The evening camp was filled with clamor. At this time, people ate only two meals a day—breakfast at ten in the morning and dinner at four in the afternoon. Due to the march, dinner didn’t start being prepared until after making camp. The soldiers had long been ravenously hungry, drooling as they watched the army cooks prepare the meal. In the Tang era, cooking rice truly meant boiling it. There was only one method for preparing any food ingredient—toss it in a pot to boil, add a handful of salt, and once cooked, it was done.
The officers’ meals were slightly better—they could see a piece or two of meat. Of course, the meat was also boiled, without any seasonings. One could only dip it in sauce to eat.
Yun Ye had long since witnessed the sauce—yellowed and blackened, its smell made one want to vomit, its appearance made one go mad, and eating it gave one the desire to kill the cook’s entire family.
After thinking the cook was mocking him and giving the plump cook a sound beating, he discovered that all the officers in the great army ate this stuff with great relish, while common soldiers had no qualifications to eat it at all. He grabbed a personal guard and ordered him to eat it all. This bastard said not a word, holding the plate and sweeping it clean in a flash, then still unsatisfied, used his index finger to scrape out the last trace of sauce and held it in his mouth to savor.
Seeing him like this, Yun Ye knew the cook had taken an unjust beating. He planned to apologize to the cook, but was stopped by Cheng Chumo, who advised Yun Ye that making a mistake was fine, but apologizing was not—he absolutely must not apologize. The cook couldn’t bear it, and his status didn’t allow him to lower himself to apologize either, unless it was between nobles.
Having said this, he tossed ten wen coins to the cook, saying it was for medicine, lest others say this old man was bullying you. The food you made was so awful that taking a beating was getting off lightly. If you don’t improve in the future, just watch how I’ll deal with you.
Yun Ye had thought that at this moment the cook should be bristling with rage, wielding two kitchen knives and standing up to fight him to the death. Unexpectedly, this fellow picked up the copper coins with a grin, not even wiping the blood from his nose before bowing to the two of them, even saying thanks to the lord for the reward.
Damn it, the temperament of nobles is something you people have indulged into existence, Yun Ye sighed inwardly. In his past life, common people living hand to mouth had only their backbone left. If some official’s son had beaten him and then tossed a hundred yuan for medical care, that official’s son would probably be injured even more severely than himself—might even die. As for the consequences, who cares?
Feudal society had strict hierarchies. Nobles possessed tremendous power, while commoners could only obey noble management. This system had extended from the Warring States period until now, seeping into the very bones. He only saw the surrounding soldiers saying with grins that the cook was lucky to get ten wen coins for free. From these words one could see they truly believed the cook was fortunate.
Yun Ye secretly rejoiced that he was now a noble. Otherwise, with his temperament, he probably would have been buried in the ground long ago.
The sky gradually darkened. Old Cheng finally finished inspecting the camp and walked into the great tent wearing the sunglasses.
As soon as Yun Ye saw Old Cheng walking like a blind man, stepping deep here and shallow there, he knew he was reluctant to take off the sunglasses—he was still showing off and absolutely didn’t dare mention asking for the glasses back. He could only advise: “Uncle Cheng, the sunglasses should be worn during the day to prevent sunlight from harming the eyes. At night you shouldn’t wear them or you won’t see the road clearly and might fall. If that happened, this nephew would die ten thousand deaths and still be unable to atone.”
Old Cheng waved his hand magnanimously: “No matter. This old man’s eyes were originally red, swollen, and unbearably painful, but wearing these sunglasses, they’re much cooler. They’re truly good things. This old man will keep them for you first and return them when we get back to Chang’an.”
Yun Ye had long known this would be the result. Trying to get back something from a Pixiu’s mouth would be the strange thing.
Old Cheng carefully removed the glasses, meticulously wrapped them in silk cloth, placed them in a rosewood box, and set it on the desk. Only then did he have time to size up Yun Ye. Seeing him wearing clean hemp clothing in a very strange style, he asked: “You boy are also someone of status—why are you dressing so carelessly? In the military camp it doesn’t matter, but in Chang’an, censors would impeach you. You boy remember—following the crowd is the way to stay alive. Your master is an unworldly sage who naturally isn’t bound by human etiquette and only seeks carefree freedom. This old man observes that you’re naturally open-minded and unbound by worldly etiquette—this isn’t good. Your master is detached from the world; you, boy, must engage with it. Since you’re engaging with the world, you should understand worldly wisdom and human sentiment. This old man has seen so many talented people who relied on their talents and looked down on others. There are only two results—either they break and sink into the sand, or they fade into the crowd. Do you understand, boy?”
Yun Ye felt something blocking his chest uncomfortably. Old Cheng was teaching him how to conduct himself in the world—only someone close would speak these words.
“Uncle’s golden and jade words of wisdom—this nephew will engrave them in his heart.” Having said this, he bowed deeply to Old Cheng. Seeing that Yun Ye had taken in his words, Old Cheng said no more. This boy was extraordinarily clever—once was enough.
Yun Ye turned and walked out of the tent. Before long, he returned carrying a wooden tray into the great tent. On the large wooden tray was a giant bowl, comparable to a human head in size. At the bowl’s edge were also several small dishes and several small bowls. The dishes contained various wild vegetables. The small bowls held garlic paste, vinegar, and a red-colored sauce that, when smelled, had an intense fragrance assaulting the nose.
Yun Ye said nothing as he placed the wooden tray before Old Cheng. He poured the wild vegetables from the small dishes into the large bowl. The inch-wide noodles in the large bowl were covered with green vegetables—the white and green were distinct and very beautiful. Yun Ye then poured the garlic paste, scallion segments, heated vinegar, and red oil-splashed chili from the small bowls into the large bowl. Finally, a small bowl of scalding hot vegetable oil was splashed into the large bowl. For a moment, intense fragrance overflowed throughout the great tent.
Old Cheng’s throat kept moving. His eyes stared fixedly at the large bowl. His hands were restless, wishing he could seize the large bowl and feast heartily. Yun Ye methodically used bamboo chopsticks to mix the noodles evenly, then presented a bowl of authentic oil-splashed noodles before Old Cheng.
Old Cheng held up the large bowl and took a deep breath, seeming intoxicated by it. He picked up a chopstick full of noodles and put it in his mouth. His eyes instantly brightened. “Swift as the wind sweeping away clouds” couldn’t describe the speed at which Old Cheng ate the noodles. A giant bowl of noodles—a full three catties—Old Cheng swallowed into his stomach in the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Still unsatisfied, he tossed the bowl onto the desk: “Another bowl!”
Hearing these words, Yun Ye nearly fell over. He absolutely didn’t dare let him eat more—hurting his spleen and stomach would be tragic. He quickly presented a bowl of noodle soup. The original soup transforms the original food, after all.
Old Cheng poured down half a bowl of noodle soup. Only then, completely satisfied, did he wipe his mouth and sigh sincerely and lengthily: “Now this is eating! Turns out Old Cheng has been eating pig swill for most of his life. This is another of your boy’s exclusive secrets. Just based on this bowl of noodles, this old man determines you, boy, can walk sideways in Chang’an. An unworldly sage indeed—who knows what kind of style this gentleman had when alive. The Cheng family’s people can’t compare. I only hope you brothers can support each other and walk your path well together. This old man would smile even in death.”
“Uncle, why do you say such things? Although nephew and Chumo aren’t blood brothers, after spending this time together, his character, his conduct, his personality—all make this nephew admire him immensely. Between us two now, we’re even closer than blood brothers. Helping each other, loving each other—this is natural and doesn’t require Uncle’s concern.”
Having heard this, Old Cheng laughed heartily with joy: “Old Cheng’s family is blessed indeed! This old man himself encountered several brothers, not one without loyal and devoted hearts. In making friends, not one wasn’t wholehearted. Now it’s Chou Niu’s turn and his fortune is still so prosperous. How can this old man not live a few more years to see how far you brothers can go?”
From one bowl of noodles, Old Cheng tasted Yun Ye’s feelings toward himself. This was a kind of spontaneous respect and affection from a junior toward an elder—ten thousand times more reliable than what comes out of the mouth. How could Old Cheng not be wild with joy? All along, he had been worried about Cheng Chumo. His Majesty had made it clear he would bestow a princess in marriage. To form a marital alliance with the imperial family was honor at its limit—like cooking oil over a raging fire, brocade upon flowers. Who could ensure one’s own family could extend for generations without worry or disaster?
Observing this boy Yun Ye—he was a super slippery character, yet as a person he had both feeling and righteousness. Through accidental collision, he had become bosom friends with his son. Having such a youth of outstanding wisdom and ever-changing resourcefulness as his son’s bosom friend—Cheng Chumo, oh Cheng Chumo, you truly have tremendous fortune from heaven!