Chapter 103: Qi Wontons This is the menu for the Burning Tail Banquet.
When the carriage reached the Twelve Castles, all we saw was silver-white.
The mountains in the distance are outlined with soft light by the snow, and together with the newly built Qixian Courtyard, they form a quiet and beautiful winter picture.
The branches along the road were covered with crystal clear snow, slightly bent, swaying in the wind, and shaking off the snow powder.
"The sky and earth are all white, the branches and trees are like jade, how beautiful!"
Madam Jintang stretched out her hand, which was covered with jade armor, and gently lifted the curtain.
She was used to the prosperity of famous cities and towns, so it was her first time to see snow falling in a small town, which was a novelty for her.
The local people would never have imagined that the scenes they were accustomed to could make the distinguished guests amazed.
After putting down their luggage and resting, the couple was led into the ski resort by the waiter.
"Dear guest, please have your meal first."
The waiter brought a bowl of unremarkable colorful wontons.
Mr. Shen didn't care.
In the wealthy Changluo area, colorful wontons are not uncommon.
It should be made by squeezing juice from seasonal vegetables of different colors such as amaranth and purple cabbage and mixing them with flour.
He sipped his soup cheerfully.
It tastes fresh and sweet, and the soup is garnished with green onions and seaweed. It's a perfect meal.
Mr. Shen smacked his lips and commented in his heart.
After all, Zhenbei is short of supplies, so there is no need to have too high expectations.
He then picked up a wonton, blew on it gently to warm it, and carefully placed it in his mouth. The wonton wrapper broke between his teeth, and his eyes lit up.
The fresh fragrance of chives wrapped in the mellow taste of eggs bursts in your mouth.
You can tell it’s thick autumn chives as soon as you chew it!
This dish is at its best between Cold Dew and Frost Descent, and disappears after the Beginning of Winter as the weather turns cooler.
If you want to eat it again, you have to wait until February.
However, how could the North supply leeks in this deep winter?
"It's smooth and tender when you eat it, and has a fresh fragrance. It's wonderful!" Mr. Shen praised repeatedly.
He couldn't wait and put another wonton into his mouth.
The sweet and glutinous peas are mixed with the fresh fragrance of pork. The two are sweet and salty, with just the right chewy texture.
With a gentle sip, it slides down your throat.
This time, he was even more surprised.
"I can usually tell the difference between flavors, but this is a pea? It's unbelievable!"
His voice unconsciously rose, his sparse eyebrows suddenly raised, and his turbid eyes suddenly widened.
No wonder he looks like he has never seen the world.
Peas sown in autumn overwinter and mature around the beginning of summer the following year. Even His Majesty has probably never tasted such fresh and delicious peas in winter!
Mr. Shen's eyes were sharp, and he just hoped that someone could explain something to him.
"Greetings, Master and Madam." Guizhier walked out with a smile and bowed slightly.
She was wearing a plain cotton gown, and her smooth black hair was tied into a simple and elegant bun, with a silver hairpin inserted diagonally into it, sparkling with a cool luster under the reflection of the snow.
"I am the head chef of this kitchen," she patiently introduced. "These are the wontons from the 24 solar terms on the Burning Tail banquet menu."
The auxiliary ingredients are seasonal fruits and vegetables of the 24 solar terms.
For example, lily and shrimp in the beginning of summer, purslane in the beginning of summer...
Fortunately, His Royal Highness Prince Yue strongly advocated it, and the government funded the construction of many clay greenhouses.
It is not difficult to eat out-of-season vegetables in the north.
It's a pity that the cassia twig is still growing. Winter melon likes warmth and heat resistance. Lotus leaves and water caltrops are aquatic plants, and it is difficult for greenhouses to meet the temperature and light conditions required for their growth.
Mr. Shen and Mrs. Jintang were deeply impressed.
The two of them put aside their usual dignity and started eating the wontons one bite after another.
The rich taste of the filling spreads between your teeth, and as you chew it, you can almost feel the changing of seasons and the passage of time.
Mrs. Jintang held the bowl with both hands, licked the corner of her mouth with satisfaction after drinking the soup, completely losing her usual reserve.
The hot soup warms your body and heart.
Mr. Shen paid the money readily and took Mrs. Jintang to the ski resort to play.
The hillside was covered with snow. The two men held their sticks and slid down slowly on snowboards. They also rode on a dog sled, built snow lions, and had snowball fights, having a lot of fun.
Finally, Madam Jintang raised her eyes and looked at the master.
"Playing around with the master today feels like going back to my youth," she said affectionately.
"If my wife likes it, we can also buy some property in the North." Master Shen reached out to brush the snowflakes off her shoulders. "Come here often for vacation in the coming winter."
Guizhier, who was watching everything, pursed her lips and smiled.
This is the first step. Next, please invite the guests to move to Qixian Villa.
After playing for a long time, it gradually got dark.
Mr. Shen was old, after all, and the cold wind made his limbs ache unbearably. He stretched his stiff neck and pounded his back, his movements revealing fatigue.
Madam Jintang's hairpins and jewelry were disheveled, her cheeks were red from the cold, and she looked utterly awful yet charmingly innocent.
As soon as the excitement wore off, hunger began to rise in their stomachs.
As soon as he opened his mouth, the cold wind choked his throat, causing him to cough violently. He just wanted to get back to the house to rest and enjoy dinner.
Fortunately, the ski resort is not far from the villa.
"Please bring all the hot dishes in the store, regardless of price!" Mr. Shen was rich and generous. He took out the banknote and handed it to the waiter without even looking at it.
Unexpectedly, the food here once again exceeded his expectations.
In the middle, a three-legged copper stove was firmly erected. The charcoal fire in the stove was blazing, making the soup in the stove bubbling.
"What kind of soup base do you like?" The girl with ponytail greeted the guest cheerfully and generously.
"Common flavors include spicy pepper, clear white soup, red tomato, and our northern specialty—wild mushrooms!"
If any soldiers from the First Army defending the northern border were present, they would definitely look familiar.
This was 70% similar to the hot pot that Miss Gui had once treated the winners of the martial arts competition to, except that around the stove, there were a dazzling array of skewers.
Mr. Shen took a quick glance.
The combination of meat and vegetables is just right on the slender bamboo skewers.
There is fresh and tender lamb, with some crystal-clear lamb fat hanging between the textures, and there are braised quail eggs, small and exquisite, wrapped in brown marinade.
In addition, there are round shiitake mushrooms, green-leafed winter melon, water celery...it's a feast for the eyes.
"I have traveled all over the world and have never encountered such exquisite and interesting food." Mr. Shen was amazed.
He and Madam Jintang sat around the stove, each choosing their favorite skewers and carefully placing them in the cauldron.
After a while, the skewers were rolling up and down in the soup.
The hot air, wrapped in fragrance, blew towards me, warming my cold limbs.
On this cold winter day, Mr. Shen bit into the translucent garlic cloves embedded in the lamb rolls, which were tender and slightly sweet. Then he tasted a skewer of sour and spicy pickled pepper beef, the juice overflowing in his mouth, and Mr. Shen narrowed his eyes in happiness.
A satisfied smile graced his face.
"Besides opening a shop in the north of the town, I should find a broker to buy some land." He pondered in his mind, "With the world in chaos right now, this place feels like a paradise."
It's a good place to take refuge.
A delicious meal of skewers.
But after her stomach was full and warm, Mrs. Jintang smelled her clothes and found the smell of hot pot difficult to conceal, which made her feel a little embarrassed.
Her cheeks flushed, she bit her lower lip, and felt a little embarrassed.
This strange smell is detrimental to my appearance. What should I do?
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