I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 35 The Madam's Invitation
After Liu Miao finished dealing with the courtesans, the boatmen had also finished unloading the cargo.

Having given away the promised reward, Liu Miao was about to head home when the boatman insisted that he eat something with him before leaving.

"Lord Liu, please don't be offended! Is it because you can't stand our turbid wine that you're leaving?"

As they spoke, someone opened the bamboo tube at their waist, letting the aroma of wine instantly waft over.

Liu Miao sniffed, his eyes lighting up: "What a fragrant wine!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I complain? In that case, let's drink to our hearts' content!"

He led a large group of boatmen to sit down under a reed mat shed outside the tavern, which amazed the merchants nearby. They were all wondering why a nobleman like Liu Miao would be drinking and eating with them, these commoners!

The owner, dressed in coarse clothes, saw Liu Miao being escorted into his shop. He quickly adjusted his hat and smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes before immediately going to Liu Miao's side to serve him.

"The presence of Prefect Liu today truly brings honor to this humble abode!"

"Today we have carp, crucian carp, black carp, grass carp, bream, and minnows. We also have river crabs and soft-shelled turtles in stock. I wonder which one Your Excellency Liu would like to eat?"

Which one?
Liu Miao glanced at the boatmen behind him and the few scattered merchants and travelers at the other tables, and decided to be as arrogant as ever—

"I'm buying up all the stock you have in your store today!"

"Bring out everything that runs in the mountains, swims in the water, and grows in the fields! Everyone who sees it gets a share!"

Everyone around, whether they were boatmen or laborers, men or women, or whether they knew Liu Miao or not, gasped in astonishment!
The boss's eyes lit up; he clearly hadn't expected such a big order to come in today, and he immediately dared not be negligent.

"Lord Liu, you wait! Even if I have the cook burn the bottom of the pot to a crisp today, I'll make sure everyone eats and drinks well!"

First, some sunflower and chives were placed on the table. Several earthenware bowls were then placed in front of everyone, immediately filled with rice wine and yellow wine, the swirling bubbles of the wine making one's mouth water!
If there are dry rations like rice porridge and fermented rice, ask the shopkeeper to steam them thoroughly. Then, eat them with the rare fermented soybean paste, shoveling them into your stomach without stopping for a moment.

The first thing served was none other than thinly sliced, translucent fish sashimi! The snow-white flesh was interspersed with red threads, arranged in a staggered pattern like double-petaled peonies. As soon as it was served, only one plate remained, which was a pity considering the chef's knife skills and plating!

There was also honey-colored venison roasting on a copper stove, succulent dog meat wrapped in star anise and Sichuan peppercorns, milky white fish soup stewed with water shield, and snow-white Huainan tofu... It was clear that the host hadn't said anything nonsense; he had genuinely had his chefs working hard to cook!

Those diners who arrived early could enjoy a few pieces of meat; those who arrived late would at least get a bowl of hot soup! This scene drew a large crowd of onlookers, who swarmed over and surrounded the area!
Even the owner finally came out, bowing and begging for mercy: "There's really nothing left! There's really nothing left! If there's any more, I'll just have to boil and eat this shed too!"

Everyone around him burst into laughter. Liu Miao also pointed to the Longshu River flowing beside him and said with a smile, "This great river is right here. Why worry about not having food to eat?"

Upon hearing this, some people immediately jumped into the river and caught a few small fish.

Liu Miao, intrigued, rolled up his sleeves and prepared to fish in the river.

"Your Excellency is of noble birth; how could you possibly go out and find food for us yourself?"

No one knows who tried to dissuade him, but Liu Miao ignored them.

"I, Liu Miao, have never grown a single grain of food since I was a child. I have always been fed food grown by others. Can't I, Liu Miao, fish today and feed it to others?"

Liu Miao crouched down and went to the bottom of a blue stone. Seeing that the river was not as rapid as in other places, he decisively put his hand in and made a steady and ruthless move!
The water seemed to suddenly boil, and Liu Miao clearly felt something slippery thrashing about in his hand. He immediately used his waist to pull it out of the water!
"It's a carp!"

The carp was about two feet long, but its two long whiskers were quite imposing. The onlookers were all amazed: "My goodness! Lord Liu didn't just catch a fish, he caught a dragon!" Liu Miao held the carp in both hands and laughed heartily. He obviously didn't expect to succeed on his first try and actually catch a fish!

After throwing the carp onto the shore, Liu Miao, disregarding his wet clothes, sat down on the ground and continued drinking and sharing food, chatting casually with everyone about planting crops, strange tales, everyday family matters, and the surging rivers!
However, their favorite topics of conversation were still those between men and women. And whenever Liu Miao subtly demonstrated the island nation's techniques learned in later generations, the men's eyes would light up, and the women would blush and spit, making him the center of attention!
The aroma of chestnuts and meat mingled with the rich, mellow wine on the table, and gradually, some drunkards began to bang on earthenware jars and cheer. Just then, several acrobats skilled in various arts passed by, leaping onto haystacks and tossing and catching three wooden balls like shooting stars. Someone else walked barefoot across a red-hot iron plow, drawing thunderous cheers from the crowd.

As dusk deepened, a bonfire was lit, and men and women danced to the beat of drums. Their clothes fluttered in the firelight, creating a scene of endless joy!

If Lu Kang hadn't been worried about Liu Miao and hadn't specifically ordered someone to forcibly bring Liu Miao back to his residence, Liu Miao probably would have really been able to stay here all night!

Seeing that Liu Miao was about to leave, everyone was reluctant to let him go. Some even tried to drag Liu Miao's carriage to ask him to stay a little longer.

Seeing this, Liu Miao could only clasp his hands in greeting: "Next time! Next time!"

Before leaving, Liu Miao made sure to leave all the pearls and silk he had sent from Shouchun to the tavern owner.

"If that's not enough, come to the prefect's residence tomorrow and I'll give you more money!"

"That's enough! That's enough!"

The items sent from Shouchun were all top-quality goods transferred from the imperial treasury, including pearls and silks. How could they not cover the cost of these meals?

The host, standing at the front of the crowd, waved to Liu Miao, saying, "Lord Liu! Come often! Come often!"

"it is good!"

Seeing that the people behind him were still following, Liu Miao told the driver to speed up. Only when the crowd saw that Liu Miao's trail was gradually disappearing did they slowly stop.

Back at the Lu residence.

Lu Kang had been waiting at the door for a long time, and he was furious when he saw Liu Miao!

"Zhongshan, you suddenly brought dozens of female entertainers into your home. Aren't you afraid of what people will say behind your back?"

"Let them criticize. It's getting cold today. Do you think I'm going to just leave them outside to freeze?"

Seeing that Liu Miao didn't care at all, Lu Kang finally panicked!

"If others don't care what they think of you, does it matter what Zhou Yu and Wu Shi think of you?"

"Did you know that Zhou Yu just sent you a letter, inviting you to meet him!"

Liu Miao, who was still immersed in joy, suddenly shuddered, shaking off any drowsiness and drunkenness!
"Have Zhou Yu and that Lady Wu finally come to their senses?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Note 1:

In the Han Dynasty, "fish letter" referred to an invitation. This was because it was customary to write letters on white silk, which resembled a carp swimming, hence the name "fish letter" or "carp." For example, in the Yuefu poem, "A guest came from afar, leaving me two carp. I called my son to cook the carp; inside was a letter," the "two carp" referred to the letter.

(End of this chapter)