Chapter 10
The Five Raw Delicacies Platter was a substantial dish featuring thin, uncooked slices of pork, beef, mutton, venison, and bear meat. These slices were artfully arranged on a plate to resemble a plum blossom and were served with various dipping sauces. While the presentation was elegant, diners primarily praised the dish for its exceptional freshness.
Fang Yu lifted a thin slice of beef to inspect it. He was no stranger to raw beef and knew that the word 'raw' could deter some people. In his experience, however, beef that was expertly sliced and marinated could be quite delicious. That said, he did not recommend chewing it slowly. Its appeal lay in its tender texture, and chewing it too much would, in fact, ruin the experience.
He dipped the various meats into the sauce and ate them one by one. Fang Yu had to silently admit that the meal was impressive.
"The Sage truly did not deceive us; he did not dislike refined rice, nor did he dislike finely minced meat. These thinly sliced raw meats have a unique flavor."
[食不厭精、膾不厭細 (shí bù yàn jīng, kuài bù yàn xì): lit. He did not dislike refined rice, nor did he dislike finely minced meat; fig. A quote from the Analects, meaning one should be fastidious about food preparation and enjoy well-prepared dishes.]
Qiao Hezhi smiled and said, "The Five Raw Delicacies Platter is a fashionable, grand dish. Most large restaurants and eateries have this dish. The meats are largely the same. However, the major restaurants and eateries have specialized hunters who deliver the meat directly, so it is fresher than the meat bought from the meat market by smaller shops. It mainly comes down to comparing the knife skills of the chefs. The restaurant known for slicing its meat the finest and thinnest earns the highest reputation."
Fang Yu tossed another piece of sliced meat into his mouth. "The meat isn't cooked or marinated. If they didn't put effort into the knife work and the dipping sauces, it would be somewhat difficult to eat."
"It's a pity my knife skills are not as good as those of a restaurant chef. Otherwise, I could also make this dish at home for you to try, Master."
"Hey, if you could do everything yourself, what opportunities would there be to eat out? We have to leave some chances for the restaurants, don't we?"
Qiao Hezhi smiled. Eating at home was common, but going to a restaurant for a drink with his husband was not.
"Try the raw fish now." Qiao Hezhi picked up a slice of fish, dipped it in the sauce, lifted his hand, and presented the chopsticks to Fang Yu's mouth, supporting them underneath. "I see this sliced raw fish is translucent, even more like a cicada's wing. The taste should be quite good too."
Fang Yu hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth and accepted the fish from Qiao Hezhi's chopsticks. The dipping sauce, though lacking chili peppers, was quite pungent, similar to mustard, somewhat masking the fresh flavor of the fish. There was another dipping sauce plate, this one was more to Fang Yu's liking, with a sour, spicy, and refreshing taste, made with soy sauce and orange juice, which paired very refreshingly with the raw fish.
Finally, four steamed crabs, bright red in color, were brought up. The table had four main dishes, plus two complimentary side dishes and one plate of pastries. The pastries were complimentary, and the side dishes were a privilege for those of the Scholar class. The restaurant was indeed upscale, the bowls and plates were all fine porcelain. But it still had some of that deceptive quality—large plates with little food.
Hoping to eat one's fill was out of the question, it was more suitable for coming to drink and sample delicacies.
After trying all the dishes, Fang Yu reciprocated by shelling two crabs for Qiao Hezhi. By the end of the meal, his taste buds were satisfied. According to Fang Yu's usual appetite, he was at most forty percent full. However, he had eaten a lot of roasted mutton at noon, and that meal was late, so this evening's meal out was just right.
He decided that next time he came, he would first eat two bowls of noodles outside to get full before coming here to eat, otherwise it would truly be a waste. However, he probably wouldn't come again soon. Just these few dishes had cost one and a half taels of silver. Based on the five taels of silver he received monthly from the government office, it wouldn't even be enough for three trips to a restaurant.
"Are you full?" Fang Yu couldn't help but ask Qiao Hezhi once they were back in the carriage.
Qiao Hezhi nodded: "I ate more than usual."
"You only ate two whole crabs and a few bites of the meat, and that's more than you usually eat? No wonder you're so thin and often get sick." Fang Yu said: "When we get home, have the kitchen boil you a bowl of warm soup to drink."
Qiao Hezhi was inwardly delighted that Fang Yu had actually remembered what he had eaten. "Mm."
By the time they returned to the residence, the sky was completely dark. Having eaten and drunk his fill, Fang Yu's mind was preoccupied with the account books in his possession. So, when they arrived home, he did not escort Qiao Hezhi to Xiaotong Courtyard. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back in the long corridor, waiting until the person had disappeared from sight before turning back to his own room.
Qiao Hezhi walked along the wooden corridor. The winter night wind was chilly, but he couldn't bring himself to quicken his pace. His heart was still thinking of the person behind him, but he was too embarrassed to turn around and look, so he could only dawdle slowly.
"Has the Master returned? The Old Madam requests your presence."
Before Qiao Hezhi could wait for Fang Yu to call out to him, Qian pozi from Madam Chen's room arrived.
His heart sank. "Is something the matter?"
Qian pozi tucked her hands into her sleeves. "The Old Madam has her reasons for summoning Zhengfu. How could a servant like me fully know what our master is thinking? That would be frightening."
Just as Qiao Hezhi was about to speak, someone else cut in.
"If the Young Master asks you something, answer it. If you don't know, say you don't know. Who taught you rules to speak in such a roundabout and sarcastic manner?"
"Master is here too." Qian pozi had hurried over from the other end and actually hadn't noticed Fang Yu in the corridor near the main gate. Having been caught putting on airs multiple times, she said sheepishly, "The Old Madam was just talking about you, Master, saying that since it's late and you hadn't returned for so long, she was afraid you might catch a chill."
"Since Mother is thinking of me, then I will go with Zhengfu to pay our respects to her."
"Uh..."Qian pozi's tongue seemed tied. She had originally wanted to divert Fang Yu's attention, never expecting her words would lead to this.
Fang Yu looked straight at Qian pozi. This old maid was chosen by Madam Chen. She was older than Madam Chen, but having served in wealthy families for many years, she actually carried herself with more of an 'Old Madam' air than Madam Chen, who came from a farming family. "I see that Qian pozi seems unwilling for me to see Mother. I wonder what the reason for this is."
"How would this old servant dare? Master must have misunderstood." Qian pozi quickly forced a smile. "It's just that the Old Madam wanted to ask Zhengfu about some needlework and some matters regarding the inner household. Master, you've been busy all day and have to return to the academy tomorrow. All this back and forth is troublesome. It would be better for you to retire to your room early to rest. You can pay your respects tomorrow morning and then go to the academy early."
"What does that matter? No matter how hard studying is, fulfilling filial duties as a child cannot be neglected. The one in the Imperial City today rules the world with benevolence and filial piety. Since I am taking the imperial examinations, how can I go against this principle? Qian pozi, you wouldn't be trying to place me in an unjust position, would you?"
Qian pozi was so frightened she nearly knelt. "This old servant is ignorant. I beg the Master not to take offense with someone as uneducated as me."
Fang Yu did not confirm or deny this. Instead, he said to Qiao Hezhi, "Let's go."
No comments:
Post a Comment