Su Lingzheng and Du Heng were bored playing card games in the back hall. Su Ling used bamboo slips to carve fifty-four poster cards and taught Du Heng how to play them in his spare time. Finally, he had something to do, and it was better than two people.
Big men are better at picking their feet.
It's just that Du Heng really has some brains that are not enough, and he has lost all his energy in learning to pick up the bamboo pole, let alone other things.
Killing time is better than nothing.
The two played until ten minutes near noon, but Du Heng didn't win a single game. He was about to take off his clothes and go into battle, when he heard the sound of a carriage ringing outside the back door.
Su Ling and Du Heng put down the bamboo slips and poker cards in their hands and headed out the door.
But in front of the carriage and horses, Guo Baiyi on the left, Xu Wenruo on the right, and Xiao Yuanche in the middle were standing there, looking at him with a smile.
Su Ling quickly bowed to the three of them and said, "Su Ling is rude. It's a festive season. I should have gone to say hello to the three of them first, but they were allowed to come first."
Xiao Yuanche laughed and said, "If we hadn't been thinking about your delicious food, we really wouldn't have come."
With that said, everyone laughed and entered the back hall.
Su Ling asked the three of them to sit down and brought out Maojian tea. The three of them drank it and were filled with admiration.
Xiao Yuanche said with a joking smile: "This doesn't count. Don't try to fool us with this tea again. Where is the delicious food you said?"
Su Ling pretended to be mysterious and said: "Please wait a minute..." Then he whispered in Du Heng's ear, and Du Heng went towards the kitchen with excitement on his face.
After a while, everyone saw Du Heng coming out of the cauldron with a strange mouthful.
The material is dark yellow and should be copper.
There are two rings on both sides of the cauldron. A conical cylinder protrudes from the cauldron and reaches so high that the bottom of the cone takes up most of it, leaving only a circle around it. There is a small round cover at the top of the cone, whose purpose is unknown.
Then he saw Du Heng put the weird copper cauldron on the table and turned around to go back.
Xiao Yuanche was amused and pointed: "What is this? You kid is always tinkering with strange things."
Su Ling laughed and said: "This thing is not unusual, it's just a cauldron."
Xu Wenruo also stared at the cauldron for a long time and said, "Although this is a cauldron, this is the first time I have seen it."
Guo Baiyi smiled and said: "This is not surprising. I have heard that nomadic people deep in the grasslands once had such cauldrons, but I don't know what they were used for."
Su Ling nodded and said, "Lao Guo is very knowledgeable. Soon everyone will know how to use this thing."
When Du Heng came in again, he found four adobe bricks, propped up the bottom of the cauldron on all sides, and put some hay, sawdust and other things underneath.
Then he went out and brought out a big copper pot, which was filled with cold water from the well.
Su Ling winked at Du Heng. Du Heng understood and poured water into the cauldron. He also sprinkled some red long flat dried fruits, some green onions and ginger slices.
Finally, he lit the fire starter under the cauldron. For a moment, the flames jumped and filled the room with warmth.
Su Ling and others sat down around the cauldron. Seeing this scene, Xiao Yuanche thought that this method was very novel, but there were too few things in the cauldron, and there was nothing valuable about it. He looked at Su Ling sideways and said, "Is it possible?
Is this what you call delicious food? Isn’t it just onions, ginger, and an unknown dried fruit boiled in plain water?”
Su Ling laughed, pretending to be mysterious and said: "Sikong will know later."
Xiao Yuanche frowned and said: "You call me Lao Guo, and I call you Sikong? It's not a formal occasion. If you call me like that again, I'll leave..."
Su Ling hurriedly smiled and nodded: "Brother Xiao...Brother Xiao..."
Xiao Yuanche just hummed, his expression was very helpful.
Su Ling then introduced: "This red dried fruit is called wolfberry. It was brought back by my master Zhang Shennong when he visited Liangzhou when I was studying medicine!"
Guo Baiyi nodded and said: "This thing is small and red, what's the use of it?"
Su Ling smiled and said: "This fruit is a great tonic. Eating it can nourish your skin and blood, and it can even... strengthen your yang."
He lowered his voice again and said: "My Liuwei Dihuang Pills contain this medicine..." After saying that, he looked at Guo Baiyi with a pointed look.
Guo Baiyi laughed loudly when he heard this and said: "Well, this is a good thing. Give me a pack later and I'll drink it..."
Su Ling was stunned. This old Guo was really self-taught in how to use wolfberry...
But Guo Baiyi couldn't wait to take the chopsticks, and rolled up his sleeves to pick them up.
Su Ling smiled lightly and said: "Wait a minute, wait a minute, this is just a seasoning, the main dish hasn't been served yet!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Du Heng coming out of the kitchen and carrying a food box.
Everyone looked at it and saw that there were eight small plates on it, a total of two kinds of things, four plates of each kind.
Four of the dishes contained garlic sauce, which everyone recognized.
The other four dishes were filled with khaki, sticky stuff, which looked a little unappetizing.
Xiao Yuanche frowned and said: "What is this thing? It looks so weird..."
Su Ling laughed and said, "This is the sesame paste (sesame paste) I made from ground sesame. It is used to dip into today's main course. Although it is a bit unsightly, if you want to try it, you will definitely like it."
The same goes for the garlic sauce above..."
Guo Baiyi was stunned and said: "What does superior mean?"
Su Ling rolled his eyes, and in a moment he figured out the modern word, and said hurriedly: "The so-called "high" means addiction. After one bite, you will think about the second bite..."
Guo Baiyi then laughed and said: "The brain is in the head, always thinking about the top, isn't it? Su Ling, your word is very appropriate, very appropriate! I want to take a look later, I can't get to the top...
..."
Xu Wenruo looked at the sesame paste and said, "Felum? I've only heard of flax oil, but today is the first time I've seen sesame paste."
Xiao Yuanche first took a plate of sesame sauce, frowned and smelled it, and blurted out: "It really smells good!"
But when Su Ling asked everyone to choose their ingredients, Guo Baiyi was quite resistant to the shape and chose garlic juice.
Xiao Yuanche took some of both.
Xu Wenruo and Su Ling each took the sesame paste, then sat down in front of the cauldron.
But I saw that the white water in the cauldron was already boiling, and the chives, wolfberry and ginger slices were tumbling up and down, and the steam was steaming.
Xiao Yuanche asked: "This water is already boiling, why haven't we seen the main course yet? Do you want to drink this cauldron of boiling water?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Du Heng brought an iron basin out from the kitchen and put it on Table Mountain. Everyone looked at it intently. It turned out to be extremely thin slices of meat, half red and half white, bright in color.
Xiao Yuanche and the others looked at it for a long time, then Fang Qi asked: "What kind of meat is this?"
Su Ling smiled and said: "This is the meat of a young goat."
Guo Baiyi shook his head first and said: "This goat meat is the most fishy. It's just that the ignorant barbarian Mowan tribe in the Northeast eats it more. Our Jin Dynasty etiquette education, this thing is disgusted by everyone..."
As he said that, Guo Baiyi looked at Su Ling with teasing eyes and said: "I'm afraid Brother Su will miscalculate this time... You want to call this food, but we don't agree..."
Although Xiao Yuanche and Xu Wenruo did not say anything, judging from their expressions, they had exactly the same thoughts as Guo Baiyi.
Su Ling smiled lightly, but said nothing. He picked up a few pieces of mutton, put them into the boiling water in the cauldron, and rolled them a few times.
When the mutton changed color, he dipped it in sesame sauce, brought it to his mouth and started chewing it. His eyes were slightly closed and his head was shaking slightly. From the look on his face, he was enjoying it very much.
When everyone saw him enjoying himself like this, they were a little confused. Is this thing really so delicious?
Rao's curiosity was aroused by Su Ling's appearance, and everyone followed suit. They each picked up mutton and put it into the cauldron according to Su Ling's appearance.
When the mutton is cooked, the three of them dip it in garlic sauce or sesame sauce and put it in their mouths.
After the three of them took a bite, their eyes suddenly opened wide with a look of disbelief. They all pointed at the cauldron with chopsticks and spoke in admiration.
Guo Baiyi was chewing and said intoxicatedly: "This thing is really the best delicacy in the world! It leaves a fragrant aroma on the lips and teeth, the lean meat is not chewy but the meat is chewy, and the fat melts in your mouth. It is really a rare treat!"
Xiao Yuanche laughed loudly, tapped Guo Baiyi with chopsticks and said, "Who said just now that this goat meat is extremely fishy... In my opinion, you will not be able to eat it!"
Guo Baiyi quickly shook his head and said: "Guilty! Guilty! But I, Guo Baiyi, didn't realize it..." Xiao Yuanche laughed loudly and said: "It's really delicious! I never thought that mutton could be so delicious!
You can cook like this again! You should have good wine to accompany it!"
As he said that, he put a few more slices into the cauldron. When the mutton was cooked, he couldn't wait to enjoy it.
Su Ling laughed loudly and said, "How could it be?" After saying that, he stood up and returned to his room. After a while, he brought a large jar of wine.
Su Ling opened the wine seal, and the room was immediately filled with the aroma of meat and wine, which made her appetite whet her appetite.
Su Ling smiled and said: "This is a good wine I brewed with a few medicinal herbs and the best daughter's red. Try it. It is not only delicious, but also good for your health!"
Guo Baiyi was a drunkard and Xiao Yuanche was no less generous.
Su Ling poured a glass of wine for each of the three of them.
But I saw Xiao Yuanche holding up the wine and saying: "This is the first wine, I wish the Jin Dynasty has good weather and all the people are safe!"
When he said this, Xu Wenruo's eyes sparkled, and he solemnly raised his glass of wine and stood up.
Guo Baiyi and Su Ling each raised their glasses of wine. The three of them bowed to Xiao Yuanche, and Xiao Yuanche bowed slightly in return, and they all drank the wine in one gulp.
Guo Baiyi poured another drink for the three of them, then he picked up the wine and said, "With this second drink, I wish my lord everything will go well and that your great wishes will come true as soon as possible!"
Everyone drank from the cup again.
But Xu Wenruo poured another cup for the three of them and said: "This time, I hope that the emperor and his ministers will be of one mind and never forget their original aspirations! Let's go together towards the great cause!"
Hearing this, Xiao Yuanche looked at Xu Wenruo with a faint smile and said, "What Wen Ruo said is good. The path Xiao has chosen requires Wen Ruo to accompany him all the way!"
Xu Wenruo said sternly: "When I surrendered to Sikong, I kept my original intention. My original intention remains unchanged. How dare I abandon you!"
Everyone drank the food again.
It was Su Ling's turn. Su Ling stood up, thought for a long time, and then said with a sigh: "Everyone...eat well! drink well..." "drink well..."
...Eat well..."
Xiao Yuanche raised his head and laughed, pointed with his hand and said: "Your words are the most truthful!..."
After a while, half of the mutton in a large iron basin had been destroyed by a few people. There were beads of sweat on everyone's faces, and Xiao Yuanche even dodged his outer cloak and ate happily. Guo Baiyi originally
His face, which was always pale and bloodless, was now rosy in addition to beads of sweat.
Du Heng looked on and became greedy. Su Ling kicked him and said, "Why are you just standing there stupidly? Get a cup and chopsticks and come with us."
Du Heng pointed at himself in surprise and said, "Can I do it too?..."
Su Ling said angrily: "You are my brother, and good brothers naturally have a share!"
After saying that, he smiled and looked at Xiao, Xu, and Guo. Seeing that the three of them were smiling, they acquiesced.
Only then did Du Heng happily take the chopsticks, sit next to Su Ling and start eating.
After everyone ate for a while, Su Ling got up in person and came to the kitchen.
After a while, five more small cups were brought out. Everyone saw that there were only some chopped green onions and a little brown powder in the cups.
Guo Baiyi recognized it, pointed to the brown powder in the cup and said: "This is pepper. This stuff is not easy to make, but the taste is extremely spicy and pungent."
Su Ling said nothing and filled each cup with the soup from the cauldron. Then he smiled lightly and said, "How about you guys try it?"
Everyone picked up a bowl, and as soon as they took a sip, they felt that the soup was extremely fresh and tasted great.
Everyone was full of praise.
Xu Wenruo asked with a smile: "It was just a pot of water a moment ago, but now it tastes even more delicious than the meat. Brother Su is really a master."
Su Ling nodded and smiled: "It's true that the water is white. The mutton is boiled in this water. The oil and meat aroma of the mutton are mixed in, turning it into mutton soup. Add some minced green onion and pepper to cover up the fishy smell of the mutton. The taste is natural.
Fresher."
Everyone said it was wonderful. Xiao Yuanche laughed and said, "Su Ling, you are a person who understands life!" After that, the bowl was finished, and Su Ling hurriedly added another bowl to him.
Xiao Yuanche suddenly said seriously: "I wonder if you are interested in opening a restaurant specializing in these."
Su Ling didn't think too much and said in a daze: "Selling hot-boiled mutton?..."
Everyone knows that this delicacy is called hotpot mutton.
Xiao Yuanche touched his palm and praised: "Wonderful, wonderful, this mutton is not fried, fried, or boiled. It really is the perfect word for shabu!"
Xiao Yuanche asked again: "I wonder if you are interested in doing this business?"
Su Ling thought for a while and said vividly: "That's fine. There is a lot of surplus in the treasury for the Lengxiang Wan business, and I don't have anything to do. It would be good to open a restaurant."
Xiao Yuanche nodded and said, this is still the old rule. I will find the location for Maojian Tea House and the restaurant, I will provide the ingredients, and I will dispatch the manpower. You are only responsible for the daily operations. As for dividing the accounts, it is you and Bai Yijiu.
.
He turned back to Guo Baiyi and said, "Has the first batch of tea been shipped?"
Guo Baiyi winked at Su Ling first, then said: "Xueqian has already arrived..."
Su Ling understood and just nodded with a smile.
Xu Wenruo was surprised that Su Ling only wanted 10% profit.
If Xu Wenruo understands Xiao Yuanche's temper,
Those who are meritorious but not greedy, who love money but have a sense of moderation, Xiao Yuanche admires these types of people the most.
He couldn't help but look at Su Ling a few more times, sighing in his heart.
Suddenly, Xu Wenruo smiled and said: "You have already made money. It's better for me. I only participated in the tea business. I wonder if I can also participate in this restaurant..."
Xiao Yuanche laughed loudly and said: "That's fine. Su Ling only got 10% of the profit, so he can't split it any more. Let's do this, I'll get 40%, and you and Bai Yi can split the remaining 50% as you like."
Guo Baiyi muttered, "That's good, Wen Ruo, you didn't do anything, you just shared the money in vain."
Everyone laughed.
After eating two full iron basins of mutton, everyone was getting full and stopped using their chopsticks.
Su Ling then added: "After you all go back, drink something light. The mutton will replenish the fire. Don't hurt your body."
Everyone nodded. Xiao Yuanche said with a smile: "How can we wait until we get back? Don't you have Maojian here? Make some tea!"
Su Ling nodded, and Du Heng went to make tea again. Knowing that they had something serious to talk about, he removed the equipment and turned around.
Xiao Yuanche took a few mouthfuls of Mao Jian, and then said slowly: "The last blood edict was all due to Su Ling's planning. Now everything is fine, Shen Jizhou is silent, but the Cibiao has gained some fame."
Guo Baiyi smiled and said: "You always have to give him some sweetness...and he has too many false reputations, so he is always tired of it!"
Xiao Yuanche laughed and said: "What Bai Yi said is absolutely true. Look at me, Xiao Yuanche, how many people have scolded me, but they can do nothing to me!"
Everyone laughed again.
Xiao Yuanche suddenly became a little angry and said: "It's just that Liu Xuanhan is really hateful. He has already gone to Xizhou, and even attacked and killed Che Xinyuan! He calls himself the shepherd of Xizhou, which is really annoying!"
Su Ling's heart moved, and she secretly thought that Luo Dahuyou had given this skill to the second master. It seems that this time and space still sometimes does not believe Luo Dahuyou's words...
Su Ling pretended to be surprised and said: "I once said that I would inform Che Xinyuan in advance..."
Xiao Yuanche waved his hand and said: "That Che Xinyuan is a martial artist with a simple mind and well-developed limbs. He is not as useful as Huang Kuijia's brain..."
Guo Baiyi smiled faintly and said: "My lord is worry-free, that Xizhou is just under our noses. My lord wants to take it, but not at any time. It's just that the blood edict incident has just passed, and the emperor values his uncle very much, so we have to follow Shen Jizhou is fighting secretly, and Zhang Dangyang has already arrived in Xizhou. At this time, it is not easy to force Liu Xuanhan to go too far, lest he turn to Shen Jizhou, which is always a minor trouble."
Xiao Yuanche thought deeply for a while and then said: "What the white clothes mean..."
Guo Baiyi said: "It is better to do it as a favor. When Sikong waits for the dynasty, he will report to the emperor and actually confer him the position of Xuzhou Mu. If this favor is done by Shen Jizhou or others, it will not be very good... .”
Xu Wenruo's eyes lit up and he hurriedly agreed: "What Bai Yi said is absolutely true. I agree with you!"
Xiao Yuanche then nodded and said: "Okay, I gave that big ear a huge advantage..."
He then added: "Zhong Yuan has arrived in Shaliang. The talks between him and Ma Xunzhang went very smoothly. It is believed that Ma Xunzhang intends to submit. It is expected that I will have to fight Shen Jizhou soon. Ma Xunzhang wants to submit at this time. Do I accept it or not?"
Guo Baiyi said with a smile: "Ma Xunzhang's submission is a great good thing. If he submits, Shaliang will be temporarily stable, and Sikong will have one less trouble to worry about, and he can concentrate on dealing with Shen Jizhou, but... It’s hard to say whether he truly surrenders.”
Xu Wenruo also nodded and said: "Ma Xunzhang is brave. He has three sons, Ma Siqi, Ma Siji, and Ma Siyang. They are all brave people, especially Ma Siji, who is known as the Shaliang White Horse and Silver Spear. According to rumors, there was even Duan Bai at that time. Lou Zhifeng. It would not be good if Ma Xunzhang surrendered in name but did some shady things in secret."
Xiao Yuanche nodded and asked, "Do you mean you don't want to accept it?"
Guo Baiyi thought while saying: "Which is the lesser of the two powers. Naturally, I accept it..."
He took a sip of tea, thought for a while and then said: "It's just that Ma Xunzhang wants to express his sincerity in submitting to the imperial court..."
Xiao Yuanche asked: "How about showing sincerity?..."
"If he wants his sons to come and live in Longtai, so as to receive education from the imperial court, it would be best if all three sons come together. If not, the second son can do it." Guo Baiyi said calmly.
Xiao Yuanche nodded, seeming thoughtful.
Xu Wenruo nodded and said: "What Bai Yi said is true. If Ma Xunzhang is unwilling to sacrifice his son, he is pretending to surrender. We must make plans in advance."
He paused and then said: "If you offer your son and wait for one or two months, the imperial edict will be sent to Ma Xunzhang to go to the capital to serve as an official. How could he not come? In this way, the disasters of Shaliang will be eliminated, and the remaining people will be mediocre people.
"
Xiao Yuanche nodded and looked at Su Ling with burning eyes, as if waiting for Su Ling to speak. But seeing that Su Ling didn't say a word this time, he asked with a slight smile: "Why doesn't Su Ling speak today?"
Su Ling looked a little helpless, spread his hands and said with a smile: "Brother Xiao is surrounded by two great people, what else can I say?"
Xiao Yuanche nodded, then made up his mind and said: "Since you think they are right, then let's make this decision."
Su Ling suddenly thought of something, took a sip of tea and said, "Lao Guo just said that Ma Xunzhang had several sons, right? One of them was named Ma Siji?"
The three nodded.
Xiao Yuanche asked in confusion: "Why are you so curious about this person? Is there something special about this Ma Siji?"
Su Ling was stunned and almost said that Ma Siji had nothing special about him, he just made you cut off your robe and beard...
Su Ling pretended to be profound and said word by word: "If Shaliang Ma Xunzhang comes to present his son this time, Ma Siqi and Ma Siyang will be fine, but Ma Siji must come!"
All three asked why?
Su Ling then said sternly: "Ma Siji is brave and since Duan Bailou disappeared, he is the most brave person in Shaliang. If he stays in Shaliang for a long time, he will be in trouble."
Xiao Yuanche laughed loudly, no wonder, brother, I have been running Xiliang for a long time. Although Ma Siji is brave, have you heard of Yan Xingyun? With Yan Xingyun here, Ma Siji would not dare to cause trouble."
Xiao Yuanche said firmly: "Furthermore, when Ma Xunzhang also comes to Longtai, with two brothers and a father, how can Ma Siji ignore them and launch a rebellion?"
Seeing that Xiao Yuanche was confident, Su Ling stopped talking and just smiled noncommittally.
Xiao Yuanche then stood up and said, "Prepare everything you need to open a restaurant. I'll ask Lao Guo to take you to see the place tomorrow."
The three of them got into the carriage and said goodbye.
Su Ling and Du Heng were cleaning up the mess. Su Ling suddenly raised his head and asked Du Heng, "What do you think this restaurant should be called?"
Du Heng chuckled and said: "You are knowledgeable, why would you ask me about this? I can only say it is called Suji Restaurant, Suji Old Restaurant, etc..."
Su Ling's eyes lit up and she said, "Yes, you're right, it's called Mutton Restaurant, but it can't be called Su Ji."
Du Heng wondered: "If it's not called Su Ji, then what is it called..."
Su Ling laughed loudly and said: "Du Ji Mutton Restaurant..."