Liang Chuan saw that people had almost arrived, and the sun was almost moving to the middle. He might miss lunch if he delayed any longer. He signaled to Sun Houpu that the waiters on the left and right could bring up the colored balls, and the ceremony began.
Hong Bufan and more than a hundred waiters were all dressed in smart young men's uniforms. The group of people moved in a uniform manner. They followed orders and prohibitions without being sloppy and did not do their own thing. Even the height of the trays they held in their hands was the same. It made people's eyes shine. This is A private army or a group of servants?
There is a bright red ball on the tray, connected with a ribbon, and it looks like there are more than ten red fruits on a string. There is also a pair of scissors in the tray.
The Forbidden City has announced early that a colored ball throwing ceremony will be held at the opening ceremony. If the audience can grab a colored ball, they can exchange it for fifty kilograms of polished rice. Fifty kilograms of rice can be eaten by a small family for a full month, and the temptation is not ordinary.
All the officials of the imperial court, look at me and see if you don't understand what this means. Liang Chuan smiled and said: "Everyone picked up the scissors in front of you and cut off the red ribbon together. Throw the colored balls to the crowd. The people We are all waiting for your lord’s colored balls!”
As soon as Liang Chuan finished speaking, all the officials began to give up the seat of honor in the middle with a tacit understanding. Yan Shu made a gesture of invitation to Ding Wei with a smile, indicating that Ding Wei must take the seat of honor.
It seems that ranking based on seniority is an old political tradition with a long history in our country. .
"Sanlang, is this a unique ceremony in your hometown?"
"This is a ritual I learned from overseas at Qingyuan Port. It seemed quite festive, so I followed the same example and used it. Sirs, don't be surprised!"
"I didn't know that outsiders also like the festive feeling of red as much as I do in the Song Dynasty!" Ding Wei teased, and everyone laughed in response.
As Ding Wei cut off the colored balls with a click, others also cut off the ribbons, and a row of colored balls was thrown into the sea of people with a roar.
The common people were calm at first, but when the colorful ball fell into the sea of people, they could no longer sit still. Everyone was fighting for it like ants on a hot pot, and the Forbidden City was completely boiling.
This small street has a limited number of people. Besides Yang Chongxun, most of these officials are civil servants. There are a few who are very strong. They can't throw colored balls very far. All of a sudden, they are cheaper than those close to the gate of the Forbidden City. audience.
Then Liang Chuan invited Ding Wei under the gate. There was a plaque covered with red silk hanging on the top, and a rope hung down from the right.
Liang Chuan bent over and respectfully handed the end of the rope to Ding Wei and said, "I will ask Mr. Ding to unveil the plaque with his golden hand!"
Ding Wei pulled the rope without hesitation, and the red silk cloth slowly fell down with a chirping sound. The plaque read "Forbidden City" in three large gold characters.
Lei Yungong saw the plaque and said, "Old Ding, this treasure seems to be your handiwork!"
When everyone took a closer look, they heard all kinds of good calligraphy and sincere words. Liang Chuan and Sun Houpu did not dare to show a trace of disdain on their faces. They must know that the consequence of slapping Ding Wei in the face and flattering him was that even the prime minister would be punished, and It was a terrible mess.
The door to the Forbidden City slowly opened, and Liang Chuan invited everyone to enter.
Liangchuan on the first floor is a restaurant for public consumption. As soon as the officials entered the building and found out that it was a restaurant, their expressions were a little ugly. However, seeing that their eldest brother Ding Wei was supporting the scene, they didn't have any stage fright.
In the Song Dynasty, officials were not allowed to enter restaurants. However, this kind of rule is dead. It is just to dig out these old and rotten sesame tents when those officials who are in trouble and have no power are put in the wrong place. The usual punishment is just a fine of a salary and a bad official reputation. If food has to be put on the line and the troops are dispatched to the army, how can we live this life?
The lobby is more gorgeous than ordinary restaurants, but it is not as luxurious as Zifan Tower. Instead, it has a farmhouse atmosphere that is friendly to the people. But if you look closely, whether it is tableware or tables and chairs, the materials are all extremely Elegant, practical and attractive in shape.
For example, there is a small stove made of bright yellow copper placed on every guest table. It is hollowed out in the middle and has a groove around the side. It doesn't look like a lamp. I have never seen such copperware before.
The table is full of food compartments. There are fresh lotus root slices sent from Yuehu Lake in Hanyang, taro from Lipu, winter bamboo shoots from Jiang'an in Sichuan, mushrooms, bean sprouts, tofu, fried dough sticks and twists, etc. It is difficult to get river fresh food this season, but Bianjing is rich in food, including loach, crucian carp and grass carp. There are a dazzling array of grass shrimps.
The most beautiful thing is the slices of fresh and tender crystal mutton, with alternating textures of lean meat and fat. The slices are as thin as cicada wings and spread on the crushed ice. In addition to mutton, there are also chicken, duck and goose meat, duck blood, duck intestines, duck paws and chicken gizzards. Beef is except for a small number of long-haired yaks from the northwest that are occasionally driven to the inland for killing. Now that economic exchanges have been completely cut off due to the war, it is even more unavailable. .
All these ingredients are fresh and uncooked, and they are laid out on a table, with a basket of silver-bone bamboo charcoal placed next to it. A table was waiting for a young waiter. The waiter looked young and confused, but all of them had exactly the same smile on their faces, and even their movements were the same.
This kind of restaurant is so fresh!
"Sanlang... is it true that all the food in your restaurant is raw? How come you can smell even a hint of smoke?"
Everyone had the same question, and Ding Wei raised the question as a representative.
"Sir, this is the most famous way to eat in our hometown, it's called hot pot!"
"hot pot?"
Liang Chuan said: "This way of eating was something I encountered by chance in the North. The nomadic Mongolians in the North are not like us Han people who cook on the stove. They immediately bring a pot and set it up when they are hungry. The meat slices are ready to eat as soon as they are cooked in the pot. The kid improved their eating method and created a way of eating that is most suitable for us Han people. It is also supplemented by various fresh ingredients from all over the Central Plains. After watching the show, the kid will Prepare a table on the fifth floor and invite the adults to enjoy it!"
Northland! Mongol!
There were also Mongols doing business in the Song Dynasty, but they had to cross the areas controlled by the Khitans, which took great risks. According to legend, their tribe was very small, and they were so brave and fierce that they were suppressed by the Khitans and could not develop at all. They could only live in Struggling to survive in the bitter cold desert in the far north, this kid Liang Chuan actually went to such a place!
Come on, how can you eat this way without trying it? Besides, these are not delicacies from mountains and seas. They are very common home-cooked dishes. You must try them soon. It may be a rare way to eat them once in your life.
"I'm treating you to this meal today. Please give me, Mr. Ding, a piece of thin noodles. I will support Saburo's new opening in the Forbidden City."
"How dare we disobey Mr. Ding's words!"
Everyone went upstairs, and a new world began on the second floor.
There are eight door panels facing the stairs. The upper half of the door panels are decorated with various flower carvings of different shapes. The flowers are inlaid with pearls, just like the stars in the sky. Craftsmen who know the goods will spot every flower at a glance. They are all made of twenty-four petals embedded in locks. Even the craftsmanship of the Ouchi Imperial Palace is not so exquisite.
Liang Chuan didn't stop and continued walking upstairs with the group of people. Everyone couldn't help being curious and looked around. There were tea tables on the second floor. The teapots and small teapots on the tables were exquisite. The ancient shelves against the wall were filled with all kinds of rare treasures, jades, antiques, rocks and famous paintings. They looked real. A treasure room!
These tea sets are Longquan celadon ordered by Liang Chuan from Zhejiang at a high price. The style of the tea sets is that of Kung Fu tea. Liang Chuan doesn't like the tea ordering method of this era, which seems like drinking soup instead of tasting tea. Popularity often spreads from high-ranking people, and only by capturing the tricky mouths of these high-ranking officials can this tea-drinking method spread.
Some sharp-eyed officials have discovered that those calligraphy and paintings were sent by themselves! Everyone was so frightened that they retracted their heads and almost retracted into their mouths. If Kong Daofu, Jiang Qi, and other censors of Jianyuan saw this, they would have to peel off a layer of skin just to explain the origins of these precious objects. Got it!
Thinking of this festival, everyone's scalps felt numb. It was not suitable to stay here for a long time. With so many treasures, I no longer felt nostalgic, and followed Liang Chuan's footsteps to the third floor.
On the third floor, in addition to the stage, there are tea seats above and below. There are pipes and cigarette bags on the tea seats. Each pipe is exquisitely carved from Hainan rosewood, and is filled with fine cut tobacco carefully selected by Liang Chuan. Many precious spices such as agarwood are added to the cut tobacco. Liang Chuan has tried it himself, and there is no irritating smell when burning. Son.
"This is shredded tobacco produced in Nanyang. Put it in a pipe, light it, slowly inhale it into your lungs, and then spit it out. It may be dry and sluggish at first, but after many times, I guarantee that you will fall in love with this shredded tobacco. This shredded tobacco can concentrate your mind, reduce stress, soothe your liver, and relieve depression." , can be called the best fairy grass in the world."
In order to lead this group of people into the trap, Liang Chuan himself learned to smoke. He gently picked up a pipe, put in a handful of shredded tobacco, and ignited it with a fire stick. The fragrance slowly spread out. Liang Chuan smoked Inhale it into the lungs and then spit it out through the nose. The enjoyment looks like those terrible drug addicts. Once you get stuck on cigarettes, you have to put them down unless you have great perseverance!
Everyone looked at Liang Chuan puffing away the smoke and smelled the smell of second-hand smoke. It was really good!
Liang Chuan is not worried that these people will not take the bait. As long as someone takes the lead, there will definitely be people who will smoke in the future!
I have to say that men do have a special charm when they smoke. These officials wanted to give it a try!
Everyone sat down one by one, and Sun Houpu asked the waiter to bring the best tea from their Sun family. The brewing methods include both the traditional tea method and Liang Chuan's new Kung Fu tea. Each tea table has a dedicated maid to pour tea for them. As for the tea brewing skills, Liang Chuan himself taught them step by step.
Liang Chuan clapped his hands, and the light on the third floor dimmed for a moment. The curtain on the stage slowly pulled up, and a puff of smoke slowly floated out. The background of the stage included mountains, water, and a stone tower, matching this The smoke is like a fairyland on earth.
This is the scenery of West Lake.
The music suddenly sounded: "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah." The beauty of the West Lake is March. The spring rain is like wine and the willows are like smoke. We are destined to meet each other thousands of miles away, but if we are not destined to meet each other, it is difficult to hold hands. After ten years of cultivation, we can cross in the same boat. After a hundred years of cultivation, we can share the same destiny. Sleeping on the pillow, if there is good luck for thousands of years, the white heads and the heart will be in front of you."
