"Heh, is this Nara tea rice?"
Zhang Heng picked up the rice bowl in front of him, put it under his nose and smelled it. The rice cooked by Xiaoshan Qian had a wonderful aroma, which was mixed with the fragrance of tea and grains, and mixed with a hint of salt and wine.
In addition, Nara tea rice is not just rice. In addition to rice, it also includes millet, dried chestnuts, glutinous rice, red beans and fried soybeans. It is cooked with dashi and served in a bowl, plus pickles and tofu soup. It was originally It was the food of the monks of Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple in Nara, but it became unexpectedly popular after that.
"How about giving it a try?" Akane Xiaoshan put down the wooden spoon and urged.
"Then you're welcome." After Zhang Heng said this, he picked up the chopsticks, picked up a pickled radish strip, and ate it with the steaming rice and tea that had just come out of the pot.
"How's it going?" Xiaoshan Akane sat on her knees and leaned forward and asked nervously.
Zhang Heng did not answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and carefully felt the taste between his lips and teeth. After a moment, he opened his eyes again and said, "Well, it's surprisingly delicious. I didn't expect that Miss Xiaoshan, your cooking skills are so good."
"No, I just learned it from my father." Xiaoshan Qian said and sat back down. Zhang Heng's reaction seemed to make her relieved.
"Does your father know how to cook?" Zhang Heng asked.
"Yes, my late father once said that cooking, like the art of swordsmanship, is a kind of practice. You need to endure it before you can finally see your true heart." Akane Koyama said.
…………
Five days have passed since Yamada and others came to provoke him.
After the warriors of the Choshu clan retreated, Zhang Heng proposed to simply join the Koyama Dojo. However, Koyama Akane did not agree immediately, but asked Zhang Heng to think carefully for a few days.
In Xiaoshan Qian's view, apprenticeship is a major life event and should not be decided in haste. Moreover, Zhang Heng's sword skills are so powerful that even if his father is still alive, he is no match for him. Xiaoshan Qian does not know what else she can teach Zhang. Constant.
She invited Zhang Heng over today, just to cook and thank the latter for his previous rescue.
In addition to Nara tea rice, she also prepared grilled bonito. The fresh bonito and its skin are grilled over a high fire until they turn white. They are then soaked in vinegar water and sliced. They are dipped in mustard paste miso. It is delicious and very popular in Kyoto.
Muroi Chikaku, a disciple of Matsuo Basho (yes, that’s right, the famous haiku writer in Hiyori), once left a sentence, "The wisteria flowers bloom/I wait with my fingers crossed/Sitting down to eat the first bonito day." The feeling of wanting to eat bonito, and the ultimate foodie shouting "I would rather pawn my wife than eat bonito". Every year when bonito first comes on the market, the price can even soar to the same price as gold, and only the shogun daimyo can eat it. Get on.
Now it is finally the turn of the common people. However, Xiaoshan Qian also spent a lot of money for this meal. Coupled with the food subsidies for the children, the rent Xiaoshan Qian just received may not be able to cover it for long. .
In fact, the best way is to close the dojo, and Akane Koyama can live in Kyoto with the rent, or get married and raise a husband and children, but she seems to have never considered these possibilities.
While the two were eating, someone knocked on the door of the small mountain dojo.
Xiaoshan Qian put out the fire and said to Zhang Heng, "I'll open the door and you can continue eating."
As she said that, she trotted to the door and opened it. Standing outside was a couple who looked very strange.
"What's the matter with you two?" Xiaoshan Akane asked.
Before the male host could speak, his wife had already knelt down and called out "benefactor".
"Eh?" Xiaoshan Akane was a little confused about the situation.
Fortunately, the male host opened his mouth and explained, "We are Chiyo's parents. You saved two little girls at the market a few days ago. One of them is our daughter."
"Oh, don't take it to heart, it's just a trivial effort." Akane Oyama was a little embarrassed. At this time, she also saw Chiyo hiding behind her parents. The latter was holding a box and seemed a little shy.
The male host picked up the box in her hand and stuffed it into Akane Koyama's hand, "I know I can't repay the kindness of saving my life, but I hope you can accept this small gift."
Akane Koyama opened the box and saw a handful of ribs inside.
"My ancestor was a famous blacksmith in Ise, but I am ashamed to say that my generation can only make some farm tools. Fortunately, there is still a short sword passed down from the family. I hope you can use it." The male host said.
"This is too precious. Since it belongs to our ancestors, it's better to keep it in your hands." Akane Koyama declined.
"No, no, we are not samurai. Even if we keep it at home, it will just gather dust. Why not give it to someone who needs it. If it is you, I believe you will be able to put it to good use." Seeing Akane Koyama's refusal, the male host was also a little anxious. He pulled his daughter and knelt on the ground like his wife.
When Zhang Heng heard the noise outside the door, he thought people from the Changzhou clan were here again, so he put down his bowls and chopsticks and walked out of the dojo, but he saw this scene in front of him.
Chiyo seemed a little surprised to see him. She didn't expect that he was still living with Akane Koyama. His eyes curiously wandered over Akane Koyama and Zhang Heng, probably guessing the relationship between the two.
In the end, Koyama Akane couldn't resist the blacksmith couple and had to accept the difference, so the family of three left with great gratitude.
Akane Koyama stood at the door of the dojo holding the short sword. She seemed to be reminded of some memory, lowering her head and thinking about something.
Zhang Heng didn't bother her, and it wasn't until a while later that she groaned and raised her head, "Sorry, I remembered something my father said before. Xiaoshan Mingxinliu emphasizes defense and neglects offense because everyone has something in their heart." The thing you want to protect is a sword, which is a deadly weapon, but as long as it is used properly, it can also save people. This is probably the reason why he opened a dojo. Today, I understand his words even more deeply."
"Can I take a look?" Zhang Heng reached out and took the ribs from Xiaoshan Qian's hand.
It is slightly lighter than an ordinary short knife. Although it has been a long time since it was made, it has been well maintained and the blade is still sharp. It uses jade steel technology. The iron sand is first smelted into iron blocks in the furnace, and then smashed with iron chips. , melted into an iron bar, beaten continuously and finally formed into shape, it can indeed be called a good knife.
"If you like it, take it." Xiaoshan Qian said. She had long noticed that Zhang Heng only had an old knife on his body, with no ribs.
Of course, the ribs are not as commonly used compared to tachi and katana. In most cases, they are used as an emergency after samurai lose their tachi or katana, or to break armor and fight in small places.
