I can't eat it alone. Let's all have a taste. It's enough." Li Bai was happy to see that there was medicine to eat, so he generously invited the two shop assistants.
One of the shop assistants hesitated, but the other had already run out to get the plate.
When the plate was brought back, Li Bai took out a quarter of the rice and spicy diced meat, leaving half for himself. He also took out the preserved vegetables and ate the medicine with the soup.
The two shop assistants carefully chewed the rice grain by grain and slowly chewed the diced meat. They were so spicy that they were panting and sweating, but they refused to spit it out. Li Bai was also sweating, which was more effective than the ginger water.
"Sir, I'm sorry for being nosy. What level do I have to be to eat this?" One of the shop assistants stopped eating after eating a third of the food in front of him. He wiped the sweat on his forehead and asked.
Li Bai took a big gulp of the soup and panted twice. He smiled and said, "The current emperor can eat it, and it will definitely taste better than what we eat."
The two shop assistants were choked by Li Bai's words and did not dare to say anything. The emperor was not someone they could talk about.
"There's also Chief Steward Gao Lishi, Master Gao. He can eat it as well. If he wants to eat it, someone will make it for him. The Minister of Works, Zhang Zhong, can eat it. He doesn't need to ask for it. Others will make it for him. Only three officials can eat it. Oh, there are also a few retired old men who are lucky enough to eat it.
As for the rest, those princes, princes, crown prince, grand tutor, and so on, you can think of the big picture. Don't think about those below the third rank. They can get a share, but if they eat it, it will be gone this year, unless they ask the emperor for it. "
Li Bai did not need to be asked. He continued to tell them what he knew. He was confused by the fever. No matter who he was talking to, he had forgotten all about their identities.
After hearing Li Bai's words, the two shop assistants opened their mouths and widened their eyes. They were a little scared and a little excited, as if they were participating in a secret operation.
One of the shop assistants was attracted by the smell of the spicy diced meat. He stood up cautiously and asked nervously, "Sir, you … you are …"
"I'm not of such a high level. This food is eaten by the Zhang Family and the Wang Family in Sanshui County. Do you understand?" Li Bai knew that the shop assistant had misunderstood and explained.
"Yes, yes, we understand. The Zhang Family and the Wang Family in Sanshui County. Sir, you, you are working for them?" The shop assistant nodded and looked at Li Bai enviously. It seemed that it was an honor to work for the Zhang Family and the Wang Family.
Li Bai was a little depressed. When he was talking about his position, the shop assistant was not envious. He said that he was working for the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. What was there to be envious of? There were many people working for the Zhang Family and the Wang Family.
Li Bai wanted to deny it and say that he was sent by the Emperor. However, on second thought, he was indeed working for Zhang Xiaobao. Although he was now in the Ministry of Revenue, anyone who had reached a certain level of status knew where they belonged. It was impossible for him to deny it.
Li Bai nodded and admitted to the shop assistant's words.
The shop assistant immediately became cautious and gave the other shop assistant a look. The shop assistant stood at the door and did not close the door. He stuck his head out to keep a lookout.
The shop assistant standing in front of Li Bai first ran to the window and closed it. After that, he came back and whispered to Li Bai, "Hurry up and contact Zhang Xiaobao. Tell him that something big happened in Hongnong County."
"What is it?" Li Bai's heart jumped.
"Boss, something big happened. I'll tell you. It's …" the shop assistant muttered to Li Bai.
*****
The fog was thick. Smoke rose and filled the windows. Water dripped from the eaves of the pavilion. The Desert Cistanche rolled with oil. The cows and sheep were fat and thin. The rain was hazy, and the eyes were hazy.
"Lord Wang, it's been a long journey. Have a taste. Have a taste of the lamb shipped from the north." In a pavilion near the water in Hongnong County's yamen, the county magistrate, Yan Zheng, sat eagerly to Wang Wei's left. He used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of fat and lean meat and put it into the Mandarin Duck Pot. He smiled and urged Wang Wei to eat.
Wang Wei had changed his clothes and taken a shower. At this time, he looked at the hot pot in front of him. He did not know what was in the soup. It looked clear, but he knew that a lot of things were used to make the soup.
The other side was spicy. The Desert Cistanche, the whip of some kind of tiger or deer, ginseng whiskers, chili, and other unknown things were rolling in the soup.
Looking at the food on the table, there was a variety of beef and mutton. They were all the kind of meat with a marble pattern of fat and lean. A half-foot long prawn was struggling in the water basin. A plate-sized river crab was waving its big pincers. An unknown species of shellfish was spitting water in a box in shallow water.
There were also fungus, red mushrooms, reticulate mushrooms, and other things that he did not know the names of. They filled the table in front of him. They even occupied a table specially used for food.
Touching the ivory chopsticks, jade carved bowls and plates, and golden crab inlaid with jade, Wang Wei did not know what to say for a while.
If he saw these things in the palace, Wang Wei would not think much of them. If he saw them in Zhang Xiaobao's house, Wang Wei would think that they were very ordinary, or even better than the ones in front of him.
However, these things appeared on the table of a county magistrate. Yan Zheng, which aristocratic family are you from? Which big businessman are you the son-in-law of? Why have I never heard of you? How much do you earn a year? Where did you, a county magistrate, get the chili?
"Lord Wang … Lord Wang?" County Magistrate Yan Zheng called out softly when he saw Wang Wei looking left and right without moving his chopsticks.
"Oh, oh, eat. The crabs in autumn are fat. Haha, County Magistrate Yan, you are so lucky. This is …" Wang Wei shook his head to wake himself up from his thoughts. He pointed at something he had never seen before with his chopsticks and asked.
Yan Zheng looked over and introduced with a smile, "Lord, this is oyster? It is delicious and slightly salty. It can be roasted, stewed, steamed, boiled, eaten raw, and used as medicine. It is a rare delicacy. It is not commonly seen in the mainland. It is also called oyster. "
"Oh ~!" Wang Wei suddenly understood what oyster was. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan sent a lot of oysters from Jili Province to the capital. Almost every official was given one. It was just that they were dry without shells. They were said to be local specialties of Jili Province and were not worth much.
Some of them were wild and pearls could be found in them. They also said that before winter this year, a batch of fresh oysters would be sent back and processed so that the officials in the capital could taste the taste of oysters.
Thinking of this, Wang Wei picked up an oyster from the shell and tossed it into the spicy side. After a while, he felt that it was almost cooked. He picked it up and put it into his mouth. It was fresh, indeed fresh. There was a special kind of freshness, just like … the taste of the oyster sauce that Zhang Xiaobao and the others gave him in the spring?
It was just that the oyster sauce lacked the softness of oysters. It seemed that Zhang Xiaobao gave him something real. He was a good person. When he went back, he might be able to eat fresh oysters. At that time, it would be much more comfortable to eat. Eating Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan was called eating the rich. Eating Yan Zheng in front of him was like eating the fat of the people.
Yan Zheng did not know what Wang Wei was thinking. He thought that Wang Wei was stunned by the taste of oysters. He also picked up an oyster, dipped it in the soy sauce on the plate, and ate it raw. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Lord Wang, what do you think?"
"Very good!" Wang Wei praised. Looking at Yan Zheng eating raw, he remembered that Zhang Xiaobao had mentioned something about eating raw. He cursed in his heart, "You'll die from eating too much."
"Lord Wang, try the crab." Yan Zheng directly reached out and broke off a crab's pincer that was tied to the front of the pincer. He then took out the juicy, translucent meat and dipped it in the pot with chopsticks. After a while, it turned completely white. He picked it out and put it into his mouth while saying, "This is autumn's hairy crab. Each one weighs more than a jin."
Wang Wei nodded and picked up the cut meat roll. At this time, the meat roll had already loosened, and the thin meat was piled on the plate. When he picked it up, there was still some blood. He put it in the pot and took it out. He dipped it in some chives and ate it. It was tender and fresh.
"Good meat, good meat! It's so fresh, bloody and fresh. It's raining outside the pavilion. This is a rare scene. Lord Yan invited me to eat here. What a good mood. Raising a knife to cut the meat and frying it in boiling water, a line of red and white, a line of fresh. Cows and sheep galloped into a pagoda, dark clouds as a curtain of rain. "
Wang Wei chewed on a piece of chili skin, and bright red water dripped down from the corner of his mouth.
Yan Zheng listened to Wang Wei's poem and felt awkward. Why did he hear the helplessness of the common people and the weeping of the heavens? When he looked at Wang Wei again, he was frightened and asked nervously, "Lord Wang, Lord Wang, why are you crying? Is your mouth broken? "
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