Chapter 63: The Gourmet Master Hong Qigong

  "You're quite sweet with your words."

  Hong Qigong burst out laughing and pulled out a few golden darts from his sleeve, handing one to Ling Yun. "Yesterday I saw some people fighting, and one of them was so arrogant that the darts he threw were shining with gold light. Old beggar that I am, I just happened to pick it up for him. This golden dart is actually made of broken copper and iron inside, but the outside is plated with real gold. Kid, you take it and play with it. When you're short on money, you can exchange it for seven or eight silver coins."

  Ling Muyun saw Hong Qigong wanting to use the golden dart to offset the cost of eating chicken, and smiled as he shook his head: "Senior, I've already said it just now, you treat us to wine, we treat you to chicken, fair and reasonable, what are you doing now?"

  Hong Qigong's expression turned slightly awkward, and he scratched his head, saying: "This is quite difficult. I, an old monk, have always been one who doesn't take advantage of others. Usually, asking people for some leftover food isn't a problem, but today I've eaten such a good chicken from you two kids. Although my wine isn't bad, it's not particularly valuable either. A few mouthfuls of wine can't compare to the value of this good chicken. I, an old monk, can't take advantage of you two little kids, or else people will laugh at me."

  Ling Muyun smiled and shook his head, saying: "In the vast sea of people, meeting is fate, since it's a fateful encounter, what's the big deal about having an extra chicken? Why must you, senior, be entangled in such trivial matters?"

  Huang Rong also said: "That's right, a mere phoenix chicken is nothing to speak of. I see that you are also a gourmet, and I happen to have some culinary skills. I have a few signature dishes that I'd like to invite you to try. Why don't we go to the market town ahead and give it a try?"

  Hong Qigong burst out laughing: "You two little kids have both said so, if I still try to decline, it would seem that Old Beggar is not magnanimous enough. Alright, since it's like this, Old Beggar will brazenly ask you for another meal, but if you have any wishes, don't hesitate to tell Old Beggar."

  Huang Rong heard the implication in his words and clearly still wanted to find an opportunity to return this favor, so she smiled sweetly and said: "Senior, let's not rush to talk about these things for now. Shall we go into town first? Brother Yun and I are both still hungry, and I'm sure you haven't eaten your fill either. Let's focus on eating first."

  Hong Qigong had been itching to hear Huang Rong mention her signature dishes, but he was a man who never liked to owe anyone a favor. Even if it was just a meal or a drink, he would always want to repay the kindness before feeling at ease. That's why he repeatedly mentioned wanting to return the favor. Seeing Ling Yun and Huang Rong speaking in this manner, he decided not to persist further. Whatever needed to be discussed could wait until after dinner; with his abilities, he was confident that he could find a way to repay Ling Yun and Huang Rong.

  The three of them went to the town together, and Huang Rong asked: "Senior, I haven't had a chance to ask you your surname yet. What should we call you? We can't keep calling you 'senior' all the time."

  Hong Qigong said: "My surname is Hong, and I'm the seventh in line. You two kids can just call me Master Seventh."

  Huang Rong's heart skipped a beat as soon as she heard his name, and at the same time, she confirmed that he was indeed Hong Qigong. For a moment, her eyes darted back and forth, and it was unclear what ideas were forming in her mind.

  The three of them headed south and walked for several miles until they came to a town called Jiangmiao Town, where they found an inn to stay in.

  Huang Rong said: "I'll go buy ingredients, you two rest for a while." After finishing speaking, she went out of the inn to the market to purchase food materials.

  Hong Qigong gazed at Huang Rong's back and smiled slyly at Linghu Chong, saying: "She is your little wife, isn't she?"

  Ling Muyun smiled to himself, neither admitting nor denying, and it could be considered as a default. Hong Qigong smiled and looked at Ling Muyun with his eyes narrowed, but didn't say anything, leaning back in his chair and dozing off.

  After more than half a watch, Huang Rong bought back vegetables and entered the kitchen to prepare them. Ling Yun wanted to go help, but was pushed out by her with a smile.

  After a short while, Hong Qigong yawned, sniffed twice, suddenly jumped up and exclaimed: "It smells strange! What dish is that? It's a bit sinister, the situation is very wrong!" He stretched his neck, constantly peeking into the kitchen.

  Ling Muyun saw his eager and impatient look, and couldn't help but secretly laugh. This Hong Qigong was really not ordinary in his gluttony. He himself was also a foodie and loved good food, but compared to Hong Qigong, he had to admit defeat. Hong Qigong's gluttony had already reached a certain level!

  The kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking, but Huang Rong never appeared. Hong Qigong scratched his ear and cheek, sat down and stood up, stood up and sat down, feeling quite anxious. He noticed Ling Yun laughing at him, seemingly also a bit embarrassed, and said to Ling Yun: "I'm just this gluttonous, I forget everything when I think of eating. The ancients said: 'Food makes the fingers move', it's really not wrong at all. As soon as I see or smell some rare delicacy, my right index finger starts jumping nonstop. Once, because of my greed for food, I missed an important matter, and in a fit of rage, I chopped off my own finger..." He stretched out his right palm, which was missing one finger, to show Ling Yun.

  Ling Muyun was slightly startled, although he knew that Hong Qigong was missing a finger and was called the Nine-Fingered Beggar God, but he really didn't know how it had gone missing. This time, after hearing Hong Qigong's words, he finally gained a more profound understanding of Hong Qigong's addiction to food.

  Hong Qigong sighed and said, "What a pity that the finger was cut off, but the greedy nature can't be cut off. This finger is considered to have been cut off in vain!"

  "Huh? The girl has finally finished cooking." Hong Qigong's expression suddenly changed, and he hastily turned his head towards the kitchen. At the same time, Ling Yun also heard from the footsteps that Huang Rong was walking into the hall.

  Indeed, only to see Huang Rong smiling and holding a wooden tray coming out, placing it on the table, with three bowls of white rice, three pairs of chopsticks, two wine cups, and two large bowls of dishes. Ling Mu Yun only felt sweet and fragrant, saying that he was comfortable and satisfied, seeing one bowl was roasted beef strips, but the aroma was rich and dense, without any special features. Another bowl was a clear green soup with dozens of bright red cherries floating on it, and seven or eight pieces of pink flower petals were floating on top, with tender bamboo shoots at the bottom, reflecting the three colors of red, white, and green, fresh and dazzling, with the fragrance of lotus leaves coming out from the soup, thinking that this clear soup was made by simmering lotus leaves.

  Huang Rong poured wine into a cup and placed it in front of Hong Qigong, smiling: "Seventh Master, try my handiwork, how is it?"

  Hong Qigong didn't wait for her to finish speaking, and without drinking wine, he picked up his chopsticks and clamped down on two strips of beef. As soon as they entered his mouth, he felt a burst of freshness and beauty that was not ordinary beef. With each chew, there was a different flavor, sometimes rich and tender, sometimes sweet and refreshing, with all the flavors presenting themselves in a complex and ever-changing way, like the endless variations of a master martial artist's moves, impossible to predict. Hong Qigong was overjoyed and surprised, and upon closer inspection, he saw that each strip of beef was actually composed of four small strips of meat stitched together. He closed his eyes to savor the flavors and said: "Hmmm... one is lamb rump, one is pig's ear, one is young cow's waist, and one... and one..."

  "Huang Rong smiled and said: 'If you can guess it, then you're really something...'"

  Who would have thought that as soon as she finished speaking, Hong Qigong shouted: "It's rabbit leg meat mixed with gluten."

  "Huang Rong couldn't help but applaud and praise: 'Good skill, good skill.'"

  Ling Yun heard this and couldn't help but secretly admire, admiring Huang Rong's culinary skills, a simple bowl of beef strips could be made into so many varieties, also admiring Hong Qigong's discerning tongue, five kinds of meat were put in his mouth and he could taste them all at once, this was absolutely the standard of a gourmet.

  Hong Qigong shook his head and commented, "There are only five types of meat, but pigs and sheep have a common flavor when mixed together, and deer and cattle also have a common flavor when chewed together. I can't count how many variations there are."

  Huang Rong smiled and said, "If the sequence of changes is not counted, then there are only twenty-five variations, which match the number five of plum blossoms. Also, because the meat strips resemble a flute, this dish has a name called 'Jade Flute Who's Family Listens to Plum Blossom Fall'. The two words 'who's family' also have the meaning of testing someone. Seventh Uncle, you passed the test and are the champion among the guests."

  Hong Qigong exclaimed: "Amazing!" It's unknown whether he was praising the name of this dish or his own ability to discern flavors. He picked up a spoon and scooped two cherries, smiling: "This bowl of lotus leaf tip cherry soup looks great, it's a pity to eat it."

  In the mouth, a burst of flavor, "ah" was exclaimed, and then another two were eaten, again with an "ah". The freshness of lotus leaves, the tenderness of bamboo shoots, and the sweetness of cherries didn't need to be mentioned. The cherry pit had been removed and replaced with something else, but it couldn't be discerned what it was. Unable to help but ponder, he said: "What is embedded in this cherry?"

  Although it was a question, he didn't look at Huang Rong, and obviously didn't want to get the final answer. He closed his eyes and slowly savored the flavor in his mouth, muttering: "It's sparrow meat! Not quail, but spotted dove, that's right, it's spotted dove!" When he said this, he opened his eyes and saw Huang Rong giving him a thumbs up, obviously he had guessed correctly. He couldn't help but feel proud, smiling and saying: "This bowl of lotus leaf tip cherry blossom spotted dove soup, what's its strange name?"

  "Old man," Huang Rong smiled, "you left out one thing."

  Hong Qigong let out a sound of surprise, looked into the soup and said: "Hmmm, there are still some flower petals." Huang Rong said: "That's right, the name of this soup can be inferred from these five ingredients."

  Hong Qigong said: "If I have to guess riddles, it's not going to work. Good girl, you'd better speak up."

  Huang Rong smiled slightly and explained: "People often use 'flower-like face' and 'cherry lips' to describe beautiful women, so the flower petals and cherries represent beauties. The hollow bamboo represents a gentleman's empty heart, while the lotus is also known as the 'gentleman among flowers'. Therefore, this bamboo shoot and lotus leaf are referring to gentlemen. As for the quail, the first poem in the Book of Songs says: 'The quail calls out on the river islet, A modest and virtuous girl, a gentleman delights in her company.' So this soup is called 'Delightful Company Soup'."

  Hong Qigong burst out laughing and said: "With such a strange and wonderful soup, there must be a strange and wonderful name to match. Very good, very good! You, this strange and wonderful little girl, I don't know which strange and wonderful old man gave birth to you. The flavor of this soup is truly not bad. It far surpasses the cherry blossom soup I had in the imperial kitchen over ten years ago."

  Huang Rong smiled and said: "What good dishes does the imperial kitchen have? Tell me about them, so I can learn too."

  Hong Qigong didn't stop eating the beef strips, drinking the fresh soup, and even the wine couldn't be drunk in time. His mouth was so busy that he had no chance to answer her questions until the two bowls were only one-twelfth full, then he said: "Of course, the imperial kitchen has many good things, but none of them can compare to these two flavors. Hmm, there is a dish called Mandarin Duck and Five Delicacies Jellyfish that is extremely delicious, I don't know how it's made."

  PS: This chapter borrowed a lot from the original work, not that Mingyue wanted to be lazy, but found that no matter how she wrote, she couldn't capture the charm of Hong Qigong, so she had to abandon more than half of what she had already written. To be honest, I really admire Jin Yong's ability to make even eating sound beautiful, and I don't know if he consulted with Cai Jun during his writing...