Tang Dynasty: Saving Lives and Helping Others, Li Lizhi Falls for Him

The next day, before dawn, Shen Chang'an got up.

Today is the day agreed upon with Li Shimin. Li Shimin and his entourage have come for a follow-up examination and then delivered the seeds.

Therefore, Shen Chang'an first entered the spiritual plant space to make some preparations.

Inside the space, the corn had grown to almost full height, with stalks taller than a person, bulging husks, bright green outer skin, and light brown silks.

He broke open a husk, and the kernels inside were golden. When you pinch it with your fingernail, a milky white sap seeps out.

Although it hasn't turned into mature corn yet, tender corn is still edible, and what he exchanged for was the glutinous kind.

"The tender corn is just right to eat." Shen Chang'an broke off about twenty ears, peeled off the outer skin, and put them in a bamboo basket.

The potatoes were fully ripe. He dug out forty or fifty of them, each about the size of a fist, with a pale yellow skin and round shape.

The sweet potato harvest was also bountiful, with tubers growing densely under the vines, the largest of which was as big as a fist.

He selected thirty of the best-looking ones and put them in a cloth bag.

They cut a hundred thick vines from the sweet potato field, each about a foot long with three or four nodes, and wrapped the roots with a damp cloth.

As for the corn seeds, the corn in the space is still too young to be used as seeds.

Old corn needs to be fully ripe and the kernels must be dry and hard before it can be sold; there's no time to wait.

Shen Chang'an opened the system panel and directly redeemed three portions of old corn seeds.

[Three portions of corn seeds: 60 merits]

[Redeem successful]

[Remaining Merit Points: 12]

Three small bags of golden corn kernels appeared in his hands. It has a hard texture.

"We have potato seeds, sweet potato seeds, sweet potato vines, and tender corn."

Shen Chang'an moved these to the kitchen, then thought for a moment, "Giving them seeds isn't enough; they need to know how to eat them."

Tender corn can be boiled, while potatoes and sweet potatoes can be baked, steamed, or stir-fried.

But the best way to eat these three crops together is in a hot pot.

Shen Chang'an's eyes lit up.

Yes, hot pot.

The broth is made by simmering bones and adding spices such as Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, scallions, garlic, and star anise. These ingredients existed in the Tang Dynasty, but people were not used to this combination.

Then slice thinly sliced ​​pork and mutton, add cabbage, radish, and tofu, and boil them all together in a pot, steaming hot.

Potatoes are sliced ​​and eaten in hot pot, sweet potatoes are cut into chunks and boiled, and corn is cut into sections and stewed together in a pot.

"It's settled then."

But pork is a problem.

Pigs in the Tang Dynasty were not castrated, and had a very strong fishy smell. The pork sold in the market was not eaten by wealthy families; only poor people would buy it.

If Shen Chang'an buys pork from the market and processes it to remove the fishy smell, how would he explain it to Li Shimin if he asked?

If Li Shimin sent someone to investigate and found that the pork in the market did not taste like this at all, wouldn't that be a crime of deceiving the emperor?

Shen Chang'an had already thought of this, as he was extremely picky about ingredients.

During his years in the Tang Dynasty, he got along very well with his neighbors.

Farmers, hunters, and craftsmen all received his treatment and obeyed his every word.

Several months ago, he taught his neighbor, Wang Laosi, how to castrate pigs and how to raise pigs.

Castrated pigs lose their fishy smell and have tender meat.

Wang Laosi raised them for half a year, then killed two of them. He kept one for himself and sent the other to Shen Chang'an, who stored it with his magic power so it wouldn't spoil for a long time.

Therefore, the pork that Shen Chang'an ate was not the kind of smelly pork sold in the market.

Even if Li Shimin investigated, he wouldn't find anything wrong, since the pork was indeed bought from farmers, and the farmers' pigs didn't have a fishy or foul smell, so he could find out the reason.

Afterwards, Shen Chang'an rummaged through the corner of the kitchen and found a large earthenware pot, which he then washed and prepared for use.

I also picked some fresh cabbage from the spiritual plant space.

Radishes and scallions.

The mutton was bought from the market. The mutton in the Tang Dynasty was of good quality and did not require special processing.

The pork had been prepared in advance. The pork that Wang Laosi delivered was tender and had a good balance of fat and lean meat. Shen Chang'an sliced ​​it into thin slices and arranged them on a plate.

Once everything was ready, he shouldered his medicine kit and left the hospital.

……

Just after dawn, a long queue formed in front of the free clinic booth.

Shen Chang'an sat down as usual and began to diagnose and prescribe medicine for the people.

He had something on his mind today, but he didn't show it on his face. He saw every doctor who needed to see him and received every acupuncture treatment he needed.

Just after 9:00 AM, a convoy of trains slowly approached on the distant official road.

Leading the procession were two blue-curtained carriages, followed by three or four more, with guards on horseback accompanying them.

The convoy stopped in its usual spot—under that big locust tree.

Shen Chang'an scanned the area with his divine sense and immediately understood the situation.

The first carriage carried Li Shimin, the second carried Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi, the third carried Li Chengqian, the fourth carried Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang, and the fifth carried several unfamiliar men dressed in official robes, all around forty or fifty years old.

Judging from their demeanor and the content of their conversation, they seemed to be officials in charge of agricultural affairs.

"It seems Li Shimin is serious, arriving so early," Shen Chang'an thought to himself.

The people in line also noticed the train procession and began to whisper among themselves.

"Another caravan of carriages has arrived. Are they here to see Doctor Shen for treatment?"

"Definitely. Which of the city's high-ranking officials and nobles wouldn't want to hire Doctor Shen?"

"That's right, there's no one else in the entire city of Chang'an with Dr. Shen's medical skills."

Shen Chang'an ignored him and continued to examine the patient.

Li Shimin and the others did not get out of the carriage, but waited quietly inside.

It wasn't until 3:45 AM, when the last patient left with profuse thanks, that Shen Chang'an stood up, stretched his shoulders, and began packing his medicine box.

Li Chengqian, accompanied by Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang, strode over.

"Dr. Shen," Li Chengqian said with a cupped hand and a smile, "my father has arrived, and I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you today."

"Young Master Li, you're too kind."

Shen Chang'an returned the greeting and, while tidying up, said, "Actually, I should thank Master Li. Although I am willing to do something for the people, human strength has its limits. It is truly a blessing for the people to have an official like Master Li who cares about them."

Li Chengqian, Li Chunfeng, and Yuan Tiangang exchanged glances, their eyes revealing a hint of approval.

"Mr. Shen's noble character is admirable," Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang said in unison, bowing with their hands clasped.

"Dr. Shen, please get in the car. My father is already waiting inside." Li Chengqian stepped aside to lead the way.

Shen Chang'an slung his medicine box over his shoulder and followed Li Chengqian toward the convoy.

……

Upon reaching the first carriage, Li Shimin lifted the curtain and personally disembarked to greet him.

"Mr. Shen!" Li Shimin said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting, "You look even better these past few days."

"You're too kind, Master Li," Shen Chang'an returned the greeting.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi also got off the second carriage and nodded slightly to Shen Chang'an.

Empress Zhangsun looked much better than before; her face was rosy, and her steps were lighter.

Li Lizhi was still beautiful, though her complexion was a little pale, but she was in good spirits.

"Greetings, Madam Li and Miss Li." Shen Chang'an bowed.

People from the following cars also got off.

Li Chengqian, Li Chunfeng, and Yuan Tiangang went without saying, and the other unfamiliar officials also stepped forward to pay their respects.

"Mr. Shen, who are these people...?"

Li Shimin pointed to the officials and said, "They are my advisors in charge of agriculture. I brought them here today to hear your teachings."

"You're too kind, sir," Shen Chang'an returned the greetings one by one.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Shimin invited Shen Chang'an to ride in the first carriage towards the courtyard.

Inside the carriage, Li Shimin and Shen Chang'an sat facing each other.

"Mr. Shen," Li Shimin's tone was relaxed, but Shen Chang'an could sense a hint of tension in his expression, "those crops...did you bring them today?"

"I brought them." Shen Chang'an nodded. "Don't worry, sir, they're all in the courtyard."

Li Shimin let out a long sigh of relief, leaned back against the carriage wall, and closed his eyes.