The Romance of the Famous Marshals of the Early Tang Dynasty Li Jichuan

Chapter 8 Seed Chicken

Xu Gai was using a big spoon to put the famous dish Muguo seed chicken from the casserole to the pot, when the housekeeper Sun Dayou walked into the kitchen, came to the two of them, and asked with a smile: "The old lady's index finger suddenly moved, let the little one come and ask the two masters, what is the name of this famous dish?"

Xu Gai replied with a smile: "Housekeeper, please inform the old lady that this famous dish is called Yuanmu Guo Seed Chicken, and this famous dish has been prepared and will be served immediately."

The housekeeper Sun Dayou responded: "Yes." Turn and leave.

After a while, Xu Gai entered the main hall with a pot of famous dishes in both hands, the main hall had already set up a table, and Father Sun sat in the middle, Xu Gai put the pot of famous dishes in front of Father Sun, and said with a smile: "Uncle, please taste the seed chicken." After speaking, he sat down on the left side of Father Sun.

Sun Anfu put a plate of famous dishes next to the pot of the vegetable clerk's muguo seed chicken, and said with a smile: "Dad, my son made roasted oxtail today, put the old soup, and it tastes much better." After speaking, he sat down on the right side of Father Sun.

Sun Anfu took a spoon, put it in the small plate in front of Dad Sun, and said, "Dad, this famous dish is made by Brother Xu, when Brother Xu makes it, his son smells it next to him and is relaxed, is it delicious to taste it?"

Father Sun picked up the spoon, sank it against the edge of the basin, scooped a mouthful of soup, raised his hand, put it to his lips, blew it gently, and drank it slowly, drinking and smiling at the corner of his mouth.

Sun Anfu hurriedly asked, "Dad, how does it taste?"

Dad smiled and replied, "It's delicious."

Sun Anfu took a piece of roasted oxtail with chopsticks, put it in a small plate in front of Dad Sun, and said with a smile: "Dad, today's son made roasted oxtail with old soup, taste it."

Dad Sun drank the soup in the spoon, put the spoon in the small dish in front of him, picked up the chopsticks and picked up the roasted oxtail, put it to his mouth, bit a piece of meat, put the roasted oxtail back into the small plate, put down the chopsticks, chewed carefully, blurted out and said: "This taste is much better than last time, I didn't expect the old soup to have such a good effect after seasoning."

At this time, the housekeeper Sun Dayou came to pour the wine with a wine jug, and Sun Anfu asked with a smile, "Dad, do you want to have a drink today?"

Father Sun smiled: "I won't drink it today, you can drink it, the old man will eat this famous dish."

Sun Anfu instructed the housekeeper Sun Dayou: "Pour wine for Brother Xu."

The housekeeper Sun Dayou poured wine for Xu Gai and Sun Anfu.

Sun Anfu instructed the housekeeper Sun Dayou: "Housekeeper, I'll pour wine, you sit down and eat, and when you're full, go and replace the housekeepers Xu Quan and Sun Wu."

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Brother Xu, how about tasting the roasted oxtail that the younger brother made today?"

Xu Gai used chopsticks to pick a small piece of roasted oxtail from the large plate on the right, dipped it in the vegetable soup, put it to his mouth and bit down a piece of meat, and then put the roasted oxtail in the small plate in front of him, chewed it carefully, put down the chopsticks, and said with a smile: "Brother Xian, there is no difference between making roasted oxtail this time and what Brother Yu makes at home."

Sun Anfu smiled and asked, "Is it so good?" After speaking, Sun Anfu used chopsticks to pick a large piece of roasted oxtail from the large plate on the right, put it to his mouth and bit down a piece of meat, and then put the piece of roasted oxtail into the small plate in front of him, chewed and chewed, and said with a smile: "Brother Xu, the roasted oxtail made by the younger brother today is much better than the last time, but it is still a little worse than what he ate at Brother Xu's house."

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Master Yi Yuanchao often says: To make a good dish, three points depend on technology, and seven points depend on proficiency. Brother Xian, the little bit that is missing, do it a few more times, and you can make up for it after you become proficient. ”

Sun Anfu asked with a smile: "Brother Xu, the famous dish of roasted oxtail, even if the younger brother has completely learned it?" After speaking, he raised his glass and drank it all.

Xu Gai replied with a smile: "Exactly." After speaking, he picked up his glass and drank it all.

At this time, Father Sun ate all the pots of wood fruit seed chickens and put the spoon in the small dish in front of him.

Xu Gai hurriedly asked, "Uncle, how about the famous dish of Yuanmu Fruit Seed Chicken?"

Father Sun replied: "Virtuous nephew, this famous dish is fragrant and mellow, which is very suitable for the old man's taste."

Xu Gai said: "Uncle, there is still a casserole in the kitchen, and the little nephew will go and serve it again." After saying that, he stood up.

The housekeeper Sun Dayou hurriedly stood up and said with a smile: "Master Xu, the little one watched Master Xu serve the famous dishes from the casserole in the kitchen, and the small one went to serve it." After speaking, he walked up to Father Sun, picked up the empty basin, and turned to leave.

Xu Gai sat back in place and said with a smile: "Uncle, my little nephew has watched it a few times, and he only eats half a bowl of rice each time, and he didn't expect his appetite to be so good today."

Father Sun asked with a smile: "Virtuous nephew, when making this famous dish, the old man smelled the fragrance, and his index finger suddenly moved, eating this famous dish, his appetite was opened, what is this famous dish made of?"

Xu Gai replied: "Uncle, Master Yi Yuanchao said that the famous dish of Yuanmu fruit seed chicken has a good effect on senile anorexia, the main ingredient is pheasant, the auxiliary material is millet rice, and the pheasant soup is put into the Yuanmu fruit seed."

Father Sun smiled: "Virtuous nephew, no wonder when I eat this famous dish, there is a lingering fragrance of tea in my mouth, it turns out that it is put in the seeds of the wood fruit."

At this time, the housekeeper Sun Dayou entered the main hall with a pot of famous dishes in both hands, walked to Father Sun, put the pot of famous dishes in front of Father Sun, and said with a smile: "Old lady, this famous dish smells very fragrant."

Father Sun smiled and said, "Nephew, this famous dish tastes good, let's eat it together."

Xu Gai replied: "Uncle, this famous dish is specially made for my uncle, and the little nephew can eat roasted oxtail."

Dad Sun picked up the spoon and began to eat the seed chicken.

Sun Anfu asked with a smile: "Brother Xu, my father loves to eat this dish so much, and my younger brother must also learn to make it, and he has learned to cook this dish for his father from time to time, is this famous dish difficult to make?"

Xu Gai replied: "This famous dish is not difficult to learn to make, mainly for senile anorexia, the foolish brother does not often do it, these ingredients are used less, pheasants are slaughtered and haired, the internal organs are cleaned and cleaned, and after blanching in boiling water to remove the fishy smell, put it in a casserole, add the old soup, and boil on the fire; Change the heat to stew the chicken, remove the bones, cut the chicken into thin strips and then put it into a casserole; Put in the wood fruit seeds, wash the millet rice, put it in a casserole and cook it with the pheasant shreds, and boil the millet rice over a simmer. ”

Sun Anfu asked with a smile: "Brother Xu, is it much more difficult to be a member of the wood fruit seed chicken than to burn oxtail?"

Xu Gai replied: "Brother Xian, these two famous dishes are about the same difficulty, tomorrow when Brother Yu makes this famous dish, Brother Xian will take a closer look, Brother Yu came this time and brought six pheasants, Brother Yu made two, and the remaining four Brother Xian did, all six pheasants were done, and Brother Xian will be able to learn."

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Brother Xu, when I was making the famous dish of Muguo Seed Chicken today, I was busy making roasted oxtail, and I didn't look at it carefully, it's a pity."

At this time, Father Sun finished eating the wood fruit seed chicken, put the spoon in the small plate in front of him, and said with a smile: "Virtuous nephew, I have eaten two pots of this meal, and it is the first time in more than a year that the old man has eaten so much in one meal."

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Master Yi Yuanchao said that the famous dish of Yuanmu fruit seed chicken has a good effect on senile anorexia, and it seems that what he said is true."

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Dad, my son wants to learn this famous dish from Brother Xu, and when he learns it, he will make it for his father every day."

Father Sun said with a smile: "Virtuous nephew, early tomorrow morning, let Sun Wu go to your mansion to inform Mrs. Zun and the eldest son that the martial arts study has been completed, and I implore the virtuous nephew to stay in our mansion for a few more days, so that my son can learn the famous dish of Yuanmu fruit seed chicken."

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Uncle, thank you for your kindness, stay in your mansion for a few more days, teach Brother Anfu Xian to go to our mansion to inform Mrs. and eldest son, Mrs. I know that it is not easy to learn martial arts from a teacher, when Brother An Fuxian learns to make famous dishes, let Sun Wu watch from the side, and when Brother An Fuxian makes famous dishes in the future, let Sun Wu give a start."

Father Sun smiled and said, "It's still thoughtful and thoughtful."

Sun Anfu interjected and said with a smile: "Brother Xu, in the past two days, my father asked the housekeeper to go to the market early in the morning to buy male ducks, and bought a lot of male ducks to raise in the backyard."

Father Sun smiled and asked, "Housekeeper, how many male ducks have you bought?"

The housekeeper Sun Dayou stood up and replied with a smile: "Old lady, the little one bought a total of nineteen male ducks, but I don't know if I bought it right?" Please also ask Master Xu to give me some advice. ”

Father Sun said with a smile: "Virtuous nephew, the subordinates of our family can only do rough work, and we have to bother the virtuous nephew to help take a look."

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Uncle, after dinner, the little nephew will go to the backyard to pick up a male duck, make a simmering male duck tonight, and eat a simmering male duck for dinner tomorrow."

Sun Anfu interjected and asked with a smile: "Brother Xu, which famous dish will you cook tonight?"

Xu Gai replied with a smile: "Brother Xian, tonight, Brother Fool made two famous dishes for the benefit of the poor family and meat, please taste it to my uncle, what do you think?"

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Hanmen Fufu is the best of the famous dishes, and it is perfect to eat rice and meat."

Father Sun interjected and asked, "Virtuous nephew, what you want to do tonight is the famous dish that spread on the birthday of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty?"

Xu Gai replied with a smile: "Uncle, exactly, has my uncle eaten this famous dish?"

Father Sun replied with a smile: "Virtuous nephew, the old man ate it once thirty years ago, and it is a rare delicacy in the world!" I didn't expect such a good taste to be there today. ”

Five days later, Xu Gai taught Sun Anfu to be a member of the wood fruit seed chicken and stew the male duck, and Xu Gai taught the housekeeper Sun Dayou to buy the male duck, pheasant, and wood fruit seeds.

At noon on the ninth day, after lunch, Xu Gai and the housekeeper Xu Quan set off from Sun Anfu's house, Sun Anfu and Sun Wu rode horses to see them off, and after sending out a mile of land, when they arrived at the place where Sun Wu picked them up, Xu Gai pulled the reins of the horse, the big white horse slowed down, Xu Gai smiled: "Brother Xian, it has been sent far away, don't send it again."

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Brother Xu, please discuss the matter of learning martial arts with Mrs. Zun and Ling Lang, and wish the eldest brother a smooth journey."

Xu Gai and the others waved goodbye to Sun Anfu and Sun Wu, and the two of them hurried to the East Street of Lihu County.

In the evening, Xu Gai and the housekeeper Xu Quan rode home together, and after dinner, Xu Gai, Mrs., and Xu Maogong returned to the inner room.

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Mao Gong, your grandfather Sun helped to intercede, and Master Huitong promised to accept you as an apprentice."

Xu Maogong smiled and said, "Okay."

Xu Gai continued: "Mao Gong, Zen Master Huiyuan said that Yicheng Temple has never had idlers who only eat and do not work. Master Huitong had no choice but to say that you should go and help Zen Master Huida clean the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion. ”

Xu Maogong hurriedly asked, "Dad, do you have to clean the Scripture Pavilion every day?"

Xu Gai replied: "Mao Gong, Master Huitong didn't elaborate on the matter of cleaning the Scripture Pavilion, and your Uncle Sun Anfu helped to intercede and said that the twelve-year-old rich son should not be allowed to clean the Scripture Pavilion. Master Huitong finally said that if you come now, you can also wait a year or two to come to Yicheng Temple to learn martial arts. ”

Madame interjected and asked, "Master, who is Zen Master Huiyuan?"

Xu Gai replied: "Madam, Huiyuan Zen Master is the first in Yicheng Temple, after returning to Sun Anfu's house, Uncle Sun said that Master Huitong is a martial idiot, and the big and small things in the temple are all decided by Huiyuan Zen Master, and Master Huitong never takes the initiative to ask."

Xu Maogong interjected and asked, "Dad, what is a martial idiot?"

Xu Gai replied: "Martial idiots are fascinated by the art of war and martial arts, and they don't care about other things."

Xu Maogong smiled and asked, "Dad, are you a famous vegetable idiot?"

Xu Gai replied: "Dad likes to cook famous dishes, but he is not obsessed, and Dad can't do other things, so he doesn't care."

Xu Gai continued: "Mao Gong, Grandpa Sun said that there are only two people in Huiyuan Zen Master who do not contradict each other, one is the old abbot, and the other is Huida Zen Master, Master Huitong asked you to help Huida Zen Master clean the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, because he wanted Huida Zen Master to maintain you."

Madame interjected and asked, "Master, who is Zen Master Huida?"

Xu Gai replied: "Madam, Huida Zen Master is the elder brother of the Huizi generation monks of Yicheng Temple, Huiyuan Zen Master was only five years old when he came to the temple, Huida Zen Master often helps Huiyuan Zen Master, so Huiyuan Zen Master is sincerely grateful to Huida Zen Master."

Madame asked, "Master, will Zen Master Huida help my son?"

Xu Gai replied: "Madam, Uncle Sun has some friendship with Huida Zen Master, and when Mao Gong goes to be a lay disciple, Uncle Sun asks Sun Anfu to give his ancient inkstone to Huida Zen Master, and Huida Zen Master will take good care of my son."