Chapter 229: What Happened to Wang Er?
When the Heavenly Lord Hot Pot Festival commenced, it wasn't the residents of Gao Family Village who first displayed unseemly gluttony.
With their abundant supplies, Gao Family Village had long since passed the stage of "starving ghosts snatching food."
No, the undignified scramble belonged to the porters who had transported the grain!
These were desperately poor people, conscripted by the government. They had pushed grain carts all the way from Han City, traveling over a hundred *li* to reach Gao Family Village, already utterly exhausted. Along the way, they hadn't eaten a single decent meal.
Now, seeing such a colorful abundance of ingredients and large pots of boiling water, how could they possibly resist?
A group of porters watched the villagers of Gao Family Village timidly, hesitant to start. But once the Saintess subtly met their gaze and gave a discreet nod, the villagers understood. They smiled, picked up pre-prepared food with their chopsticks, and dropped it into the pots.
Sliced meat, tripe, duck intestines, lotus root slices...
The various foods immediately began to churn in the bubbling pots, and the rich aroma of hot pot filled the air.
A hint of spicy heat mingled with the fragrant scent, though the porters paid it no mind.
Gao Yiye quickly intervened: "Your constitutions are different from ours in Gao Family Village. You absolutely must not eat from the red broth pots indiscriminately; you could get severe diarrhea and die! You can only eat the food from the clear broth pots."
Only then did the porters notice: there were indeed two types of pots—one with a red broth base, and one with a white...
With the reminder, they recalled that the red broth had indeed smelled somewhat unusual. Moving to a clear broth pot, they scooped out a freshly cooked ingredient and popped it into their mouths...
Hiss! So hot, so hot!
But oh, so satisfying!
"The flavor is so rich! There's salt, oil, and pepper... such a wealth of seasonings, it's absolutely delicious."
The porters had never tasted anything so good. They ate, tears streaming down their faces, like abandoned kittens whimpering with joy as they were finally fed by humans.
Hong Chengchou's soldiers and household guards then joined in, partaking of the meal and exclaiming in delight.
With the guests having started, the villagers of Gao Family Village waited no longer. Let the feasting begin!
Over four thousand people gathered, encircling hundreds of large pots, and began to cook their food.
"Wow, the red broth pot has quite a kick!"
"Hiss! So spicy, so spicy! This flavor is too much for me, I need the clear broth."
"Oh? You can't handle the spice? I think this fiery taste is invigorating."
Most people weren't accustomed to spicy food. Fortunately, Li Daoxuan had anticipated this; only about a dozen red broth pots had been prepared, while clear broth was the mainstay. Thus, most people enjoyed the clear broth, while the few who relished spice gathered around the red broth pots, eating and making embarrassing hissing sounds.
Soon, Hong Chengchou's men blended seamlessly with the villagers of Gao Family Village. Differences in status melted away, and they became fast friends, united by shared food around a common pot.
"Come, come, brother, try this piece of meat, it's delicious."
"The blood curd has such a strange texture."
"But it's genuinely so good, hahahaha!"
"Here, blanch this bamboo shoot."
"It's almost summer now, isn't it? How do you still have bamboo shoots to eat? How have you preserved them until now?"
"These are immortal bamboo shoots; they don't care about seasons."
"Hahahaha, you're just spouting nonsense to fool me!"
Hong Chengchou observed his subordinates mingling happily with the villagers of Gao Family Village, thoroughly enjoying their meal. He couldn't help but ponder: 'This food truly seems delicious, but more importantly, the atmosphere is incredibly lively. After just one shared meal, they've become like old friends of many years. Strange, what a peculiar power of camaraderie this is.'
Just as he mused, San Shier approached. "Lord Hong," he offered, "we've prepared a separate, quieter hot pot table for you. Please, join us for a meal."
Though Hong Chengchou maintained a neat appearance, he was, in truth, both weary and famished. How could he refuse? He nodded, saying, "Then I shall impose upon your hospitality."
He dismounted and followed San Shier into the main keep.
They arrived in a large courtyard, where pots had also been set up in the center – two pots, one with clear broth, one with red.
The individuals dining at this smaller, private table were Gao Yiye, San Shier, Mrs. San, Tan Liwen, Mr. Wang, Madam Bai, and Young Master Bai—this entire group forming the senior management of Gao Family Village. Seeing Hong Chengchou arrive, everyone offered their salutations.
Hong Chengchou was quite accustomed to such scenes. In official gatherings, he often dined with strangers, usually gentry and prominent families' kin, so it was of no great consequence.
He casually clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, then settled himself with a flourish beside the two pots.
No sooner had he sat than his brow furrowed.
The strong, spicy aroma and the rich scent of beef tallow wafted from the hot pot. Such smells clung easily to clothes, which would significantly mar his dignified appearance.
He hadn't brought a change of official robes this time. If he were to travel to Xi'an tomorrow and the Governor caught a whiff of beef tallow on him, it would be utterly mortifying.
He swiftly shifted his seat a little further from the red broth pot.
He picked up his chopsticks and sampled a slice of aged meat, freshly blanched in the clear broth pot. His eyebrows subtly arched. 'Oh?'
This was unexpectedly delicious. The seasonings were incredibly rich; with one bite, he could distinguish the distinct flavors of salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, and more.
To prepare just one pot of this broth, the sheer variety of seasonings alone would cost a considerable sum.
Then, a thought struck him: outside, in the open space, hundreds of such pots were simmering.
This...
What astonishing wealth and power did this village possess?
He couldn't help but be startled.
Li Daoxuan "observed" Hong Chengchou's subtle shift in expression and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly: *Startled, aren't you? Hehehe!*
"Lord Hong, is your current mission, escorting grain to Xi'an, a sign that the Governor finally intends to address the bandit menace?" San Shier asked, clearly concerned. "Are we no longer waiting for them to 'plunder until next spring, then settle themselves'?"
Hong Chengchou detected the sarcasm in San Shier's tone and instantly understood: this man disapproved of the Governor's policies. Fortuitous, as he himself harbored similar disdain.
While praising someone together might not be exciting, a shared session of criticism could certainly ignite enthusiasm.
Hong Chengchou scoffed. "That Hu Tingyan is old and muddle-headed, still unable to grasp the true situation in Shaanxi. Last year, he spoke of 'plundering until next spring, then settling themselves,' yet now spring is almost over, and those bandits show not the slightest inclination to settle! Hmph, instead, they grow bolder and more rampant. The words 'settle themselves' are utterly laughable. Against these wretched brigands, only one word ultimately applies: *eradication*."
San Shier said, "Oh? So... the grain and fodder you're escorting this time are for the Governor to issue as military pay, to dispatch troops and suppress the wandering bandits?"
Hong Chengchou nodded. "Precisely! The Governor has finally come to his senses; troops must be dispatched for suppression. Especially that Wang Er of Baishui, his rebellion grows more fervent by the day. If we don't move against him soon, he might become too powerful to control."
The mention of Wang Er's name immediately energized everyone present.
Even Li Daoxuan felt a strong urge to ask: What has become of Wang Er?
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