Lu Zheng enjoyed two more days of an immortal-like existence until the long-awaited day off finally arrived.
This was the first grand feast since his return after the New Year, and Shen Ying had spared no effort. Pink silk drapes hung between every building and tree in Peach Blossom Manor, adorned with fresh pink peach blossoms. A delicate fragrance drifted for ten li around.
Thanks to this, the entire Peach Blossom Plain seemed three times more fragrant. The common folk thought the Peach Blossom Immortal had manifested, so they came in droves to burn incense sincerely, bringing Shen Ying yet another wave of incense offerings.
Well, it really was the Peach Blossom Immortal manifesting…
Because a great banquet was being held today, Lu Zheng had brought Liu Qingyan, Du Yueyao, and the two little girls to Peach Blossom Manor first thing in the morning.
He sent the ladies off to amuse themselves and slipped into the kitchen alone.
Everyone knew his habits, so they simply called out “work hard” and scattered to play with their friends.
Some played weiqi, some played Chinese checkers, some made music on instruments.
Only near noon did the ladies from Five Beauties Manor arrive with baskets of fresh fruit.
Not seeing Lu Zheng anywhere, Hua Yixing pulled Shen Ying aside and asked with a laugh, “Is Young Master Lu cooking all by himself again?”
Shen Ying’s eyes curved into crescents. She gave an exaggerated sigh of mock regret. “My Lu-lang insists on cooking alone and won’t let any of us even help. He has completely thrown the Confucian teaching of ‘the gentleman keeps far from the kitchen’ out the window.”
“If you’re so dissatisfied, you could try wiping that smug grin off your face first.”
Beside them, the straightforward Lin Jing’er saw right through her. “You’ve practically got ‘proud’ written across your forehead, and you’re still talking about Confucian teachings?”
Shen Ying only giggled, not minding in the least. Of course she was showing off. Which man in the world was as talented, versatile, and devoted to his wife as Lu Zheng?
Let alone cooking for his wife, most men probably wouldn’t even wash the dishes afterwards.
On the other side, Hu Cainiang tugged at Liu Qingyan’s sleeve. “This fabric feels wonderful, and the stitches are so fine. Did you make it yourself?”
Liu Qingyan shook her head with a smile. “It was a New Year gift from Lu-lang to me and my sister: several dresses and accessories in novel styles. The material isn’t as fine as silk, but it’s smooth and delicate, beautifully sewn, with lovely patterns.”
These were, in fact, the highest-end hanfu Lu Zheng had custom-ordered in the modern world, yet in Liu Qingyan’s words they were merely “novel in style.”
But because they were from Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan had thanked him most enthusiastically last night and put one on first thing today.
Not long after, Bi Xinyu and Mo Lan arrived together.
Ever since the giant centipede incident, Bi Xinyu had often come to see Liu Qingyan. The three of them, together with Hu Cainiang, had become regular theatre-goers, visiting Jade Spirit Garden in Tonglin County, Orchid Fragrance Court in Jade River County, and Immortal Melody Pavilion in Dingshan County. Their footsteps had covered the opera houses of every neighbouring county.
“I’ve long heard Young Master Lu’s cooking is unmatched under heaven. I never imagined this humble girl would one day taste it. Truly a blessing of three lifetimes; it fills my heart with contentment~”
Bi Xinyu’s voice was soft and melodious, curling like a song straight into the kitchen.
Mo Lan, cool as ever, remarked, “You haven’t even eaten yet. What contentment?”
Bi Xinyu giggled and pulled Bai Ting’er over. “Miss Ting’er’s musicianship is peerless. That Autumn Longings you played last time still lingers in my ears. When will you favour us with another performance?”
Bai Ting’er stiffened, then forced a dry laugh. “Next time, definitely!”
Liu Qingquan and Ao Qian didn’t like Bi Xinyu much, so they dragged Bai Ting’er and Yu Mingxin off to play Chinese checkers.
Mo Lan, tsundere as always, marched over, claimed a seat, and began setting up the board without a shred of politeness.
…
“Dinner’s ready!”
Lu Zheng’s voice rang out from the kitchen. One dish after another flew out in a neat line from the doorway and arranged themselves in perfect order on the long table in the courtyard.
“It smells incredible!”
To keep it a surprise, Lu Zheng had earlier set up a true-qi barrier around the kitchen. Now that the dishes were revealed, their fragrance instantly flooded the courtyard.
The most intoxicating aroma came from a clay pot nearly half as tall as a man placed in the centre of the table. Even with the lid still on, the rich fragrance could not be contained.
*Slurp…*
Ao Qian was the first to drool. The scent from that pot felt strangely familiar, yet how could those ingredients possibly smell this good?
*Gulp…*
Liu Qingquan leapt straight to Lu Zheng’s side as he emerged from the kitchen. “Brother-in-law, what did you make today?”
Lu Zheng smiled. This meal was the one he had put the most effort into since the last pig-butchering feast.
No helping it; Liu Qingyan’s “payment” had been far too generous. If he didn’t cook with all his heart, he would feel he had let her hard work go to waste.
After all… he definitely wanted a next time!
Hearing Liu Qingquan’s question, Lu Zheng replied with a grin, “A famous dish from my homeland called Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.”
“Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?”
Liu Qingquan looked utterly baffled. What kind of name was that?
“When the jar is opened, the meaty fragrance drifts to the four neighbours; even the Buddha smells it, abandons meditation, and jumps the wall to partake,” Lu Zheng recited. “Hence the name: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.”
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying exchanged a glance, both quietly forming a new guess about Lu Zheng’s homeland. Was it somewhere along the eastern sea?
The pot clearly contained many fresh, briny seafood ingredients.
“What a wonderful name! Lu-lang’s pig-butchering feast once lured Senior Liu here. I wonder if today’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall will tempt some Buddhist eminent monk to leap the wall?” Shen Ying teased.
“It smells so good!”
Ao Qian didn’t care about any Buddhist monks; she only knew this pot smelled divine and she wanted to dig in right now!
“Come, come, everyone take your seats!”
Today Lu Zheng had prepared Fujian cuisine. Besides the star Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, there were chicken-broth-poached sea clams, dragon-phoenix prawns, emerald pearl abalone, chicken-velvet bamboo-shoot soup, eight-treasure red sturgeon rice, purse-wing shark fin, lychee pork, white-cut chicken, drunken spare ribs, red-cooked grouper, chicken and crab stew…
Bi Xinyu stared in astonishment. “Young Master Lu, did you make a trip to the Eastern Sea? How did you get so many seafood ingredients?”
Lu Zheng only smiled without answering, then brought out several large fruit platters.
Watermelon, honeydew, apple, peach, and mandarin orange cut into neat pieces; lychees, grapes, and cherries scattered like pearls; plus strawberries, bananas, and mangoes.
As for out-of-season ingredients, exotic spices, and off-season fruits, Lu Zheng’s policy had always been: no comment.
But faced with so much delicious food, even Bi Xinyu swallowed audibly and forgot her questions about the seafood.
…
Although Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was unveiled, no monk actually leapt over the wall.
Everyone ate to their hearts’ content, especially Ao Qian, who was moved to tears.
“Waaah… it’s too delicious! How come I never knew these things could taste this good before?”
Lu Zheng chuckled. “If you like it, eat more. Once you go home, you won’t be able to have it any more.”
“Waaah…” Ao Qian viciously speared a piece of fish.
“I’ve decided! I’m not going back! I’m staying here for three, no, five, no, ten years!”
