Han Dang is stronger

Chapter 14 Turning enemies into friends
Hope was ignited for a while, but it was soon broken. The ups and downs of Feng Zhong's face also failed to escape Xiang Kang's eyes, and he asked in a low voice: "Why? Brother, is it true that the new county magistrate Youyan If you don't enter, you won't accept benefits from others?"

"It's not about not accepting other people's benefits." Feng Zhong shook his head and said in a low voice: "Although Brother Yu has never dealt with that new county magistrate, he didn't say anything that he wouldn't accept anyone's things. People who deal with."

Xiang Kangyun thought very quickly, he only thought for a while when he heard this, and then said immediately: "In that case, could it be that the eldest brother is not handy and worried that he won't be able to produce enough things to tempt the county magistrate?"

"Your brother is really smart, and you can guess right." Feng Zhong praised him sincerely, and then said in a low voice: "To tell the truth, brother, although I look majestic as the head of the pavilion, apart from being paid every month Mi has the surplus money and food from the county every year to share, and occasionally I can get some other benefits, but the expenses behind it are not small. In addition to supporting my family, I also have to support a group of diners who let them run errands for me and deal with the village and county. What's more, spending money is indispensable, even if you have a little savings in your hand, you don't have much, even if you spend all of it, I'm afraid it won't be able to impress the county magistrate."

Xiang Kang, who was full of bad ideas and bad ideas, finally had nothing to say this time - he was so poor that even if Xiang Kang wanted to help Feng Zhong in terms of money, he was helpless.But fortunately, modern people have rich experience and theories in flattery and flattery, after a little calculation, Xiang Kang asked again: "Brother, did you hear that the new county magistrate has any special preferences? What is he particularly fond of?"

"What do you particularly like?" Feng Zhong recalled for a long while before hesitantly said: "I don't know very well, I just heard that he seems to be picky about food, and the chefs in several restaurants in the city were all called by him to cook. He likes to send any good wild game caught in the countryside to him."

"Are you picky about food?" Xiang Kang was a little at a loss, and asked again: "What about the others? Does he have any other preferences?"

"It seems that I still like to put on a show." Feng Zhong recalled it for a while before he remembered this, and said: "Thank you for your advice, I will try to find a way to inquire carefully as soon as possible. After I get the news, I will invite you to come again discuss."

When Xiang Kang nodded in agreement, Feng Zhong's wife just walked in timidly. While saluting to the brothers of the Xiang family cautiously, she called the doormen to help carry the food. Feng Zhong hurriedly arranged some doormen to go to his wife Helping, Xiang Kang also sat back in his seat and waited for the meal.

Feng Zhong and his wife were indeed trying to please the Xiang family brothers. Apart from the fish and mussels that are relatively easy to get in the Huaihe River Basin, the dishes they entertained the Xiang family brothers also included dried meat and millet cooked with fat meat and millet that were not cheap. In addition, two jars of rice wine bought from the county were brought in.As a result, when they saw such a meal, the eyes of all the Xiang family brothers were shining. Needless to say, all the Feng family diners who have been eating at Feng Zhong's house all year round are also ecstatic. All the diners rushed to the table like hungry wolves, shook off their cheeks, chewed and swallowed, and ate so much that they even forgot to drink the wine.

Only Xiang Kang did not forget to exchange glasses with Feng Zhong and toast each other. The reason is that Xiang Kang has not forgotten the etiquette and demeanor, and the second is that the food in this era is not to Xiang Kang's appetite—fish and mussels are boiled in plain water Yes, dip it in black sauce with a strange smell. The so-called jerky is air-dried meat, which is also boiled in white water and eaten with sauce. Salt without pepper tastes as greasy as it tastes in the mouth. Of course, Xiang Kang, who has already raised his mouth in the 21st century, is not used to such things.

Feng Zhong must be praised here. Unknowingly, he felt that Xiang Kang was actually quite easy to get close to, but Feng Zhong actually noticed that Xiang Kang seemed a little dissatisfied with his food, and asked proactively: "My dear brother, what's the matter? I don’t seem to like these dishes? Is there anything you want to eat? Shall Brother Yu ask your sister-in-law Qiu to re-order the dishes?”

"Don't bother Mrs. Qiu." Xiang Kang shook his head and said, "It's not that I don't like these dishes, it's just that I don't have a good appetite."

"Then do you want to eat some roasted meat (barbecue)?" Feng Zhong took the initiative to say again: "I remember that there should be some pork at home. I told you sister-in-law Qiu to cut it up and roast it for you?"

Xiang Kang was a little tempted, but considering the terrible seasoning of this era, and not being too picky and losing etiquette, Xiang Kang still shook his head, and was about to decline, when suddenly his heart moved, and he hurriedly raised his head and asked: "Brother Feng, do you have any children at home?" No dried lotus leaves?"

"Yes." Feng Zhong nodded, and said again: "Brother, do you want to pack some vegetables to take back to the two Mrs. Xiang? Brother Yu, let your sister-in-law Qiu prepare it?"

"No, no." Xiang Kang shook his head and said, "Please trouble elder brother to invite Mrs. Qiu here, I have something to say to her."

Feng Zhong agreed, and quickly sent someone to call his wife to talk to Xiang Kang, and soon, Feng Zhong's wife, who was not too ugly, was invited in front of Xiang Kang, and bowed to Xiang Kang with a fearful expression. Carefully said: "Young Master Xiang, what are your orders?"

"Sister-in-law Qiu, I want to ask you to make a dish." Xiang Kang said, "Go and kill a chicken, remove the hair and internal organs, wash it, and then prepare some clean yellow mud, lotus leaves and twine, together with a cutting board and a kitchen knife Here, I will teach you how to make this dish face to face."

"Killing chickens?" Feng's wife looked extremely troubled, and said hesitantly: "Young master, there are chickens at home, but one is only used for crowing, and the rest are laying eggs. It's a pity to kill them, can you?" In a few days, let the servants go to the market to buy another..."

"Kill a chicken that lays eggs." Xiang Kang didn't give Feng's wife a chance to argue, and said without hesitation: "If you have dried mushrooms (dried mushrooms) at home, soak them and bring them with you, as well as jujubes. Take a few of them dry, cut some meat slices, and cut them as thin as possible."

Feng Zhong's wife turned her begging gaze to her husband, Feng Zhong felt extremely distressed, and some secretly complained about Xiang Kang's overreaching, but he was too embarrassed to refute Xiang Kang's face, so he bit the bullet and said: "Do as Mr. Xiang Kang ordered. , ready to bring."

Feng's wife had no choice but to agree in a low voice, and hurried down to prepare. The brothers of the Xiang family were all puzzled when they saw it, and they didn't know what kind of medicine was sold in Xiang Kang's gourd. He secretly scolded Xiang Kang for being shameless and slapped his nose on his face. At the same time, Feng Zhong began to regret knowing such a friend as Xiang Kang.

After a while, Mrs. Feng prepared everything and asked two doormen to help carry it to Xiang Kang. But because of her nervousness, Mrs. Feng forgot to prepare the yellow mud.Fortunately, this thing is not difficult to prepare, Xiang Kang immediately pointed to a helper of the Feng family, and ordered: "Go and dig some clean yellow mud, and bring it in a clean basin. Remember, the yellow mud must be as clean as possible." clean."

"What do you need yellow mud for cooking?" the doorman asked inexplicably.

"Don't ask too many questions, you'll know when the time comes." Xiang Kang's tone was indisputable, "Get ready."

Glancing at Feng Zhong, who was rewarding him with food, and seeing Feng Zhong nodding helplessly, the unlucky doorman had no choice but to quietly scold Xiang Kang in his stomach to go out and prepare. Xiang Kang rolled up his sleeves, picked up the knife, and said to Feng Zhong's wife: "Sister-in-law Qiu, I only do it once, you must memorize the steps clearly."

Feng Zhong's wife nodded dizzily, watching Xiang Kang's operation carefully. Xiang Kang used the back of a knife to cut off the chicken legs and wings that had been depilated, and then chopped the soaked dried mushrooms randomly, mixed with red dates The dried meat and sliced ​​meat were stuffed into the chicken's stomach together, then the chicken was wrapped with clean lotus leaves, tied with twine, and set aside for later use.

At this time, the doorman who had gone out before had come in with some yellow mud. Seeing that there was too much yellow mud, Xiang Kang poured some, and then directly lifted the wine jar on the banquet and poured wine, using rice wine and mud directly-this is because Xiang Kang thought it was troublesome and didn't bother to ask someone to prepare cold boiled water, but when Feng Zhong and his wife saw it, they felt distressed secretly - wine in this era is not cheap.

The next step is of course the most authentic beggar’s chicken recipe. Wrap the chicken wrapped in lotus leaves with a certain humidity of yellow mud, wrap it thickly, and then put it into the stove in the middle of the room and burn it directly with firewood. Finally, Xiang Kang said to Feng Zhong's wife: "Sister-in-law Qiu, remember, bake for a quarter and a half."

Feng Zhong's wife nodded, and asked cautiously: "Master, what kind of dish is this? My family has been cooking for 20 years, why have I never seen it before?"

"It's called Miyue Chicken." Xiang Kang, who had already thought about nonsense, said casually, "In the past, Miyue Mibazi of our Chu State, when he was about to marry into Qin State and become the Queen Mother, he wanted to thank his mother country. Thanks to the kindness of nurturing, when he bid farewell to the king of Chu, he used this method to make this dish. The king of Chu was full of praise after eating it. It is very noble to eat. And because this dish was made by Miyue, the King of Chu personally named this dish Miyue Chicken."

"The origin of this dish is so noble?" Feng Zhong's wife was very surprised, and asked curiously: "Master Xiang, this dish is so delicious that even the King of Chu likes it?"

"Whether it's delicious or not, Mrs. Qiu, you'll know after a while." Xiang Kang smiled confidently, then turned to Feng Zhong and said, "Brother, you should also remember the story I just told, it will be useful to you."

Feng Zhong nodded in bewilderment, and looked at the mud ball in the fire curiously. He couldn't believe that a hen baked with yellow mud would have such a noble origin, and even the king of Chu who was carrying a golden pole to pick firewood would praise it. Absolutely.The Xiang family brothers next to them continued to look at each other in blank dismay, and couldn't think of such a story about Mi Bazi, a famous Chu country.

After washing his hands, Xiang Kang first asked Feng Zhong's wife to prepare some clear sauce (ancient soy sauce), and then sat back at the banquet to eat and drink. , talking in a low voice, but Xiang Kang ignored it at all.In the end, it was Feng Zhong's wife who timidly reminded Xiang Kang: "Master Xiang, it's a quarter and a half, what should we do next?"

"Take it out." Xiang Kang didn't bother to wash his hands, and directly ordered: "Smash the yellow mud and remove it, untie the lotus leaves and put the chicken on a plate, then you can tear it up and dip it in the clear sauce."

According to Xiang Kang's instructions, Feng Zhong's wife took out the so-called Miyue chicken with fire chopsticks with the help of the diners, and just smashed the solidified yellow mud on the table, and the tempting meat fragrance was already wafting from the nostrils. Feng Zhong and his wife, the sons of the Xiang family and the family members of the Feng family couldn't help sniffling, and all exclaimed: "It smells so good!"

After the lotus leaves were untied, the Miyue chicken was even more fragrant. Even the sons and daughters of Feng Zhong, who were hiding outside the door to watch the fun, couldn't help sticking their heads into the room, sniffing the tempting meat scent greedily. It is very attractive, and the appearance of Huang Chengcheng is full of appetite.Then, without waiting for Xiang Kang's order, Feng Zhong immediately tore the chicken. It was at this time that Feng Zhong was surprised to find that the chicken was so tender that it could be torn apart almost effortlessly, and then he tore off a piece of meat and dipped it in clean Put the sauce into his mouth, and after chewing a few times, Feng Zhong was stunned, and exclaimed: "My God! There is such a delicacy in the world?!"

"My family has been cooking for 20 years, and I have never made such delicious chicken!"

This is the exclamation of Feng Zhong's wife after tasting the taste. Over there, the brothers of the Xiang family and the guests of the Feng family are in a hurry, scrambling to tear the chicken and dip it, and then they also screamed one after another, "Okay!" Eat! It's so delicious! It turns out that chicken can be so delicious, why didn't I know it before?!"

The mushrooms, red dates and meat slices stuffed in the chicken belly also made people in the late Bronze Age almost cry when they ate them. Such a peerless delicacy, so delicious that everyone just focused on grabbing it, and forgot to leave some for the cook Xiang Kang to taste.

Xiang Kang, who has eaten Beggar Chicken countless times in modern society, of course would not mind not being able to taste the delicious food he made himself. In his ear, he whispered: "Brother, didn't you say that the new county magistrate likes to be picky about food? On the first day of October, I took Mrs. Qiu to congratulate the county magistrate, and asked Mrs. Qiu to make such a mistletoe for the county magistrate." Yueji, as long as he is happy eating, you should be able to keep your position as pavilion chief."

Feng Zhong was stunned, and it took him a while to come back to his senses. He clasped his fists to Xiang Kang, bowed to the ground, and said excitedly: "Brother Xiang, thank you for your guidance. Brother Yu understands, brother Yu understands everything! Don't worry, brother. As long as I can get my wish, you can just walk sideways in Shiling Pavilion from now on!"

"Mother, mother-in-law, don't just focus on the taste, go and kill another chicken, and please Mr. Xiang to eat it! Look at you guys, all of you are only concerned about eating for yourself, why don't you know how to leave it for Mr. Xiang Kang?" point?!"

"Brother, there's no need. I'll accept your wish. Your chickens will be kept for laying eggs. Let's talk about it later."

"No, no, the chickens that lay eggs can be reared and bought again, but Brother Xiang, you must eat one today, or Brother Yu, I will feel sorry for you!"

(End of this chapter)