Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Spring Equinox and the Festival Day The shadows of mulberry trees slant across the Spring Festival...
For some reason, the news that someone was bitten to death by a monster on the Buddha's Birthday spread, and the whole city of Chang'an was shrouded in fear.
Temples and Taoist temples became more popular, and the Tianshi talismans and Zhong Kui pictures on the market were sold out.
Even though Aunt Duan was such a stingy person, she still paid an extra twenty copper coins to get a painting of Zhong Kui.
The Zhong Kui in the painting has eyes as black as lacquer and lips as red as scarlet. He wears a green robe and a black hat, and looks ferocious and courageous.
Aunt Duan hung a picture of Zhong Kui in the hall and placed bright red pomegranate flowers and green calamus on the incense table.
Duan Zhiwei felt a little scared every time he passed by the hall and saw the painting, but the diners didn't care. Some even said that the restaurant was protected by Zhong Kui, which made them feel a lot more at ease.
The only victim was the Jinhua cat. It was a demon after all. It was staggering through the main hall with the stolen salted fish in its mouth. When it looked up and saw the picture of Zhong Kui, it was frightened. It immediately arched its back, and all the hair on its body stood up. It growled twice, and then ran away.
I think this picture of Zhong Kui is quite useful.
Soon after the Buddha's Bathing Festival comes the Community Day, which is generally a festival of worship for the community god. For the people of this dynasty who rely on the land for their livelihood, the Spring Community Day and the Autumn Community Day are both major festivals, so the restaurants become busy again.
After all, the community day is approaching, and people come to the restaurant one after another to order community rice, community cakes and mother-in-law cakes.
The community meals prepared by aristocratic families were more complicated, with lamb, tripe and lungs, duck cakes, and ginger melon cut into slices and spread all over the rice. However, this was too costly, so most people would not do this.
The meals prepared by restaurants in Chang'an were much simpler, and the food stalls were very delicious. Early in the morning, they would deliver a cart of wild onions, wormwood, and garlic sprouts in the morning mist.
Cooking community rice is very troublesome. Various vegetables need to be washed and cut into small pieces. Artemisia annua has a slightly bitter taste. It takes several rubs to get the bitter water out.
Duan Zhiwei took a piece of bacon with fat and lean meat hanging on the beam and fried it in the oil pan. In order to enhance the flavor, she also added two spoons of homemade black bean sauce.
Finally, spread the bacon and various vegetables on the glutinous rice, sprinkle with salt and simmer for a few minutes before serving.
Duan Zhiwei specially moved the community rice to the entrance of the restaurant. Because it was mixed with lard, the community rice exuded an attractive luster. The various green chopped Artemisia annua and red bacon pieces were intertwined in the glutinous rice. It looked very much like the vigorous atmosphere of the Spring Festival and was very tempting.
The diners all like this community meal very much. The bitterness of Artemisia annua is gone, and it tastes slightly sweet and fresh. After being steamed and cooked, the bacon cut into small pieces exudes rich oil, which soaks into the glutinous rice and Artemisia annua, making the community rice more rich and fragrant.
The wine shop also joined in the fun and pulled over a donkey cart of community wine. The wine was made with hawthorn and pear slices as its base, and tasted sweet and a little sour, giving it a flavor of the warm spring sun.
Duan Zhiwei was in a good mood. Even though the price of community wine had risen sharply today, she still bought a few jars.
Every diner in the restaurant was given a bowl of community wine.
At dusk, Yuan Shenji came back carrying a large box. He had to participate in the royal community's sacrificial activities on one of the Spring Festival days, and the other day was a day off.
He put the box down, and everyone in the restaurant immediately came over curiously to see what kind of holiday gifts the emperor would give to his ministers on such a festival.
Community wine, preserved meats, root cakes, and glutinous rice are all common items.
Everyone dispersed, and Pu Tao was particularly disappointed. She thought that since it was a reward from a saint, it must be some precious items such as peacock tail, rosewood, storax or Persian resin. In the end, the rewards were all common things, and they were all available in these restaurants.
Duan Zhiwei lowered her head to examine it. Although the items were ordinary, the polished rice had a light green color and smelled like green fields. She couldn't help but exclaimed: "This rice is good. It is worthy of being used in the palace."
Yuan Shenji was taking off his armor. Hearing this, he came over and hugged her: "Isn't that great? The Ministry of Works recently dug a new artificial lake in the east to serve as a transit pond for ships from all over the country. When the time comes, merchant ships from Kunlun, Uighur, and Persia will anchor there and present precious silk, boxes of gems, and slaves to our dynasty."
When he said this, his face showed some of the arrogance and pride that was common among the generals of the Celestial Empire, but when he looked down at her, his expression changed to a gentle one: "Don't you want to buy Indian spices? I'll go with you then."
Duan Zhiwei once accidentally entered a gathering place for foreigners in Xishi, and met an Indian who was selling a bright yellow sticky sauce at a stall. Although the Indian kept emphasizing that it was a "magic medicine" bestowed by Sakyamuni and made from tree grass fruits.
But Duan Zhiwei clearly smelled the scent of turmeric, cinnamon and cumin. Simply put, she thought it should be curry sauce, or something like curry sauce.
If she could use it to make a pot of curry chicken stew and eat a bite of the rich and tender chicken, the healing feeling she would get would actually be no different from that of a "magic medicine". Unfortunately, the Indians sold it at a high price and she didn't bring enough money. She went home to complain to Yuan Shenji and was even so angry that she couldn't sleep and lay in bed wailing in the middle of the night.
Yuan Shenji had no choice but to find an acquaintance in the Honglu Temple and ask him to keep an eye out for this so-called "magic medicine" if there were any envoys from India coming to Beijing.
His friends in the Honglu Temple were very concerned about his rare request, but unfortunately, India had no plans to send envoys in the near future. Only a small country called Asharavikarana sent a few envoys to Chang'an. Not to mention the saint, even the Minister of the Honglu Temple was too lazy to pay attention to them.
Because this is a strange country, the royal family there once took a knife to cut the mouthfuls and put them in a golden box to show their piety.
Duan Zhiwei really wanted to receive some curry sauce, but he definitely didn't want the one in the golden box. Yuan Shenji was at a loss. Finally, an acquaintance from the Ministry of Works said that the artificial lake had been almost dug, and if a cargo ship docked there, there should be the Indian "magic medicine" that Mrs. Yuan wanted.
That’s about right. Duan Zhiwei stood on tiptoe, held Yuan Shenji’s head, and kissed him hard on the face.
The next day was the community day. Half of the people in Chang'an gathered at the land temple to participate in the ceremony, while the other half went to the countryside to watch community operas and fly kites.
Duan Zhiwei rode the little red horse and went to the suburbs with Yuan Shenji.
Driving a donkey cart is an easy job, after all, donkeys are very obedient, but riding a horse is difficult, as the horse's temperament is unpredictable, and she is always afraid that she will fall off.
But generally speaking, riding a horse is faster and more convenient for going to the market to buy things.
The suburbs were spacious and there were few people. Yuan Shenji openly abandoned his horse and sat behind her to teach her. He put his arms around her waist, his broad chest pressed against her back, and his warm breath sprinkled on her earlobes while instructing her on how to ride.
Duan Zhiwei felt that something was wrong with him and suspected that he was up to no good. She turned her head and looked at him with suspicion. This man was born with a righteous face. When he was teaching her, his expression was calm and his tone was very steady.
Duan Zhiwei had no choice but to turn back and hold the reins again.
People only have a pair of eyes, so when she turned her attention back to the horse in front of her, she didn't notice that the person behind her tightened his arms around her waist and showed a triumphant smile on his face.
Modern people always say that horse riding is an easy sport to help people stay in shape. Duan Zhiwei didn’t take it seriously at first, but after trying it herself she realized that horse riding is really tiring. After learning for half a day, she felt sore in the waist and thirsty.
Yuan Shenji thought for a moment and said, "There is a village nearby. Today is the Spring Festival, so there must be a festival. How about I take you there to get some drinks?"
Duan Zhiwei raised his hands and feet to show his agreement.
The small village was very lively. The villagers gathered in front of the community altar and placed rich offerings such as fruits, community wine, and cakes to express their gratitude to the god of land. The village had a rough stage built, and several villagers on the stage with colorfully painted faces were performing a play called "The Letter from Liu Yi", with a large group of villagers gathered below to watch the fun.
Fortunately, there were a few vendors setting up small stalls nearby, and Yuan Shenji went there to buy a bowl of soy milk and some rice cakes.
She was so thirsty that she drank it all in one gulp.
The two of them sat on a bench and looked up at the play "Liu Yi's Letter", finding it quite interesting.
Several villagers noticed them, and then came over and asked cautiously, "Is that Captain Yuan?"
Without waiting for Yuan Shenji to speak, the villagers threw away the melon seeds in their hands and said excitedly: "Oh, it's really Captain Yuan." Then they ran away: "Village head, Captain Yuan is here, come here quickly, don't let him get away!"
Duan Zhiwei had never seen such a posture before, so he quickly shrank behind him and asked, "Do you owe anyone money?"
Yuan Shenji didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The village chief hurried over with an old woman and said, "Hey, Captain Yuan, why didn't you tell us in advance that you were coming here? Fortunately, today is the community day. The village has slaughtered fat sheep and has good wine. We will treat you well."
He noticed Duan Zhiwei behind Yuan Shenji: "Who is this?"
Yuan Shenji stood up, straightened his clothes, and returned the greeting with a fist: "Today is a day off, and I took my new wife out for an outing in the suburbs. I came here to ask for a drink of water."
The old woman next to him wiped her eyes excitedly: "The captain is getting married? Great, that's great." Then she came over and took Duan Zhiwei's hand: "Madam, come along. The wine in the village is turbid, please don't be disgusted."
The two were invited by the enthusiastic villagers. Duan Zhiwei was embarrassed to refuse, but after looking at the sky, he hesitated and said, "If we don't go back to the city, we will miss the curfew..."
The villagers were even more enthusiastic: "There is a small inn in the village. Although it is not luxurious, it is very clean. You two can stay here for one night."
The two were pushed into the village chief's house. The hospitable villagers immediately brought up some lamb shreds, roasted chicken, etc., and poured a few pots of wine. The old lady grabbed Duan Zhiwei's hand and said, "The captain is a good man. He saved our entire village."
It turned out that Yuan Shenji passed by here on his way from Liangzhou to the capital to take up his post. This village was often harassed by a brown bear, and many people died in the mouth of the bear. Yuan Shenji passed by here and stayed here for three more days. He followed the villagers to track the bear's whereabouts. Finally, he fought with the bear regardless of his personal safety, leaving a deep bite mark on his left arm. He finally killed the bear.
Therefore the villagers were very grateful to him.
Looking at Yuan Shenji who was surrounded by everyone like a star, Duan Zhiwei felt a strange mood. She felt that her husband... seemed to be more handsome.
The villagers enthusiastically took them to the inn, gave them the best room, prepared hot water in advance, and cleaned the room thoroughly.
Therefore, although the small room was a little old, it was spotless.
Duan Zhiwei sat on the bed and ate community cakes. Yuan Shenji came in with hot water, put her calves on his legs, and helped her take off her socks: "There are no facilities for bathing here, so just make do with it. We will go back to the city tomorrow."
Duan Zhiwei nibbled on the cake, then quickly moved closer to him and gave him a quick kiss on the face: "Not bad, Captain Yuan, I'll give you a reward for your bravery."
The latter caught her steadily, put his hands on the edge of the bed, and trapped her in his arms, with a smile in his eyes: "Oh? Is this the reward? I'm afraid it's not enough."
Duan Zhiwei blushed, and then raised her leg as if to kick him. The latter easily grabbed her ankle and said, "Okay, I won't tease you anymore. I took a detour to bring you here today..."
He paused deliberately.
"There's a surprise," said Yuan Shenji.
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