At present, Xijing not only retains a more complete style of the pre-Tang Dynasty, but also appears more glorious and prosperous. Although last year, the entire Shaanxi Province, including Chang'an, suffered from a severe drought. But Xijing, the largest city in the Qi Dynasty, still seemed extremely prosperous. Huang Qiong's journey along the road was really like a flowing water and a horse like a dragon.
As the starting point of the Silk Road, this city has a more exotic feel compared to Jingzhao because of the large number of barbarian villages. The streets were even more crowded, with people everywhere. On both sides of the street, the luxurious mansions of nobles in Xijing are lined with high-end restaurants and shops. The bustling but lively streets are filled with the bustling sounds of vendors.
After leaving the palace, Huang Qiong did not ride a horse and just walked as a carriage along the way. Facing the bustling street market, like a fool, looking here and there, there is always a feeling that my eyes are not enough. Compared with Jingzhao Mansion, which cannot hide the desolation behind its prosperity, and the whole city shows a strange tiredness, Chang'an City appears to be more prosperous because of the large number of traveling merchants and barbarian merchants.
Along the way, Huang Qiong watched as he walked. And not only saw it, but also noticed the main streets, the most prosperous places in Xijing City, and even some small streets and alleys. Compared with leaving the inner city, the outer city is full of Jingzhao Mansion where refugees gather. There were no refugees at all inside or outside Chang'an City. Even after leaving the inner city, the outer city even thought that there were more merchants and it was even more prosperous.
Huang Qiong, who had been walking all morning, felt a little hungry in her belly. I saw a restaurant on the roadside. Although it was not big, it was very clean. Then he took Liu Chang and two guards who followed him and walked in. The waiter in the store, seeing the color of his clothes, knew that he was no ordinary person. When he knew that Huang Qiong and his party were visiting distinguished guests, he quickly came over with smiles on his face.
These little brothers have sharp eyes. In addition, this is Da Qi and Xijing. The princes and dignitaries have seen too much, and their eyes are extremely sharp. The others in this group of people were wearing ordinary sheepskin robes. Wearing sheepskin robes is not uncommon in this Xijing city, but there is nothing noticeable about it. But even though the leader was young, he was only wearing what looked like an ordinary masked robe.
But the waiter could tell from the little fur exposed on the sleeves of this robe that this man was wearing a mink robe. And there is not much exposed, only a circle of fur. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell at a glance that this robe is not only made of mink, but also high-quality sable. The masked one is also made of fine Shu brocade. If this robe doesn't have several thousand strings, it won't be able to come off at all.
Coupled with this young man's extraordinary temperament, the waiter knew he had met an important customer as soon as he met him. So not only is the face full of smiles, it is not ordinary hospitality. His hands and feet were very diligent, and he had to give way to the private room when he came up. It's just that the waiter wanted to move Huang Qiong and his party to the private room. Huang Qiong waved his hand, indicating that he could just sit in the lobby.
After signaling to several people not to distinguish between superiority and inferiority, Huang Qiong stretched out his hand to the waiter. After learning that they were dining in the lobby, he immediately warmed his hands on the charcoal fire he brought and smiled at Liu Chang. : "Brother Liu, you also know that I have lived in Jingzhao since I was a child, and this is the first time I have come to Chang'an City. You have lived here for many years, and you are half a landlord to us."
"Let's see what delicious food there is. If it has some special features, just look at the arrangement. You also know that the things inside are all just to fool people. It looks extremely luxurious, but the taste is the best. It's just not unpalatable. You can't say that those slaves are not enjoying themselves. Who made them cooks? Now I can see through it. The cook is the greatest among all the families in this world."
"Everyone dares to fool anyone. During the time I came to Xijing City, my life was getting worse every day. The Liu family's cook was pretty good at cooking. But when I moved back home, the cooks at home were too fooling. Yes. I've lost my appetite after eating in the past few days. Come out today, not only to see the scenery of Xijing, but also to take advantage of your old Xijing to satisfy your craving."
Hearing Huang Qiong making fun of the unpalatable cooking in the imperial dining room of Tai Chi Palace, Liu Chang could only shake his head and smile bitterly. Liu Chang had also heard of some of the royal meals in the palace that had the same taste for hundreds of years, and even the dishes that had not changed for decades. That day, he accompanied this gentleman to have a meal at the Wanchun Palace. It was his first time to eat royal food, and he really felt that the cooking skills of the cooks in the palace were not as good as his wife's.
In that dish, not only was it bland, as if there was no salt, but the taste was, in a word, forget it. It wasn't until the meal was finished that Liu Chang realized why the bigwigs who were qualified to attend banquets when the emperor visited Xijing in the past regarded eating royal banquets as a chore. There's really nothing to eat in that thing, and it's probably even more difficult for those big guys who don't get tired of eating.
But even though what this man said is true, he also agrees with it. But the only person in the world who dares to be so picky publicly is the man in front of me. That's what he thought in his heart, but Liu Chang didn't show anything on his face. Instead, he smiled and said, "Well, I'll show my shame in front of the young master. Although I'm not a native of Xijing, I have stayed in Xijing for seven or eight years after all."
After that, he said to the waiter: "Here are two kilograms of Hu cakes, three kilograms of hand meat, a gourd chicken, a sheepskin filament, a fish in a pot with milk soup, stuffed with money and nostrils. You can buy two more cool ones." Heat up four vegetarian dishes, and then have a big bowl of mutton soup. Use the haggis, not just the mutton lungs. Don't serve the wine, just make a pot of good tea. Be quick with your hands and feet, and serve the food quickly."
After giving instructions to the waiter, Liu Changcai said: "Sir, this gourd chicken, sheepskin filaments, and fish in a pot with milk soup are all famous dishes in Xijing that have been handed down since the Tang Dynasty. You will know after you try them. . I don’t know if this store is authentic or not. However, this store doesn’t look very conspicuous, and there aren’t many people at this midday, so the taste may not be as authentic as in the inner city.”
After Liu Chang finished speaking, the waiter who was bringing the tea was no longer willing. Liu Chang commented on the unauthentic characteristics of his store in front of distinguished customers. Isn't this the same as smashing the store's sign in front of him? Then he said hurriedly: "My guest, you can't say that. If you come here at this time during weekdays in our store, to be honest, let alone the private room upstairs."
"Even in the lobby downstairs, you have to wait in line for a long time. Who in Chang'an City doesn't know that our restaurant can't compare with those big restaurants in the inner city, regardless of the storefront, but our mutton is top notch?" The meat, steaks on hand, and the mutton soup hung in a big pot, even if you kill more than a dozen sheep every day, it’s not enough to sell. If you don’t believe it, you can go out and have a look. The sign of our restaurant was still mentioned by the skin during the reign of Taizu."
"You know, Pi Rixiu Pi Xiangye was a famous poet during the reign of Taizu. If the meat in our restaurant hadn't suited his old man's taste, he, as Ping Zhangshi under the central sect and Youcheng of Shangshu, would have been able to serve Taizu's army. A veteran of Form 1 asked to write the name of the shop? You know, after Mr. Pi became famous, how many people asked him to inscribe a name with money, but he never agreed. "
"In the whole city of Chang'an, this small shop is the only one with a sign inscribed by the old prime minister. Since the old shopkeeper followed the Qi army to Chang'an and opened this shop, the business has been extremely prosperous. Since the opening of our shop, hundreds of people have The fire under this stew pot has never been extinguished for more than a year. The ingredients have never been changed. The daily customers can't push it away. Is it possible that it doesn't taste good?"
Hearing the waiter's words, Huang Qiong and Liu Chang couldn't help but look at each other, and invariably looked at the sign outside the store. Upon closer inspection, the signboard of this store is indeed a great poet from the Qi and Tang Dynasties. From Conglong, Zhejiang Province, he successively served as a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, a minister of the Ministry of Rites, Ping Zhangshi under the Central Committee, and Youcheng of the Shangshu. He was the first civil servant to be knighted in this dynasty, and he was granted the title of Pi Rixiu, who succeeded Xuanbo.
After looking away, Huang Qiong said with some curiosity: "Since your store is usually so full of guests, why is it so deserted today? If the mutton in your store is really what you said, , everyone in Chang'an City knows and knows that this is the time for dinner, why can't there be even a table of guests? Could it be the second brother, you are bragging. "
After Huang Qiong finished speaking, the waiter's face turned red when he heard that his previous words were said to be bragging. But just when he was refuting Huang Qiong, the shopkeeper's voice came from behind him: "Don't disturb the guests here, why don't you go and see if the food at the back is ready? These guests look like noble people at first glance. Aren't you afraid of offending some gentlemen's ears by chattering here?"
The waiter dare not disobey the shopkeeper. I could only hang my head in despair and go to the back kitchen to order food for the only table of customers. Seeing that the shopkeeper didn't want the waiter to continue talking, Huang Qiong smiled and said: "Shopkeeper, we are not from the government, there is nothing to be taboo about. Chatting for a while can be regarded as relaxing. In fact, it is not a big deal. .It’s just a matter of having fun.”
In response to Huang Qiong's words, the elderly shopkeeper shook his head and said: "A few of the great gentlemen were joking. With your status and aura, you are not an ordinary person at first glance. This car and boat shop is all made by scumbags." Man. In your ears, nagging these things is not dirtying the ears of the elder. What’s more, I don’t know who you are. But I still know the Liu Pingshi next to you. "
"This eldest man can make a seventh-grade official so respectful. His status must not be simple. This eldest man looks unfamiliar again. From what he said before, he seems to be from Beijing. In addition, this person Not to mention ordinary people, even ordinary high-ranking officials and dignitaries cannot afford to wear sable fur. In addition, there is Mr. Liu next to me. I am afraid that the status of the eldest master is not a prince, but also a county king. "
"You can take some words as a matter of fun. But for young people, it might mean the life of the whole family, and even bring trouble to the boss. Therefore, when you go to a small shop, you should eat and drink. The small shop Everything is free of charge. But don’t you want to make fun of ordinary people like us? The speaker is unintentional and the listener is intentional. If you take it as a joke, it may not be the same for others. "
After saying this, the shopkeeper looked at the waiter who had come over with the dishes, sighed, and did not continue. The waiter prepared the dishes with quick hands and feet, but Huang Qiong didn't say anything if he asked anything. Neither Huang Qiong nor Liu Chang expected that their identities would be discovered. Although he really recognized who he was, he still guessed about it.
After this incident, Huang Qiong was more interested in this store than the somewhat reserved Liu Chang. After an awkward silence, Huang Qiong, who didn't want to drink, saw the food coming. After taking a bite, the mutton was extremely delicious. Another sip of the mutton soup was also very delicious. And the other dishes are also quite good, especially the coleslaw, which tastes quite refreshing.
