Volume 3: The Land of Jingchu Chapter 208 My Life as Sima Lang...
After eating the four famous dishes of the General of Chariots and Cavalry's Mansion, the desserts that were served made Cao Pi and the other two shudder...
I saw a waiter pushing a cart full of ice, covered with pickled peach slices and plums - it was already late spring of the fourth year of Jian'an, and the weather in Jinling was already very pleasant. Although it was not too hot, it was impossible to make natural ice!
When Sima Lang saw the big goldfish before, he had some guesses, but now he is even more certain...
As the disaster relief fish of Jiangdong, the think tanks in Cao Cao's mansion naturally did some research on it. If they couldn't buy fresh fish, they could always get salted fish.
Sima Lang was particularly sensitive about people's livelihood. He privately bought dried and pickled goldfish for research, so he recognized it.
Since it can be steamed, it is obviously fresh goldfish. Considering the distance between Jinling and the coast of Wujun...it is necessary to use a large amount of ice to preserve it.
In other words, the General of Chariots and Cavalry's Mansion consumed a huge amount of ice just for food!
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the temperature was slightly lower by two or three degrees than in the later era when Bai Tu traveled through time. Judging from the history of Chinese civilization, it is generally strong when it is warm and weak when it is cold. This is due to both the scope and yield of crop planting, as well as the fact that the northern nomadic civilization was affected by the climate and kept a close eye on the Chinese civilization in the south.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the country was transitioning from a warm period that lasted hundreds of years during the Qin and Han Dynasties to a cold period. The temperature at this time was relatively low in history. It was like a hundred years later when it became really cold - the coast of the Bohai Bay was frozen for three consecutive years, and it was so cold that an army could run through it on horseback.
Therefore, in the Jinling area, some ice can be stored in cellars during the winter...
But normally speaking, it is impossible to be so luxurious that it is used specifically to preserve sea fish ?
At this time, Lu Kang, as an elder, was showing some concern for the "young friend" who had come from afar. Sima Lang's eyes moved slightly, and he interrupted, "Mr. Lu, the goldfish soup we had before was really delicious. Unfortunately, when I was in the Central Plains, I only tasted pickled goldfish. I wonder how much this fresh goldfish costs in Jinling?"
Lu Kang didn't think much about it or didn't care when he heard it, and he answered directly: "Hahaha, Boda is in for a treat...Fresh big goldfish are of course not available to ordinary people in Jinling, but the General of Chariots and Cavalry's Mansion delivers them every day. When the time comes, we can send someone to deliver a special portion to the post station.
But Boda should cherish these few months. By April, the Wujun fleet will no longer catch goldfish. Next year... they probably won't catch any more, but there will be some other seafood to taste."
Sima Lang was shocked when he heard this, and thought to himself: This Bai Tu is simply a fraud and thief!
Frozen fish are transported from the coast of Wu County every day? How much ice is consumed just for your own enjoyment? This is all the labor of the people!
Just when Sima Lang was distracted, a crystal clear, colorless glass cup was placed in front of him by the waiter.
"How can I, a mere outsider, accept such a generous gift from the general? This is inappropriate..." Sima Lang said instinctively.
Sima Lang had previously simulated for himself various possible events.
When you are sent as an envoy to the General of Chariots and Cavalry's Mansion, your lower limit is your own reputation, the middle is your own life, and the upper limit is your own fame!
Compared to his second brother Sima Yi, Sima Lang is undoubtedly a typical celebrity, capable and sentimental. It would be best if he could return with "reputation" or merit, which includes dissuading Bai Tu from going north and gathering intelligence in Jiangdong and Huainan...
If that is not possible, then Sima Lang will prioritize preserving himself, and try to keep to himself if he is poor. However... more important than his life is not to lose his chastity - to expect him to be bribed by Bai Tu and betray his master, Sima Lang would rather lose his life than do that!
I, Sima Lang, will leave on my own when I am dissatisfied with my lord, but... no one can tempt me!
Sima Lang was just distracted thinking about Bai Tu's extravagance and debauchery, when suddenly such a large glass cup was placed in front of him. Sima Lang's instinctive reaction was exactly the scene he had simulated in his mind before - "Mr. Bai presents a gift"...
Sima Lang suddenly held his breath in his chest, and was about to blurt out passionate words, but at this moment... he suddenly noticed that several people around him were looking at him strangely, and then he discovered that there was a glass cup in front of each person!
They were also crystal clear, the most crystal clear thing he had ever seen, as if they would disappear if placed in water.
Should we also give gifts to Cao Pi and Cao Bang? Will it be useful?
Wait...it seems like everyone here has it?
After a brief pause, "click, click..." the waiter put the smoothies, fruits and candied fruits into glass cups for everyone.
Sima Lang: ...
Lu Kang gave Sima Lang a gracious smile, then turned his head away from him. Most of the gentlemen around him did the same. Some even... chatted with each other about romantic matters, as if they had not heard or seen Sima Lang's reaction just now!
Well, we are cultured people and we can’t embarrass our guests!
"Boda, you just said..." Cao Bang hadn't reacted yet, and Cao Pi interrupted him and said, "Eat your dessert! "
Although everyone was talking about other things, but... Sima Lang felt that everyone around him was looking at him, especially the waiters, who seemed to be stealing glances at him from time to time.
"Who is that person? He comes as a guest and even wants a cup?"
"I heard that he was from the Prime Minister's Mansion... Tsk tsk, it turns out that Xudu is so poor."
"Just now he said that he loves to eat big goldfish. Is that also to ask for it?"
"Keep your voices down. I heard that he is a famous scholar from the Sima family in Hanoi. There are eight brothers, and they are known as the Sima Bada!"
"There are seven more people who are so shameless?"
Looking at the smoothie in front of him, Sima Lang was about to shed tears of regret. He fiercely poked the smoothie in front of him with a spoon, and then took a bite...
Wow...it smells so good!
At the end of the banquet, Sima Lang was basically in a state of "forcing himself to be strong", and it would probably take some time for him to adjust to this trauma.
When leaving, before getting on the carriage, a waiter came out and presented Sima Lang with a gift box.
Consider the weight and the size—a glass cup!
Sima Lang had never hated anything as much as he did now.
However, in order to save face, he had to smile as brightly as the spring breeze and calmly accept the gift.
After all...the meaning of this gift has changed now!
Before, he thought that Bai Tu gave this glass cup to him in front of Cao Pi in order to bribe him or to alienate him from Cao Pi.
However, the facts now prove that she didn't think of it as a good thing at all. She just gave it to him purely because she saw that he liked it, and even...she was so shameless as to refuse to pack it up, so she was "considerate" enough to give it to him.
If you don't want this, you will be disrespecting Bai Tu!
At the same time, in order to save some face, Sima Lang also forced an explanation: "Haha, that's fine, my second brother likes these shiny things."
Zhongda, who was still in Hanoi, suddenly felt an itch in his nose...
