Chapter 118: The Ancestor of Food and the Brahma
Zhao Guo stood by and watched, a smile always on his weathered face.
He never imagined that the land he had cultivated all his life could bring such liveliness and laughter.
"Farmers rely on the land their whole lives, yet they also want to break free from it their whole lives." He murmured with emotion, "I have always believed that what they get from this land is far more pain than joy."
Joy is fleeting, but suffering is long-lasting.
He deeply loved the land but also feared it; this was almost a deep-seated knot in his heart, and now, there were signs that this knot was being untied.
Zhao Guo's sigh was so poignant, and Lu Xiaoqi, sipping her milk tea beside him, racked her brains but couldn't think of any words to comfort him. However, Zhao Guo didn't need her comfort; after watching for a while longer, he decided to go and tend to his other fifty acres of land.
Lu Xiaoqi quickly called out to him, "Uncle Zhao, what are you planning to plant next after harvesting the rice?"
Are you still planning to plant late-season rice?
Zhao Guo thought for a moment, then shook his head: "I'm not going to plant any more. I want to try planting some new things."
The crops available in this era are so abundant, with various vegetables and fruits in addition to staple foods, and he wants to try them all.
Lu Xiaoqi nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, let's have more different kinds."
Zhao Guo laughed and walked towards the other fifty acres of land. He raised his hand and waved to Lu Xiaoqi, his back view looking no different from any other farmer of this era.
Lu Xiaoqi bit her straw and smiled.
She then looked towards the ditch not far away, where someone seemed to have caught a big fish but hadn't managed to hold onto it, and laughter and exclamations filled the air. Seeing this, Lu Xiaoqi felt a strong urge to join in the water fun, wishing she could take off her shoes and take her own shoes to join the group.
Judging from the current situation, the second phase of the farm seems inevitable.
The rice harvesting task lasted only three days before it ended. Nearly two hundred tourists who signed up received skip-the-line passes, some even twice. They happily went to the VR experience center, walking in with their heads held high amidst the envious gazes of the other tourists in line.
To ensure a better experience for the tourists who had contributed, Lu Xiaoqi specially opened a VIP passage, maximizing the emotional value for them.
"Why don't they have to queue? And they're not using the Fastpass lane," a tourist asked curiously.
Zhou Yuhang overheard this and turned around proudly, saying, "Of course it's because we went to harvest rice!"
Hmph! He deserves it!
When he got home, his back ached for two whole days!
"Harvesting rice..." The tourists in line were all astonished when the staff explained the activity to them.
Harvesting rice in this sweltering heat? Oh well, they deserve it!
Meanwhile, Zhao Guo and the other farmers on the farm organized machinery to harvest all the remaining rice. Zhao Guo also had people pick up all the remaining rice ears in the field.
"That's good," the hired farmer praised with a smile. "Now many people don't want these small, broken ears of rice anymore; they find them too troublesome."
Zhao Guo nodded: "It's all grain, we can't waste it."
They weighed all the harvested rice, which came to 48 tons. That works out to about 1,000 jin per mu (approximately 0.16 acres), even though Zhao Guo hadn't chosen a particularly high-yield variety.
"This kind of rice tastes good, but the yield isn't very high," said an experienced farmer.
They were afraid that Zhao Guo would think the output was insufficient.
But Zhao Guo was already very pleasantly surprised.
A yield of 1,000 catties per mu! He kept thinking about it even when he was trying to sleep, so excited that he couldn't fall asleep.
However, the figure of forty-eight tons is with the husks on. After drying and removing the husks, it would be about thirty-three or thirty-four tons. Zhao Guo was a little worried about the several tons of rice husks left. In ancient times, these rice husks would also be food, mixed into rice porridge to fill one's stomach, and would not be thrown away.
But now... I doubt anyone would want to eat this.
"Don't worry, there are buyers." The old farmer said with a smile, "Many people buy this stuff to feed their chickens, but with such a large quantity, it's most suitable to sell it to the factory. A ton can sell for several hundred yuan."
There are naturally people at the farm to handle these follow-up chores.
Later, the rice husks were sold, but the rice itself wasn't sold. It was all vacuum-packed and given to several restaurants and canteens in the scenic area, enough for about six months' worth of use.
As a result, the diners at Song Sao Fish Restaurant enjoyed the first batch of new rice this year.
"This rice seems different from the one I had last time I came here?" Song Sao Fish Restaurant has many regular customers. If it weren't for the difficulty of making a reservation and the long queue, they would come to eat here every few days.
The waiter smiled and replied, "This is our new rice that just came out this year, and it's grown by ourselves. What you're eating is the freshest batch of the year, and it's your first meal of it."
"No wonder!" the diner exclaimed in sudden realization. "This new rice is the best. If you leave it for even a little while, it won't taste the same."
Nowadays, many of the better restaurants serve rice grown in the black soil of Northeast China, including Song Sao Fish Restaurant. But actually, the local new rice is also quite good, each with its own flavor, it's just that it can't be stored for long.
Suddenly, the speed at which people ate their rice in the restaurant seemed to increase significantly. Some parents who brought their children were pleasantly surprised to find that their little ones, who usually needed to be chased around to be fed, were now holding spoons themselves and eating heartily. A bucket of rice was quickly emptied, and they hurriedly asked the waiter to refill it.
The older guests, after savoring the rice, remarked, "This rice is really good; it tastes just like the rice I had when I was a child."
It wasn't until after 2:30 PM that the guests at the fish restaurant finally began to leave. The receptionist at the front desk closed the main gate of the mansion, relaxed her shoulders, and smiled.
They can finally take a break!
As is customary, there is a break of about two and a half hours. At 5 p.m., the courtyard gate will reopen to welcome evening guests until about 9:30 p.m., when the day's work ends.
Once the door is closed, the waiters and chefs are free to do whatever they want.
The young people usually find a place to sleep, and occasionally a few energetic ones will wander around the ancient town, while the chefs and the older aunties play cards or mahjong, each having their own fun.
Sister-in-law Song is straightforward and generous, and she manages the entire fish restaurant very well. There are no backstabbing incidents, and the work atmosphere is quite good.
During lunch break today, the kitchen brought out a large bowl of rice cakes and a bucket of osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice balls.
"Come, come, come! This year's new rice has made steamed cakes and glutinous rice balls. Everyone, come and have a taste!" Sister Song Wu, holding a large ladle, scooped glutinous rice balls for the employees with a big smile. "The osmanthus flowers are also from this year."
After she shouted that, everyone grabbed their bowls and lined up like kindergarten children.
Because there's a canteen in Zone 7, Song Sao Fish Restaurant doesn't prepare meals for employees; they just have a few staff members pick them up from the canteen. The canteen also provides afternoon tea daily; anyone who wants some can go and eat it themselves. Therefore, when the kitchen prepares afternoon tea or additional meals for employees, it's usually because they've just introduced a new dish and need to test it.
Moreover, according to the rules, whoever makes the new dish gets to share it, so today's pastries must have been made by Sister Song Wu herself!
The fluffy, white rice cakes exude a pure rice aroma and a sweet, mellow fragrance of fermented rice wine, topped with a few plump red dates. The osmanthus-scented glutinous rice balls are even more enticing; the small, white balls float in pale yellow syrup, sprinkled with golden osmanthus blossoms, their sweet fragrance rising gently with the steam.
A young waiter couldn't wait to take a bite of the steamed cake, and her eyes immediately lit up: "Mmm! Delicious! So soft and fragrant, the sweetness is just right, not greasy at all!"
The auntie next to me, busy eating takoyaki, nodded repeatedly: "These takoyaki are so chewy and glutinous, yet they don't stick to your teeth. They smell so good with osmanthus! Much better than the ones in the cafeteria!"
Chef Zhang, a veteran chef with over a decade of experience in the kitchen, ate with the utmost care. He slowly savored the porous structure and moisture of the steamed cake, then carefully considered the cooking time and sugar syrup ratio of the small glutinous rice balls. Finally, he looked at Sister-in-law Song Wu with admiration in his eyes: "Sister-in-law Song Wu, I didn't know you could make pastries?"
It was common knowledge that Sister Song was skilled at cooking, especially dishes involving fish and shrimp. This was the first time they had ever tasted the pastries that Sister Song ate.
"Actually, I only know how to make these two simple dishes," said Sister Song Wu with a smile. She added that preparing pastries wasn't so easy, and asked, "So, do you think they're good enough for the menu?"
"That's amazing!" Before Chef Zhang could answer, the employees who had already started eating exclaimed in unison, clearly listening intently.
"It's sure to sell well!"
"Perfect as dessert!"
"Autumn is coming soon, so this is a fitting choice for the season."
The menu at Song Sao Fish Restaurant is now fixed. Although it no longer offers different dishes every day like the small restaurant used to, a seasonal menu is introduced every month. Song Sao also goes to the market every two or three days to see if there are any fresh vegetables and good ingredients, and often buys them on the spot. If diners are lucky, they might even stumble upon the chef's secret recipe.
Song Wu Sao turned to Du Fang and Master Zhang.
Du Fang nodded: "The taste of your products is naturally superb."
She is now working as an assistant to Sister-in-law Song, and although she has not formally become his apprentice, they have already developed a master-disciple relationship.
Master Zhang smiled approvingly: "I think it's a good idea. Steamed rice cake can be served as a specialty main dish or a snack, and glutinous rice balls are a great dessert. The ingredients are high-quality, the taste is traditional yet innovative, and most importantly, we use our own new rice, which is our biggest selling point."
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Song felt reassured and readily agreed, "Alright! Then let's launch it as a special autumn supply tomorrow to test the waters and see what the customers think. As for the price..." She paused for a moment, "Let's set it reasonably priced, mainly so everyone can taste the flavor of our own rice!"
This rice was grown by Zhao Guo, the ancestor of farming!
Miss Lu said that Commander Zhao will have special abilities in the future. She can't even imagine how long the queue at Song Sao Fish Restaurant will be!
When they finished work at 9:30 p.m., the waiters and chefs left one after another.
Song Wu Sao usually stayed until the very end to inspect the place. But today, she was cornered by Lu Xiaoqi at the fish restaurant.
"Why are you here now? Haven't you had dinner yet?" Sister-in-law Song asked curiously, turning around to see if there was any leftover food in the kitchen.
"I've already eaten!" Lu Xiaoqi chuckled. "I had something else to do."
Sister-in-law Song knew what was going on from her expression and quickly came out with her. Lu Xiaoqi led her to her usual private room, a quiet and elegant little courtyard in the back.
Pushing open the door, I saw Su Jun already waiting inside, along with two other women.
I pushed the door open and went inside. There were two women sitting there.
The woman was quite old, with graying temples. She wore a short, wide-sleeved blouse in shades of ochre and light brown. Her eyes were gentle and focused, and she exuded a calm and composed demeanor.
The other woman, probably in her early forties, was a nun dressed in plain-colored robes. She had a slender face, no black hair on her head, and clear, serene eyes, which made her appear somewhat otherworldly.
Sister-in-law Song was a little puzzled and asked, "Who are these two...?"
Seeing this attire, she immediately realized that this was probably a newcomer summoned by Lu Xiaoqi. But why was she brought here?
Lu Xiaoqi smiled and said, "Fifth Sister-in-law, let me introduce you. This lady," she pointed to the older woman, "is the Master of Food, a person from the Tang Dynasty. And this Taoist priest is Master Fanzheng!"
Although Song Wusao, who runs a restaurant, was puzzled, she immediately put on a smile and said, "Welcome..." Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
Wait, wait... She suddenly realized something, and her eyes widened instantly.
The names Shan Zu and Fan Zheng exploded in her mind like thunder!
As a self-taught person, Song Wu Sao actually only knows a few of the great figures in the industry throughout history, except for patriarchs like Peng Zu and Yi Ya.
But Shan Zu knew!
This woman, who is said to be the private chef of a prime minister in the Tang Dynasty, was not only a master chef, but also pioneered the field of female chefs and is hailed as the "ancestor of kitchen cuisine"!
She had heard of Fan Zheng too!
When Sister-in-law Song was just starting out as a cook and had already gained some fame, some self-proclaimed refined literati and scholars would come to her little shop to try her food. If they were satisfied with their meal, they would nod and offer their comments.
Someone once clapped and praised, "Sister Song's fish soup is so delicious and rich, with a strong sense of home cooking, and it has a classic feel. In my opinion, it even has some of the charm of that Tang Dynasty chef!"
Because of this, Sister-in-law Song remembered the ancestor of the kitchen. Later, she even went to consult a scholar and learned about the ancestor's deeds, which made her yearn for him.
As for Fanzheng... At the time, some scholars, after a hearty meal, sighed with a touch of condescension, "Although it was delicious, it was ultimately the taste of the marketplace, with plenty of rustic charm but lacking in elegance. Compared to the legendary nun Fanzheng, it was ultimately somewhat lacking."
So, Sister-in-law Song went to learn more about that nun, Fan Zheng, and found out that she was a nun who was skilled at painting with food, creating works of poetry and art.
She never imagined that one day, these two legendary figures, who only existed in legends and casual conversations among scholars, would appear before her in such a real and timeless way!
The smile that had just appeared on Song Wu's face froze completely. Her eyes widened, and she was utterly at a loss. It took her several seconds to react:
"It's truly an honor to have two distinguished guests grace us with their presence! This really makes my humble fish restaurant so proud!"
The chef smiled gently: "You're too kind, shopkeeper."
Master Fanzheng nodded slightly, his voice calm and peaceful: "Amitabha, we have disturbed you."
Lu Xiaoqi smiled and pulled Song Wusao to sit next to her: "Sister-in-law, sit here. I just took out my card and came over here."
She selected four people this time. Besides Shan Zu and Fan Zheng, there were two other R-card holders: a goldsmith and a weaver. Su Jun had already taken them to be settled. She personally brought Shan Zu and Fan Zheng to find Sister-in-law Song Wu. As is customary, newcomers are usually handed over to seniors in the same field for mentorship.
Historically, Shan Zu and Fan Zheng were Song Wu Sao's predecessors, but in modern times, Song Wu Sao is the one who came first.
To be honest, Lu Xiaoqi didn't expect to draw two chef cards at once, and both of them were SR!
She couldn't even imagine how delicious the food in Qinghe Ancient Town would be!
Lu Xiaoqi: "I was thinking they could rest for a while, get used to things, and then see what else they can do..."
Although both Shan Zu and Fan Zheng said they could start work immediately, she still couldn't be so stingy.
Sister-in-law Song Wu had recovered from her initial shock and laughed heartily, "Of course, you two seniors are always welcome to visit me. Feel free to come and ask me any questions you may have."
She was a very kind person, and immediately called Su Jun to ask him to arrange for them to stay closer to her.
Seeing her attitude, Shan Zu and Fan Zheng, who were newcomers, also relaxed.
It seems that this Sister-in-law Song is not difficult to get along with.
The group chatted for a while, getting to know each other a bit, and then Lu Xiaoqi and Sister-in-law Song took the two back to District 4 to settle them in. We'll leave that aside for now.
Once it was just her and Sister-in-law Song left, Lu Xiaoqi took her arm and nuzzled her affectionately with her head, saying, "Sister-in-law Song, I still love you the most."
Sister-in-law Song chuckled, but couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile: "I know, I know."
She said seriously, "Xiao Lu, don't worry that I will have any other emotions. Actually, I'm very happy to have a colleague come, especially a woman."
Lu Xiaoqi smiled a little shyly.
Sister-in-law Song pulled her arm tightly around the shoulder: "Back then, so many people told me that women could never get ahead as cooks in restaurants, and that I should just stay obediently in the kitchen in the backyard. I just didn't believe it. Why is it that in so many families, including wealthy ones, it's the cooks who do the cooking, but women can't become famous chefs? I really don't believe in this nonsense!"
"Later, I learned about the ancestor of cuisine, Fan Zheng, and Lady Liu... and later I even learned that among the ten famous chefs of ancient times, women occupied six seats!"
To some extent, if she hadn't known about these people, she probably wouldn't have persisted on this path for so long.
"Of course." Sister-in-law Song pursed her lips, feeling a little embarrassed as she recalled the past. She told Lu Xiaoqi about how her customers praised Fan Zheng and thought that their dishes couldn't compare to Fan Zheng's elegant style.
Lu Xiaoqi saw that she looked relieved now, because she asked the question very easily: "So how did you come to this conclusion?"
"At first, I felt very inferior, thinking that although my dishes were delicious, they might not be presentable enough to serve at a formal event," Song Wu Sao sighed. "And I was also a little resentful... But," a smile appeared in her eyes, "as business got better and better, I came to terms with it!"
Nothing, no matter how elegant or evocative, can compare to the comfort of real money.
Lu Xiaoqi was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "It really is!"
That's why she likes Sister-in-law Song Wu—she's frank, genuine, and interesting.
Sister-in-law Song Wu: "Real gold and silver means everyone likes it, right? Otherwise, why would they come again and again?"
She later realized that she was following an unorthodox path, relying on experience and intuition to make down-to-earth, satisfying dishes. She didn't understand or need to force herself into those romantic and poetic literary pursuits.
However, now that Fan Zheng has arrived... perhaps we could go and ask him for advice?
Shan Zu and Fan Zheng settled down in Qinghe Ancient Town. Like any other newlyweds, they studied history and literature, learned new modern knowledge, and explored the ancient town.
Both of them are very quiet and composed, and they don't get excited when they see things they've never seen before.
The only time I showed a look of shock was when I first entered the kitchen of Song Sao Fish Restaurant and saw the complete set of kitchen facilities, seasonings, ingredients, and so on.
Fan Zheng was fine, but Shan Zu was so eager to try it out that he couldn't wait to do so.
In the kitchen, several chefs and helpers were busy preparing ingredients, but their eyes couldn't help but drift towards the two new, distinguished "visitors."
They received a notification from Sister-in-law Song early in the morning, saying that an extremely important guest was coming to visit today, and that everyone must be on high alert and maintain order. Although no one understood why, seeing Sister-in-law Song's unusually serious demeanor, everyone subconsciously tensed up.
An unusual, almost tense atmosphere permeated the entire kitchen.
However, they didn't expect that they were two seemingly ordinary women... well, not ordinary either, one of them was wearing monk's robes and looked like a nun?
What kind of combination is this?
Everyone exchanged knowing glances, asking, "Who is this? Does anyone know?"
But all I got in return were shakes of the head or shrugs.
No one knows who these two women are that makes Chef Song so nervous.
The chef's gaze slowly swept over the gleaming stainless steel stove, the neatly hung knives, the dazzling array of compound seasonings, and the fresh ingredients from all over the world and even overseas stored in the refrigerator. Her calm eyes couldn't help but reveal a look of amazement and fervor.
She has tried many delicious foods here during this time, which has opened up a whole new world for her.
The land was incredibly rich in resources, and the ways of cooking food seemed to have developed and changed in many ways, completely different from what it was like back then.
In her later years, the chef focused primarily on teaching, feeling that her skills had stagnated for a long time. But now, she has rediscovered the passion and freshness she had when she was learning to cook in her youth.
Now that she had seen the kitchen in person, her heart was pounding even harder.
She subconsciously took a small step forward, her fingers twitching slightly—an instinctive desire in a chef to touch, feel, and master the craft.
Song Wu Sao had been paying attention to their reactions, and upon seeing this, she immediately caught the familiar love and impulse in Shan Zu's eyes.
A thought struck her, and she stepped forward with a smile, her tone sincere and enthusiastic: "Senior, if you don't mind, why not give it a try?"
She pointed to the complete cooking utensils and abundant ingredients prepared on the side.
Ahhh, she's never tasted a dish made by the Master Chef before! Will she finally get to see something amazing today?!
Upon hearing this, the ancestor's eyes lit up, and he politely asked, "Is that alright?"
Sister-in-law Song: "Why not?!"
She's still waiting to eat. No, I need to send Xiaolu a WeChat message later and ask her to come over too. Good things should be shared.
Upon hearing her words, the Master of the Kitchen nodded gently yet firmly: "Then... I'll make a fool of myself."
Her aura shifted slightly, revealing the composure and focus of a seasoned veteran returning to familiar territory.
At the same time, Master Fanzheng's gaze was drawn to the freshly steamed rice cakes hanging on the nearby table. The rice cakes were steamed perfectly, fluffy and soft, with a wonderful aroma of rice, but their shape was just a simple square, with no decorations except for a few red dates embedded in them.
Following her gaze, Song Wu Sao's heart skipped a beat.
Oh my god! Why this of all times?
Her rice cake was completely devoid of any shape whatsoever!
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