Xiang Lao arrived before Liang Jian and Qu Ping, and when Liang Jian and they arrived, Xiang Lao and Lao Tang were playing chess. Tang Yi didn't know where he was. Liang Jian walked in with Qu Ping, and before the two of them found them, Qu Ping suddenly whispered to Liang Jian: "Such a scene is rare to see." Two powerful people, but now they are sitting together like this, Liang Jian, you are a great hero!"

The meaning of Qu Ping's words is not difficult to understand. Xiang Lao didn't deal with Old Tang very well before, and once asked Liang Jian to keep a distance from the Tang family. Now they can sit together and play chess so peacefully, in addition to the mutual attraction of each other's personalities, most of the reasons are indeed for Liang Jian.

Liang Jian smiled embarrassedly.

At this time, Xiang Lao, who was coming in the direction they were coming, looked up and saw them, so he put down the chess pieces. Old Tang also looked at it.

Xiang Lao greeted him first and said, "Xiaoping, it's very early, hurry up and sit down." ”

Qu Ping said hello to Old Tang, and then sat down between the two. Liang Jian didn't sit down, but went to the side, took the teapot, first added tea to Xiang Lao and Lao Tang, then poured another cup for Qu Ping, and finally poured himself a cup, before sitting down opposite Qu Ping.

As soon as I sat down, I heard Qu Ping of the old Tang Dynasty say: "Come and guess, who will win this game, me and your teacher?"

Qu Ping had already paid attention to this chess game before he sat down. On the chessboard, the situation is stale, and it is difficult to say who will win. In ancient times, I liked to use chess games to play, because on the chess game, as long as the opponents were equal, the victory or defeat was often only in an instant, and it was difficult to guess.

Although Qu Ping's chess strength is not bad, he really doesn't dare to judge whether he wins or loses this game of chess. He studied it carefully, and then said with a smile: "Mr. Tang, as soon as I sat down, you gave me a problem!"

Old Tang smiled slightly and said, "How can this be a problem! You just guess casually, let's take it as a game!"

After Qu Ping heard this, he looked at Old Tang, then turned his head to look at Xiang Lao, and then said with a smile: "Then I'll just guess, guess Mr. Tang, you won." ”

Old Tang glanced at him, then looked at Xiang Lao, and laughed loudly: "Old Xiang, look, even your students said that I would win, why don't you hurry up and admit defeat?"

Xiang Lao smiled: "You also said it just now, let him guess casually." Today you are the master, he naturally wants to guess that you won. Otherwise, you let Liang Jian guess and see who he wins!"

After hearing this, Old Tang waved his hand and said, "Forget it, with his chess skills, he can see anything." ”

Liang Jian was despised by Lao Tang like this, and he was inevitably a little depressed in his heart, and he couldn't help but want to give it a try. Unexpectedly, without waiting for him to speak, Tang Yi walked out of nowhere, and when he saw that Liang Jian and Qu Ping were there, he said with a smile: "Since they are all here, why don't we take a seat?"

Old Tang looked at Qu Ping, and Qu Ping smiled: "I have long heard the name of the Tang family's imperial chef, I can't wait!"

"Okay, then take a seat. Old Tang raised his head and said to Tang Yi.

When Qu Ping stood up, he shook hands with Tang Yi and said hello. Looking at Qu Ping's attitude towards Tang Yi, it is similar to his attitude towards Old Tang. He seemed to know that Tang Yi was not an ordinary person in the Tang family.

Liang Jian silently watched Qu Ping's every move behind his back.

Dinner was arranged in a side hall in the front yard. When they entered, there were six servants standing in the room, three on each side, each dressed in uniform black, like the pomp of a large family in ancient times.

Although Liang Jian has been here many times, he has not seen many such scenes. It seems that Old Tang still attaches more importance to today's dinner.

After taking a seat, Tang Yi said to a servant waiting outside the door to serve the food, and after a while, someone brought the food one after another.

Qu Ping sat and watched all this, and said with a smile: "I have long heard that the Tang family in the capital is extraordinary, and when I see it today, it is really unusual! ”

When Old Tang heard this, he smiled and said nothing. Tang Yi took over the words while helping Bu Cai on the side: "Secretary Qu may not know something, many of them are ancestors who have lived in our Tang family for generations. For example, she ......" Tang Yi casually pointed to an eldest sister who happened to put the dishes on the table: "Her parents also live in our Tang family." As he spoke, he paused, smiled, and then continued: "Actually, we eat very casually on weekdays, but today, when the distinguished guests come, Secretary Qu, you want to eat the imperial dishes of the ancient court, so there will be such a pomp." ”

After hearing this, Qu Ping smiled and said, "When Mr. Tang Yi said this, I was embarrassed. It seems that I shouldn't have mentioned the Imperial Chef today. Actually, I just mentioned it casually, but I didn't expect Liang Jian to bring you a message. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the appetizers had already been served, and those people retreated and closed the door under the gesture of Old Tang. Then, Lao Tang smiled and said to Qu Ping: "Liang Jian respects you very much, so he naturally attaches importance to your words." ”

Qu Ping glanced at Old Tang, then at Liang Jian, and smiled.

"Speaking of which, I haven't tasted the dishes cooked by this descendant of the imperial chef of the court. Today, thanks to Xiaoping, I can also feast on your blessings!" Xiang Lao interjected.

Lao Tang took over: "If you want to say so, in fact, today we all entrusted Secretary Qu's blessings." The descendant of this palace chef has not fired for some years. Today, the chef still heard that the secretary of the municipal party committee was coming, so he nodded and started the fire. ”

As soon as Mr. Tang said this, then I was even more embarrassed. Qu Ping took over and said with a smile.

Old Tang laughed, and then complimented each other a few more words before the meal was officially opened. Liang Jian had been sitting there and couldn't interject, in fact, he didn't really want to interject, so he quietly watched the three of them talk, which was actually quite interesting. Old Tang, Xiang Lao, and Qu Ping, the dialogue between the three of them seems to be compliments to each other, and there is no nutrition, in fact, if you taste it yourself, you will find that these words are also a kind of temptation, testing each other. There are even a few other flavors in it, such as demonstrations!

When the appetizer was almost finished, Tang Yi suddenly got up and went out. Not long after he left, Qu Ping suddenly said: "A few days ago, I went to visit an old chief, and the old chief mentioned you to me, Mr. Tang. ”

Old Tang sighed in surprise and asked, "Which old chief?"

Qu Ping replied with a smile: "Speaking of which, Mr. Tang may also call him uncle, this old chief was once a comrade-in-arms with Mr. Tang's father, and according to the old chief, they used to have a good relationship." After saying that, he looked at Old Tang with a smile.

Old Tang frowned and pondered. He was probably guessing who the old chief was. On the other side, Xiang Lao's expression was also thoughtful. He suddenly glanced at Qu Ping, and suddenly at Old Tang.

Liang Jian was also looking at Qu Ping, and at this time, Qu Ping suddenly mentioned this old chief, it would definitely not be a casual chat, it must have his purpose.

Just when Liang Jian was guessing his purpose, Old Tang suddenly asked with a shocked face, "Are you talking about Old Man Xu?"

Qu Ping smiled and nodded: "It's him." ”

Old Tang's eyes suddenly flashed with some different light, and then asked, "How is Old Man Xu's health now?"

"It's very healthy, I went to see him before, and he said that he was going to run a marathon!" Qu Ping said with a smile. Old Tang also laughed: "Really, he should be almost ninety years old, right?"

Qu Ping nodded: "Eighty-nine, it will be ninety soon." ”

"Then he's really healthy. Old Tang said.

At this time, Xiang Lao took over and said, "I also visited Old Man Xu a few days ago, and his old man's mental state is even better than mine. ”

Qu Ping probably didn't expect that Xiang Lao also went to visit this old man Xu, and he was slightly surprised, and then asked, "Teacher, why didn't you call me along?"

Xiang Lao looked at him and said, "Just two days ago, you are now the secretary of the municipal party committee, and you are busy with work, so I didn't call you." However, Mr. Xu, I mentioned you to me. ”

A look of uneasiness suddenly flashed across Qu Ping's face, but only for a moment. He smiled calmly, "Is it?

Xiang Lao shook his head and smiled without saying a word.

This smile made the uneasy look that flashed on Qu Ping's face just now appear again.

On the side, Old Tang looked at the two of them thoughtfully.

Liang Jian also noticed the wrong look on Qu Ping's face that appeared and disappeared in an instant, it seems that Xiang Lao may have learned something about Qu Ping from that old man Xu.

However, Xiang Lao didn't seem to have any intention of saying it.

After going out for a while, Tang Yi came back with a few main dishes, all of which were famous dishes of the previous court.

The conversation that had just been getting better had stopped, and the compliments that had been secretly competing with each other reappeared.

After about half an hour, a few main courses were also eaten about the same. Qu Ping picked up the hot towel sent by the servant, wiped his hands and mouth, and then smiled: "The descendants of the imperial kitchen are indeed worthy of their reputation. The taste of this dish is the most authentic I've ever tasted. ”

Old Tang smiled, and then sighed: "It's a pity that this master is old now, and none of his three apprentices have learned his true inheritance. In the future, these skills will be lost. When Old Tang spoke, his face was full of pity. He's really in pity.

Qu Ping took over: "If you want me to say, this master should have opened a chef class in the early years to pass on these traditional skills." We can't cherish good things, we have to share them, can we?"

Not only Lao Tang, but Liang Jian also heard what he said, and there was something in his words.

"That being said, but after all, it's a craft that people have worked so hard to learn, and I don't want to share it, and that's right. We can't force people, can we?" said Don.

Qu Ping glanced at him, smiled slightly, and said, "Mr. Tang is also reasonable. ”

"If you want me to say, let's get down to business. Xiang Lao suddenly interjected.

Old Tang smiled slightly and said, "Yes." I forgot about it. ”

Qu Ping looked at Xiang Lao, then at Liang Jian, and then said, "Before I came, Liang Jian mentioned to me that Mr. Tang had already obtained an important handle about Guo here, right?"

Old Tang glanced at Liang Jian, and then asked, "That's what Liang Jian told you?"

Qu Ping also glanced at Liang Jian, and then asked rhetorically: "Could it be that Liang Jian sent me the wrong message?"