Chapter 557 Nara Tea Rice and Grilled Bonito

"Heh, is this Nara tea rice?"

Zhang Heng picked up the rice bowl in front of him, put it under his nose and sniffed it. The rice cooked by Xiao Shanqian had a wonderful aroma, mixed with the fragrance of tea leaves and grains, mixed with a hint of salt and wine.

In addition, Nara tea rice is not only rice, but in addition to rice, there are millet, dried chestnuts, glutinous rice, red beans and fried soybeans, which are cooked with broth and served in a bowl, plus pickled vegetables and tofu soup. Originally The food of the monks of Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple in Nara, but unexpectedly became popular later.

"How about a quick taste?" Xiao Shanqian urged, putting down the wooden spoon.

"Then you're welcome." After Zhang Heng finished speaking, he picked up his chopsticks, picked up a strip of pickled radish, and ate it with the steaming tea and rice.

"How is it?" Xiao Shanqian asked nervously while kneeling on the ground, leaning forward.

Zhang Heng didn't answer right away, but closed his eyes to feel the taste between his lips and teeth carefully, and opened his eyes again after a while, "Well, it's surprisingly delicious. I didn't expect Miss Xiaoshan to be so good at your cooking."

"Where, I just learned it from my father." Xiao Shanqian said, and sat back on her body again. Zhang Heng's reaction seemed to make her breathe a sigh of relief.

"Is your father still cooking?" Zhang Heng asked.

"That's right, my late father once said that cooking, like the way of the sword, is a kind of cultivation, and you need to be patient to finally see your true heart." Xiao Shanqian said.

…………

It has been five days since Yamada and others came to provoke him.

After the samurai from the Changzhou domain retreated, Zhang Heng suggested that he simply join the Xiaoshan Dojo, but Xiaoshan Qian didn't immediately agree, but asked Zhang Heng to think carefully for a few days.

In Xiao Shanqian's view, apprenticeship is a major event in life, and it should not be decided hastily. Moreover, Zhang Heng's sword skills are so powerful, even if his father is still alive, he is no match for him. Xiaoshan Qian doesn't know what else she can teach Zhang Heng. constant.

She invited Zhang Heng over today, just to cook and simply thank the latter for his rescue.

In addition to Nara tea rice, she also prepared grilled bonito. The fresh bonito and its skin are roasted and blanched, then soaked in vinegar water, sliced, and dipped in mustard miso. It is delicious and very popular in Kyoto.

Matsuo Basho (yes, that’s right, the famous haiku writer in Hiyori)’s disciple Muroi Qikaku once left a sentence, “The wisteria is blooming / I’m waiting with my fingers / Sitting on the first bonito day” to express myself The mood of wanting to eat bonito, and the slogan of "I'd rather pawn my wife to eat bonito" is the slogan of the ultimate foodie. Every year when bonito is first on the market, the price can even soar to the equivalent of gold, and only the shogun daimyo can eat it get on.

Now it is finally the turn of the common people at this moment, but Xiao Shanqian also spent a lot of money for this meal, plus the subsidized food for those children, the rent that Xiaoshanqian just received may not last long .

In fact, the best way is to close the dojo, and Akane Xiaoshan can live in Kyoto with the rent, or marry a wife, take care of her husband and raise her children, but she never seems to have considered these possibilities.

While the two were eating, someone knocked on the door of Xiaoshan Dojo.

Xiao Shanqian extinguished the fire and said to Zhang Heng, "I'll open the door, you can continue to eat."

As she spoke, she trotted to the gate, opened it, and outside stood a couple who looked very strange.

"What's the matter with you two?" Xiao Shanqian asked.

Before the host could speak, his wife had already knelt down and called out a benefactor.

"Huh?" Xiao Shanqian was a little confused about the situation.

Fortunately, the male host explained at this time, "We are Chiyo's parents. You rescued two little girls at the market a few days ago, and one of them is our daughter."

"Oh, don't worry about that matter, it's just a matter of little effort." Akane Xiaoshan was a little embarrassed, and she also saw Chiyo hiding behind her parents, who seemed a little shy holding a box.

The male master picked up the box in her hand and stuffed it in Xiao Shanqian's hand, "I know that I can't repay you for saving my life, but I hope you can accept this small gift."

Xiao Shanqian opened the box and saw a handful of ribs inside.

"My ancestor is a famous blacksmith in Ise, but I'm ashamed to say that in my generation, I can only make some farming tools. Fortunately, there is still a short knife left in my family. I hope you can use it." The host said.

"It's too precious. Since it belongs to the ancestors, it's better to keep it in your hands." Xiao Shanqian declined.

"No, no, we're not warriors. Even if we keep it at home, it's just dusty. Why don't you give it to someone who needs it? If it's you, I believe you can make good use of it." Seeing Xiao Shanqian's refusal, the host was also a little anxious He pulled his daughter and knelt on the ground like his wife.

But Zhang Heng heard the noise outside the door, thought that the people from Changzhou Fan had come again, so he put down the bowls and chopsticks and walked out of the dojo, only to see this scene in front of him.

Xiao Qiandai seemed a little surprised to see him, but he didn't expect him to still live with Xiao Shanqian. His eyes wandered curiously around Xiaoshanqian and Zhang Heng, probably guessing their relationship in their hearts.

In the end, Xiao Shanqian still couldn't hold back the blacksmith couple, so she could only accept the poor job, so the family of three left gratefully.

Xiao Shanqian stood at the door of the dojo holding the dagger, as if recalled by some memory, she lowered her head and meditated on something.

Zhang Heng didn't bother her either, and she didn't bother her until a while later, and raised her head, "I'm sorry, but I remembered something my father said before. The thing you want to protect is a knife, but as long as you use it well, it can save people. This is probably the reason why he opened the dojo. Today, I have a deeper understanding of his words."

"Can I have a look?" Zhang Heng stretched out his hand and took the rib cage from Qian Shan.

The starting point is slightly lighter than ordinary short knives. Although it has been a long time since it was made into shape, it has been well maintained and the blade is still sharp. Using jade gang technology, iron sand is first smelted into iron blocks in a furnace, and then smashed with an iron hammer. , melted into an iron bar, and continuously beaten to form it, it can indeed be called a good knife.

"Take it if you like it." Xiao Shanqian said, she had already noticed that Zhang Heng only had an old knife on his body, and he had no ribs.

Of course, the rib difference is not very commonly used compared to Taidao and Dao. In most cases, it is used for emergency after the samurai loses Taidao or Dao, or used to break armor and fight in small places.