Border Cook

Chapter 100 City God’s Temple

Xia Mingyue bit her lip.

I don’t know whether Lu Qiyan and Zhao Youcai are safe.

"I heard these from the police officers who bought meat today. They also heard them from acquaintances in the army. I don't know whether these words are true or not. I just told Madam Xia a little first. It's enough for Madam Xia to know." said Hong the butcher.

Although we don't necessarily have to think of the worst, but in case something goes wrong, as a woman, Madam Xia should make preparations early.

If everything is fine, that would be best.

"I understand. Thank you, Manager Hong." Xia Mingyue thanked him and had no intention of wandering around the street, so she went back home first.

After Lu and others came back from closing their stall, Xia Mingyue told Hong the butcher what he had said.

After hearing this, Lu was silent for a moment and then sighed.

Being in the army is a job that involves risking your life and having your head hanging on your belt, and you can be ready to give up your duties at any time.

There have been constant wars in recent years, and bad news has been coming one after another. The Lu family has long been accustomed to it, but they are also deeply worried about it.

But she knew that worrying was of little use, and that life and death, fortune and disaster, most likely depended on God's will.

Xia Mingyue also pursed her lips.

Lu Qiyan is a good person...

I hope both he and Brother Zhao can return safely.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhuguo said, "Sister Xia and Sister Lu, do you want to go to the City God Temple to worship? I heard me..."

When the word "mother" was about to come out of his mouth, Jiang Zhuguo quickly changed the word, "I heard from the people in the village that the amulets in the City God Temple are the most effective."

The City God Temple was a standard feature of every county town or prefectural city at that time.

In addition to the City God who is enshrined there and can protect the people from peace and disasters and wars, he is also in charge of the Land God and some underworld affairs, and is in charge of life and death, disaster and fortune, punishment for good and punishment for evil, and reconciliation of wind and rain and other matters closely related to the people.

The City God holds a special status in the eyes of the common people and they respect him very much. A new county magistrate must first pay homage to the City God before taking office. On weekdays, on the 15th of every month, wealthy gentry would sponsor opera performances or distribute free meals in the City God Temple to make the City God feel lively and happy.

Tomorrow is the fifteenth day, which is indeed a good time to go to the City God Temple.

Xia Mingyue and Lu hit it off and decided to go.

There were Jiangzhu fruits on the food stall. Zhou and Song were busy, while Xia Mingyue and Lu only helped in the morning. After the food stall was on track, they took the tributes prepared for the City God and set off together.

The City God Temple is located in the southern part of Jinqiu County. It covers a large area and looks majestic. And because it is the fifteenth day of the lunar month today, it is very lively.

Xia Mingyue and Lu passed through the archway and the gate in turn and entered the main hall first.

The original identities of the City God worshipped in each place are different. Most of them are loyal and righteous people or people who have made outstanding contributions to the city. The City God worshipped in Jinqiu County is the loyal and righteous Guan Gong.

The statue of Guan Gong in the main hall is majestic and dignified, which inspires respect.

Xia Mingyue and Lu bowed, then went to the offering hall nearby, offered the fruits they had brought, and bowed devoutly again.

"The two ladies are sincere, and what you ask for will surely be granted." The temple keeper was a man with white hair and a youthful face. He stood at the door of the offering hall and handed the amulet in his hand to Xia Mingyue and Lu.

"Thank you very much. I hope all your wishes will come true." Xia Mingyue and Lu thanked in turn.

"Today's play is "The Oath of Peach Garden". You two ladies can watch it on your own. Meals will be distributed at noon. You can all go to the back hall to eat..."

Before the temple keeper finished speaking, a child in green clothes ran over in a hurry, "Oh no, oh no..."

"Speak more carefully, what's wrong?" The temple keeper saw several people looking surprised by the child's shouting, and hurriedly reminded them, "Don't scare others."

"Chef Lai is in trouble!" The little boy swallowed his saliva and calmed down a little. "When he woke up in the morning, Chef Lai said that his stomach felt uncomfortable. He went to the toilet twice, and now he has gone three times. He can't even stand up, let alone cook. Chef Lai asked me to come and tell you quickly to see who can take over first."

Who will go up first?

At this critical juncture, who can take over?

"I told Chef Lai before that he has a bad stomach and shouldn't eat cold food or drink too much. But he agreed on the surface but didn't listen to a word behind the scenes. It must be because he drank too much last night. He made such a scene at this critical moment. This... is really... Oh!"

The temple keeper was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He paced back and forth, rubbing his hands. "If it was just a meal for everyone at noon, it would be fine. Just make it. Even if it doesn't taste good, it's a reward from the City God after all, and no one will say anything. But we have to serve an extra portion of this meal to the City God. If it doesn't taste good..."

Wouldn't this make the City God unhappy?

"Well, go to Qingyang Hutong and find Chef Li." The temple keeper just finished speaking and shook his head, "It won't work. Chef Li's taste is getting heavier and his cooking skills are not as good as before."

"Chef Zhang is preparing for a wedding banquet today, so I'm afraid he won't be able to get away for a while. Chef Ge is so old now that he can't even hold a spatula..."

Can’t find a suitable person in such a short time?

The temple keeper was wondering whether he should go to the restaurant and invite someone over.

Xia Mingyue held the amulet in her hand. When she saw the dilemma the temple keeper was facing, she volunteered, "Excuse me, are you looking for a cook?"

"That's right." The temple keeper nodded, "Does this lady have anyone to recommend?"

"I'm not recommending anyone else, but I'm in the food business and my cooking skills are pretty good, so I think I can cook some meals." Xia Mingyue said.

This young lady in front of me wants to prepare the meals distributed at noon in the City God Temple?

The temple keeper was a little surprised.

Whether an unmarried girl or a married woman, almost all of them know how to cook because they have to do housework and cook meals on a daily basis.

But there is a huge difference between this and what you can do.

And most of the chefs with good skills are men...

The temple keeper was a little skeptical that this pretty, slender, and even delicate young lady in front of him could cook well. However, he thought that there was no suitable chef at the moment, and the other party recommended herself, so he only tentatively confirmed, "Are you really a good cook?"

"More than just passable, my sister-in-law's cooking skills are better than those of the chef at Yueran Restaurant." Mrs. Lu chimed in, "To be honest, I have never eaten anything better than what my sister-in-law cooks!"

Is there anyone who can cook better food than this young lady?
Isn’t this exaggerated enough?
The temple keeper widened his eyes.

If he had heard this on a normal day, the temple keeper would have thought she was exaggerating.

But now we are in the City God Temple, in front of the City God...

　The author has looked up a lot of information about the City God, but there are different opinions. The customs in each place are different, and the City God worshipped is also different. For example, Fan Zhongyan also became the City God of a place to worship. Some places will worship Guan Gong as the City God. I personally prefer Guan Gong, so I just wrote it like this~
　　(End of this chapter)