Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 183 Su Shi's Visit [Requesting Monthly Tickets!]

The autumn light of the first year of the Jiayou era, carrying the unique warmth of Sichuan, covered the bluestone road of the South Street in Hejiang County.

The newly hung gilded plaque bearing the inscription "Jieyuan Di" (meaning "Residence of the Top Scholar") gleamed in the sunlight. The red firecracker debris still lingered in the cracks of the stone slabs in front of the door, not yet completely swept away by the autumn wind. The air seemed to still be filled with the afterglow of yesterday's grand celebration.

At this very moment, a young scholar, weary from his journey, stood beneath the plaque.

He was dressed in a long robe, with a square scarf on his head. He had prominent cheekbones, a sparse beard, and a black mole next to his right temple.

His brows, however, carried an undisguised arrogance. He was none other than Su Shi, Su Zizhan, who had heard of Lu Beigu's name from his father and brothers and learned that Lu Beigu lived in Hejiang County. He had specially traveled from Meizhou down the river to "exchange and compete" with him.

"Lu Jieyuan? He's not here."

"You're not home right now?"

Su Shi looked at the petite, thin woman in front of him, his tone filled with disappointment at his unfulfilled expectations.

Feng Jinhua said, "I went to the county school early this morning to pay my respects to my former teachers."

Upon hearing this, Su Shi raised an eyebrow slightly, his competitive spirit among literati subsided somewhat, and a sense of respect arose in his eyes.

"Lu Beigu's character is not bad; he didn't forget his teacher's kindness after passing the imperial examination with top honors," Su Shi thought to himself.

His gaze unconsciously swept across the street-facing facade of the Lu residence, where a rather simple wooden plaque hung below the "Jieyuan Residence" sign, with four small characters in regular script: "Lu Family Private Kitchen".

"Oh? Your family even runs a restaurant?"

Su Shi's interest was instantly piqued. His lifelong passion, besides poetry and literature, was the world's finest delicacies.

My stomach started rumbling at that very moment.

Su Shi then remembered that he had been traveling by boat since yesterday and had arrived in Hejiang County. Although it was not yet noon, he was not far away and had not had lunch yet.

"Of course," Feng Jinhua greeted familiarly. "Guests are guests, and since you're here, what would you like to eat?"

Although Hejiang County in Luzhou is not a large county, it is a hub for waterway transportation. I suppose that if a restaurant can be opened in such a place, the food must be pretty good.
With this in mind, Su Shi went inside, intending to try having a meal.

As soon as you enter, a strong, spicy aroma that is unlike any other restaurant will hit you!

The aroma was domineering yet mellow, carrying the spiciness of dogwood oil and the unique richness created by the fusion of various spices after being stir-fried in boiling oil. It instantly entered the nasal cavity and went straight to the lungs.

Su Shi paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This taste is so unfamiliar yet so appetizing!

Looking inside, the interior is much more elegant than that of ordinary restaurants. Although the tables and chairs are not made of precious wood, they are polished to a smooth and warm finish and arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner.

The walls were painted plain white, with only a few simple ink bamboo paintings hanging on them.

It wasn't peak mealtime, and only two or three tables of customers were scattered around the restaurant. They were all eating with flushed faces and sweat on their foreheads, yet they still kept eating. The clinking of bowls and plates was accompanied by low hissing and panting sounds, but their chopsticks never stopped and quickly reached for the plate again.

That expression, a mixture of pain and joy, left Su Shi speechless.

Feng Jinhua handed over a plain sheet of paper with the names of the dishes written on it. Su Shi took the menu and glanced at the names of the dishes he had never heard of before.

"Spicy Tofu", "Twice-Cooked Pork", "Stir-Fried Chicken", "Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork", "Boiled Lamb", "Spicy Chicken" - the names of each dish are strange, yet they possess a peculiar allure.

What are these things?

Su Shi pointed to the "Spicy Tofu" and "Stir-fried Chicken" and asked curiously, "I've never heard of these dishes before. Could they be ancient recipes from a previous dynasty?"

Feng Jinhua was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sir, you have a good eye! It's no exaggeration to call it an ancient recipe. It's a secret method that Lu Jieyuan obtained by studying ancient books, and it's unique in the whole of Sichuan! This 'Spicy Tofu' uses tender tofu, paired with a secret red oil minced meat sauce. It's piping hot and smooth, with a spicy and savory flavor. As for the 'Stir-fried Chicken,' the chicken is crispy and tender, the beans are crunchy and fragrant, and it's full of flavor with a sweet, sour, salty, and spicy taste! Since this is your first time here, sir, why not try these two signature dishes, and pair them with some light seasonal vegetables?"

"Okay! Just as you say!"

Su Shi was so engrossed in her words that he took out a copper coin with great fanfare.

"Another bowl, no, two bowls of rice!"

He had intended to say one bowl, but seeing the diners around him enjoying their food so much and the increasingly rich aroma in the air, he immediately changed his mind.

As long as you pay, everything is negotiable, and the sounds of spatulas in the kitchen immediately become more intense.

Before long, the waiter came quickly with a tray in his hand.

Before the person even arrived, the alluring fragrance had already reached them.

Su Shi unconsciously straightened his back, a sign of respect for the food.

"Sir, your 'Spicy Tofu,' 'Stir-fried Chicken,' 'Stir-fried Cabbage,' and two bowls of rice are all ready!" The waiter quickly set out the three dishes and one bowl of rice.

Su Shi's gaze was instantly drawn to the plate of "spicy tofu"!
On a celadon plate, red oil and soy sauce soaked up snow-white, smooth tofu pieces, which looked like pieces of jade floating in a sea of ​​lava. Finely chopped minced meat and emerald green garlic sprouts adorned the dish.

Then look at the "Braised Chicken Cubes". The chicken cubes are golden and crispy, the beans are plump and bright red, and the cucumber is cut into small pieces. Together with the bright green scallions and white garlic slices, the colors are tempting, and a unique aroma of sweet and sour with a hint of char is wafting out.

Su Shi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he hesitated for a moment. The spiciness of the chili oil looked enough to make one's scalp tingle, but the exotic aroma was like an invisible hook, tightly gripping his mind.

He took a deep breath, made up his mind, picked up his chopsticks, and cautiously reached for the plate of "Spicy Tofu".

He avoided the reddest and oiliest part of the center, picked up a piece of tofu from the edge coated with a thin layer of red oil, and carefully put it into his mouth.

The piping hot spicy tofu, fresh out of the pot, was so hot that he almost wanted to spit it out the moment it entered his mouth. What followed was an instant numbness on his tongue. The power of the pepper powder caught him off guard. Then, a burning sensation spread through his mouth like flames. It was the fierce spiciness of the peppercorn oil, which was unique to the peppercorn oil and had a strong aroma.
Under the intense impact of the hot, numbing, and spicy flavors, the natural aroma of the tofu, the salty and savory aroma of the minced meat, and the rich and savory aroma of the fermented soybeans suddenly burst forth like a hidden force!
"Well--!"

Su Shi's eyes widened suddenly, as if he had been struck by an invisible lightning bolt.

He froze, his hand holding the chopsticks hanging in mid-air, his cheeks flushing red at a visible speed. A fine layer of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead and the tip of his nose.

He suddenly opened his mouth, took a few quick breaths of cold air, and made a "hiss-ha" sound, just like the other diners in the restaurant.

However, even in that pained expression, his eyes shone with an astonishing light.

This is the pure, intensely excited light that comes from a foodie discovering a new dish!
(End of this chapter)