Chapter 229: What Happened to Wang Er?
Chapter 225 of "The Great Ming in the Box" opens presenting key developments: At the onset of the Hot Pot Festival, it wasnât the people of Gaojia Village... Read on!
At the onset of the Hot Pot Festival, it wasnât the people of Gaojia Village who first displayed disgraceful eating manners.After all, Gaojia Village was abundant in resources and had long passed the stage of âstarving souls scrambling for food.â
The truly unsightly spectacle came from the porters transporting the grain!
These were poor, downtrodden souls conscripted by the authorities. They had pushed grain carts over one hundred li from Hancheng to Gaojia Village, utterly exhausted by the journey, without a decent meal along the way.
Now, confronted with such a vast array of ingredients and large pots of already boiling water, how could they resist?
A group of porters timidly eyed the Gaojia villagers, too fearful to act. However, upon seeing the Saint Lady give them a meaningful glance, the Gaojia villagers understood. They smiled collectively, picked up the pre-prepared food on the tables with their chopsticks, and tossed it into the bubbling pots.
Sliced meat, tripe, duck intestines, lotus root slicesâŚ
Various ingredients immediately swirled in the pots as the aroma of hot pot pervaded the air.
A sharp, spicy note laced the fragrance, but the porters paid it no mind.
Ravenously hungry and seeing the hostsâ approval, they hurriedly grabbed long chopsticks, fished a piece of meat from the pot, and prepared to devour it.
Gao Yiye quickly intervened, âYour constitutions differ from us Gaojia villagers. Do not recklessly eat from the red broth potsâyou could suffer fatal diarrhea. You must only consume food from the clear broth pots.â
Only then did the porters notice two kinds of pots: one with reddish broth and another with pale brothâŚ
Heeding her warning, they suddenly realized something unusual about the scent of the red broth. Quickly switching to the clear broth pots, they scooped up freshly cooked ingredients and flung them into their mouthsâŚ
Sizzle! Blazing hot, blazing hot!
But oh, the satisfaction!
âThe flavor is so rich! Thereâs salt, oil, pepper⌠so many seasonings! Utterly delicious!â
Having never tasted anything so exquisite, the porters immediately wept as they ate, reminiscent of abandoned kittens crying while being fed.
Soldiers and retainers under Hong Chengchouâs command then crowded forward, partaking with appreciative murmurs and sighs.
As the guests had begun, the Gaojia villagers no longer held back. Time to feast!
Over four thousand villagers surged forward, gathering around several hundred large pots to begin cooking.
âWow, the red broth potâs flavor is overwhelming!â
âSizzle! So spicy, so spicy! I canât take itâIâm switching to the clear broth!â
âHuh? Canât handle the heat? I find this fiery kick thoroughly enjoyable!â
Most couldnât endure the spice. Fortunately, Li Daoxuan had prepared wisely: only about ten red broth pots were prepared, while the mild clear broth dominated. Thus, most congregated around the clear broth pots, while the spice-tolerant minority huddled by the red broth ones, eating while emitting the rather pathetic hissing sounds of scalded mouths.
Swiftly, Hong Chengchouâs retinue blended seamlessly with the Gaojia villagers. Social distinctions dissolved, all becoming fair-weather friends huddled around shared pots.
âCome, brother, try this piece of meatâitâs fantastic!â
âThis blood tofu has such a peculiar texture.â
âBut itâs seriously delicious, hahaha!â
âHere, cook this bamboo shoot slice!â
âItâs nearly summerâhow do you still have bamboo shoots? How were they preserved till now?â
âThese are immortal realm bamboo shoots. They defy seasons.â
âHahaha, just talking nonsense to trick me.â
Hong Chengchou saw his men mingling harmoniously with the people of Gaojia Village, eating joyfully. He couldnât help but think to himself: this stuff genuinely seemed delicious. Most importantly, the atmosphere was lively; after just one meal together, they had become like old friends. Strangeâtruly strange charm.
As he contemplated this, Thirty-Two approached and said, âHong Daren, weâve specially prepared a quiet hot pot table. Wonât you join us for a meal?â
Though appearing composed externally, Hong Chengchou was actually weary and starving. He couldnât resist any longer and nodded, replying, âThen this official will trouble you.â
He dismounted and followed Thirty-Two into the main fortress.
They arrived in a grand courtyard where pots were arranged in the centerâtwo of them: one clear broth pot and one red broth pot.
Those dining privately here were Gaojia Villageâs veteran management team: Gao Yiye, Thirty-Two, Third Miss, Tan Liwen, Mr. Wang, Madam Bai, and Young Master Bai.
Seeing Hong Chengchou, everyone respectfully saluted.
Hong Chengchou was accustomed to such settings; official gatherings often involved dining with strangers, usually families of local gentryâit didnât matter.
He casually returned a fist salute and sat down imposingly between the two pots.
He frowned immediately upon sitting.
The hot pot emitted an overwhelmingly pungent aroma of spices and beef tallow, easily seeping into clothingâwhich would severely damage his appearance.
Having no spare official garments prepared this time, he dreaded reaching Xiâan tomorrow only for the Provincial Governor to smell beef tallow on himâa mortifying prospect.
He quickly shifted farther from the red broth pot.
Picking up chopsticks, he sampled a slice of aged meat freshly cooked in the clear broth pot. His eyebrows twitched slightly. Huh? This was unexpectedly delicious. The seasoning was abundant; one bite burst with salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, and myriad flavors.
The array of spices alone for this single pot mustâve cost a fortune.
Then he recalled hundreds more pots boiling outside.
ThisâŚ
Just how affluent was this village?
He couldnât help feeling startled.
Li Daoxuan âobservedâ his subtle shift in expression and chuckled inwardly: Scared now, arenât you? Hehehe!
âHong Daren,â Thirty-Two asked earnestly, âCould your delivery of provisions to Xiâan mean the Provincial Governor is finally tackling the bandit scourge? No more waiting for them to âplunder until next spring and settle naturallyâ?â
Hearing Thirty-Twoâs mocking tone, Hong Chengchou instantly recognized shared disdain for the Provincial Governorâs policyâa coincidence, since he himself detested it.
Praising together might be dull, but condemning together? Definitely invigorating.
Hong Chengchou scoffed, âHu Tingyan is aged and incompetentâtoo blind to grasp reality in Shaanxi. Last year, he claimed theyâd âplunder until next spring and settle naturally.â But springâs nearly gone now with zero signs of settlement from those bandits! Ha! Things only worsen. âNaturally settleâ is utterly laughable. Against such worthless thieves, we must wipe them out.â
Thirty-Two probed, âOh? SoâŚthese provisions youâre delivering are for the Provincial Governor to fund troops suppressing bandits?â
Hong Chengchou confirmed, âYes! Heâs awake nowâtroops must be mobilized. Especially Bai Shui Wang Er. Growing bolder daily, if we donât act soon, itâll spiral out of control.â
The moment âWang Erâ was uttered, everyone present perked up attentively.
Even Li Daoxuan burned to inquire: So how is Wang Er faring now?