"Heh, so this is Nara Chatami?"
Zhang Heng picked up the bowl in front of him, put it under his nose, and took a whiff. The rice cooked by Akane Koyama had a wonderful aroma, a mixture of tea and grains, mixed with a hint of salt and wine.
Aside from rice, Nara Chatami also had millet, dried chestnuts, glutinous rice, red beans, and fried soybeans. Cooked with stock, it was served in a bowl, pickled vegetables, and tofu soup. It was originally the food of the monks at Tōdai-ji and Hokfuku-ji, but it unexpectedly became popular.
"Try it!" Akane Koyama put down the wooden spoon and urged.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Zhang Heng picked up his chopsticks, picked up a pickled radish strip, and ate it with the steaming hot Nara Chatami.
"How is it?" Akane Koyama sat on the ground, leaning forward, and asked nervously.
Zhang Heng did not answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and carefully tasted the taste in his mouth and teeth. After a while, he opened his eyes again. "Oh, it's surprisingly delicious. I didn't expect you to be so good at cooking."
"Not at all. I just learned it from my father," Akane Koyama said, sitting back down. Zhang Heng's reaction seemed to have relieved her.
"Does your father know how to cook?" Zhang Heng asked.
"Yes, my father once said that cooking is the same as swordsmanship. It's a kind of practice. You need to be patient to see your true self," Akane Koyama said.
…
It had been five days since Yamada and the others came to provoke Akane Koyama.
After the Choshu Domain's samurai retreated, Zhang Heng suggested joining the Koyama dojo. However, Akane Koyama did not agree immediately. Instead, she asked Zhang Heng to think about it carefully for a few more days.
In Akane Koyama's opinion, apprenticeship was a major event in life. She could not make a hasty decision. Besides, Zhang Heng's swordsmanship was so powerful that even if her father was still alive, he would not be his match. Akane Koyama did not know what else she could teach Zhang Heng.
Today, she invited Zhang Heng over to cook for her. She wanted to thank him for saving her life.
In addition to Nara Cha rice, she also prepared grilled bonito. The fresh bonito was roasted with its skin over a fierce fire until it turned white. Then, it was soaked in vinegar and sliced. Finally, it was dipped in mustard paste and miso. It tasted delicious and was quite popular in Kyoto.
The disciple of Matsuo Basho (yes, that's right, the famous haikus in Hiwa), Muroi Kikaku, expressed his desire to eat bonito by saying, "The wisteria is blooming/I'm waiting with my fingers crossed/I'm sitting and eating the first bonito day." In addition, the ultimate foodie angrily shouted the slogan, "I'd rather pawn my wife to eat bonito." Every year, when bonito first came on the market, the price would soar to the same price as gold, and only the generals could eat it.
Now, it was finally the commoners' turn. Akane Koyama had spent a lot of money on this meal, and she had to subsidize the children's meals. She was afraid that the rent she had just received would not last long.
In fact, the best solution was to close down the dojo and rely on the rent to survive in Kyoto. Alternatively, Akane could get married and raise a child, but she had never considered these possibilities.
While the two were eating, someone knocked on the door of Koyama Dojo.
Akane Koyama extinguished the fire and said to Zhang Heng, "I'll open the door. You continue eating."
As she spoke, she jogged to the front door and pulled it open. Standing outside was a couple who looked very unfamiliar.
"How can I help you?" Akane Koyama asked.
Before the man could speak, his wife had already knelt down and called out to their savior.
"Huh?" Akane Koyama was a little confused.
Fortunately, the man explained, "We are Chiyo's parents. A few days ago, you saved two little girls at the market. One of them is our daughter."
"Oh, that thing. Don't take it to heart. It was just a small matter." Akane Koyama was a little embarrassed. She also saw Chiyo hiding behind her parents. The latter was holding a box and seemed a little shy.
The man took the box from her hand and stuffed it into Akane Koyama's hand. "I know I can't repay you for saving my life, but I hope you can accept this small gift."
Akane Koyama opened the box and saw a katana inside.
"My ancestors were famous blacksmiths in Ise, but I'm ashamed to say that in my generation, I can only forge some farming tools. Fortunately, there is a katana passed down in my family. I hope you can use it," the man said.
"This is too precious. Since it's an ancestral item, it's better to keep it in your hands," Akane Koyama declined.
"No, no, we are not samurai. Even if we leave it at home, it will only gather dust. It's better to give it to someone who needs it. If it's you, I believe you will put it to good use." Seeing that Akane Koyama refused, the man became a little anxious. He pulled his daughter and wife to kneel on the ground.
Zhang Heng heard the noise outside the door and thought it was the Choshu Domain again. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and walked out of the dojo, only to see the scene in front of him.
Chiyo seemed a little surprised to see him. She did not expect him to live with Akane Koyama. Her eyes wandered curiously between Akane Koyama and Zhang Heng, probably guessing the relationship between the two.
In the end, Akane Koyama could not dissuade the blacksmith couple. She had no choice but to accept the katana, and the family of three left gratefully.
Akane Koyama stood at the door of the dojo with the katana in her hand. She seemed to have recalled something, and she lowered her head in thought.
Zhang Heng did not disturb her. After a long while, she raised her head and said, "Sorry, I remembered something my father said before. Koyama Myoshin-ryū emphasizes defense over offense because everyone has something they want to protect in their heart. A katana is a lethal weapon, but if used well, it can save lives. This is probably why he opened the dojo. Today, I understand what he said even more."
"Can I have a look?" Zhang Heng reached out and took the katana from Akane Koyama's hand.
It was slightly lighter than an ordinary katana. Although it had been a long time since it was forged, it was well maintained, and the blade was still sharp. It was made using the jadestone technique. First, iron sand was smelted in a furnace into iron cubes, then smashed with iron fragments, fused into iron bars, and hammered until it was finally formed. It was indeed a good katana.
"Take it if you like it," Akane Koyama said. She had long noticed that Zhang Heng only had an old katana with him and no katana.
Of course, compared to the katana and katana, the rib chasai was not as commonly used. Most of the time, it was used as an emergency measure when a samurai lost his katana or katana, or to break armor or fight in narrow spaces.
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