Chapter 008: I must stay in the hotel

Upon entering the classroom, one can see more than forty children of various sizes. These children are not all from the Li family; there are also some close relatives who have been sent here to study.

Indeed, the ingredients cannot escape the perception of contemporary people; otherwise, if something like scorpions or snails were presented, it is likely that no one would dare to eat them. The ingredients should be those that ordinary households frequently consume, yet they must be transformed into delicious dishes, which naturally requires considerable effort in the selection of seasonings

He rarely comes here; this is his first visit, and he only came to buy paper rolls. On his second visit, however, he was slapped back by a woman, so he is not very familiar with the way.

By the time various compound seasonings appeared in later generations, the varieties became even more complex, a reality that one would not even dare to imagine in today's society

In fact, the Li family in Wuling City has the widest social connections and is unlikely to offend any party easily

Some individuals may not excel in their studies, yet possess a certain skill in teaching. However, Li Jiayuan lacks any notable teaching prowess; apart from instructing children in reading and writing, he likely has little significant insight to offer. Consequently, over the years, Xiyou Academy has not produced any remarkable talents.

Siyou Academy is located on a small street, where there are not many people on the main road, making this small street even quieter, thus providing an excellent environment for studying

It is precisely due to such influence that the economy of Wuling City is actually flourishing. Thus, in the marketplaces, there are many foreign Hu people selling various seasonal fruits, and some of the condiments that can often be seen in later generations can also be found here, although they are mostly limited to items such as pepper, mustard, and aromatic spices

A pair of double doors, above which are inscribed the four characters 'Si You College' in an elegant script, though it is unknown who penned them.

Fortunately, in the small building where he resides, there is a small kitchen, making it not very difficult to do these things

He is considered an exception. Li Jiayuan, the president of Siyou Academy, allowed him to return home every day when he came to invite him to the academy.

Li Family Academy, known externally as Siyou Academy. One interpretation is to befriend books; another interpretation is that in life, one should cultivate broad friendships. The name of this academy was not given by the elder Mr. Li, but rather by the elder Mr. Li's father. From this signboard, one can also discern the foundational principles of the Li family.

As for sitting in the pavilion, Su San is willing. With his experiences from both his past and present lives, he listens to the teachings of Old Master Su every night. Although he is indifferent, he still feels somewhat uneasy in his heart. Once he sits in the pavilion, he becomes quite free. Therefore, he strongly opposes the fact that the Li family does not allow him to sit in the pavilion.

Since he wanted to innovate a new dish, he naturally had to choose one that he liked. He decided to start with the fried fish pieces. However, to create a flavor that would be commonly enjoyed in the future, some experimentation was necessary.

Old Zhou had waited for several days and was becoming somewhat impatient, inquiring about how things were progressing with him

Although the world already has these seasonings, they still appear monotonous. The recurring options are soy sauce, vinegar, paste, fermented tofu, and spices such as chili and star anise, which can be used to enhance flavor. Not only is the variety limited, but the methods of use also differ significantly from those in later generations

Li Jiayuan then led Su San, passing through the backyard, and walked towards the front classroom.

Yu'er had long prepared his luggage, and with the assistance of the servants, the luggage was all moved onto the carriage. Only then did everyone set off together to the Siyi Academy.

It cannot be helped; I can only agree.

Every morning, I still go fishing, and in the afternoon, I clean the fish I have caught, marinating them according to various different recipes, incorporating various flavors of sauces into the seasoning process

I went around the market and bought some of the available seasonings, most of which are plant-based. I also went to a traditional Chinese medicine shop to purchase some herbs that are not yet used as condiments in this era, such as dried tangerine peel, cardamom, rosemary, perilla, and poppy seeds

Having studied the classics for several years, it is only fitting that a member of the Li family should diligently manage the Siyou Academy. Therefore, the position of the academy's president has fallen to Li Jiayuan.

From the outside, it is not apparent, but this school is quite large. There are small dormitories for students and a backyard where the teachers reside. In the front, there is a place where the teachers conduct their lessons, consisting of four or five spacious classrooms, along with a large courtyard. The courtyard is adorned with various flowers and plants, making the environment rather elegant

All the children are sitting together in one classroom, without being separated. Often, after the teacher assigns a copying task to the younger children, he explains several passages from the Analects to the older children, instructing them to memorize them, and then proceeds to teach the even older children

He naturally smiled and simply said that it was not that quick. In fact, he had already prepared the fried fish to a considerable extent; it was just that some of the sauces had not yet been prepared that quickly

A group of people entered, led by Li Jiayuan, and first arrived at the master's residence. The servants assisted him in bringing the luggage into the room, while Yu'er stayed behind in the residence to tidy up the belongings

Siyou Academy is located near the southern part of the city, in a newly developed urban area with a relatively low floating population and a tranquil environment. Some literati and scholars, as well as poetry societies, also engage in activities in that area. Consequently, the southern part of the city has subtly become the cultural center of Wuling City. Certain writing supplies can only be purchased here, providing a range of options for selection.

Old Master Li has indeed succeeded in business; however, Second Master Li could only study halfway through his education before he had to drop out.

It appears somewhat dated, possessing a certain antiquity

These individual seasonings are naturally incomparable to the high-concentration, highly effective flavoring agents of later generations, such as monosodium glutamate, sweeteners, various yeast extracts, and food flavorings. These highly concentrated flavoring agents are things that could not have existed in the natural economic society of ancient times

Li Jiayuan is the younger brother of Old Master Li. When Old Master Li was alive, he intended to cultivate Old Master Li into a talent for business and Second Master Li into a talent for governance. However, Old Master Li's aspirations were quite idealistic, and the world did not unfold according to his wishes

Fortunately, in this era, everyone understands that pursuing knowledge is a challenging endeavor, so they have come to terms with it. When children reach the age of five or six, they are sent to school. Although parents are reluctant, they have also grown accustomed to it

He sees that there are still some empty classrooms here, indicating that there is no lack of space. As for cramming these students of various sizes into one place for teaching?

Although he dropped out of school, he does not disdain to engage in business again. In a certain sense, this can also be considered as a failure in both literary and martial pursuits.

Li Jiayuan found Su San's decision quite strange. When his elder brother spoke to him about Su San coming to Shiyou Academy as a teacher, he pondered that Su San would not stay at the academy for long. His original intention was to avoid the hassle of moving his luggage back and forth by not settling down. However, he did not expect that Su San was indeed quite enthusiastic about it, as he appeared determined and seemed to want to stay at the academy for an extended period.

He can be considered a half-gourmet in later generations. Having tasted a variety of delicacies, he naturally possesses a high level of understanding in the realm of cuisine. Therefore, spending some time to create one or two dishes that have never existed in this society is not particularly difficult.

Li Jiayuan invited three or four learned gentlemen, who were actually his former classmates that had not found success in the past, to teach the children of the clan to read and write every day

He enjoys eating fish, but in this era, the methods of preparing fish are quite outdated and fail to showcase its deliciousness. In later generations, there is a type of flavorful snack—fried fish chunks—that he particularly likes. The marinated grass carp chunks are deep-fried until crispy and served with various flavorful condiments, making it an exquisite dish. Even without any dipping sauce, just savoring the marinated flavor is enough to leave one in admiration.

Although these students' homes are just a stone's throw away, returning home is an exceedingly difficult task

The auspicious day has finally arrived, and this is the day Su San is to become a teacher

After agreeing to the arrangement with Old Zhou to create gourmet food, he often frequented the market. Although the economy of Wuling City may not appear as prosperous as that of the capital, as a secondary capital, most of the merchant families reside here, thus its economic influence actually surpasses that of the capital.

The Li family's clan is large, with a considerable population. Under the system of polygamy, there are even more children.

The instructors at the academy, without exception, are required to reside on the premises. This means that they must stay at the academy every day, and the students are similarly bound, only being allowed to return home during the festive seasons. This arrangement is even more arduous than that of boarding students in later generations