Training the Heavens

Chapter 78: Delicious food can also be written in a high-quality style
That afternoon, Gao Jialin and Niu Xinliang met at the Meilong Town Restaurant on Nanjing West Road. This time, they wanted to discuss the new book, so they didn't invite anyone else.

This is a time-honored restaurant founded during the Republic of China. It was named after the anecdote of Emperor Zhengde's secret visit to the "Meilong Town Tavern" in the classical Peking Opera "The Dragon and the Phoenix". It specializes in Huaiyang cuisine. Classic dishes such as crab meat and shark's fin, dry-fried prawns, crystal shrimp, fish inlaid noodles, and dry-fried green beans are well-known in Shanghai and have made a name for themselves as "Mei's cuisine".

As soon as they sat down, Niu Xinliang asked in confusion, "Didn't we eat here last time? I told you long ago that the quality here isn't as good as it used to be. We didn't enjoy the meal last time, so why did you come back?"

"I came here because I didn't feel comfortable eating. Last time you told me that once Lu Wenfu's "Gourmet" was published, no matter where he went to eat, the restaurant had to serve him well, for fear that he wouldn't eat well! I also want to learn from Lu Wenfu!" Gao Jialin said with a smile.

He also ate in some good restaurants in later life, many of which had the problem of serving different dishes to different people. For the same price, the dishes served at the restaurant you went to and at Suipo would be completely different.

Now that I am rich and love to eat, I naturally don’t want to experience this feeling again, so I’d better make myself famous as a food connoisseur as soon as possible, so that when I go to these restaurants to eat in the future, I can enjoy the same treatment as Sui Po and avoid wasting money.

Niu Xinliang pondered for a moment and said, "Novels about food? There aren't many good works on this subject, but there's a reason for that. First, authors don't have the luxury of Lu Wenfu to regularly sample all kinds of food. Second, it's a bit unpleasant to say that food is delicious! It's hard to write without material or life experience, and it's also difficult to write without a good reputation. This is why food novels are so rare!"

Gao Jialin wrote down a few dishes on the menu and handed it to Niu Xinliang to order. Niu Xinliang didn't even look at it and ordered braised pork and crab meat and shark's fin. "These are the only dishes they have now."

After ordering the dishes, Gao Jialin asked him a question, "Do you think readers like to read works about food? I don't know about others, but when I read Wang Zengqi's Gaoyou Salted Duck Eggs, my mouth watered for a long time!"

"Of course I enjoy reading it, but if you want to publish it, you can't just write about food, otherwise the editor-in-chief will be offended! You can either learn from Mr. Wang and incorporate folk customs and hometown sentiments; or learn from Lu Wenfu and use food to reflect the changes of the times! Only then can the article be enriched. Otherwise, people can't even eat meat freely these days, and you talk about food in your work. It's definitely not right!"

Niu Xinliang's expression grew serious as he spoke. "I've seen your name in the newspapers quite a bit lately. You have a bright future ahead of you, but you can't let your gluttony ruin your reputation. It's not good for your future!"

"Teacher Niu is really concerned about me." Since he was concerned about me, I naturally had to thank him. However, Gao Jialin had already thought of what he said. "But don't worry, I will definitely not make such a mistake. I will tell you the story I plan to write. You will definitely applaud after listening to it!"

"Oh? You said."

"The inspiration for this story actually comes from the story you told me when we came here for dinner last time." Niu Xinliang likes to tell stories while eating, sometimes about a certain dish, sometimes about a restaurant. These stories reminded Gao Jialin of a food movie in later generations, "Spring Breeze in Meilong Town".

"My work begins with the victory banquet you described to me. In 1946, to celebrate the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Mei Songxiao, Long Enen, Fang Yuanzhen, and Li Yishao worked together in the kitchen of the Meilong Town Restaurant to meticulously prepare thirteen dishes for the victory banquet. Each family prepared three dishes for the first twelve, and the final dish, 'Dragon and Wind Four Joys Arriving Together,' was prepared by all four chefs. Diners raved about it, especially the final dish..."

"A year later, on New Year's Eve, while the atmosphere remained lively, Mei, Long, Zhen, and Shao engaged in a fierce argument. Finally, the 'Meilong Town' sign fell to the ground, splitting into three. From then on, the three families of 'Mei', 'Long', and 'Zhen' fell apart..."

"Over the decades that followed, Shanghai underwent numerous changes, and the Meilong Town Restaurant experienced its ups and downs. After the reform and opening-up policy, Fang Yuanzhen's grandson, Fang Zhenjin, re-established the Meilong Town restaurant. Unfortunately, the culinary tradition was lost, and the restaurant was never able to regain its former glory." "One day, a well-dressed elderly man visited Meilong Town and ordered four dishes for a victory banquet. Three of them were dishes Fang Yuanzhen had made, and the final dish was 'Dragon and Phoenix Four Joys'."

"The story is good enough, but the theme is not enough. If you write it, it won't be a problem to publish it in "Story Club", but it won't be published in our "Mengya"." Hearing this, Niu Xinliang couldn't help but interrupt him.

It can be heard that he was quite dissatisfied with Gao Jialin's secret contribution to "Story Club". This is normal. Serious literature has always looked down on popular literature, even in later generations.

"Don't worry, I've only just started!"

Just then, the dishes arrived. Gao Jialin happily ate a few pieces of braised meat, whetting Niu Xinliang's appetite. He then continued, "The old man tasted these four dishes and pointed out their shortcomings one by one, which impressed Fang Zhenjin greatly."

"When the old man talked about the grand victory banquet, Fang Yuanzhen was filled with longing. He couldn't help but want to find the descendants of the Plum, Dragon, and Shao families and restore the former glory of Plum Dragon Town!"

"Through the old man's narration, Fang Zhenjin learned that Wu Shaolong, a descendant of the Long family, is now in Hong Kong, Meihua, a descendant of the Mei family, is in Taiwan, and the descendants of chef Li Yishao are in Macau."

"Bang!" Niu Xinliang didn't move at all after hearing a lot of things. After hearing this, he realized what kind of story Gao Jialin wanted to write. He was so excited that he couldn't control himself and slapped the table hard.

"Just tell me if my topic is good or not!"

"Your theme is so clever." Niu Xinliang was so excited that he spoke in Shanghainese.

What time is it now? At the end of last year, China and the United Kingdom signed a joint declaration, deciding to reclaim Hong Kong in 1997; at the same time, the chief architect also proposed to use the same method to resolve the Macau issue.

And the anticipation for the treasure island has never stopped. Before his death, Mr. Liao wrote a personal letter to Nicholas. This year, Guangxi Film Studio began filming "Bloody Battle of Taierzhuang". In addition to commemorating the contribution of the national army in the War of Resistance, it also wants to use this film to convey some information to the island.

Isn't the divided Meilong Town Restaurant a metaphor for the country that hasn't yet been unified? The subsequent plot is self-evident: the four restaurants will work together to restore Meilong Town to its former glory. Doesn't this symbolize the unification and great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation?

With a work like this, who dares to say that the theme is not lofty enough?

A work that not only caters to the general trend, but also establishes the image of a food connoisseur and earns royalties, it simply kills three birds with one stone. No wonder Niu Xinliang praised him for his smart mind. Is this something that ordinary people can come up with?
(End of this chapter)