Chapter 36

Luanzhou City was ultimately too small. Although the scenery was pleasant, it lacked many opportunities for a family that needed to develop. Fortunately, Luanzhou City belonged to Luoyang City, which, though not very close, was certainly not far. A good carriage could reach it in less than two days via the official road. Luoyang City, known as the Eastern Capital, was the capital of the late Sui Dynasty, constructed in the first year of Emperor Yang's Daye era. It faced Yique to the south and Mangshan to the north. During the Tang Dynasty, it was another political and economic center besides the capital Chang'an, and also a major transportation hub connecting Jiangdu, Taihu, and Zhejiang to the southeast, Shandong and Zhuo Commandery to the northeast, and Guanzhong and Chang'an to the west. Luoyang City in the Tang Dynasty was a metropolis that was absolutely on par with the capital Chang'an, and as a transportation hub connecting the north, south, east, and west, it was bound to be commercially prosperous. Originally, Xia Hongsheng had planned to open a snack city in Luanzhou, and then move to Luoyang City after accumulating some capital. However, if Yan Shigu and the other three could use the salt-making method to earn some rewards, and they were going to submit a petition, which would definitely be seen by the emperor, the emperor's reward would not be stingy, right? So, this step of initial capital accumulation could be skipped, and he could directly use the rewards to buy land in Luoyang City, build a snack city, train a group of people, and then distribute them to various windows. Perhaps, in the future, the people of Luoyang might even discover the ruins of the snack city, which would shock them. Ha ha!

Xia Hongsheng fantasized about a better life, hoping for more rewards, like a few thousand strings of cash, which would immediately turn him into a Tang Dynasty tycoon, allowing him to live the carefree life of a rich and idle young man that he had always dreamed of.

"By the way, Xia Shixiong, I want to ask for your help. I wonder if you are willing." Just as Xia Hongsheng was lost in his fantasies, he was interrupted by Xu Qixian. Turning around, he saw Xu Qixian with a somewhat troubled look on his face.

Xia Hongsheng smiled and waved his hand. "Just say it. We are brothers, no need for formalities."

"Alright, it's like this. My uncle's family only comes once a year, and the younger brothers and sisters are all young. As their elder brother, I want to treat my uncle and aunt, as well as the younger brothers and sisters, to some good food. Although our family cook has learned many new dishes from you, they still lack the flavor that you can create. I want to ask Xia Shixiong to personally make some dishes so that my uncle and aunt, and the younger brothers and sisters, can taste them." Xu Qixian scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "It will be a bit of trouble for Xia Shixiong, but you are a scholar..."

"Enough, enough, you're making it sound too formal." Xia Hongsheng waved his hand. "I am just a commoner. Whether I am a scholar or not, we are like brothers, and Uncle Xu has been very kind to me. It is only right for me to prepare a meal for them. There's no issue of losing face. Since it's like this, and I have nothing to do in the afternoon, let's go. Master Yan and the others, well, they probably won't be back to the academy for a while. I'm sure Master Yan has already informed the Master when he took you out, right?"

"Master has agreed that I can skip classes for the next two days." Xu Qixian nodded. "But Xia Shixiong, what dishes are you going to make? I think the braised pork is quite good..."

Xia Hongsheng chuckled as Xu Qixian listed the delicious dishes he had tasted from him. The two of them walked to the market to buy ingredients. Since they were cooking, they needed to purchase materials, but it wasn't complicated. They just needed to select and report the quantities, and the rest would be handled by Xu's servants.

Xu Qixian had always taken good care of Xia Hongsheng. If not for Xu Qixian's help, the introverted and awkward Xia Hongsheng would have been bullied in the academy. Thanks to Xu Qixian's protection, no one ever dared to provoke him. Xu Qixian also knew about Xia Hongsheng's family situation and always tried to help. Xia Hongsheng still remembered this, and he felt it was his duty to repay the favor. So, cooking for him for free was not a loss of face. Besides, coming from the future, he didn't have the same concept of status. Cooking was something he had done countless times in the future, and he didn't have the pretentiousness of ancient scholars.

Xia Hongsheng didn't mind, but Xu Qixian felt very guilty. Although Xia Hongsheng had a new interpretation of the saying "a gentleman stays away from the kitchen," the old观念 still lingered, and he felt it was inappropriate for Xia Hongsheng to cook a whole meal in the kitchen like a servant, which would damage his status and dignity. On the way, he tried to back out several times, but Xia Hongsheng always refused.

Xia Hongsheng selected a lot of vegetables from the market and bought mutton and pork from the butcher. He just needed to pick and report the quantities, and the servants would pay and have the vendors deliver the ingredients to Xu's house.

Back at Xu Qixian's house, Xia Hongsheng washed his hands with soap, rolled up his sleeves, and went into the kitchen. Xu Qixian followed him in, ready to help, but Xia Hongsheng laughed and chased him out, leaving the cooks to help with the preparation. Xia Hongsheng, being an amateur, had poor knife skills, but with the professional cooks, he could try some elaborate dishes.

In a wealthy household, the kitchen always had hot drawers, so there was no worry about the dishes getting cold or losing flavor. With limited ingredients, the variety of dishes was limited, but he could prepare a table similar to what he had done at Yixiangju, with a few additional elaborate dishes. It was just a family banquet, so good taste was enough, and there was no need for too many varieties.

The entire afternoon, the kitchen of Xu's house was filled with a delicious aroma. The maids and servants passing by the kitchen would stop to sniff the air, trying to inhale as much of the enticing scent as possible, even if they couldn't eat it, just smelling it was a treat.

Xu Qixian had come to the kitchen several times, trying to sneak a taste. He even found a good excuse, saying that he needed to taste the dishes first to recommend them to his family. Of course, the result was that Xia Hongsheng threw him a braised pig's trotter to satisfy his craving and then chased him out.

Finally, all the dishes were placed in the hot drawers, except for the last one. It wasn't for the evening meal but a pot of braised pork that Xia Hongsheng took the opportunity to make. He taught the cook the method of braising pork so that he could easily make it in the future. Since the last time they had eaten the pork at his house, the Xu family had fallen in love with the rich and flavorful meat.

The braising liquid in the pot was bubbling, and the leftover pork and bones were simmering, releasing a rich aroma that filled the courtyard.

Xia Hongsheng fished out a few bones for the cooks to enjoy and took two for himself. He left the kitchen and sat on a stone bench outside to rest. His body was still growing, and his height was not tall, making cooking quite uncomfortable.

Sitting down, with no one around, he was about to put the bone in his mouth when he noticed a tuft of hair peeking out from behind the wall. He knew a child was hiding there. Xia Hongsheng looked over, and just as he did, a little girl peeked out, only to quickly hide again, startled.

"I saw you. If you want to eat, come over." Xia Hongsheng called out with a smile.

After a while, a small figure emerged from behind the wall, straightening her clothes and trying to act like an adult as she walked over to Xia Hongsheng. The little girl tried to appear calm, but her nervous, deer-like eyes betrayed her.

"Ahem, what are you cooking? It smells so good!" The little girl's voice was clear and melodious, like pearls falling on a jade plate. She tried to act nonchalant, but her nose twitched and her throat involuntarily swallowed, betraying her.

Seeing her nervous yet composed demeanor, Xia Hongsheng chuckled and held out the bone to her. "I'm cooking this. It's very delicious. Want to try?"

The little girl's eyes were immediately drawn to the bone in Xia Hongsheng's hand, and the enticing aroma made her mouth water.

"I... Ahem, I don't eat. It's full of grease! Mother says girls shouldn't be greasy and must be calm and graceful. I won't eat it!" The little girl struggled to look away from the bone, shaking her head. However, her swallowing became more frequent.

Saying one thing but doing another, Xia Hongsheng thought with a smile. "Little girl, if you don't eat, I will!"

He then bit into the bone, tearing off a large piece of meat, which he chewed and swallowed, savoring the rich, tender, and flavorful taste.

"I'm not a little girl, I'm the eldest daughter of the Xu family!" The little girl, offended by Xia Hongsheng's comment, pouted and put on an air of authority, making Xia Hongsheng chuckle again. "Besides, you don't look much older either!"

Xia Hongsheng ignored her and continued to gnaw on the bone, making sounds of enjoyment, which made the little girl even more envious.

"How can you be so rude? Making sounds while eating!" The little girl took a step back and scolded Xia Hongsheng.

Seeing her act like a little adult, Xia Hongsheng decided to tease her. "Who said that? It's clearly your stomach growling because you want to eat. How can you blame me?"

"I am not! Uh..." The little girl protested, but as she opened her mouth, Xia Hongsheng stuffed another bone into it.

The rich flavor immediately filled her mouth, and she quickly raised her hands to hold it. "You!... Uh, it's so delicious!"

"You're just a little kid, pretending to be an adult. Ha ha, eat quickly! After you finish, wash your hands and don't tell anyone, and your mother won't know!" Xia Hongsheng laughed and continued to gnaw on his bone.

The little girl wanted to argue but couldn't resist the delicious taste. She carefully pinched the bone and tore off small pieces to eat.

"Really delicious!" The little girl's eyes curved into a happy smile.

Xia Hongsheng smiled at her contented expression and asked, "Little girl, what's your name?"

"I'm not a little girl!" The little girl protested again, but with a mouth full of grease, she looked quite amusing. "My name is Xu Hui!"

Xia Hongsheng's eyes widened.

Isn't it the first year of the Zhen Guan era now?

Maybe it's not the same person I'm thinking of.