The legend of the king of crossing

Chapter 335 Miao Sour Soup Fish

Compared with the people of later generations, the ancient people are indeed more simple. The reason may be that most people, especially those in remote areas, have very simple requirements for life. They have houses to live in, food to eat, and Clothes can be worn, as long as these basic living conditions can be met, people will feel that life is acceptable. If there is improvement in all aspects, children can go to private schools to study, and I can occasionally go to county towns or even larger cities to see the world , that can be considered happiness.

Because of this, most of the peasant uprisings that broke out in ancient China were due to the fact that the ruling class at that time did not care about the lives of the people, and people had to take risks when they were desperate. It is said that those who go to Liangshan to gather righteousness are called forced to go to Liangshan.

The investigation of ordinary people's living conditions is also one of the basic tasks of Longya Organization's intelligence stations in various places.

From the reports of the Ministry of Household Affairs, I can also get a general idea of ​​the people's livelihood in this dynasty, but the government's reports often report good news but not bad news. They are all reports on the good situation in various places, but Longya is different. The situation collected by the Longya intelligence station is the living data of ordinary people, relatively speaking, it is more real.

As long as there are Longya intelligence stations along the way, I will go to see them, talk to them, and ask about the local situation. These members are not like ordinary officials who have a sense of fear when they see the emperor. They only know that I am Longya The founder of the headquarters, and I, the head of the Dragon Tooth, are approachable, so they chatted happily with each other.

Although there are still many unsatisfactory places, I am gratified that the living standards of the people have generally improved compared with previous years, and their support for the imperial court has also begun to increase.

Going southwest from Jiangxi Province is Jinghu South Road (now Hunan). A few days later, our group came to the west of Jinghu South Road, the boundary of Xiangxi.

"Young Master, in front of you is Zhenxi Village on the boundary of Xiangxi. After passing Zhenxi Village, go straight to the northeast and you will find Jishou County, and to the south is the official road leading to Guangnan West Road," Wen Zhang, who had been here, reined in his horse and said.

"Well, it's almost lunch time, let's go to Zhenxi Village to rest and set off,"

Not long after, the archway with the three characters "Zhenxi Village" appeared in our sight.

Wen Zhang, who led the way, said "Hey" as soon as he entered Zhenxi Village.

Fang Ling thought something was wrong, and hurriedly asked, "Wen Zhang, what, is there something wrong?"

Wen Zhang said: "This place seems to be different from before, at least twice as big,"

"Are you sure," Fang Ling didn't believe it, "It's been less than a year since you came here last time, how could it have changed so much?"

Wen Zhang didn't know why, so he shook his head and said, "This is Zhenxi Village. You can't be wrong. Isn't the sign in front of the door also written with three big characters 'Zhenxi Village'?"

Zhang Quanyi followed, "Yes, the sign says Zhenxi Village,"

While we were talking, Zhang Zijian, the leader who arrived here one step earlier, came out with four or five guards in plain clothes. After taking the reins of our horses, Zhang Zijian saluted in a low voice: "I have seen you, sir."

"Well," I saw that Zhang Zijian and the others looked normal, and knew that there was nothing wrong with it, so I said, "Let's go in, let's talk about it later."

"Young Master, this Zhenxi Village is very large. It is a distribution center for the exchange of goods between Miao and Han. According to the local people, it was just expanded in October last year. Now it has become the largest market in western Hunan. Its prosperity is very high. It even surpassed Jishou County," Zhang Zijian said as he walked.

"Last October," Wen Zhang said, "that was two months after I left."

Zhang Zijian said: "I heard it is true."

Wenzhang looked all the way, and kept saying: "Here, and there are all newly built, completely different, the flow of people in the village has increased a lot, and it looks more lively than a small county town,"

Yuan Zhi said: "Well, most of the houses in Zhenxi Village are newly built, and many of the people who come and go are businessmen."

Zhang Zijian pointed to a restaurant not far away and said, "Young Master, the center of Zhenxi Village is in front of you. That restaurant is the largest in the village. It's called Jieyi Building. It seems to be opened by Miao people. To the left of the restaurant is The Miao Han Trade Management Center in Zhenxi Village is where the Jishou County Government maintains order and collects taxes.”

"Jieyi Building," I looked at the prominent signboard in front of the restaurant, and wondered if it might have something to do with Wen Tianxiang's marriage with the Miao people.

After Wen Tianxiang came back from Xiangxi, he told me about the Miao people in detail. The Miao people lived in the mountains all the year round, and the economy was backward, which made life difficult. Items such as pine, fir fungi, and medicinal materials are all rare items. If they can be traded with the outside world, the economic backwardness of the Miao people can be changed. Therefore, the Jishou County Government opened a trade center in Zhenxi Village, where the Miao and Han people live together, but they did not expect the effect. It is so remarkable, it seems that the local products of the Miao people are still very popular with the Han people outside.

Zhang Zijian said: "Exactly, this subordinate arrived an hour earlier than the young master, and has not yet understood the meaning of the name. Young master, we will have lunch here at noon,"

"Okay, Zhang Zijian, you can have dinner with us too,"

"Young master, my subordinates have to take care of the horses, etc., so,,,,,,"

"Just let the brothers below you watch the horses, not to mention these few BMWs are not something ordinary people can tame,"

Shen Mo knew that Zhang Zijian didn't dare to have lunch with the emperor, so he said with a smile, "Brother Zhang, let's go."

"Yes, Brother Shen,"

Zhang Zijian only brought ten guards into Zhenxi Village, and some of the remaining 90 continued to explore the road south. Most of them were scattered around Zhenxi Village, and the accompanying Longya guards were mixed in the crowd or around the village. Unknown.

Jieyi Building, located in the center of Zhenxi Village, is a two-story brand-new building. There are two characters of Han and Miao on the signboard in front of the door. When I walked into the house, I immediately smelled a special smell, which is a very familiar smell. I smelled it carefully, and said: "Sour soup fish, Miao people's sour soup fish,"

Fang Ling asked curiously, "Brother, what is fish in sour soup?"

"Fish in sour soup is a unique food of the Miao people. It tastes sour and delicious, and it whets the appetite. Ling'er, let me tell you while eating."

Seeing us coming in, a short waiter dressed in Miao costumes hurried forward to greet us and said, "Guest officers, are you going to eat or stay in the shop?"

Fang Ling said, "Dinner,"

"Okay, seven, there is a private room upstairs enough for ten people to eat, please,"

After I sat down, I asked, "Xiao Er, does the smell in your restaurant taste like fish in sour soup?"

"Exactly, this guest officer, it seems that you are a big connoisseur. The signature dish of this restaurant is Sour Soup Fish Antique Soup (the name of the ancient hot pot),"

I ordered a large bowl of fish in sour soup and some other side dishes, and said, "Xiaoer, let's get these first,"

"Okay, all the guests, sit down for a while, and I will add charcoal for you first."

"Brother, let's talk about the fish in sour soup first."

"Well, the taste of fish in sour soup mainly comes from sour soup. This sour soup is made from the tail wine after wine brewing. It is also made from hot rice soup after natural fermentation. Wash and cut fish are added to the sour soup. Bean sprouts, sour bamboo shoots, sauerkraut and other side dishes, as well as cut onions, ginger, garlic and other condiments, and then add salt, vinegar, oil and other condiments, some high-end sour soup fish also add a lot of traditional Chinese medicine The material is heated by boiling charcoal, and then it can be mixed with the dipping sauce and eaten after being boiled.”

Zhang Quanyi asked, "My lord, have you ever eaten?"

"Well, I have eaten it, but I don't know how it tastes here, and whether MSG will be added,"

I have eaten fish in sour soup, but it was not in the Song Dynasty, but in my own time. The ingredients of fish in sour soup in later generations changed slightly. Added peppers, tomatoes, chicken essence, pepper and other ingredients.

Peppers and tomatoes had not been introduced to China in the Song Dynasty. I have invented the original monosodium glutamate, but I don’t know if it has been used in this remote Xiangxi village.

After a while, the waiter brought some charcoal that was burning red and put it into the stove in the middle of the table, then put the hot pot vessel filled with sour soup on the stove, and then put the fish pieces and other side dishes into the pot together, And put a wooden lid on it.

"Guests, wait for the sour soup to boil and you can eat it. The vegetables next to it can be added to the pot at any time," the waiter said while handing each of us a small dish of dipping sauce.

I asked, "Xiaoer, is this sour soup fish invented by you Miao people?"

"yes,"

Fang Ling said: "Is there any explanation for this? Why is it called sour soup fish?"

The shop clerk smiled and said: "Guest officer, there is a legend in it, if you don't think the small ones are long-winded, I will tell you about the small ones."

Fang Ling handed over two copper coins and said, "Let's talk."

The waiter in the shop took the copper coins, thanked him first, and said: "Our Miao family has passed down from generation to generation. A long time ago, there lived a girl named Ana on Miaoling Mountain. Miss Ana not only looks sweet, but also can sing and dance. Moreover, she can also brew fine wine. The fine wine made by Miss Ana is as clear as a mountain spring, with a tangy aroma, and is famous far and near. Boys from all over the world come to court one after another. Miss Ana is not satisfied with these suitors, but she is not good at face-to-face He refused, so he poured bowls of fine wine made by himself for the young men to drink, and said that people who are not in their liking will find the taste very sour after eating this bowl of wine, and these people will feel that the taste is very sour after eating it. Sour, my heart became terribly cold, but I didn't want to leave. The young men who didn't give up used folk songs in front of and behind the house to call for Miss Ana to meet, but Miss Ana had to sing across the fence, 'sour sour Soup, sour man, sour man, listen to my sister for warmth; betel nuts don’t bear fruit in March, bluegrass has no fragrance in September, sentimental mountain springs turn into fine wine, and ruthless fine wine turns into sour soup,’ Later, our ancestors of the Miao family used After brewing, the tail wine is made into sour soup, and the main food is fish, which is the origin of sour soup fish.”

"There's another story," Fang Lingle said, "Brother, come and taste it first, and see if you think the soup is very sour after eating it."

"Okay, let me give it a try and see if Miss Ana likes me." I smiled, took a scoop, blew on the hot air, took a sip, and nodded, "Ling'er, don't say, This soup is really not good,,,,, "

"Nothing, isn't it sour?"