There are four recognized chefs in Yangzhou: one is a knife, one is a ghost, one is a pig, and one is a beggar.
A ghost who only works for nothing can be encountered but cannot be asked for. Of course, the person who seeks it must be short-sighted.
A beggar only cooks for beggars. If you want to taste it, you have to at least dress up like a beggar to have a chance. If you are caught, you have to sing "Luo Lilian".
Therefore, in Yangzhou, the only things that rich people can taste are Gui Yidao and Yi Zhu.
A pig's surname is Zhu. When you hear this surname, you will know that it is a natural material for killing pigs, and it is also a natural material for making pig-killing dishes.
In Tian Shi’s words, Butcher Zhu was perfect at making pig-killing vegetables.
"A spoon, two pots, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar, just these few things can make a pig come alive on the tongue, and it can taste thousands of flavors." Tian Shi said.
In Yangzhou City, the city lord's palace is in the north, the rich and noble people are in the east, the merchant street is in the south, the poor and lowly industries are in the west, and the butchers live in the west city.
When Yu Sheng and his party walked west across the square, they met a Taoist priest who was performing a rat show under the stone statue of the city lord.
After exchanging pleasantries, after a month of not seeing each other seemed like several autumns, the Taoist priest heard that they were going to have a pig feast, so he collected the box and followed them.
"According to the rat show you said, I have arranged a lot, why don't you treat me to a meal?" The Taoist priest said plausibly, and just now he had performed the plot of Wu Zhu blackmailing people.
"Okay, okay." Yu Sheng promised him and led him towards the West City.
Along the way, Tian Shi explained the rules of eating at Butcher Zhu’s place: “You will kill and cook the pork now, and you will not sell pork bones.”
"What's the point?" Yu Sheng wondered. What does a butcher do with pig bones? He might as well sell them as ribs.
"Maybe this is a hobby?" Tian Shi carefully avoided passers-by, "Under an old wall in the moss-covered backyard of the butcher's house, there are piles of white pig skeletons stacked on top of each other."
Butcher Zhu was single because his home was too gloomy, adding a chilling and murderous atmosphere. "No birds dared to settle on his trees," Tian Shi said.
"I know some of the reasons," the Taoist said.
Seeing Yu Sheng and others looking at him in surprise, the Taoist said: "I caught a few more mice, as you know."
It suddenly dawned on Yu Sheng that the most well-informed person in Yangzhou City was the Taoist priest. Wherever a rat passed by, there would be his spies.
"Go back another day and arrest Black Cat and the Sheriff and release them to the City Lord's Mansion." Yu Sheng turned around and said to Bai Gaoxing.
"Come on, do you think a mouse can find out the secrets of the city lord?" the Taoist priest said, any trouble could not be hidden from the Sword Immortal.
Walking through the bustling West Street and turning into a slightly wider alley, there are still many pedestrians.
"As far as I know, the big house where Butcher Zhu lives is a haunted house. Several families have lived there in the past, and all of them suffered misfortunes one after another," the Taoist said.
During thunderstorms, blood will ooze from the walls, and there will often be strange sounds...
"The pig skeletons are piled up next to that wall." The Taoist priest said, "I think Butcher Zhu is still alive and well, maybe it has something to do with it."
"There's this strange thing." Yu Shengxin said that when he arrived at Butcher Zhu's house later, he must take a look.
The alley was narrow at the front and wide at the back, and the number of pedestrians gradually became less and less. When passing by a secluded and deserted alley, Ye Zigao stopped and said, "Wait a minute, I'll go and get out of here."
After saying that, he walked into the alley, but Tian Shi held him back, "Don't go, you can't go anywhere in the city, it's easy to attract ghosts."
"What are you trying to do? My urine is the best at warding off evil spirits." Ye Zigao said and walked a few steps into the alley, then he came to his senses.
"Haha", he turned around and looked at everyone awkwardly, "You didn't hear anything, right?"
"Hey," Yu Sheng raised his head and looked at the sky, "Sage of Love."
Bai Gaoxing looked at Ye Zigao and smiled meaningfully, "Do you still want three wives and four concubines?"
The two of them were teasing Ye Zigao, "Haha, ward off evil spirits." Tian Shi suddenly laughed, "Oh, you are still so guarded at such an old age, but you are so skinny."
"I'm as old as you, and my son is already obsessed with it. Tsk tsk, you haven't tasted a woman yet, haha, it's so pitiful." Tian Shi bent down with a smile.
For the rest of their lives, Bai Gaoxing and Ye Zigao looked at him with unkind expressions.
"What's wrong?" Tian Shi tried hard not to laugh.
"Beat him and let him show off." Yu Sheng called to everyone and held down Tian Shi, who was laughing and bending over.
People passing by saw that someone dared to beat Jin Yiwei in the street, so they came up to help, but when they saw that it was just a joke, they backed away with a smile.
"I was wrong, I was wrong. You are all gentlemen and have never been to a brothel." Tian Shi excused himself and asked everyone to bypass him.
"That's not right." Tian Shi stood up and tidied his clothes and stopped.
He looked back at the old Taoist priest who was carrying a rat box, had a rat head, a rat face, and a rat beard, "It's understandable that they beat me, but you beat me..."
"Oh." The four people in Yu Sheng suddenly realized, "Oh, uncle, you are so miserable." Tian Shi laughed again, "I'll take you to Zhangtai Road to open a meat shop tomorrow."
"Take us with you too." Ye Zigao said.
He has been yearning for the brothel for a long time. The last time he went to Xunweizhai, he just drank and didn't show any real interest at all.
Tian Shi hurriedly shook his head, "No, no, just forget it."
"No." Ye Zigaoxu was stimulated by Tian Shi's smile just now, and refused to give up.
Tian Shi firmly refused, "Don't call me Brother Tian, you are my brother."
He pointed at Yu Sheng with a sideways glance, "If the city lord finds out, he will throw me into a pig pen and let a boar get pregnant."
"Don't take him with you." Ye Zigao pushed Yu Sheng away in disgust.
"Hey, I won't go." I disdain for the rest of my life. If I like someone, I will always feel that I am not good enough, so how can I fall for it.
Tian Shi continued to complain until he left the alley, and then his tone became slightly looser.
Before Ye Zigao could continue to work hard, Yu Sheng said leisurely from the side: "Don't forget your underwear, be careful of the black girl coming to catch you overnight."
Ye Zigao was startled, "You shouldn't notice it." He was lucky.
"Then I'll call the black girl for you tomorrow." Yu Sheng said proudly.
"Your uncle." Ye Zigao said.
Tian Feng said from the side: "This can also be considered as an open source of meat."
No one laughed, only Yu Sheng looked at him sympathetically, and finally met a fellow man who laughed at him in silence.
"Don't look at me like that, otherwise the city lord will chop me into pieces and feed me to the dogs." Tian Shi looked uncomfortable and took a step back hastily.
…
After leaving the alley, we came to a street that was wide but not crowded with people. After walking for more than a hundred steps, we saw the big house where Butcher Zhu lived.
The house is very big, but it is a lonely house.
The surroundings were isolated and there was a huge old tree stretching out in the yard, blocking out the sky and the sun, almost blocking the light of the entire house.
The house is old and grand, with tall and thick walls. Time has left mottled traces on the walls. I don’t know how many people it has endured and how much resentment it has accumulated.
Next to the house is a pigsty, with pigs roaring. There is a straw shed in front, with only a long table facing the street for diners to eat.
Yu Sheng and the others arrived late. There were already many people gathered in front of the shed, but the bidding was still going on, which meant that the whole pig feast had not yet been made.
"One hundred strings!" a stranger shouted sonorously and forcefully.
"Oh, I shouted loud enough today." Tian Shi walked behind the crowd and was speechless.
The onlookers were also amazed. Many of them were not here to bid, but to watch the fun.
Nowadays, the butcher’s bidding in front of the door has become a scene in Yangzhou.
"Forget it, I won't eat anymore." A woman said. This voice will be familiar to me for the rest of my life, Zhou Jiufeng.
Yu Sheng was jumping around outside, unable to see what was going on inside. When he heard Sister Feng's voice, he shouted: "One hundred dollars and one penny."
After shouting, I thought for the rest of my life, it would be great if I could break up the penny and spend it.