Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 1242 - 33: Still the Same Familiar Flavor (Part 2)
But such places as the mountaintop hotel are inhabited by guests who are either wealthy or noble, and due to its so-called "epidemic avoidance" function, many respectable people have long-term residence there or send their families to stay permanently.
As a result, overnight there was a drastic change, with hundreds suffering from high fevers that wouldn’t subside, and dozens dying on the spot, causing the hotel’s operations to come to a standstill.
It is no exaggeration to say that the sky in Xiangjiang has fallen.
"What does this have to do with us?"
Li Mumu wondered in her heart.
Everyone has been rushing around different time points these days, having long forgotten the unpleasantness encountered at the mountaintop hotel initially.
Discrimination by foreigners, in her opinion, has become quite normal.
It has nothing to do with who Xiangjiang belongs to, or whether one has money or looks respectable.
Their culture has ingrained such things into their very bones.
Anyone who has played a couple of foreign games will know, you, as the protagonist, have done nothing yet and passing villagers will spit at you.
And take a step back, Xiangjiang was originally in an outbreak period of the plague, so shouldn’t they pursue the people who wrote those epidemic avoidance scriptures for them?
"They’ve already gone looking, but I heard that master has returned to his homeland, and finding him to invite him back is uncertain, could take forever. The entire mountain is now sealed, with personnel from the health agency conducting quarantine and disinfection, and doctors from major hospitals are rushing over there."
Yin Nan sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, rinsed his mouth, and whispered, "Rumor in the Jianghu World is that the mountaintop hotel has provoked a dragon crossing the river, and now they’re using all sorts of connections to inquire which Immortal they have offended."
"With their kind of attitude, isn’t it normal to provoke trouble?"
"Now they’re regretting it, I suppose."
As the old saying goes, it’s not that he’s regretting, he just realizes he’s going to die.
Li Mumu deeply agreed with that.
Regret, for human beings, is a precious quality.
Including herself, she’s not exempt from it.
Sometimes she hits a wall but doesn’t turn back.
As a few of them were quietly discussing, Yang Chan came over, respectfully handing over an invitation.
"Our old master would like to invite both professors and everyone to have a simple meal tonight."
Who was their old master again?
Li Mumu thought for a long time and then remembered, it seemed to be someone named Yang Songxian or something.
Something something Xiangjiang’s number one...
But this title means nothing to them, the disciples of Penglai.
"You should ask Professor Chen."
Whether to eat or not doesn’t matter, but such things should be decided by Heavenly Monarch Chen.
And Heavenly Monarch Chen now doesn’t even dare to go out.
"No time!"
Yang Chan thick-skinnedly went to knock on the door, only to be unsurprisingly refused by Heavenly Monarch Chen.
Originally thought this matter would just pass, with the Yang Family merely being polite.
Unexpectedly, that evening, Yang Chan supported an elderly man to Heavenly Monarch Chen’s door, gently knocking.
"I’ve already said I have no time!"
The impatient voice of Heavenly Monarch Chen came from inside.
The elderly man laughed, "Ah Zhen, give me some face, okay?"
Heavenly Monarch Chen angry opened the door, glanced at the elderly man, and snorted coldly, "Isn’t me staying here already giving you face?"
"Of course it is giving me face."
The elderly man nodded and laughed, "Knowing you are here, I specifically invited the best chef from the Fuzhou side to make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall for you, simmering slowly for several days and nights, and it’s just right to serve today. If you don’t grace us with your presence, past tomorrow it would be overdone, and the flavor would be off."
Heavenly Monarch Chen suddenly hesitated.
"Really?"
"Really."
"I have a picky mouth, if I find any flaws..."
"You can use my old bones to make soup."
Heavenly Monarch Chen was finally persuaded.
She’s just tough on the outside but soft-hearted, unable to resist the temptation of gourmet food.
Thanks to the Heavenly Monarch Chen, Li Mumu also had the chance to taste this dish, renowned as the most authentic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in Fuzhou.
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is also called Complete Happiness and Longevity. This dish has both luxurious and modest methods of preparation. However, for Yang Songxian to personally invite a top chef from Fuzhou to cook it, it must involve the highest quality ingredients and the most exquisite cooking methods.
This thing isn’t cooked in a pot; it requires a large old wine altar, sealed with lotus leaves, and simmered over a slow fire. The whole process is extremely complicated, taking nearly a week to complete.
The fragrance is intense, the freshness is unparalleled, but the texture... is just so-so.
It’s not too appealing to young people.
After all, those who could afford this delicacy in the past were mainly high-ranking officials and dignitaries, elderly folks who adored soft and mushy textures.
Yang Songxian was dressed in a dark red silk robe that resembled funeral attire, looking somewhat aged and frail.
You wouldn’t expect someone of his age to look like this, but then again, he did have many concubines.
He tirelessly worked day and night for the sake of his family’s prosperity and expansion, which was unavoidable.
Accompanying Yang Songxian were his eldest son, Yang Zhen, his fourth son, Yang Chen, and Yang Chan, who mainly served tea and water.
One has to admit, the man knows how to raise sons; they are all dignified and carry themselves with exceptional poise.
The eldest son, Yang Zhen, seemed well-prepared to take over the family affairs, replacing his father in hosting this banquet, maintaining an unassuming yet dignified demeanor, showing an air of leadership.
If there were to be any criticism, it would be his tendency to probe others’ identities during casual conversation.
This is understandable on an emotional level; after all, for a meal like this, without knowing who you’re dining with, there’s really no way to continue the dialogue.
But on Penglai’s side, they didn’t consider this an official social gathering. Following the lead of the Heavenly Monarch Chen, they only moved their chopsticks but not their mouths, leaving the Yang Family’s eldest looking quite awkward, though he had the civility not to show it.
Yang Songxian was unhurried, sitting beside him with a cane, just watching his eldest busy himself.
Only after the Heavenly Monarch Chen had tasted the dish, he leisurely asked, "Ajin, how is it? Does it taste the same as before?"
The Heavenly Monarch Chen smacked his lips, seeming somewhat dissatisfied, glanced at the master chef standing nearby, and shook his head, "Too authentic, no fun."
The expression on the master chef’s face suggested he was tempted to throw a punch.
Is that even a human thing to say? I crafted it authentically, and you say it’s no fun?
Yang Songxian turned to ask his son, "What does Professor Chen mean by that, could you translate?"
Yang Zhen looked bewildered.
Isn’t this just nitpicking?
In Guangdong Province, the culinary culture emphasizes original tastes — chicken should taste like chicken, fish like fresh fish. The chef prepared it authentically, yet you’re not satisfied. What do you want? Do you want to concoct something?
Beside him, Yang Chen laughed, "Dad, I think Professor Chen means to say the dish lacks innovation, it didn’t go to the next level, leaving her disappointed."
Yang Songxian shook his head.
Yang Chen was also confused.
Yang Chan, from his end of the table, twitched his lips, but didn’t dare to speak up.
Yang Songxian’s gaze landed on him, pointing his finger, "Old Nine, what do you want to say, speak it out."
Yang Chan smiled, "I was thinking that the soup indeed tastes a bit bland..."
"Not that, what were you thinking just now, speak it."
Yang Chan pursed his lips, and in a small voice said, "I guess Professor Chen means to say, the Yang Family is still the same Yang Family, nothing has changed."
Only then did Yang Songxian nod and smile, "You’re perceptive. Eldest and Fourth, do you understand now?"
Yang Zhen and Yang Chen nodded forcefully, their faces taut.
Understand my foot!
Who conducts reading comprehension like this?
"My children might not be the most accomplished, and I’ve embarrassed you."
Yang Songxian turned to the Heavenly Monarch Chen with a sigh, "Long time no see, Ajin, you’re still the same as you were, but I’ve already aged like this, and my children aren’t that promising; it really makes one sigh."
"Don’t be so ambiguous, it sounds like I have something going on with you."
The Heavenly Monarch Chen didn’t even look at him directly, sipping the soup and snorted coldly, "If there’s something you need from me, just say it."
Yang Songxian laughed, "The original owner of the mountain hotel, Smith, has grown old and passed on the management of the hotel to a distant nephew. This nephew graduated from a prestigious university, is proud and conceited, and once he took over, the first thing he did was discard all the old rules and start anew according to his own ideas."
"But sometimes, it’s not that old things must be discarded, nor that new things are always better. He doesn’t know why the mountain hotel has its pestilence-preventing benefits, and he really thinks it’s because of the good feng shui that keeps the rats away."
Yang Chen chimed in from the side, "Isn’t there some Heavenly Mother’s anti-epidemic scripture?"
"Nonsense!"
Yang Songxian shook his head, "When Xiangjiang experienced a plague outbreak, there were heavy casualties, and the people were in panic. It was Professor Chen and several other Western scholars who developed a vaccine and managed to control the epidemic."
"At that time, Professor Chen lived in the mountain hotel, and the townspeople were grateful for her kindness, building a shrine to worship her. The incense offerings of thousands of families gathered to form a site of immortality, lending that place its peculiar qualities."
