To the west of Yizhou City, Zhang Xiaobao came out of the west gate and guessed where Liu Feng was going, and to the west of Yizhou were two very large rivers, that is, a very important section of the Yangtze River.

In addition to the two rivers, there are also mountains, one after the other, with many ravines and other small rivers and even small lakes in between.

The west of the city is not the main traffic road in Yizhou, the most important is in the north and south, but now there are also people who take the west road because it is close.

It turns out that the road is all small roads, and even if you don't walk for a few days, you can't see any traces of people traveling on it when you walk past, and at the same time there are a lot of snakes and insects, and occasionally a few wolves will cooperate with it, so that people who want to take a shortcut know that this road is difficult.

Now it is relatively easy to walk, there is no concrete road, and there will be no asphalt road.

However, the standard and quality of life of people living in a country and the quality of life of a group depend on the country's level of science and technology and the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.

When the three are improved at the same time, handicrafts and commerce will inevitably prosper, and people will have higher requirements for the variety and quality of goods, which will be directly reflected in the price of goods.

Therefore, the first thing that people who have the conditions think of is to ship good things from other places to sell, and then buy the living materials they need and the relatively luxurious things they like when they make money.

As a result, the caravan naturally expanded from its original size to an increase in number.

As a very important state capital in the Tang Dynasty, Yizhou Mansion will inevitably follow closely in the area of the capital in terms of life.

The locals found out that they went out from the west of the city and crossed the mountains. 'Wading' across rivers can be exchanged farther west for something that is valuable in Yizhou.

On the way, you can even hunt and collect medicinal herbs and wild vegetables.

It is passive to say that the more people walk, the more they will become the road, but the working people, driven by the possibility of improving their living standards, will change from passive to active.

There are mountains ahead. Simple, bring down trees with a saw and an axe, and smooth the road with a pickaxe and shovel. There were stones nearby, which were carried in baskets and occasionally carried to the road in case the rain washed away the road.

It's easy to have a river. If you don't want to buy or can't afford to buy iron cables, you can use the fibers of bamboo to weave bamboo cables, connect them to the two banks, and lay wooden planks on them.

When everything is ready, you can travel.

In fact, the most important thing is the current stability of the Tang Dynasty, from Yizhou Mansion to the west, to Tubo, in the past, no one was willing to bother to build roads in the past, unless it was boring.

Now there is no need to be afraid of the Tubo people bullying themselves, the Tubo has become a part of the Tang Dynasty, and various transactions were carried out in the past. Don't worry about being hurt by the locals.

Zhang Xiaobao rode on the horse and already felt the enthusiasm of the working people under the protection of the country's strong army.

The road to the west of Yizhou is a dirt road, but there are many people coming and going, including wheelbarrows, donkeys and mules. Others simply carry sticks in their hands and carry their own backs.

Zhang Xiaobao, who deeply understands the relationship between stability and economic development, understands the thoughts in the hearts of passers-by, and a kind of unexplained pride fills his heart, which has his own great credit.

Without his wife's record and his last tricks, Tubo would not have succumbed. It has nothing to do with the ordinary people of Tibet, it is the ruling class that does not want to lose its independent dominance.

Although many of the passers-by in front of them were dusty, there was no hesitation in their eyes, and when they showed them a way, a lamp was also lit in their hearts, and the joy of helping others was here.

When Zhang Xiaobao was riding on a horse and thinking, a caravan came in front of him, and the other party must have calculated the time and arrived in Yizhou in the morning, rested for a while, and could ship the goods in the afternoon. In the evening, invite the local merchants to have a meal, if the speed is fast enough, tomorrow the goods will be out in one day, and then rest for the night, and then form a caravan to rush back the next day.

The reason why this is the case is because there is no man-made risk on the road, and there is no need to walk back and forth like a desperate attempt like a horse gang in the past, always worrying about being attacked by others, some are mountain bandits, some are peers, and some are people near the road.

Who dares to do it now? Unless it's tired of life and can't figure out how to die, so attack your country's caravan. Once it is shot, whether it succeeds or fails, when the caravan escapes back, or is found by later people, the Tang army will be dispatched, and it will not be a local official at all.

Then you can pray and flee with a bunch of people, if you can be sure that the army's dogs, goshawks, and trackers can't catch any traces of you. Also make sure your insiders won't be tempted by the hefty bounties and exculpatory conditions.

That is to say, you attack a caravan with men and earn a thousand guan, everyone has one point, each person has dozens of guan, after being discovered, the court offers a reward of 10,000 guan, and exempts the person who reported the crime, do you think your subordinates will be able to stand it?

Zhang Xiaobao rode on a horse and took a look at the caravan when he deeply felt the safety of the other party, the organized team was obviously not very tired, they were talking and laughing, and they felt like relatives when they saw anyone on the side of the road.

Smiled and nodded with four people in a row, Zhang Xiaobao thought that he had been discovered by others for a while, and then he pondered, as long as you look at him, he nodded with everyone, and it is estimated that he is a public relations officer belonging to the caravan.

"Attention the brother in front, the one on horseback, don't shave." When Zhang Xiaobao was experiencing a good mood, there was a shouting voice behind him.

Turning sideways slightly, Zhang Xiaobao turned his head to look, and a caravan composed of more than 100 people and 20 cars and a lot of mules rushed over, and a big flag was provoked in the caravan, saying that it was inaccurate to say that the flag was inaccurate, it was two poles, and a piece of cloth was directly propped up in the middle, the advantage was that others could see the mark on the flag without the wind blowing, and the disadvantage was that the resistance increased after the wind was strong.

This flag is very interesting, and there is a slightly smaller row of the word 'Datang' at the top, as if it is afraid that others will not know that the caravan is from Datang.

The first impression to Zhang Xiaobao was that the other party was going abroad to do international trade, but they wrote the word Datang and went abroad, can people recognize it?

In the middle of a row of Tang characters is a cartoon word, Zhang Xiaobao guessed and guessed before he was sure that it was a Fan character. You say that your words are so much more than drawing, and you still write cartoons, it's really torturous, and cartoons are popular now, right?

Because there were no people on foot, the speed of the team was very fast, and there were not many people, but it showed the strong financial strength of the caravan.

Zhang Xiaobao's horse speed could not match the speed of the caravan. Naturally, it is necessary to be overtaken by others.

But Zhang Xiaobao was very puzzled, and felt that he had become stupid for a while, very stupid and stupid. The road to the west of Yizhou can be used for livestock. You can also leave, but how can the carriage pass? Is there any special way? It's evil.

With infinite curiosity, Zhang Xiaobao hid on the side of the road. When the other party wiped his body, he opened his mouth and asked, "Hey, I said, are you going to Tianzhu?" It's India. ”

No way, who made him just feel that the other party is doing international trade, this trip to the west, it must be India, just like the place where the monk went before, but the road is different.

Someone in the group slowed down and looked at the questioner. Smiled and replied: "What India?" India is too far away, and what we had in the queue in the past was not enough for us to eat. ”

Zhang Xiaobao felt that he was right, the carriage can go over the mountain, what are you afraid of when you go to India, since the other party answered no. I had to continue to ask: "But go to Tibet?" ”

"What to go to? Have you ever seen a horse-drawn carriage go straight to the west and get by? The other party asked rhetorically.

Nodding, Zhang Xiaobao: "That's what I mean, then you ......"

"Climb a few small hills, and you will reach a place dozens of miles ahead." The other party said.

Zhang Xiaobao felt that his thinking ability had deteriorated, so he formed a caravan to go dozens of miles ahead and took this road. What does that mean?

Seeing that the other party wanted to speed up and keep up, Zhang Xiaobao had an idea, took out a bun from his arms and handed it over, the first time they met, there was a good number of courtesies, in fact, there were cigar smokers, one was reluctant to give, and the other party may not know how to smoke.

The other party saw that the passer-by who asked about the matter handed over a bun, his expression changed, he was very surprised, and after a little consideration, he still received it in his hand, he didn't believe that this person would be poisoned.

is also polite, took a bite in front of Zhang Xiaobao, and then nodded violently: "Okay, good things, good buns, beef and green onion filling, your buns are fragrant, there is no faint bitter taste, what's the matter?" ”

It's good to keep the other party for a while, Zhang Xiaobao didn't care about what topic he was talking about, he smiled when he heard the words, and said: "Others eat beef, they generally can't eat fresh, the so-called taste is not very good, and some are now staring at the seasoning, the purpose of putting the seasoning is to remove the fishy body, but if you put it too much, it will be bitter, and the composition of the seasoning is an animal, a plant, and a mineral." ”

"Yes, yes, you're so right, do you know what seasoning to put in the filling if you make wontons?" The other party took small bites and was reluctant to eat too quickly.

The bun skin is thin, the filling is large, the materials are good, and the labor cost of Zhang Xiaobao is removed, and the cost of the bun itself is only five Wen, which is sold in Shuiyunjian Restaurant, and you don't even think about it if you don't have sixty Wen, so people who eat in Shuiyunjian are generally not wasted, it is too expensive.

Of course, compared with Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's old dumplings and Gou Buli buns at that time, the buns of a few hundred yuan are several times more than the buns that appear in Shuiyunjian, unless Shuiyunjian uses seafood or mountain treasures.

Zhang Xiaobao saw that he was happy to eat, handed over a bun again, and took out one to eat himself, he hadn't eaten in the morning.

"Thank you, brother, it's delicious, hurry up, eat while walking." This man was not polite at all, took the bun and threw the leftover point of the previous one directly into his mouth, urging it.

Zhang Xiaobao nodded with a bun in his mouth, urging the horse to speed up.

After the two of them wiped out all the buns brought by Zhang Xiaobao, they talked about wontons again.

For eating, Zhang Xiaobao can say that he understands a little and is very modest.

Seeing that the other party was still staring at the wonton, he asked, "It depends on what you are pursuing?" Is it fragrant or fresh? What level of people do you have customers, how much do you want to sell for a bowl, whether the filling is vegan or pure meat, or a pairing.

From the selection of ingredients to the preparation of the filling, the blending of the soup and the taste of the soup base, as well as the auxiliary dipping sauce, there must be a detailed arrangement, otherwise it is difficult to say.

If you really want to say it all, it is estimated that you can't finish it in the last day, and there are thousands of ways to match it. Of course, people who are not good at this bite can't taste the subtle differences, which do you want to ask? ”

In the spirit of helping others, Zhang Xiaobao said very truthfully, but the other party listened with wide eyes and nodded from time to time.

Wait for Zhang Xiaobao to finish. The man exclaimed, "You've met a connoisseur, brother, you're a cook, aren't you?" Absolutely, where do you work? ”

"Hobbies, hobbies, I haven't considered wanting to be full-time for the time being, in fact, my real identity is a gentleman among merchants who dump goods." Zhang Xiaobao was afraid that the other party would pester him to become a professional chef in the past. Just explain.

After hearing this, this person was even more confused, his profession was messed up, and he felt very reasonable when he thought about it. So he said, "Well, sure enough, a businessman who can't be a good cook." Definitely not a good man. ”

"Thank you." Zhang Xiaobao smiled.

"Brother to tell you the truth, the best filling we make for wontons is mutton filling, not much, mutton is expensive, generally pork with green vegetables, such as pork celery, eggs and leeks, as well as cabbage and loofah, cucumber and sea rice, but less. Sea rice is expensive, soup is soup, the water in which the wontons are boiled, dotted with sesame oil, and then put some chopped green onions. And salt. ”

This person chose to believe Zhang Xiaobao, thinking that the other party could give him a better idea.

Zhang Xiaobao listened carefully, and said after listening: "In this way, I will teach you a simple method, which is not too troublesome, and guarantees that your wontons will sell well." ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Xiaobao paused. Give the other person a time to listen.

"Needless to say, the stuffing I said you can't pay for the cost, and the seller can't afford it, so he said that the soup, you must use chicken broth, and put mustard under the soup, which should have been made with seaweed ingredients, but you can't afford it, so put the sea rice used in the filling, and if there is coriander, put some of it."

Then prepare the vinegar and soy sauce, and then add some pepper, chili pepper...... You don't have chili peppers, then don't prepare, garlic paste to prepare, that's all, you do it, you can't pay any more cost, if you think chicken soup is expensive, pork bone soup is also made. ”

Zhang Xiaobao said a very common recipe, which was the first time he made it for his family, but with seaweed.

The other party nodded unsatisfactorily after hearing this: "It's so simple? ”

"Simple? Yes, it's simple, everything is actually simple, do you know what the first level of the chef assessment in Shuiyunjian do? Zhang Xiaobao was stunned for a moment, and immediately followed the other party's words.

"What?" This person obviously didn't know how the chefs of a restaurant as big as Shui Yunjian took the exam.

"Three dishes, one scrambled egg, one roasted eggplant, and one cold cucumber shreds." Zhang Xiaobao stretched out three fingers.

The other party obviously didn't believe it, Shui Yunjian, what a big name, the first level of the assessment was just these three dishes, impossible: "Impossible." He spoke up.

"Do you think it's easy? First, there is a way of scrambled eggs, which requires beating eggs into the pot, and the square is in and out, cooked but not burnt, tender but not sticky. Zhang Xiaobao introduced.

"Didn't you pour the eggs into the pan and pull them?" The other party was surprised again.

"Could that be the assessment of the water and clouds? Because it's simple, you can see the basic skills, and the foundation is not firm, even if you play the kitchen knife out of the flowers, you don't want it. The simpler the thing, the more challenging it is, and the more ordinary the thing, the more attention to detail it is.

If you don't believe it, I'll make you a bowl of wontons when I have the chance, you take the ingredients, the same ingredients, I roll the skin myself, mix the filling by myself, and match the soup by myself, to see if the taste is the same, the same taste is to make fast food, but my Chinese diet is about spirituality.

For example, the steamed bun you just ate contains beef, green onions, salt, and nothing else, and the effort lies in which piece of meat to choose, the part of the green onion, the amount of salt, the degree to which the noodles are fermented, the strength of the hand when rolling the skin, the drawer of the steamer, how much water to put and what heat to use. ”

Zhang Xiaobao said a lot of things, mainly because he could talk about it.

The other party, who had become accustomed to making surprised movements, showed the same expression again and asked, "Can you be more detailed?" ”

Zhang Xiaobao shook his head: "No, there is really an absolute ratio, then it will become fast food again, I have to see the meat and green onions first, and where the noodles are produced in the place, before I can mix them, and when I do it, someone can look at it, but I can only understand it, not say it." ”

"Understood, a businessman like you, it's a pity not to be a professional cook, okay, I wrote down the wonton method you said earlier, and when I meet you in the future, I will invite you to eat for free, I will go first."

The man, seeing that he was falling further distance from the group, quickened himself with the mule between his legs.

Zhang Xiaobao waved his hand to him, and after the people were far away, he took out the telescope to find Shui Yun.

Shui Yun was still slowly circling in the sky, and below him was Liu Feng's position. Zhang Xiaobao looked at the road and roughly estimated that Liu Feng had not yet left the main road, and the speed of riding a horse was not fast.

Picking up the water bag on the horse and rinsing his mouth, Zhang Xiaobao began to think about other things again.

From time to time there were people coming from the opposite side of the road, but there was no overtaking procession behind them, and it was obvious that the other traders or teams were different from the previous one, and could not speed up when carrying a lot of goods.

After walking for about two quarters of an hour, Zhang Xiaobao saw the team that had passed before, and the flag was very conspicuous, which made him wonder that he not only saw the team, but also saw the target he followed, Liu Feng.

The team stopped, someone was busy there, and Liu Feng followed to help.

Zhang Xiaobao took out a mirror and took a look at it, making sure that it was very different from when he met Liu Feng yesterday, so he urged him to step forward immediately.

The people who had eaten Zhang Xiaobao's buns and several people in the team were building the road with shovels, and then Zhang Xiaobao knew what was pulled on the carriage, and the bag was filled with sand and gravel.

There are several obvious potholes on the road, the people in the team first pave the sand and gravel, and then use the stone stone to crush on it, Liu Feng holds a long iron bar in his hand, and there are sharp points under the iron bar, and from time to time insert a plug in the place where the stone stone is rolled over, to see if the paving is real.

Seeing the people working, Zhang Xiaobao couldn't understand whether they were caravans or professional road repair teams, and whether they could also make profits by pulling sand and stones on the carriages?

"Brother, you're here too? Wait for me for a while, do it immediately, these pits are so flat, the most afraid is that it has rained heavily, and it takes a few trips back and forth to transport the sand and gravel. ”

The person who ate the steamed bun raised his head, greeted Zhang Xiaobao with a smile, and did not forget to complain about the damage to the road... )