Ch 143: Visiting Ouyang Xiu
“Slightly knowledgeable” was merely Kong Sanchuan’s humble words; he had immersed himself in music theory for more than a decade, and his greatest expertise lay in the guqin and the dizi.
To be fair, since entering Dongjing’s tea house last year, he had yet to encounter anyone who could match him in these two instruments.
Alas, even with the most exquisite skill, it’s hard to find a kindred spirit.
Although the brothel is crowded with people, most are just onlookers looking for fun and excitement. How many of them can discern the differences in detail between him and other musicians?
Up to now, only Shopkeeper Wu.
Kong Sanchuan saw that Wu Ji Chuan Restaurant’s shop was narrow, cramped, and crude, and judged that the diners were mostly peddlers and laborers. Even if he played the most ethereal music, it would be like playing to the cows.
But Shopkeeper Wu had shown him kindness and offered a generous reward. Even without an audience, he would not slack off in the slightest!
How fragrant!
Kong Sanchuan was making up his mind when he suddenly smelled a tempting aroma of food, causing him to sniff forcefully and swallow repeatedly.
Wu Ming, Li Erlang, and Zhang Guansuo served the prepared set meals one by one.
The aroma intensified.
Kong Sanchuan sat in a corner of the shop. From his angle, he couldn’t see the food in the basin, and he was too embarrassed to lean in for a look, making his mouth water.
This fragrance is far superior to ordinary restaurants in the marketplace!
Shopkeeper Wu possesses such skill, no wonder he has high aspirations!
At the beginning of 5-7 PM, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
A moment later, a young man in scholar’s robes rushed into the shop, followed closely by six or seven other young men, all dressed as scholars!
“?!?”
Kong Sanchuan was wide-eyed and astonished, his heart filled with uncertainty.
How strange! How could this small street restaurant attract so many scholars?
He immediately realized this was a golden opportunity to showcase his skills!
Music ranks second among the six arts. Even if these university students are not proficient in music, their appreciation is far beyond that of ordinary people in the marketplace!
To perform solo at such an occasion is something many people would pay for, yet Shopkeeper Wu gave me this opportunity and offered a generous reward. He truly…
At this thought, his gratitude surged like a spring, and his nose felt slightly sore.
Kong Sanchuan took a deep breath, immediately transforming his emotion into action, raising his bamboo flute and placing it to his lips.
By now, the shop was full, and the scholars were eagerly awaiting the delicious dishes, paying no attention to Kong Sanchuan in the corner.
Suddenly, a strain of ethereal flute music, like the clear spring water of a secluded mountain stream, flowed out, washing over the stuffy shop.
The noisy chatter instantly fell silent. The scholars felt as if a cool stream had flowed into their hearts, the irritability brought by the summer heat melting away in an instant. Their gazes involuntarily focused on the flute player in the corner.
Only when the music ended and the lingering sound faded did the audience wake up as if from a dream, looking at each other in astonishment: When did Shopkeeper Wu invite such a skilled musician to perform?
“What a refreshing and purifying piece of music!”
Ouyang Fa immediately applauded. He had already recognized that the flute player was the same musician who played the guqin in the Colorful Cloud Pavilion yesterday.
He reached into his pocket, took out more than ten copper coins, handed them to Li Erlang, and announced, “Give this to Mr. Kong!”
“Well deserved!”
“I’ll also give a reward!”
The other students also applauded, and many of them offered money.
Kong Sanchuan quickly stood up, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply: “Thank you, gentlemen, for your kindness!”
After regaining his composure, he resumed playing the flute, fully immersed in his performance.
After the dinner rush at Wu Ji Chuan Restaurant, while Wu Ming was cooking for the Sichuan cuisine restaurant’s guests, he also cooked a meal for the two part-time workers as a work meal.
Learning that Shopkeeper Wu would provide him with food, Kong Sanchuan was overjoyed. When the food was served, he nearly dropped his jaw!
This mountain of meat and vegetables, this perfectly cooked white rice, is this really a work meal? Which restaurant treats its employees and musicians so well!
Kong Sanchuan couldn’t help but suspect that Shopkeeper Wu had made a mistake, but he saw Zhang Guansuo already picking up his rice bowl and eating voraciously, his plate of food rapidly disappearing.
He didn’t dare hesitate, and quickly picked up his rice bowl to start eating!
This ordinary work meal in the eyes of Erlang and Tie Niu made Kong Sanchuan feel like he had wasted twenty years of his life.
Fragrant, so fragrant!
He dared not savor it slowly, fearing that if he ate too slowly, all the food would end up in Tie Niu’s stomach.
“Burp~”
After eating three large bowls of rice in one go, Kong Sanchuan patted his full stomach and let out a satisfied sigh.
This meal was worth at least thirty or fifty cash!
Li Erlang paid wages on behalf of Shopkeeper Wu; Zhang Guansuo received twenty cash, and Kong Sanchuan received fifty cash.
Zhang Guansuo readily accepted the money and left.
Kong Sanchuan, however, felt his face flush and was too embarrassed to accept it for a moment.
Having performed in a prime location and enjoyed a delicious meal, receiving fifty cash in wages now seemed undeserved.
Li Erlang stuffed the copper coins into his embrace, smiling: “Take what is yours. Shopkeeper Wu is always kind-hearted; he treats me and Xie Dangtou the same way. We only need to work hard, do our duty, and try our best to repay Shopkeeper Wu’s kindness.”
Kong Sanchuan nodded heavily, thinking that since Shopkeeper Wu aimed for an established shop, he would certainly need me in the future, and there would be plenty of opportunities to repay his kindness.
He picked up his old guqin, bid farewell to Li Erlang, and walked into the thin twilight.
…
Scholar Ouyang did not need to personally prepare for the birthday banquet. After he hired Shopkeeper Wu as the head cook, he left the remaining matters to the Four Departments and Six Bureaus, which specialized in handling banquets.
From delivering invitations to arranging the venue, to serving guests and offering toasts… the Four Departments and Six Bureaus’ service was always professional and thorough. “The host only pays, no effort is required.”
Of course, this birthday banquet still did not have a place for the kitchen department.
The head chefs of the kitchen department did not find it strange. These high-ranking officials and nobles especially favored kitchen maids. As the saying goes, “How moist is fair skin, how edible is beauty.” The same food, seemingly, tastes better when made by a kitchen maid, so banquets often hired kitchen maids as head cooks.
Only Steward Li Bo asked an extra question when ordering the banquet: “Is Kitchen Maid He still the head cook for Scholar Ouyang?”
“No, this time we hired Shopkeeper Wu from Wu Ji Chuan Restaurant.”
“Wu Ji Chuan Restaurant?”
Everyone looked at each other in astonishment.
Where did this small shop come from? Not a single person in the industry had heard of it!
“To make Scholar Ouyang forgo Kitchen Maid He, Shopkeeper Wu’s skill must be extraordinary!”
Li Bo naturally wouldn’t belittle one and praise the other in front of a group of cooks. He stroked his beard, smiled slowly, and said, “Skill is one aspect; Master is aiming for ‘value’ this time. You all know how much Kitchen Maid He charges.”
He then returned to the matter at hand: “You don’t need to worry about side dishes; you still need to prepare the candied fruits, tea, and liquor…”
After instructing on all matters, Li Bo rode his donkey back home.
As he turned into the alley, he saw two men and a woman standing in front of his house, the three people from Wu Ji Chuan Restaurant.
He shouted, “Shopkeeper Wu!”
