"This is the lower reaches of the largest branch of the West River, and after two days of walking south along the river, you will reach the reeds at the end. Walking on the small wooden bridge, Jiao Xiang introduced Mu Fan with his hands behind his back.

Mu Fan leaned on the simple bridge and looked down, the crystal clear water was close at hand, and he could clearly see the small fish playing and chasing in it, and oval stones of different sizes and colors.

"Let's go. Jiao Xiang greeted and walked across the wooden bridge with Mu Fan.

On the other side of the wooden bridge is a small village with about two or three hundred families. Jiao Xiang walked through the village road and came to a wooden house. Mu Fan could see that this was a small restaurant, which had not been renovated, and there were only a few wooden tables and benches. On each table is a chopstick cage, a teapot and several large porcelain bowls, and the whole shop gives people an unpretentious feel. At this time, there were already three tables of customers sitting in the store, and looking at the clothes of these people, they were all rich owners. Seeing Jiao Xiang and Mu Fan, they both smiled and arched their hands, which was regarded as a greeting.

A middle-class woman wearing a floral apron stepped forward to greet her, with a simple smile on her face, and greeted: "Master Jiao is here, please come in." ”

Jiao Xiang nodded, took Mu Fan to sit at the table near the door of the store, and said to the woman, "Xiaolian, two portions of Hejian vegetables." ”

"Hey, wait a minute. The woman answered, and turned and went into the back room. It wasn't long before the woman approached with a tray, placed two plates in front of the table, and smiled and stepped back.

Mu Fan looked at it fixedly, this river-tip vegetable is not good-looking, with few leaves and thick stems, and its shape is similar to that of the water spinach in the world, and it shows an emerald green color after cooking. It looks like there is a uniform layer of oil on the surface, and it smells like a unique green fragrance.

"Master, is this what you let me learn?" Mu Fan picked up the chopsticks and was about to taste them.

"Don't worry, I'm going to explain it to you before eating. Jiao Xiang stopped Mu Fan and said in a flat tone, "This Hejian vegetable is a specialty of Xihejian, which grows in water. It is one of the common green vegetables in Xihejian, with a crisp and tender taste, a slight umami in the green fragrance, and an endless aftertaste. ”

"However, it is not easy to taste such deliciousness. Jiao Xiang was speechless for a moment, and then said: "The cooking method of this dish is very simple, but there are not many people who dare to make it, and even fewer people dare to eat it, do you know why?"

"I don't know. Mu Fan shook his head, since it is easy to make and common, there should be many people who eat Hejian vegetables.

"Come and see. Jiao Xiang picked up a river tip vegetable with chopsticks, aimed its rhizome at Mu Fan, and asked, "Did you find anything unusual?"

Mu Fan took a closer look, and the emerald green rhizome of this rivertip vegetable was actually the same as the water spinach, which was also hollow.

"I found it, this river tip is divided into outside and inside. Jiao Xiang explained: "It is edible on the outside, but the main rhizome contains deadly venom. If not cleaned up properly, just a little bit can be life-threatening. ”

The inhabitants of Xudu have ghost hearts and bodies, and once they damage them, they will go out of their bodies. At that time, the environment of Xudu will directly kill the soul, and that will be the real ashes. Mu Fan didn't expect that the rivertip vegetables were still highly poisonous, which was simply the puffer fish meat in the vegetable world.

"Many people have paid a very heavy price in order to practice the technique of cleaning the river tip vegetables, and in order to taste this food. Jiao Xiang spoke, put the river tip vegetable in his mouth, closed his eyes and chewed gently, swallowed the delicious food between the rolling of the Adam's apple, reopened his eyes, and said in a soft but unusually firm tone: "But all the efforts are worth it." ”

Looking at the slightly ordinary rivertip vegetables in front of him, Mu Fan was full of emotion. No matter what line of work you are in, if you want to reach the top and enjoy the strange scenery, you need to constantly work hard to climb. And on the way to climb, it is inevitable to bleed and be injured, and even have to pay for it with your life.

But there is always a group of people who are desperate, they are fearless, they spare no effort to reach a higher level, and they are brave enough to face the challenge. Because of the existence of these people, human beings have been able to progress, society has been developed, and all walks of life have been strengthened.

Mu Fan picked up the chopsticks and gently pinched a rivertip dish.

Jiao Xiang on the side gently pressed Mu Fan's wrist and said, "Although Xiaolian's cooking skills in making Hejian dishes are the best, not every dish can be foolproof, that is to say, it is risky to taste this dish." ”

"Life is full of risks, people who are unlucky can choke to death if they drink cold water, nothing is absolutely safe, and I think I am lucky. Mu Fan replied with a smile: "Even if you are unlucky, dying on such a delicacy can be regarded as a deserved." ”

"That's right, worthy of being my apprentice. Jiao Xiang laughed and let go of Mu Fan.

Picking up the river tip vegetables, Mu Fan put them in his mouth without hesitation.

At first, there is only a faint fragrance, and the surface of the dish is warm and smooth to the touch. When you bite into it, it's crispy and tender. The juice contained in the river tip dish bursts out, and the rich flavor melts in the mouth. As Mu Fan chewed, it seemed that there was a breeze drifting from the spring field, sweeping across the stream, blowing through the fish and blowing into his mouth. In addition to the unique sweetness of green vegetables, this river tip dish also has the deliciousness of shredded fish and shrimp, and this peculiar taste can only be nurtured by nature.

At this moment, Mu Fan had already made up his mind that he must learn the practice of this river-tip dish. Whether it is its taste or meaning, it is fully qualified to be a good starter for four dishes and one soup.

"Master, I want to learn how to make Hejian vegetables. Mu Fan turned his head to look at Jiao Xiang and replied in a solemn tone.

"It's no problem if you want to learn, Qi Lian is a good talker, and she is also willing to teach her cooking skills to others. Jiao Xiang said, "But she has a rule, the first 100 dishes after learning must be made here, and you must taste them yourself." Don't say that the teacher didn't remind you, Qi Lian's last apprentice was poisoned by trying to eat the Hejian vegetables he made, although he found it in time and saved his life, but his lower body was permanently paralyzed. ”

"I agreed to this condition. Mu Fan quickly replied: "Time is pressing, master help me introduce it." ”

"Good. Jiao Xiang nodded, called Qi Lian, and told her that Mu Fan wanted to learn how to fry Hejian vegetables.

"Master Jiao, you should know that you should learn the rules of Hejian cuisine from me. Qi Lian said with some embarrassment, after all, Mu Fan is Jiao Xiang's apprentice, if he is really poisoned, it will not be easy to do.

"I told him and he agreed. Jiao Xiang looked at Qi Lian and said, "Although you teach him according to your own method, we can make a note first, if he is poisoned, it has nothing to do with you." ”

Speaking of this, Qi Lian didn't want to say anything, took a pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and wrote a life and death certificate by Jiao Xiang, and then Mu Fan signed and drew it.

After carefully accepting the note, Qi Lian looked at Mu Fan and said, "Come with me." ”

Then head straight to the backyard.