Chapter 34: This Absolutely Cannot Be Pork

Li Lizhi's sudden dash completely flustered Chen Yan.

She blushed and ran out of the Weinan Bo Fu; if a schemer saw it, they'd think he had done something to the Tang Emperor Li Shimin's most beloved princess.

By then, even if he were covered in gossip, he couldn't explain it.

Chen Yan hurriedly said, "Brother Cheng Qian, you just saw it, right? I didn't do anything to her!"

"She ran on her own; it has nothing to do with me."

Cheng Qian: "......"

Crown Princess: "......"

The two fell silent; indeed, you didn't do anything to her.

But once that poem came out, which woman wouldn't blush?

Li Lizhi's reaction is the normal one, okay?

If it were a flirtatious lady, she'd have pounced on you and devoured you long ago.

You're still worrying that others might think you did something to her?

Cheng Qian, laughing and crying, said, "Don't worry, Zi Anxiong, we're all here and can prove you didn't do anything to Lizhi."

Chen Yan heard that and slightly relaxed; he feared idle gossip would cause a fuss.

At that moment, a maid entered respectfully, "Lord Bo, the dumplings are ready; shall I bring them to you?"

Xiao Sizi instantly became excited at the sound, tugging at Chen Yan's clothes.

"Sis, dumplings, seven dumplings, duck~"

The Tang Dynasty does have dumplings, but they're quite rare; only a few wealthy families eat a meal of them during the New Year.

Xiao Sizi had once seen Li Shimin and Li Chengqian eat them, so she knew what dumplings were.

She also understood that dumplings contain meat.

She was already eager to eat.

"Alright, bring them up." Chen Yan patted Xiao Sizi's head, said casually, then addressed Cheng Qian and his wife, "Since Brother Cheng Qian and the Crown Princess have nothing else, let's sit down and have some dumplings first."

Cheng Qian and his wife originally wanted to decline and were even about to leave.

After all, they were supposed to have an early meal; staying longer would be inappropriate.

But Chen Yan's single remark made the two sit down again.

"Don't be so formal; we're all peers, there's no outsider in my house; just sit and have some dumplings, don't be so polite."

"Besides, don't you want to accompany Xiao Sizi for a dumpling meal?"

Xiao Sizi's dark, round eyes flicked, and she stuck out her little bottom, climbing down from Chen Yan's lap.

Then she ran to Cheng Qian, clutched his leg, looked up and said, "Brother, sister-in-law, seven dumplings, duck~"

"Shi ji wants to seven dumplings with brother~"

Well then, with such a hug, which man could resist?

Cheng Qian's expression and tone softened instantly, "Alright, then brother, shall I accompany Sizi for dumplings?"

Xiao Sizi's eyes curved into a crescent moon, and she turned back to Chen Yan with a smug little expression.

Don't look too cute.

Immediately, three maids each carried a large platter of dumplings, along with several sets of chopsticks, and placed them gently on the table.

Xiao Sizi instantly ran back to Chen Yan's side and, eager, reached out to grab.

"Sizi, you can't eat yet; you have to let it cool first," Chen Yan reminded.

Xiao Sizi tilted her head, recalled that her mother had said something similar last night, and obediently withdrew her hand.

"Alright, then Shi ji won't seven now, wait until the dumplings… Shi ji will seven later."

Chen Yan was amused, first telling Cheng Qian and his wife not to be polite and to eat as much as they like.

Then he picked up the little dough ball, plucked a dumpling, blew it cool, and handed it to her mouth.

Awoo~

Xiao Sizi bit in without hesitation, chewing blissfully.

Seeing this, Cheng Qian and his wife were no longer restrained; they each picked a dumpling, placed it in a bowl, gave it a gentle blow, and took a bite.

"Hmm!" Cheng Qian suddenly widened his eyes, quickly swallowed the dumpling, and exclaimed, "Zi Anxiong, how come even your dumplings are this delicious?"

The Crown Princess Su hesitated, "Not only that, husband, the meat's flavor is odd; it doesn't taste like lamb, nor like beef."

"But… the taste is indeed very good."

Currently, the most popular meat in the Tang Dynasty is still lamb, followed by chicken, duck, and fish.

However, those meats' flavors don't match the meat inside the dumplings.

"Is that so?"

Cheng Qian had only remembered the dumplings being tasty and hadn't considered the meat's flavor; hearing Su's words now, he couldn't help but become curious.

He took another bite, tasted carefully, and asked puzzled, "It really doesn't resemble the meat we've eaten before, Zi Anxiong, could you tell me what kind of meat this is?"

Chen Yan gave a faint smile, "You really want to know?"

Cheng Qian said, "The meat's flavor is good, lacking the gamy smell of lamb; it has its own charm. I'd like to buy some to let my mother taste, so please, Zi Anxiong, don't hold back your explanation."

"Actually, there's nothing to hide; the dumplings contain 'zhì ròu.'"

"Zhì ròu" is an ancient term; plainly, it's just pork.

Ancient people, not knowing castration, caused pork to have a certain off‑smell, making the taste very bad.

Meritorious Nobles all disdain pork, finding its flavor poor; only some starving commoners would eat it.

"Impossible." Cheng Qian shook his head immediately, "Zi Anxiong, don't joke; I've eaten zhì ròu once, and that off‑smell I fear I'll never forget."

"Although the dumpling meat isn't as tasty as beef, it could never be zhì ròu."

The Crown Princess nodded in agreement beside them.

Obviously, she also didn't believe this was pork.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me." Chen Yan fed Xiao Sizi while explaining to Li Chengqian and his wife, "Actually, pork is tasty; it's just that others don't know how to raise them, so the pigs not only grow meat slowly, but the meat also has a strong odor, making it hard to eat."

Actually, if you castrate the pig while it's still young, it will become gentle, spending all day just eating and sleeping.

Just feed it a bit, and it will grow fat and sturdy, with no strong odor.

Lady Su's expression turned a little unnatural upon hearing this; although she was already married, she was, after all, still a woman.

Chen Yan's frank talk about castrating pigs still made her feel a bit embarrassed.

Li Chengqian looked suddenly enlightened, then said with admiration: "I see, Elder Brother Zi An truly..."

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, and his voice trailed off.

"Elder Brother Zi An...... If castrating pigs makes the meat tasty, then if we teach this method to the common people, wouldn't everyone under heaven be able to eat meat?"

Li Chengqian asked earnestly.

Chen Yan felt greatly relieved; Li Chengqian's ability to think of this shows he is indeed a qualified crown prince.

Although somewhat idealistic, at least he truly cares for the common people, hoping they can live a good life.

Chen Yan shook his head. "If it were really that simple, I would have already spread the method."

"Why?"

"Because the common people have no risk resistance ability at all."

"......"