Zhu Ping’an gathered his spirits, prepared to cope with this banquet at the Hongmen Feast, yet Zhao Wenhua was exceedingly enthusiastic in picking up a dish for him and placing it in his bowl. “Come, Zi Hou, try this dish and see how it tastes.”
It was a piece of braised pork, skin and all, with a bright red lustre and a rich aroma.
It looked quite appetising, but alas, Zhu Ping’an had no appetite. Still, he feigned a look of flattered surprise, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, “Many thanks to Master Zhao.” Then, with his chopsticks, he picked it up and put it in his mouth.
“How does it taste?” Zhao Wenhua asked with a smile.
“Exceedingly delicious.” Zhu Ping’an obliged with praise. Though the dish was indeed tasty, his lack of appetite made it taste like wax.
“Heh heh, Zi Hou, do you know what meat this is?” Zhao Wenhua chuckled as he asked.
“The flavour is rich and aromatic, with a good chew. It is not beef, not pork, not chicken. This student does not know what meat it is. Pray, Master Zhao, enlighten me.”
Zhu Ping’an narrowed his eyes slightly, savouring it again. He truly could not tell what meat it was, so in the end, he shook his head.
“Heh heh, have you heard the saying ‘Dog meat rolls three times, and even immortals cannot stand steady’?” Zhao Wenhua chuckled.
“This is dog meat?” Zhu Ping’an was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. He had not expected it to be dog meat.
“No, no.” Zhao Wenhua smiled and shook his head.
Hm?!
Zhu Ping’an could not help but pause in astonishment. It was not dog meat, so why had he just mentioned “dog meat rolls three times, immortals cannot stand steady”? Was there something wrong with him?
“Dragon meat in the heavens, dog meat on earth. But Zi Hou, do you know? How can dog meat compare to wolf meat? Wolves are fiercer than dogs, and wolf meat is even more fragrant than dog meat.” Zhao Wenhua smiled as he revealed the answer.
This dish of meat turned out to be wolf meat. Zhu Ping’an inwardly grumbled that if this were modern times, he would have enough to face the law.
“Zi Hou, do you know what this dish is called?” Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Ping’an and asked.
“Braised wolf meat?” Zhu Ping’an replied.
Zhao Wenhua shook his head.
“Pray, Master Zhao, instruct me.” Zhu Ping’an sought guidance.
“Zi Hou, have you heard the story of Dong Guo and the wolf? Dong Guo saved the wolf, but after escaping from the hunter’s grasp, the wolf wanted to eat Dong Guo. Zi Hou, do you not think the wolf repaid kindness with enmity? In the end, it became a dish. Thus, this dish is called Repaying Kindness with Enmity.” Zhao Wenhua gazed deeply at Zhu Ping’an and said slowly.
Er.
Very well, so this was what he had been waiting for.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping’an’s mouth twitched involuntarily. The flavour of the Hongmen Feast had emerged.
“Come, Zi Hou, try this dish as well.”
Zhao Wenhua pointed to another dish once more, enthusiastically urging Zhu Ping’an to taste it.
Here we go again.
Zhu Ping’an’s mouth corner twitched slightly as he looked at the dish Zhao Wenhua was recommending.
This dish was braised sea cucumber. There were three sea cucumbers in the plate, each as long as a palm. The three filled the dish, accompanied by greens and a rich broth.
Zhu Ping’an obliged by picking up one sea cucumber, biting into it, and placing the rest in his small dish. He then commented, “The broth is fresh and rich, the sea cucumber soft and springy. The taste is very good.”
“I am glad Zi Hou likes it. Mm, Zi Hou, do you know what this dish is called?” Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Ping’an and asked.
As expected, the familiar formula, the familiar taste.
Zhu Ping’an was speechless inwardly but played along on the surface, guessing, “Braised sea cucumber?”
He did not need to hear the answer to know it was wrong. Otherwise, how could it be a Hongmen Feast?
Sure enough, the next moment, Zhao Wenhua shook his head. “No, no.”
“Pray, Master Zhao, instruct me.” Zhu Ping’an cupped his hands obligingly for guidance.
“Zi Hou, look. Do the gaps between these three sea cucumbers not resemble two trenches?” Zhao Wenhua guided Zhu Ping’an to observe the spaces between the three sea cucumbers.
“They do.” Zhu Ping’an nodded, though it felt somewhat forced.
“Zi Hou, see how one trench leads to another trench? This is falling into one trench without learning the lesson, then tumbling into another. To eat one trench and gain no wisdom! This dish is called Eating One Trench Without Gaining Wisdom!” Zhao Wenhua looked pointedly at Zhu Ping’an and said meaningfully.
As expected, it was the same routine again.
Hearing the dish name that Zhao Wenhua had given with such pointed insinuation and veiled scolding, Zhu Ping’an felt no ripples in his heart. He was already mentally prepared.
After that, Zhao Wenhua enthusiastically invited Zhu Ping’an to taste every dish on the table, asking if he knew the names. This pattern repeated over and over.
Stir-fried hollow vegetable, in Zhao Wenhua’s mouth, was called “No Heart Vegetable”, because it had no heart.
Stewed field chicken with wild goose, in Zhao Wenhua’s mouth, was called “Stewed in One Pot for Not Knowing the Times”, because they did not know the times and thus were stewed together.
Braised abalone, in Zhao Wenhua’s mouth, was called “Eyes Without Pearls”, because it looked like eyes but had no pearls…
One dish after another was subjected to Zhao Wenhua’s sarcastic remarks, again and again.
By the end, Zhu Ping’an had grown accustomed to it.
“Zi Hou, what did you go to Zhang Jing’s residence for last night?” Finally, Zhao Wenhua revealed his dagger, questioning Zhu Ping’an.
“Does Master Zhao not already know?” Zhu Ping’an met Zhao Wenhua’s gaze candidly.
“Zi Hou, have you forgotten how you were demoted from the capital to Jiangnan?” Zhao Wenhua asked with an unkind expression.
“This student has not forgotten.” Zhu Ping’an replied calmly.
“Since you have not forgotten, why do you not learn your lesson?! Time and again. Last time in the capital, you helped Yang Ni revise the memorial impeaching my foster father. If not for my foster father’s regard for talent, if not for my pleading on your behalf, do you think you would have been merely demoted to Jiangnan? You would have gone to keep Yang Jisheng company long ago!” Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Ping’an with frustration at his lack of ambition, heavily setting down his teacup with a bang that shook the table.
“Many thanks to Master Zhao for pleading on my behalf.” Zhu Ping’an cupped his hands in thanks.
“Thanks?! Is this how you repay me?! Aiding Zhang Jing and making an enemy of me?!” Zhao Wenhua glowered at Zhu Ping’an. “Fortunately, Zhang Jing did not adopt your suggestion, or else…”
Zhu Ping’an remained silent.
“Time and again, from Yang Jisheng to Zhang Jing. Zi Hou, why do you not learn your lesson?!” Zhao Wenhua interrogated Zhu Ping’an. “Have I not treated you well?! I gave you grain and provisions, supplemented you with firearms and gunpowder… How much grain and aid has Zhang Jing given you?! Zi Hou, tell me, are you not repaying kindness with enmity? Are you not eating one trench without gaining wisdom? Do you not have a heart? Do you not know the times?!”
Zhao Wenhua glowered, gazing deeply at Zhu Ping’an as he unleashed a string of questions.
“This student is ashamed.” Zhu Ping’an lowered his head and said.
“Zi Hou, what are you thinking?” Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Ping’an and asked.
“This student has no intention of making an enemy of Master Zhao. He only wishes to put down the Japanese pirate scourge as soon as possible, that is all.” Zhu Ping’an raised his head to meet Zhao Wenhua’s gaze, replying candidly.
“What, can only he, Zhang Jing, put down the Japanese pirates? Am I, Zhao Wenhua, the saboteur? Can I, Zhao Wenhua, not put them down?” Zhao Wenhua’s face darkened with fury, indignant. “I urged him, Zhang Jing, to send troops against the Japanese. I nearly wore out the threshold of his door. He, Zhang Jing, sent not a single soldier, fought not a single battle. If not for my repeated urgings, if not for my impeachments, he would not have launched the Battle of Wangjiangjing!!! If it were I, Zhao Wenhua, the Battle of Wangjiangjing would have started months ago!!!”
