No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 412 Xie Qin’s Family Banquet

Those who Wang Lixian of Xunyang and the governor Wang Lengran did not invite were invited by Xie.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the pair of Xie's direct aunts and nieces in front of him.

For a moment, there was an extremely strange feeling in my mind.

But this feeling is fleeting.

Below, a catkin quietly stretched out and grasped the palm under his sleeve, feeling the warm and fragrant soft jade.

Ouyang Rong came to his senses.

Xie Lingjiang, who was beside him, had his fingers intertwined and was looking at him with concern and soft eyes.

The beautiful Bu Yao woman in front of her raised her head arrogantly, her eyes wide, and she looked at his expression out of the corner of her eye.

Suddenly the strangeness turned into extremely familiar.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother? What's wrong with your body?" Xie Lingjiang asked cautiously.

"It's okay. I'm just a little surprised to hear this."

Ouyang Rong patted the back of her hand.

In fact, he suddenly felt that the power of the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes, or the aristocratic families, was still very powerful and deeply rooted in the Zhou Dynasty.

The Guanlong gentry, the Beidi gentry, and the Jiangnan gentry were all behemoths, and the aristocratic scholar-bureaucrats they cultivated were potential spokespersons for various regional landlord groups.

In the past, because of his own experience, he always felt that the upward channel was not blocked and relatively open.

But if you think about it carefully, how many poor people in the Zhou Dynasty could be like him?

Not to mention the tripod sword, winning the hearts of women with five surnames and the status of Tan Lang in the Xunyang Prince's Palace.

Just based on the status of Jinshi in the imperial examination, the number of Jinshi in each list is only twenty or thirty, and not all of them can be awarded officials by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Not to mention the same Jinshi with no background who was sent to a remote place like Longcheng County.

In each issue of the Jinshi List, how many people can really stay in the capital and serve as officials? How many people are there even like him in high positions at the local and state levels?

No wonder that when a poor elite like Ouyang Rong refused to be a fifth-rank official in the capital, it aroused such a huge public response from the government and the public in Luoyang.

Having said so much, who are the people who occupy each of the official and high positions in the imperial court?

Well, first of all exclude the common people.

In the Da Qian and Da Zhou dynasties, the initial purpose of recruiting scholars through the imperial examination was to control the aristocratic families, but the effect was not as good as expected, because it was not to destroy and then establish, but to provide third-party support.

All in all, the Zhou Dynasty was still an aristocracy. No matter how powerful Qin Jingqin was, he was from a noble background and could not escape the limitations of his own class. This is why there will be a private banquet between Xie and Qin tomorrow night.

The identity of Xie's son-in-law is more powerful than he imagined.

Maybe he got an admission ticket that countless poor people dream of.

Ouyang Rongmei peak gathers slightly.

Xie Xue'e looked sideways and asked, "Why, you don't look happy?"

After speaking, she glanced at Xie Lingjiang and Ouyang Rong's clasped hands under their sleeves.

He shook his head: "No, I was thinking about how to thank aunt."

No matter what, a truly strong person will not complain about the environment or the times. Instead, he can achieve something in any environment and in any era. Even if he comes from the Pure Land and has a perspective that is thousands of years ahead of his time, his vision will always tell him that this is hell. .

Ouyang Rong's heart was as clear as a mirror, and he felt that the gentle beauty and the beautiful woman beside him became more and more familiar and friendly. They were all flesh and blood.

"Why are you thanking me?"

Xie Xue'e pressed the corners of her lips and waved her hands:

"If you want to thank me, thank Qi Niang. I arrived in Xunyang yesterday and have been with her for almost two days. You haven't come to see her once. What did this senior brother do? Your teacher is not around, and you don't even take care of your junior sister. Right?"

"Auntie, senior brother is busy with things." Xie Lingjiang said with a sullen face, "Uncle Qin is here. There have been meetings in the Jiangzhou lobby for the past two days to discuss the dispatch of food and fodder for the army..."

Xie Xue'e couldn't help but said: "You are protecting the food now. Where are the thoughts you had when you were looking at me during the day?"

Xie Lingjiang stared: "Auntie is talking nonsense."

Ouyang Rong grasped Xie Lingjiang's bare hand under his sleeve and said directly:

"Thank you, aunt, for arranging it. To tell you the truth, this banquet can be regarded as a solution to an urgent need. It is a timely help. My junior sister and I will go to the banquet on time tomorrow."

After a pause:

"It's my first time attending this kind of family banquet. I don't understand the customs and etiquette in Yangzhou and Jinling. Is there anything I need to pay attention to?"

"There are not many rules for private family banquets. We just invite Uncle Qin and your granddaughter to have a meal, just home-cooked side dishes, everything is simple. However, be careful, Uncle Qin is a famous gourmet in Yangzhou, and he has eaten Jiangnan delicacies. After all, you can find some special delicacies in Xunyang..."

Speaking of this, Xie Xue'e shook her head and spoke of her family treasures:

"It's okay if you don't have it. I'll prepare the dishes for the family banquet. Your uncle sent bad crabs from Yangzhou, Guanghan cake made from Qiantang Sanqiu osmanthus, and hairy crabs from Dongting Lake..."

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly:

"Gourmet?"

"Well, what's wrong?"

"It's okay." Ouyang Rong shook his head, thought for a while, and tried to ask:

"Uncle Su is doing well these days."

Xie Xue'e's husband is Su Youwei, the governor of Yangzhou. Because of official affairs, he is also one of the Four Continents. Ouyang Rong is quite familiar with the deeds of Su Youwei, but he only has official correspondence and does not know him personally.

However, because of the relationship between the younger junior sister and the Xie family of Chenjun, once they get engaged, they will be able to take advantage of their uncle.

Xie Xue'e curled her lips: "Isn't he just like that, stupid?"

Ouyang Rong laughed. He could be the governor of the most prosperous and wealthy state in the south of the Yangtze River. How could he be so stupid?

Xie Xue'e glanced at him: "Tomorrow night's family banquet, you still have to make some preparations, mainly... dealing with people."

Ouyang Rong nodded, understanding the meaning.

In a sense, this family dinner was to give him an opportunity to talk to Qin Jingqin, and Xie Xue'e was the matchmaker, giving him a platform to show off.

This is not about transferring benefits, but about opening up some relationships and finding out Qin Jingqin's attitude towards the Xunyang Palace and the Wei family.

If you have the opportunity, you can also strive for favor and sympathy for the Xunyang Palace.

The main reason is that the position of the general manager of Jiangnan Road's march is too important. If it is occupied by people who are close to the Wei clan, the environment in the Xunyang Palace will be even worse, so plans must be made in advance.

Therefore, it is important to find out Qin Jingqin's attitude.

This is also the reason why Wang Lengran and the Prince of Xunyang took great pains to get involved when they went to Xunyangdu to pick up someone not long ago.

Ouyang Rong's trip was also to find out the truth.

……

The next day, evening.

A family banquet was held quietly in Chenjun Xie's private garden in Xiushuifang, Xunyang City.

A carriage slowly stopped at the gate. Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang got out of the car hand in hand and went to the banquet together. Xie Lingjiang was still holding a food box in his hand.

In the center of Xie's garden, there is a pool of clear water. There is a high-rise pavilion standing beside the water. The top platform has a wide view.

Tonight, the family banquet will be held on this top platform. There is no roof to block it, so you can enjoy the moon while eating.

The two entered the garden and found that they had arrived a little early. Xie Xue'e was still dispatching the maids, and people were running around the kitchen and waterside pavilion, busy preparing the delicacies that would be served later.

Ouyang Rong climbed onto the high platform of the waterside pavilion with the sleeves rolled up by the noble daughter of the Xie family. He saw delicious food and wine arranged on the table, accompanied by singing and dancing of silk and bamboo orchestra.

This was the most elegant private family banquet that Ouyang Rong had ever attended. It can be regarded as the pomp and pomp of a wealthy family.

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang sat down and waited for a while. They saw a group of personal guards pouring in from under the water pavilion on the high platform. They occupied all the sentinel points in the round forest and placed strict guard on them. However, they did not approach the water pavilion where the banquet was being held.

After the guards were on guard, a tall old man and a fat female Taoist Shi Shiran came up and took their seats on the stage.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the fat female Taoist priest behind Qin Jingqin. She must be Qin Jingqin's granddaughter Qin Ying.

Unexpectedly, Qin Ying also glanced at Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang, who were sitting close to each other.

Ouyang Rong smiled politely, but Qin Ying had already looked away.

Everyone took their seats and the dinner began.

Even though everyone already knew each other, as the host, Xie Xue'e still formally introduced them one by one.

Qin Jingqin didn't look embarrassed when facing someone he had interacted with during the day in the lobby of Jiangzhou.

In private, his expression was kinder and kinder, not as severe as during the day. When he saw the familiar delicacies such as bad crabs, golden dragon and phoenix crabs, Guanghan cakes and other delicacies on the table, Qin Jingqin's expression was not surprising and he joked a few words:

"Ms. Xie remembers my preferences. Hey, it's better than Ying'er. She doesn't care about it. She always eats what I like."

Qin Ying stared and whispered: "Ah Weng!"

Xie Xue'e and Xie Lingjiang laughed.

It seems that the Qin and Xie families have a good relationship in private.

Ouyang Rong thought.

"What kind of dish is this?"

Qin Jingqin asked curiously when he saw the plate of hot cooked meat that Xie Lingjiang brought out from his own insulated food box.

"Elder brother made this by himself. It took a long day of work."

"Is it...pork?"

Xie Xue'e sniffed.

"Yes."

Xie Xue'e frowned slightly and looked at Qin Jingqin's expression.

In the south of the Yangtze River, pork is relatively cheap. Rich people look down upon it and regard it as food for common people, while mutton, hairy crabs, etc. are status symbols.

Xie Lingjiang's eyes were bright and he explained in a crisp voice:

"This is made with great care by the senior brother using the hometown method... He got up early and bought a large piece of pork. He added water to cover the meat, put only a large piece of firewood in the stove, and stewed it for a day on low heat. From morning to Late at night, I stewed it until just before I went out. I made two bowls and brought them..."

Xie Xue'e, who was originally frowning, saw Qin Jingqin's expression of interest out of the corner of her eye. After hearing this, he even asked with a smile:

"I've never seen this cooking method before. I don't eat much pork, but it sounds interesting. Thank you, madam. What's the name of this dish?"

"Elder brother said it's a hometown dish called Dongpo Pork."

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly. The junior sister was worthy of being his mouthpiece. She could clearly remember everything she casually said during the day.

"Dongpo? Where is this?" Qin Jingqin picked up his chopsticks curiously, took a mouthful of Dongpo meat, and put it in his mouth... The more he chewed, the quieter his expression became.

Qin Ying didn't speak much since she came in, and was a little quiet. At this moment, she hesitated, picked up the chopsticks, tasted it, and her eyes lit up:

"It's delicious."

He looked at Ouyang Rong with bright eyes.

Qin Jingqin opened his mouth to praise: "The taste is tender and smooth, fat but not greasy, and it is delicious."

Xie Xue'e, who was silently preparing to clean up the bad situation, stopped talking and looked at Ouyang Rong as if asking.

Qin Jingqin nodded with emotion:

"It's the only time in my life that I can cook pork so deliciously. I've gained a lot of experience. I was still ignorant before. I really want to go out more and try the delicacies from all over the country...

"Lianghan is interested. It seems that you have a good idea about food."

Ouyang Rong nodded:

“In my humble opinion, ingredients are not noble or cheap. Good raw materials are the basis of delicious food, just like the tender meat on the neck of a pig, or the two plump claws of a crab before the autumn frost... these are the essence of ingredients.

"Secondly, proper cooking methods can add color to the ingredients. For example, clams should be eaten half-cooked with wine, while crabs should be steamed with wine lees and taste slightly raw..."

Qin Jingqin smiled and added: "For example, you simmered the pork neck until it was soft and tender?"

"Exactly." Ouyang Rong nodded.

Qin Jingqin's eyes lit up slightly when he looked at Ouyang Rong, as if he were an old gourmet meeting a close friend, and the conversation started to get louder.

Ouyang Rong also responded neither humble nor overbearing, with clear words and clear views.

The two chatted happily. After drinking for three rounds, the tall old man suddenly stopped and asked:

"Actually, when Madam Xie said you would come, I thought you would give me some paintings as a reward, but I didn't expect you would actually give me a plate of delicacies, Dongpo Pork, that's the name."

"Yes, a side dish from my hometown." Ouyang Rong nodded and added, "I am short of money and have nothing to show for myself. I only have a little cooking skills to show off."

"I heard that Liang Han resigned from the position of Commander Shi of the marching battalion. Is it because he doesn't want to work with me? Do you think I am difficult to serve?"

"No."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Uncle Qin, do you want to hear the truth or lies?"

"Tell the lie first."

His tone was sincere: "The lie is that I am not capable enough and have insufficient energy, so I am not worthy of this position."

Qin Jingqin smiled: "What about the truth?"

"The truth is, leading an army in a war is just like a cook handling ingredients. Facing the same ingredients, different cooks have different techniques, and the dishes they make must have different tastes, but they are all delicacies.

"For example, the army of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the guardsmen are still strong. This is the best food in the eyes of the cook. It doesn't matter whether it's Uncle Qin or me. They all have their own cooking techniques.

"But now, Uncle Qin, you are the cook for this big dinner in Southwest, so why do you need me, the cook, to step in and be a helper? This makes you and I both uncomfortable, and it's easy to help but criticize, or even turn against the guest. , only to create contradictions.”

"Hahaha, that's interesting." Qin Jingqin clapped his hands and laughed.

Qin Jingqin didn't mind at all Ouyang Rong's metaphor about being a cook and his comparison with him. Instead, Qin Jingqin asked with interest:

"So, you are also a cook?"

"Not talented." Ouyang Rong sat upright: "Exactly."

The surrounding women such as Xie Lingjiang, Qin Ying, Xie Xue'e and others couldn't help but look at this fox-white furred young man with a calm tone and an aura of confidence all over his body.

Suddenly he became the life of the party.

Even Xie Lingjiang, who is very familiar with Ouyang Rong, has never seen his senior brother show off so wantonly... It seems that tonight is indeed important and there is no need to hide his clumsiness.

Qin Jingqin narrowed his eyes:

"Then what does Lianghan think of Li Zhengyan's restoration of the army? What would happen if Lianghan was asked to serve as the chief general in countering the rebellion?"

There was a sudden silence at the table.

Ouyang Rong looked at his nose and heart, and realized that the real test was coming tonight...

　Sorry it's a bit short...or2

　　

　

(End of this chapter)