Chapter 471 Four dishes and one soup, a simple treat
Nanchang City's official ship wharf, with loess paved roads, clean water sprinkled on the streets, loud gongs and drums, and colorful flags fluttering, looks like it is welcoming a big shot.
Today is the day when Shen Liben, the Minister of Punishment and the Imperial Envoy, arrived. Jiangxi Governor Xiong Qitai, Inspector Zeng Tai, Commander Wang Bi, and a group of provincial and city officials were waiting at the pier early to welcome the Imperial Majesty.
As the music played, Shen Liben, who was wearing a scarlet official robe, walked down the gangway with standard official steps, supported by Chang Sui.
"I respectfully welcome the imperial envoy." Xiong Qitai quickly led the crowd in saluting.
"Get back on your feet, everyone." Shen Liben's eyes slowly swept across the field and he said in a loud voice, "It's been a long time."
After Xie Enping's death, Xiong Qitai said with an apologetic smile: "When the ministry comes back to Nanchang, all the elders in Jiangxi are overjoyed, as if they are seeing their parents again."
"Haha, Uncle Xiong Mu made a serious statement. It is an honor for me to be able to visit my old place again." Shen Liben said with a smile. He was the last political minister of Pingzhang of Jiangxi Province. At that time, Xiong Qitai was a political minister under him. Later, the imperial court withdrew from the province. After the establishment of three divisions, Shen Liben went to Beijing to serve as an official, and Xiong Qitai became the first chief envoy to Jiangxi.
Therefore, Shen Liben was Xiong Qitai's old boss and his backer in the DPRK. This time he came as an imperial envoy. Of course, Xiong Qitai had to treat him to the highest standards.
"The humble ministers will prepare a little wine in Prince Teng's Pavilion to wash away the dust in the hall. I would also like to ask Wanwang to honor me."
"Are you not breaking the rules?" Shen Liben asked calmly.
"There are only four dishes and one soup, which is completely in line with the emperor's rules." Xiong Qitai said with a smile.
"Then it's better to be respectful than to obey." Shen Liben said with a smile: "But this is the only meal where the hospitality cannot be declined. From now on, I will not accept banquets."
"Yes, yes, the ministry is as clear as water and as honest as a mirror. You are really a role model for us officials." Xiong Qitai and others were full of flattery.
"Please."
"please."
All the officials watched the imperial envoy get into the car, and then they went to Prince Teng's Pavilion in their own cars and horses.
~~
Tengwang Pavilion is located at the intersection of Ganjiang River and Fuhe River and is the symbol of Nanchang City. The lower part is a three-foot-high pedestal symbolizing the ancient city wall, which is divided into two levels; the main pavilion above the pedestal has seven floors, divided into three open floors and three A dark floor and attic.
Although the building adopts Tang style, it looks very new.
Because the Tengwang Pavilion in front of us is no longer the one when Wang Bo wrote "The falling clouds and the solitary owl fly together, the autumn water is the same color as the sky".
Tengwang Pavilion was destroyed several times by swords and fires in the past dynasties. However, because of its special status in the hearts of literati, it was quickly rebuilt each time.
In fact, it can be said that this building is just the carrier of "Preface to Prince Teng's Pavilion". It doesn't matter what it looks like, as long as it is called Prince Teng's Pavilion, it is the temple in the hearts of literati.
The banquet to welcome the imperial envoy was held in the attic on the top floor of the temple, where you can view the magnificent scenery in the "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng".
After sitting down, the beautiful maid took off the dishes and the strong waiter brought the main dishes.
Shen Liben was stunned when he saw that each of the dishes was too big, and the smaller round table would be full just by placing one on it. No wonder it had to be served by a big boy.
When the oversized plate with exquisite patterns was placed on the table, Shen Liben saw that there was a cross-shaped ridge in the middle, dividing it into four non-connected fan-shaped dishes. In each fan-shaped dish, there are Serves a dish.
For example, in the first plate, there are four Nanchang famous dishes, namely 'Hongya Danjing', 'Xishan Jicui', 'Tengge Autumn Wind' and 'Zhangjiang Xiaodu'.
In the second big plate, there are 'Longsha Sunset, Nanpu Feiyun, Tiezhu Xianzong, Supu Spring Vegetables', and four other Nanchang famous dishes.
The same is true for the other two large plates. The four dishes are all different, and the amount of dishes on each plate is only a lot more than the normal one.
Even the big soup vat that was served at the end contained four different soups, 'Five Yuan Dragon and Phoenix Soup', 'Hollow Fish Ball Soup', 'Navel Orange Old Duck Soup', 'Old Ginseng and Tiger Pencil Soup'...
Nuo Da's round table was fully decorated with these four dishes and one soup.
"What are you doing?" Shen Liben looked a little unhappy.
"Bu Tang Rong Zhen, this is the most popular dish in Jiangxi now. For example, this dish is called 'Four Scenes of Nanchang'. Just like there are four lines in a poem, there are four seasons. They are all one dish. "Xiong Qitai hurriedly explained.
Everyone below also agreed: "Yes, this is how we eat in Nanchang. I heard that there are people in Liaodong who cook it in a pot, so just follow the local customs."
"Oh, I really can't do anything about you." Shen Liben looked helpless, picked up the wine cup and said, "I won't do this next time."
"It won't be the same next time. It won't be the same next time." Everyone laughed and toasted to Shen Budang.
After a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere at the banquet became warmer. Shen Liben no longer acted like an imperial envoy and said to Xiong Qitai: "Little Bear, I haven't seen you for a few years, and you can play with these tricks."
"Oh, sir, you know that I, Little Bear, am the most upright and heartless person." Xiong Qitai said with a bitter smile:
"But if we have a big table with more than a dozen people, and we strictly follow the rules of four dishes and one soup, it won't even be enough to fill the gap between our teeth. Do I have any conscience to entertain the old man like that? I might as well just jump into the Gan River."
"That's right." All the officials agreed: "It's not like eating at home, how can four dishes and one soup be served on the table?"
"So, you just came up with this idea?" Shen Liben laughed and said, "It seems that there are more countermeasures than policies."
"Even if it is the emperor's will, he must do it at the right time," an official said angrily: "Just like the yellow book that Liu Lian pushed forward out of wishful thinking, which made the ground full of chickens and feathers, and made people angry. He actually died. , we still have to clean up his mess!"
"What, do you have strong opinions on the Yellow Book?" Shen Liben asked expressionlessly.
"Of course, can't it be big? Clearing the land is enough to disturb the people. After creating the yellow list, they actually have to break up and reorganize the townships and villages. What kind of lijia system is there? The local gentry and clan elders , Even if you risk your life to oppose it, going to the Yamen every day to make trouble, isn't this putting us on the stove to roast us?" the official said angrily.
"Hey, I'm here to pick up the slack from the department today. I'm only going to talk about romance and not about business." Xiong Qitai then pretended to stop talking.
"This official was angry for a moment and talked too much." The official apologized hurriedly.
"It's okay. I'm here this time not only to investigate the cause of Liu Shenzheng's death, but also to understand all aspects of the situation." Shen Liben waved his hand magnanimously and said to the official: "What's your name?"
"Go back to the ministry hall and serve as the magistrate of Nanchang, Li Da." The official hurriedly leaned over and reported back.
"It turns out it's Li Fuzun. Send me a message another day and let's talk carefully." Shen Liben said warmly.
"As ordered." Li Dao responded hurriedly and respectfully.
"Come on, let's have another toast." Seeing this, Xiong Qitai brought the banquet back into the warm atmosphere.
After three rounds of wine and half of the banquet, the waiters came again, removed the "four dishes and one soup" and replaced it with another "four dishes and one soup". The rules were still the same, but the dishes had all changed.
This time Shen Liben didn't even make any pretense, and calmly enjoyed the 'simple hospitality' from Jiangxi officials.
