Chapter 118: In Praise of a Humble Dwelling

Although Li Cui was a prince of the Tang Dynasty, Fujiwara no Tarō was, after all, a Japanese envoy; even upon reaching the capital, he would be treated with courtesy. Naturally, Li Cui’s attitude toward him would differ from his attitude toward Zhen Qian.

Walking into the room, Li Cui found it as warm as spring, even more comfortable than his own mansion. He was not surprised, however. Glancing at the hot pot simmering on the heated kang, he said with interest, “I have arrived at the perfect time. I have heard that the restaurants under Zhen Lang’s name offer unique flavors; I was fortunate enough to taste them a few times in Zhending. I wonder if I might have the good fortune to partake today?”

Li Cui acted as if he were in his own home. After speaking, he sat cross-legged before the table, but as he reached out to begin, he realized there were no bowls or chopsticks set for him.

“Why aren’t you preparing tableware for His Highness?”

Zhen Qian had pondered for a long time about what business to run in the Tang Dynasty. Transporting goods over thousands of miles without a solid foundation was difficult. Creating ingenious gadgets might be highly profitable, but it would attract the covetous eyes of the powerful, easily leading to robbery. Only the restaurant business—as food is the primary necessity of the people—seemed inconspicuous, allowing him to stockpile grain in various regions while simultaneously gathering intelligence on the local situation.

After months of preparation, there were now branches of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant in Hengzhou, Youzhou, Taiyuan, Dengzhou, and Yangzhou. This time, Ju Niang went to the capital not only to deliver gifts to her sister but also to prepare for opening another branch there. Next, branches would be opened in Chengdu, Jiangling, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and elsewhere, bringing the culinary culture of a millennium later to the Tang Dynasty while laying the groundwork for the future.

Zhen Qian was not an expert in culinary arts, and he could not master any of the eight major cuisines of later generations. But even if he hadn’t eaten pork, hadn’t he heard a pig squeal?

The methods of food preparation in later times far exceeded those of the Tang. Stir-frying, deep-frying, and quick-boiling were techniques that hadn’t appeared in the Tang; stir-frying, for instance, only emerged in the Southern Song Dynasty. Hot pot was also a post-Song invention. With his knowledge of various seasonings, it was not difficult to create the world-renowned "Thirteen Spices." The emergence of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant added a brilliant splash of color to the Tang Dynasty’s cookbook.

Many restaurants were already imitating the Drunken Immortal, but imitation could never surpass the original; if anything, it only spread the restaurant’s reputation far and wide. Introducing new dishes monthly had become a specialty of the house. Many people booked seats days in advance just to be the first to taste them, and finishing a meal there became a status symbol for bragging.

Fujiwara no Tarō had fallen in love with hot pot the first time he ate it. While this was not Li Cui’s first time, it was his first time seeing a *yuan-yang* (split-pot) version.

Zhen Qian moved to rearrange the seating, but Li Cui stopped him. “This is fine, otherwise some might say I am disturbing the people.”

Though he said this, Zhen Qian did not truly believe that Li Cui put the people above all else. If one were to actually act that way, they would be near death’s door.

Li Cui was indeed interested in the presence of the Japanese envoy on his turf. He asked, feigning ignorance, “I heard the Japanese envoy intends to set sail from Yangzhou this time. Why are you here?”

In name, any movement of the Japanese envoy had to be reported to the local government. On the surface, the local officials were responsible for hosting them, but in reality, they were monitoring every move. It was just like modern state delegations visiting abroad; the itinerary was pre-arranged. To suddenly appear elsewhere was difficult to explain if something were to happen.

“Reporting to Your Highness, the envoy came to the Tang Dynasty to study the culture of the Central Plains. Admiring the talented people and beautiful landscapes of the Tang, and having heard that Zhen Lang’s poem ‘Ode to the Lotus’ was truly divine, we came to pay our respects. Please forgive us for any impropriety!”

Fujiwara no Tarō knew his presence in Luquan County was improper, but he was not worried about what Li Cui could do to him. At most, he would be escorted to Yangzhou to board his ship and be sent away!

Li Cui nodded. Zhen Qian’s “Ode to the Lotus” was indeed a rare masterpiece; even he had considered seeking him out upon hearing it.

“No matter!” Li Cui said magnanimously. “Most friendly neighboring countries admire Tang culture. I hear the envoy has also befriended many scholars in the capital. But what are your plans after this visit?”

Li Cui had to clear up this sensitive matter. If he were labeled with the crime of colluding with a foreign power, he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Fujiwara no Tarō smiled slightly, took a scroll from his robes, and handed it to Li Cui. “I came to visit Secretary Zhen, and having heard another masterpiece, I wished to stay in Luquan County for a few more days. I truly hope Your Highness might accommodate us!”

Li Cui frowned. The envoy actually intended to linger here. He would have to notify the local government to come and host them. These people truly gave him no peace.

“‘A poem is a natural creation, caught by a master’s accidental touch...’ Marvelous! Truly a rare masterpiece; we must drink a cup to this!”

Li Cui slapped his thigh, entranced and unable to contain himself. He grabbed a cup of wine and downed it in one gulp. “Refreshing! After ‘Ode to the Lotus,’ I thought I would never hear another such work. To encounter another today is a great joy in life. Cheers!”

Zhen Qian thought to himself, *Another drunkard.* He had already downed half a jin of 80-proof Erguotou; did he think this was the cloudy wine of the Tang?

Seeing Li Cui in high spirits, Fujiwara no Tarō seized the moment to flatter him. “Your Highness has a great capacity for liquor! This is the rare, treasured wine from Secretary Zhen’s collection, seldom seen elsewhere. Cheers!”

Only then did Li Cui savor the taste. This wine was indeed different from the “Burning Knife” sold at the Drunken Immortal; it was much smoother and more lingering.

The “Burning Knife” of the Drunken Immortal had become the restaurant’s signature, so spicy that it would floor a Tang drunkard in a few cups. Who would have thought that Zhen Qian had such fine wine hidden in his home?

Zhen Qian cursed Fujiwara no Tarō in his heart. *Isn’t this just looking for trouble?* “If Your Highness likes it, I happen to have a few more jars hidden in the mansion. I shall present them to Your Highness for your enjoyment!”

“Good! I am just about to return to the capital, and with this fine wine, the journey will not be lonely!”

A jar of Erguotou, dozens of pounds, worth over ten strings of cash, just given away like that. It broke his heart!

But the heartache was only about money; that was a small matter. The big problem was the "great god" in his house, who was even harder to deal with than Fujiwara no Tarō, forcing him to be on his guard and act with extreme caution.

Li Cui prepared to tuck the scroll into his robes, but Fujiwara no Tarō would not have it. *I gave away white bear skins and gifts to obtain this masterpiece; why should I give it to you? If you have the ability, ask for one yourself!*

“Your Highness, this is a gift from Secretary Zhen to me. Why not ask Secretary Zhen to write one specifically for Your Highness?”

“Good!” Having his greed exposed made Li Cui feel a bit embarrassed. “Then I ask Zhen Lang to compose another one for me, how about that?”

Zhen Qian greeted all the female ancestors of Fujiwara no Tarō’s family in his mind, and included Li’s kin as well. *Do you think poems are like selling cabbage?*

But under the eaves of others, it was too easy for a "great god" like Li Cui to make his life miserable. One word could destroy his household. He couldn't fight the inevitable. *You win!*

“A mountain need not be high; it is famous if there is a fairy. A lake need not be deep; it is magical if there is a dragon. This is a humble dwelling, but my virtue makes it fragrant. Moss marks the steps green; grass color enters the curtains blue. Talking and laughing with great scholars, no commoners come and go. I can play the plain zither, read the golden scriptures. No orchestral music to disturb the ears, no official documents to labor the body. Like Zhuge’s hut in Nanyang, Ziyun’s pavilion in Western Shu. Confucius said: ‘What is humble about it?’”