Lamb has a strong, gamey smell, and if not prepared properly, it will leave you with a strong muttony taste. Therefore, when Tang people ate lamb, they mostly did two things: one was to boil it in salt water and then cut the meat with a knife to eat it; the other was to make it into minced meat, spread it in layers on flatbread, add pepper, fermented black beans, and soybean oil, and then bake it in an oven. This is the lamb flatbread that everyone loves.

Wei Ying had never tasted radish stewed like this before.

The mutton was extremely tender; he could tell at a glance that it was from a lamb less than a year old. The soup was bright and clear, and the mutton was stewed until it was incredibly soft and tender. It was piping hot when he ate it, but each bite was bursting with delicious flavor.

The emerald-green radish floated and sank in the mutton soup. He scooped up a piece and put it in his mouth; before he could even put any pressure on it, it melted in his mouth. The radish's unique fragrance and its completely smooth texture made Wei Ying's face relax completely.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! This radish stewed mutton is so delicious, without the slightest hint of fishiness. As the saying goes, 'Without a chef's touch, how can one appreciate the true flavor of a dish?' Today I have truly experienced it firsthand. Yuanqi, Xuanbo, you two should try it; this soup is incredibly delicious!"

In the Tang Dynasty, people ate at separate tables, with each guest having their own table. Steam rose from the scalding hot mutton soup, filling the air with its aroma. Even Cheng Chumo, who was as restrained as he was, couldn't resist picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite.

With just one sip, the expression on his face, like a pebble dropped into an ancient well, instantly came to life:

"It's delicious."

Everyone was somewhat surprised, especially the people from the Cheng family. They knew that their young master never cared much about food. Even the most delicious food was just something to fill his stomach in his eyes. If he said it was "delicious," it must be a rare delicacy.

Everyone started eating, one taking a sip of clear mutton soup, another picking up a piece of poached chicken, one taking a bite of braised duck, and another tasting a piece of spiced fatty chicken—

Once you try it, you can't stop.

The clear mutton soup is incredibly delicious, with tender and flavorful radishes inside. One sip of the soup warms you from head to toe. The premium poached chicken is tender with crispy skin, and when dipped in the special sauce, it's bursting with aroma. The braised duck has a reddish-brown color and a savory sauce. The dry duck meat is transformed into a delightful flavor through simmering in the sauce.

The most wonderful dish was the spiced fatty chicken. The plump hen was braised in soy sauce and then steamed for a while until the bones were tender and the skin was falling apart. With a gentle touch of chopsticks, the meat would fall off the bone. The chicken skin was oily and soft, and the inside was tender and juicy. The whole house of foxes, big and small, ate it with beaming smiles, leaving not a single bone behind.

"This is truly a feast fit for the gods, and it's absolutely delicious!"

"This chicken is not dry at all; it's tender and juicy inside, even more tender than the signature wine-flavored chicken of Xianghelou!"

"What superb craftsmanship!"

"It's absolutely delicious! It leaves you wanting more!"

Fearing that the new son-in-law might be frightened, the Hu family split the guests into two groups. The outer hall was reserved for mountain spirits, wild monsters, and wandering immortals, while the inner hall was personally hosted by the Hu family patriarch. Apart from the wedding party, the guests were all fox spirits and their offspring, who, having just eaten the spiced, fatty chicken, were so happy that they couldn't even hide their human forms.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, Madam Xu is truly skilled!"

"How can this chicken be so delicious? We can't make such a delicacy!"

"Mrs. Xu is truly amazing!"

Lu Wenshan's heart was entirely focused on Shiyi Niang in the backyard. Even though he was enjoying the delicious food, he had little interest in it and didn't pay any attention to what the fox girls were saying. Wei Ying, on the other hand, had long ears and overheard a bit.

The place was bustling with activity. Thirteen Sister entered with a smile, followed by the little foxes who served the dishes.

"Caramelized yam with taro, honey-roasted venison, sweet and sour carp, garlic-flavored lamb trotters—"

Her illusion magic was quite good; her human form was graceful and elegant. She bowed to the guests.

"Please enjoy your meal."

This time, Wei Ying did not hesitate at all. He reached straight for the brightly colored candied yam and taro dish with his bamboo chopsticks. The freshly cooked yam was piping hot, and its skin was coated with a clear syrup. The chef had also skillfully pulled out thousands of "golden threads", which looked like glass.

The yam is first boiled, and then deep-fried until it sets. When you first taste it, the outer skin is coated with a layer of sugar, and the surface is slightly crisp, while the inside is crisp and refreshing. You can even see a few strands of white thread when you bite into it.

The small taro has a more unique texture. Beneath the crispy sugar coating lies a delicate and soft taro paste, creating a huge contrast that is a test for your teeth.

Cheng Chumo, on the other hand, quietly picked up a piece of garlic-flavored lamb trotter and savored it.

The lamb trotters were washed clean, without a single stray hair on the skin. He couldn't tell what kind of sauce they were stewed in, but they were tender, fragrant, and almost melt-in-your-mouth. Only the lamb tendons retained their chewy texture. They were topped with two layers of garlic, one layer of raw garlic and one layer of fried garlic cloves. The dish was spicy, but it made you want to eat more.

"Wonderful! Such a feast is a rare treat! Yuanqi, after you've enjoyed this banquet today, my stomach is about to burst from hunger!"

Wei Ying couldn't help but let out a wail, which made Lu Wenshan laugh out loud, finally easing his tension:

"If Xuancheng likes it, I will ask her cook how it is made after I bring Shiyi Niang back."

...

...

Thirteen Niang was graceful and beautiful, attracting frequent glances from the Lu family's wedding party. Some even looked at Lu Wenshan with envy, wondering if he was truly blessed.

If this younger sister is so beautiful, then that Eleventh Sister must be incredibly beautiful.

Someone smiled and said to Lu Wenshan:

"Everyone says fox spirits are gentle and kind, so thinking about it that way, it's actually a wonderful thing for my eldest cousin to marry this Eleventh Sister. Even if people gossip about it later, hehehe—"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!