(Celebrating the New Year today, I wish everyone a happy New Year, all the best, good health, and family reunion!)
Lao Wang breathed a sigh of relief, and then wiped his oily and sweaty hands with the towel on his left shoulder. After being busy for a while, I felt a little happy, watching my daughter take out the last dish ordered by the guest.
As dinner approached, the fish steaks on my table were full of diners. Although there were no food stalls in this place, and even Lao Wang’s fish steaks couldn’t be called food stalls, you still had to queue up to eat at Lao Wang’s.
Because Lao Wang himself doesn’t have much ingredients, he and his daughter always buy fresh seafood from nearby fishermen, so the daily dishes and food intake are limited. People often have to make early reservations in order to try Lao Wang’s craftsmanship. .
Lao Wang is just an ordinary person and can't afford to offend anyone. Fortunately, there are no picky or difficult people around him. Everyone came just to taste Lao Wang’s craftsmanship. Lao Wang was particularly happy. Since he opened a stall here, not only has his life gotten better, but more and more people have gotten to know him. As a former chef, this It's the greatest honor.
The weather is very nice today! The sun after the rain is very comfortable. The sea is also calm and calm. On the left is a continuous water village, and on the right is a small sea area with some small wooden boats and bamboo rafts owned by nearby people. Everything is peaceful and natural. Even if there is a small newly built village on the shore, those families rarely come to Lao Wang's fish steaks.
There are many people going to the sea every day, and the seafood in the sea is also very rich in this era, but there are relatively few people who go out to eat seafood. After all, salty seafood is mostly salty, except for those who have no money to buy rationed salt, and those who are struggling to make ends meet. , usually wealthy people are proud to eat freshwater fish.
Lao Wang didn't care about this. In his heart, as long as the ingredients are edible, he can make a lot of delicious food. It is getting late soon. Many people are enjoying the cool air on the huge stone pier on the left side of the water village. After a tiring day, many people are relaxing leisurely under the eyes of the soldiers patrolling the pier, or Lie or sit on a stone.
Lao Wang looked at these people in front of him and felt a little emotional. I have lived here for almost two years and have adapted to life here. Watching this place slowly being built, it seems that all this has become important in my life. Looking at the harmonious environment around him and doing what he loves every day, Lao Wang feels very satisfied. It seems that there are a lot of people coming to taste his delicious food today.
As a chef, a royal chef serving the Fujian royal family that day! Lao Wang had his own glory. Although Lao Wang never told the people around him about his past, because of his career habits since he was a child, and for the sake of living, he still chose a job that he was good at to make a living.
Now Lao Wang is called Lao Wang. He has forgotten his name and never talks about his original name to others. He lets people call him Lao Wang. Just like Lao Zhang and Lao Liu, ordinary and casual, he is called Lao Wang! People around him also called him Lao Wang.
The state of Fujian lost its power in the struggle for power, and then the warlords fought. The Southern Tang took the opportunity to invade, and the state of Wuyue also came to get a share of the pie. The last remaining Qingyuan Army was in power, and the people of Fujian suffered the most. As a result, Lao Wang lost his job. In order to avoid the war and avoid becoming a slave of a noble family, Lao Wang survived by chance and wandered all the way to the Han Dynasty, which was also close to the sea.
Although the Han Kingdom is far away from Lingnan, its long coastline is the same as that of the Fujian Kingdom. Moreover, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the economy and people's livelihood have been developed, and various places have been opened to the outside world, so the prefectures and counties near Prince Xing's Mansion are relatively wealthy.
When the current emperor was still the prince, he boldly implemented national policies to benefit the people and took in refugees from various countries who were fleeing famine. People who came across the border to live in Han were exempted from taxes for three years. Not to mention the overwhelming support of the domestic people, even the people who have recently moved to develop wasteland are also grateful.
On that day, Lao Wang hurriedly fled the country of Fujian and lived along the coast. Naturally, he encountered the conquest of the Han Dynasty and stayed in the country. In the end, all he had left was a dog, a set of chef's tools, a young daughter, and a bamboo raft he had built himself, and arrived in the Han Dynasty in a precarious situation. In the sea near Zhenzhou, on this road called Zhenzhou Stopped by the quiet waters of Zhouwan.
This is an excellent sheltered harbor with deep water that can berth large-scale ships. It also has quiet sea surface, which is conducive to the cultivation of various ships. Therefore, the reconstruction and expansion of the navy of the Han Dynasty in recent years was decided through the approval of the Xingwang Palace. Nowadays, a large military-civilian port has been established here. Not only has a large-scale navy water village been built, but a small sea area has also been opened up for civilian berthing.
Now, on this coast, close to the water village that stretches for two or three miles, many supporting houses have been built, which can not only supply the daily needs of the navy, but also provide a way out for the surrounding people. Because people know that it is relatively safe if the navy is stationed, and if a merchant ship comes to the port, it will definitely need various businesses, because it is very likely to become an important external port of the Han Dynasty.
At the same time, the yamen at all levels of the ship market they belong to are also actively planning. From the beginning, they have allowed many large commercial banks and wealthy merchants from the Han Dynasty to invest. Even foreign merchants have established commercial banks here. Of course, the Han Dynasty has also given them many preferential treatment. So on the coast close to the water village, it is close to the mountain and the water, less than 500 meters away. In less than half a year, a street with dozens of shops was built, forming a market. Villages and towns integrating collection and residence.
Lao Wang has no money, so he can only watch helplessly while the construction of houses is concentrated. The land there was controlled by officials from Bosi of Hanguo City, and land construction fees were levied in the name of the state, so ordinary people could not build houses there.
But he settled early. When the Han Dynasty decided to build a port here, he had already built a floating bamboo and wooden fish raft in the water near Zhenzhou Bay. So in any case, he still lives in the local area, and even if the port is built, he will not be driven away. Later, he kept saying that the Emperor of Han was good. In other countries, this was a matter that was not discussed, and the government directly drove away these troublesome people.
The nearby fishermen got to know Lao Wang from time to time. When they were not busy, they often came in small groups to sit there. Lao Wang also became an old resident here before the water village and wharf were established, and he was a real neighbor with them. .
Lao Wang's fish steak is usually made of bamboo slices and hemp rope mixed into a giant thigh-thick rope, which is very strong, reliable and safe. The whole big fish steak is tied with more than a dozen of these giant ropes and tied to four thick trees on the shore surrounded by six or seven people. Even if the sea tide rises, there is no need to worry, it is safe and reliable.
The fish steaks are also tied with several layers of old bamboo. Anyway, the bamboo on the mountain is free of charge. The layers of tying racks are tied into a floating fish steak. The fish steak alone is nearly half a meter high and is safe and sound when soaked in sea water.
Lao Wang built two small huts on the fish rafts, which served as a shelter for the father and daughter. Later, a so-called kitchen was specially built to facilitate Lao Wang's own operation. It was very convenient to use dry firewood and branches sent by people nearby to start the fire.
Although the fish raft is firmly on the coast, it may be troublesome when there is strong wind and rain. So in the remaining space on the table, Lao Wang tried his best to only place four tables, and that was it. The fish raft is connected to the coast by a raft set up with bamboo, which can be conveniently used as a way to the raft. It doesn't matter when the tide is not high. You can also use a raft to go up when the tide is high. Although it is simple and not many people appreciate it, this is Lao Wang's home and the place where he lives.
Because he lived by the sea, some of the local fishermen were very familiar with Lao Wang. Seeing that fishermen often had a lot of seafood that they couldn't handle, Lao Wang had the idea of packing it up. What's more, he also likes the comfort here. He and he usually eat these foods, and they also try to cook them in different ways for others. What's more, after some people tasted Lao Wang's seafood, they praised Lao Wang's craftsmanship one after another. They spread the word from ten to ten, and Lao Wang's business continued to flow.
Lao Wang's dependent daughter, Xiaoyu, is seventeen years old this year. In this war-torn era, she has already reached the age to start a family. However, Xiaoyu said that she has to take care of Lao Wang. Lao Wang's temples have turned white. He knew his daughter's thoughts, but there was nothing he could do about Xiaoyu's stubbornness.
Xiaoyu has the healthy complexion of coastal people, a slim figure and flexible movements. He has a pair of dark eyes and a slightly raised mouth when he smiles at people, which makes people feel very comfortable and cute.
Lao Wang usually cooks seafood, and Xiaoyu is responsible for washing vegetables and tidying up other things. Father and daughter lived a peaceful and ordinary life. Just like today, Lao Wang is very satisfied. The four wooden tables were all occupied, and some tables were even more crowded. Everyone didn't mind, as they were all regular customers.
Looking at a few people at one of the tables, they still had empty seats, but they seemed a little special and no one crowded with them. There was a rare smile and happiness on Lao Wang's face. They were regular customers who came frequently during this period.
A table that has been framed by itself. The tabletop is made of bamboo from the hillside near the coast. The table has no legs. Because the table legs are made of discarded tree roots, nailed together with the table top, it is light and a bit clumsy when placed on the bamboo raft, but it shows a bit of charm.
A few ordinary people, and a young man with his hair tied back casually. He always smiles lightly when facing people. He has a body that is rare among southerners. Lao Wang knew at a glance that he was definitely not a true southerner, because there were very few people of such tall stature in Lingnan.
But his skin was as healthy as his daughter Xiaoyu's, but he didn't look like a hard worker. What surprised Lao Wang was that this young man spoke fluent Mandarin, but rolled up his trouser legs and drank the most southern wine with him. of fruit wine, and eating home-cooked seafood while holding hands. He really likes the seafood he cooks himself, especially the steamed panfish and flower shrimps.
To be honest, this boy was noticed by Lao Wang, and he was picky about his diet. The first time he served fish steaks to eat seafood, Lao Wang discovered that he was different. He proposed to himself that he use garlic paste to bake shrimps, instead of using the traditional blanching technique.
Xiaoyu was a little dissatisfied with the young man's advice to him, so he made a bet with him! The young man asked Lao Wang to bake shrimps with garlic paste. If Lao Wang said it was delicious, he would eat the fish steak for free for three days. If Lao Wang says it's not delicious, the boy will apologize to Lao Wang and lose half his money.
It sounds like Xiaoyu will definitely win, and the half-money is definitely not a small amount at this time. Many diners on the side were present at the time and knew the bet between Xiaoyu and this boy. However, after Lao Wang tasted the shrimp, he was surprised and left the young man to taste the various seafood he made. Naturally, Xiaoyu lost. Lao Wang had his own pride and it was impossible for him to lie for his daughter just to make a living. This incident also made many people think it was interesting to talk about, and many old diners were surprised.
After two days, Xiaoyu became very familiar with the boy, because the boy was not annoying, and Lao Wang also liked him very much. What particularly impressed Lao Wang was that the boy was not alone, but was accompanied by five friends. But every time they ate together, they paid the bill as usual, but the young man would smile and deduct his share. He smiled and said to Xiaoyu that he would eat for free for three days!
Lao Wang smiled. It was rare for him to see Xiaoyu so happy, because this young man seemed to be about the same age as Xiaoyu. Although, there were two women in the young man's group, and Lao Wang knew at a glance that they must be the kind of pampered people. Although they were dressed plainly and plainly, their temperament and demeanor could not be hidden.
Today is the last day for the boy to eat for free, because it is dinner and the last meal, and the sun is about to set. When Xiaoyu saw that the dishes on each table were ready, Lao Wang stopped and joined the young man's table as usual.
"Hey! After today's meal, you won't be here tomorrow!" The girl's frankness and sincerity made her smile with a smile on her face as she looked at the boy who occupied one side of the seat. She didn't know why, but a faint sense of loss arose in her heart.
The young man was eating with relish, and when he heard Xiaoyu's words, he smiled. Seeing that he didn't speak, Lao Wang also came over. It seemed strange that everyone at this table was looking at the young man but not speaking. Lao Wang was also quite knowledgeable, and when he saw that the people around him seemed to be headed by a young man.
Who knew that at the table next to him, there was a frequent diner who was a businessman from the capital specializing in collecting dried seafood. He sat across from him and saw it truly. Xiaoyu bet that he was there that day, so he couldn't help but started to cheer: "Hey, Lao Wang, your girl is looking for a young man!"
People at the next few tables laughed together. Everyone had almost finished eating and almost stopped to watch the fun.
Xiaoyu's face turned even redder. She was quite familiar with these people. She couldn't help but give everyone an angry look, but then looked at the young man, as if she wanted to wait for his answer. Everyone on the side cheered and laughed even harder.
The young man also laughed and looked at Lao Wang walking over. Regardless of the oil on his hands, he couldn't help but pull him to sit next to him and pour him a bowl of fruit wine. Then he glanced at Xiaoyu, smiled, and said lightly: "Thanks to Lao Wang for the delicious food and Xiao Yu'er's hospitality these days, a certain family misses Lao Wang's craftsmanship every day! I really feel a little reluctant to miss Shu. But because of a certain family My home is in Prince Xing’s Mansion, and I may have to return in a while. In order to thank Lao Wang for his hospitality, I have prepared a small gift for you!”
He raised the wine bowl and greeted Lao Wang. Lao Wang saw the sincerity on his face and couldn't help but raise the bowl happily.
I saw a tough young man sitting on his left. Although he was dressed in ordinary clothes, he looked dignified and not angry. Perhaps because of his appearance, many people did not come to squeeze the table. From a bulging cloth bag beside his legs, he took out a tile altar that was about one foot tall. He placed it respectfully in front of Lao Wang, who looked at the young man hesitantly.
The young man smiled slightly, looked at the little fish who looked a little disappointed, and said softly: "Don't be nervous!" He knocked open the mud seal at the mouth of the tile altar, and carefully pulled out the cork at the mouth of the altar, and there was a faint fragrance of sauce. Then came.
However, Lao Wang became nervous and stood up. His eyes were fixed on the mouth of the altar, his nose kept sucking, and hesitantly said in a trembling voice: "This is the most expensive soy sauce oil on the market!"
The young man nodded and said with a smile: "I taste delicious food here every day, but I still feel a little regretful. Lao Wang, the soy sauce in your house is light soy sauce that has been repeatedly diluted by the seller. The taste of the soy sauce has already changed." It’s too bland. Here is a jar of dark soy sauce produced by Jingcheng Yufang, I hope it will make your future delicacies more tempting!”
The dry goods merchant who started to tease him seemed to be nervous, and actually took the initiative to come over. He didn't care about the young man's table, and the tough young man stared at him. When he saw the young man pouring out half a bowl of oil from an earthen bowl, it was dark red and transparent, as rich as sauce.
He couldn't help but exclaimed: "It is indeed the authentic Yufang Shoyou! A certain family runs out all year round to make their family's life better. After tasting delicious food in the capital in the past two years, they must prepare some at home. Yes. But during the Chinese New Year, I will sell it for 2 or 3 taels, and use a little for cooking when the family gets together. This jar sells for five taels in Yufang! Lao Wang, is this young man a betrothal gift?"
The people at the young man's table were sitting next to Lao Wang's residence, and the people eating beside him were of different identities. After hearing what the dry goods merchant said, everyone couldn't help but join in, wanting to see what such delicious food was like. As for the betrothal gift he mentioned, many people ignored it.
But Lao Wang tremblingly picked up a piece of fish from the dish with his chopsticks, and quickly and gently dipped the sauce into the small tile bowl. He didn't eat it immediately, but put it in the empty bowl next to him and picked up two more small pieces. A piece of fish meat, pour some fish soup and mix the meat. He just picked up a small piece of meat, put it to his nose and smelled it, and then gently put it into his lightly opened mouth as everyone looked forward to it.
The person on the side seemed more nervous than Lao Wang. After watching him hold it in his mouth for a few seconds, Fang started to chew it gently, his eyes slightly closed and his face calm. Just when everyone's hearts were hanging in their throats, Lao Wang's face relaxed, and the folds on his face seemed to be squeezed together, and he kept nodding.
"Okay! It's really extraordinary! Okay, what a most delicious condiment!" He opened his eyes and stared at the young man: "This jar of old-fashioned oil should be given to a certain family!" His eyes seemed a little excited, and he tightened his eyes. Looking closely into the young man's eyes, he seemed to be afraid that the young man would regret it, and he couldn't help but feel a little entangled in his heart.
The young man smiled casually and said: "Before you came to eat fish steak for free this afternoon, a certain family prepared this thing. At this time, in front of many friends, there is no reason for a certain family to lie." He couldn't help but glance at Xiaoyu. , and said to Old Wang: "Old Wang's cooking skills must be the best along the coast. He ate for three days in a certain family in vain, and Xiao Yuer refused to abandon him and never bothered him. He had fruit and wine with him every day. There is no way to repay him. I can only borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha. I hope Lao Wang won’t refuse!”
How can Lao Wang refuse? There must be no one here who refuses without being kicked in the head by a donkey. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, a bushel of rice was sold for only five cents, and usually one tael of silver was equivalent to 1,000 cents (consistently). In the late Tang Dynasty, the price of rice was ten cents per dou. According to today's rice price of 1.5-2 yuan, it is equivalent to one tael of silver or almost more than two thousand yuan.
At the end of the Tang Dynasty, the world was in chaos, and iron money was cast everywhere to deal with it. The separatist forces had four to five hundred people per dynasty, and seven or eight hundred people per dynasty. However, the Liu Dynasty in Lingnan, in the hands of the great ancestor Liu Yan, minted two batches of copper coins several times, but they were all in units of one thousand, so everyone along the coast knew that the Han Dynasty was rich. And this young man is so generous, no wonder the dry goods merchant would make a joke.
Because in this era, if a well-off family gets married, only three marriages are enough. And this young man is a general with five taels of silver at a time. Just imagine who here wouldn't be moved. After all, the money in Lingnan is indeed worth more than elsewhere, and it is still in a similar state as it was in the late Tang Dynasty!
Lao Wang hugged the tile altar like a baby, while Xiao Yu looked at the young man with a complicated expression. But he saw the young man pouring out the small half bowl of oil and handing it to the dry goods merchant who was watching eagerly. Lao Wang seemed to be in pain, but surprisingly he didn't say a word. The dried goods merchant thanked him profusely and immediately started sharing the leftovers on his table with everyone at the table.
Xiaoyu seemed to be in a trance and didn't know what Lao Wang said, but he saw a large number of people coming up from the shore. Although they were all dressed up, and they all had knives in their waists. The people on the fish steak dispersed after looking at the nest, and the young man and his group also said goodbye to Lao Wang.
Some generals in the water village would sometimes appear. Xiaoyu had seen them from a distance. These people were strutting around with weapons on the shore. No one was there to take care of the water village. You must know that this is a military center, and they were obviously friends with each other. Know the details.
Xiaoyu didn't know what the boy said to him, so he stuffed something into his hand. Xiaoyu was in a daze. When he came back to his senses, he saw that the boy's figure had disappeared over the pier, and he seemed to be on the boat. A big boat. Xiaoyu felt disappointed and saw Lao Wang standing next to him. Look at yourself quietly and concernedly.
"Xiao Yu'er, you've grown up, hey, if...,,,,,, hey! How is that possible! But,,,,,, it's also a good thing for you!" But he looked at Xiao Yu's hand, holding it tightly. A small fish woven with pearls, Lao Wang looked at the pier and said lightly: "That's okay, I can meet him again in the future!"
Under the setting sun, golden waves appeared on the sea, and a thin fisherman girl stood quietly on a fish raft.
The young man walked to the small boat on the pier, and couldn't help but look back at the fish steak in the distance, where he could vaguely see the figure of a girl.
Those men in plain clothes and armed with knives cleared away all the people beside the ship. Only five people followed the young man, all of whom were on the fish steak just now. An armored general on the other side of the ship's platform quickly came over and saluted the young man.
The sturdy young man accompanying him got on board first, and the young man followed suit without saying a word. Everyone walked directly into the hall in the building, which was arranged into a hall. At this time, seven or eight people were sitting on both sides. When they saw the young man coming in, they all stood up and saluted.
The young man walked straight to the low couch in the main seat, and the two women sat next to him. The young man glanced at everyone, smiled slightly, and his eyes fell on a young man on the right. "You are the tiger shark that Tingcheng praised highly!"
There was excitement in the young man's eyes. He pulled a beautiful young woman beside him and saluted the young man together: "A certain family is He Xiaoyao, the colonel under the general's throne. I was ordered to meet your majesty with my wife Chen!" It turned out that this young man who exuded vitality, It was the famous tiger shark He Xiaoyao, and the young woman beside him was his wife Chen Jiuniang.
The young man sitting on the seat was none other than Liu Jixing, the Emperor of Han Dynasty. Liu Jixing burst into laughter looking at He Xiaoyao, and actually stood up and came over to support He Xiaoyao. He Xiaoyao was even more excited. He originally thought that following Captain Jike would be a pirate in the sea, but he never expected that Captain Jike was actually a general of the Han Dynasty.
As a result, He Xiaoyao was appointed as a captain by Captain Jike, who had arbitrary power, and usually led a warship combat unit. The last time they attacked Xianyun Village, the Zhangwu Army finally compromised and withdrew from supervision. Captain Jike didn't know what he said to Ma Yuxuan, but Yan Liehou finally compromised and gave up Xianyun Village to Captain Jike.
Chen Jiuniang was unwilling to give up on He Xiaoyao. Although He's father was missing and she didn't know the final grudge between the He family and the Wuyi Sword Sect, she decisively chose to follow He Xiaoyao. As the head and father, Chen Dushang had no choice but to hold a wedding ceremony for the two of them at Xianyun Manor.
What surprised He Xiaoyao was that the Wang Lu next to Chen Dushang was actually a figure in the Han Dynasty, and he was a relatively trusted figure under the emperor, who was sent to contact various factions. He actually persuaded Chen Dushang not to interfere. As for Chu He and the others, they were completely shocked as soon as the stolen king Qiqi took action.
In the end, Xianyun Village became a base for Pacific pirates. Captain Jike blatantly built a military base and even stationed a team of 500 pirates to garrison it.
He Xiaoyao came back to land from the outer sea this time because he was ordered to return. He had long heard Captain Jike say many things about the emperor. But he didn't expect to be particularly surprised when he saw Liu Jixing, because Liu Jixing was too young, and He Xiaoyao was surprised to find that he couldn't see through the emperor's cultivation.
Liu Jixing laughed loudly: "Colonel! What kind of captain! Based on your achievements and actions, I will personally make you a general!"
The general trend of the world! Will the future development and trend of the times remain on the original track? No one can prove anything, and no one can be sure of anything. For Liu Jixing, his original advantage lies in knowing the direction of history. Therefore, Liu Jixing does not want to destroy anything. He just hopes that at a certain critical point, he can take advantage of the trend and push history forward. At this moment, he seems to be in control!
If the future of the history of the Central Plains develops according to the original history, I will definitely know it already. If you want to follow the future you envision now, you must plan it carefully. Ever since he possessed Liu Yuan and returned to Prince Xing's Mansion from Master Shi in Luofu Mountain, he had begun to make plans within his own capabilities. Because I want to play a good game of chess, a game of chess that belongs to my own era. Regardless of success or failure, there are some things you must do.
The things that were planned long ago and the people everywhere seemed to have no connection, but now it seems that everything is closely related. The overall situation lies in his heart. Liu Jixing is extremely confident that he will eventually change history.
Although I didn't do anything deliberately, because everything has inevitably changed after I joined. Liu Jixing knew even more that his appearance had irreversibly changed the pattern of this era. Liu Jixing is looking forward to it and is even more excited to have him join in this era.
Riding a horse, whipping a whip, and directing the country, this is such a fascinating thing! In this era of countless variables, opportunities and inaction coexist. As long as you give something, there will be rewards that you cannot predict.
Whether it is old age and death in the mountains or forests, or whether it is heard and heard in the rivers and lakes, it seems that it depends on a thought!
