Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 173 Alas, who can tolerate this?
For the next few days, Chen Xu focused on his studies in the separate courtyard.

It's not just about learning articles and policy essays, but also about learning how to apply literary style.

Of course, the cook in the villa, Sun, had unique skills in cooking, and Chen Xu often went to the kitchen to learn cooking from her.

Within a few days, all the servants in the Feng family's villa knew that their master's distinguished guest, Master Chen, was actually an excellent cook.

It is said that a gentleman stays away from the kitchen, but there are some scholars who like to cook.

If his academic performance were mediocre, it wouldn't matter; he would certainly be ridiculed for being ignorant and wasting his time on trivial pursuits.

But Chen Xu is a universally recognized genius in the entire Yunjiang Prefecture. With such a reputation and the achievement of being the top scorer in the provincial examination, who can mock him?
However, given his unusual behavior, it was inevitable that he would be whispered about.

For example, the family living to the east of the Feng family's villa—

Because it was close enough to the academy, most of the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods were scholars.

Separated only by a courtyard wall, the scholar next door often smelled the aroma of food wafting from the east kitchen of the other courtyard, and, taking advantage of his proximity, overheard the daily exclamations of wonder from the servants of the other courtyard:

"Master Chen has only been learning to cook from Steward Sun for a few days, how come the food he makes smells so good?"

"What did you make today? Oh my, it's a straw raincoat cake! These layers are so flaky, just listen to the sound when you take a bite, it's so crumbly it melts in your mouth! It's so delicious, so fragrant!"

"Master Chen is such a kind person. He is a great talent. Sometimes he even lets us servants taste the things he makes and asks us how well they are cooked."
Sigh, what do you and I know about cooking time and temperature? We only care that it tastes good.

"Having eaten this once, my life will have been worthwhile..."

"Exactly, exactly. If Master Chen passes the imperial examination in the future, we'll go back and tell him, 'Hey, I've eaten a dish personally cooked by a scholar who passed the imperial examination in my entire life. My taste buds will be passed down for three generations...'"

"Shh, is your neck itchy? How dare you talk like that, you brat, you're so cocky, watch your head!"

The scholar next door, Lü Ji, was also a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). Although he had not opened up the world of literature as early as Chen Xu, he was well-versed in internal energy and had better hearing than the average person.

The servants in the other courtyard were talking by the east kitchen, and Lü Ji often overheard them, initially disdainful:

"What a talented scholar! He takes cooking more seriously than studying. If he fails the imperial examination, he'll be utterly humiliated."

Later, Lü Ji secretly rejoiced: "Wait a minute, something's not right. I'm also going to take the provincial examination this year, so wouldn't he and I be competitors?"

I should be happy if he doesn't pass the exam!

Later, Lü Ji became anxious and restless: "Oh, just how delicious is that pastry? Can I have a taste?"

This is so frustrating!

He only regretted that he had no connection with Chen Xu and was too embarrassed to take the initiative to ask him for a meal.

Even if you shamelessly visit them, there are some things you can't say.

How to say?
You say I often eavesdrop on your house by pressing against the wall? Have you no shame?

But to be honest, Lü Ji only heard some gossip from the servants by the east wall. He couldn't hear a word about what was happening in the courtyard any further inside.

Lu Ji felt that he was by no means a greedy person, but for some reason, he had been having an unusually strong craving lately.

The place next door doesn't just have shortbread; there's fried, baked, roasted... all sorts of food with different aromas taking turns to fill the air.

Sometimes its aroma is strong and overpowering, sometimes it is light and pleasant, and sometimes just a gust of wind can make people's mouths water.

It was the aromas that drew Lü Ji to the kitchen walls of other people's homes, which led him to hear all sorts of discussions.

He was anxious for several days, and just when he was about to find an excuse to knock on the door of the neighbor's house, he suddenly heard that two restaurants in the city had suddenly become popular and had recently launched several signature dishes.

The deliciousness of their signature dishes goes without saying, and the two restaurants even competed to come up with new and creative variations.

Today your family gives gifts, tomorrow my family hosts a riddle game, and the day after that their family plays pitch-pot to order food...

A few days later, both families started offering divination using their treasure chests, creating quite a stir throughout the city. Lü Ji was invited by his friends twice, and because of his skill in pitch-pot, he was able to taste several of their signature dishes.

After tasting it, I can confirm that it truly lives up to its reputation.

Its deliciousness is so great that you almost swallow your tongue along with it.

Therefore, Lü Ji was able to regain some of his rationality, preventing himself from shamelessly going next door to beg for food.

But he wouldn't tell anyone that he was actually still thinking about that bite next door... cough cough.

Until this day, Lü Ji read a newly printed copy of "Tales of Gods and Ghosts" from Langyu Bookstore.

Upon first reading "Palace Poems," he exclaimed, "What beautiful poems and lines! What a poignant line: 'Beauty fades before love ends!' There is no greater sorrow in the world than this."

A deep longing was finally glimpsed in the poem.

After reading "Flowers Are Not Flowers," Lü Ji felt as if he were in a dream, and even felt a sense of horror.

"Flowers are not flowers, mist is not mist... Coming like a spring dream, how long does it last? Going like morning clouds, nowhere to be found."

How could anyone in this world use language to such a seemingly simple yet infinitely profound degree? Reading this poem, I was so bewildered that I lost track of time.

"Should I really use this person as my opponent in this year's provincial examination?"

In his daze, Lü Ji was already feeling fear.

When Lü Ji finally read the poem "Sympathy for the Peasants," he suddenly felt as if he had been punched hard in the nose.

"Even with no idle land under the heavens, farmers still starve to death!"

After reading a poem, a surge of intense emotion seemed to rise from my spine and soar to the heavens.

How could such verses exist in the world? They strike straight to the heart, so penetrating that they make one's heart tremble, and one almost wishes that even one's soul could fly away.

Lu Ji could no longer contain himself. He grabbed the newly acquired copy of "Tales of Gods and Ghosts" and rushed out of the house.

He ignored the servants who bowed to him on the way.

His family called out to him, but he waved them off and said he had something to do.

When they arrived at the gate of the neighboring courtyard, they knocked on the gate, and the gatekeeper came over and said, "Please wait a moment, young master, and I will inform him."

Lü Ji's mind finally calmed down a little.

It was as if the red-hot iron in his chest had finally been immersed in cool water.

Even so, Lü Ji's chest still felt like it was filled with turmoil.

Even though I know that my sudden visit is really impolite, I can't help it. Who can resist?
Alas!

When the gatekeeper came in to announce his arrival, Lü Ji felt as if each day was an eternity.

In a short time, he paced back and forth in the small hall of the gatehouse, almost wearing down the patterns on the blue bricks on the ground.

Is Chen Xu free at this time? Would he find Lü's actions presumptuous? Would he be willing to see me?

If he doesn't see me, then... hey, I have something good that I can bring to share with Brother Chen!
Just as Lü Ji was extremely anxious and restless, Chen Xu was in his room, feeling the surging literary energy and feeling truly joyful.

After several days of reflection, all the previous plans have finally begun to bear fruit.

And it's not just the literary style that's impressive; the feedback from the Food Cauldron Heavenly Book is also very encouraging.

(End of this chapter)