Chapter 21

Yan Shigu and the other scholars of the academy were content, and they slowly made their way down the mountain together. The situation was gradually developing in the direction that Xia Hongsheng hoped to see. The tea had been successfully promoted, and with Yan Shigu and these scholars acting as free advertising spokesmen, their prestige among the literati would ensure that it wouldn't be long before the tea became widely popular, becoming a highbrow beverage.

These scholars, when placed in the broader context of the literati, were all towering figures, with countless students vying to worship them. Each of these scholars had been invited by Yan Shigu, placing no value on fame or fortune, but rather dedicating themselves to the pursuit of knowledge. Each was a great Confucian scholar of the time, with immense influence among the students. This was also the reason why the Luanzhou Academy, located in a remote Luanzhou city, still attracted so many students. All of this was told to Xia Hongsheng by Xu Qixian, who also mentioned that local students from Luanzhou city probably made up less than 40% of the academy, with the rest being students who had come from afar, drawn by the academy's reputation. The academy's expenses were largely funded by these students.

This made Xia Hongsheng think about the holiday. There was one day off in a month, during which the students didn't have classes, but those who had come from afar couldn't return home, so they would be idle in the academy. Xia Hongsheng planned to take advantage of this day and post a notice to recruit members for his interest group. Xia Hongsheng was already a celebrity in the academy, and his famous quote, "A gentleman standing in the world should look upon the masses, have the world in his heart, establish the mind of heaven and earth, establish the destiny of the people, continue the lost learning of the ancient sages, and open a path to peace for future generations," had already greatly inspired the students. Many had deeply engraved these words in their hearts, deciding to make them their lifelong goals. His new interpretation of "A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen" had also amazed all the students. The poems he wrote had earned him the reputation of a prodigy, especially the line "Laughing out loud as I step out, how could we be mere commoners?" which was widely admired by the students and used to motivate themselves.

Now, Xia Hongsheng was no longer the anonymous student he once was. The students would greet him politely, addressing him as "Junior Brother Xia" with great respect.

I wonder if, when I call out, the students of the academy will rush to join my interest group? Xia Hongsheng was full of anticipation.

"Junior Brother Xia, my hands are sore from playing the zither today, and I've been bitten by mosquitoes in the bamboo grove. Shouldn't you treat me to a good meal to reward me for my efforts?" Xia Hongsheng was lost in his fantasy of all the students crying and fighting to join his interest group when Xu Qixian interrupted him.

Xia Hongsheng turned to look and saw a red, swollen bump on Xu Qixian's forehead, which looked quite amusing. He smiled and clasped his hands together, saying, "Brother Xu, your noble spirit is admirable. Fine, today I'll treat you to some fresh food. Follow me!"

Xu Qixian had only said this in jest, but when he heard that Xia Hongsheng was really going to treat him to fresh food, he became extremely excited. He had already been thoroughly convinced by Xia Hongsheng's culinary skills and often thought about the two meals Xia Hongsheng had treated him to. Now, hearing that Xia Hongsheng was going to treat him to more fresh food, he was naturally very happy and grabbed Xia Hongsheng, running out of the academy. The students who saw Xia Hongsheng coming had just raised their hands to greet him when they saw him being dragged away by Xu Qixian. Xia Hongsheng could only smile bitterly and wave from a distance as a greeting.

"Stop! Stop!" After rushing down Kuishan Hill, Xia Hongsheng forcefully broke free from Xu Qixian's grip, straightened his clothes, and said irritably, "What's the rush? We're not going to my house; we're going to the market."

"The market?" Xu Qixian looked at Xia Hongsheng in confusion, then said, "Junior Brother Xia, what I want is the delicious food you make. How can the food in the market compare to what you make? Don't try to fool me. Besides, if you make me spend money in the market, I won't go."

"Relax, we're going to my sister-in-law's place," Xia Hongsheng said, patting his wrinkled clothes.

"Ah? Scallion oil pancakes? They're fine for breakfast, but now...?" Xu Qixian scratched his head, not very enthusiastic.

Xia Hongsheng rolled his eyes, "Not scallion oil pancakes. You'll see when we get there. If you want to come, come."

With that, he turned and walked toward the market. Xu Qixian, unable to resist his curiosity, hurriedly followed.

When they reached the market in Luanzhou city, they saw a large crowd gathered. Xia Hongsheng quickly ran over, not making a fuss, and squeezed through to the front. He breathed a sigh of relief. The people around were pointing and discussing, but not about his sister-in-law; they were looking at the food cart. Zhang Laohan had been very meticulous, even painting it. The top of the food cart had wooden hooks for hanging things and displaying the name. Below was a large chopping board made of willow wood, which was perfect for the task. The left side of the chopping board was divided into squares for different ingredients, while the right side was a griddle. Next to the griddle was a clay stove for charcoal, which could be used for cooking. Below the chopping board were cabinets for storing large bags of ingredients and the folding stools, which didn't take up much space. One end of the food cart had a handle for pulling, with a strap that could be slung over the shoulder. The other end had three wooden bars that could hold the folding tables in place. The wheels were a particularly unique feature. Unlike ordinary wooden wheels, the wheels of the food cart had a ring of ox sinew around them, with soft wood inside. This idea was Xia Hongsheng's, as there was no rubber in the Tang Dynasty. He explained his idea to Zhang Laohan, who thought for a while and then slapped his thigh, saying that ox sinew and soft wood would achieve the desired effect. The ox sinew was hard to find, and it was only with Xu Qixian's help that he managed to get it.

So, Xia Hongsheng pointed to the wheels of the food cart and said to Xu Qixian, who was curiously examining it, "See, the ox sinew you asked for is used here. Go home and get more ox sinew, and ask my neighbor, the carpenter Zhang Laohan, to treat your carriage wheels the same way. It won't be as good as spring suspension, but it will be much better than what you have now, and it will save you effort. The last time I saw your carriage, the horses were limping and exhausted."

Xu Qixian turned to look at Xia Hongsheng with a puzzled expression, but saw that Xia Hongsheng had already stepped forward and was walking toward the food cart. You people, what's the point of just standing around? Come and queue up for the food! Xia Hongsheng thought to himself as he walked to his sister-in-law, who was busy, and said, "Sister-in-law, I'll help you."

Of course, Xia Hongsheng and Xu Qixian were forcibly pushed to the side by the women. The women wouldn't let Xia Hongsheng help, and she was so anxious that she was almost in tears. Seeing that there was nothing he could do, Xia Hongsheng let her be and pulled out a table and two stools from under the food cart, set them up, and sat down.

"Hey? Junior Brother Xia, these tables and stools are quite ingenious. They can be folded when not in use, making them easy to carry. When needed, they can be unfolded and are very stable. If students traveling for studies could bring a set, it would be very convenient," Xu Qixian said, curiously unfolding and folding the table and stools, enjoying himself. As he spoke, he heard a sizzling sound, and a tempting aroma spread around. The smell was irresistible, and people's noses twitched involuntarily. As the sizzling sound continued, the crowd around them also began to sniff the air. In the Tang Dynasty, there weren't many street vendors selling food directly, and in a small place like Luanzhou city, no one had ever set up a stall to cook on the street. So, the passersby were curious and stopped to watch the cooking. After a while, they were drawn by the aroma, wanting to try the food, but they were hesitant to approach something they had never seen before, fearing they might make a fool of themselves in front of so many people.

Xu Qixian was so curious about the folding tables and stools that he ran over and took out the remaining ones from the food cart, setting them up in a row. He then turned to Xia Hongsheng and said, "Junior Brother Xia, have the carpenter make a few more for me. My uncle is coming in a few days, and I'll give him a pair. He's a county magistrate and travels a lot. It will be convenient for him to carry them."

"Rest assured, I'll take care of it," Xia Hongsheng nodded, seeing that Xu Qixian had returned to his seat. He then turned to his sister-in-law and called out, "Sister-in-law, two large bowls of oil-splashed noodles with extra Sichuan pepper, and two bowls of rice wine!"

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