The largest and most luxurious restaurant in Chang'an is located not far from the West Market, next to the broadest Zhuque Street in Chang'an, as soon as you enter the square gate. It is called "Xinghua Restaurant".

It got its name because of the overwhelming apricot trees planted within the courtyard walls.

On this day, Zheng Shuqing, who had just been awarded the title of Minister of Household Affairs by the imperial court, was so proud that he invited Fang Chongyong to "appreciate the flowers" in the Xinghua Tower and experience the authentic luxury of Chang'an.

Is wearing gold and silver considered luxury?

No, no, no, that level is too low. They are still in the stage of nouveau riche. They think that the emperor is plowing the land with a golden hoe every day.

This apricot blossom forest is much more valuable than gold and silver. Considering the price of land near Chang'an West City, the apricot blossom building covering an area of ​​more than four acres means "noble" in itself, even if there is nothing here.

!

Because it is rare, it is expensive. Because it is expensive, it is luxurious.

At this moment, in a cubicle on the third floor of the Xinghua Building, Zheng Shuqing was pointing at the blooming apricot flowers here, introducing the scenic spots here to Fang Chongyong, who was distracted because he was dozing off.

The wooden plaques hanging almost all over the wall contain poems left by literati.

Among them are many famous poems that Fang Chongyong memorized in his previous life.

Apricot blossoms are white flowers with red stems, similar to Jiangmei, but taller and more lush than plum blossoms. When they are just in bud, they are pink, and when they are in full bloom, they are snow-white. Because of the tall apricot trees, the best place to appreciate them is often upstairs.

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In order to treat guests, Zheng Shuqing spent a lot of money. The entire third floor was paid for by "Mr. Zheng" and was reserved by him.

"Today the spring is bright and the apricot blossoms are blooming like the sea. With this feeling and this scene, why not write a poem to cheer up the mood? A poem written by a prodigy from Chang'an at the age of nine is also a beautiful story."

Zheng Shuqing was in a good mood and gave Fang Chongyong a cup of "Spring Drink".

Yinzi is a drink, and Chunyinzi is a drink suitable for drinking in spring. It does not specify which kind. Correspondingly, there are "Xiayinzi", "Autumn Yinzi" and "Winter Yinzi".

Commonly known as "Four Seasons Drink".

The spring drink that Fang Chongyong drinks now is peach blossom drink. To put it simply, it is a drink made by boiling peach blossoms and adding brown sugar and other medicinal materials. It has a light brown transparent color with a few peach blossom petals floating on it.

Of course, the process won't be that simple.

Apart from anything else, brown sugar alone is not easy to obtain. This is sucrose prepared by the technology imported from Tianzhu in the Tang Dynasty. Even in Chang'an, only the rich and powerful can afford it.

Fang Chongyong didn’t even bother to ask how much this peach blossom drink cost, as it couldn’t be cheap.

"I advise you not to cherish your gold-threaded clothes. I advise you to cherish your youth. When the flowers bloom, they must be cut off. Don't wait until the flowers are gone and the branches are empty."

Fang Chongyong yawned and lazily "composed" a seven-character quatrain to suit the occasion. He stayed up late yesterday studying the military and civilian sentiments in Hexi. In addition to oral narration, Niu Xianke provided first-hand information.

His own experience as an official in Hexi for many years.

"Eh? Just wait a minute. I'll ask someone to get pen and ink to write on a wooden board and hang it on the wall!"

Zheng Shuqing came back again and again, and had already written the poem "Encourage Learning" on a wooden board and hung it on the wooden wall on the third floor.

"It's the right time to become famous in Chang'an. I witnessed the rise of the prodigy to dominate the poetry world of the Tang Dynasty."

Zheng Shuqing stroked his beard and smiled.

"Okay, stop talking in circles. Tell me, what's the matter?"

Fang Chungyong asked feebly. He knew very well what Lao Zheng's style was, and nothing would come of him as long as he was approached.

"It's really okay this time. I just want to thank you. I have been awarded the title of Minister of Household Affairs by the imperial court, and now I have to deal with the imitation of the Sogdian cloth you mentioned for the needs of the palace.

Drink water and remember its source. It is the proper meaning to take you out to see the scenery of Chang'an."

Zheng Shuqing said proudly. It would be damning if it was not developed to manage the cloth specially provided for the palace.

In the future, when Li Longji sees the imitation Sogdian cloth with excellent texture, he will definitely be reminded of who got this cloth. In this way, it will be difficult for Zheng Shuqing not to be remembered!

Is Jane in the emperor's heart?

If the emperor remembers him, can he not be promoted?

"I thought these cloths would be used for military supplies."

Fang Chongyong sighed, having nothing to say.

It is indeed you, Li Longji, the sage of Chang'an. I remember these words clearly.

How can you give good things that are not even used in the palace to the border soldiers first?

As long as you put yourself in Li Longji's shoes, you can understand what's going on.

"Military supplies? How is that possible? Sogdian cloth is expensive in Chang'an. With the blending technology of the Tang Dynasty, the quality will be better after imitation. This is the face of a saint, how can it be sold on the market? As for rewarding the three armies?

It’s even more impossible.”

Zheng Shuqing complained angrily. He felt that although Fang Chongyong was very smart and good at making money, he just didn't understand the unspoken rules in these powerful circles.

After a while, the exquisite food was brought up. The dishes of the Tang Dynasty are usually famous for their "big opening and big closing". Roasting a whole lamb is really just putting a sheep on the table and cutting it with a knife.

.

But for some reason, the dishes served today were all very small. Of course, based on Fang Chongyong’s limited knowledge, the smaller the pile, the more expensive the food.

"This dish is made from magpie's tongue and lamb's heart as the main ingredient. It goes through many extremely complicated processes and is finally baked. It's called Xiaolingzhi. As for how it's made, I don't know.

It is said that one sheep can only get four taels of meat."

Zheng Shuqing pointed to a small plate of beautifully arranged barbecue and said, the pain in his face was vaguely visible.

Fang Chongyong's chopsticks had touched the meat but he didn't dare to pick it up.

If he takes a bite of money or something like that, the smell of chewing money can be heard in his mind.

Fang Chongyong took back his chopsticks, pointed at the bowl of white rice in front of him and asked, "What's the point of this?"

"The name of this bowl of rice is Qingfeng Rice. The ingredients are very sophisticated and the preparation is very complicated.

First, let’s steam a bowl of crystal rice, the one you’ve had before, right?

After the crystal rice is steamed, add longan powder and borneol powder, mix with milk cheese, put it in a gold jar and seal it, then place it vertically in an ice pond until it cools down. This is what the borneol powder is.

A spice derived from the dipterocarp tree, which comes from Persia.”

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Longyan powder is powder made from dried longan. It is no longer called "rice", but is similar to a cheese pastry with complicated processes.

But no matter how good the craftsmanship is, the price is inevitably high.

"Shilang Zheng, it's better to save money to support your family. Only then do you know that it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but persuade Zheng Shuqing to save his money and spend it more.

He hadn't even asked what the other dishes were. Yes, he couldn't tell just by looking at the appearance. Anyway, he intuitively thought they were incredibly expensive.

Lao Zheng spends so much money and still rents out the venue. Does his family really have a mine?

Well, maybe there really is!

Thinking of this, Fang Chongyong didn't want to talk for a moment. When you persuade a man whose family owns a mine to be frugal, you are often playing the lute to a cow.

"That's what you don't understand.

For example, when we are traveling in a stagecoach, is it possible for us to be robbed by bandits?

Let alone this kind of thing, it is not an exception for a governor to die on the way to his appointment.

The money you save on weekdays is not enough to buy a coffin if something happens, so why don't you save it to make it easier for others?

As long as you are in a high position, there will naturally be people rushing to give you money to curry favor with you, so why worry about these stinky things?"

Zheng Shuqing drank all the "condensate" in the cup. The wine was rich in the taste of money, which made him feel very satisfied.

If you have money, you can build it as much as you want, and what will you do with it? If you die, won’t you enjoy nothing?

"There is really something that I need to trouble Mr. Zheng."

Fang Chongyong suddenly said seriously.

Hearing this, Zheng Shuqing immediately became nervous.

He didn't care much about spending a huge sum of money on a big dinner. As soon as he heard that Fang Zhongyong was asking for help, his mind began to work at high speed and he was no longer as lazy and leisurely as before.

"Well, you might as well give it a try. I'm sure it won't work for the big one. But for the small one... I'll try and see if it works."

Zheng Shuqing said very cautiously, which was completely opposite to his nonchalant attitude towards life just now.

"Zheng Shijun must have some friends in the officialdom. Can you ask them to write to the court, saying that Tubo has grown in strength in recent years and it is not appropriate for us, the Tang Dynasty, to start a war with them?"

Fang Chongyong said something that Zheng Shuqing didn't know how to evaluate.

"The problem...should not be big."

Zheng Shuqing pondered for a moment and said.

If he wanted to recommend Wang Zhongsi to the throne, he would never dare to write such a memorial, nor would he dare to ask his acquaintances to write it.

However, there is usually a court discussion before a war begins, and it is inevitable that there will be drama between the public and the public. Someone has to stand up and advocate for peace.

This kind of memorial does not recommend officials for promotion, so they do not have to bear joint and several liability, and they will not be held accountable afterwards.

Regardless of victory or defeat, everything is safe.

If we win, the Tang Dynasty will be invincible. Forgive me for being blind.
To be continued...