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

Chapter 2 The cold door benefits the incense

Xu Gai pointed to the big disc in the middle and said: "This cold door is beneficial, it is delicious and difficult to make, and the foolish brother learned it more than ten times before he learned it." ”

Sun Anfu looked in the direction of Xu Gai's fingers, but saw: in the middle of the big disc stood a large golden ball, eight emerald green fried rape hearts, neatly and evenly surrounded around, and in the outermost circle, there were ten golden round cakes, which were very beautiful in yellow and green.

Xu Gai used chopsticks to clamp the golden balls in the middle plate into four pieces, and then used a big spoon to take out a large piece from the middle plate, put it in a small plate in front of Sun Anfu, and said with a smile: "The cold door is blessed, please taste it." ”

Sun Anfu used chopsticks to sandwich a large piece of the small dish into four small pieces, put a small piece in his mouth and chewed it carefully, blurted out and said: "The outside is charred and the inside is tender, delicious and fragrant, I can't imagine that Brother Xu's dishes are so delicious, the little brother has traveled north and south, and has also eaten some famous restaurants, this is the first time to eat such a delicacy, is it a family cooking skill?" ”

Xu Gai said: "More than ten years ago, Brother Yu was introduced by an old man from the world to a local famous chef in Caozhou, named Yi Yuanchao, who is a descendant of the Chinese chef Zu Yiyin. Brother Yu learned from Master Yi Yuanchao for two years of therapeutic cooking.

Chef Yi Yuanchao told me: Chef Zu Yiyin said that the use of fire in cooking should be moderate, and the principle of using fire should not be violated, and the matter of seasoning is very subtle, and only the five flavors of sweet, sour, bitter, bitter and salty can be properly blended to cook delicious dishes. In addition to this, there is one of the most crucial tips. ”

At this time, the housekeeper Xu Quan came to Xu Gai's side and said with a smile: "Master, the eldest young master is back." ”

As soon as the words fell, a boy in his teens jumped into the house and said with a smile to Xu Gai, "Dad, I'm back." ”

Xu Gai smiled, pointed to Sun Anfu next to him and said, "Mao Gong, I've seen Uncle Sun." ”

The boy saluted Sun Anfu and said, "Uncle Sun, okay." ”

Sun Anfu said: "Mao Gong, will Uncle Sun take you to Yicheng Temple tomorrow?" ”

The boy smiled happily, "Well, I haven't been there yet." ”

Xu Gai beckoned to the boy and said, "Mao Gong, sit down here with Dad." The boy sat next to Xu Gai, and the housekeeper Xu Quan brought the boy dishes and chopsticks.

Xu Maogong looked at Sun Anfu and asked with a smile, "Uncle Sun, is Yicheng Temple fun?" ”

Sun Anfu asked with a smile: "Mao Gong, have you heard of the great military strategist Sun Bin?" ”

Xu Maogong replied with a smile: "Uncle Sun, I heard Mr. Jia from the private school say it. ”

Sun Anfu continued: "Sun Bin resigned in his later years and returned to his hometown to write a military book in our village, at that time, the king of Qi often sent officials to visit this national meritorious hero, and built a post house in the northeast of the village for officials to stay. After that, a lot of people also came to visit, more and more people came, Qi Wangte built a post city nearby, after Sun Bin died, buried in front of the post city, and changed the post city to "Yi City". In the first year of the Northern Qi Emperor's construction (560), a temple was built on the site of Yicheng and named it "Yicheng Temple". ”

Xu Maogong said with a smile: "Uncle Sun, Yicheng Temple is so famous, I must take a good look at it tomorrow." ”

Xu Gai said: "Mao Gong, you rest early tonight, and visit Yicheng Temple tomorrow." ”

Sun Anfu asked, "Brother Xu, what is the most critical skill that Chef Zu Yiyin said?" ”

Xu Gai replied: "The most important technique is that if a dish is skillfully paired with the corresponding herbs, it has the effect of prolonging life. Chef Zu Yiyin decoctions the herb in water to extract the juice, and when the dish is made, the herbal juice is put into the dish. ”

Sun Anfu said: "The younger brother also heard that Chef Zu Yiyin is famous for his medical skills, and he is good at herbal medicine, and he created soup in his later years. ”

Xu Gai said: "Exactly, Chef Zu Yiyin used the decoction of this herb in cooking. Chef Yi Yuanchao told me: Chef Yi Yin lives a hundred years old, and this technique does have a good effect on longevity. ”

Sun Anfu said: "As the saying goes, life is rare for seventy years, and the chef Yiyin is a hundred years old, this skill is very magical." ”

At this time, the housekeeper Xu Quan came over with a wine jug to pour wine, Xu Gai took the wine jug and ordered: "I'll pour the wine, you go to the private school, take two days off for Mao Gong, and I'll lead him on a long trip." ”

"Yes, sir, the little ones will do it." Xu Quan answered, turned around and left.

Xu Gai poured full wine for Sun Anfu and Sun Wu, and his own wine glass was also full of wine, touched Xu Maogong's head and said, "Maogong, you are still young, wait until you grow up to drink." ”

Xu Maogong pouted and responded, "Yes." ”

Xu Gai pointed to the three small pieces of balls in the small plate in front of Sun Anfu and asked, "Brother Xian, can you taste what ingredients this big ball is made of?"

Sun Anfu smiled, "I only tasted shrimp, I'll taste it again." ”

Sun Anfu said as he put a small piece in his mouth with chopsticks and chewed it carefully, and said with a smile: "There are also tofu and pork." ”

Xu Gai smiled: "Brother Xian, you are most right, it is fat meat, and you didn't say it." ”

Xu Gai took out a large piece from the middle plate with a big spoon, put it in a small plate in front of Sun Wu, and said with a smile: "Little brother, also taste it." ”

Xu Gai took out a large piece from the middle plate with a big spoon, put it in a small plate in front of Xu Maogong, and said, "You can't drink, let's eat." ”

Xu Gai took a big spoon in his left hand and pasted it to the edge of the big round in the middle, and with his right hand, he gently flicked the golden round cake on the edge of the big round with chopsticks, and the golden round cake happened to fall into the big spoon, and then put the golden round cake into a small plate in front of Sun Anfu, and said with a smile: "Virtuous brother, taste this small round cake again."

Sun Anfu put the small round cake in his mouth with chopsticks and chewed it slowly, nodded frequently, and said with a smile: "It is said that Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty Tuoba Tao was very particular about diet, and he took eating delicious dishes all over the world as the greatest pleasure. The dish he likes to eat is really unusual, that big ball, it is a rare delicacy, this small round cake is simply the best in the world, so delicious. ”

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty Tuoba Tao ate the cold door for the benefit of the year, it is already a delicacy of the best products, Master Yi Yuanchao taught me the method is to use the ancestral condiments to adjust the ingredients, and add the century-old soup when cooking, which is indeed slightly better than the cold door of the year, but the virtuous brother said that it is the best in the world, and it is a little too reputation." Brother Xian, can you taste what ingredients this little cake is made of? ”

Sun Anfu smiled, "There are eggs, fat sausages, shrimps, and what is the one that can't be tasted?" Xu Gai smiled: "It's shredded ham, but the amount used is relatively small." ”

Xu Gai picked up the wine glass and said with a smile: "This is a new good wine obtained by Brother Fool a year ago, please taste it." ”

Sun Anfu picked up the wine glass, sniffed it carefully, and slowly took three sips. Gently put down the wine glass and said: "This wine is soft in the mouth, sweet in the mouth, refreshing in the aftertaste, and has a long aftertaste, it is Fen sake." Three years ago, the younger brother went to Jinyang, in the Xinghua Restaurant to drink Fen sake, the restaurant shopkeeper heard that I am a foreigner, a detailed introduction to Fen sake, Fen sake as a palace wine by the Northern Qi Emperor Wucheng highly respected, when Emperor Wucheng in Jinyang often drink Fen sake, he persuaded in the "Ye" nephew Gao Xiaoyu, also to drink two glasses. He said: "I drink two cups of Fenqing, and persuade you to drink two cups in Ye." "Fen sake left a deep impression on the younger brother."

Xu Gai said with a smile: "No wonder, when the virtuous brother drinks three sips, he can guess that it is Fen sake." ”

At this time, the housekeeper Xu Quan came to Xu Gai's side and replied: "Master, the younger one went to the private school to ask the eldest young master for leave, and Mr. Jia agreed." As soon as the little one walked out of the gate of the Jia family, the maid of the Jia family stopped the little one and asked, "Where is the eldest young master going out?" The little one replied that the old man only said that he had gone far away, but did not say where he was going. ”

Xu Maogong interjected: "That must have been asked by Jia Ruhua to ask the maid of the Jia family." ”

Xu Gai beckoned to the housekeeper Xu Quan and said, "Xu Quan, you have been busy all day, sit down and eat together." ”

The housekeeper Xu Quan responded: "Thank you, master." He took the dishes and chopsticks and sat down next to Xu Maogong.

Xu Gai stroked Xu Maogong and asked with a smile, "Who is Jia Ruhua?" ”

Xu Maogong replied: "About a year ago, a new thin classmate sat in the seat next to me, and half a year ago, Zhang Xiaobao found out that this thin classmate was actually a woman disguised as a man, and I heard that it was the only daughter of Mr. Jia Siwen of the private school, named Jia Ruhua. ”

Xu Gai asked again: "Who is that Zhang Xiaobao?" ”

Xu Maogong replied: "Zhang Xiaobao is the second young master of the Zhang shopkeeper family of Fuyuan Inn, in addition to the knowledge in the book, Zhang Xiaobao knows everything in the private school. ”

Xu Gai pointed to the large plate on the right and said, "Brother Xian, this dish of meat is also delicious, taste it." ”

Sun Anfu used chopsticks to clip a large piece of meat, put it in the small dish in front of him, clamped it with chopsticks, clamped it into two small pieces, put a small piece in his mouth, chewed it carefully, and said with a smile: "This dish is fat but not greasy, thin but not firewood, mellow and fragrant, it looks simple, but it is delicious, if there is a bowl of rice, it will be perfect." ”

Xu Gai smiled: "It's the foolish brother who forgot about it." Xu Gai said to the housekeeper Xu Quan: "Xu Quan, give each person a bowl of rice." ”

Xu Quan responded, "Yes." "Stand up and go serve the rice.

Xu Gai continued: "The dish of Zi Meat has been passed down for nearly 400 years, and the selection of ingredients is exquisite, the seasoning is appropriate, and the credit is due to the heat. ”

In an instant, the housekeeper Xu Quan put a bowl of rice in front of everyone, and Sun Anfu used chopsticks to put the remaining small piece of meat in the small plate in front of him into the rice bowl in front of him, picked up the rice bowl, and ate a mouthful of rice and meat.

Xu Gai used chopsticks to pick up a large piece of meat from the large plate on the right, put it in the rice bowl in front of him, and then scooped a spoonful of soup from the large plate on the right with a big spoon, poured it into the rice bowl in front of him, picked up the rice bowl, and ate a bite of the meat with juice and rice. Xu Gai put down the rice bowl and beckoned, "Let's all eat." ”

Sun Anfu, Sun Wu, Xu Maogong, and housekeeper Xu Quan all followed Xu Gai's example, sandwiching meat, scooping soup, and eating meat with juice and rice.

Xu Gai pointed to the large plate on the left and said: "Brother Xian, this dish of roasted oxtail is simple and easy to make, but it has the effect of strengthening muscles and bones and anti-aging, taste it." ”

Sun Anfu used chopsticks to pick a large piece of roasted oxtail from the large plate on the left, put it in his mouth and chewed it carefully, and said with a smile: "The meat is thick and juicy, fresh and mellow, and it is delicious." ”

Xu Gai said: "Roasted oxtail is a dish, the meat is soft and rotten, it has the effect of anti-aging and prolonging life, and it is suitable for the elderly." ”

Sun Anfu said with a smile: "Brother Xu, teach my younger brother to make this dish in my free time, after my younger brother learns it, he often cooks this dish, and I will do my filial piety when I invite my father to eat it." ”

Xu Gai said: "Brother Xian, among the three famous dishes, roasted oxtail is the easiest to make, chop the oxtail into sections according to the bone joints, soak it in water, put it in a pot of water and cook it thoroughly, and remove it to wash off the blood. Put sesame oil on the pot and heat it, put in the seasonings, green onions, ginger slices, garlic slices to stir out the fragrance, put in the old soup, water, oxtail to boil, boil with a slight fire until nine ripe, take out the oxtail and divide it in the steaming bowl, and then steam it in the pot, and buckle the steamed oxtail into the plate. Drain the soup in a stir-fry spoon and put it on the heat, pour in sesame oil, and pour it over the oxtail. ”

Sun Anfu said: "Brother Xu, the dish of roasted oxtail is not only delicious, but also has the effect of anti-aging and prolonging life, will it really be so easy to do well?" ”

Xu Gai said: "Exactly, the next time Brother Yu cooks this dish, please watch Brother Xian on the sidelines, watch it two or three times, and Brother Xian will be able to make it." ”

Xu Gai persuaded Sun Anfu to drink two glasses of Fen sake, Sun Anfu put down the wine glass, and said with a smile: "Brother Xu, the younger brother arrived in Lihu County at noon, and the weather was too hot. Rest early and leave early tomorrow, okay? ”

Xu Gai said: "It's just that after drinking Fen sake, it is advisable to drink some strong tea, drink a few cups of strong tea and then rest." ”

Xu Gai instructed the housekeeper Xu Quan: "Xu Quan, go make a pot of strong tea, and then see how the guest room is cleaned up." Butler Xu Quan responded, "Yes." "Get up and get out.

After a while, Xu Gai and Sun Anfu drank strong tea and gossiped.

At this time, the housekeeper Xu Quan came into the house and came to Xu Gai's side and replied, "Master, the guest room has been cleaned up." ”

Xu Gai asked with a smile: "Brother Xian, please go to the guest room to rest, okay?" ”

Sun Anfu replied with a smile: "Okay, Brother Xu, you should also rest early, the weather is too hot, early tomorrow morning, we will set off to Yicheng Temple." ”