CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 78: VISITING RELATIVES AT THE UPPER COUNTY GOVERNMENT

After selling the seafood, Lin Wanwan ran to the farmer’s market and bought two sheep that were freshly slaughtered today, one of which was to give the family a feast.

In the slow-paced Great Tang, where transportation basically relied on walking and communication relied on shouting, Lin Wanwan bringing things back from the modern world aroused no suspicion whatsoever. The Great Tang was not like the modern world where messages were easily conveyed.

After buying the mutton, Lin Wanwan also bought a lot of hot pot ingredients and soup base, then returned to the small villa, traveling through time.

Coming out from the courtyard in Town Creek, Lin Wanwan gestured towards the direction of the County Government to Kun Lun. Understandably, Kun Lun guided the horse-drawn carriage with thick curtains towards the County Government.

At the side door of the County Government, Kun Lun brought Lin Wanwan’s name card forward, and shortly thereafter, Shu Qi came to the door to welcome Lin Wanwan inside.

"The lord is handling affairs and still needs some time. Lin Lady, you may have some tea in the back courtyard hall first," Shu Qi guided Lin Wanwan to the backyard and occasionally glanced back at the box carried by Kun Lun, unsure of what strange medicine was inside.

"Oh, that’s alright, take your time, let your lord take his time."

Lin Wanwan had stayed at the County Government for several days while treating Xiao Chong, so she was very familiar with the place now.

Once in the hall, Shu Qi wanted to prepare tea for Lin Wanwan, but she declined.

She motioned to Kun Lun to set down the box and took out a large porcelain basin covered by a lid. Then she brought out a warmer pot, poured spring water transferred into another container not long ago, added the prepared hot pot base ingredients, lit charcoal, and waited for the water to boil.

Watching the warmer pot, Lin Wanwan said to Shu Qi: "You may leave, I can wait here myself."

"Yes." Shu Qi made a courtesy bow, his expression turned odd as he retreated.

To be honest, he truly hadn’t seen such a unique lady like Lin Wanwan, who dealt with matters uniquely distinct, even making him ponder if Lin Wanwan possibly had intentions for their lord.

At this moment, Lin Wanwan had simple thoughts, which were to mingle with Xiao Chong. She even handed over the Salt Drying Method, so there was no reason not to maintain good relations. Xiao Chong was a significant figure in her Great Tang connections, and she was still waiting on their ’auspicious gifts’ reward, which hadn’t been distributed yet, still awaiting notification from him.

Today, coincidentally having such a fine item like bluefin tuna, it naturally needed to be delivered. The more frequent interactions, the closer kinship becomes. Plus, hot pot was one of the delicacies Lin Wanwan had promised to make for Xiao Chong, so arrangements were included today.

As the water boiled with the "bubbling" sound, Xiao Chong, like an Immortal walking out from a dream, appeared before Lin Wanwan, his celestial aura especially pronounced when seen through the water vapor.

A young man with a mustache followed behind him, Lin Wanwan had seen him before; his name was Xiao Ce, Xiao Chong’s clan brother and also a staff member. Both wore tired faces but their eyes were still bright.

"I heard from Shu Qi that cousin was preparing food, so I brought Brother Shi Heng here quickly. Are all these ingredients for the warmer pot?"

After exchanging pleasantries, they sat around the food table. Xiao Ce was quite surprised by the rolls of beef and mutton on the small plates beside him, it was his first time seeing such food.

"What’s this frozen meat slice?"

Lin Wanwan replied: "Brother Shi Heng will know once he eats. However, today’s warm pot dish is merely a side dish, the main course is this though."

After speaking, Lin Wanwan leaned forward and lifted the lid, revealing the true appearance underneath.

This basin of chilled bluefin tuna sashimi was personally prepared by Jie Yuting, not only showcasing impressive knife skills, with each slice as thin as cicada wings, but the plating was also exceptionally crafted. The fish meat was arranged into a dragon-fish shape, with the blank spaces expertly adorned with lemon slices, cucumber slices, and carvings.

Chinese cuisine emphasizes the harmony of color, aroma, and taste, and this basin of sashimi achieved the pinnacle in the aspect of ’color’.

Xiao Chong turned to Xiao Ce and said: "How is it, Brother Shi Heng, wasn’t I right to call you here?"

"Absolutely correct to come." Xiao Ce said with a smile, "Such visually appealing sashimi, I almost don’t want to spoil it by eating."

Xiao Chong then turned to Lin Wanwan: "Cousin, did you make this yourself? Your knife skills are remarkable."

Lin Wanwan evaded the answer: "Quickly eat, this is deep-sea bluefin tuna, freshly caught by our family, and I made sure to bring it to you first, cousin."

In Great Tang’s cuisine, the most beloved dish is sashimi (modern sushi originated from this; Japan learned to eat this from Great Tang), which is especially favored by Chang’an residents.

But because Guanzhong was far from the sea, they mostly ate fish from rivers and lakes, like crucian carp, carp, mandarin fish, and bream, which probably resulted in quite a few Tang people getting parasite diseases. Lin Wanwan brought a lot of pagoda sugar to fight parasites, planning to distribute them to the school children upon returning to the clan.

No more talking, the three began to eat, dipping the sashimi in soy bean mustard sauce, each bite was firm, tender, smooth, and refreshing.

After swallowing the fish flesh, Xiao Chong spoke: "In winter, chilled fish has an unexpectedly distinctive taste, it turns out sashimi can be eaten in this way. Thanks to cousin, I learned something new today."

Lin Wanwan smiled with arched brows: "Don’t just eat sashimi, try some shrimp paste too. This is also something our clan caught and made themselves, please try it, brothers."

Xiao Ce commented: "I’ve never heard of shrimp paste before; I must try it well."

Acting as a server, Lin Wanwan used public chopsticks to divide the shrimp paste into the boiling soup while explaining: "When these shrimp paste floats to the surface, they’re cooked and ready to eat."

"Hmm, this shrimp paste tastes quite good." Xiao Ce exclaimed after tasting, "There are a lot of spices in this warm pot, isn’t just pepper, right?"

Lin Wanwan replied: "Yes, it has to be flavorful. Shrimp paste goes best with warm pots. Brothers, if you find shrimp paste delicious and want some in the future, just send someone to our manor to notify us ahead of time, and we’ll make sure to deliver the freshest to you."

It would be best to come during banquets; the Lin Family Manor’s shrimp paste could then enter Mao County’s high society dining tables.

This was Lin Wanwan’s second small thought on bringing food today.

Xiao Chong looked at her, the smile in his eyes evident as he said: "In that case, I won’t be shy."

Under Xiao Chong’s gaze, Lin Wanwan instantly felt as if she had been seen through, a sense of inexplicable guilt. His deep and enigmatic eyes, like gemstones, made it impossible to play little tricks under his observation.

Ah, Lin Wanwan sighed inwardly, those around the world named "Zifang" are truly all formidable. With her level, in the eyes of Xiao Zifang, a man overseeing an entire county, she can’t even begin to compete. In the future, she should approach with ’modesty’, avoiding showing off cleverness to prevent it from backfiring.

She glanced at Xiao Chong for a while, then glanced at the other side where Xiao Ce and Xiao Shi Heng also held a wisdom-over-all demeanor, quietly warning herself not to underestimate the ancient people from a thousand years ago, they are much more capable than she is. To be able to navigate the officialdom and hold down local gentry, they must have eight hundred clever tricks in their minds.