Chapter 309 Eating Barbecue
As dusk settled, the last rays of the sunset were being swallowed by the deep blue night.
Jiang Ling and her group, carrying large and small bags, returned to their camp outside Qingshui Town as dusk deepened.
The campsite was already in good order, with tents neatly arranged. A campfire blazed in the central open space, and a large pot was cooking porridge for the evening meal. The aroma of rice mixed with the smell of firewood wafted in the cool air.
"Sister Jiang! You're finally back!" Cheng Jiaojiao, who had been gazing expectantly towards the direction outside the camp, hurried over from beside her vermilion carriage, her face filled with anticipation and a hint of worry.
"Why did it take you so long? Did you run into any trouble?"
"I bought some things and was delayed for a while." Jiang Ling smiled and handed over the things she was carefully holding. "Here, these are for you."
Cheng Jiaojiao curiously took them; they were two sugar figurines carefully wrapped in oiled paper, the translucent sugar threads gleaming enticingly in the firelight.
Cheng Jiaojiao gasped softly, her eyes instantly lighting up with delight, "Wow! It's a sugar figurine! It's so beautiful! Thank you, Sister Jiang!"
“And this,” Xiao Ran said with a grin, handing over a small cloth bag like a treasure. “Sister Cheng, this is something Sister Jiang specially picked out for you. It’s osmanthus hair oil made by an old lady in Qingshui Town. It smells so good! There’s also a box of hand balm. You can use it to protect your hands from the wind and sun on the road.”
Cheng Jiaojiao took the bag, opened it, and a sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted out.
Her eyes welled up slightly. Besides Jiang Ling, who else would remember these trivial yet thoughtful little needs of a young woman?
Zhao Jingxing walked over, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Ling and the others before finally settling on Zhao Shuo. He asked, "The magistrate of Qingshui County came by earlier and said there was a domestic dispute in town that is related to you?"
Zhao Shuo quickly gave a brief report on what had happened at the Liu family's house in town.
Holding the sugar figurine, Cheng Jiaojiao listened indignantly, "This is obviously a frame-up by the second wife of the Liu family. We've seen these kinds of tricks all the time in the inner quarters of the capital!"
As a noblewoman from the capital, Cheng Jiaojiao frequently visited the palace. She heard far more than just these things.
After listening, Zhao Jingxing nodded slightly, but did not forget to remind him: "It is a chivalrous act to help those in need. However, our identities are sensitive on this trip, and we are responsible for escorting you. If you encounter similar situations in the future, you should weigh the pros and cons and try to avoid getting too involved in local disputes to prevent unnecessary complications."
As the head of the mission, his primary task was to deliver the "princess" safely, and he needed to be cautious about anything that might attract unnecessary attention or trouble.
Furthermore, he was also afraid that Jiang Ling would be harmed as a result.
Zhao Shuo nodded in agreement.
Cheng Jiaojiao interjected softly but firmly, "If everyone only seeks to protect themselves and turns a blind eye to injustice, wouldn't the world become even colder?"
Zhao Jingxing glanced at Cheng Jiaojiao, said nothing more, and then instructed Zhao Shuo to hand over the purchased supplies to the logistics manager for counting and storage.
At this moment, the two soldiers had already placed their special small copper pots, reserved for their private kitchens, on a nearby campfire.
“Let’s eat something nice tonight to calm our nerves. How about we try something different, like barbecue?” Jiang Ling said with a smile in her eyes, pointing to a small bag of charcoal and a few thin iron skewers that she had bought extra during the afternoon shopping trip.
"Barbecue?" Xiao Ran and Cheng Jiaojiao asked in unison, their eyes full of curiosity.
Seeing that everyone looked a little confused, Jiang Ling explained, "It's about cutting meat and vegetables into small pieces, skewering them on sticks, and slowly grilling them over charcoal while sprinkling in seasonings. It has a unique flavor."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shuo's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly. He had tasted Jiang Ling's cooking before, and although he didn't know what kind of barbecue it was, anything that Jiang Ling found extraordinary must be something special.
"What does Miss Jiang need? I'll have someone prepare it right away!"
Jiang Ling smiled and nodded, "Just find a few flat stones and put some thick branches on top, nothing too complicated."
"Alright!"
Jiang Ling didn't stand on ceremony and started assigning tasks: "Xiao Ran, pick out some pork with a good mix of fat and lean meat from the pork we bought this afternoon, and also take the wings and legs off those two chickens and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Jiao Jiao, help me slice the mushrooms, green peppers, and the steamed buns I brought."
When Cheng Jiaojiao heard that she also had a task, she enthusiastically followed Jiang Ling to process the vegetables.
Setting up a grill was a piece of cake for the soldiers, and before long, a simple yet sturdy grill was erected.
The charcoal fire glowed red-hot, warming people's cheeks.
Jiang Ling marinated the meat chunks that Xiao Ran had cut with soy sauce, a little wine, minced ginger, and a pinch of the five-spice powder that Xiao Ran had brought.
The vegetables and bread slices are lightly brushed with oil and sprinkled with fine salt.
With preparations complete, everyone sat around the charcoal fire.
Jiang Ling demonstrated how to skewer meat chunks, chicken wings, mushroom slices, green pepper chunks, potato slices, etc., alternately onto thin wooden skewers or clean iron skewers.
Cheng Jiaojiao studied diligently and soon began to string the beads quite well.
Xiao Ran and Zhao Shuo were quick and efficient; in no time, all sorts of kebabs were laid out beside them.
"Come on, do it yourself, and you'll have plenty to eat. Put the skewers on the grill, turn them frequently, and they're almost done when the meat changes color and the fat starts to sizzle."
Jiang Ling handed a few skewers of meat to Cheng Jiaojiao and Xiao Ran, and took a few skewers for herself, placing them on the grill.
The heat from the charcoal fire evenly roasted the food, and soon the meat skewers began to sizzle, with clear oil seeping out and dripping onto the charcoal fire, stirring up a wisp of smoke.
The marinated pork exudes a savory aroma, the chicken wings gradually turn an enticing golden brown, and the vegetables slowly become soft and tender with slightly charred edges.
Jiang Ling then mixed a little cumin powder and chili powder and gently brushed it onto the nearly cooked meat skewers.
Suddenly, a powerful aroma, a blend of caramel, meat, and the unique scent of cumin, exploded out, permeating the entire edge of the camp. It was more direct, more robust, and more mouthwatering than any previous "special meal"!
Although there were ways to roast meat in this era, the seasonings were too limited, resulting in a rather bland taste.
These seasonings were all brought by Jiang Ling from the modern world. Wherever there is a barbecue stall on the street, the aroma can spread for miles.
The nearby guards frequently glanced at the scene, some even pretending to patrol and quietly taking a few more steps in just to catch another whiff of that alluring fragrance.
"It's almost ready, you can eat it now, but be careful it's hot."
Jiang Ling handed a perfectly grilled skewer of pork belly to Cheng Jiaojiao.
Cheng Jiaojiao blew on it and carefully took a bite.
The outer skin is slightly charred and crispy, while the inside is tender and juicy. The salty and savory flavor with a hint of cumin bursts in your mouth, creating a taste that is unlike anything she has ever experienced before, a taste that strikes right at your soul!
"Mmm! Delicious!" She gasped as the food burned, but couldn't bear to stop eating.
Zhao Shuo couldn't wait to dig in. He took a bite of meat, then a bite of a crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside slice of bread, his mouth dripping with oil. He couldn't help but mumble a compliment: "Miss Jiang, this barbecue... is amazing!"
Taking a bite of barbecue and then a sip of soda is pure bliss!
The other two guards were also eating skewers, too busy to talk, just nodding repeatedly with satisfaction on their faces.
Jiang Ling didn't bring them beer, otherwise barbecue and beer would be the perfect combination!
She also tried a skewer of grilled mushrooms; the mushrooms had absorbed all the oil and seasonings, making them incredibly delicious.
They grilled a dozen more skewers and had them delivered to Zhao Jingxing.
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