Meanwhile, Mo Xuan, with a blank face, went to the front of Huasheng Temple, just looking around, not knowing how to shout, standing there as stiff as a block of wood.
"I suppose I am a dragon born from Dongting Lake, and even those swimming in the water have to give me some face. But I never expected to be captured by a young lady. Wouldn't people laugh at me if word got out? If it weren't for the Buddha's sake, I would have snatched the pearl and left long ago."
Mo Xuan muttered to himself, arms crossed, still unwilling to admit defeat. He looked up and saw a hideous demon floating beside him. He reached out and grabbed it.
"Hey! Did you know there's a mortal woman in the south who recently opened a restaurant?"
As he spoke, a large patch of dragon scales faintly appeared on his face. The evil spirit, suddenly caught in his grasp and witnessing the dragon's might emanating from Mo Xuan, was terrified and repeatedly begged for mercy:
"I don't know, I don't know, sir, don't worry, I'll stay far away from that place! It's eight zhang in front and eight zhang behind, even if I see it, I'll definitely avoid it and stay close to the wall! Please, sir, don't eat me, don't eat me!!"
"Who would want to eat a wicked spirit like you? You're so sour and tasteless."
Mo Xuan rolled his eyes: "You don't look like you have any money on you—get lost."
The evil spirit, having narrowly escaped death, scrambled into a clay pot, as if afraid of being dragged away again.
Mo Xuan didn't give up and reached out to grab it. This time, however, he grabbed the soul of a man dressed in black robes who looked like a yamen runner.
He sized the man up and down, and the yamen runner, quick-witted as ever, immediately put on a smile and flattered him:
"Sir, sir, I used to be a yamen runner in the imperial prison! I don't have much money left for bribes, just a few coins for the journey. Please have mercy on me this time!"
"I'm not some stupid demon who would rob people on the road. Besides, I'm still alive and well. What would I need the toll money from your ghostly hands?"
Mo Xuan pointed impatiently to the side of the street:
"See that building with the flag? That's the Mountain and Sea Restaurant. Since you have money, go and patronize it."
The yamen runner's spirit was stunned for a moment.
He looked fierce and menacing, and I thought he was a demon that devours souls. How come he keeps talking about inviting people to come and eat?
Who solicits customers like that?
He stole a glance and saw that as night fell, many houses on Guangfu and Yongle Streets had closed their doors, except for one house that still had its lights on. A flag hung in front of the door with the four large characters "Shan Hai Shi Si" (山海食肆) fluttering slightly in the cold wind, giving it a rather strange feel.
"Sir, this is all business. There must be someone willing to buy for someone to sell. How can you force me? Besides, we are all in the underworld, and we live on different paths from the living. If we are caught by the Ox-Head and Horse-Face demons, we will go to the eighteenth level of hell and never be reincarnated!"
The yamen runner's spirit pleaded, but Mo Xuan's heart stirred.
Yes, it's a good opportunity to let this sickly ghost test the strength of that young lady. If he were an ordinary person, this punishment would only last for a few decades. Once this ordinary woman dies of old age, wouldn't he be free?
He immediately became excited, and, gripping the constable's soul, said viciously:
"Hurry up and go! If you don't, I'll swallow you right now and let my belly give you a good send-off!"
Mo Xuan, as expected of someone who had been dominating Dongting Lake for many years, easily frightened the constable, whose soul trembled with fear as he held a few pieces of paper money and floated towards the brightly lit Shan Hai Restaurant.
...
...
Xu Milu is frying the side dishes she's preparing to serve to guests today.
The minnows bought from the West Market were no more than half the length of an index finger. These fish could only grow to that size in their entire lives. In addition, they had many bones and a strong fishy smell, so they were not popular with the people of Chang'an.
Xu Milu bought a large bucket for only ten copper coins. The shopkeeper, seeing that she liked it, even discussed with her that he would keep it for her whenever he had any in the future, since if he couldn't sell it, he could only keep it to feed his cat.
Use small scissors to cut open the belly of the minnow, remove the internal organs little by little, wash it clean, and don't even scrape off the scales. Marinate it for several hours in a sauce made of ginger shreds, rice wine, aged vinegar, brown sugar granules, etc., until it is well marinated. Then heat a pot of oil, cut scallions into sections, and slowly simmer them to make scallion oil. Finally, put the marinated minnows into the pot and fry them until they are thoroughly cooked. After frying, take them out and pour the sauce over them again, and fry them repeatedly.
The fried small fish are distinct and crispy, with both bones and flesh. After frying, the fish meat absorbs the sweet and sour sauce, making each bite dry, fragrant, and appetizing – perfect for a hot summer day.
"Plop—"
The constable, who had been watching from outside the shop for a long time, swallowed hard. He didn't even realize that the closer he got to the shop, the more solid his soul became.
Xu Milu looked up and saw a spirit dressed in black robes and the attire of a yamen runner standing at the door, swallowing hard. Her eyes lit up.
Mo Xuan's business skills are pretty good; he's attracted customers so quickly.
"Would you like something to eat, sir? The dishes available today are all hanging on the wall. I do not accept money from the world. If you have any rare seeds or books about cultivation, you may bring them to pay for your meal."
Xu Milu carefully observed the spirit in front of her. He looked to be in his early forties, with a hunched back, tattered white robes, and an iron chain around his feet. His face was an ominous pale blue, and there was a deep ligature mark on his neck—he looked like a hanged ghost.
"You can actually see me, young lady?"
The constable's spirit was somewhat excited. These wandering souls, normally able to drift around right under the noses of mortals without being seen, were now overjoyed to see a living person speaking to them, forgetting their purpose for being there.
"Young lady, young lady, please have mercy on me and tell my family that I have buried some gold and silver, and that they should dig it up and live a good life. Please have mercy on me and pass on this message!"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
