Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 100
Translated by Serena Love
Edited by Azure
Chapter 100: Bamboo Rice
Xie Xun did not expect this would happen. Jiang Shuyao took a basin of chicken wings and returned with a lot of rewards.
He looked at Jiang Shuyao's humiliated look and thought for a while, "Have you offered a recipe to the Emperor?"
Jiang Shuyao was rummaging through her boxes and cabinets looking for something, but she raised her head when she heard his words, "No, I just made a meal for the Emperor, and the Imperial Concubine Lin gave me some rewards because the Emperor was in a good mood."
Xie Xun originally thought that Jiang Shuyao's recipes would be given to the crown prince in the future, but then it would be a while before the prince boarded the throne when he thought about it. Besides, the crown prince would support her without her having to offer recipes. Maybe instead, they should present the recipes to the Emperor while the iron was hot.
"Have you ever thought of offering recipes to the emperor?" Xie Xun asked.
Jiang Shuyao didn't think her recipes were anything extraordinary. They were just simple food preparations, not some secret formula for forging iron and steel. Why would the Emperor care about that?
Xie Xun, understanding her doubts, carefully explained, "Let’s set everything else aside for now—take over-rice sauce, for example. It's perfect with both vegetables and meat dishes when served with rice. Think about it: during wartime, when soldiers were on the march, it was a struggle. But if they had just a bottle of sauce and some dried food, they would be overjoyed. And that sandwich you made for me last time—if it’s sealed properly, I can promise it’ll still be soft and fragrant after three days. It’s a far cry from dry buns. Instant noodles don’t even compare. If we can spread something like this across the country, imagine how much easier life would be. Whether people are on a long journey, visiting relatives, or conducting business, they’d always have the comfort of hot food on the go."
Xie Xun said, "Don't worry, the Emperor will not interfere too much after he gets the recipes. He will definitely let the Lin family sell these foods. You will then guarantee a small profit from these three foods to the Emperor, but not too much. The small profit will be exchanged for the Emperor's backing. Just imagine if the Lin family becomes a merchant appointed by the royal family. Who else would dare to compete with you?"
Jiang Shuyao was stunned by this, "Is it really okay? That's all?" She put down the things in her hand, "It doesn't matter whether the profit is small. The Lin family doesn't need this business to make money anyway."
Xie Xun walked up to her. He bent over to look at her, smiled, and said, "Don't you realize how precious your craft is?" He rubbed her head, "Furthermore, this is not a sale. If there is any food like instant noodles in the future, they must first be offered to the Emperor."
Jiang Shuyao didn't understand these political interests, so Xie Xun was right. She nodded and agreed.
Seeing her answer, Xie Xun said again, "Don't worry about the recipe for instant noodles. First, give the recipes for the sauces and toast."
Jiang Shuyao nodded, "Then I go now?"
"No, just leave it to me." He said as he walked out, "I will discuss with the crown prince first."
After he left, Jiang Shuyao reacted. Discuss it with the crown prince? Since when did the crown prince become one of them?
When the crown prince and Xie Xun were discussing how to deal with those things, Zhou-shi was in the woods.
After an arrow shot through a hare, Zhou-shi put down her bow and arrow, and strode forward to pick up a bloodless hare.
She looked up at the sky and realized that she was hunting too vigorously. She had forgotten to eat.
When she came out in the morning, Jiang Shuyao saw that she had only taken a bow and a dagger and stopped her. She gave her a few small packages and told her not to forget to eat.
Zhou-shi had forgotten this as soon as she got into the woods. Now she remembered and took the packages off the horse.
A long bamboo tube was tightly wrapped inside the bag, its top sealed with a wooden stopper. Recalling Jiang Shuyao’s explanation from the morning, Zhou-shi, though curious, resisted the urge to open the stopper. Instead, she searched for a flat patch of earth, gathered some dry wood, and quickly set a fire. Once the flames were steady, she placed the bamboo tube over it.
Ever since Jiang Shuyao had invented instant noodles, the mansion had procured many bamboo tubes to aid her continued exploration of portable foods. Zhou-shi, too, had learned from Jiang Shuyao how to make zongzi in bamboo tubes—an aromatic treat that surpassed the flavor of those wrapped in bamboo leaves. If it weren’t for the glutinous rice’s heavy digestion, she would have gladly eaten several in one sitting.
So she thought that the bamboo tube was filled with glutinous rice, but when the bamboo tube was getting hot, a burst of salty fragrant aroma gradually emerged.
She was about to get closer when she suddenly heard a noise not far away and quickly became alert.
In the outer circle of the hunting ground, there will be no beasts. Only people would come to this area.
She grabbed her longbow and stared at the sound.
A dark-skinned young man showed his face first. His mind was half-empty, and his nose was smelling around. After a glimpse of Zhou-shi, his whole body was shocked, and he quickly raised his hand to signal not to shoot him with an arrow.
Zhou-shi put down her bow and arrow, and the person walked out of the forest, followed by several men of the same skin color.
"Lady boss?" Lian Liu was taken aback when he saw Zhou-shi.
Zhou-shi put down the last layer of vigilance and nodded to him.
Several people came over smelling the scent, and when they saw that Zhou-shi was cooking, they were embarrassed to step forward.
They look at each other, scratching their heads to leave, but Zhou-shi stopped them, "I can give you some." Anyway, the bamboo tube is so long. She can't finish it alone.
They hesitated for a while but came over. Each one looked very well-behaved.
"Thank you, Madam." Naturally, she could not be an ordinary businessman if she could come to the Royal Hunting Ground.
They sat down on the big rock opposite Zhou-shi. Although they were uncomfortably crowded, they were so greedy and reluctant to leave.
"Madam, what are you making?" Their Mandarin was substandard, but for Zhou-shi, it sounded very kind.
When Zhou-shi saw them, she thought of her friends in Mobei who used to ride horses with her. She smiled subconsciously, "I don't know. This was given to me by my younger sister-in-law."
Her answer didn't give any clues, so the people shut up.
Seeing small blisters on the edge of the wooden stopper, Zhou-shi estimated that the food was almost done, so she skimmed the bamboo tube out of the fire, placed it on the stone, took out the dagger, and smashed it forcefully.
The bamboo tube split in half, the steaming white mist overflowed, and the salty wax smell instantly rushed out.
Everyone looked into the bamboo tube. It was filled with white rice, mixed with emerald green peas and fat and thin sausages. There were red and green paired together, really eye-catching.
As the sausages heated, the fatty portions rendered into oil, infusing the rice and giving it a glossy sheen. The sausage slices were thin and delicate, with the lean meat a deep red and the fat translucent, almost jade-like in its smoothness.
Sausage paired with white rice was a timeless combination, and now, with the rich, salty aroma mingling with the soft fragrance of the bamboo, the dish seemed even more irresistible.
These were rugged, battle-hardened soldiers, their hands calloused from years of war. Yet, they waited patiently for the bamboo tube to cool slightly before eagerly digging in, each bite a satisfying reminder of home.
Zhou-shi gave them half of it, took the other half by herself, squatted aside, and ate it all.
"That... Madam, can you give us a pair of chopsticks?" Lian Liu said with a flushed face, but unfortunately, his skin was too dark to tell.
Zhou-shi was more patient with a fellow from the North. She took out the spare chopsticks Jiang Shuyao had prepared for her and handed it to them.
Lian Liu and the others broke the chopsticks into several sections. They didn't mind this unlucky practice. They divided a pair of very short bamboo chopsticks and ate the bamboo rice head to head.
The sausage and rice smelled good and tasted more delicious.
The first bite of rice, lifted by chopsticks, delivered a light waxy texture, the fat-soaked grains absorbing just enough of the oil to make each mouthful rich without being overwhelming. The meaty taste was smooth, never gamey, and the subtle bamboo fragrance added a refreshing depth. The rice itself, plump and soft, carried a mellow sweetness that balanced the savory flavors perfectly—neither too greasy nor too dry, but just right.
The sausage made its first impression with a sharp saltiness that quickly gave way to a deeper, fuller flavor. Once the salt subsided, the meaty richness unfolded, revealing a taste that lingered, savory and satisfying. The lean meat, though firm and chewy, wasn’t tough but satisfying, each bite yielding just the right amount of resistance. The fatty meat, on the other hand, practically melted in the mouth, soft and tender, harmonizing with the lean pieces in a perfect balance.
The green beans mixed in with the rice added a burst of freshness, a surprising contrast to the richness of the sausage. Every now and then, one would pop up in a bite, offering a refreshing break from the savory flavors, their natural fragrance turning them into a delicate, fragrant addition, elevating the dish even further.
The Northerners also marinated meat during the winter, but their marinated meat had never been so fragrant.
The group sat in stunned silence, the simplicity of the meal somehow amplifying its satisfaction. Each person had only one chopstick, yet in no time, the bamboo tubes were empty, not a single grain of rice left behind.
Though the sausage had seemed meager, with only a modest amount of protein, the richness it imparted was unparalleled. The fatty oils had worked their magic, leaving a lingering, savory essence that clung to the tongue long after the meal was finished, the taste haunting their senses.
Six consecutive smacks echoed through the air, a sign of pure contentment. They bowed their heads in unspoken gratitude, each man silently thanking Zhou-shi for the simple yet unforgettable feast.
They were too embarrassed to stay longer after eating, having been fed so kindly. After expressing their gratitude once more, Lian Liu couldn’t help but ask before leaving, "Boss, how do you make this sausage? It smells so fragrant, all rounded and small—it's even pleasing to the eye."
Zhou-shi answered, "The pork, both fatty and lean, is chopped and seasoned, then stuffed into casings and hung to air dry. These sausages haven’t been hung long enough, so the cured flavor isn’t strong enough, and the moisture hasn’t been fully drawn out. They’re not yet at their best."
Lian Liu, however, was still impressed. "This is already delicious enough. We often preserved meat in the Northland, but the flavor doesn’t compare. If we could have this bacon or sausages in winter, it would be even more flavorful..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw Zhou-shi stop her chopsticks, and her expression became unwell.
Lian Liu recalled it carefully and didn't remember if he had said something wrong. He didn't dare to say anything more and quickly apologized, "Boss, I'm sorry."
Zhou-shi didn't know why he was apologizing, but she lost her appetite. She put the bamboo tube aside, looked down, and said, "Yes, the winter in the North is very difficult."
Lian Liu and the rest of the people were dumbfounded, not knowing how to continue the conversation. When they were scratching their heads to talk, Lian Liu saw the dagger Zhou-shi placed aside.
"Zhou?" Lian Liu stared, "Are you the daughter of General Zhou's house in Mobei?"
Zhou-shi's dagger was stained with oil, and she planned to wipe it off with a blade of grass later, so she didn't put it back immediately. At this time, Lian Liu recognized the dagger, and she did not deny it. She nodded and replied, "Yes."
Lian Liu was very excited, "Then can you do the Zhou family backhand sword move? My grandfather had a match with old general Zhou and lost under his backhand sword. He has been talking about it for decades. In my life, I want to see the Zhou family's backhand sword the most." At this point, he suddenly stopped.
The woman in front of them was wearing a married woman's bun, and her accent was similar to the local accent. Even if she sat on a rock, she still had the attitude of a Chang’an woman. If he thought about it, she must have been married and stayed in the capital for many years. She probably couldn’t remember things in the North clearly.
When he was thinking like this, he suddenly heard Zhou-shi said, "Naturally."
She raised her head, and her eyes were very different as if she could see through Lian Liu's mind at a glance, making him a little guilty.
"I thought that I forgot about it myself, but I picked up my sword a few days ago and found that every move was engraved in my bones." She got up, pulled a blade of grass, and wiped the dagger, "Some things are destined to be forgotten in this life. But some would never let go. Obsession, love, and hatred will eventually dissipate, but the martial arts learned when I was young can accompany me throughout my life."
Her tone was very plain, but the people on the other side were inexplicably sad for her.
They were waiting for the right time to comfort her, but Zhou-shi suddenly turned around and said, "Come out. You follow me all the way. What do you want to say now, can't hold it anymore?"
When they looked up, they saw a person walking out of the forest. His face was handsome, his eyebrows were picturesque, his figure was long and shadowed in the dark, but there was a sense of elegance like jade and a gentle breeze.
They turned their gazes to Zhou-shi, and they understood his identity. After they greeted Zhou-shi, they walked away silently.
Zhou-shi cleaned up the fire, took out a water bag from his bag, and poured a few mouthfuls. After this long series of actions, Xie Lang remained silent.
She also won't ask actively, stuffing the water bag on her horse and preparing to turn around.
Xie Lang spoke at this moment, his voice as steady and soft as ever, "Do you want to go back?"
Zhou-shi sullenly replied, "Naturally, it's getting dark. Should I spend the night in the forest?"
"I mean Mobei."
Zhou-shi's movement on the horse became stiff, and there was no sound for a long while.
Xie Lang walked over, stepping on the wooden branches with the soles of his shoes, making a slight crisp sound, "Really?"
Zhou-shi took a deep breath, turned around, and said, "It has nothing to do with you." She rolled over neatly, "Whether I think about it or not, is there any difference?"
Xie Lang stood in front of the horse and looked up at her, "I'm thinking a lot these days."
Zhou-shi's eyes are disinterested.
A bit of bitterness flashed across Xie Lang's face, and he answered her previous words, "There is a difference."
"After you married me seven years ago, you gave up everything you had in Mobei. You learned to be a woman of the capital, becoming someone entirely different. I never questioned why you sought change, never wondered why you were so unlike the 'you' I first met in Mobei. I once believed it was unreasonable for a noblewoman to practice swordsmanship and martial arts, so it seemed natural that you'd transform after arriving in Chang’an." He paused, reflecting on the scene of Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun laughing to themselves, "But is it reasonable to spend your days in the kitchen? Is it reasonable to run food stalls, to build a street food market?"
"If I could ask you a question, or if you could tell me what you thought in your heart, would we not become what we are now?"
Zhou-shi did not answer, while Xie Lang stood in front of the horse and waited.
She did not speak for a long time, and Xie Lang understood the answer. He nodded and brought up the topic again, "I don't want to repeat the same mistakes again, so I will ask you today. Do you want to go back to Mobei?"
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Bamboo Tube BBQ (大竹筒燒烤製作) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6YJunFUaVc
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