Chapter 122: Bean Sprouts and Duck

Duan Rong and Ximen Kankan walked out of the Yuanshun Escort Agency.

Ximen Kankan's Personal Attendant, Shi Liang, was already sitting in front of the carriage, waiting for them!

Once the two boarded the carriage, Shi Liang drove off.

"Where are we going to eat?" Duan Rong asked, sitting inside the carriage. Ximen Kankan had only said he would treat him to a meal, but hadn't mentioned where.

Ximen Kankan blinked his eyes and said, "Xueyan Residence!"

"Isn't that your home?"

"That's right!" Ximen Kankan said. "My family's Xu is the best cook in Xiangu County, bar none!"

Duan Rong curled his lip and thought to himself: He's starting to show off for me again!

When the two walked out of the Yuanshun Escort Agency, it was still dusk, but by the time the carriage drove into the Ximen Mansion, twilight had gathered from all sides; in the dim, low sky, many bats were flitting about catching insects...

The two walked to Xueyan Residence, Ximen Kankan had someone light the lamps, and the two took their seats at the low table in the hall!

"Tell Xu to start preparing to serve the dishes!" Ximen Kankan said with his hands behind his back, acting like a little adult, as he looked at Shi Kang, who had just blown out the Fire Folder.

Upon hearing this, Shi Kang hurried away!

Ximen Kankan turned his face, smiled at Duan Rong, and said, "Master Duan Rong, please take your seat first!"

Duan Rong stood by the wall, examining several pieces of calligraphy and painting in the hall. Out of curiosity, he reached out to read the Spirit Tool of one, and to his surprise, the Spirit Artifact Tier was actually Fifth Tier; it was clearly an extraordinary treasure!

Hearing this, Duan Rong turned his head back and smiled, "Are these calligraphy and paintings also from your collection?"

Hearing this, Ximen Kankan's expression turned somewhat dim, and he said, "These calligraphy and paintings were all collected by my mother while she was alive! But she passed away when I was three! Neither my father nor I understand these things very well. After she left, the paintings in this room must be very lonely. Master Duan being able to come here is a comfort to the calligraphy and paintings in this Xueyan Residence; at least there is someone who can appreciate them!"

Duan Rong gave a silent smile. Although Ximen Kankan's words were a bit naive, they revealed his deep longing for his mother in every way.

"This fellow is quite the filial son," Duan Rong thought to himself.

Duan Rong looked at a landscape painting behind Ximen Kankan, his gaze shifting. He suddenly understood a little; this Xueyan Residence was so elegant, it seemed that Ximen Madam was a person of noble character and interests while she was alive. It was just a pity she died too early and didn't seem to have had time to pass on this influence to Ximen Kankan!

Just then, Shi Kang brought up two plates of sliced fruit!

"Master Duan Rong, have some fruit first to cleanse your palate. The main courses will be here soon!" Ximen Kankan said with a smile.

Duan Rong laughed, "Young Master Ximen, you should call me Brother Duan. If you keep calling me Master, people who don't know better will think I'm a wandering charlatan! If your father finds out, he might have someone drag me to the Ya Men!"

Duan Rong said it in such an amusing way that both of them burst into laughter!

The two had only chatted for a while when the first dish was served!

"Brother Duan, please!" Ximen Kankan said politely.

Duan Rong took a look and felt it was rather funny. Ximen Kankan had set the expectations so high, yet this first dish was actually a plate of stir-fried bean sprouts, and there were no side dishes at all—it was purely bean sprouts. Looking at the presentation, it wasn't even as good as an average street-side shop!

And yet Ximen Kankan had boasted that his family's cook was the best in Xiangu County!

Although Duan Rong found it funny, he had never been picky about food, so he picked up the ivory chopsticks already placed on the table, casually picked up a sprout, and put it in his mouth!

As the bean sprout entered his mouth, Duan Rong's expression changed instantly. He couldn't describe the texture—crisp, fragrant, smooth, and tender. That was simply not a bean sprout!

"Is... this... a bean sprout?" Duan Rong was truly surprised.

Ximen Kankan smiled, "This is naturally a bean sprout! But it's not an ordinary bean sprout! It has been processed by Xu!"

"Processed?" Duan Rong truly couldn't understand how a bean sprout could be so delicious, and when eaten, it had layers of various fresh and savory flavors. It was simply superb!

"Using a needle to hollow out each bean sprout, then stuffing various fillings into the hollowed-out sprout, and then stir-frying it in hot oil and serving it immediately! It retains the crispness of the bean sprout while containing the savory fragrance of the filling!"

Duan Rong was stunned. He used his chopsticks to pick up a bean sprout, bit it in half, and looked at it carefully under the glow of the Candle Lamp. Sure enough, he saw the filling faintly flowing out from inside the bean sprout.

"Hollowing out the bean sprouts..." Duan Rong felt a sense of shock in his heart.

If he were asked to hollow one out with a needle, he could do it, but for such a large plate of bean sprouts, how long would that take!

Ximen Kankan saw Duan Rong's shock and said, "Any profession done to the top level is art! Xu usually doesn't make this dish. I had to do a lot of persuading to get him to make this plate of stir-fried bean sprouts for you!"

Duan Rong's heart stirred. This kid was hinting at him again. It seemed the favor he would ask of him later wouldn't be simple. "He who offers a gift for nothing is either a traitor or a thief!"

Just then, the second dish was served!

After the second dish was served, Shi Kang actually took away the first dish!

Duan Rong looked at the bean sprouts, of which more than half a plate remained, and felt a great pang of regret! But since Shi Kang had already taken it away, he couldn't say anything!

Duan Rong looked at the second dish on the table and saw a duck head on the plate, but the body behind the head was gourd-shaped. Duan Rong was surprised and thought to himself: What kind of strange dish is this?

"Brother Duan, this second dish is called Eight Treasure Gourd Duck!"

"This is also a labor-intensive dish. First, the whole duck must be deboned while ensuring the skin remains intact, and the feet and small wings must be chopped off! Then, eight types of fillings, including shrimp meat, mushrooms, ham, and glutinous rice, are stuffed into the duck's belly, sewn up completely, tied into a gourd shape, and then fried before being steamed!"

"Once it comes out of the steamer, it is salty, fragrant, mellow, and exceptionally delicious!"

"Brother Duan, please!"

Ximen Kankan's description had already made Duan Rong's mouth water. Duan Rong took his ivory chopsticks and poked at the gourd-shaped duck!

The duck meat was already soft and tender; with one pinch of the chopsticks, a large piece of duck meat along with the filling inside came off!

Duan Rong put it in his mouth and chewed slowly. He felt his taste buds and his soul trembling...

"Brother Duan, this dish takes a lot of effort! Even I can't eat it often! If I hadn't pestered Xu and worn him down for a long time, he wouldn't easily bring out his signature skill!"

Not only was Duan Rong enchanted by the fragrance, but even Ximen Kankan was eating with his mouth full of oil, nodding incessantly!

Before the third dish was served, the two had already eaten the Eight Treasure Gourd Duck clean!

At this moment, Shi Kang suddenly walked in from outside, carrying a jar of wine!

It was a small jar of wine, about the size of a human head!

But it was tightly sealed, and the seal was coated with a layer of beeswax!

Moreover, the jar was quite old and seemed to have some age to it. Although the surface of the jar had been cleaned, there were still many traces of erosion...

Ximen Kankan took the jar of wine from Shi Kang, looked at Duan Rong, and smiled, "Brother Duan, let's have a cup of wine to cleanse the palate!"

As Ximen Kankan spoke, he pried open the wine seal, took a wine dipper carved from green bamboo, inserted it into the jar, and scooped out a dipper of wine!

Ximen Kankan poured the dipper of wine into two silver relief cups!

One cup was placed in front of himself, and the other was placed in front of Duan Rong!

(End of chapter)