Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 319 The Zhao Feiyan Sisters Appear! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

At 5:30 p.m., Zhou Yi walked out of the movie theater with half a bucket of popcorn in his hand, still feeling quite satisfied.

The documentary-style film "Blue Star Outside the Window" is really good, especially the ending scene depicting the efforts of generations of Chinese aerospace workers, accompanied by the end credits song, which brought tears to Zhou Yi's eyes.

Xi Shi was also very moved. She had learned a lot of modern knowledge these days, but she never expected that the first generation of aerospace workers would use an abacus to calculate various data.

It's almost lunchtime now, Zhou Yi said:

"It's cold, let's find a place to eat hot pot."

Xi Shi had never eaten hot pot before and really wanted to try it. The two put the remaining popcorn in the car and then strolled over to a nearby time-honored hot pot restaurant.

On the way, Xi Shi hesitated several times before speaking, and Zhou Yi asked:
"What's going on?"

Xi Shi said nervously:
"I feel uneasy without the token."

Zhou Yi smiled:
"Giving you the token makes me uneasy. Don't take out the token so easily here. This is a society governed by law. Even if you encounter danger, I'm here for you."

Don't be fooled by Zhou's casual attire, which makes him look like a clueless recent college graduate. In reality, he carries five or six magical artifacts and talismans to ward off evil and bring good fortune. No matter where he goes, accidents will avoid him.

Upon entering the hot pot restaurant, Zhou Yi skillfully ordered the food and then led Xi Shi to the condiment area, teaching her how to mix the dipping sauce.

On the other side, in the world of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty.

The Left General's residence was bustling with activity. Crown Prince Liu Ao placed a copper pot with a chimney in the hall, put his hands on his hips with a smug look, and said:

"The young master has finally finished forging the copper pot. I just tested it, and it doesn't leak. Adding charcoal makes it boil very quickly... What was that way of eating called again, Master? Hot pot with mutton, right?"

Liu Xin nodded:

"Yes, hot pot with mutton. They said we should use sesame sauce for the dipping sauce... Now that the pot is ready and the sesame sauce is prepared, why don't we cut some mutton to try?"

Wang Mang secretly swallowed, but still sat upright like a little adult:

"This matter needs to be approved by my godmother; it can only be consumed if the elders agree."

Zhang placed a basket of freshly baked brown sugar cakes on the table:
"Eat if you want. Have the gatekeeper slaughter a sheep. Mang'er, go back and invite your mother and sister-in-law. Your godfather said that hot pot is only truly enjoyable when everyone is gathered around it in a lively atmosphere."

Liu Xin was really craving it, so he immediately ran to inform the gatekeeper of the general's mansion to start slaughtering the sheep.

Wang Mang bowed to Zhang, then rose and left the hall to inform his mother and sister-in-law at his residence.

Liu Ao sat down, picked up a piece of brown sugar cake, tasted it, and exclaimed in admiration:
"Madam, your skills are even better than those of the imperial chefs. This pancake is so delicious."

The pancakes were made with modern flour, the brown sugar was bought from Da Tou Yang's family, and the recipe was based on a food video cached on a tablet computer. The pan used was the one Wang Shuangqing gave to Zhou Yi, so they naturally tasted better than those in the Han Dynasty imperial palace.

Zhang said:

"Come often if you like. Your teacher's wife may not have any other skills, but she can still cook something."

Liu Ao took a bite of the brown sugar cake, his face showing distress:

“Master’s wife, I see you and Master often chatting and laughing, so why is the Crown Princess always so cold? Every time I try to tell a joke to cheer her up, she says I lack gentlemanly manners, which is very disappointing.”

The Crown Princess was Consort Xu, the daughter of Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry Xu Jia, and the future Empress Xu of the Han Dynasty.

After Liu Ao was made crown prince this year, Consort Xu entered the Eastern Palace and became Liu Ao's concubine.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang handed Liu Ao a bottle of shower gel:
"When you leave later, take some sweet cakes back with you and give this to her. You can tell her some stories about gods and immortals. If she is interested, you can bring her to watch the video together... It is good for couples to be respectful to each other, but being too polite will make them seem distant."

Liu Ao nodded as if he understood, but not quite. He didn't quite understand the meaning of "raising the tray to the eyebrows" (a phrase implying a harmonious and respectful relationship between husband and wife), and thought it meant bringing Xu Meiren along to play, eat snacks and watch videos together, treating her like a buddy.

Before long, the mutton was slaughtered and cut into thin slices as Liu Xin had requested.

Following the instructions for making hot pot, Zhang added spring water, some scallions and ginger, a handful of dried shrimp and seaweed to the copper pot, and then it was ready to cook the meat.

As for the sesame paste, first dilute it, then add red fermented bean curd, chive blossom sauce and other seasonings. Chen Tang brought a lot of seasonings, which were all readily available.

It was already dark when Wang Mang turned on the main light in the courtyard, set up the folding table that Chen Tang had brought, placed the copper pot in the center, and arranged various kinds of meat neatly around it. Everyone gathered around and started to cook hot pot.

While the aroma of hot pot wafted through the Left General's Mansion, the scene at the Guard General's Mansion a few streets away was quite different.

Grand Physician Chen Xian tasted the glutinous rice wine, his eyes filled with surprise:

"This wine is so delicious, it truly deserves to be called a divine brew... I am really fortunate to have General Wei's presence today."

Gan Yanshou said with a smile:

"I am also thanks to your kindness, otherwise I would never have tasted such fine wine in several lifetimes."

Liu Xiang was also present today, holding an exquisite white porcelain wine cup, equally filled with emotion.

Not long ago, he was demoted to a commoner for offending Shi Xian. Now, he has not only been reinstated as Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, but has also taken charge of the construction of the Yiyuan Pavilion.

The craftsmen were overseen by the Imperial Household Department, the building materials were supplied by the Grand Master of Works, and Liu Xiang was responsible for the overall planning and layout of the Yiyuan Pavilion. He had come to Gan Yanshou today to learn from his experience and inquire about the preferences of the Immortal Yiyuan. Gan Yanshou, not knowing much about this either, pondered for a moment and said:
"The Immortal Master claims to be a Han nationalist who dislikes other ethnic groups. When building, he only needs to highlight the style of the Han people... The Immortal Master has no statues; the Tai Chi Yin-Yang symbol is his emblem."

To give everyone a clear understanding of the Tai Chi symbol, Lao Gan even brought out the Tai Chi Bagua Mirror that Chen Tang had brought from Hunyuan Palace... Well, it was just to broaden everyone's horizons, not to show off.

Liu Xiang held the Bagua mirror and examined it carefully for a while, gaining a clear understanding of the plan for Yiyuan Pavilion. Then he inquired about the location:

"Where do you all think would be the most appropriate place to cultivate?"

Gan Yanshou offered his opinion:

“A manor outside the city will suffice. If the Grand Master is willing, I can donate my family's manor to build the Yiyuan Pavilion. What do you all think?”

Everyone thought Lao Gan was a bit shameless. He'd already taken so many benefits, why wasn't he satisfied yet?

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to curry favor with the gods should at least be shared with us, right?
Gu Yong said:

"General Zigong has traveled thousands of miles to bring my father's remains back to Chang'an. I have always felt indebted to him. Why don't you use my family's manor so that I can also do my part?"

Chen Xian protested loudly, feeling that these guys were all incredibly shameless.

In the end, the group decided to use Gu Yong's manor for the bridge, since his manor was located on the banks of the Wei River. The other people's manors would be used to shelter refugees. Once the summer was over and the Wei River was low in water, the refugees would be mobilized to build the bridge through a work-for-relief program.

During this period, the master craftsmen had to transport giant logs from the mountains, and the people of the Imperial Household Department also had to go to places like Shangjun to collect rock resin, boil it, and then transport it to Chang'an in wooden barrels to preserve the wood.

Petroleum is crude oil. When heated, it can distill gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other substances, leaving a viscous, heavy oil. When applied to wood, it can effectively prevent rot and insect infestation.

Old Gan learned about the use of petroleum grease from "The History of Petroleum Development." Although Dahan does not have the conditions to refine petroleum now, it is still possible to use some heavy oil that is not easy to ignite as a preservative for wood.

Having finalized the construction of the Yiyuan Pavilion, Gu Yong lamented the hardships faced by ordinary people:
“Nowadays, our Han Dynasty is truly plagued by disasters. Not only are there refugees in the Central Plains, but even the people of Chang’an seem to be struggling to make ends meet. This evening, when I came here, I saw a man at the city gate with two daughters, who were selling their children with straw tags stuck in their hair.”

These words resonated with everyone, making them realize that the imperial court truly needed to implement reforms; otherwise, the famines in various regions would worsen, and the problem of land annexation would become even more severe.

Towards the end of a dynasty, people would rebel at the drop of a hat, not because they didn't want to farm, but because they had no land left to farm.

Those nobles and officials who owned vast tracts of land preferred to leave it barren rather than cultivate it in order to maintain high grain prices.

The next key task is to mobilize the people to find those who deliberately neglect fertile land, sentence them to prison or exile them if necessary, and show no leniency.

Gan Yanshou felt that the household was short of two servants, so he asked Gu Yong:

"Were those two children sold?"

Gu Yong shook his head:

"No, the child's father said that Princess Yang'a's mansion had intended to take him in, but the family was really struggling to make ends meet and couldn't wait for Princess Yang'a's mansion to summon him. They wanted to exchange the money for a living, but unfortunately, because the price was set quite high, when I passed by, several people who asked about the price couldn't reach an agreement."

Gan Yanshou pondered for a moment and decided to go and take a look tomorrow:
"I will go and see after court tomorrow. If I can help, I will."

As they drank and chatted, the topics quickly shifted, and soon they were talking about road repairs again, planning to bring it up at the morning court meeting the next day.

There are refugees everywhere in Guanzhong. Instead of giving them porridge every day to keep them alive, it would be better to mobilize them to repair the roads in Guanzhong.

The next day, Gu Yong brought up the road construction in court. Soon, some people objected, citing the empty national treasury. The two sides argued, until Lao Gan spoke up, which silenced the opposing officials.

There's no way around it; this guy holds the token to summon divine lightning. Arguing is fine, but losing your life over it isn't worth it.

Since no one objected, Liu Shi immediately announced that the national treasury would be used to repair the road, and then he adjourned the court.

Gan Yanshou left the palace and rode his horse to the city gate. From afar, he saw two little girls, about eight or nine years old, wearing patched clothes and straw tags in their hair, sitting listlessly on the stone steps of the city gate.

A middle-aged man stood nearby, his face pale and emaciated, clearly having been starving for several days.

Gan Yanshou dismounted and asked the man:
"Is he/she your own flesh and blood?"

The middle-aged man hurriedly came over, bowing and scraping as he said:

"Yes, my family is too large to feed. General, could you please have a few copper coins so we can buy a couple of wheat cakes to stave off hunger?"

Gan Yanshou tossed him a handful of copper coins and then asked:

"What's your name?"

He was asking the two young girls, but the middle-aged man thought he was being asked and said while counting the money:
"My name is Zhao Lin. My family used to be quite well-off, but unfortunately, taxes have been rising year by year, and several members of my family have already starved to death."

Upon hearing the name, Gan Yanshou felt it sounded familiar; it seemed to be the name of Zhao Feiyan's father, whom Chen Tang had been clamoring to find every day.

He specifically pointed to the two girls and asked:
What are the names of these two girls?

Zhao Lin, feeling the deal was about to go through, quickly reported:

"This is my eldest daughter, Zhao Yan, and my second daughter, Zhao Rui... My Yan'er has always been slender and light-footed. She loves to dance, and the neighbors all call her Flying Swallow..."

(End of this chapter)