Candy Wizard and Travel

"Speaking of which, you are a trainee witch, right? I heard that they all wear platycodon flowers."

"Yes."

"Actually, His Majesty the King has always been interested in travelers," the store manager pointed to the tall building in the distance. "If you tell an interesting story, His Majesty will help you with a favor within a reasonable range, such as sponsoring travel expenses. Something like that...that person is also an avid fan of Fran, maybe he will know more."

Chapter 25:Features

Because it was daytime, those ceramics and clay products looked pretty good, so Xidi picked a few more and put them back in the hotel room along with the books.

We had lunch at a small restaurant enthusiastically recommended by the boss. He said that those fancy places were all newly built in recent years. If you want to eat special food, you have to go to a place where locals know it.

Such as here.

Xidi didn't really want to go in, because just by getting closer, she could smell a strong fishy smell. The small size of the store often means that it can't cover everything. There is no way around it.

At the same time, this can also screen suitable diners, and those who are really unacceptable will not approach.

With the thought that it was time to come, Xidi decided to at least take a look at the menu.

“Welcome, the menu is on the wall, the newly arrived eel and lobster are fresh.”

The smiling store manager greeted, handling the fish with a kitchen knife in one hand.

Surprisingly, the fishy smell in the room was not strong. There was a strong smell of sauce. The tables and chairs were a bit old, but they were very clean. This made Xidi feel relieved. At least she didn't have to worry about everything she ate smelling fishy. .

Looking up, the prices marked at the back of the menu are not expensive, generally between five and eight copper coins. This price can be said to be second only to buying food yourself, and the ingredients sound very fresh.

The high ones are four or five silver coins or even calculated in gold coins. The complicated spelling of the raw materials indicates that they are high-end goods. The small words at the back explain: Freshly caught at the seaside, reservation required.

only--

Fish steak, seafood risotto, white radish fish soup, eel rice...

No, Xidi remembered that this place is at least a few hundred miles away from the sea. Where did you get so many fish?

"Well, boss, I don't like the fishy smell very much. Is there anything with a stronger smell?"

The flavor of the sauce lingering in the room is very good. If there is no fishy smell, Xidi wouldn't mind trying it.

"Oh, it was recommended by a local, right? Occasionally, there are customers who don't like the fishy smell. Then I recommend eel rice. It's my specialty. I just made one."

"Rice... I haven't eaten it for a long time, okay."

Xidi found a place to sit down.

"I learned it from the traveling Orientals. Travelers are incredible. They feel like a treasure."

The boss is very talkative and talks about this matter.

"A few years ago, the king adopted a traveler's suggestion, built a ship, and organized a caravan to reach a country by the sea. I went there once, and I didn't expect that the sea was so close to us.

There are so many local seafood that people can pick up a basket at the beach. However, because the place is remote and cannot be transported out, in the past few years, the locals could only rely on seafood to satisfy their hunger and lived in poverty.

The king hired special magicians to be responsible for freezing transportation, and a steady stream of seafood was transported through the big river not far away. There was a lot of wealth there, and the food here was also abundant.

Eels were also introduced at that time. At first, everyone did not have a good impression of this snake-like fish because it was relatively troublesome to handle and it was always the cheapest thing. Until travelers introduced the skill of frying and grilling.

Oh, there is also the method of adding certain spices to stir-fry and stew. The requirements for that are very high. You can only eat it now and cook it. You can’t prepare too much in advance. I learned it a few years ago. I learned the craft in a restaurant at that time. , the store manager has saved enough money to live on the beach. "

"It's a pity."

The stool is a bit high, Xi Di swayed her legs and agreed.

"Yes, the store manager has learned a lot from an oriental chef. He combines local techniques and calls himself the New Oriental style. Unfortunately, he is too old to hold a pot. It would be nice to think that he can enjoy his old age in peace."

As he spoke, a "sizzling" sound came from his hands. The white and tender eel meat was dyed with a burnt red color and fried until it was slightly burnt. He then brushed it with a layer of sauce, and the heat made the fragrance escape.

"In the original method, the eels were grilled. I had some eye problems and cried when the smoke was strong, so I figured out how to fry them. This way, the sauce will have a stronger taste, and the eels also need to be processed. …I’m still somewhat confident in this aspect.”

"Yeah, it smells delicious."

The waiting diners leaned on the table with a relaxed expression, turning their heads to look at the street scene in the distance.

The store manager smiled slightly and stopped talking, focusing on the final processing.

"Do you prefer something sweet or salty?"

"Let's have something sweet first."

"Okay, right now."

The fried eel was put into a small pot and started to simmer. The smell of the sauce, which was lighter than when fried, came out. From the sound, the soup inside was shrinking.

Take out two pieces of yellow-brown radish soaked in juice from the pot on the other side, put them on the white rice, and then tilt the rich soup in the pot to cover the soft eel meat.

"Please use."

A bowl of eel rice with rich sauce and fragrant aroma was brought to Xidi.

"The radish is simmered in the soup of fish bones and shrimp shells. It may have a little fishy smell. If you can accept it, please give this soup a try."

The cutlery is two small wooden sticks, called chopsticks. Xidi recognizes them. It is a little more difficult to use than knives and forks, but it is not difficult for him to just hold things.

As is customary, observe the food first.

In front of me is a bowl of light brown eel rice. There are two or three square pieces of eel meat one finger long and half finger wide, and there are two fried eel bones on the edge. The soup slowly soaks into the rice grains. It's fancy and only makes people want to eat.

Pick up the soft but not rotten fish meat and put it into your mouth. When you bite it with your teeth, you will first feel a slight burnt crispness, which shows that the heat is very particular. The surface layer is soaked by the soup, leaving a very light layer of burnt meat before soaking. When the fish is shelled, the juices are locked inside the fish.

After biting into the charred shell, your tongue will feel the slightly sweet fried sauce, which has a caramel feeling, and then the umami soup that penetrates into the skin and the deliciousness of the eel meat will quickly spread on the tip of the tongue.

The rice has clear grains and is paired with a rich soup. Xidi feels that the rice alone is enough with the sauce.

When you feel that the taste of the sauce is too strong and your taste buds are numb, add a piece of well-cooked radish to clear your mouth. You can also eat the eel bone. It is crispy and slightly spicy, which is a perfect combination.

"Well, it's pretty good."

"Thanks for the compliment."

The boss wiped his sweat and showed a satisfied smile.He seems to be saving up enough money to go to the beach, and cares more about customer reviews than sales.

"Please bring me another salty dish. I have a big appetite. I'd like to bring you a bowl of soup too. Thank you for your work."

"Okay! Let the customers go back satisfied. This is the purpose I inherited from the store manager."

Finally, Xidi finished two bowls of eel rice and a fish steak with sauce, and slowly drank the bowl of fish soup while blowing on her breath.

Although Xi Di disliked those expressionless, cold and slippery things, but I have to say that their meat was quite delicious when processed.

I don’t know when I will eat it next time.

Just make it yourself. With such proficiency, he has handled more fish than Xidi has ever seen. Thinking about how to deal with so many cold and fishy things, he would rather not eat them.

"It's delicious food that makes you forget your worries for a while. Thank you for your hard work."

Xidi placed two silver coins on the table and stood up.

The store manager brought another small plate of something.

"With candied plums, the fish soup will have a fishy aftertaste, and the guests don't seem to like the fishy smell."

"Thank you."

Xidi picked up the plate and poured the plum into her mouth.

"Thank you for the treat. I'm full. See you next time."

"Go slowly, guest. If you have free time next time, please tell me some stories you have heard."

"must."

……

Sure enough, there are talented people everywhere.

Xi Di sat on the broom contentedly, feeling that it took more magic to fly and she was too full.

After finishing Hua Mei, Xidi was worried that it was not safe, so she held a few more hard candies in her mouth.

Flying, several soldiers in armor appeared in front of them with solemn expressions. After seeing Xi Di, they raised their hands to signal.

"Hello, are you Miss Kate, the witch who entered the country yesterday?"

"Currently a trainee."

Xidi, who still used a pseudonym, corrected him.

The soldier made a serious salute that he didn't recognize:

"That's it. Your Majesty invites you. Is it convenient for you now?"

"Eh?"

……

In that tall but plainly decorated palace, Xi Di met His Majesty the King, who was rumored to be fanatically obsessed with adventure stories. He had gray hair and chicken skin, and was probably overworked. He looked like this at the age of forty or fifty.

He took the initiative to stand up from the throne and walked down the steps:

"Although it's a little late, let me say, welcome to my country, young witch lady."

……

Chapter 26:The Young King

He was a king who was surprisingly friendly to the people. After chatting with Xi Di for a few words, he did not sit back on the throne, but ordered people to sit on two cushioned chairs.

The old man with white hair due to hard work sat down with a smile:

"——Actually, I have hemorrhoids, so I don't want to sit there."

Xi Di was not moved by his frankness and moved further away.

"I haven't seen a young witch like you for a long time."

The king stroked his pale beard and looked nostalgic.

"It's like reminding me of my old age. I remember that when I was obsessed with travelers' stories, I was still a child like you. As time went by, my skin became saggy, my hands and feet were weak, and I couldn't eat more of my favorite foods. Even I also have hemorrhoids.”

Can you please stop stressing about hemorrhoids?

"Well, what do you think of my country?"

Finally arrived at the question.

Looking over with expectant eyes, the traveler in front of him thought for a moment and replied:

“There are no beggars on the street, children don’t have to be busy doing endless farm work all day long, the people live and work in peace and contentment, have enough food and clothing, and even the price of meat is not high... When I was a child, I followed my grandfather’s business The team has been to many countries, and in my opinion, [-]% of the countries are not as good as here.”

If most of the citizens have enough to eat, [-]% of the country has been eliminated.

"Oh? What about the remaining [-]%?"

Although he already had the answer in his mind, the king still asked, and saw the overly young magician pointing to the platycodon flower on his chest.

"They have magicians, lots of magicians."

The king burst out laughing: "That's really enviable."

The waiter promptly pushed a dining cart filled with snacks, and a variety of hot drinks from coffee to milk were placed on the middle shelf.

The king waved for them to go down, "I am used to entertaining travelers here, getting some new or old stories from them, as well as my favorite travels. If there is something good to say, I will give them gifts."

Xidi noticed that he didn't use "reward" and paused for a moment, then continued to grab snacks to eat. Although she had just eaten, it was known that the snacks were in another stomach.

"I heard that you are interested in the witch Fran that our country is after?"

Nodding, Xidi did not hide her intention: "I am here just for her. She is a very important person to me."

"Disrespectful, could it be——"

Thinking of the platycodon flower on Xi Di's chest, the king's expression became a little more high-spirited, and his upper body leaned forward slightly.

"Unfortunately, not yet."

When you eat someone else's food, you have to take something out of it. Xidinian wrote about the photo from the past, the one where he looked up at Fran.

"I am following her footsteps, and I happened to hear that your country knows something about her, so I came here. Frankly speaking, I want to get information from you."

The king couldn't hide his disappointment and sat back. However, if the relationship between master and apprentice was real, there was no reason to leave before leaving.

But he was still very polite, took the photo with both hands, and looked at it with nostalgia and respect.

"It is indeed very similar to the description I heard. The magic is so amazing."