Han Dang is stronger

Chapter 17 Miyue Chicken

The county magistrate who took office this year is called Zhou Zeng, a survivor of the Zhou Dynasty. During the reign of King Qin Zhao, the Qin army destroyed Zhou. As a small country official, the elders made some small contributions in the war of Qin's destruction of the six kingdoms. Although there has been no special development, Yin Mengzhou once joined the school and directly became an official.

His family background is good, and Zhou Zeng himself is also a little talented. Although he didn't have any outstanding achievements in the positions of county officials and county magistrates, he was still passable, and he never made any major mistakes. It went very well, and before he was 40 years old, he accumulated meritorious service and became a county magistrate with a household registration of more than [-] people.

The official career is smooth and the future is bright. When an official reaches the level of Zhou County Magistrate, of course it is impossible not to be proud, and at the same time, it is also impossible to put on airs. Outside the big households in the village, ordinary officials, country officials, and ordinary village sages generally find it difficult to see County Magistrate Zhou. For the county magistrate, it depends on the importance of the matter and the mood of the county magistrate Zhou.

The only exception is the first day of October, because the calendar used by the Qin Dynasty is called the Zhuanxu calendar, which is based on the month of Jianhai Mengdong, which is the first day of October in the lunar calendar.Although the Qin Dynasty respected frugality, and the Chinese New Year was not as lively and grand as later generations, the first day of the new year is the first day of the new year after all. According to the law, the county magistrate Zhou relaxed some restrictions, allowing ordinary officials and ordinary wealthy families to visit Congratulations to my family, say well, and celebrate the New Year together.

As a result, County Magistrate Zhou's house was full of guests and overcrowded. Officials, large and small, kept coming to see them with more or less gifts. From the morning until the afternoon, there was no time to rest, and it was almost the time of the afternoon, when it was almost time for dinner, the guests who knew that they were not qualified to accompany the county magistrate Zhou to dinner wisely left. Let Magistrate Zhou breathe a sigh of relief and take a rest.

There are still exceptions. When it was almost time for dinner, the county magistrate, who was qualified to accompany the county magistrate to share dinner, and the three county officials, You and Zuowei, brought gifts together and came to the door of the county magistrate Zhou to ask for an audience. Further contact with Zhou County Magistrate.And no matter how airy Magistrate Zhou put on airs, he couldn't neglect the No. [-], [-] and [-] figures in these three counties too much. He could only go out in person to greet each other with them, and politely invite them into his hall to sit down.

The county magistrate and the two county lieutenants also obviously just got rid of the crowd of guests. The three of them had exhaustion on their faces, and they were not very energetic when they sat down. The also exhausted county magistrate Zhou also understood their difficulties and was not polite. After a few words, they invited them to have dinner with him, but before the county magistrate and the two magistrates were hypocritically polite, someone suddenly came to report outside the door and played: "Reporting to the county lord, Feng Zhong, the chief of the Shiling Pavilion, asks to see you." , said that he came to pay homage to the county venerable and congratulate the New Year, please be kind to the county venerable to summon him."

"Feng Zhong, the head of the Shiling Pavilion?" County magistrate Zhou frowned, not only very dissatisfied with the time when Feng Zhong came to pay New Year's greetings, but also immediately remembered some things about the Shiling Pavilion reported to him by the chief official of the county—in the report, Feng Zhong's two mistakes and dereliction of duty did not satisfy Magistrate Zhou.

"The head of the pavilion named Feng Zhong, why did you come now to celebrate the New Year?" The county magistrate also frowned and said: "How far is the Shiling Pavilion from the county? Why did you come at this hour?"

"If the county magistrate is tired, tell him to go back." The right lieutenant of Xiaxiang county gave him a wink, seeing that the county magistrate Zhou was already very tired, and he didn't want to meet any more insignificant people.

Only Zuo Wei, who had met Feng Zhong a few times, didn't speak, but he also secretly scolded Feng Zhong for his lack of wink, and he didn't know how to check the time when he came to pay New Year's greetings.But County Magistrate Zhou rubbed his temples, which were already sore and swollen, and immediately made up his mind, and ordered the servants: "Go and tell that Feng Zhong, just say that the official is tired, and tell him to come back another day."

The subordinates took the order and left, and the county magistrate Zhou continued the topic with the county magistrate and others, and very politely invited the county magistrate and the two county lieutenants to accompany him for dinner. The county magistrate and the two county magistrates were hypocritical Resigned, and then couldn't stand the repeated invitations of the county magistrate Zhou, so he could only be respectful rather than obedient.But there was something strange, just when the servants of County Magistrate Zhou started serving wine and food, the previous servant came back to Magistrate Zhou, nodded and bowed and said, "Master Feng Zhong, he refuses to leave. He also said that he deliberately picked this hour to visit you."

"He deliberately picked this time to visit me?" Magistrate Zhou was taken aback, then inevitably curious, and asked: "Why did he deliberately choose this time to come to see me?"

"Because he wants to offer you a piece of Chu palace food to the county magistrate, please taste it." The servant who received Feng Zhong's favor said respectfully: "The villain also saw that the pavilion chief named Feng Zhong also put His wife also brought them, with the prepared dishes, ready to cook for you in front of the county magistrate, please be sure to taste the magistrate."

As mentioned earlier, County Magistrate Zhou has a hobby of tasting delicious food. Even Feng Zhong, who is far away in the village, has heard of this hobby, let alone the county magistrate and two county lieutenants who get along with Zhou County Magistrate day and night.So after hearing the servant's report, the county magistrate and the two county magistrates were not in a hurry to complain about Feng Zhong's lack of eyesight. Interested, after a little calculation, he ordered: "Okay, bring him in, I want to see what kind of Chu Palace delicacies he brought to me."

The servant who received the benefits happily agreed, and hurried out to lead Feng Zhong and his wife to see him. The magistrate Zhou turned to the county magistrate and the two county magistrates, and said with a smile: "I can't think of a small Shiling Pavilion, which is also hiding a dragon and crouching tiger. Dare to claim to be able to cook Chu Palace food. I am curious, and want to see what kind of Chu Palace food it is."

"Maybe it's a big surprise, and I want to make you happy for nothing." Xian Youwei seriously expressed doubts, and then said: "But don't worry, the county gentleman, if that Feng Zhong dares to play with some false and unreal things You, the servant will take care of him for you."

Magistrate Zhou smiled and said nothing, saying that you don't need to clean up, I wanted to replace him a long time ago.

After a while, Feng Zhong and his wife, who were so scared by Xiang Kang and Xiang's brothers that they couldn't even sleep soundly, were ushered into the hall. As soon as they met, they bowed to County Magistrate Zhou and said tremblingly: "The chief of Shiling Pavilion Feng Zhong, bring his wife to visit the county lord, the county lord is well at Zhengdan."

"You're welcome." County magistrate Zhou waved his hand and ordered, "Haven't you met the county magistrate and the two county lieutenants?"

"Ah!" Feng Zhong's reaction stunned the magistrate Zhou, the county magistrate and the others. They even cried out in shock, and blurted out, "Why are the magistrate and the two county lieutenants here? This is too bad!"

"What's wrong?" County Magistrate Zhou asked in surprise, the county magistrate and the two county lieutenants looked even more unkind, and were extremely dissatisfied with Feng Zhong's unrestrained speech.

"Damn the little one!" Feng Zhong hurriedly slapped himself, and then said with a sad face: "The county honors the sin, the county magistrate and the two county lieutenants forgive the sin, the villain didn't know you were all here, I just prepared Two servings of Chu Palace delicacies may not be enough for you to share now."

"What?" County Magistrate Zhou was stunned again, and said in surprise, "You mean, you are worried that the Chu Palace delicacies you brought are only two, not enough for us?"

Knowing that something was wrong with what he said, but the words had already been spoken, Feng Zhong could only nod honestly, admitting frankly that he was indeed so worried.As a result, not only the county magistrate Zhou, who was already delicious, became more interested, but the county magistrate and the two county lieutenants were also very curious, and said, "Feng Zhong, the Chu palace food you brought is so delicious? Worried that we don't have enough to eat?"

"This..." Feng Zhong was a little embarrassed, and said hesitantly: "I dare not lie to the officials, the officials really think that the Chu cuisine I brought is extremely delicious, at least the villain has never tasted such delicious food before. And when the villain tried to make it at home these days, he still felt that one serving was not enough, and he couldn't eat enough."

"Is it so delicious?" County magistrate Zhou was even more interested, and ordered: "Then quickly take it out and let me see what kind of food it is."

Feng Zhong agreed, quickly unwrapped the package on his wife's back, and took out the preliminarily processed beggar chicken. However, it was a pity that after seeing that Feng Zhong took out only two whole chickens that had been depilated, the county magistrate Zhou immediately came to the police station. Disappointed, the county magistrate and the two county lieutenants even scolded directly, saying: "Isn't this just a chicken? What's so strange? I thought it was some kind of dragon liver and phoenix marrow."

"Reporting to my lords, this chicken is indeed a very common chicken, but its cooking method is not simple." Feng Zhong said quickly: "This delicacy is related to the Queen Mother Xuan of our Qin State, and it is our Qin State. Before marrying into Qin State, the Empress Dowager Xuan made it herself in the court of Chu State to repay the kindness of her mother’s upbringing. The King of Chu tasted it and found it delicious, so he personally named this dish Miyue Chicken and let the State of Chu eat it. It was imitated by the royal chef of the Chu State, and it was exclusively used by the royal ministers of the Chu Kingdom."

The method of forcibly bringing together a dish with celebrities is not uncommon in modern society, but it was Xiang Kang's unique innovation in the Qin Dynasty, so after hearing Feng Zhong's words, the county magistrate Zhou, the county magistrate and others inevitably became interested again, and they all asked Said: "There is such a thing? How do you know?"

"It was told to the villain by an old citizen of the Chu Kingdom under the villain's rule." Feng Zhong did not hide anything, and said: "He is a descendant of a famous family in the Chu Kingdom. It was passed on to the villain couple, and after tasting it, the villain couple thought it was delicious, so they brought it to the county lord."

After all, Feng Zhong, who was still a bit quick-witted, hurriedly bowed his hands to the county magistrate and the two county lieutenants, and said: "Of course, the villain is going to bring it to the county magistrate and the two county magistrates tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, but I didn't expect I happened to meet you here today."

After listening to Feng Zhong's words, he felt comfortable, so the county magistrate nodded and said, "Okay, let's ask your wife to make it for us in person, and see if it is as delicious as you described. Two chickens Not enough for the four of us."

Feng Zhong agreed, and got the consent of the county magistrate Zhou, and asked someone to bring cutting boards, kitchen knives, wooden basins, etc., so that his wife, whose hands were shaking from fright, could process the beggar chicken in public.Not to mention the result, because the process is not complicated, Feng Zhong's wife did it right no matter how flustered she was, and even the water used to mix the yellow mud did not forget to use the rice wine that Xiang Kang used at the beginning.The magistrate of Zhou and the magistrate of the county, who had never seen this kind of cooking method, were also very interested. Not only did they see the end from the beginning, but they also asked someone to bring a big brazier to let Feng Zhong's wife roast beggars in front of the hall. Chicken, so curious that he didn't even put his chopsticks on the meat and wine that was already in front of him.

Strictly speaking, the cooking techniques of beggar chicken baked in mud are not necessarily advanced and brilliant. However, this era is still at the end of the Bronze Age. The cooking technique is still based on the most primitive boiled and Charcoal grilling is the main method, and cooking methods such as frying, steaming and frying in iron pans have not yet been invented.So when the beggar chicken with its original taste and aroma is put in front of you, even if you haven't had time to taste it, the unusual and attractive aroma alone makes you tired of eating boiled meat and barbecue The county magistrate Zhou, the county magistrate, and others were drooling and exclaimed, "It smells so good!"

Just smelling the aroma was enough. After tearing the meat and dipping it in the sauce, the county magistrate Zhou, the county magistrate, and the two county lieutenants were of course even more hands-on. A starved ghost reincarnated.Then, just as Feng Zhong expected, two chickens were indeed not enough for four people, gnawing on the remnants of the chicken bones, the two county captains pointed at Feng Zhong and spoke first, and shouted: "Feng Zhong, didn't you say that you are going to cook for the chicken?" Shall we eat it? When will I make it at my house? Bring a few more and let my family have a taste!"

The county magistrate was more elegant, wiped his mouth with a silk scarf and said, "Ting Zhang Feng, if you don't mind, can you ask your wife to teach my wife how to cook Miyue chicken?"

"Don't worry, Mr. County Prime Minister, don't worry, Mr. County Lieutenant, the villain will definitely visit your home as soon as possible." Feng Zhong smiled so brightly on his face, he nodded and bowed and said: "At that time, the villain must bring more Will ask the villain's wife to present the cooking method."

Nodding and bowing as he said, Feng Zhong certainly did not forget to observe the most important Zhou County Magistrate from the corner of his eyes. What made Feng Zhong relieved was that after slowly wiping his mouth with a silk scarf, Zhou County Magistrate really rushed I nodded in satisfaction, and praised: "It's really delicious, Mr. Feng Tingchang, I've made you worry."

"Thank you county venerable." Feng Zhong quickly thanked you, and then said cautiously: "Xianzun, the villain still has to ask you for your sins. Last year, the villain was incompetent and messed up two official affairs. Please forgive the villain. this time."

"Last year, you were indeed lacking in official affairs." The magistrate Zhou changed his plan temporarily, and said casually: "But generally speaking, you can still be regarded as diligent in your errands, and you don't need to be too hard-working. In the future, you will be in the pavilion." Take care of the chief, don't let me down again."

Feng Zhong was overjoyed, and hurriedly took his wife to thank County Magistrate Zhou, but County Magistrate Zhou couldn't get enough of it, and asked, "Feng Zhong, who taught you Miyue Chicken, what kind of Chu Palace delicacies do you know? "

"This..." Feng Zhong hesitated, and said: "Return to the county lord, I have to wait for the villain to go back and ask, the villain is confused, I only learned this Miyue chicken from him, and didn't ask much about the rest. "

Magistrate Zhou was a little disappointed, but after thinking about it, Magistrate Zhou asked curiously again: "By the way, I forgot to ask you, who is the name of the person who taught you Miyue chicken? Which Chu country is it?" After the famous family?"

Feng Zhong did not hesitate to sell Xiang Kang, not only the origin of Xiang Kang's name, but also Xiang Kang's ancestors. As a result, the county magistrate Zhou who knew Xiang Yan's name was very surprised and said: "Wu Xin of the old state of Chu A descendant of Jun Xiangyan? Under my rule, there is still such a famous descendant hidden?"

"Your Majesty, I have also heard about this family." The magistrate said: "I heard that his family has been a general in the Chu Kingdom for generations, and because he was entrusted with Xiang County, he changed his surname to Xiang. After that, the whole family moved to the lower minister to settle down. In addition, the lower official still remembers that the two uncles of the Xiang family were both wanted by the government for murdering a feud, and they are still on the run.”

The knight-errant atmosphere prevails, and the two murderer uncles did not affect Xiang Kang's image in Zhou County Magistrate's mind. On the contrary, they made Zhou County Magistrate even more curious about Xiang Kang, and asked Feng Zhong: "Feng Zhong?" Zhong, how about the talent and martial arts of Mr. Xiang Kang?"

"Reporting to the county lord, Mr. Xiang Kang seems to be mainly studying literature, and his martial arts seem to be not very good." Feng Zhong tried his best to recall Xiang Kang's usual performance, and said: "But he is very knowledgeable and full of talent at a young age. , can speak eloquently, and his demeanor can definitely be considered refined and polite."

"Then if there is a chance some other day, you can bring him here and let me meet him." County magistrate Zhou ordered casually: "I want to see with my own eyes, what is the descendant of Xiang Yan, the famous old Chu general?" What kind of appearance is it, and how different is it from the ordinary people in Qianshou."

(End of this chapter)