Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 97 To change people's hearts, start with their stomachs.

Zhu Di looked at the several dishes piled high on the table, and for some reason, he found it difficult to start eating.

The dishes prepared in the imperial kitchen should be perfect in terms of color, aroma, and taste.

The ducks were just caught by the Imperial Garden Supervisor, and the ingredients were carefully selected and purchased by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Even the rice was tribute rice from various regions, and it was served according to different dietary preferences.

But it lacks an enticing aroma.

It smells enticing, but when you taste it, it doesn't seem to be quite the same.

I really want to try Xunzhou cuisine.

This idea popped into the minds of both Zhu Di and Gou'er at the same time.

But no one said it out loud, nor could anyone say it out loud.

With the imperial meal laid out before him, Zhu Di reluctantly ate two bites of fried lamb with milk and some roasted duck with wheat sauce before deciding to put down his chopsticks.

Thinking that the people of Xunzhou were eating much better than he was, Zhu Di felt half of his frustration lessened.

The people live such a peaceful and harmonious life, and the livestock are healthy... Hmm?

livestock?

I don't seem to see any livestock farming in Xunzhou.

Where does the meat they eat come from?
In those uniformly planned houses, there was no space reserved for livestock.

[Dear viewers, please don't rush us for more episodes. In this episode, let's look at the impact of the Black-Clad Barbarians' integration on Xunzhou.]

[The most obvious example is their cuisine. Besides the original Xunzhou cuisine, the Black-Clad Barbarians used more local ingredients in their cooking. Some of these could even be considered medicinal herbs, reflecting a similar concept of food and medicine sharing the same origin as the Han Chinese.]

For example, this coconut chicken dish involves splitting a coconut open, draining the coconut water, scooping out the coconut meat, and cooking it together with the chicken.

Zhu Di glanced at it; it was all white and pale. He frowned; it wasn't as delicious as his own dishes.

The chopsticks that were about to be put down were now picked up.

This coconut chicken dish uses only local ingredients from Xunzhou. Coconuts, of course, are abundant throughout Xunzhou.

The real story lies with this chicken. It's called the Kui Xing Chicken, named after Kui Xing Island, where it originates.

The most distinctive feature of Kui Xing Chicken is its tender meat, and this is something that can't be found outside of Xunzhou.

Since the invention of coconut chicken, many related foods have emerged, such as coconut chicken hot pot.

Ok?
hot pot?

Zhu Di looked up and saw a large pot bubbling away on the screen.

The pot was also made of stainless steel.

Ouch... This pure white steel looks so heartbreaking!
Zhu Di felt his heart race. This kid, he took such a good thing and had it cast into food!

Do you not know how hard it was for your father and grandfather to build their empire?

Coconut chicken hot pot involves cooking various ingredients in coconut chicken broth.

Xunzhou is a damp and humid place with a lot of miasma. Eating coconut chicken can strengthen the body, expel dampness, and is beneficial to health.

[Different ingredients can be used at any time according to the changing seasons, making it very convenient to prepare meals.]

Zhu Di was tempted.

He wants to eat.

It's over.

Where are we supposed to find that? That's something that will happen later! Is he going to tell the fourth brother, "Invent that damn hot pot for me right now?"
No, that would be too shameful. Zhu Di couldn't do something so humiliating as to risk losing face over a meal.

[Hot pot now comes in various broths, and the man in black is very skilled at identifying whether local ingredients are poisonous or safe to eat.]

The black-clad barbarian shamans also helped improve the cultivation, processing, and detoxification of ingredients.

The food options in Xunzhou suddenly became much more abundant. The renowned Xunzhou chefs who had previously worked elsewhere would regularly return for further training, a program funded by the Prince Qi's residence.

After learning how to cook a new dish, they will purchase the corresponding ingredients.

To transport these ingredients out, Prince Qi specially ordered the invention of transport vehicles!

The scene then shifts, and all the food has been removed, revealing a man dressed in white.

The man's clothes were strange; the sleeves were embroidered, but the rest of his clothes were all white.

It wasn't mourning clothes; it was a close-fitting garment.

What we're seeing is a day in the life of Xu Dadao, a renowned chef certified by the Qiwangfu (Prince Qi's Mansion).

Oh? A famous chef?

Interesting.

Engrossed in the sight of the sky, Zhu Di ate a couple more bites of food.

The dog was watching from the side, licking its lips.

He thought to himself, "Your Majesty, why aren't you eating? Weren't you hungry just now? If you eat, then we servants can have some of the reward."

Unbeknownst to him, Zhu Di was already completely absorbed in watching.

[Xu Dadao's original name was Xu Gou Dan, but he changed it because he disliked the name and was learning cooking at Prince Qi's mansion.]

[The name Xu Dadao was bestowed upon him by Prince Qi, which is why he cherished it so much.]

With his new name, Xu Dadao seemed to have embarked on a new life. He was originally the second son of a poor tenant farmer in Xunzhou. After separating from the family, he had neither farmland nor farming tools. That's why he went to the Prince Qi's mansion to learn cooking.

After completing his apprenticeship, Xu Da Dao, with his exceptional knife skills and expertise in preparing sashimi, became a chef for a wealthy family. Now, he is renowned throughout the entire prefecture.

The following is a scene of Xu Dadao learning new dishes from Xun cuisine.

The chefs jokingly refer to this process as "returning to the steamer."

In the scene, Xu Dadao first arrives at the skills training center. This place is separated from the Qi Prince's Mansion by only one wall. The building structure is simple, and the main building is the classroom, with different classes for different professions.

When chefs undergo further training, they use small workshops equipped with complete knives and seasonings.

The complexity of these seasonings far exceeded Zhu Di's imagination.

Many of the seasonings were ones I'd never even seen before.

Could it be a local product from Xunzhou?

Among the seasonings used by the chefs, some spices were rare not only in the Ming Dynasty but also in Xunzhou.

This is because it is not native to the region. It is a product of a foreign land. After it was introduced to Xunzhou, Prince Qi was the first to taste it and promote its use, which gradually led to its widespread adoption.

[The hot pot broth I just mentioned, one of the Seven Treasures Spicy Hot Pot broths, was personally created by Prince Qi. Most of the ingredients used were imported from foreign lands, making it incredibly fragrant, spicy, and irresistible.]

Now, Xu Dadao is back to learn how to make hot pot broth.

Stir-fry?

Wait a minute, study? Does that mean I can secretly learn from them?

Zhu Di cleared his throat: "Dog, go and get some paper to write this down."

This dog was specially chosen by him; a literate eunuch with some manners is always easier to talk to.

The dog was clever enough to see through Zhu Di's thoughts and quickly picked up the paper and pen beside it.

Without Zhu Di saying anything, he knew that Zhu Di was curious about what the hot pot broth was. If it could be made in the palace, wouldn't he be able to taste it himself?
First, you will need the following seasonings.

The first step is to cut the butter into chunks, put it in a pot of cold water, and render it until the cracklings turn golden brown.

Ok?
butter??
The dog's hands were shaking, and he dared not continue writing.

(End of this chapter)