"Since you are such an honored guest, why are you taking on the work of a cook? With such skills, we in Chang'an should know a thing or two about them. I wonder what you mean by this, Old Master Hu?"
After Wei Ying asked this question, Cheng Chumo also turned his gaze towards him, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Hehe, young master Wei, you are unaware of this."
Sitting at the table, Hu Silang explained with a smile:
"Today's banquet will be prepared by Madam Xu from the Mountain and Sea Restaurant outside Huasheng Temple. Madam Xu is extremely skilled in cooking, and her culinary skills are unparalleled in Chang'an. In particular, the dishes she makes with the ingredients she uses are incredibly delicious, truly the finest of flavors! Even many wandering immortals and underworld officials love to go to her restaurant for a bowl of rice. The taste is truly—"
Hu Silang smacked his lips, a look of deep craving on his face:
"Today's banquet uses only ordinary ingredients, which doesn't really showcase Madam Xu's superb culinary skills. It's a real pity."
Everyone was slightly surprised when they heard this.
Their cooking skills were barely at a fifth level, yet they already considered it a rare delicacy. If they could go to that Mountain and Sea Restaurant and sample it, wouldn't they be able to eat some heavenly delicacies?!
"So delicious, and it's not even a five-point rating?"
Wei Ying immediately became interested and stroked his chin with great enthusiasm:
"I have always enjoyed appreciating fine food. I wonder if Mr. Hu could introduce me to this Mrs. Xu?"
"No, no."
Old man Hu shook his head:
"This Madam Xu has a strange rule: whenever she wants to eat at that restaurant, she either has to exchange her cultivation skills or the seeds of rare and precious herbs. This time, I had to use a hundred taels of gold, rare herbs, and a fire spirit mushroom that can extend one's life by fifty years to invite her!"
"!!"
Wei Ying stared wide-eyed, looking somewhat dazed:
"A hundred taels of gold, rare herbs, and immortal herbs that can extend life by fifty years are needed to persuade this old lady to come? What a grand gesture!"
"My lord, please don't say that!"
Hu Silang quickly lowered his voice and said mysteriously:
"Although we little demons do not know the origin of that Lady Xu, we know that she must be of extraordinary origin. We heard that she was invited by the Dragon Palace to the birthday celebration of the West Sea Dragon King some time ago, and was treated as an honored guest. With such an origin, how dare we neglect her?"
"The Dragon King's birthday banquet!?"
Wei Ying listened to these stories as if they were storybooks, completely absorbed. He couldn't help but ask in return:
"Is there really such a thing as a Dragon King? I thought it was just a supernatural tale, but I didn't expect it to be true. Has that old man from the Hu family ever been there?"
Old Hu waved his hand:
"I'm just a fox demon who cultivates. I'm only old, and people only call me Old Man Hu out of respect. How could I possibly be qualified to attend the Dragon King's birthday celebration?"
"We are merely minor demons cultivating in Chang'an. Madam Xu is the one with true status and prestige. It is only because Madam Xu is kind-hearted that she has granted my Eleventh Sister's request today; otherwise, no matter how many miraculous herbs there are, I doubt she would even deign to accept them."
As he spoke, a hint of pride lingered in his voice:
"With Madam Xu hosting a banquet for my Eleventh Sister, even the city's God and Earth God will have to think more highly of my Eleventh Sister!"
The foxes all looked on with longing and nodded in agreement.
Before Wei Ying could ask anything more, Cheng Chumo coughed, and Wei Ying reluctantly shut up, muttering to Lu Wenshan in a low voice:
"With such a remarkable background, could she be a deity descended to earth? I often heard my grandfather talk about it when I was young. He said that there were celestial maids in heaven who longed to be mortals and would secretly slip down to the mortal world. With such amazing cooking skills, could Madam Xu be a maidservant of the Kitchen God who longed to be mortal?"
Cheng Chumo coughed again:
“Be careful what you say. His Majesty dislikes people discussing matters of gods and ghosts. You and I are only here today to accompany Yuan Qi to welcome the bride. We know nothing about Lady Xu or Lady Li.”
"...Yuan Qi is about to marry a fox spirit, and you're still telling me to respect ghosts and gods but keep them at a distance? I'm afraid His Majesty already knew that."
Wei Ying replied, then stared at the newly served dishes with shining eyes:
"No, no, I must pay my respects to this capable Madam Xu sooner or later. Of all things, food is the most important. If her cooking skills are only five points, she can make such delicious food. If they are ten points, even dragon liver and phoenix gall, immortal peaches and fine wine cannot compare."
Cheng Chumo was speechless and refused to offer any further advice.
His best friend was good in every way, except that he was a bit unreliable. Whenever he heard any strange tales or legends, he would be completely captivated. It seemed that he would have to meet this legendary Lady Xu sooner or later.
...
...
According to the customs of the Tang Dynasty, the groom's party had to take the bride away at dusk, and the bride's family would gather a large group of people at this time to block the road, pretending not to let the groom take the bride away, meaning "Our daughter is precious, you must cherish her."
Xu Milu had been busy all morning. Even though her physical condition had changed and she had many fox girls helping her, she was exhausted and too lazy to even look at the fox blocking her way.
She simply made a pot of monkey wine, sat down casually in the garden, and drank with Eighteen Sister, along with some snacks.
There were still plenty of ingredients left in the kitchen. Xu Milu picked out a plate of honey-glazed venison, a plate of sweet and sour carp, and then stir-fried peanuts in a pan, soaked them in vinegar, and made a cold salad with diced radish and cucumber, which was perfect to go with drinks.
"Mmm, fresh venison is really delicious."
Xu Milu picked up a piece of honey-glazed venison with her chopsticks, savoring its tenderness in her mouth, and couldn't help but squint her eyes.
In modern times, eating this would get you handcuffs, but here there aren't so many concerns.
Wash the fresh venison thoroughly to remove the blood, put it in a bowl, add scallions and salt to marinate it simply, wipe off the excess moisture with a clean white gauze, and pound it carefully with a rolling pin.
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