Afterward, he dove back into the room.
This fellow seed to have completely fallen for firearms.
The flintlock gun without ammunition had beco his toy; he dismantled and assembled it repeatedly, understanding its structure by heart.
Besides this, he had soone find so ancient military books for him and carefully studied the firearms described within, including the Five Thunders Divine Machine, the Divine Fire Flying Crows, the Thunder Cannon, the Poison Fire Ball...
With each term after another coming out of his mouth, he was almost manically obsessed.
Wang Daoxuan continued to perform rituals at ho, and now, with money, he had reestablished the Ancestor Master Altar with high-quality incense candles.
They needed to host a ritual ceremony to seek the blessings of their sect’s ancestors from the Mystical Sect, praying for a smooth and prosperous year ahead.
As for Li Yan, he left the house early.
Now without any worries for food and clothing, he also took the end of the year to find a decent haberdashery in Chang’an and purchased a set of clothes for himself.
Draped in black, made from fine fabric, his clothes were embroidered with cloud patterns and cranes on the back, signifying his induction into the Mystical Sect as one of its mbers.
Not liking hats, he tied his hair into a Taoist topknot and inserted a Taiji Bagua copper hairpin, with leather armguards and waist belt, a long saber, and the Divine Tiger Token hanging at his waist, exhibiting quite an imposing aura.
Amid the fading smoke of street firecrackers, he rode his horse to Chongxian Square.
"Happy New Year, young brother Li."
Outside a spacious restaurant, Manager Wan smiled and greeted him with a bow from a distance.
Today, Manager Wan was also dressed in new clothes.
His dark yellow rchant robe made this old man look like a wealthy gentry from Chang’an, his hair and beard neat, his face flushed with health.
"Happy New Year, senior Manager Wan," Li Yan also hurried forward, bowing with a smile to offer his New Year’s greetings.
"Hurry upstairs," Manager Wan winked, "Today you’re in luck. This restaurant belongs to a good friend of mine. It’s reopening today after the fifth day. He’ll cook himself, and I’ve booked the entire place. He’s a ’Culinary General’!"
Li Yan’s eyes brightened, "I certainly can’t miss it!"
After today, the Divine Tower’s drum team would resu practices, and as the New Year just passed, Manager Wan gathered everyone to treat them to a al.
As for this so-called "Culinary General," that’s sothing of importance.
The chef profession also has an unbreakable relationship with the pugilistic world and has ford its own system, like a miniature pugilistic world, full of strife and competition.
According to classifications, chefs are divided into Imperial Chefs, Governnt Kitchens, Restaurant Chefs, Ho Chefs, Temple Chefs, Ship Chefs, and Military Chefs, specializing in different cuisines based on their regions.
Moreover, within their community, there are hierarchical levels. For instance, "Cook Slaves" are apprentices helping in wealthy kitchens, the lowest in status.
The highest status naturally belongs to the "Imperial Chef" Yi Yin, renowned for ’managing a state as if cooking a small dish.’
A so-called "Culinary General" is a chef who has gained fa in a particular cuisine and typically possesses Divine Skills, making dishes that taste just right.
Such chefs often own businesses and are esteed guests of nobles; they wouldn’t usually cook for others lightly.
Just hearing about it made Li Yan’s mouth water, and he hurriedly stepped into the restaurant.
"Young Hero Li, this way!"
As soon as he entered, he saw the tall and strong sedan bearers.
The porter nad Guo Luquan had an auspicious na and an equally auspicious job, specializing in carrying bridal and Divine sedans.
Their profession was sowhat opposite to that of porters because of various taboos; one dealt with weddings, the other with funerals, strictly not mixing the two.
But there were tis they worked together,
For instance, in "wedding processions" and "ghost marriages."
Guo Luquan ca from East Village and organized a gang of brothers to carry bridal and Divine sedans, and when gentry needed to invite important figures, they would ask them to help carry the sedan.
Although they ranked low in society, they never worried about food and drink.
Guo Luquan happened to know the porter, Yue Balian, and they were good friends, which led to him and Li Yan quickly becoming very familiar with one another.
Li Yan was naturally tall and had fair skin, and dressed in these new clothes, he appeared quite noble; everyone who saw him had their eyes light up.
The sedan bearers were used to flattering, and they imdiately started doing so.
"Young Hero Li certainly has the air of a dragon and phoenix!"
"That’s for sure, even the young masters of Wuling cannot compare to you!"
"No wonder you are titled the ’brothel top scorer’!"
Li Yan’s face darkened, "What ’brothel top scorer’? Where did you hear such nonsense?"
Guo Luquan burst out laughing, "It’s a rumor from Fengyi Square. They say Liusanbian is the ’brothel third place,’ and Guan Yizhai is the ’tile shop second place.’ They’ve taken the titles, so you can only claim the ’brothel top scorer.’"
Fengyi Square?
It must be that Night Crier!
Li Yan, speechless, bowed and said, "Thanks for the honor, gentlen, but those two are much rougher than . Let’s not ntion this again, lest we beco the laughing stock."
"And rember, brothers, save so space in your bellies, for you’ll surely walk in standing and leave lying down."
"Ha-ha, Young Hero Li has impressive skills and quite the bold words!"
"When it cos to drinking, I yield to no one."
A buzz of excitent filled the air as more people steadily entered the restaurant.
Li Yan went up to greet each one.
Although they didn’t rely on martial skills for their livelihoods, they were all people of the pugilistic world, so even from the Mystical Sect, each with their special talents hidden up their sleeves.
For instance, the puppeteers from Huayin’s Left Troupe, not only were they skilled in shadow play, singing with bold and impassioned tones, but they also had so secret spells. The Eight-directions Projection Technique they were to use this ti could make the shadows materialize in mid-air, a truly astonishing feat...
Like the drum troupe from Xianyang, with their awe-inspiring force and heart-shaking beats, they participated in the Drum King Competition every year...
Even Guo Fuquan and the porters had a unique skill; several of them could carry the pole with tea on top, flipping and turning it without spilling a drop...
In short, one wouldn’t be part of this group without so genuine skills.
Once everyone had arrived, the restaurant grew crowded, with every round table on the second floor taken.
Manager Wan delivered so encouraging remarks to set the scene, and then the dishes were brought out one by one.
"Stead sun-dried chicken, deep-fried bone-in at, phoenix marrow – these three dishes, stuffings in tripes..."
As the server announced each dish, Li Yan sniffed appreciatively and praised, "Delicious! The true essence of Shandong cuisine. Manager Wan, does this master hail from the Shandong region?"
"Hmm..."
Before Manager Wan could finish, Li Yan saw a portly, kindly-looking elderly man co forward, smiling and greeting with a clasped fist:
"Fellow friends of the pugilistic world, today as Brother Wan plays host, and with the New Year’s opening, I too join in the fun to showcase my skills for everyone’s critique."
"But after all, I am of an age, and if the taste doesn’t quite et expectations, I ask for your indulgence."
"You jest, Elder."
"Just the sll has my stomach grumbling with hunger!"
Everyone quickly rose to greet him; so swallowing saliva eagerly, anxious and casting glances at the table, afraid others might beat them to it.
"Ha-ha-ha, you flatter ."
The elder laughed, then called over three young people, "These three are my grand-apprentices. From now on, they’ll manage the restaurant. I hope everyone will visit us often."
"If the food doesn’t satisfy, feel free to scold away!"
"You’re too modest, Elder."
"We will definitely co and support!"
After the introductions, the elder clasped his hands toward Manager Wan and, supported by two grand-apprentices, turned and left.
Only then did the crowd notice that the elder figure’s back was soaked with sweat.
Li Yan couldn’t help but sigh, "Heritage continues, the incense burns on; no trade is easy..."
Before he finished speaking, he glared, "Save so for !"
The elder’s culinary arts were undeniable; the guests had abandoned all etiquette of the banquet, chopsticks dancing across tables, not even caring to drink.
Li Yan, too, ate heartily.
Regrettably, the elder’s strength was finite; there were only five dishes per table that he prepared, and the rest were made by his grand-apprentices.
After the five plates were devoured, everyone slowed down.
They were all n of the Jianghu, and soon drinking challenges began to rise in chorus.
"Baijiu cos from the waters of the five grains, first it weakens the arms, then the legs..."
"Under the full moon on the fifteenth of August, I invite you to play the staring eye fist..."
"The crescent moon shines over Jiuzhou, so rejoice in delight, so harbor sorrows..."
Li Yan announced he was going to tackle every challenge.
He had a great capacity for liquor and enjoyed tongue twisters.
"First arriving at Liu Family Gorge, the gorge had a sixty-six-year-old called Liu Lao Liu. Old Liu built sixty-six stories high, where he tethered sixty-six monkeys..."
In less than an hour, he had outdrank a table full of n.
"Ha-ha-ha!"
So made a fool of themselves, making everyone erupt in laughter.
Just then, Guo Luquan, with a face flushed red and gasping for air at the window, suddenly pointed, "Hey, look, what’s that about?"
Li Yan turned to look, his expression imdiately solemn.
The Law Enforcent Hall’s squad had returned,
But their situation did not look good...
User Comments
0 comments from readers