When Mu San walked to the small shop, he found a person squatting under the wall opposite the door, squatting there with his chin in his hands, staring at the dead wind lantern in a daze. Mu San was taken aback, especially the two rows of white teeth that were exposed when the man turned to look at him with a grin, made people feel even more horrified.
"Guest officer, would you like something to eat?"
The man stood up and said with a smile.
It was only when he stood up that Mu San realized that this person was actually very tall, at least a head taller than him, tall and thick, with a once-white apron around his waist. This person has a big frame, a square face, and his face is extremely clean-shaven, but his beard should be heavy, and that layer of blue color can't be hidden under the lamp at all.
"You squatting here can scare people to death."
Mu San complained.
"Scared to death..."
The honest-looking man grinned: "Only people with ghosts in their hearts will be scared to death. There are no ghosts in the world, and the ghosts in people's hearts are the ones that scare people."
What he said didn't hurt anyone, and Mu San didn't bother to pay attention to it. He knew that the owners of such small shops with cold business were mostly chatterboxes. When I finally meet a guest, it's like opening a drawer, and all kinds of topics can be pulled out.
"What's there to eat in the store?"
Mu San asked.
The boss made a gesture of invitation: "You also know that there is no shortage of everything in Chang'an now except for noodles. The only thing I can make now is hot noodles, but I used to save a lot of peanuts. The method of preservation is not bad at all, I will cook a bowl of hot noodles for you, sprinkle with cilantro and scallions, and make you old vinegar peanuts... How about it?"
"You actually have green onion and coriander here?"
Mu San asked in surprise.
"Hush."
The boss hurriedly hissed: "You must keep your voice down. If someone hears the little things I planted in the backyard, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep it. To tell you the truth, I used to work in a big family's house, and then I didn't know what to do. I did, I brought some rapeseeds with me before I left, not to mention, it really came in handy. Now take a bunch of green onions outside, maybe they can kill people.”
Although this is a bit exaggerated, Mu San knows how precious vegetables are to those trapped in the city. It is not that there is no place to grow vegetables in the city, but compared to the population of Chang'an City, getting vegetables is very precious. A while ago, Gao Kaitai's troops moved southward for tens of miles, but the teams that sealed the other city gates did not withdraw. Some people boldly went out of the city to find some vegetables, but when they left the city, they found that the outside was cleaner than the city.
Gyeonggi-do has long been riddled with holes.
"Your shop is relying on green onion and coriander to attract customers, right?"
Mu San walked in and looked around, and found that the small shop was surprisingly clean. He slid his finger on the table, and there was no dust at all.
"No no no."
The boss shook his head: "I keep those things for myself. People who come to my place to eat on weekdays are running for the peanuts I saved. And my old vinegar peanuts are really delicious. .”
Mu San smiled inwardly, and said that no matter how delicious it was, it was still peanuts.
"Then why did you mention to me that you grow onions and coriander?"
Mu San asked.
"Because I know who you are."
The boss still smiled honestly: "You are a member of the Black Banner Army Zhen Guo Gong Fang Jie sent in Chang'an City, and you represent the Zhen Guo Gong now. If you used to be like this, you would not dare to reveal your identity, but now But you have become a hot celebrity. Seeing a big shot like you, I also want to curry favor."
This explanation is reasonable. Mu San's appearance is no secret in Chang'an City, he often visits the homes of various wealthy families. Walking on the street is also hugging each other.
"Go ahead and do it."
Mu San waved his hand.
The boss responded and turned to go to the kitchen.
Mu San sat with his chin in a daze, and after a while he suddenly remembered something, and he couldn't help turning his head to look at the back kitchen, feeling a little nervous. Why didn't this boss grow something else, but only a little seasoning like onion and coriander? It would be fine if it was to solicit business, but he still doesn't give it to others. Who would be inseparable from these seasonings
Also... Chang'an City has been closed for a long time, even if he has a secret method to ensure that those peanuts will not spoil, but how much did he save in order to eat now? Where is it that allowed him to ship out so many peanuts? Mu San used to go in and out of this kind of small shop frequently. It is common sense that the tables, chairs and benches in this kind of small shop should be greasy, but this place is too clean.
Looking at the figure of that person busy in the kitchen, Mu San's heart became tighter and tighter.
…
…
Mu San panicked, the more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became. But he didn't feel that this person had any plans for him, because he chose this place, if he hadn't come here, he wouldn't have found such a strange person.
Not long after, the hot noodles came, and there were a few scallions and four or five coriander leaves floating on the noodles. There is also a plate of fried peanuts, with a vinegary aroma, obviously old vinegar is poured on it. This is the so-called old vinegar peanut, it's obviously very simple, but Mu San smells it and it really whets his appetite.
"Scallions and coriander are not everyone's favorite food."
The boss sat down opposite Musan and poured a cup of herbal tea to drink: "Especially the coriander, the taste of which can't be tasted even if killed. The owner of the big family I served before preferred this, so I saved some seeds. Let the servants plant it in the backyard, and it looks green and beautiful. Coriander is something you want to eat... Can you eat pancakes without some coriander? Can you eat hot pot sesame sauce without some coriander?”
Mu San became wary, so he didn't rush to eat. This five-year-old man talked about some snacks like a few, and even explained how to make them in detail.
It seems that he really loves to cook.
It was only then that Mu San suddenly realized that he had just had an illusion just now, and he had frightened himself enough. A cook, especially a cook who likes to eat hot pot and pancakes, naturally cannot do without seasonings such as coriander and green onion. Before, he wondered why this person only grows these two things. Think about it, if a cook is asked to choose two things that can be grown, there should be quite a few people who choose these two things.
Mu San took a bite of hot noodles, served with two or three peanuts.
Fragrant to the bone.
Once you take a bite, you can't stop.
"The owner of the big family I served in the past is also the same. Maybe because he is too old, he likes to eat hot noodles the most, but he still likes to eat fried peanuts, and he doesn't like boiled ones. He can eat both... Later I found out that the freshly fried peanuts were sprinkled with some old vinegar immediately, and after a while, the peanuts became particularly crispy, not the hard feeling. Sprinkled with vinegar When it’s hot, don’t sprinkle too much.”
Mu San ordered something, and ate it with big mouthfuls, sweating from the tip of his nose.
"So you are here."
Someone was talking outside the door, Mu San looked back, and it was Luo Weiran.
When he saw him, the last worry left in Mu San's heart was gone. Because Mu San knows very well that Luo Weiran is probably the strongest among the masters in Chang'an City. Of course, he doesn't know if there is something secretly. Now that Luo Weiran is here, even if the boss is malicious, Mu San is not afraid.
"Lord Luo."
Mu San got up and cupped his fists, asking Luo Weiran to sit down.
"How did you find this place?"
Mu San asked.
After Luo Weiran came in, the boss got up and moved out of the way, with a simple and honest smile on his face. Luo Weiran glanced at him without paying attention, and sat down opposite Mu San. Looking at the sweat coming out of Mu San's nose, and smelling the aroma of hot noodles and fried peanuts, Luo Weiran also felt hungry.
"Give me a bowl of noodles too, put more coriander, I like that taste."
Luo Weiran turned back and said to the boss.
The boss shook his head, and said solemnly: "Not too many, just put those."
"Why?"
Luo Weiran said: "Now this thing is really expensive, but I don't need your silver."
"No."
The boss still shook his head and said very seriously: "It's useless to put too much coriander. It's enough to add a few slices of coriander. It doesn't make any sense to put more. It's not a matter of money or money, it's a matter of principle. It's you Give me 1,000 taels of silver, and I won’t put an extra slice. How much noodles to put in a bowl, how much water to use, how much green onion and coriander to put, and how many drops of oil to put in are all principles and should not be touched.”
Luo Weiran was taken aback, thinking that he had met a strange person.
…
…
"Sure enough!"
Luo Weiran touched his stomach, and found that this meal was the sweetest he had eaten these days. I don't know if it's because I'm hungry, or because the boss has really done simple things to the extreme.
"There's news from outside the city."
Luo Weiran said: "They couldn't find you, so they went to my place. Lord Zhen's army has already moved out, and Gao Kaitai's team has already given way to enter the city. Tomorrow you will contact those who are willing to submit to Lord Zhen Let them get ready. In addition, I will accompany you to see Wei Mu tomorrow. People in the city are expecting me to fight him. If he is still vacillating, I will fight this fight with the people in the city. have a look."
Or because being with the one you love can really change a person, Luo Weiran's temperament seems to have changed a bit. Besides, his daughter is now in Fang Jie's team, so naturally he won't take it lightly. As long as the Black Banner Army enters Chang'an City, he will be able to reunite with his daughter. It's just that he hasn't figured out how to reunite in any way.
"That's a great thing!"
This news, to Mu San, is like seeing the sun after breaking through the thick clouds. Whether it's the kind of careful life in the past or the current popularity, the pressure is too great for him. As long as the Black Banner Army entered Chang'an City, he felt that every day in the future would be sunny.
"It's not all good either."
Luo Weiran shook his head: "The news received said that the army has been divided. Meng Yuan Dahan Kuoketai Mengge personally led a million troops to enter the customs, and the troops were divided into two groups. Now the northern route has reached Hexi Road, and the southern route has already reached Hexi Road. I’m afraid we’ve already reached Shanjiang Road. Lord Zhen Guo divides his troops to fight against the enemy, and after entering Chang’an City, he may go out again.”
Mu San was taken aback: "Millions of Mengyuan wolf riders?! Oh my god, why is it here again! The last time the Mengyuan people entered the pass was a good thing done by that bastard Li Yuanshan, this time it was that bastard who lured Mengyuan again. People entering the customs? Oh! That's right, now that the northwest is empty and defenseless, Meng Ge took advantage of the vacancy to enter."
"Neither..."
Luo Weiran sighed slightly: "The news said that a well-known sect in the Central Plains once led the Mongolian people into the customs. You are not from the Jianghu, so you may not know the name Yueyingtang. Zhen Guogong asked me to help in the city. Check it out and see if you can find out about the Moon Shadow Hall in the city. The letter said that the people from the Moon Shadow Hall were hiding in the Martial Arts Academy. None left."
Pata
There was a crisp sound from the kitchen, as if something had fallen. Immediately afterwards, there was an angry curse: "Damn rat! Come to steal my food again!"
Luo Weiran and Mu San looked at each other, but they didn't care.